We Can Be Heroes ...?

48

Trevor flung its claws at the attacking, undead birds, taking out several in a number of sweeps, but still they came. Lightning flashed out from Mila's staff, and magical energy from Shion's, but they only struck one of the crows each time, with ever more emerging from the haze. Dave and Jova fared better, with their attacks that struck several of the black, flying monsters, but even that did little to stop the mass of wings and beaks.

Health began to drop on them all, a death of a thousand pecks. Insignificant on their own, but in their multitudes, the attacks built up, and soon everyone's red bar began to reduce to black. Shion cast her ring of health, but she couldn't recharge her pool of magic upon the creatures. She needed to sustain a long, heavy attack, and these birds were felled far too quickly.

The swish of Dave spinning in the air sounded again and again, but Shion knew that, like her magic, his pool of stamina would soon run out, exhausting him and leaving them all vulnerable. Likewise, Jova swung her great axe in wide swathes, cutting through so many birds at a time, refilling her health, but only in tiny increments. And still more crows came.

"This is no use!" Mila dismissed Trevor and summoned the Bobs once again. "We can't stand and fight these things! We need an area of effect attack and none of us have one!"

"I'm ge'ing knackere'." Returning to single slashes, Dave's knives struck crow after crow, but it wasn't enough to replenish his stamina. "Who'd'a though' li'le buggers'd be worse'n big buggers?"

"We have to run! Find some space so I can cast my Field of Replenishment." So many crows attacked now that she could barely see the others beside her. "This is too open!"

"Follow me!" Jova grabbed Shion and Shion grabbed Dave. Dave gripped a hold of Mila and Jova dragged them all along.

Their reserves of health were becoming dangerously low, and running had taken them out of the mass of undead crows, but Jova had led them off the path, onto the grounds of the cemetery, rushing across ancient graves, headstones flashing past them. Figures emerged from the murk and, several times, Shion fired her staff, only to find she was attacking statues.

Even through the thick, oppressive fog, Shion could see Jova's health bar above her head, coming dangerously close to turning black in its entirety, and she didn't doubt her own, and those of the others, also neared the fateful blinking before it turned fully black. She readied her Field of Replenishment, her Apex-Ability that she, apparently, shouldn't have, but it would do little out here in the open.

Something loomed out of the wall of fog and all but Jova stumbled to a halt until Jova turned, using both hands to pull Shion onward, her axe dismissed. The fog roiled and twisted, clearing for the tiniest fraction of a moment, and Shion saw where Jova had led them.

How the twin had seen it, Shion would never know. The fog had become so all-consuming, Shion could barely see her own hand before her face, but Jova had seen this. A mausoleum. A crypt, standing within the multitude of graves, heavy doors wide open and inviting. But, if Shion had learned anything in this nightmare city, nothing was ever as innocent as it appeared.

Nevertheless, it seemed they had no choice. Though they had run as fast as they could, the crows could fly, not needing to avoid obstacles. They continued to pick away at their health, the Bobs killing some, the crows killing the Bobs, at pretty much the same rate. They had no other choice. Within that mausoleum, they could stand and fight. Perhaps a last stand, but a better chance than out here in the gloom.

They fell into the tomb, Dave reaching his feet first and turning to pull the doors closed. He only managed to close them part way, but it was enough for now. Shion cast her Field of Replenishment and felt a little relief to see everyone's health bar begin to grow, becoming more red. The field also replenished magic and stamina reserves and, with the doors creating a choke-point, they turned to face the still-oncoming crows.