We stopped just outside of Oakehaven for last minute gear checks. Those of us with armor equipped it. We decided to leave half of our vehicles in case we needed to retreat. Putting as many bodies into each vehicle that would fit, knees collided and weapons remained stored until they had to be used.

  Luckily the BearCat Tactical vehicle had plenty of space.

  Kira was about to get into the passenger seat when I stopped her.

  “You drive. I don’t think I should drive and use mana sight at the same time.” I said as I tossed her the keys.

  “Good point.” She acknowledged moving to the driver’s seat.

  Once everyone was settled we began driving slowly into the town.

  The dungeon clear quest reappeared before me and I closed it immediately.

  I activated Mana Sight and light detonated in my eyesight forcing them closed. There was an eruption of mana pouring from the middle of town. It was blinding as it saturated everything around, pouring from the center like an arterial bleed.

  I could still see it, with my eyes closed. The light imprinted behind my eyelids.

  I looked down as I slowly opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the light slowly.

  Finally I was able to look down the main street. The bodies that were here the day before were mostly missing. Those that remained looked chewed as gouges of flesh appeared torn from the bodies.

  Concentrations of mana clung to each body with a trail that led towards different alleyways.

  We turned the last corner and the townhall appeared at the end of the road, glowing like a beacon under my Mana Sight. We were still a few kilometers from the building but I still had to squint to shield my eyes from the bright glow.

  Movement from a nearby roof caught my focus. Mana swirled around the outline of an Abyssal Horror creeping over the rooftop to our right.

  “Fuck they are on the rooftops” I grabbed the radio and repeated the information.

  “Want me to stop?” Kira asked as a loud chittering screech came from the monster on the roof.

  An answering screech began to sound in front of us, then to the left and right joined in. The sound growing into a cacophony of screeches.

  “What is going on?” Theo asked as he looked around for the sources of the sound but saw nothing.

  “Fuck me,” I said as I stared in disbelief at the Abyssal Horrors spilling out of every crevice, doorway and window.

  “WHAT?” Kira asked turning towards me.

  “There’s hundreds of them. Probably more. They are grouping in the middle of the road heading towards us in a wave.” I watched as more spilled over every rooftop.

  I relayed the information to everyone, ordering those with Mana Sight to activate it and direct the players without.

  The plan was already going to shit.

  As I was making orders an invisible Horror leapt from a nearby rooftop, landing on our roof. It’s blade like arms easily puncturing the metal roof. The blades stuck into the floor of the vehicle, almost hitting Kira’s arm. I summoned my blade and severed the two sword like arms. I heard the beast tumble from the roof as its two chitin arms dropped to the inside of the police vehicle in a spray of black gore.

  “They are jumping from the rooftops. Stop and let us out, we will have to fight head on.” Kira immediately stepped on the brakes, screeching to a halt. The other vehicles behind us doing the same.

  Everyone gathered around as the horde closed in, their invisible masses glowing bright blue in my vision. The pressure was building, a sharp pain boiling behind my eyes threatening to spill over.

  “Gunners form a line and begin sending gunfire down the middle of the road. Don’t worry about missing, they are bunched together. Keep the rounds four feet off the ground and you will hit something.” The Firefighters, now gunners gave me a hesitant look before walking forward to form a line.

  We should have given them a chance to practice.

  “Shanira, join the gunners, try and create a couple of explosions to hopefully knock out their invisibility. Jamie do you have a taunt skill?” Shanira ran to the front line as the concussive blasts of AR fire began reverberating through the street.

  “I do, want me to use it.” He shifted uncomfortably as he watched the invisible Abyssal Horror’s begin to take shape and die from the hail of gunfire.

  I turned off Mana Sight to give my eyes a rest.

  “Not yet, save it for when they are on top of us. Logan, Jace, Gregory, Victor, take up the line right behind the gunners. When they fall back, you step forward. Jace you keep an eye on the advancing horde, provide the distances so Jaime can activate his taunt at a hundred meters. Jon you keep an eye on our backs in case they come from behind. Theo, Sage, launch magic down the street, take your time and get a feel for your mana. Gideon, Flynn, Kira, you know what to do. I will be aiming for the rooftops and will rejoin you on the frontline when I can.” As soon as I was done speaking I ran at full sprint toward the nearest building.

  Power coiled in my legs as I prepared to spring onto the roof. Asphalt crunched under my feet as I launched myself skyward, the wind clawing at my face as I flew high into the air. Even with my superhuman strength I wasn’t going to make the roof of the four storey building. As I sailed for the ledge, I activated windstep.

