The Ruby Magician

Wyn surveyed the group in front of him. They were all talking gently amongst themselves while doing final preparations of their gear: fastening armor, inspecting weapons, and refilling belts and straps with potions. They stood eagerly, waiting for further instruction.

After leaving the sixth floor the day before, Wyn and his team rushed back to their guild house to inform everyone else of the secondary quest and the unique setup of the floor. Nigel and his team were going to face the floor, too, but stopped after receiving the information from Wyn's team, instead deciding to repeat a floor and train for Wyn's proposal. Arabelle and her team still needed to finish the first tier, which they were able to do that day to join the others on the sixth floor.

Faye was there, too, and after hearing about the unique makeup of the raid, urgently told Gregory and Caryn, who decided to go along with the guild and climb as a combined team once again. They hadn't even started climbing, but with Brett and two others from their respective teams during their time in the Twilight Blades, were able to clear the first tier over the course of the day with incredible luck and persistence. They were still incredibly experienced Climbers, and had enough practice clearing out first tiers to push themselves to finish it.

Which left them at this point, now, the day after. Four teams were together in the portal room, all a part of the Dawn's Light guild in one way or another, about to challenge the sixth floor. In addition to them were four Packers, all hired to join the group to collect whatever items fell, if possible. Wyn didn't want anyone losing focus during the fight to collect any possible rewards, so hiring capable Packers was the solution. It took some locating to find ones ready for the sixth floor, but they were ones the Twilight Blades had used in the past, and likely that Dawn's Light would use again in the future. These four were unique in that they carried equipment that kept them from monster's sights, either invisible, or camouflaged, or some similar shrouding or hiding effects.

Looking to his team, they all urged him to speak. They were ready, as they had been for over a day, and wanted their leader to inspire the rest of the guild. Wyn cleared his throat and raised his hands beside the portal, gaining everyone's attention.

"I know I spoke to all of you briefly two days ago, but thank you for being here," Wyn said. He thought about what he wanted to say, what he had prepared to say. It came easily. "This floor is one of a kind. We've all encountered different secondary quests, but this is one that requires an effort that goes beyond that of a single team. It requires teamwork of multiple teams. Teamwork of a guild!"

Several cheers and cries of battle came from the group.

"We are all capable Climbers," Wyn continued, "who have the power to overcome the sixth floor. Based on what Marcy was able to spot, these enemies are floor-appropriate in their difficulty. Which means we will be able to carve through them without mercy!"

More rallying cries came from the group, their volume doubling in intensity.

"I've led soldiers on the battlefield before. It will be chaotic. It will be disorienting. But you have magic coursing through you! We will fight together, but focus on your teammates around you. Each of your team leaders will guide you to the end, and listen to their instructions. Together we will overcome! Alistair cannot hold us back! We will run and fight against those undead monsters and destroy them!"

Everyone cried out, most raising a weapon or fist in their excitement.

Wyn looked to his team and nodded. It was time.

Appearing on the other side of the portal felt the same as always, and Wyn quickly gathered his team together. "Alright, let's group up and start the preparations." They each nodded, then looked all around for the other three groups to follow.

It took only a few seconds for everyone to appear, but they were fairly spread out by a few hundred feet. They all merged in the center two groups, which were Nigel's and Arabelle's teams. It was the same dark night sky only lit dimly by the distant burning city. It felt impossibly vast due to the open field they started in.

Once all four teams were together, Wyn had them separate slightly while staying in formation. Then he called over the other leaders – Oren, Nigel, and Faye.

"Remember our strategy," Wyn said. "Keep one flyer in the sky to scout for new threats. Handle what you can, and send your team's signal if you get overwhelmed or need assistance. Once the fighting starts, we won't be able to hear each other well even when fighting side by side."

"We're ready," Nigel said. He held a longsword in his hand and wore his usual white and silver armor, looking like an angelic knight ready to slay demons.

"Us, too," Faye added. "Caryn will add his large boost to everyone as the preparations are underway. Our Packer is geared, too."

"We're… here," Oren said, doubt in his voice. "We feel better surrounded by all of you but admittedly feel out of our depth."

"I get it," Wyn said, placing a hand on Oren's shoulder. "But you've faced monsters stronger than these. Stick to the strategy, move with us, and we'll make it through. Their numbers are intimidating, but you won't be alone. Remember that Tasha will be our communicator, and you can call to her if you need help. Just listen to me for any final instructions."

Oren started like he was going to reply, then paused and gave a curt nod.

"Okay," Wyn said. "Once the vibrations start we know their army is moving closer, and then we will start the preparations. No sense in starting abilities early only for them to end when we've barely started fighting."

With their final agreements, the four leaders separated to return to their respective teams.

"Let's get ready," Wyn said, as he came back to his group.

"They're moving," Marcy said, looking out towards the castle. "It will be soon."

Wyn took a deep breath. This was it.

