"Tactical Map: Display!!"

The new option of party management allows me to see a circular radar showing the location of party members. I can't say who is who from it alone, and there is no terrain display, but I won't complain.

"Zahariel is south-east from our location!" I yell for the girls to listen. I need to teach my monsters how to understand human speech. And my humans how to understand monsters.

A huge explosion erupts from that direction shortly after. We could see the blast and the smoke cloud rising and forming the mushroom. Zahariel was next to it because his HP bar took a dive for the worse. Below 50%.

"I lost a bee in that direction!" Helen drops her shoulders and frowns. She really values all her pets.

"Call the others back. I'm going there to see what is happening. Stay here and protect the camp."

Helen is sulking, "It was my mistake to spread out the bees. Harmonic bees are stronger together."

"Hold it together, love. We need to save Zahariel now. Call everyone back and stay here. I'll go retrieve Hilde's favorite angel," I try to comfort her then turn to address the monsters, "Kochuraerc protect the humans too. Mittens, don't let Helen do anything crazy."

"Tic acknowledged!"

"Dimension Anchor!"

I have no idea if the mantis knows what crazy is, but my meaning should be conveyed. I take out the living shield and a goblin spear from storage and run to where Zahariel's pointer is. I cross over the creek and charge in a straight line.

The smoke clears while I run to the site of the explosion and two white beams fly over my head. It seems Marcy is sniping something. Ahead of me, there are some black bat-like things flying around like vultures. I press on at full speed.

Some forty feet away from the center of the blast zone I see a glowing figure surrounded by black shades. It is small, has a golden hue, wings and is holding a flaming sword. The black shades look like bat-winged black-skinned small people with curved horns. The scene with Mittens from yesterday replays in my head. Don't split the party, isn't it common sense? One of the black shades is hit by a magic arrow snipe from Marcy and tumbles away. She is shooting from over seven hundred feet away. Impressive.

The glowing figure should be Zahariel, and it is looking bad. The right arm is bent in a way people's arms don't stay naturally, and his HP is decreasing even though he is healing himself as much as his MP Exhaustion state allows. I continue running at full gas.

The flying shades, I'll call them imps for the lack of a better term enter my javelin range. I pick the biggest one and let the spear fly true.

"Power Javelin!"

The surprise strike hits the imp square in the chest and drags it backward some dozen feet before plummeting back down.

The other imps notice my presence and let a high pitched angry hiss at me. Bring it on, the more you focus on me the more you leave my friend alone. They start chanting, and several streaks of pure blackness fly to me. Impossible to dodge all of them I raise the living shield to protect my head and torso and push forward. The horn spear comes to my hand from the item box. A rain of black bolts pepper the shield and my exposed legs and arms, numbing and chilling the places they've hit. This is no ordinary cold, it is a deeper, sinister feeling.

Skill Dark Resistance (D) level 1 awakened.

Darkness magic. And of a higher rank than normal elemental magic. About 28% of my improved max HP was shaved in this volley. I ignore the new pain, store the living shield and leap over the glowing figure of Zahariel, unleashing my spear technique in mid-air.

"Circle Slash!"

A third of the imps is caught by the spear. Most were bashed by the shaft instead of sliced at the tip, but the force of the troll arms behind the spear sends the imps flying on a home run. The others take a healthy distance from me but I know they will just shoot more darkness here. Most of them were only knocked away and will return.

I land next to Zahariel and glancing around I can see some bigger creatures similar to the flying imps scattered around but dead. A glowing red rock sits on a crater at the middle of the explosion site. No time to wonder what they are. I swap the horn spear for my magician staff and cover Zahariel with my body just like I did with Helen against the wolves.

"Healing! Healing!"

The effects of my spells are diminished and so is my regeneration. It seems this darkness magic impedes HP recovery. Above me, the light is sucked out from the environment as a new volley of darkness spells is shot down on us.

Skill Faith level 6. Skill Dark Resistance (D) level 2. Skill Healing Magic level 4.

I take the brunt of the bolts, but some of them hit Zahariel. Fortunately, half of it is redirected to me via sacrifice aura. 25% of my max HP is shaved off again. Holding the angel with my left arm, I use [Instant Movement] to get away from a diving charge of some imps and run back to base. His aura flickers and loses intensity. I can't use short jaunt because I can't carry creatures with me. He lets go of the flaming sword and it vanishes.

The imp swarm is pursuing, and I keep taking dark bolts on my back. I try to zig-zag around but to no avail. I keep casting healing spells on Zahariel, but it only stalls the decrease of his status.