  The world flashed, turning into a blur as I appeared above the roof.

  I quickly activated Mana Sight and located three Abyssal Horror looking up at me as gravity retook it’s hold on me.

  I felt a wide smile spread across my face. “I found you, you fuckers.”

  It was time for some more vengeance.

  I summoned my Jian and threw my sword with a Mana Tether.

  A notification of the proficiency increase appeared and disappeared as the sword ripped through its chest, burying into the roof on the other side.

  The Abyssal Horror shimmered into existence with a high pitched screech. I pulled myself in the direction of my Jian using the mana tether. Gravity was increasing my momentum as I flew towards my imbedded sword.

  As I drew near, I summoned my gladius lashing out at another Invisible Horror as my boots collided with the impaled one. Chitin crunched under my boots as I stomped downwards with all of my strength on top of my momentum. My boots continued until it smashed into the roof on the otherside.

  Black gore erupted as my Gladius sliced the other Horror in half. Its upper torso still trying to swing at me as it rolled off the roof to the street below.

  Abyssal Horror Killed - 75XP gained X 2

  The third Horror was already attacking but I had begun moving as soon as my hand wrapped around the hilt of my Jian thanks to the tether.

  Flow State Activated

  My senses screamed as the invisible blades slashed through the space I had occupied a moment before. I had leapt away from the last Horror, sliding along tiles as my boots tried to find grip.

  Tiles slid out from beneath my feet as I scrambled to find purchase. My superhuman strength flinging them out from under me with each desperate step.

  I stabbed both swords into the roof, bringing up solid. The Abyssal Horror charged at me, it’s invisibility ruined by the black gore coating it.

  Suddenly a mana arrow riped a hole in it’s chest. The beast collapsed, sliding off the roof. I deactivated mana sight and saw Shanira looking my way before going back to firing down the street.

  An explosion of fire suddenly rocked the street as Sage collapsed from mana use.

  Strange shapes appeared in the fire as it consumed the invisible Horrors. Moments later Sage was back on her feet preparing to throw another fireball.

  Looks like she leveled up.

  I reactivated Mana Sight scanning the next rooftop. I spotted two Abyssal Horrors planning to ambush the team below.

  I felt the mana swell inside me, pouring into my legs as I activated windstep.

  I was in the middle of them in a flash, both swords swiping through chitin in uniformed precision. The blades sliced through sword arms and monster legs like butter before piercing into chest cavities.

  Black ichor ran down my blades as the monsters bodies became visible and fell off the roof.

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  The next roof was empty but movement to my left had me windstepping into the air above the street.

  Two Abyssal Horrors had jumped into the air from the roof’s across the street. They were poised to land directly on the line of defenders.

  I suddenly appeared between them, my swords slicing through the mid sections with ease. Black blood rained down onto the asphalt with the four sections of monsters.

  The kill notifications appearing and disappearing in a flash.

  I activated Windstep again. The draw on my mana taking its toll as sweat began running down my face.

  I appeared on the rooftop and began slashing out with my blades.

  Flow State Activated

  I sensed the Horrors as much as saw them in my Mana Sight. I leaned back as two blade arms streaked overhead. My blades lashing out and removing limbs as a cost to their attack.

  A sharp pain lanced through my leg as I stood back up. One of the Abyssal Horrors had struck out and stabbed through my armored leg.

  I gritted my teeth as the pain threatened to consume me. Cutting the Horror in half with a clean strike of my Jian.

  Another Cleaving Arc proficiency increase crossed my vision and disappeared.

  I unsummoned my Jian before wrenching the blade arm free of my leg, red blood flowed freely down my armor. I clamped my hand around the wound squeezing with my superhuman strength as another Abyssal Horror lunged at me.

  Fuck this is bad.

  I swept the attack aside with my Gladius but couldn’t get the blade back into position to attack.

  Parry Proficiency increased

  Another Abyssal Horror attacked as I was still on one knee. One hand still squeezing the wound as the blood flow slowed.

  I shifted to the side to block the attack, the blood flow around my fingers increased as the movement reopened the wound.

  I can’t keep defending, they are starting to circle me.

  As the Abyssal Horror attacked another one circling behind me as a third clambered over the roof.

  I channeled mana into my blade and as my Gladius crashed into the attacking blades of the Abyssal Horror I released it in a Kinetic Burst. The Abyssal Horror’s arms exploded as the monster was sent flying off the roof from the concussive blast.

  It's invisibility torn off by the violent attack. It’s limbs scrambling as it plummeted backwards to the street below.

