However, just when it seemed that the battle was won, the creatures changed their tactics. For a while, the attack seemed to stop altogether. Then Anna, in her usual calm manner, reported that the Skrivgs were reforming in three rows at a depth.
Alex wiped his wet face. “Looks like they decided to fill us with their corpses. Use shields to push their bodies off the cliff.”
The fight began to resemble a macabre carousel with circling tentacles. After half an hour of intense fighting, Alex became uneasy. He saw his people’s intense fatigue. He himself felt his muscles stiffen and his arms and legs go heavy. Unhappy thoughts tormented him.
How long can we hold out? An hour? Two, maybe three… he mused, shooting arrows at his limit.
“They’re accelerating,” Anna warned.
Transparent creatures climbed from the depths at a frightening speed. The crew realized they were not, in fact, coping with their enemies. The shields helped their cause, but only up to a point.
Scraps of tentacles clung to the rock. The pile of detached tentacles continued to grow, looming menacingly over them. They stood standing knee-deep in blood and ichor, resembling the demons of the underworld.
Suddenly, reality seemed to pause.
With barely a sound, the Minstrel appeared next to Alex. “Group NZ 02342 – Phoenix, your results are phenomenal, the best in this location. Do you want to stop?”
These seemingly ordinary but long-awaited words gave the Ice Vigors strength. The people grinned defiantly. Some even laughed.
Alex calmly, even lazily, answered, “Ha! Why would we stop such an interesting level-up? As you said, this is the best place! It’s warm here, and we are awash in our enemies’ blood. What else is needed for a warrior from Earth? That is, unless you replace Skrivgs with Admins… In addition, we await hand-to-hand combat…”
The Minstrel stared at Alex in joyful surprise, and then disappeared. Only he forgot to take a pause from reality.
Silence. Seconds dragged on, like drops from a rusty tap.
Talker broke this silent passage of time, whispering hoarsely, “Admins made a deadly mistake, ravaging the Earth. You are blessed by the gods, madman Alex Phoenix.”
At the same moment, reality returned in all its fullness, in an ocean of fatigue, fountains of blood, and hordes of monsters.
“Brothers and sisters!” Alex bellowed, drawing his sword. “Hit, cut, smash! Till the last heartbeat, till the last breath. Let’s show them who the Ice Vigors are! Hurrah!”
He rushed headlong at the creatures. His people followed him, cutting down everything in their path.
***
The world blinked, singing their eyes with light and frosty thin air. Alex suddenly realized they were running, unsheathing their power swords, down the snowy mountainside. Ahead were shaggy rhino-men in armor armed with huge poleaxes. They froze in amazement at the sight of strange creatures barreling towards them, covered in blood and slime.
‘Snow ghosts! Snow ghosts!” one huge rhino roared. “Retreat! Retreat!” With that, they ran away across the snowy field. The Ice Vigors followed them as far as they could. Then, exhausted, they fell into the snow, bursting with laughter.
“Commander, why did those giants scream ‘Snow ghosts’?” Sofia asked. “We look more bloody than snowy.”
Alex scooped up a handful of snow and rubbed it on his face. “ I don’t know. They probably felt our essence. Snow is our symbol, our hidden strength.”
Reality blinked, whirled around.
Again? Alex thought.
***
After the day they’d had, it was exquisitely pleasant to find themselves back on the elastic, warm, clean surface of the range.
“What a demiurge,” Alex said, unable to stand. “Well, Minstrel…”
“Mind-blowing technology,” Talker muttered.
.
Attention! Group NZ 02342 – Phoenix!
You are awarded personal rewards for actions in the locations ‘Dark Water’, ‘Mount Huoot’
Alex Phoenix:
‘Dark Water’ + 250
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 100
The best warrior in the category (gun, sword) + 300
Daga sa Daga:
‘Dark Water’ + 180
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
The best warrior in the category (throwing weapons, daggers) + 200
Lady Munstead Wood:
‘Dark Water’ + 170
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
The best warrior in the category (power shield) + 100
Anna Tolstaya:
‘Dark Water’ + 150
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
The best warrior in the category (information support) + 100
Rhombus:
‘Dark Water’ + 150
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
The best warrior in the category (twin sword) + 100
Kate Mordor:
‘Dark Water’ + 200
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
Shizdets:
‘Dark Water’ + 180
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
Pat Talker:
‘Dark Water’ + 150
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
Rosk Forester:
‘Dark Water’ + 150
‘Mount Huoot’ + 50
Team actions + 50
.
This stats replaced by another system message.
.
Attention! Group NZ 02342 – Phoenix!
Based on the results of military clashes, the following shortcomings have been identified:
First: lack of therapeutic and stimulating support
Second: lack of weakening spells in attack
Recommendations:
First task: develop an individual universal healing and stimulating spell
Second task: develop a group universal healing and stimulating spell
Third task: develop an individual universal depressing-weakening spell
Fourth task: develop a group universal depressing-weakening spell
Attention, Alex Phoenix, pay attention to the ability to heal of clan members:
Shizdets — 100 %, Lady Munstead Wood — 99%, Talker — 89%
Attention, Alex Phoenix, pay attention to the ability to weakening of clan members:
Rosk — 98%, Daga sa Daga — 98%, Rhombus — 87%
Attention, Alex Phoenix, pay attention to the ability to weakening (namely, curses) of clan member:
Kate Mordor, the limit of the gift is not defined
Attention, Alex Phoenix, pay attention to the ability to clairvoyance
