Looking at his opponent, Hunter's palms started sweating.

  A Salager stood, its teeth bared—this one was much stronger than the last.

  “Come on,” Tren said, slowly stepping forward, his voice wavering.

  Running at it, Indy's arms glowed crimson.

  The monster knuckled its way sideways, keeping an equal distance from all of them.

  Hunter stepped forward, adjusting his shield bracelet.

  The Salager dashed at Tren and Hunter.

  "Hardened skin," Tren said.

  Hunter's skin compressed as if something heavy was pressing down on it.

  Swinging its long arm, it reared up for its punch.

  Hunter moved closer to its left, Tren dodging right.

  The monster swung wide, missing Hunter.

  Displaced air battered Hunter's hair.

  He swung at its side.

  It dodged, moving into Tren's path.

  Tren slashed at its side.

  The sword dug deep, causing a fount of black smoke.

  The beast moved away from them both.

  Indy was ready.

  A crunch echoed from its back.

  The monster hissed.

  Hunter saw another attack coming, but it was too late.

  Looking unbalanced, the monster swung high, missing him.

  Taking advantage, Hunter activated his ability.

  Mace dug into the Salager's side.

  Like twigs, its bones shattered below his blow.

  The beast jumped backward, hitting an invisible wall and thudding to the ground.

  Hair standing on end, Hunter's pulse quickened, pounding in his ears.

  "Focus!" he told himself, trying to shake off the fear.

  A loud growl cut through his confusion.

  The monster charged at Tren, who was now standing alone.

  Indy tried to intercept.

  Too late.

  A flash of blue erupted.

  Flying backward again, the monster's fist leaked black smoke.

  "Nice shield!" Indy said, her legs glowing green as she rushed in.

  Stepping away from Indy, the monster had its back to Hunter.

  “Another chance,” Hunter thought, attacking its mid-back.

  A crunch told him his aim was true.

  Back legs buckling, the Salager tried to drag itself away.

  Indy's arms glimmered with purple sparks.

  Slamming her hand into its head, the beast fell over with a thud.

  Soaked with sweat, Hunter collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

  Indy wasn’t even sweating. She grinned, clearly in her element. "See, told you."

  Tren shook his head, "You really are crazy powerful."

  "Don't discount yourself; that shield and earthquake were perfect." She said. "You too, Hunter, we cornered that guy."

  "Uh…Huh," Hunter said between breaths. "I thought my stamina was getting better," he thought.

  Finally, his breath steadied, "I'm already sore?" he groaned.

  Arguing came from the other side of the room.

  Looking over, Hunter met eyes with the Wivolt boy, glaring in their direction. He had gotten healed, but apparently, his attitude wasn't something fixable.

  Sitting beside him, Indy asked, "So, how long do your abilities work?"

  Tren was about to sit down but paused at the question.

  Shrugging, she continued. "Better to find out now than in the middle of the battlefield."

  Half shrugging, Tren sat all the way down, holding up his hand to count off his abilities. "Let's see. Hardened skin lasts a minute, and I have to wait ten minutes between uses. Block lasts for five seconds and then dissipates, even if unused. I can't use it again for five minutes."

  Looking at the ceiling, Tren said. "Third is Earthquake, as you can see, doesn't last very long, about five seconds, but also has a five-minute downtime." He looked at Hunter expectedly

  "Mine isn't that interesting," Hunter said, pulling out his mace and examining it. "It only lasts thirty seconds and has a five-minute cooldown."

  "Cool down?" Indy echoed, her brow furrowed in confusion, mirrored by Tren.

  Looking between them, Hunter was shocked they didn't know that term, even if they were in another world. "Oh. Um. A cooldown is how long it takes for your ability to be used again, " he said.

  Examining the ceiling again, Tren said. "We call that downtime, but I kind of like the ring of cooldown."

  Indy nodded, "I like it."

  Shrugging, she said "Mine are pretty sick. One increases my strength, like a lower-tier strength bracelet. Another has an explosive effect, but that one really takes it out of me. The last allows me to be quicker. It also strains me, but it's not that bad."

  Three ducks appeared out of Indy's inventory, one yellow, one brown, and one red.

  Indy placed the red duck in the front, saying. "These are us. I think I should be in the front while fighting; I will get the monster's attention so that you two can attack,"

  She placed the brown one a little behind her and to her left. "Hunter, you should be ready to help me out."

  "Tren," she said, placing the yellow one the farthest back, "you should focus on timing your skills and attacking when you see an opportunity."

  Nodding, Tren picked up his duck with a grin. "How could I disagree with such a quack strategy?"

  Eyes dropping to the ground, Indy groaned at the joke; Hunter, on the other hand, found it hilarious, "Nice," he said.

  Still smiling, Tren handed back his duck. "It’s a good plan; it allows me to make the most of my abilities."

  Nodding, Hunter agreed; he didn't know what a good strategy was, but this sounded reasonable.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Tren perked up with an idea, "Indy, you should be our team leader."

  Looking surprised, she was about to respond, but Hunter cut her off. "You do have the most experience and have fought longer than us."

  "Ok," she said, "I'll do my best."

