[SD:SC] Ouch - Chapter 9

Gem stands tall on Fresco’s back, stretched out and inhumanly thin so as to not put more weight in him. Though the Ride skill also seemed to offset the rider’s weight? The best Gem could figure on that end was that it acted like a situational buff to strength. Not literally, but that was the easiest way for others to understand.

The other discovery was that their transformation ability didn’t conserve mass. Rather, if Gem got bigger, they literally got bigger and would weigh more. Thus the worry about weight.

Either way, standing on Fresco’s back was more of an affectation than necessary. After all, they were both a few stories in the air on a platform. Then with a couple hops, they’re back below.

Gem reports to the cattlekin cowboy, “Not seeing anything aggressive. Though I think there might be a group of some sort of to the left traveling down a road. Kind of hard to tell, but it looked like there were wagons.”

The cowboy nods and rubs the brim of his cowboy hat in thought. “We’re only a few days out from our destination so other people should start showing up. Except most caravans should have already gotten into town. They like to handle business before the area is packed full of sheep.”

Gem shrugs, and the cowboy dismisses them. There isn’t really much more to say with so little information. Though the cowboy does pass on this information for their own people to double-check.

Back with the others, Gem passes on the information to them as well.

June shrugs, “A small group of wagons and people wouldn’t be much of a threat to us.”

Samuel, however, has a different take. “The land is too wild. Gullys, shrubbery, and hills abound. You see a small group when there is actually more hidden or simply lagging behind and out of sight. I feel our last leg of the journey won’t be peaceful.”

Emrys laughs, “Okay, Cassandra. We’ll just be over here ignoring that and planning as if they’re the only other people nearby.”

Gem shrugs, “While wild, these people were on a road and I could see much of it. They must maintain it to some degree. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re the only ones around. Samuel isn’t wrong about how rough the terrain is. Bandits could be over the next hill and I wouldn’t have seen them if they were careful. Or more likely, monsters hidden in a den or under a bush. Though once again, this area seems maintained and so there weren’t as many visible monsters either.”

Which, in classic ironic timing, signaled the attack of a small group of monsters. Some sort of plant elemental? It was hard to tell. There were gatherings of vines all rolling down the hill at them. Yet, those balls of vegetation were only loosely connected. In fact, the vines seemed to have no roots, each line of plant matter ending in simple points at both sides.

The cowboys weren’t confused though, “Tumbleweeds!”

Gem frowned, they weren’t, not really. A tumbleweed was a normal bush that would break off at the stem and roll around in the wind to spread their seeds around. Though this line of thought didn’t stop them from contributing. Or attempting to.

The first tumbleweed they targeted is shredded pretty easily by a wind blade. The next much bigger weed? Not so much. Not only was the monster bigger and able to soak more damage, the spell simply did less damage in general.

Which leaves Gem confused as Samuel blocks the weed’s charge with his shield as Emrys tries to work something out. Illusions do nothing much against whatever form of sense the plant has.

Then Gem sees something that might answer their question. The blocked tumbleweed monster uses a gust of wind in an attempt to get over the shield. While not a confirmation, it hinted at an answer. “These cheaters! They’re wind resistant!”

Emrys laughs, “And so are you! So make sure to body block any attack spells they feel like throwing.”

Which, while Gem understood this was Emrys joking around, is a tempting idea. Their Air resistance stat has been dropping and a wind spell would be a good way to train the stat some.

Though Gem didn’t let all of that distract them from the fight. While their Wind Blades weren’t the most effective thing, they still could do damage. So, Gem held back their spells in favor of saving those who needed help. Not just on their team, but anyone in range of their spell.

This kept people in the fight, allowing things to be wrapped up with minimal cost. A fact one of the player parties decried, “Dammit! None of you are exhausted after that. Well, we do what we must. ATTACK!”

And from the opposite hill, a bunch of players come charging down at the group. All while the party with the herd tries to kill the neighboring party. “Death to the corruptors!”

This does not work well as that neighboring party is Gem’s. Though they are attacking from the side opposite of Samuel and so they could have dealt a lot of damage.

If only Emery’s hadn’t set up a silent image around them when their leader acted like an idiot and shouted their plans to the world. So yeah, the traitors charge right through the illusion and into Samuel’s shield. Not the best thing to have happen, but not as bad as what the leader experiences. A spear of wind to the eye.

The wind spear was even charged as Gem had been holding the spell already.

The lead traitor is knocked right off their feet and flies back a good five paces. Though they lived through the ordeal, their Body stat girded them against this burst of traumatic damage. Their face still looked savaged, the one eye completely gone and the flesh around the area bleeding heavily.

He growls, “Kill her and her little pet! Make sure to grab that spear. I want to personally snap it over my knee.”

It is unfortunate for him that the rest of his team aren’t doing much better. In particular, Emrys’ illusion magic was making them deal a ton of friendly fire. Attacks going slightly off, the target actually a hand’s width in the opposite direction and the follow-through of the blade instead caught another traitor.

All while they’re shouting about how they’re all corrupt. That God will only save those who deserve it. How Gem’s team is all going to hell for siding with the soulless machines. And other similar talking points.

Though not the leader. His first pronouncement, the last as he had been knocked next to another team. Said team rightfully decided that was too good of a chance to turn down and so their melee DPS took a swing and cut deep into the man’s throat. Still not dead, but the following attacks and all that blood pouring out of him was more than enough to finish the job.

