"Bring the others down to help me."
"I can't. I just checked my HUD, and the ring is grayed out," she said between gasps for breath. "It's got restrictions on how often I can use it."
"Well that just sucks."
"Preaching to the choir, sweetheart."
The scorpions attacked at the same time again. Fergus wondered how they communicated to coordinate. Once again it took all of his concentration and effort to fend off its two claws and stinger.
"Jesus!" he cried when the scorpions finally relented and fell back. "My bladder is about to burst."
"Ha. I lost control of mine on the floor above," Tiana said. "Don't tell Rand."
"Screw that runt."
"I might have to since he reached Lord Kathro first." She huffed and puffed a moment. "I don't think I can survive another attack."
Fergus' blood ran cold. If either one of them fell, the two scorpions would make short work of the remaining one. A scene where they were both paralyzed and being eaten filled his mind. Bile scalded his throat at the thought.
"No choice," he said. "Each of us throws ourself on a scorpion. Kill or be killed."
"Now!" she shouted.
Fergus didn't allow himself to think about it. He screamed and charged the scorpion. The giant arachnid caught his left arm in a claw, and his right leg in the other. The tail whipped back, and he knew it was about to plunge into his abdomen. With nothing to lose, he thrust his sword straight into the scorpion's head.
The tip of his elven sword pierced the hard carapace. The bug jerked, releasing him. The stinger struck, but missed when he dodged aside. Fergus twisted the sword, and then thrust it deeper. The giant scorpion trembled, and then went limp.
He stared at it a moment, before turning to see Tiana still chopping on her dead foe. The ranger looked back and forth between the two monsters, marveling that they both survived.
"We're living charmed lives, Tiana."
"Charmed? Yes. That's exactly how I feel. Charmed as hell."
Explosions echoed down from above. It sounded like distant thunder.
"Sounds like either Asha or Killum has found Lord Kathro," he said.
A dragon's roar echoed down next. Fergus grinned.
"Took him long enough," he said. "I guess we better get back up there to help."
"I'd rather they came down here," she said. "I think my legs are made of lead now."
"Yeah. They owe us. Big time," he said. They grinned at each other. "I must be crazy, because I think I'm actually enjoying myself."
Chapter 48
Everything hurt. Killum struggled to all fours and looked around. Asha was to his right, Rand to his left. Lord Kathro was striding towards him with death in his eyes.
"Last time I play with a level 102 anything," Killum muttered.
Asha nodded. She'd never looked in such disarray. Her long black hair was tousled and all over the place, one boob was hanging out, and she'd lost a boot. Her body was bruised and abraded, with way too much blood splatter to be her own. Rand even looked worse.
"Oh crap, he broke all my healing and mana restoring potions," Asha cried. "I'm out of mana."
The small cloth sack in which she carried the potions in was soaked and dripping. Killum quickly checked the pouches on his belt. About half of his potions were shattered, but he found two Mana Restoring. Giving one to Asha, he downed the other.
"Thanks," she said.
"Hey, a day without your magic is like a day without sunshine."
"Yeah, well I owe you."
Rand grinned at Killum. "She might owe me, too."
The battle-mage didn't know what that meant, but it sounded cryptic and her eyes were huge. Asha averted her eyes and stuffed her loose boob back into her top as she climbed to her feet. Killum checked his HUD just long enough to ensure his mana was ticking up. He was surprised he still had 78 of 100 for health. He didn't feel 78 percent.
"Hey, Lord Dark and Brooding," Killum called. "Let's make a deal."
Lord Kathro stopped and gave him a curious look. "What kind of deal? Will you pledge fealty and serve me loyally?"
"I was thinking more of…" He looked back and forth between Asha and Rand, both of whom were looking at him in shock. "You dying and us not."
The battle-mage threw his belt knife straight at him. Lord Kathro threw out a warding hand, which the spinning blade impaled. Killum was trying to hit his heart. The Dark Lord gasped and staggered back as he yanked the blade out.
"Fools," Lord Kathro snarled. His hand glowed a second, and the wound was gone. "I'm going to kill you all into Purgatory for a year. Then I'll find your respawn sites, and kill you five more times next year when you return."
"Now that is a man who holds a grudge," Rand said.
Killum saw the necromancer's hands spread wide, and start back together in a clap. He dropped to his belly with a shouted, "Duck!"
The percussive wave passed above them. Killum jumped to his feet and charged the powerful necromancer. Rand and Asha followed closely. All brandished edged steel with only one thought in mind. Kill or be killed.
Asha hit the Dark Lord with a lightning bolt, followed by Killum's energy shot. They made him stumble back, but he fell into a defensive stance and a shield bubble popped up around him. Rand bounced off it first, followed by Killum and Asha.
"That felt like running into a brick wall," Rand grumbled.
"I could see you doing something like that," Killum said.
"No comment." Rand grinned and turned around. "Killer fart!"
He let loose a long, loud one. Killum and Asha barely gave it a second thought, but Lord Kathro froze in surprise. The battle-mage saw his chance, and thrust his Dragon Knight Sword at their foe. The enchanted blade passed through the defensive bubble and straight into Lord Kathro's shoulder.
"You missed his heart?" Rand cried. "Are you friggin blind?"
The necromancer seized the blade in both hands and held tight. Killum couldn't thrust any deeper.
"He moved."
Asha attacked with flashing swords. Lord Kathro barked a word, and flew straight back. The three friends followed.
Lord Kathro backed away, while casting his healing spell. Killum couldn't help but be a little jealous. That evil bastard healed himself so effortlessly, using up massive amounts of mana. Where did he get all of that mana? And how many amazing spells did he possess?
"Give it up, dude," Killum said. "We outnumber you three-to-one. You can't win."
"I beg to differ. Three-to-one? Not exactly. It's me against one man, a pee wee munchkin, and a bimbo. And I'm level 103. Yep, I just leveled up a minute ago and went two more toward Dark."
"So did I," Asha sneered.
"Great. You and your boyfriend are just Novice Skill levels. I'm a Master."