Survivors of the sacrificial explosion had stopped arriving at the clinic. A trickle of people slowly came in every time a collapsed building was excavated, but more bodies were laid in rows then brought into the clinic. Instead, the clinics were getting hammered by injured guards and soldiers. Physical fighters, Max noticed, were among the worst off. It made sense, they were the ones getting close to undead rather than [Mages] or [Archers] who could attack at range.

Every now and then, a group of defenders would arrive with torn and blackened skin, broken bones and ruptured organs. Max assumed that skeletal mages were the cause, but none of the injured were in good enough states to answer.

Max was afraid that he would recognize one of the injured. Clammy, Reep, hells even Bishop. He tried not to think about it, but he was worried about his friends fighting on the front lines. He was even more worried that they would arrive and be laid to rest with the other deceased without him even noticing.

During all of this, Emi had been Max’s guiding light. It was embarrassing to Max, but Emi was the more mature one in situations like this. He wasn't sure if it was her natural instincts, but Emi always proved to have a level head when Max was not in danger. Every time Max’s mind would slip back to worrying about the others, Emi would step in and slowly bring his anxiety back down to manageable levels.

Emi was also by his side whenever a child came through the clinic. Max did not like working on children. He was glad to help but seeing hurt kids but a bad taste in his mouth. Emi had to reel him in a few times when especially bad kid patients came in. Once they were stable, however, Max would find time to visit them again. For most of the kids, they were alone. Either their parents perished in the explosions, were a part of the guard, or simply got separated, Max made sure they were looked after.

While he worked, Vel kept a watchful eye on him. She remembered her time back on her home isle of Hunlun, back before she left her clan. Vel remembered the small clinic she worked at all of those centuries ago. She remembered her master throwing her straight into the fire, expecting her to temper and harden, but in reality, she was bent and almost broke.

Vel didn’t like thinking of her past. There were many reasons she left, but her first experience at the clinic was the starting point for her loathing of the Isles. It wasn’t until her second or third year that she finally began to see progress in masking her emotions when it came to horrific injuries. Vel remembered the praise she would get after operating on particularly bad cases. She also remembered the lashing and scars she would receive when she’d fail.

Maybe that's why Vel was watching over Max. Visually he seemed to be fine, but after each new person, his shoulders visibly sunk lower, his movements became more sluggish, and he lost the glint in his eyes. Vel could tell that it was slowly taking a toll on him, one that left unchecked would only prove detrimental in his development. She didn’t want Max to become a cynic like her.

“Max let’s take a break. Close our eyes for an hour, meditate, do something. We deserve it.”

It took Max a few moments to even realize what Vel was asking. There was so much to do, and at first, he didn’t understand why Vel would ask him to sit out for a while. It wasn’t until Max took a step back and really looked over the clinic. New cases came in, but they were nothing like how they were at the start. Most everyone was stable. Healers moved slower, more methodically.

Max and Vel’s job of emergency healing was over. They moved along with the other healers slowly fixing injuries. They were needed still, but not in the capacity that they had once been. It was a surreal moment for Max. For the past four or five hours, Max had been working himself to the bone. He had spent his whole mana pool many times over without break. He was exhausted.

Max nodded and the three of them left, on their way out, Max spotted a few healers he recognized. They were asleep. That was more confirmation to Max that he should be taking a break. They found a spot under a nearby shady tree. They were close enough to the clinic that they could react to an emergency, but far enough away that they could rest.

“It's terrible in there.” Max said.

“Indeed. But you get used to it… Unfortunately.”

“I feel guilty not helping…”

“Good.” Vel whispered with a yawn. “If you didn’t feel guilty, you’d be a monster.”

Max looked at Vel trying to think of a response. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was slow and even. She was asleep already. Max took that as his que to sleep also. But he couldn’t. He wanted to continue to help, but he knew his legs would give out if he tried to stand. Once his exhausted body felt the euphoric sensation of rest, his muscles wouldn't allow him to move. He was stuck between a worn-out body and an overactive mind.

Max glanced at his bond. She was, of course, asleep. He watched her slowly breathe in and purr out. He found himself breathing to her rhythm and smiled. He closed his eyes and entered the infinite beach. The waters were rougher than usual, but not as they had been at the tomb entrance.

He felt the small waves crash into his feet. He felt the harmony of the water. He felt the bliss of the air. He felt at home while in the middle of a war zone. He wasn’t contempt with sitting around for Vel to wake up, however. Instead, he trained his manipulation level. He spun orbs of water around himself while creating small constructs.