Over the previous two days since learning about the sixth floor, Wyn went to work coming up with a strategy for their guild to employ. It wasn't overly difficult, but it was important to review. His knowledge of military tactics combined with the addition of magical abilities certainly complicated the situation, but then adding their enemies being undead monsters with their own magic further changed his ideas.

Ultimately, he settled on a simple but proven plan. He didn't need to do anything complicated that Climbers couldn't follow quickly or in the heat of battle, either.

"Preparations!" Wyn yelled, feeling the vibrations start on the ground at his feet. "Move forward and get in your positions, but hold your abilities!"

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The four teams spread out slightly, staying in their formation. Their layout was the first simple part of the strategy – instead of separating into their four separate groups, they were going to merge together into one large group composed of twenty four Climbers. That way they could utilize their abilities best in one cohesive unit instead of spreading out and possibly overlapping or interfering with each other as they fought. The goal wasn't to have four individualized groups, but rather one large group big enough to challenge an army.

The formation was a variation of Wyn's usual wave formation, expanded four times in size. They would have the bulk of their melee combatants at the front and sides in a reverse 'V' formation, something akin to an arrowhead, minimizing the chance of being surrounded while still pushing towards the castle. Inside the open area behind the melee Climbers would be the ranged Climbers at various intervals to take down more monsters, and then the support Climbers in the middle, serving multiples roles. The ranged Climbers would be positioned between each melee combatants, giving them room to launch abilities and aim for enemies while minimizing the chance of hitting their allies. The support Climbers would communicate orders across the formation as needed, backup the attacking Climbers, and be protected by them on most sides.

The only area the group wasn't protected was behind, but if they kept killing monsters as they advanced, they'd act like an arrowhead fired into an enemy and drive directly through the army to make it to the castle. Going effeciently enough would minimize the chance of enemies flanking them.

Wyn had two extra formations he reviewed with the leaders in case of emergencies, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that. If all went as it was supposed to, they'd keep formation and press on all the way to the castle and clear the floor.

Only thousands of monsters stood in their way in a literal field of battle.

But Wyn was ready.

Wyn had John and Cal go with Nigel to lead the melee combatants, taking half of the total Climbers with them. Gregory and Caryn joined them, though they followed Nigel's orders as the dozen Climbers arranged themselves into their practiced pattern. Wyn explicitly told them that Nigel was the head melee Combatant regarding giving orders, and he led the point in front of Cal and Caryn who each started one of the angled sides.

Watching the Climbers move into position, Wyn eyed Arabelle carefully. She stood by her own group's fighters and looked at them hesitantly, but held her shield and whip with confidence that her face didn't show. He hoped she would be alright, but knew she had the potential as much as any of them. The hardest part of this fight was going to be working together and staying in formation, as they all had experience killing monsters. What they didn't have experience in was facing an army, where losing your focus and breaking said formation would mean unleashing chaos that would ultimately bring on defeat.

"Alright, ranged Climbers," Faye said, gathering another five people. "On me!"

Marcy and Cedric gave one final nod to Wyn before following Faye, moving to take their positions in the slowly advancing V. They moved to the second line behind the fighters.

Wyn looked to the four other Climbers left. They were the support group. Tasha, Oren, Sydney from Nigel's group who was a Divine Sage, and Kellen from Gregory's original group who was also a Divine Sage. The Divine Sage was a third-tier class from the Diamond Magician line, giving them both plenty of experience, power, and magical might. Together they would keep protective auras and spells primarily on the melee combatants while countering magical enemies as needed, as well as relaying orders to the various lines throughout the floor. They were the key communicators for the guild, something vital when the fighting started.

And then, out of the formation and standing by himself, stood Wyn.

He knew everyone else had their appropriate place, and specifically reserved himself from fitting in anywhere. He could have joined the front-line combatants and fared decently well given his speed, combat experience, and enhancements via his magical abilities, but he had another goal in mind for himself.

While they were a small squadron of Climbers, Wyn was used to having command over a decent number of people in war. Their current group was smaller than the number under his command during his time in the military, but it was more complicated. Magic tended to do that, of course.

His goal during the floor would be to do a little bit of everything.

The leaders were all aware of his position, who then told the rest of the guild. Basically, their instructions were to focus on their own task at hand and listen to their respective leader give them orders. It was the chain of command, which started with Wyn at the top. He planned to cycle through all responsibilities depending on the situation at hand. If they needed more support, he was going to lend it. If monsters were slowing them down and they needed to be killed, he would move and help the area as needed. If a certain section was overwhelmed, he would divert enemies using traps or other sources of magic.

Basically, Wyn was going to fulfill his namesake of having the ability to manage everything as a Ruby Tactician. All while making sure everyone progressed forward. He felt as though this was his purpose. That he had training and experience at war specifically to guide his group and others, to make sure they could be the best versions of themselves with his guidance.

But he wanted to prove himself here. He needed them to succeed.

Feeling the vibrations rise at his feet, he walked beside Marcy, who was at the forefront of the ranged Climber's formation looking ahead at the coming army. As Wyn looked forward, he saw the black mass slowly undulating towards them but were still halfway across the battlefield.

