“Can someone help me retrieve my saber?” Old Saber mentally asked the group.

Old Saber’s weapon was stuck slightly behind the wind dire snake’s neck. In addition to the wound from Old Saber’s weapon, the snake was covered in multiple cuts, burn marks, ice and other injuries. However, despite the numerous injuries, the snake was still fighting fiercely.

By now, Zane and the others fought the snake for more than ten minutes. The wind dire snake's rapid healing made it hard for Zane’s group to severely injure it. The snake rarely let Zane’s group land a powerful attack in the same location twice. Zane didn’t know if the snake’s ability to protect itself came from its conscious decision-making ability or its instinctive one. What Zane did know was that it was very annoying.

The snake wasn’t a skilled opponent. However, it made up for its lacking skill with overwhelming power. Its superior speed, attacks and defenses forced the group to put in a lot more effort than they usually would for the average mana creature. The fight wasn’t challenging it was simply labor intensive.

Zane was unhappy about facing an unchallenging opponent, but he was even more unhappy about his lack of involvement in the fight. Instead of hacking into the green scales of the wind dire snake with his weapon, Zane was in charge of protecting Jason from his attacks. It didn’t take long for Zane to get bored with watching others attack from the sidelines and he decide to swap his axe for his wand.

Using his magic wand made the battle more enjoyable for Zane. Sadly, after using half of his mana Zane had to stop casting spells so he didn’t strain his mind and weaken his reaction time. This forced him to continue focusing on defense only.

The silver lining in focusing on defense was that Zane was able to improve his defensive skills. Zane used his block skill and weapons durability skill whenever the wind dire snake tried to attack Jason. Zane was able to increase both skills by two levels because the snake’s attacks were so strong.

“I got it,” Jason replied. “This is the second time you’ve lost your weapon. I thought swordsmen weren’t supposed to let go of their weapon no matter what.”

“I’m not a swordsman,” Old Saber responded.

Jason created a blue hand made of mana above the snake and grabbed the handle of Old Saber’s saber. The moment Jason pulled the weapon out the snake hissed in anger and directed its gaze toward the blue hand. The snake created another wind blade, destroyed the hand Jason created and blasted Old Saber’s weapon away. However, the saber suddenly stopped and began moving toward Old Saber.

Old Saber was running toward the snake as he summoned his saber. Once his saber was close, he jumped up grabbed and unleashed a powerful slash onto the body of the snake. Mindful of the snake’s counterattack Old Saber immediately moved away before the snake could react.

Less than a second after Old Saber moved away a purplish black arrow slammed into the wound he created. The snake’s anger surged after being wounded by two powerful attacks twice. Immediately it turned its wrath on to the person who attacked it last.

“Come on ugly, give us your best shot,” Jason yelled out loud while he prepared to unleash another spell.

After letting out another angry hiss the wind dire snake opened its mouth and began summoning a large amount of mana from the surroundings. A green sphere of wind formed in front of the snake’s mouth and slowly grew until it was larger than its head.

Zane got rid of his relaxed mindset as he sensed the powerful attack that the snake was preparing to release. He gave Jason a quick glare before focusing on preparing his defenses. He couldn’t create a magic barrier because he would interfere with the spell Jason was casting. Therefore, Zane chose to rely on a different defensive spell and the skill in his weapon.

Skill: Earth Wall

Level: 9, 17%

Tier: 1

Effect: Condenses earth mana into a wall for protection. Defense 1090 - 1635

Cost: 300 mana

Weapon Skill: Earth Shield

Level: Max

Tier: 1

Effect: Creates a shield made of earth. Defense 1650

Cost: 100 mana

Using his wand Zane created a brown stone wall that was two meters taller than him. Next, Zane activated the earth shield skill that was infused into his shield. His shield started to emit a brown glow that extended from the edge of his shield. Finally, Zane switched his wand for his axe and used the Weapon Durability skill on both weapons. Doing so required Zane to use twice the normal energy for the skill.

During the time Zane was making preparations Frank and Whitney were still attacking the snake with spells. Old Saber and Brad stood to the side, ready to attack the moment the snake unleashed its attack. Usually, the snake would turn its attention to the last person that attacked it. However,

Instead of turning to attack Whitney and Frank, it kept its focus on Jason and Zane who was standing in front him instead. Concerned about the snake suddenly shifting its attention Brad and Old Saber didn’t immediately charge forward. Instead, they decided to wait until after the snake attacked to move. Shane took up a stance that would allow him to defend or attack depending on what the wind dire snake decided to do.