He thought back to a few hours before the explosions. Vel was telling him that a potential path for him was simply a high manipulation level. That, to him, sounded better than learning spells. He was already going to have to learn Space Spells, why should he over encumber himself with Water Spells also?

But that got Max thinking. How would he recreate some of his spells with just manipulation? A few such as Spouts and Bolts, were going to be easy, but what about the more complicated ones like his sword or Rain Cloud.

His sword may be a special case compared to the others, however. The system crutch maintained the spell for him at cost of mana. If he was going to create a sword only with manipulation, he would have to be actively concentrated on the sword to keep its size and shape. But that line of thinking also gave Max ideas. He would extend or bolster the sword mid combat, similar to what Bishop does with his constructs.

Recreating a Rain Cloud was simple enough, but at the same time very labor intensive. He could already pull or push water into the atmosphere, condensing vapors was child's play at this point for him. The only issue would be mana cost, something that would be solved if he figured out how to power-loop the cloud.

During his testing of Rain Cloud, he could imbue his will, but he never figured out anything past that. It was possible, his first-time cast-

He sprang to his feet on the sandy beach.

“That's it!” He exclaimed. “It created its own power source when I manipulated the vapors! I didn’t use the system spell!”

Emi felt his sudden flux of emotion and joined the beach. Max told her his theory and the two began testing. They had only just begun when Max felt a figure approach. He could tell through his senses that she was a rather lithe Elvish woman. Max didn’t think she was a threat, but he didn’t want to take any chances.

A cage of water quickly formed around the woman. The sudden showing of power caused the woman to shriek, waking Vel. Max only just now opened his eyes and took in the woman. He instantly recognized her. He had seen her around the war room before, but that wasn’t enough to suspend his suspicion.

“Can I help you?” Max said calmly.

“I-Lord Honeygreen requests your presence.” She quickly found her professionalism.

“You should announce your presence from afar to resting [Mages]. Especially in times like this.” Vel chided.

“Of course. I apologize.” She bowed. “Lord Honeygreen wants you to be escorted to the war room. Shall we...go now?”

“No.” Vel said, causing both to look at her strangely. “We will go to the war room separately. I don’t know you. For all I know, you could be leading us into a trap. We will find our own route.”

“Alright. I will inform him of your hasty approach.” She bowed again causing Max to drop his spell. She quickly headed back the way she came.

Vel watched her go, slightly expecting something to happen. She sighed and stood upon her wobbly feet.

“Let's go see what the old man wants. Maybe they spotted Mallor.”

Max stood and followed, ignoring his creaking joints and dead muscles. The walk over was rather eye opening. They walked the same path as earlier, around the edge of the destruction. Bodies laid on the periphery of the ruin, cloth draped over what body parts remained of some. All had stains of red bleeding through, some were almost completely dyed.

Max thought that most of the bodies were arriving at the clinic, but he was wrong. The clinic's body count was in the dozens, but during the walk to Honeygreen, Max counted 77. They weren't lined in rows, rather they were laid to rest in a safe spot. A few times Max and Vel had to cautiously step across a few bodies. Wreckage and debris narrowed the roads and people had pulled the dead from the passage. Max hated Mallor. He hated Buzluc. He hated Vast Empire.

How is this allowed? Why have the world powers not purged Ikzag’s followers from this planet? Max thought.

As they walked through the broken city, Max noticed they were being followed. A man was jumping from rooftop to rooftop, keeping pace a few dozen steps behind. At first Max thought it was Mallor, but the man’s shape and size didn’t match the description he had received of Mallor. The man seemed familiar, but Max had to see him to know for sure.

As they turned a corner, Max double blinked straight up. He grabbed hold of a long branch that extended over the street. He ignored Vel’s surprised expression along with the subsequent questions.

He saw the man and instantly knew who he was. One of the first days after his arrival to Lesterwood, Vel brought him and the others to an old magical shop. The shop itself was special, it was after all, the store where he received the box with Emi’s egg. But before he entered, he held the door open for a man. The man was taller than average, but nothing out of the ordinary. Other than his entirely black eyes.

Max hadn’t thought about the man except when he met Head Priestess Burk. They shared the same black eye trait. The trait of the Angelic. Max made eye contact with the Angelic on the roof. A sick smirk grew on the man’s face and with a raise of his hand, the wind picked up. Branches shook and leaves stirred. Suddenly, the man was gone. Not just invisible, actually gone.

He masked his spell with the leaves? Max guessed.

“What the hells boy! Are we under attack?” Vel yelled up the tree.

