Mage Mangler -(Crucible of Ascension)

Oro and Enil appeared around six hours later and because the sly bastards had given me no warning they'd set off, I damn nearly soiled myself as Enil burst from the water.

I was about to hurl abuse at him when I realised he was gasping for air, and struggling to stay afloat. I was about to run in to help him as the choking seemed to worsen and he slipped under the water again, but Oro appeared a moment later with a lot more grace. He caught Enil and supported him before I'd waded knee deep.

"Okay?" I shouted over.

"He'll be fine. Just give him a minute."

I nodded and stood waiting, ready to plunge in at a moment's notice. Enil finally settles and was able to swim over under his own steam.

I waited and offered Enil a hand out onto the shore, but he battered it a way. "I'm fine."

"We'd be finer if there was a fire!" Oro said, eyeing the bare bank.

"I didn't bring anything but rope, rations and glow rods."

Oro smiled though his eyes were hollow. "You did well getting through there blind, Adam. That must have been awful."

"It wasn't nice." I agreed. "I had a full-blown panic on that last stretch and had to head back. But it ended up being worth it for me. It forced me to develop a new Spirit power."

"Of course you did," Enil said, voice still hoarse from choking.

Oro slapped him on the back. "Quit your cheek. I thought we said we'd go past the air pocket. I saw you go up."

Enil sagged. "I don't know why I did. I think the light drew me up to have a look."

"The Light?" Oro shook his head. "Are you a moth?"

"Was the air unbreathable?" I asked, feeling guilty for marking it out with light and knot.

"Ask the Moth," Oro said, gesturing at Enil. "Because I wasn't stupid enough to risk it."

"It was breathable, just. But nowhere near enough oxygen for the last leg."

"We could run it faster than eight minutes with the ropes though," Oro said. Now I've done it once, I'd say you could traverse the stretch in about four minutes."

"Agreed," Enil said. "But hopefully we'll never ever need to do that again."

"Now that's a sentiment I can get behind," I said, glancing up to the crack in the ceiling, knowing we wouldn't be heading up any time soon.

"I'll take a nap while you guys warm up and recover, then," I pointed up. "We'll give it a go?"

"Sure," Oro answered. "It'll be good to get out, but, I'm sad to leave our last cavern behind. We'd gotten it pretty cozy."

"I have a horrible feeling we'll be back down here at some point," I replied.

After a rest, we swam over to the wall, directly under the crack taking all the gear with us. I headed up first, boosted by Oro to catch a ledge, then scaled the wall as high as I could safely reach.

Both Unalarans felt some guilt sending me first again, but despite their obvious strengths, their sheer size and thick fingered hands made them poor rock climbers.

Once I felt like falling was a real possibility I used a grapple hook as an anchor point. I hammered it in with the back of a small hand-axe Enil had given me.

From there I tied the rope around my waist and set off again.

Once I could go absolutely no further, I created another anchor point, before taking a deep breath and focusing on the last part of my plan. Taking another length of rope with a grapple hook, I summoned Spirit Hand, dropped on to it, and used it to carry myself directly under the crack of light.

With such a short time frame to use it, I felt a huge amount of pressure which only released once I swung the grapple hook high into the opening and it caught tight off my first throw.

I gave it a quick test to make sure it could take my weight, then dismissed the Spirit hand to save energy.

"Go, Adam!" Enil shouted while Oro clapped.

I waved down in victory feeling pretty damn good about things, when the hook slipped.

Down I went, flailing in mid-air.

The hook snagged again and the rope went tight, but my grip was poor and the sudden jolt was too much.

A flash of coherence reminded me there was water below. I'd be okay.

No sooner than I'd had that thought the rope tightened around my waist. My downward trajectory became an unerring swing toward the jagged cavern wall.

It all happened so fast, I didn't even have time to summon a fireball to burn through the reinforced rope.

Thankfully, I had friends. Strong, skilled and capable.

Two glowing axes spun through the air between me and the wall at practically the same time.

I couldn't see which one cut through the rope first and it hardly mattered as I was suddenly in freefall again.

When I resurfaced from my plunge, Oro and Enil were close by.

"I thought you wanted to get out of here?" Enil said.

"I think he's growing attached to the place," Oro replied. "Probably wants to try our Cave Roach stew at source."

"Sure, you two go get it started on the shore, and I'll double check that rope. I'll be back maybe next lifetime."

They both laughed. "At least you're okay," Oro said." Before you go though, would you mind helping us find our axes?"

