Scorching Ascension - [Progression Litrpg Apocalypse]

Gerald fiddled with her vambraces as he spoke, and while he seemed a little bit nervous, his back was straight, and his eyes held not fear. "I'm grateful to you all and to you especially, Ethan. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you. But after seeing how things are going, I think… no. I know I'm more needed here than with you. There are people around us who need help, and I'd like to do the same you did for me. While I'd love to keep pushing ahead like you are, I feel like I'd be holding you guys back, so I'd like to take a step back."

They all stood quietly for a few moment, digesting what the man was saying. Gerald ran a hand through his hair. "I've seen what I could be doing. In my vision. And… I think I want to do some of that. At least for a short bit. Help those who need it. I hope you'll all forgive me."

Gerald stood straight, chin held up, and as Ethan eyed the others, thinking he'd see some shock or surprise, there didn't seem to be any.

Liz was staring at Gerald—no, past him, as she scratched her chin in thought before she turned to Ethan to see his reaction, while Audrey nodded as she listened, understanding. Amelie, on the other hand, seemed to be a little frustrated. She glanced at Ethan and at the napping Ember for a second before she turned her attention back at the high schoolers, then around at the still smoking and charred carcasses of water monitors.

As for Ethan… well. He didn't mind parting ways with the man, though now that the dynamics were changing, he might need to make some adjustments. For now, he gave the man a genuine smile. "There's nothing to forgive. We've had a good run, and if you're free to do what you want to do." He reached forward for a handshake as he dismissed the claw, and Gerald shook it. "Don't worry about it. And just… take care of yourself, alright?" said Ethan, and Gerald's shoulders seemed to relax.

Ethan didn't let his thoughts show, but now that the first crack in their group had showed, he wasn't sure if the others would stay, or, if he was honest, if he wanted them to stay. Gerald might not have been pivotal to the team, but he helped alleviate the load on Audrey and gave Amelie and Liz space to shoot their spells. With him gone, Ethan would have to step in and be closer to them, which he didn't feel would be in his or their interests, especially now that he had his wings and the [Mana Heart] to keep pushing while others needed to rest.

Now that Gerald is out, we might need to have a serious talk, he thought as he eyed the others.

Ethan wouldn't mind continuing to help, but with one member down and with the heightened numbers and levels of the monsters, he worried the girls might find themselves out of their depths pretty soon. At this point, even Ember was taking the fights seriously so even before Gerald's decision, if it hadn't been for him and the Ignisra, the group would have been overrun and now that they were down one member, it'd get even tougher for them to tread water.

As Ethan tried to figure out a way to voice his concerns, there was a sigh, and every head turned to Liz who froze like a deer in the headlight. She raised both hands, a nervous smile on her face, then after a quick clear of the throat, she spoke. "Well-um. I guess this is as good a time as any to say I'm thinking of doing the same thing." She looked at Ethan. "Sorry to bail on you… I'd love to continue ahead, but I think we're starting to slow you down a little, and that won't do. I mean, we still need to figure out the best ways of using our new abilities, and doing it against level 40 and 50 monsters sounds like a recipe for disaster. I think it's time we let you do your thing and once we catch-up, we can team-up a little again. If you want, of course."

Audrey nodded as she stretched her leg, and her eyes swivelled to Liz. "I… agree. My own abilities need some practice as well, and I think we'd benefit more by holding the rear. It's not as if there's any less threats out here and we can deal with those safely enough. But yeah. We're holding you back. You should go have fun," she said. Gerald seemed a little at a loss at what he'd started, but Audrey's next words made him shift uncomfortably. "I do think we should have talked about this a bit more before just… springing it, as a team, but I don't disagree," she said, giving Gerald and Liz a mildly stern look for a second before the corner of her lips curved up. She turned to Ethan. "I think we worked well as a team, but now that we're losing at least a person, then it might be time to disband. And not to get too mushy, but yeah. Thanks. To you and to Ember. We owe you."

She stepped forward, and Ethan shook her hand as well. For some reason, he expected her to apply some extra force to the handshake, but she didn't. It was just a normal, firm handshake. Next, she stopped in front of Ember and reached down tentatively. Ember flicked her ears at the tall woman, narrowed her eyes, and then the Ignisra got up and let the outstretched fingers stroke the fur atop of her head.

The cat was surprisingly soft sometimes.

"[Watch it,]" Ember warned, glaring up at him as Audrey stepped away.