Max blinked back to the ground.

“We were being followed by an Angelic.”

Her eyes went wide. “How do you know it was an Angelic?” She whispered.

“I've seen him before. The first time you took us to Sythia’s shop. He was leaving as we were entering.”

“We are going to need to have a lengthy conversation with Burk when we get back. Maybe she can ask Ofes for some answers. She does owe you.”

“Which is being repaid with teaching.” Max shook his head.

“What about the Healer then? Could you ask him questions?”

“I think everything that has been happening to me is above his pay grade.”

Vel laughed. “The Healer is too low on the totem?”

Max grimly nodded.

“If you ever write a biography, it's going to sell a lot of copies.”

Max couldn't help but laugh. While Vel didn’t intend it to be a joke, she accepted his reaction, nonetheless. Vel didn’t want him to lose what made him, him. She thought it to be good for him to be able to laugh in situations like this.

“Come on, I don’t want to be out here any longer.” Vel finally said.

The guards let Max and Vel pass. At this point, every guard stationed in Honeygreen knew who they were. Most even knew them by name. It was eerily quiet on their walk down the halls. Normally chatter echoed off the inner walls, but this time it was almost silent. Max figured it was a testament to the dire situation the city was in. As they neared closer to the war room, the noise began to pick up. Elves rushed around from table to table, shuffling papers and interpreting magical messages.

Honeygreen sat on his throne, his head in his hands. The man looked defeated, and in all honesty, he was. He looked up after he noticed the shift in the atmosphere. People seemed to perk up around Max. Even though he wasn’t using his aura and he himself was downcast, the guards remembered his speech. They remembered what he stands for and why he was here.

“Max. Vel.” Honeygreen squinted. “Emi. Please come sit with me, I have something we need to discuss.”

The three walked over and sat. The other [Arbors] were nothing more than husks at this point. They were splitting the consciousness and leaving their vessels where they sat.

“I can end the fighting.” Honeygreen dropped in a whisper.

Max and Vel looked at each other.

“Then… do it?” Max said hesitantly.

Honeygreen exhaled. “I haven't been exactly truthful with you both. I told you the tomb is impenetrably sealed, and while true, it's not completely accurate.”

“It will become unsealed if you stop the fighting.” Vel guessed.

“Correct.” He nodded. “If I expand my influence over the city, it will break all of the wards and seals. Not to mention that I will be unresponsive in defenses as small as the Tomb’s Gate.”

“What about the others? Why can’t they spread?” Max asked.

“They can’t unless I go first. It is a secret of [Arbors]. One that I hesitate to tell you… But then again… The oldest and most influential [Arbor] truly is the leader of the other [Arbors]. My roots interweave though theirs in such a way that if they expand anymore, I will destroy them. It is one of the few safeguards I have over the [Arbors] and why killing Salvia was so simple.”

“And you expanding first allows the others enough room to expand also?”

“Correct.”

“How are the barricades holding?” Vel asked.

“Well, enough right now. But it is expected that only a few more volley cycles will commence before the barrier falls for good.”

Vel cursed. “What about Revenants?”

“Bishop has already killed one, and a report came in a few minutes before you entered saying that an adventuring team killed a second.”

“Only two? What is Mallor doing…”

“But you could end all of the fighting by simply expanding?” Max asked.

“That is a very simplified way to put it, but yes.”

“I vote for you to do it.” Max said.

“I agree. The barrier falling is going to be detrimental.” Vel added.

“I also agree. That is why I sent for you three.” Honeygreen explained. “I need trusted people to watch the gate in my absence.”

“Fine.” Vel said. “Send word to Bishop to retreat to the gate.”

“I’m afraid that will not be possible.” Honeygreen shook his head. “Sending word is easy, but he will be unable to enter my trunk once I expand. It is a safety measure of the class. I will be in a vulnerable form, and anyone inside could potentially kill me… I will have to send everyone out except you three.”

Vel thought for a moment. “Why are we needed then? If no one can get in, why do we need to protect the gate?”

“After Salvia was confirmed to be a traitor, I slowly moved my roots. Not enough for the others to notice, but enough that I could look for tunnels. I found a few, but they disturbed me. They seemingly started and stopped at random. There was no connection or central hub, but a random pocket of air underground.”

“Cave in?” Max asked.

“No, the soil nearby was untouched.” Honeygreen tapped his fingers against his arm rest. “No, this is something different. I suspect a magical artifact or tool of some kind.”

“Teleportation and excavation…” Vel whispered.

“Hxut’s Spade…” Honeygreen whispered back.