  The biker dude walked in. "Finish up," Garth said, carrying a table. He plopped it down and pulled armor pieces from his inventory. "If you've got armor, put it on; if you don't, come get some."

  Shrugging, Tren started putting on thick gray armor; the pieces were large and overlapped.

  Indy also started gearing up. She slipped on her armor, which was much thinner and had gaps where joints were to allow better movement.

  Hunter started walking up to the table, but the Wivolt boy ran to get ahead.

  "Is this all the adventurer guild can muster?" the boy asked.

  Garth glared at the boy with displeasure, but the boy didn't get the hint and continued. "I'm glad I have my own armor. This could kill people."

  "Brent," Garth said sincerely. “Put the armor on or get lost. I don't have time for your attitude." Garth sighed heavily.

  Hunter saw the boy, "No. Brent," tense. He balled his fists but walked back to his team.

  Glancing back at him, Hunter walked up, examining the armor.

  The armor was simple. It was made of some gray monster hide, with a white gem on the front and back of the chest plate.

  Picking it up, he touched the gem, a tingle of electricity running into his finger. It didn't hurt, but it tickled a little.

  Talking in his normal voice, Garth said, "Hurry up. People are still behind you, and we need to be ready soon."

  "Sorry," Hunter said, quickly picking up the rest of the armor and temporarily putting it in his inventory.

  Putting on the armor was not as simple as he expected. He could slip on the chest piece but had to bend weirdly to tighten the straps on the sides.

  Hunter attempted to put on the leg armor, but he realized he had made a critical error. The chest piece made it hurt to bend down.

  Indy smirked, holding back a laugh, as she watched Hunter struggle. After a few moments passed, she eventually helped him take it off again and walked him through the steps to put it on.

  Garth's deep voice echoed. "Our turn to defend the city is quickly approaching. Have you all figured out your team leaders?"

  Hunter spoke for them, saying. "We chose Indy."

  The other team glared at each other, not having gotten along.

  Garth shook his head. "If you can't get along here, you will die on the battlefield."

  The team's expressions cracked a little as Garth continued, "Brent, I believe you can handle this. Don't prove me wrong."

  Surprised, Hunter looked from Garth to Brent, who was just as confused.

  Ellis and Brit walked in, Brit saying, "It's time. I'm sorry for not giving you all more, but monsters never wait."

  Before leaving, Garth turned back to them. "We will take over for other adventurers holding the monsters back."

  Walking outside, Hunter felt like he was in a dream. Smoke billowed around each wall, and flashes of light flickered in the haze.

  With each step, his throat tightened.

  When they finally reached the wall, the gates opened, and they started walking down the long tunnel. "Even if it was a cage," he thought, "It felt safer inside."

  Recoiling, the smell hit him first. The scent of iron hung in the air, mixed with the pungent smell of burnt flesh.

  Stomach flipping, he got his first look at the battlefield. Monsters were rushing the adventurers like a river trying to find an outlet.

  Porolfs and Salagers made up most of them, but Hunter could also see towering figures standing above the rest.

  Massive creatures standing on two legs were double the height of any adventurer. These creatures had long, rope-like appendages that they swung at people.

  Two main types of these enormous creatures scattered the battlefield, one seemingly made of earth and the other of flame.

  Waves of heat and light hit Hunter as he continued following Garth on the outside of the wall.

  Air constantly bombarded him as explosions of flame shot from the wall, war cries mixed with howls and the concussive power of abilities.

  Trying to keep his eyes forward, Hunter saw the devastation so far.

  The area around this city had been flat, but now adventurers were fighting around hills of bodies.

  They passed by a hill on fire, the light flickering off the armor from an adventurer. He quickly looked away, his neck aflame with anxiety.

  Breaths came short and shallow as they finally walked away from the wall to take their place.

  A Salager was locked in combat with three people. Ellis flashed his daggers.

  "Here we go!" Garth screamed, rushing in; he slashed his spear through the Salager.

  A quiet thank you was uttered, and the battered team backed up, letting the two of them take over.

  The team Garth replaced had burns, cuts, and bruises. Brit was about to heal them, but the leader held up a hand with a pained smile. "Save your energy; you'll need it."

  The other two teams diligently watched and waited for a chance to jump in.

  "Let's swap," Indy said.

  Their eyes looked empty; they only gave a slight nod before walking off slowly, their feet dragging.

  Hunter turned forward, trying to hype himself up; Garth and Ellis were both locked in battle with their own Salager.

  Two hills of bodies and earth created a bottleneck that the monsters had to fight through.

  A Porolf clawed its way up the hill, jumping down before the three of them.

  It growled, hair standing on end.

  "I'm stuck," yelled Indy.

  Hunter blocked the front, covering Indy, while Tren held the rear.

  The monster jumped forward, biting at Hunter.

  Meeting its strike with his own, he struck the beast's side.

  Tumbling, the Porolf spun back to its feet.

  Its chest made a grinding sound as it tried to move.

  It whined.

  Indy dashed forward and smashed her elbow into the neck of the beast.

  It collapsed to the ground, Tren stabbing through its chest.

  Falling limp, the monster didn't start dissolving.

