Ruwen had wondered where all the high-level warriors were, and five had appeared. Tremine, at level ninety, was the only person near the Retribution group’s levels. Bliz at level fifty-one, his parents in the low thirties, and everyone else in their twenties or lower, were outclassed.
Even though the levels were vastly different, it didn’t mean Ruwen and his team couldn’t win. While the enemy’s added attribute points mattered, what really gave them an advantage was access to more spells and abilities, most of which would be maxed. Their Resistances and gear would be much better as well.
Ruwen’s army had a handful of high-level individuals, but they were distributed throughout the troops, since they’d expected the same from the enemy. They hadn’t planned on a way to redistribute them quickly, so Ruwen and his group needed to manage on their own.
The rock sled stopped twenty feet away.
“We meet again,” the Dust Reverend said. “You die today, and your country will follow. The Children of Uru will soon be no more.”
Chapter 71
Ruwen triggered Last Breath, speeding his thoughts and slowing the passage of time.
Ruwen spoke to Elder Vachyl with Chat. My team has encountered an elite squad. Inform the other Commanders to push forward around us and collapse on the revival baths.
Understood, Elder Vachyl responded. Any word on the disturbance here?
Not yet, Ruwen said, and then focused on his current problem. Use your scarves, he told his team in Chat and then closed his Void Band to prepare for serious fighting.
Still using Chat, Ruwen spoke to his dad and Xavier. Guard the Healer. He didn’t bother to say his mom or Lylan since the two had likely already used their skills to hide themselves from view. He focused on Tremine. Do your best to nullify their spells. Next, he spoke to Bliz. Stay back and do what you can. Lastly, he spoke to Sift. Promise me you’ll retreat if this goes sideways.
Sift stepped up next to Ruwen and answered out loud. “You die like you live.”
Ruwen nodded. Stopping Sift from doing something dumb was pointless. In that unfortunate fact, they behaved the same.
The elite group hadn’t moved, showing no hurry to fight. Ruwen wondered if their true aim centered on keeping Ruwen pinned here in the depression. He hoped the Temple Guardians reported good news soon.
The Crag Defender stood at the front, covered in plate, and carrying a tower shield and long sword. The Echo Blade wore banded armor and stood to the right. She carried two rapiers, one red and the other blue. The Rift Ghost stood on the other side and wore soft hide armor. Throwing daggers covered her chest and her hands appeared empty. She had black hair with white streaks and stood perfectly still. The Dust Reverend and Quake Summoner wore padded cloth armor and stood behind the Fighters. They looked relaxed and maybe a little bored.
“Should I try and call Shelly?” Sift asked.
Ruwen almost said yes, but stopped himself. Instead of answering out loud, he used Chat. Shelly is like our Aspects. If they’re seen with us, gods will ask questions I can’t afford to answer.
“I figured,” Sift said out loud.
New Eiru’s army had pushed forward, forcing the enemy backward. Ruwen now stood at the bottom of a badly shaped “V.” Still, the elite squad didn’t move. It seemed their purpose was to keep Ruwen from moving forward. He didn’t know why that mattered, but it couldn’t be good.
Ruwen continued to channel Energy into Fresh Air, Gust, and Fallen Heroes, the three of them standing behind him like sentries. He confirmed Sift remained the target of his Bodyguard spell, channeled one hundred Energy into Melt, and moved forward. With the Quartermaster’s Yell buff, he only consumed seventy-three Energy per second, leaving him sixty-four if he needed it.
Ruwen strode toward the elite squad.
Hey You read the lips of the elite squad as they whispered to each other.
“Step masters,” the Rift Ghost said to her group.
“Clan?” the Echo Blade asked. “Offensive or defensive?”
“I can’t tell,” the Rift Ghost said.
The Echo Blade grunted. “How can you of all people not tell?”
“Use Say, only,” the Dust Reverend said. “He’s fluent in our language.”
The conversation stopped and Ruwen guessed “Say” was their equivalent of Chat.
Sift spoke to Ruwen in Chat. That woman with the daggers has Step training.
Ruwen studied her stance and noticed the excellent alignment of her feet and shoulders. He quickly triggered Analyze on each of the enemy and glanced at just the strengths and weaknesses. He already knew they were hostile.
Target: Rift Ghost
Strengths: Mobility, Burst Damage, Oxygen Independent
Weaknesses: Fire, Resistances
Target: Echo Blade
Strengths: Enhanced Haste, Ambidextrous, Oxygen Independent
Weaknesses: Fire, Weapon Dependent
Target: Crag Defender
Strengths: Elevated Resistances, Superior Durability, Oxygen Independent
Weaknesses: Fire, Mobility
Target: Quake Summoner
Strengths: Conjured Pets, Area Damage, Oxygen Independent
Weaknesses: Fire, Mana Dependent
Target: Dust Reverend
Strengths: Crowd Control, Healing, Oxygen Independent
Weaknesses: Fire, Physical Combat
The strengths and weaknesses weren’t the most helpful, but Ruwen hoped that as the fight progressed and he absorbed more information, the ability would return more specific information.
When Ruwen came within fifteen feet, the squad finally reacted. The Rift Ghost and Echo Blade moved back and a little behind the Crag Defender. The ground in front of the Quake Summoner glowed, and a second later a five-foot stone cat appeared. Not a cat, since its head looked like a demon with the curved horns of a ram. It pawed the ground, leaving deep furrows with its claws. Ruwen’s Perception called it a Summoned Cliff Tiger.
Ruwen sent the three Fallen Heroes around the right side of the enemy, tasking them with attacking the Healer and the Mage.
The Crag Defender slammed his tower shield into the ground and a stone shield shot forward toward Ruwen. If he leaped over the attack, it would strike those behind him. He didn’t have time for the one second cast of Dig, and only one other thing occurred to him.
Ruwen launched a Hardened Instability Rod he’d taken from Valora’s