“Need help?” Jason asked.

“No,” Zane replied. “But make sure you’re ready to counterattack once I’ve dealt with the snake’s attack. Also, you should move back a bit.”

One second later Zane felt a dangerous amount of mana approach his earth wall. He felt the wall shake when the spere of wind hit it and he watched as the wall was quickly destroyed under the ferocity of the wind. Hefting his shield Zane used Block and braced himself to endure the weakened wind sphere.

Before the attack hit his shield Zane struggled to stay in place as he resisted the fierce wind. The moment the attack impacted Zane’s shield, he lost his connection to the ground and was carried away by the snake’s attack. The snake’s attack managed to push Zane several dozen meters away and he was only off the ground for less than a second.

After Zane landed, he quickly skidded to a halt. The power behind the snake’s attack was greatly reduced by then. Within the next few seconds, the powerful wind from the snake’s attack quickly died down. Other than a loss of six hundred points of health, ruffled clothes and hair, Zane was completely fine.

Looking toward the wind dire snake, Zane saw the snake being assaulted by everyone in his team. Sophie and the others stopped fighting the tier one mana creatures and started helping Jason and the others kill the snake. After the snake finished releasing its attack it became weakened and sluggish. Everyone in Zane’s team knew that now was the best time to kill the snake.

Not wanting to be left out, Zane activated Weapon steps and ran toward the snake. As he got closer Zane took note of the multiple spells bombarding the snake. Old saber and the others were unleashing powerful slashes without pause onto the snake’s body. Once Zane was in range of the snake’s body, he readied his axe, and activated the Sever skill. Controlling the muscles in his body, Zane brought his axe down with all of his strength and delivered three powerful strikes.

Skill: Sever

Level: 30, 39%

Tier: 1

Effect: By channeling internal energy deliver a swift and powerful attack capable of separating two things. Damage 400 - 600

Special effect: Rapid strikes

Cost: 90 stamina

The first strike cut apart the snake’s flesh and dug into its bones. The second strike cut the snake’s bones in two. The third strike was simply a waste of energy. The wind dire snake succumbed to its wound before Zane would complete his third strike. His third strike harmed a body that was already dead and left Zane covered in blood.

Removing his axe was easy but messy. Zane used his mana to clean the blood off himself and his axe. As Zane was removing his axe and cleaning up, he felt a rapid influx of energy. He leveled up. Looking around Zane could see that everyone else leveled up as well.

“That was a great boss fight,” Brad mentally told the group.

“I agree,” Frank said. “I increased the levels of multiple skills, and I gained a level.”

“I’m pretty sure we all gained a level,” Britney responded.

“I’m glad that fights over,” Shane said. “I didn’t think defeating a tier two mana creature would require so much effort.”

“Well, it’s over now,” Jason responded. “I think we should all rest here for a few seconds before we rejoin the fight.”

“I don’t think we can rest,” Sophie said.

“Why not?” Zane was already sitting on the ground with his back against the dead snake. “We helped the elven deal with the tier one mana creatures, and we’ve killed the tier two mana creature, which is something they should have handle. I don’t think it will be a problem for us to rest for a few minutes.”

“While we were fighting against the snake, I received multiple requests for help through the communication orb. It seems like the elven at another inn are having trouble with the two tier two mana creature their facing. They have been requesting help, but it seems like nobody is responding.” Everyone groaned or made other sounds of dissatisfaction after Sophie finished speaking.

“So were supposed to play hero again,” Britney retorted. “Fuck that.”

“If the elven are too weak to handle the mana creatures attacking them then they deserve to die,” Lana agreed.

“If the elven die, then the inn they are protecting will be destroyed,” Sophie said. “So-”

“So, we have to help them,” Zane finished. “I still think we should take a few minutes to relax. I don’t think the elven inn would fall if we took a few minutes to rest and we would only harm ourselves by rushing to the next battle.”

Nobody disagreed with what Zane said. Even with the recovery from leveling up everyone felt tired from the constant fighting. Taking a few minutes to rest would decrease the chance of them obtaining another tired debuff. Sadly, while men plan the system laughs.

The first inn has been destroyed. The rewards for the upheaval defense quest will be reduced. Do your best to protect the remaining inns.

All mana creatures will receive a ten percent boost in all areas for the duration of the upheaval.