  I turned as the other Abyssal horror took the opportunity to lunge at me. Its mana silhouette showing a sweeping slash aimed at my head.

  My eyes burned as something wet trickled down my cheeks.

  Fuck this was stupid.

  I raised the blade to block the monster then flicked my bloody hand a the monster then at the further monster, splattering small globs of red blood across their invisible bodies.

  I mana stepped back to the main group. Collapsing to one knee beside Kira.

  Her healing magic was already surging through me and I felt the wound heal closed.

  I glanced down the street and saw hundreds of Abyssal Horror’s pouring towards us. I deactivated my mana sight and took in the front line.

  The firefighters had long run out of ammo and had switched to the back line and were trying to figure out the system.

  Theo and Sage were talking turns casting magic over the heads of the front liners. Hitting the back waves of Horrors.

  Jace was calling out Abyssal Horror’s positions as blood ran freely down his cheeks. His bastard sword moving in powerful arcs as they intercepted attacks he couldn’t call out.

  Logan and Gregory were fighting beside each other. Their powerful axes sweeping back and forth in blind swings hoping to hit something.

  Jamie kept his shield forward as he attacked to his right while Victor swept his billhook to the left of the shield.

  Shanira launched an arrow high into the air, the arrow arced then crashed into the street with a massive explosion of Mana.

  Shanira, looked breathless for a minute then her eyes went wide. “I reached Level ten! I can choose a class!”

  “Congrats. We will cover you while you figure out your class.” I called to her as the healing subsided.

  I looked down at my leg and the skin was still crusted in red but no blood flowed. The armor was knitting itself back together before my eyes.

  “WAHOO LEVEL TEN! YOU INVISIBLE FUCKS ARE SCREWED NOW.” Logan shouted, yanking me from my thoughts. Logan stepped back to pick his class as two of the new firefighter players took his spot.

  Most of the monster tide had lost their invisibility. Jace had canceled his skill but refused to leave the front line. He attacked the monster with an obsessive fervor.

  However the tide of monsters did not dwindle. The four lanes of the street and sidewalks were packed with the monsters.

  “There are too many… we might have to retreat.” I said solemnly, scanning the street and rooftops.

  I saw Kira look at me out of the corner of my eye and then back behind us.

  I turned to her as she turned back to me, locking eyes.

  “Want to do something reckless with me?” a mischievous grin suddenly appearing on her face.

  I couldn’t help smiling at the beauty there. “I will follow you anywhere.” I found myself saying before I could stop myself.

  She grabbed my hand and began running towards the BearCat.

  Someone shouted behind us, “Are they fucking running away?”

  There was a loud thump and yelp of pain.

  “You don't know them very well if you think they are running away,” Logan said behind us. “I think they are going to do something stupid.”

  Kira ran to the passenger seat and I entered the drivers. “What are we doing?” I finally asked.

  “Drive right at them. I have an idea.” She gave me a confident smile.

  “Yes ma’am.” I started the engine and it roared to life.

  Kira grabbed the megaphone mic before barking orders. “Make a lane when we approach. Sage I want you to burn those fucking houses to the ground. Take away their height advantage.”

  I saw Sage’s face light up as she cast a fireball through an upper window of one of the houses. Windows exploded outwards as flame began to lick out of them and up into the roof.

  I reversed the BearCat to give us some room to build momentum before flooring it. The engine roared as it began picking up speed heading towards the line of defenders.

  The defenders scattered as Kira cast her Mana shield around the vehicle. Abyssal Horrors exploded on contact as they got crushed by the oncoming force. Their chitin armor collapsing causing black ichor to coat the front of the shield. I kept the vehicle straight as it was buffeted from the impact. Monster parts rained down around us as we continued plowing forward.

  I kind of wish we brought a snowplow or bulldozer now.

  Kira’s breath came fast as sweat poured off her, the mana shield appeared to waver. I thought she was going to collapse when suddenly she looked refreshed and the mana shield stabilized.

  We reached the townhall and I took the turn at a high speed. The tank on wheels screeched as it continued down the side street.

  Kira let the shield dissolve as we reached open road. I drove down the street while Kira stared at her screen.

  I found a place to turn around and did so before shifting the vehicle into park.

  “Ready to go again?” I asked Kira as she was still looking at her screen.

  “One sec, I also reached level 10 just now and need to decide on a class.” Her brow was furrowed in concentration.

  I was about to ask her what her class options were but I remembered our earlier conversation when I chose my class.

  After a moment Kira let out a sigh. “Phew, no wonder you wanted to make this choice yourself. If you feel you made the wrong choice… the implications are astounding.”

  “So you picked a class?” I asked.

