Kaguro darted through the thick forest, dodging vines that reached for him like hungry snakes. Asteron pulsed with energy in his grip, lighting the way ahead.
Everything was moving, trees, branches, the ground. And not in a peaceful forest kind of way. In a you're-about-to-die-here kind of way.
"Seriously," he muttered, slashing a vine. "I was supposed to be the backup, not the poor guy who gets picked off first."
Behind him, he could still hear the fight. Shouting. Screaming. Explosions. And, of course, Ezren yelled something ridiculous.
Back at the fight…
Ezren hit the dirt face-first and groaned. A wyvern had just slapped him across the field like he owed it money.
He pushed himself up with a wheeze. "Okay… Not my best moment."
A massive shadow loomed over him.
"Oh great. You're back," he said as the wyvern roared again.
He barely rolled away in time as claws slammed down where his head had been.
"Guys?" he called out. "A little help?! I'm being used as a chew toy!"
Kagetsu zipped past him, fist in front of him as he punched the beast's side. "Get up, Ezren!"
"I am up! I'm just… temporarily horizontal!"
Enjin stomped the ground, summoning a jagged wall of fire that crashed into the wyvern's chest.
"Stop joking and fight," he said, breathing hard.
"I am fighting. Badly, sure. But it's still an effort!" Said Ezren
Meanwhile…
Kaguro burst into a clearing, and froze.
Two teams. Four fighters. All of them staring him down like he'd wandered into their campfire with a "Kick Me" sign on his back.
"Well, this is cozy," he said, raising Asteron.
One guy in blue armor stepped forward. "Give us the crystal and walk away."
A woman in red robes stood beside him. "Or don't. We're not picky."
Kaguro sighed. "You know, I was hoping to get through one day without being threatened."
They attacked at once.
Swords clashed. Spells flew. Kaguro was in the middle of it all, dodging fire, blocking blades, and countering with blasts of searing light. They were fast, but he was faster. Focused.
He slipped between them, slammed the red mage into a tree with a shockwave, then knocked the swordsman flat with the butt of Asteron.
"I'm done here," he said, brushing off his shoulder.
Back at Ground Zero...
The second mature wyvern collapsed in a heap. Kagetsu stumbled back, catching his breath. Ezren leaned on his staff like a crutch, face scraped and singed.
"Can someone write a song about how I didn't die?" he asked. "Call it 'Ow, My Everything.'"
Enjin didn't respond. He was staring up at the sky.
"Oh no," Ezren groaned, following his gaze.
A shadow. Bigger than the others. Wider wings. More teeth.
"Of course there's a bigger one," Ezren muttered. "This fight has bonus levels."
The monster landed with a deafening crash.
Kaguro reappeared just in time to see it.
"What the hell is that?" he asked.
"Our boss fights," Enjin said, already charging.
Final Round
The huge wyvern let out a roar that shook the trees. It reared back, chest glowing with fire.
"MOVE!" Enjin shouted.
They scattered, flames chasing behind them.
Kagetsu went for the wings, slashes fast and surgical. Kaguro vaulted into the air and brought Asteron down on its spine, blinding light exploding on impact.
Ezren, half limping, half crawling, raised his staff.
"You want magic?" he growled. "You got it."
He made a glowing portal in front of the beast's face.and punched it from his location, It didn't stop it, but it definitely pissed it off.
"That's right! Look at me! I'm the problem!"
The wyvern swiped at him, hard.
Ezren took the hit like a ragdoll, flying across the clearing and crashing into a tree. He groaned from the dirt.
"...I regret everything."
Kaguro landed beside the beast and drove Asteron deep into its chest. Light pulsed through it like a heartbeat about to stop.
Enjin slammed his fiery fist into its jaw. Kagetsu stabbed through its throat.
And finally… it dropped.
Huge. Heavy. Dead.
The Aftermath
The clearing fell silent. Birds didn't even dare chirp.
Ezren, immobile flat on his back, stared up at the sky.
"Okay. Nobody move. I'm not sure my spine is attached."
Kaguro sheathed Asteron with a flick. "We're clear."
Enjin walked over to the beast and ripped the crystal free from its body.
Kagetsu looked around, checking the shadows. "Let's get out of here before the forest changes its mind."
Ezren weakly raised a hand. "Someone carry me? No? Cool. I'll just die dramatically behind you."