“M-mana?!”

“Oh, my, you do recognize me.”

“O-of course….”

The appearance of the level 42 paladin named Manna played by Mana had invited a flurry of questions and emotions. However, the clashing of blades between Zackhs and Lyra reminded Tier that a much more important issue was at hand. He had to find a way to drive Lyra away.

As far as Tier had read, damage done to players on lower level are reduced by 3% for each level difference, capped at 95% after factoring armor and resistance. Therefore, despite being constantly electrocuted, Flick was still alive. Nubram was in a relatively safer position for now since he feigned defeat by not moving.

Zackhs, on the other hand, was on a more imminent danger due to his straightforward clash with Lyra. The worst part was that Lyra just needed one hand to deal with Zackhs.

“Mana, can you please deal with the minotauros?” Tier asked as he started to encircle Lyra from afar, trying to get the best angle of attack.

“Owh, shouldn’t I be the one that….”

Manna didn’t manage to finish her sentence before the minotauros broke the light wall. The petite paladin had to engage the raging bull before it made further chaos.

“Mana? Argh!”

Zackhs was slightly distracted by the name mentioned by Tier, causing him to get hit quite hard by Lyra.

“Awh, time out a bit will you?” Zackhs groaned. He glanced at Tier and whispered to be loud enough for Tier to hear, “That Mana?”

“Zackhs, focus!”

“Whoopsie.”

Tier unleashed combined assault with Zackhs. Not to his surprise, his arrows dealt mere 50 points of damage. Zackhs himself only dealt less than 30 damage per strike if not being parried. Very miniscule compared to Lyra’s 22 thousand HP.

“You should’ve listened to her,” Lyra sneered threatening Tier. She smashed Zackhs away, pointed at Tier, and closed her fist.

“[Cobra’s Maneuver: Active].”

“[Lightning Bolt].”

Predicting another lightning based attack, Tier reflexively jumped aside before the attack landed. His predictions were proven by a lightning bolt hitting the very spot he was standing moments earlier.

Tier admitted in his heart that the evasion was pure luck, also it was not the main aim for his actions. What he wanted was the slowing down of time. But, not to strike back... yet...

it be about awareness and understanding of your surroundings

Bur’ru’s resounding advice was one that Tier had to apply on the current situation. The hunter’s eyes glances to every corner, trying to find the slightest hope to break Lyra’s dominance.

Manna was still busy with the minotauros she fought, his other three friends were having a bad time against Lyra, and there were a couple minotauros 30 metres behind the orc. Tier could bait them, but he was unsure if it would be effective since their charge might not affect Lyra.

He glanced back at the minotauros that was fighting Manna. Focusing his mind on it, a pop up window that showed the minotauros capabilities appeared. Apparently, even a level 80 player could be sent flying, though the damage would be severely lower depending on the trajectory of the player whose body was being thrown away by the charge.

Knowing the solution was found, Tier whispered, “[Tools of survival: Misdirection], target Lyra. [Threatening Shot].”

Tier pulled his bow, his eyes widened, and he took a deep breath. “[Eagle Aim].”

When the arrow was released, time had begun to turn as it should. The cries of the silhouette eagle stormed the savannah as it melded with the arrow Tier had released. The shot had missed Lyra but hit the intended target.

Unknowing of the real intent, Lyra jeered at Tier, “Where are you aiming at? People with this skill level want to join Clashing Realms? Rosdan would have a circus instead of an army.”

“[Blaze Bolt].”

Taking chances on Lyra’s distraction, Nubram casted his blue fireball and smacked it to the ground. The fireball bounced and hit Lyra’s face. The damage was only 176, it meant nothing. But enough to anger Lyra.

“You gotta be kidding me, wizard,” Lyra growled. Her burning eyes stared at Nubram, lightning and flames started to swirl around her arms.

“Not on my watch!” Zakchs jumped into the fray once more with a mighty swing, just to be parried and countered again by Lyra.

Knowing that Zackhs might not realise Tier's true intent, the hunter shouted, “Zackhs, back off! [Cobra’s Maneuver: Off]”

It was a mistake from Tier as Lyra quickly got the grasp of the situation. She frowned at Tier and was about to look around if not for the distraction done next by Flick.

“Hey, sexy, where are you looking? Say cheese! [Dirt Splash]!”