After running for more than half the way, a huge rock followed by a shower of magic arrows fly over my head and I hear the sounds of imps being crushed and impaled behind me. Kochuraerc is running to me and is already picking up another boulder to throw.

"Return to the group, Kochuraerc! Don't get hit by those dark things."

"Go ahead! I can fight!"

Ahead of me, I see Helen setting a barrier to cover the gorillas left behind and Marcy atop the cliff is shooting another homing barrage on the imps. Mittens buzzes over and dive into melee. I can't run and leave them behind.

"Summon Water Elemental!"

Upon the creek, a mass of water twirls up as if being sucked by the sky and takes the shape of a big twenty feet tall maelstrom of water vaguely resembling some bouncy tire company mascot. I can summon a water elemental anywhere, even in a desert, but if there is a natural source it can be made stronger.

"Kochuraerc, Mittens, fall back behind the elemental! Cover our retreat and doesn't let any imps fly past you!"

The elemental swings its huge arm and washes away a couple of imps that did not stop to engage Kochuraerc or Mittens. Flames erupt in the gorilla's red mane and he tosses a blazing log to scatter some imps. Mittens soars and slashes at the imps in a deadly blade dance up in the air, its fanning wings looking like a skirt glistening in the sunlight.

I can't join them because I must stop this idiotic soloer from dying. And if I can't dispel this darkness effect, I must fight it with the tools I got. I'll max out the innate regeneration skill with SP. It is no good to let someone die because I am hoarding game stats.

"Blood Bond!"

The technique learned back in the dungeon that I had not the need to use until now. I can let him borrow half the power of my innate regeneration skill. The skill concentrates the energy on my wrist and I rip it open with my fangs. Immediately after I press the cut wrist to the mouth of the angel. Please work.

"C'mon, it is my job to go away do idiotic things and end up half-dead!"

I keep casting healing magic on him. Around me I see Marcy spamming her barrage, Helen tossing firebolts on the imps that got past the elemental. Mittens swiftly dodges the dark bolts and cuts the imps. Kochuraerc breathes a gout of fire onto another pack. The black ichor from the dark projectiles stain the water of the elemental. It seems in pain. Where are these imps coming from? There weren't this many when I reached Zahariel.

There must be some counter to this encroaching darkness. His aura turned off already. There are some black spots in his body where he was hit by the bolts. And it seems they are growing! What can I do? Maybe buy magic skills to find a spell. Healing magic 5. {Area Healing} learned. Healing magic 7. {Healing pulse} learned, this is a heal over time buff. I'll cast it on him. Duration, level minutes. With the added regeneration from the troll skill and the spell stabilized. his HP. While they last.

I have to stop the imp waves or soon I'll have another patient to treat. I'll leave Zahariel with Helen. Set a second dimension achor here where I am.

Skill Space Magic level 5.

{Short-Range Gate} learned.

Chant time: 1 minute.

Creates a gate between two anchors no further than x 2,000 ft apart. Anchors are not expended. Lasts until dismissed or another gate-type spell is used.

MP to cast depends on distance. Continuously drains MP while open.

One minute of casting time is too long. I'll just run with Zahariel to where Helen is. She is defending the noncombatants with a barrier and throwing firebolts on approaching imps.

When I reach the barrier, she lowers it for a while and I drop Zahariel with a female gorilla. He is immune to fire anyway.

"Grendel, what are these black spots?"

"Evil magic. They hinder healing or HP recovery. Keep the brat from dying and recall Mittens if things get too though. I'm going there to find and stop the imps from spawning."

"Quick Jaunt!" I teleport back to the far anchor. I stop a few moments to recast the dimension anchor and assess the combat. The imps are coming from the crater site. The summoner or the spawn point should be there. Mittens and Kochuraerc have a few wounds but they seem fine. I think I'll make a beeline to the crater and try to find where the imps come from.

"Guys, focus on holding the line!" I shout to the fighting monsters. I'll have the elemental move out of the water stream and advance into dry land. I am afraid that ichor will contaminate the creek.

After they acknowledge me, I run back to the crater, throwing snowballs at the incoming imps. Wish I had an AOE. Other than setting myself on fire.

There is a pattern to the imps. They are coming in groups of 3 to 5 and there is about a half-minute interval between them. They also do not have a pemadra and even if they leave a body behind, it melts after a few minutes.

Reaching the crater, some things changed. The glowing meteor in the middle is no longer glowing even though there is still heat coming from it. The smoke also has dissipated almost entirely, and there are dozens of humanoid bodies scattered around. They have ash-grey skin, curved ram horns in their heads, an elongated chin, nose and ears and bat wings with a length of an arm and half. I'll call them devils.

