It only took a few more steps to reach the next bend in the tunnel. Ahead was a fully cobbled area, with the sewage draining beneath it.
For an actual sewer, the design made no sense, but rarely did anything else in this world.
We moved forward in our diamond formation. Then I heard the scrape of stone under Jake's boot, and in the next instant darts shot from both walls.
If not for the ever-present golden barrier surrounding Jake whenever he needed it most, he would have been hit for sure.
Only a second later a swarm of ratmen came skittering out from small tunnels cut into the walls around the room.
The tunnels were far too small for any of us to crawl into, but for the ratmen they made perfect ambush points.
[Level 28 Ratman]
They were not elites, but with that many of them it did not matter.
There was no room to retreat, so I made the call.
"Circle!"
It was a formation built around protecting Sheral. We closed around her, each of us accepting that we were probably going to take hits.
Hunter, quicker to react than any of us, was already firing into the swarm while Falk flew in front of me and blasted the front of the wave backward with a gust of wind.
Seizing the chance, I formed three fireballs in the air, the mana barely stabilizing before I launched them into the crowd.
[Killed 7x Level 28 Ratman: 189 XP]
[You have leveled up!]
[Killed 4x Level 28 Ratman: 36 XP]
[Killed 5x Level 28 Ratman: 45 XP]
[Mana: 522/1035] (Previous max's were wrong if you're keeping track, this one is accurate to his new INT)
Even with the fireballs there were more coming for me, I only had a moment to look to my side, seeing that Jake was handling it fine, his armor hits as his hammer delivered its wrath upon the creatures.
Hunter was doing well also, shooting multiple arrows at once while Deadman seemed to unnaturally draw the attention of the ratmen. Deadman was even covered in a golden glow that was blocking hits from ever breaking his skin.
It seemed Deadman could use a taunt, which further explained how Hunter was capable of going on this long.
I only had a few moments to think before the next wave would be on me, and I needed to spend them as carefully as I could.
I closed my eyes, it was stupid, but with my eyes closed I could see my thoughts more clearly.
Carefully I drew out a thread of mana, forming a fire rune out of it.
Next I made a thick Leyline to surround us, placing these runes facing out across the entire circle.
The last thing to do was commit to my decision.
[Mana: 172/1035]
When I opened my eyes again, the whole room was awash in flame.
The ratmen were barely visible through it, and I realized my mistake almost immediately when I saw Hunter's clothes catching fire.
Even when fire is thrown away from you, it is still hot.
And there was a lot of fire.
It put a knot in my side for a second as I prepared to drop the spell, only for a glowing barrier to wrap around all of us.
"Idiot" Sheral said, reprimanding me for my poor decision, but still.
Now that it wasn't going to burn us alive as well, the spell worked with brutal efficiency.
[Killed 20x Level 28 Ratman: 180 XP]
[You have leveled up!]
[Killed 17x Level 28 Ratman: 51 XP]
[Mana: 217/1080]
[
[Stats][Magic][Inventory][Skills][Help]
Mana: 217/1080
Spells:
Magic Missile: 6 Mana
Missile Binding: 15 mana
Mana Fist: 28 Mana
Fireball: 75 Mana
Wall of Fire: X Mana
Locate: 70 Mana
Locate (Map): 140 Mana
Summon: Skinning Knife: 20 Mana
]
Once the last embers burned out, Sheral's barrier fell away.
"Is everyone alright?" I asked, looking around.
"I'm fine," Hunter said.
"Low on mana, but I'm alright," Jake said, brushing ash off his shoulder guards.
"I'm about flat out of mana too, jackass," Sheral said. "That was a pretty stupid move, you know."
"Sorry, but I still stand by the fact that it worked."
"It wasn't the best move," Hunter said, "but there wasn't really a best move."
"Fine. I'll take that."
Sheral only rolled her eyes and sat down.
"I need to rest and recover mana."
"Yeah, same," I said, sitting beside her.
Hunter looked around the room for a moment. A few seconds later, Deadman came running back from the hallway we had entered through. His fur looked a little singed, but not too badly.
"Oh, sorry about that, Hunter."
"Don't be. It's good to see him on fire again."
There was not even a hint of sympathy in his voice as he tossed the beast some raw meat, then hand-fed a few pieces to Falk as well.
Mana took a long time to recover, but one of Sheral's abilities increased the rate for everyone around her.
With proper food and drinks, plus her buff, I was regaining 124 mana an hour.
A good amount.
Still, it took seven hours before we were ready to move again.
We took turns napping.
Except Hunter.
Hunter was the most balanced of all of us stat-wise, and it showed. He could fill almost any role if he had to, even tanking in a pinch, though he would probably never out-damage me. His pets made him even more versatile, Falk especially with her magic.
When my mana was finally back, I stood up.
"Are we ready?"
Everyone nodded or answered in some way, getting back to their feet.
Jake waited until everyone had a weapon ready before moving ahead again.
The feeling of advancing was grating.
All the tension had drained out of me during the break, and now it was coming back all at once.
The cobbled section ended a little farther on, giving way to a narrow metal pipe that wound side to side.
Jake stepped onto it carefully, shield up just in case.
I stayed at the back, making sure nothing coming from behind would pick Sheral first.
After only a few turns, the passage opened into another chamber.
This room was circular, and much cleaner than the rest of the sewer. In the center sat a ratman on a crude wooden throne.
He wore gold jewelry and had the air of a mob boss.
On either side of him stood another ratman, both wearing masks, both with daggers already drawn.
[Level 30 Ratman Bandit King (Epic)]
[Level 30 Ratman Assassin (Elite)]