Flick quickly threw some blinding dust from his pouch directly at Lyra’s widening eyes. At that time Tier quickly gave the sign of bull horns and pointed at the rampaging minotauros to make Zackhs finally understood. Of course he gave Flick a two thumbs up.

“Nggh! That was commendable, rogue. Now taste your prize, [Storm Grip].”

“Arrggh!”

Though she was blinded, Lyra tightened her grip on Flick and stomped on Nubram’s back. Sparks of lightning from Lyra’s body travelled to them both, electrocuting them. The wizard and rogue thrashed around in pain.

Tier could only hold himself away, waiting for his gamble to finally pay off and not kill his friends in the process if his calculations were right. However, one thing went outside his predictions, in a rather good manner.

“[Gripping Shadow].”

Zackhs, who pulled himself quite a distance from Lyra, casted a spell Tier hadn't seen before. The avenger stabbed the ground with his sword, which shadows extended and engulfed both Flick and Nubram.

Right when the minotauros was about to hit Lyra, Zackhs pulled his sword, the shadows instantly dragged Flick and Nubram away. Lyra was the only one left to be brutally pummeled by the stampede of minotauros.

“Toy, Portal to Grandar!”

“On it, [Warp], [Conjure Portal: Grandar].”

Nubram teleported away from both Flick and Zackhs to give himself more distance from Lyra then started casting the portal.

Tier quickly assess the battlefield once more. 30 metres to the northwest, Zackhs and Flick were catching their breath. Lyra was somewhere around 20 meters to his northeast because of the charge of the bulls. The map showed Mana was still around 10 metres to his southwest and finally Nubram was 40 metres east of Zackhs and Flick.

“That ability,” Flick pointed to Zackhs. “Ultra nice,” he continued while moving his right arms as if lifting a dumbbell several times. Tier never knew what it meant, but it was a rather common gesture Flick made when he found something that he thought would be great.

”Thanks, buddy,”

“I guess that's part of your vision for a tank?!” Tier shouted due to their distance. His eyes were still focusing on Lyra’s position. The shaman angrily murdered all the minotauros that attacked her.

“Yes, still not complete, but I’m still working to show everyone the true pinnacle of tanking.”

Zackhs answer somehow put a bit of relief on Tier. He felt that if there are more people like Zackhs in Clashing Realms, then his friends would have a better time there. Even if Tier was not with them, they probably will be doing great.

“Nice!” Tier nodded. “Now, let’s delay her to give Nubram more time!” Tier purposely joined the discussion by shouting instead of getting close to the other two to provoke Lyra and also he felt that his position was definitely better.

“Uh, before that,” Flick suddenly asked seriously. “Who’s that cute girl that looks like Mana?”

“It’s Mana, duh!”

“Giga nice.”

“Ahem,” Zackhs cleared his throat. Despite Lyra already standing up, he surely was so laid back that he still had the chance to tease Tier with a whisper, “Want me to tell her?”

“Over my dead body! [Ankle Break!]”

“That’s exactly what you said.”

Tier’s shot managed to trip Lyra, which definitely triggered her to unleash a lightning bolt at Tier. Meanwhile, Zackhs and Flick charged toward Lyra.

“[Flaming boomerang].”

“[Soul-saving Arc].”

Lyra threw both of her burning axes, but Mana managed to stop them with her light wall.

“I have dealt with the minotauros, let me help you.” She said calmly. She then pointed at Flick and said, “You must be Fathan. And the wizard is definitely Pitoy.”

“Never thought you were playing here. [Sleek Strike].”

“That is my line.”

Flick threw his axe, it got deflected once again. Yet, this time Flick didn’t strike after taking his axe. He was opening a chance for Zackhs to tackle and push Lyra a little.

Enraged by the trickery of Flick and Zackhs, Lyra fumed. “Don’t get too cocky! [Blazing Thunderclap]!”

A loud thunder was heard when an inexplicable explosion happened at Lyra’s position. Dusts were flying, obscuring the vision of the location. However, from the group member list, Tier could see both Flick and Zackhs had received quite a number of damage and their HP kept going down.

“Damnit.”

Tier cursed at himself, he tried to shoot some arrow to no avail. He knew Lyra was clearly overpowering them and had hoped he could do something just to slow her down.

He felt was too full of himself thinking that he was the only one crafty enough to mess with others. But apparently, as an experienced player, Lyra certainly knew how to do that as well. The tables had turned against them, the hunter must find another way.