  The lifeless form of the Porolf lay before them; Indy grabbed it and threw it near the body pile.

  Guilt gnawed at him. "This doesn't feel right," he said, a notification appearing.

  —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

  You have helped in killing a Porolf. 31 xp earned

  Level up, now level 15

  —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

  He quickly dismissed it and allocated one skill point to agility and two to durability and strength. “Any extra power will help,” he thought.

  A bright light was approaching; Indy gasped. "An elemental"

  The monster was made of flame. It was standing on two feet that led up to a torso with ropes attached. The ropes moved inwards and out as the monster moved, as if breathing.

  As it approached, Hunter could feel heat radiating off it.

  Garth yelled something unintelligible and ran toward it.

  Brit took out a long staff and started dragging it behind her.

  The elemental stopped

  Ellis rushed behind Garth.

  Uncoiling themselves, some of the ropes rushed at each of them.

  Garth and Ellis slashed their way closer.

  A few of the ropes flashed blue, continuing their attack.

  Ellis dodged these, but Garth slashed them.

  An explosion of light came moments before a shock wave almost pushed Hunter off his feet.

  A Salager had made its way past the elemental and approached their team.

  Its skin was blackened, and part of its alligator-like mouth burned away.

  It growled, sending shivers down their spines.

  Indy rushed in.

  Faltering for a second, Hunter followed.

  Spinning, the monster whipped around its spiked tail.

  Indy jumped.

  "Not high enough!" Hunter thought.

  A flash of blue as shield activated.

  The monster’s tail rocketed backwards.

  Indy, still in midair, activated her ability.

  Hands ablaze with a red hue, she struck the monster's left arm.

  The beast slumped down.

  Hunter rushed around it.

  The Salager bit at Indy.

  She was already gone, having dodged.

  Within striking distance and with the monster distracted, Hunter slung his mace above him, aiming for the monster’s back.

  The weight shifted, trying to pull the mace from his hands.

  He held on.

  Coming down on its charred back, he felt resistance, then his mace continued through a soft crunch vibrating down his weapon.

  "Nice one!" yelled Indy.

  Falling back, the monster pushed itself backward, trying to escape.

  A rogue fire tendril from the elemental grasped its neck.

  Hissing came from both the monster and its scorching neck.

  It fell limp.

  Letting out a breath, Hunter saw the elemental thrashing; its skin was turning black, and the heat was dissipating.

  Garth used his spear to slice off tendril by tendril. This time, they didn't grow back.

  The monster's body started turning black, and Ellis threw a dagger at it. Upon touching its body, the elemental collapsed into a dark ooze.

  The ooze settled, heat coming off it; Garth was almost as black as the monster.

  Brit ran up, touching him.

  White, yellow light glowed from under the burnt flesh.

  Garth's skin peeled off like a lizard's, revealing clean skin underneath.

  After a moment's respite, Hunter looked over at the other team. They were fighting their own Salager.

  Brent seemed to be yelling orders, and their teamwork improved with each fight.

  A wave of exhaustion hit Hunter.

  Another Porolf appeared, so Garth and Ellis let it through.

  Shaking himself, he refocused.

  Slam.

  Dodge.

  Breathe.

  Slam again.

  Protect.

  Hit.

  Both time and exhaustion mixed.

  Duck.

  Another Elemental attacked.

  Stagger.

  Explosions rocked the battlefield.

  Run.

  Slam.

  "So tired."

  A pile of bodies exploded. Limbs rained from the sky like broken branches.

  Looking around, Hunter tried to see what was doing it.

  A blue flash.

  "Pay attention!" Yelled Tren.

  "Right!" he said. Dodging a following attack by yet another Salager.

  Purple sparks exploded from Indy's fists, and he got the kill notification.

  Hunter spotted another glimpse of the flaming trail.

  Far off in the enemy ranks, another explosion rocketed.

  He blinked, having to close his eyelids hard since they were sticking again.

  Brushing his forehead, it was grainy from grime and dirt.

  Another flash of fire in the enemy. "Is someone out there?" he wondered.

  A Porolf attacked them.

  He felt nothing. Just movement. Just survival.

  “Back to it.”

  A moment later, a scream erupted from his left.

  He slammed his mace down, feeling the monster's skull crush, and looked over.

  Brent was screaming.

  "Why is he screaming?"

  The two teammates were behind the monster.

  Ripping gave way to more screaming.

  The Salager had him in its mouth.

  He dropped.

  Ellis was there in a flash.

  Beast fell to the ground.

  Blinking, Hunter tried to understand what he was seeing.

  More blinking.

  Fear, anxiety, horror, and disgust all hit him at once like his emotions were flipped back on.

  A large piece of Brent's torso was gone.

  Torn and dented armor led the way to exposed bone.

  Blood rushed like a river.

  Brit ran over.

  White, yellow light sparked from her hands, enveloping his torso.

  More screams.

  Hunter dry heaved acid, the only thing his stomach had left.

  Brent's flesh reached out for itself.

  Twisting bones moved under the skin.

  Hunter couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. The scream felt like it came from inside his own head.

  Eventually, too much. The thrashing stopped all at once.

  Hunter looked away.

  Another monster.