Back with the others, Gem is pinging them with Wind Blades, but finding their damage much less than satisfactory. “Why won’t you all die! Wind Blade to the face!”

Which slices a nasty cut in the rogue type trying to flank them, but only forces them to fall back.

Though with the rogue back near his buddies, Samuel is ready. “Whirlwind Slash!” And he spins wildly, slashing them up something fierce.

Gem then double casts Wind Blade to finish the two that survived. “My Wind Blades should be better than that!”

June, “Focus on the battle. We can talk afterwards.”

And the battle certainly did need their full attention. The ambushing players rained spells down on the various cowboys and players. Fire, Wind, and Earth spells pound against shield and flesh.

Gem turns almost exclusively to a denial role. No longer do they try to go for the kill. Instead, watching for any of the enemies charging something up or preparing for a big spell. Still, Gem can’t stop everything.

Great spikes of stone rise up under various players. A rogue flings a barrage of poisoned daggers. Fireballs explode with alarming frequency. But the spikes only manage to rise once, every subsequent attempt is met with a wind spike to the face. Oh, and a few of the fireball flingers are disrupted as opportunity allows.

Then, from on top of a nearby hill, five mages run up from the far side and begin to chant together.

Gem flings a Wind Blade their way, but it is blocked by a Wind Wall. “I need that spell!”

Samuel scoffs, “Just make it. Walls are one of the most basic results of elemental manipulation.”

Gem, “Fair, but it also means those five get to finish whatever they’re up to.”

Emrys, “Nah, just get some height and snipe them. It is a wall, not a dome. If they had someone strong enough to cast a proper dome, we’d be dead anyway.”

Gem shrugs, “I’ll give it a shot.” And they get off of Fresco’s back.

A couple stretches while they transform their legs, and Gem is ready. They crouched down and then flung themselves upwards. Gaining much greater height than expected, which is followed by a repeat as they jump off of the platform.

Up, and up they go until they’re on their fifth platform. From way up there, Gem notices some of the enemies are pointing towards them and figures they need to attack now or never.

Wind Blade, Wind Blade, Wind Blade! Wind Blade, Wind Blade!

Three wind blades speed downward and then another two. Though of course these players weren’t idiots and had prepared for someone to get a shot around their wall. Admittedly, they expected it to be the result of someone arcing their shots and not someone taking the high ground from them. What with their hill being the highest ground.

Still, they were ready and from behind the hill, a pair of fireballs rose up, but they weren’t aimed at the wind spears. Instead, they arrive in front of them and burst. Exactly as planned. Their bursts of flame disrupted Gem’s spells.

Good thing Gem wasn’t the only one on the case. From the shadows of a shrub, a fluffy white sheepfolk comes out of nowhere and slams a dagger home into the closest mage’s kidney. This does an excellent job of stopping the joint spell.

Up in the air, Gem tosses themself at the now chaotic top of the hill. Of course, this demands a response and more fireballs fly. Except the Air Platforms are for exactly this sort of situation.

Gem springs to the left mid-air, then forward once again, bypassing the explosions. The size of which Gem had already seen from earlier. More fireballs and this time Gem curls up and spins in the air before rocketing themselves straight down, having already passed over the wind wall.

This was enough for Gem. They didn’t feel any need to actually land in the middle of the enemies. In fact, landing at the edge of the fight was probably for the best. No need to have fire darts coming at you from every side.

And now that Gem was on this side of the Wind Wall, they began to spam out their Wind Blades. Gem isn’t holding back or conserving their Mana. Which proves to be a good decision.

Unlike monsters, these players are properly set up for fighting other players. As Gem’s many blades crash into the enemy mages, various bits and bobs light up. One has a rune plate on their belt that shatters and absorbs two blades. Another has a necklace that rises up and blocks a shot.

That and more whittles down Gem’s many blades. But not enough of them. Three of the mages end up dead, unable to cast a spell in response as the sheepfolk threatens them from behind.

Then, the mages behind the hill arrive on the scene. Except this wasn’t a good idea on their part. The one had handled the fireballs, the other the Wind Wall. Except now that Wind Wall wasn’t being maintained, and let other combatants intrude.

All the while Gem ran around, dodging fireballs. They had a bit of Mana left, though it wasn’t as straightforward since they had been using a bunch of platforms which aren’t as efficient with the Mana.

“Can’t hit the broadside of a barn!”, Gem ducks after yelling that and a fireball flies right over.

Gem laughs, “Here I come!” And they run away, a Wind Blade from the enemy falls short.

And they turn on a dime and charge right up to the fireball-tossing mage and pierces the mages chest with their spear, releasing a Wind Blade inside of their defenses.

Though in turn, takes a normal Wind Blade to the back. This drives them to their knees and in an ironic twist, the wind is knocked out of them. Then another Wind Blade slices across their arm and they bleed profusely. Darkness invades the corners of their vision, yet the final shot never comes. The sheepfolk managed to finish off the wind mage who had tunneled vision-ed on Gem.

All while Gem struggles to hold the flesh of their arms together with their transformation powers, barely holding onto consciousness. Through the darkness they can hear yells for a healer and only once Gem feels the comforting tingle of magical healing, do they let go.

Where Gem Moved - Chapter 8

Got Any Water? - Chapter 10