“Shit.”

“What's going on?” Max asked.

“Hxut is the God of Dirt and Stone. His Spade is a Divine Artifact that was created a few dozen centuries ago. The old Dwarf capital of Hifdil is said to be created using it. It can tunnel through anything and is said to use Space Magic to move the loose dirt above ground as well as allow the user to teleport.”

“And how does Mallor have such a Divine Artifact?”

“Hifdil was the old Dwaven capital. It was targeted by Vast Empire during their height of strength. As far as I am aware, the mountain the city was under was completely leveled by the end of the siege. They must have taken it from the armory.”

“Vast Empire leveled a mountain?”

“I have not seen it myself, but that is what was spread, yes. And before you ask, the [Stone Mage] who was responsible overloaded himself with mana, thus sacrificing himself for the spell.”

“But one sacrifice shouldn’t be able to level a mountain.” Max said aghast.

“Most of the city's population made into sacrifices. The city was lost before the mountain crumbled.”

“Oh...”

Vel shifted her attention. “And you think Mallor will be able to use the Spade to tunnel into you?”

“No. I think he will use the teleportation function to teleport into my trunk. I am not sure if my protections protect against Divine level teleportation.” Vel breathed out, hard. Max did the same.

“We proceed with the plan then.” Vel said. “Mallor may have the Spade, but he is just a [Reanimator]. Unless he’s able to teleport a small army, I should be able to handle him.”

“Thank you. The both of you. Without you, the city would surely have fallen. I am forever in your debt.”

“Not mine. Just Max and the rest of his team. After all, I didn’t want to help” Vel smirked.

“Regardless. I will find a way to repay you all.”

Vel rolled her eyes. “Let's get moving. People are in danger.”

“Ready?” Bishop whispered.

Clammy didn’t respond, instead she started her breathing exercises. Long deep breaths entered her lungs and she slowly exhaled letting the burn of having no oxygen fill her form. She imbued mana into her lungs with the focus of expanding her capillaries. When she couldn’t bear the pain any longer, she breathed in. The pattern restarted.

Reep found herself breathing along with Clammy. She knew that it would do her no good, but she felt that if there was the slightest possibility, it would be worth it. The exercise the girls were doing is a part of Clammy’s battle trance training. A few downsides to fighting in a trance is the increased heart rate and shortened breath. The breathing exercise combats both of those worries while also helping achieve the correct state of mind.

Slowly Clammy’s eyes glazed over. She looked out across the battlefield, but she wasn’t focused on one simple thing. Instead, she was taking everything in. Her mind was overclocking the data her senses picked up. Her mana system’s efficiency also changed. Where she once would spend extra mana powering spells, she now knew exactly what it would take. She was a fledgling in the realm of battle trances, but she had already completed the most difficult step.

In front of them the landscape was desolate and scarred. Dead, withered, blackened trees littered the once lush forest. A remnant of what once was could be seen across the horizon. Undead poured out of the green tree line, forming ranked and mindlessly walking towards the city. They were met with a white, semi-transparent, solid wall of pure mana extended from the ground high to the sky.

The area closest to the barrier had been significantly lowered. Craters had been blown deep and wide, creating a sort of trench the undead had to overcome. A long deep horn sounded causing a groan to sound from the wall. Spells flared and mana filled the air. The second horn sounded causing the sky to brighten and the air to burn.

“Start getting ready, Reep.”

Without saying a word, Reep drew her bow. Power started condensing into the tip of her arrow. The iron tip melted away revealing a perfect arrowhead made of pure electrified mana. She had made some modifications from the last time she attempted the cast. A blue box hadn’t appeared signifying that she wasn’t quite there yet. Hopeful with this cast, it will be a complete spell.

The final horn sounded and the last of the spells landed. The last few cycles, the barrier had been slower to appear. This time was no different. The wall slowly flickered into existence, allowing more and more undead passage in its downtime.

“Straight ahead, slightly to the right.” Bishop spoke. “The weird looking bird.”

Reep scoured over the horde, finding her target. The weird looking bird was exactly that, a bird. But it was a bird made of humanoid bones, woven together around an undead host. The undead bird was a Revenant, and a powerful one at that. It first made its presence known last cycle. The 4-meter-tall bird landed beyond the barrier with a thud, uncaring of the undead it killed.

It let loose an ear-splitting shriek that caused people to bleed from their ears, before flapping its massive wings and taking the air. Bishop was finally able to land a hit, breaking off its left wing. Now grounded and without its primary source of offense, the bird marched along with the other undead.

