This day may be a great many things. One thing not for certain though and that is boring. No doubt about that. A few mycelial foragers to warm us up. A crazed boar mushroom zombie to test us in earnest. And it isn't even noon yet. No, not even close.

A quick glance at the sky and the sun above the canopy of the trees reassures me about the latter. I gain that glance by joining Núira up there in the treetops. For a moment. It's not a hard climb. Rough bark and sturdy branches? I have mastered much harder climbs in the city. It helps me push my [Climbing] skill one step closer to the next level up anyway. At least in that regard the day is pretty good to me so far. I'm improving by leaps and bounds.

The sun and thus the time of the day and the direction we are heading in aren't the only things we check of course. From up there we can get a decent enough look at the position of Ediva and her primary target too. They are impossible to miss. The dancing motes of fire gathering in the air above give them away to anyone who has eyes in their head. Considering what I have seen from mushroom zombies and mycelial foragers so far that means the two of us and the rest of our group are most certainly not the only ones aware of what's going on.

The rustling in the trees, or rather in the undergrowth below them, approaching from the opposite direction hints at the trouble we are in already. I grimace as I take in the scene in an attempt to guess the numbers of our enemies. Dozens? Maybe a hundred or a few more? Too many!

Núira seems to share my latter judgment. She shakes her head.

"I don't have enough arrows to pick all of those off. Especially not if any of them are tougher than the foragers we initially encountered."

I grimace again. That doesn't come unexpected.

"Right."

Pale's instructions have been clear on this. The question is how will we implement them? Engage them before they can form an overwhelming horde. Make sure to warn the others so they don't get surprised and swarmed. We will have to split up.

"Núira. You are faster. Get back to camp and spread the word. Save what arrows you still have to help them."

The ranger looks at me shocked.

"What …"

I shake my head before she can go on.

"I don't plan to just sacrifice myself. I have an idea. I'm a little familiar with this area. We are pretty close to where I first encountered you and your friends. I think I can lead a good part of those shamblers on a merry goose chase. I'll buy time and hopefully give them the slip. You use that time and to warn the others."

My idea seems good enough to earn me a divine whisper.

[*Ding!* Your skill Tactics has leveled up to level 2!]

One step closer to the next level up! And my Mana pool improves a little too!

The elf on the other hand swallows hard but doesn't protest. She doesn't set off right away either though.

"If you don't get back to the rest of us to get that affliction of yours cured, carve an idol and build an altar. With a bit of luck you might be able to unlock the [Sacrifice] and [Prayer] skills and with them the cleric class."

Now this tidbit of information is good! On one hand it earns me a small advancement for my [Gather Information] skill. On the other hand it puts a smile on my face for other reasons.

"Oh? Well, then I'm halfway there already."

My ranger comrade looks at me, her head tilted, but she doesn't ask any more questions. Instead she takes off at a run to do as I asked of her.

Now I have to do my part too. I look at the spread out line of approaching enemies again, doing my best to judge the distances involved. I glance back in the direction of the building and ever spreading cloud of dancing embers too. This will be tricky! I just hope Ediva's spell has enough range for what I have planned.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

I have a backup plan, one involving a cliff and a certain old tower I know, in case I can't lure the gathering horde into range of Ediva's spell, but I'd rather not rely on that backup plan. It involves making a last stand in an easily defensible location after all. Plans like that usually end up with piles of bodies, That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be.

I take one last deep breath. Then I get moving. First down the tree, then in the direction of the approaching enemy I have chosen as my first target. I have decided to cut the potential forming horde in half best as I can. Divide and conquer. I hope this is what the saying means, or that I at least mangle it in a beneficial way. Beneficial for me, that is.

If all goes well, the one half, the one still further out, will follow in my wake, while I cut my way through the individuals of the other half before they can form a coherent group capable of overwhelming me.

The rest is timing and a hearty dose of luck. I'll draw the ones trailing behind me to the creek I crossed around here. If I'm not mistaken it should be just about in range of Ediva's spell. There I'll make a first stand. Hopefully it won't be my last. I'll fight just long enough for the shamblers to gather at the bank of the creek and when Ediva blows this beautiful part of the world up I'll hopefully be able to dive into the water in time to not be blown up as well.

It's not a very complicated plan. That is good. It relies on luck to a degree. That is not quite as good. But what is luck? Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Opportunity is sure to come knocking in this case. In a spectacular, explosive way. I just hope I'll be prepared well enough when it does.