"Estimated time?" Wyn asked.

"If we stay still, probably six or seven minutes," Marcy said. "If we move forward at a steady walk, then four or five."

Wyn nodded. It was time, then.

Moving to the middle of the formation near the support Climbers, Wyn prepared his voice and took a deep breath. He wanted to make sure everyone could hear him.

"Climbers of Dawn's Light!" Wyn yelled. Everyone turned to face him while still standing in their arrowhead formation. "Start your preparations – we move in three minutes!"

A veritable rainbow of magical colors blossomed in their squadron, most of it on the melee Climbers. The four support Climbers immediately started their own preparations, first casting light spells that hovered above the squadron like a beacon, then moving to add protective spells around everyone like Arcane Armor or other ability-enhancing effects. One of which was adding divine effects to the melee Climber's weapons, which was a spell that the Divine Magician's had available in the second tier. It wasn't too commonly used as the effect wasn't as strong as elemental effects, but it would be a terror against the undead, giving all the front-line Climbers an incredible advantage against the oncoming army. It would make their already-magical weapons carve through them like a hot knife through butter.

Tasha started activating her Invoker's Might. She channeled her favorite and most useful ability, where she sprouted ethereal golden wings and access to spells that could simultaneously heal allies and damage enemies. It would be absolutely diabolical against the undead.

"Warriors!" Caryn cried, pulling everyone's attention to the front of the formation. His voice carried far more than Wyn's, sounding like it was magically amplified. "May your arms be light and your weapons strong! Let your boots shake the earth beneath your feet and never tire! Hear my words and be filled with vigor!"

Wyn stood in awe as a wave of magical energy washed over every Climber like a cloud. It seemed to grab hold of every existing aura and deepen them, like it was some sort of amplification. He felt his own body respond with an aura surrounding him, twisting in red and grey, that made him feel strong and full of energy.

That was Caryn's Commander ability, called Follow Orders. Similar to John's shared aura, it worked to provide magical effects in a range. Except his was far more potent and able to affect many more than just a single group of Climbers – it effected everyone present within range. The downside was that it was a huge drain of mana on Caryn's part, but he overcame that deficit with mana potions. According to him, he ran through them even faster than most Mages.

Wyn then set about abusing his abilities in a way he hadn't considered before but wanted to try. He moved to the furthest melee Climber on the right side of the formation, someone from Faye's team. He cast Drain, willing his class ability of duplication to latch onto the other Climber. Then he cast Sprint, duplicating that ability on the same Climber.

After supporting them, he then moved down the line, repeating the process for each of the melee Climbers, giving them a large speed boost while also covering them in the Drain effect.

By the time he got to the end, it was time to move, and Nigel had already started leading the squadron forward. Wyn was happy to see that his mana was able to recover so quickly as to completely coat the dozen Climbers in the two abilities. His mana was nearly spent, now, but that was easily remedied with a mana potion he quickly uncorked and drank.

While he drank it, he repeated the two spells on himself, then followed in line with the others marching forward.

The ground beneath their feet shook, but it wasn't just the monsters ahead this time. As the guild moved together, the earth responded, and their footfalls echoed across the dark plains with a ferocity that made Wyn feel the strongest he had ever felt as a Climber. He wasn't alone. None of them were. Together, they were a force that could take an army.

"Hold your formations!" Wyn yelled as the sounds of growls, snarls, and yells came from the approaching monsters. The undead were only a few hundred feet away, now, and in seconds they would clash.

Looking ahead seemed like an impossible challenge with the thousands of monsters barreling towards them. Their guild only stood as a group of twenty-four to combat them, like a small candle against a sea of darkness, but Wyn knew the truth.

They weren't a candle. They were a raging sun. And the enemy's black waves would be torn apart under their power.

Still, Wyn knew it would be absolute chaos once the fighting started. Keeping his focus and positivity was paramount. He took one more breath, hardening his resolve, then started the command.

"Ranged Climbers!" Wyn yelled, his voice startlingly quiet against the rising tide of the undead in front of them. "Start the first volley!"

The six ranged Climbers poked through the holes between the front-line and all shot off various forms of attacks, from arrows to crossbow bolts to spells. By the time the shots were launched, the army was less than fifty feet away. All of the attacks were coated in magical auras, and while the six shots looked small, they were powerful.

A small boom erupted just in front of the Climbers as magic exploded the first line of undead monsters in a colorful display of destruction. Monster parts flew in all directions before being snuffed out into smoke. The impact sent a shockwave of magic that slowed the next line of monsters and ruffled the loose garments of the Climbers.

More undead quickly took their place, but the Climbers were all ready. Less than thirty feet separated the two forces.

A war cry erupted from Wyn as he raised his long sword in the air above him, ready to herald the true start of the clash. "For the Light!"

The Climbers echoed his yell, then ran forward with their weapons raised high and auras shining bright. Following Wyn's instruction, they moved as one, advancing in a fast walk to engage the army.

With the first hit that Nigel scored on an undead, metal scouring through flesh, the familiar sound of war had begun.