"I suppose I owe you that at least."

We spent another half hour diving for their weapons. Thankfully, they'd seen were they landed, more or less, and with my Spirit Fortification it wasn't so difficult. It was followed by another rest as I regenerated Mana.

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When we were ready to climb once again, the rope decided it would play nice and hold my weight.

As I reached the top a fresh breeze blew across my face and invigorated me in a way I didn't know I needed. I didn't have time to enjoy it just yet, as the Unalarans were at least twice my weight and I wanted to make sure the grapple was firmly fixed.

I moved it to a more secure location and hammered it deep into the rock before shouting for them both to come up.

While they ascended, I crept toward the exit, pulling out a lance and connecting the parts before I raised my head above ground.

There was nothing to see. Just rough land covered in hardy grasses and decrepit shrubs.

A scan around showed me the mountainside but from our position all I could see was the wall. It towered from this side making it even harder to believe the Xeo were so successful in scaling it. There were no signs of life but that didn't matter much if the Xeo were camping the portal or the cavern again.

"How's it looking?" Oro asked in a hushed voice as he joined me.

"Clear, as far as I can tell."

He looked up at the mountain. "We'll be exposed all the way to the wall."

"We will. Let's mark the entrance to the cavern so we can find it if we're in a hurry to get back."

"Aye, that could prove to be a very wise decision. Do you have any bright cloth?"

I noticed he was looking at my tunic. Scruffy, but a royal red with the House Garazal emblem in gold across the chest.

"Sure, I grumbled, and while I removed it, he took my lance, and plunged it into the ground far deeper than I could have. Then he unscrew the top third and held out his hand for the tunic.

I handed it over and he folded it before using it as a pad over the top of the screw head. He gave it two heavy hits with his axe driving the lance point deeper. I looked around nervously to see if anything had heard.

Enil clambered out of the crack in the ground looking equally worried though he needn't have bothered. Nothing had heard, and Oro was already screwing the top of the lance back on, using the screw as a clamp to partially secure the tunic.

With some deft movements he tied the top. "There you go. That should stand up to most things apart from rampaging Xeo."

"We're doing it then?" Enil asked.

"It's that or climb back down," I replied.

He shook his head. "No. I'm glad to be back up. I haven't lost hope that portal will open again. Even if it takes another thirty cycles."

"Okay. We hit the left-hand side of the wall, scale the mountain there, yeah?"

"It's as good a plan as any I've got," Oro said.

"Let's fucking move then." I set off running and the two of them followed, hissing at the suddenness.

We cut through the grass like it was on fire, legs pounding, arms pumping. We saw no danger. No life at all and we hit the bottom of the mountain safe and sound.

I started the climb using the angle between wall and mountain to scale what had looked so indomitable on the approach. It was a poor design, though determined defenders could hold it against an enemy, for now there was none of either.

At the top I froze, eyes wide. The two Xeo were still here. They were laid on the portal stones like they were sleeping.

I couldn't make out the cavern opening, because of the outcropping that hid it, but I could see a route that we could take that was well hidden. Oro came alongside me, already sensing from my body language that I'd seen something.

His eyes met mine and I indicated the route I'd seen around to the cavern. He nodded. "You have a shield ready?"

"Of course." I pulled a Shield Rod from my waist pouch and waved it at him. "Though the first one's getting a Spirit Blast in its face if they come."

"You'll hear no complaints from me," he replied and we set off climbing again.

When the cavern opening came into sight we saw how much damage the Xeo had caused. Another check on the two beasts showed they were still oblivious, so we kept moving until the outcropping hid us and I could inspect what remained of the opening.

We weren't getting in without moving rocks.

Oro and Enil realized the same thing at the same time.

"Go quietly," I mouthed and lifted the first rock up, carrying it a few yards away from the old opening and placing it down with care.

They both got to work. It was going well, until something shifted. That dislodged a rock that was supporting a whole section above.

They rolled away causing a racket. We all stopped, stock still, looking at each other in horror.

As they both pulled weapons, I questioned my choices. I could put the shield over us now and we'd be okay. We could clear the opening in safety and enter the cavern.

But they'd try to get in again and they'd still be out here waiting.

If I fought back, then we could make life much easier for ourselves going forward—providing no more came.

Both Xeo shrieked at the sound. One was notably deeper and bordering a roar. I had to push down my doubts for a second time.

"They're coming," Enil growled.

When the larger of the Xeo, bounded over the outcropping with fearless confidence, regret hit.