Ethan grave her a toothy grin. "[Whatever you say, softie.]"

Ember tilted her ears back and gave him a narrow-eyed glare, then got up and moved a few yards away only for Amelie to snatch her off the ground.

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The cat gave a couple of barely audible protesting growls, but in the end she still let the healer pick her up. Amelie buried her face in the fur, held the cat high and looked at her, then she put her back on the ground. She sighed, then shoved her hands in her pockets. "I guess it's for the best. This way I can work on the basics and get better by myself. I can't catch up if you're constantly shielding us from the worst of it. So you just wait…"

Her eyes seemed to shine at the thought, but not as much as the blue gem between her clavicles.

Ethan smiled, then he sent a message to Ember. "[They're growing up fast, aren't they?]"

Ember ignored him while the young woman brushed her white-dyed locks back, and gave him a sharp grin before flicking the blue gem. "Looks great, huh? I got the Enhancement form. But I won't say what it do. You'll have to figure it out next time we meet. Just make sure you survive 'til then, alright?"

Ethan chuckled and nodded, then gave the four companions an appreciative look. They were already leveling once more, and they were getting their forms. He really hoped they'd survive and make it through this, but with himself being free to move as he liked, he could go and have fun without worrying too much about them. He could level freely, and if he ended up finding more folks out there, he could help pulling them out of the fire and send them back toward his companions.

Even though his stint with these four had been short, it had been beneficial for him. So Ethan shoved a hand into the little pouch he'd hung around his thigh, and pulled out a handful of glowing beads as he gave the four one last tip. "Make sure none of you skip out on the spellform bonuses, and I do happen to have some spares so…any of you want some scales?"

Ethan had plenty of tier-1 scales, and if these could help them survive, then he didn't want to hoard them for himself. While the dagger was breaking down faster than he'd like, he'd soon get the equivalent trait for extra loot and well, he'd rather they all made it out of the tutorial than have a bunch of spellcores he couldn't use.

Plus, even if each of them took one a [Scales] spell, he'd still have one spare [Scales], two tier-2 [Breath Glands], and one tier-1 [Water Jet]. He hadn't gotten any more primagems since the last haul, but he had high hopes for a few new ones, especially now that some new creatures were showing up.

The four stood still for a moment, and it was interesting seeing how hesitation and embarrassment showed up in their features.

Audrey and Amelie seemed struck for a moment, and they both shared a look while Liz was quick to smile and step forward, awkwardly thanking him as she picked up one of the spells and assimilated it. Gerald was surprised, but seemed genuinely grateful as he did the same and finally, both Amelie and Audrey picked theirs. They thanked him, and promised him they'd pay him back, which Ethan shrugged at.

That wasn't the point for him. He liked them and wanted them to survive, and these were defensive spellforms. The two girls insisted, and he agreed, though he didn't see what the fuss was about.

He felt it might have something to do with their upbringing, considering their reactions were nearly identical, but Ethan didn't snoop and in any case, it didn't matter.

With that done, Ethan exchanged a few more pleasantries with them, wished them luck and after saying goodby, he stepped back into the humid air of the large cave, and was immediately welcomed by a cacophony of roars and savage calls.

It felt like coming home.

***

Ethan walked past the first few mushroom trees and breathed in the fresh air as he made his way deeper into the agitated cavern ahead. He felt… free. Less worried about the others, now that they retreated above. They might be in danger, but it was their choice and maybe, with the increased amounts of monsters, they'd be able to quickly finish up awakening their Arcanums and get more comfortable using them but for now, Ethan would just dive head first into the fray. As a vanguard. And he would get all the Essence and fragments he needed to reach the next tier of power. But it won't be without distractions.

"[Carry me.]"

Ethan drew his lips in a line as his eyes swivelled down to the the flaming cat walking beside him. Ember had been keeping pace ahead, but more and more dirt and glowing moss bits were catching on her fur and now, she was looking up at him as they walked, meowing and making a ruckus. "[I want to sit on the horns while we travel. This is dirtying my fur.]"

"I don't want your dirty fur on my head. These things aren't a seat," he said, pointing up at the jutting horns.

The cat took a few fast steps ahead then sat on her haunches right in front of him, raising a barely dirtied-paw. "[Please?]" she meowed, then fell on her side. "[I'm tired. From saving your friends while you starve me to death. I've been nothing but helpful. Am I asking for too much? Please—]"

Ethan stepped over the cat and kept walking.