If I'm still alive after that point and if I still have to deal with any more mushroom zombies or the likes I can make a fighting retreat to the old ruined wizard's tower. Maybe the cliff will buy me some time there. At worst I can make another stand within the narrow confines of the tower. In there the horde of the king of mushrooms shouldn't be able to swarm me at least. Some of the bigger enemies, ones like that infected boar, might not be able to get at me at all.

That's all still in the future though. For now I run through the forest. I'm not moving quiet and stealthy anymore. In fact I want to be noticed now. I very much want to draw attention! I run and jump, crossing hurdles without slowing down. I can feel that both of the associated skills, [Running] and [Jumping] are improving in the process. My [Balance] skill gets another good workout too. Enough of one in fact to earn me another rewarding notification delivered via divine whisper.

[*Ding!* Your skill Balance has leveled up to level 7!]

I'm getting really close to my next level up now! Just one more notification like that or maybe two? I don't quite have the peace of mind right now, to think it through. I focus on my steps and jumps for now instead. What matters is that I'm close now. Close enough to maybe catch a second wind in a tight spot. That is not something I can really plan for though. I'll just accept it if it happens.

Finally I come across my first prey! It's another mycelial forager and it seems quite surprised by my sudden appearance. This one too has a rock studded club. It even wears some kind of makeshift torso armor fashioned from thick tree bark. Neither does it any good. Mostly because it is entirely too slow to react.

I come at it at full speed, not slowing down in the slightest. I aim for the feet this time around. That has proven to be a vulnerable spot with these creatures in the past. I put all of my weight and my momentum in the slash and my sword cuts through both legs of the creature with ease. I feel the resistance of course, but just barely.

[*Ding!* Critical Hit! Myceloid Forager's Health reduced by 95!]

[*Ding!* You have defeated a Myceloid Forager!]

"Thank you!"

My shout resounds around the woods all around. That's alright though. I want to draw attention right now. As I come to a sliding stop beyond the mushroom creature, which tumbles to the ground dead, I can feel my [Blades] skill improve another little bit. Even better, more exhilarating, is the notification that follows.

[*Ding!* Your skill Melee Weapons has leveled up to level 7!]

A wide grin is plastered on my face. It's probably for the best that no one is around to see me right now. I might look a little maniacal right now, but my spur of the moment shout seems even more appropriate all of a sudden. Thank you indeed.

I wipe off my blade. Thankfully there isn't much blood with these curious creatures. Then I'm off again in the direction that will take me in the general direction of the creek as well as in the general direction of the next opponent. Oh yes, time to take care of the next customer! My heart beats faster. I'm getting a little excited now. Just as well, I don't have any time to waste!

After taking one more deep breath I'm off again at full speed. I have to honestly admit, that I'm impressed by my own pace. The way I jump fallen trees like hurdles on the track is a little impressive after all. Nothing can stop me now! Well, nothing but the next fungal fiend.

This time around I'm almost as surprised as the creature I encounter. This one is an animal turned into a mushroom zombie, not entirely unlike the boar Núira and I dealt with. Except this one isn't a boar, it's a stag. A stag that probably was quite majestic not too long ago.

It's antlers are still a sight to behold, but the petrified fungal growth covering its body in uneven patches seriously detracts from the majestic beauty it might have once radiated. It's in a sad state. I can't take any time to feel remorse or pity though. Not right now anyway.

Since I'm caught by surprise at its sudden appearance straight ahead of me too I have no time to bring my sword to bear this time around. I have to settle for an unarmed attack instead. An improvised one at that.

I jump like I already many times today. This time I do not aim to clear the obstacle ahead of me though. Instead I aim to plant my foot right in between the stag's eyes and antlers. The spot is protected by fungal growth but I hope it'll feel the running kick anyway. I decide to add a little insult to injury just in case and call out.

"Watch out! Coming through!"

[*Ding!* Critical Hit! Lightning Stag's Health reduced by 49!]

My [Brawling] skill improves a little and as I push off again I try to comprehend the implications of the numbers the notification provides. The hit was solid. It did decent damage. At the same time though the implication is that my unarmed attack would have dealt little damage, if any at all, if it hadn't been a critical hit.

Even worse, the stag doesn't look like it'll drop dead anytime soon. It just roars in anger as it turns to face me.

My eyes widen as I see arcs of electricity jumping in between the pointy ends of its antlers, gaining strength with each jump. This thing is a mage?

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.