It had moved faster than I'd anticipated and swiped at Oro. He only just managed to block its wickedly sharp fingers with his axe.

Its sudden proximity meant Spirit Strike was now the tool for the job.

I read the surprise in its eyes as my fist flared with Spirit energy. It knew what was coming and tried to pull back. It was too late. Its momentum was just as set as my straight right. The center of its face folded in around my fist, our to energies, combining but with only one winner.

Its face disintegrated, yet its heavy body still smashed into me. I flared Spirit Fortification so as not to be crushed by its weight.

Enil hauled the twitching shuddering mass off me, while Oro deflected a swipe from the remaining Xeo.

The moment my arms were free I threw a spirit blast, targeting its side so as not to catch Oro up in the attack.

It staggered, tried to turn to face me but couldn't, as Oro smashed it in the face with his axe.

The distraction was enough to fire off another blast into the same spot and this time it went deep into its chest cavity and the damn thing died instantly.

"Next time, put the shield up," Oro gasped, then fell back onto the rocks blood streaming from both arms.

Enil was just laughing, semi-hysterically. "Shield? Are you mad? We got both of the bastards. Look," he said gesturing down to the fort area. "We're clear again."

Despite his excited chatter, he still had the wherewithal to pull out a healing rod for Oro. I had luckily managed to get Fortification active before I took any real damage and I had a sudden sense that the skill was ridiculously OP.

It was like the invincibility star on Mario.

Not only was I not about to complain, I kept it active as the three of us got back to work clearing rocks from the cave mouth.

The collapse ran deep and my hopes of finding any one alive faded.

Enil was up front, and he shouted at regular intervals but only silence replied until we were about halfway into the tunnel. Then a faint voice could be heard. "Back here."

A little more clearing and light streamed out followed by the disappointed voice of Roan.

"Enil? We thought you died out there?"

I slid into the cave after Enil and smiled, though I was slightly troubled that Joral, Sizec's private was nowhere to be seen. Just the two men from the Fourth, Of course.

"You need to block that back up or they'll get in," Roan snarled when he saw me.

Enil shook his head. "The two who caused the damage are dead. Adam just killed them both."

"He killed them," Roan said pointing at me. "You know, I'm not surprised. Killing is what he does best, isn't it? Brin, Sizec, Joral."

Oro dropped in while Enil replied. "How did he kill Sizec or Joral? They were up here with you."

"We saw. He blocked Sizec out of the shield. He had no choice but to run up here. And because he ran up here, he led those two Xeo right to us. Cost Joral his life and very nearly ours."

Oro pointed a warning finger at him. "You, Corporal Rohan are a fool. You understand so little beyond hatred. If you're not careful it will get you killed."

"It's all true. And if I ever get back to Garazal, that's exactly what I'll be reporting. He's not getting away wi…"

He didn't even gurgle as Oro's glowing axe cut deep into his throat, almost removing it in one blow. He yanked it back, swung it again and finished the job. Roan's head did one full spin before it thunked on the floor with a splat.

Enil had his axe out ready to kill Artis if the other Archon moved.

I was so shocked by the brutal suddenness that for a second I didn't know how to respond.

Then acceptance settled on me. Roan was a shit stain on the underpants of decency. It was the right move and I nodded at Oro, but he wasn't even looking at me. His eyes had moved to Artis.

"Wait! No!" The private pleaded. "I'm not going to say anything about this. I don't blame Adam. I don't blame you, for killing Roan."

I laughed bitterly. "I don't know if we'll ever get back, but you'll sell me down the river at the first opportunity."

"No. Honest. I felt bad for how we've all treated you. I wanted no part in it, but we were warned by Polvar before you even got to us."

"Polvar? I thought it was Brin."

"He ran with it. Maybe a little too well. But the order came from Polvar."

I looked to the two Unalarans, then to Artis. "You were supposed to be on watch when we were attacked. What happened?"

His eyes went wider. "I didn't see them. They snuck up. It was too late to do anything by the time they struck. I'm sorry. Really, I am."

I looked over to Oro and raised an eyebrow. He'd lowered his axe and shrugged. "Roan signed his own death warrant. This sad excuse of a soldier, has done little wrong beyond incompetence and pettiness. Not enough to justify death."

"Agreed." I cast a dark look back at Artis. "For now." "But this isn't the Union. It's not House Garazal. You have a lot to prove if you want to earn anyone's trust or respect here."

"I know," he murmured.