Chapter 23

Chapter 23

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The Third Floor Guardian Arena, The Dungeon, Medea Island

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When the six lizards joined the fight, things got a little strained. None of the melee fighters could decisively end the Guardian, and any attempt to disengage was punished. That left Matha herself, the water mage, the crossbow-woman and a healer to fend off the new enemies and prevent them from coming to the aid of the Guardian.

The Water Mage was the most useful, in this regard. The blades of water he manipulated were, of course, not solid blades. They bent and flowed around to strike at the monsters' weak points. They'd certainly fought enough of them over the last week to figure out at least a few. The water mage was managing to keep three of the lizards occupied. Scratch that, he killed one.

Matha herself kept two at bay, both wielding swords that looked like they'd been formed from the sharp pincer from the crab monsters. Her minion Kataren was trading crossbow bolts with a mage-lizard's mana-bolts. From the glance she'd gotten, the bolts didn't seem to have an elemental inclination.

The healer kept back, well away from danger. He was perfectly capable of fighting, but you didn't put your healer on the front line. That was just good sense. His job was to heal Litan and the bodyguards, while they kept the Guardian occupied.

When the fine hairs on the back of her neck rose and she could smell a very particular scent, she opened her mouth to shout a warning. Before the noise reached past her lips Kataren's opponent, the lizard-mage, cast a bolt of lightning at the healer. It had duped them into thinking it had no element!

The man screamed and collapsed, lightning burns running across his exposed skin. His pained screams trailed off as he went limp. Probably just fainted, rather than dead. No platinum dies from a single lightning bolt, even if they never purposefully reinforce their body.

The man could have probably healed himself, if he wasn't unconscious.

"Someone get him a potion!" her brother yelled, in the midst of parrying a heavy swing.

"Kataren, I can take yours!" the water mage yelled, forming another two blades from the remaining water in his water-skins and drawing the lightning mage into combat. Kataren disengaged from her duel with the lightning mage and rushed over to their fallen healer. He might have bitten off a little more than he could chew, though. Now engaging two mages and a melee fighter at once, he seemed to be stretching the edge of his capabilities. The monsters were wiser to his abilities after their initial clash and kept a keen eye on his blades and their positions.

Matha's childhood playmate slid the final few feet to kneel over the fallen healer's limp form. A red potion was poured down his throat and his burns soon smoothed out at a clearly visible rate.

That was the moment things became much, much worse.

In sequence, three things happened.

The Guardian roared in fury, likely at his continuing inability to slay any of the guilders encircling him, and displayed a previously unknown ability; Fire breath. A horizontal sweep caught her shield-less bodyguard and Litan unprepared. They stumbled back, arms raised as if to ward off the magical flames.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

The water mage was unable to keep the full attention of his three opponents, leading to the lizard mage casting a second bolt of lightning, this one struck her friend, who screamed in pain, then slumped over the healer.

Finally, her friend's two opponents took advantage of her distraction to close in and strike her directly. Matha had been able to keep them out of sword-range thanks to her adept use of magic, but the shock of her brother bursting into flames and her oldest friend's sudden injuries had her slip in her tight control.

One of her wrists was sliced halfway through, the slash from the strange organic sword not sharp nor strong enough to cut through even the smaller bones of her wrist. The second strike was to her thigh, and likewise halted at the bone.

The rushing water would cause plenty of uneven footing, and with some pipes completely underwater. There were some similarities to the second floor, but I felt it was different enough to stand on it's own. The Ratten provided a more encompassing threat than the fish ever did, and the cramped conditions elicited an entirely different feel.

The Boss, I decided, would be the strongest Ratten in the largest Clan. In this case, it was one of the incredibly muscular ones. I provided a roomy, separate warren off the boss arena for her clan to occupy. I made it clear that he could be challenged for this space. A loss would have her clan forfeit that space, and their right to be the boss of the floor.

With more organized inter-rat conflict, the floor should remain ready to fend off invaders at all times. I fully believe that Mushu will eventually fall. The guilders' ability to teleport out at any point in the battle means they can get familiar with how he fights, testing strategies with little risk. The fact they've now lost three party members, however means they might be a bit more cautious.

At least, I hope.

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Port Medea, Medea Island, Kalenic Sea

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Layla Losat sometimes regretted taking this job. This moment, though, was probably the most intensely she had felt that regret. In her office, she had been enjoying a quiet afternoon. Her paperwork had been mostly completed, lunch had been delicious, and she was preparing to take a stroll through the market when one of the guild's messengers burst into her office.

"Yes?" She asked, politely.

"Begging your pardon Guildmistress, but the Gorge raid has returned from their delve less two members and they're refusing to write up a report of their delve." Layla sighed. She seemed to be doing that a lot, lately.

"Please inform Felin I require his assistance." She ordered. The messenger ran off to retrieve Felin from his office, while Layla searched her desk for fresh parchment. When he arrived, she nodded in his direction, writing supplies once again laid out before her. He grunted at her, when she indicated he was to take a seat.

"The Gorge twins have decided to stop playing ball." She informed, gravely. Felin raised an eyebrow at her. "They're refusing to report about their delve today, and have lost two of their party members."

"So they found the boss." Felin rasped, bringing a hand to his chin. "And got their asses kicked."

Layla smiled sardonically. "It would seem so. I expect they will call for reinforcements, potentially from their older siblings or parents." Felin nodded.

"I looked into the family, when they arrived." He offered. "Powerful, though the whole family has been indebted to Grand Duke Plaised for years now. Our initial suspicions were correct. They were ordered here. If they kill the dungeon for him, he wipes away the debt."

"And if someone else does it..." Layla finished, getting a nod in return. Layla took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. "Is everything prepared for the next wave of Guilders?" She asked, changing the topic. Felin raised his hand and waved it side to side.

"Mostly. with the meat from the crabs supplementing fishing and farming, there is plenty of food on the island. Housing has been somewhat settled; a couple of bunkhouses have been erected. It won't be the most comfortable option, but definitely cheaper than the taverns. Should leave the taverns to focus on being the more high-quality option." Felin explained.

"Good." Layla answered, satisfied. "Because they should be arriving any day now."

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