  “Mhmm Aether Medic, I will tell you the details when we finish what we started. Let’s get back in the fight.” Kira said, a look of resolve hardening on her face.

  “Copy that,” I smiled as I shifted the vehicle back into drive.

  In a flash we were heading for the front of the townhall. The Abyssal Horrors had started to turn in our direction but Kira already had the shield in place as we took the corner, mixed with the Abyssal Horrors were these odd looking fish monsters. They were four feet tall and walked on multiple crab like legs. They looked like those deep sea fish from the Marianas Trench. They had grotesque needle like teeth the protruded from their bottom lips in a ridiculous underbite.

  Ahead houses were ablaze as dark plumes of smoke rose high into the sky. We plowed back through the tide of monsters towards the front line.

  Logan’s axe suddenly glowed red as he slammed it into the ground. A shockwave of mana rolled forward through the Abyssal Horrors, pushing the monsters back in top of each other, allowing the defenders to open a space for the BearCat.

  I skidded to a halt, “I want to hit the front lines. I’ll get someone else to drive for you. Be SAFE.” I squeezed her arm and got out.

  “Jon!” The man turned from the front line with his mace dripping black with monster gore.

  “I promise I have been checking behind us, I just wanted to help the front lines a bit to give some of them a break.” Jon breathlessly explained.

  “It’s okay Jon, I trust you.” I smiled and Jon looked relieved. “Can you drive Kira, I want the hit the frontline for a bit?”

  “Absolutely, I got something I want to try.” Jon got in the driver’s seat and they headed for the defensive line once more.

  Logan swept his axe in an arc, causing a red burst of mana to push the line back again. Abyssal Horrors fell on each other as the force of the shockwave rolled over them.

  The BearCat crashed into the frontline as Kira’s mana shield snapped into place. I watched as Abyssal Horrors began jumping out of the way, landing on the walls of buildings or further down the street. Suddenly, roots sprung from the ground in front of the vehicle, wrapping around any monsters nearby and dragging them in front of the vehicle.

  Any Horror or fish monster unlucky enough to be touched by the roots were entangled in seconds from head to toe, before being dragged back to the middle of the street.

  Abyssal Horrors began swiping at the attacking roots only to miss the ones wrapping around their feet. There was no stopping the massive amount of roots.

  I stood in shock, watching the disorienting show. Another explosion of fire magic brought me back to the fight.

  Sage had lit up another house, most of the street was ablaze. The heat was oppressive but bearable, the acrid smell of smoke hung in the air but most of it bellowed towards the blue sky.

  I ran beside Logan and began the grim work. I parried the blades of a leaping Abyssal Horror with my Gladius as my Jian punched through its chest. Black blood ran down the blade as the beast collapsed.

  Skill proficiency increases flashed before my eyes along with the death notification.

  “Left Flank!” Someone shouted and my head snapped in the direction.

  A cluster of Abyssal Horrors turned invisible as they crawled across the wall of a burning building down the road.

  I activated Mana Sight, the world dissolving into blue currents of mana. I threw my Gladius, tethered to Mana at the beasts. The blade pierced through the first and second beast before striking the third causing it to fall off the wall. I yanked my blade and the beasts came crashing in our directions.

  Gore and organs fell from the wounds and in seconds the death notifications appeared before me.

  Abyssal Horror Killed – 75 xp

  Abyssal Horror Killed – 75 xp

  Congratulations on leveling up. Accept the rewards?

  Yes/No

  Yes. A phantom pain from the stab wound in my leg ached. My vitality is lacking. Three points into Health and two points into mana.

  The refreshing energy surged through my body, rejuvenating me from head to toe.

  A fish leapt at my thigh and I instinctively kicked out. The fish sailed high, a odd clicking sound came from the monster as it flew over the buildings.

  Did… did I kill it.

  A second later a notification window appeared:

  Mirelurker Killed – 50 xp

  Sweet.

  I returned to the battle with renewed energy.

  I changed position, moving beside Jace. Blood stained his cheeks as sweat rained off his face.

  “Take a break!” I said as I appeared beside him, my Gladius lashing out to catch a snapping Abyssal Horror.

  My Jian severing it through the middle.

  “No.” Jace said through gritted teeth. There was a wild gleam in his eyes as he moved the bastard sword with brutal attacks

  He was bleeding from several wounds and looked on the verge of collapse.

  “If you die here, you wont be able to enter the dungeon and attack the heart of this nightmare.” I saw his back stiffen at my words.

  “Fine.” He grunted before moving back to be healed by Gideon.

  Victor took his place with his Billhook.