Some imps spawn again when the timer is up, and I throw snowballs from the tip of my staff to kill them.

Skill Frost Magic level 5. {Flash Freeze} learned. Single target. Attempts to encase target in ice and cause [paralysis (frozen)] status. Skill Water Mastery level 6. Skill Staff Mastery level 6.

Nice, but no cookie. Presence detection showed a reaction right after the imps were defeated. Someone with a high level stealth skill is hiding around here. Two can play this game. I sneak to a overturned boulder and wait. 3, 2, 1...

A few seconds later 3 more imps appear. I let them pass by me and focus on the spot they appeared. Gotcha. The presence appears and then weakens, but I am pinpointing the detection on the area, and stealth is greatly reduced in effect once there is suspicion and evidence of being there. Store the staff.

I sneak to where the caster of the imps is, counting the seconds. In the distance, I hear Kochuraerc's firebreath. This wave of imps is gone. 5 seconds remaining. There is a hole at the edge of the crater and it is hard to see inside.

3, 2, 1... I hear a chant in a low voice. I toggle the Immolation aura and jump into the hole. Dragon claws are active too. Someone is gonna get hurt now.

"Summon ..." The chant is cut short by a raging flaming troll that busts this devil's hiding spot. I see a devil's face making a perfect expresssion of terror.

"Emperor's Might! Dragon Claws!" His terror is cut short and so is his body. The elongated claws clad in draconic power teared ribbons out of his torso. The fire aura makes his dark red-purple blood hiss and boil as soon as it comes out of his body. His legs were mangled. He probably was cripped by the meteor and hid in here.

I toggle the aura off and jump out. Taking a minute to survey my surroundings, Kochuraerc and Mittens are coming in my direction and the water elemental is still advancing slowly as my last orders. I'll dismiss it when it arrives at the crater. Make a new lake here. The ground is glazed, so there is little chance the ichor will seep into the ground.

Maybe loot the bodies around here? There is no movement. Charred devil corpses all around. Broken, twisted, melted weapons. Detect treasure. A few coins. What was this meteor?

"I see you took out the source of the enemies, leader!"

"Tic not tasty tic"

"Good. Are you hurt? Any black spots on you?"

I'll Set an anchor here. The elemental arrives and dissolves in the still smoldering crater. Columns of steam rise.

"The door home is open. Go inside." A shimmering gate appears and the image of the rocky clearing can be seen on the other side.

Helen (monster tamer) gained 3 levels. Marcy (mystic archer) gained 3 levels. Zahariel (magician) gained 2+3 levels. Grendel (super villager) gained 3+3 levels. 38 skil points gained! Kochuraerc gained 9 levels.

Combat ends. But the crisis still remains. The dark magic shows no sign of weakening. Marcy gets down with a series of quick and precise jumps.

She looks very worried, "What were those things? And what evil magic is this? This black thing is eating you, Grendel!"

"I don't know, but if we don't do someting we are losing Zahariel. Helen, what kind of magic is this? I got a 'dark resistance' skill when I was hit with it!"

"Then maybe some light magic or holy magic. But the only one that can use those skills is Zahariel!"

I reapply Healing Pulse while I check my options.

Skill Dark Resistance (D) level 3.

Even the resistance skill is a rank above the others. But it slows the progress of the encroaching darkness. There is one neglected magic here. Blessing magic grants turn undead at level 1. What is available at the higher levels? Level 3, {Circle of Protection}. Creates a stationary ward that blocks evil from entering. Level 5, {Channeling}. While caster is stationary and channels MP into the spell, grants magic and damage resistance to party members in a moderate range. It could help resist the damage, but isn't a solution, just a temporary patch. Level 7, {Heroism}. Cast on another party member, grants increased attack, defense, damage.

I'll blow the SP. Healing magic 9, {Cleanse}. Greatly reduces the remaining duration of poison and disease. Healing Magic 10, {Full Heal}. No cast time, hideous MP consumption, Heals 100% of target HP.

Better than nothing. "Full Heal!" His HP raised from 15% to 68%. This stupid debuff is reducing 47% of the healing done.

Skill Dark Resistance (D) level 4.

I am not much better, but as long as I endure it the resistance will take care of the debuff. Level 4 has stalled the progress.

"We willl have to keep healing him and wait for his body to fight the darkness. We won't travel until he recovers."

It will be one long vigil. I bet this kid has a [Darkness Weakness (innate)] skill on his status that he hid from us.