The barrier fully formed behind the bird causing Reep to loose her arrow. A small shockwave exploded around Reep, showing how much power was poured into the arrow. The arrow flew straight and true, piercing through the immobile bird. Unlike last time, the arrow teetered off after it exited the target, only taking out a few of the undead behind.

Reep tisked. I expected More.

“Confirmation?” Bishop asked.

“Level forty-one Undead Revenant.” Reep answered, ignoring the golden light that emanated from her.

“We’re up Clammy.” Bishop said, jumping down off the wall.

He landed with a harsh thump while Clammy slowly lowered herself. They began forward towards the wave of undead. Working together with each other and the other physical fighters, they slowly dismantled their way through. Bishop, of course, did the most work. His fighting style paired with his level and experience proved no contest.

Clammy was second, however. Even though she was one of the lowest leveled fighters, her battle trance kept her fighting long after others began to retreat. Clammy was never blindsided or ambushed, in her mind, she kept track of every small thing. She knew how many steps away a skeleton with a spear was. She knew that an Abomination was slowly making its way to her. She knew a fallen adventurer got possessed by a wraith, and subsequently killed the adventurer for a second time.

It was hard on her to kill the possessed man, but she had seen earlier the power of wraiths. A few cycles before, a guard was possessed for no longer than a few seconds before he self-destructed. The screams of nearby defenders was seared into her memory.

As Clammy fought, her breath became visible, an effect from filling her lungs with mana. It was also a sign that her trace was taking too much of a toll on her body. It was time for her to retreat, but the only problem was that a second Revenant showed itself.

Five chunks of undead and bone launched from their positions in the horde. They flew high into the air and collided, morphing and absorbing each other. As they fell, the chunks formed into a humanoid body. The body came equipped with a full suit of armor and a great sword significantly longer than its body. The Revenant landed and against the contrast of a normal undead, the size difference was apparent. Bishop was the size of a child in the shadow of the Revenant.

“Can you continue? I may need help taking this one down.” Bishop asked Clammy knowing his limits with high health targets.

“Yes.” Clammy replied, mana augmenting her voice. “Let’s finish it fast.”

Bishop exploded out with a smile. He moved faster than Clammy had ever seen. Clammy made chase as Bishop made first contact. With the swing of a massive construct war hammer, Bishop aimed for a leg. The leg separated from the torso, dodging, and reforming back together in the same motion.

Clammy’s attack was next. Similarly, to Bishop, she attacked with a powerful lateral swing. Differently from Bishop, when the leg separated Clammy kept it stationary with her magic. The swing connected, cracking bones and denting its leg guards. Arrows began to rebound off its chest plate originating from Reep on the wall.

After dodging a strike from the long sword, Bishop attacked again. This time when he swung, Clammy made sure to keep the leg connected. Again, bones were broken and it's armor dented. It was noticeably slower, but it still marched forward. A few spells rained from above. Fire exploded around its head causing it to stumble forward. Ice formed under its feet causing it to slip. Shadows bent up and strapped the Revenant to the ground.

Nearby adventures rushed in, landing free hits and strikes. The Revenant vibrated softly trying to separate itself, but Clammy held it in place. It flailed around, fighting to break free. Shadows and ever-growing ice kept it pinned. The beatdown continued until it finally stopped moving. More than a few golden lights erupted out of the nearby defenders. Cheers and victory screeches sounded from the wall. Bishop rushed to Clammy’s side, grabbing her, and resting her against him.

“That was well done kiddo. I’m not sure how long that would have taken if it kept separating to dodge. Rest well, the others will take it from here.” Bishop reached over and scooped her into a princess carry. He retreated back to their spot on the wall.

Clammy was breathing heavily, but otherwise was fine. She was more than fine, actually. She had done it. She fought and wasn’t a burden. She found her style and achieved glory in battle. If she wasn’t exhausted, she would be celebrating. Golden light swirled around her causing her smile to enlarge even more.

“Level thirteen.” She said, “What about you?”

“Eighteen and six.” Reep responded between picking off targets.

“That has to be some kind of record, right? Six levels in the span of a few hours, that wasn’t from one high leveled enemy?” Bishop chuckled.

“Four actually, I leveled up twice over the last week at the wall.”

Bishop was about to respond when the ground began to rumble. He couldn’t pinpoint a source and eventually concluded that it was an earthquake. The rumbling slowly became harsher and harsher forcing all to kneel. Bishop readied himself for a counterattack, but when the rumbling hit its pinnacle the ground broke, revealing hundreds of thick roots.