  I was curious about his fighting style but I soon saw the incredible control power he had.

  He lashed out hooking the legs of an Abyssal Horror. As the beast collapsed he stabbed the spear head through it’s abdomen.

  I sliced another Mirelurker that ducked under his Billhook. Cutting the ugly fish in half.

  Victor suddenly stabbed into the air as an Abyssal Horror leapt at us. The monster impaling itself on the spear head driving Victor back a couple steps from the impact.

  I moved into the gap, my swords dismembering and killing any monsters that approached.

  The heat from the burning buildings began to overwhelm me as the fire reached the lower levels. Smoke drifting high into the sky as ash began to rain down on the street.

  Water suddenly began pouring down, immediately dropping the temperature.

  One of the other firefighters lifted a lantern that burned bright yellow. The smell of rich earth and fresh grass suddenly enveloped me as the ash began to land on the invisible dome.

  Looks like someone unlocked an interesting ability.

  I had fallen behind the front line as I glanced around.

  Jon and Kira approached our line once more, headlights glowing in the smoke. Once more Logan’s axe glowed bright red, he swung in it in a arc. The Abyssal Horror tide fell back as the entire front line staggered. The monsters in front of Logan erupted in black gore. It was like he released a Kinetic Blast that affected the whole street.

  Logan slumped and Gregory gave him a hand behind the line as Jon came skidding to a halt. Kira and Jon jumped out both grinning wildly, covered in sweat.

  “The line is thinning out. I think we are reaching the last few.” Kira said beaming.

  “You guys rest, and make sure Logan rests as well. I will handle the front line.” I ran towards the remaining Abyssal Horrors.

  Time to clean up this mess.

  I leapt off the ground, activating mana sight as I bounded over the front line.

  The dome wall appeared before my eyes, the swirling yellow mana a buffer against the choking smoke near the top.

  I passed through the barrier and was enveloped by the thick black smoke. I watched as the mana below me coalesced into shapes. There were thirty Abyssal Horrors left and twelve Mirelurkers.

  I dropped from the sky like a meteor, the crackle of burning buildings and high pitched chittering covering my descent.

  Landing atop an Abyssal Horror, stomping through its body as it crunched and cracked from the impact. It’s dark blood erupting from where it’s shell broke. I watched the mana form dissipate and release into the air as the notification screen appeared.

  I closed it, leaping at the nearest Horror, my blade finding it’s mark as I swerved around a slashing sword arm. I was holding my breath, as my blades cleaved apart Horror after Horror, not wanting to breathe the ash now thick in the air.

  Two Abyssal Horrors leapt at me as I danced back into the dome gaining a refreshed breath. I dove back into the fray immediately.

  Four blade arms swung in unison as a Mirelurker lunged at my legs.

  Windstep activated. I appeared behind them, slashing through the two horrors and kicking the Mirelurker at Gregory who cut it in half.

  We were now advancing. Jamie bashed a leaping Horror to the side with his shield as Victor stepped forward and finished it with his Billhook.

  Sage had stopped throwing fireballs but Theo continued to launch high pressured balls of water that acted like a cannon ball when it collided with monsters.

  The new players were finding their rhythm in the new team.

  I was about to dart forward to deal with a cluster of five monsters when a fireball detonated in the middle of them, showering me with monster parts and black ichor.

  Another Invisible Horror swung its twin scythes at me. I ducked, swinging my Gladius up through the underbelly of the mantis like creature.

  It's organs dropped out in a wet splash as the death notification appeared before me.

  I looked for more enemies but another notification materialized:

  Congratulations!

  Next dungeon break in: 01:00:00

  Dungeon Stabilization in: 106:44:09

  I turned to begin giving orders but the Theo was already spraying water on houses trying to put out the fire. Gregory walked over to a hydrant and cleaved it from the base with a single swing of his axe.

  A few of the injured were gathered around Kira and Gideon. Shanira and Sage were leaning against the BearCat breathing heavily.

  Logan was dragging monster corpses off the road to a pile near the smoldering ruins of a business.

  My team had my back, so lets focus on the front.

  My gaze shifted, piercing through the water, the fire, the smoke and dead monsters. My Mana Sight locked onto the giant mound of mana pouring into the world like a river.

  I unequipped my armor, the black ichor hitting the ground in a splat. I re-equipped the weapons and armor. The sun reflected off the pristine blades, my gloves and greaves spotless despite the mess on my head.

  I wonder why no one has gotten a helm yet…

  I pushed my foot into the ground. My leg muscles coiling as I began the jog over to the Townhall to locate the gate.