Carriers weren't supposed to be in the thick of things. Our job was to haul loot, patch up minor wounds, and generally not get in the way.
That was the plan for today.
Problem was, plans tended to dissolve fast in dungeons.
We were about halfway through a C-rank raid, me tagging along behind the Ebon Claw clan as their pack mule, when everything went sideways.
A swarm of ogre's broke through the right flank. Dozens of them, with their brute strength, rushing the rear where the healers were stationed.
I was standing next to a guy named Tetsuo when one of the ogre lunged at him, fist clenched enough to snap his head clean off.
Stonehide flared without me thinking. I stepped into its path and rammed my spear into the side of its skull.
The ogre collapsed, twitching, and I heard someone yell "The Carrier's fighting!"
Two more came at me.
Spatial Rift Step, the world blurred and I was behind them.
My spear punched into the spine of the first before the second even turned. Blood sprayed my jacket, hot and sticky.
"Goddamn!" a voice shouted.
"Rian's faster than he looks!"
The fight lasted maybe two minutes, but it left five clan members dead and another three too injured to go on.
When the dust settled, the raid leader, Kazuo, the brick wall with a sword, walked over, his armor smeared in gore.
"You fight like that often?" he asked, voice gruff.
"Only when I'm bored" I said.
His mouth twitched like he was deciding whether to laugh or punch me.
"We're short on hands. You willing to help us finish this run?"
I pretended to think about it for a beat. "Sure. Beats carrying bags."
We regrouped, patched wounds and redistributed supplies. I got a real spot in the formation, front line, left flank, which meant more blood on my hands but also more opportunities.
The deeper we went, the worse it smelled. My Blood Scent wasn't helping, every breath came with the metallic tang of fresh kills ahead.
Kazuo walked beside me, his voice low. "Boss chamber's up ahead. Probably a Steelide Ogre. Hits like a runaway truck and can tank spells all day. Keep your feet moving."
"Got it" I said. "Don't get hit, hit it back harder. Sounds easy."
One of the mages behind me muttered, "You're gonna regret saying that."
We stopped at the threshold of the chamber. The massive stone doors loomed in front of us, carved with crude depictions of ogres tearing men apart.
Kazuo's voice carried just enough to reach the whole raid. "Once we're inside, no retreat. Focus fire on my mark. If you can't handle the heat, stay out here."
He glanced at me.
"You in?"
I rolled my shoulders, feeling the hum of Stonehide under my skin, the pull of Spatial Rift Step ready in my muscles.
"Let's kill the bastard."
Kazuo pushed the doors open. The air that rushed out was hot and rank, heavy with the scent of something big and very much alive.
Inside, shadows shifted.
The Steelhide Ogre stepped forward, each footfall making the ground shudder. Its skin gleamed like metal in the torchlight.
My grip tightened on my spear.