The first drake hit like a falling mountain.

Its claws tore through the dirt, gouging long trenches as it skidded into the middle of their scattered formation.

Wade barely had time to throw himself aside as a gust of hot wind from its wings sent him tumbling.

He rolled, came up on one knee, and swung Toothpick upwards in pure reflex.

The hammer end smashed into the drake's snout with a dull crack, staggering the beast for only a second. Then it roared, its throat lighting up with light.

"Scatter!" Wade shouted.

The creature spat a ball of fire that exploded across the field.

The blast threw two of the adventurers into the air, their screams cut short by the detonation. The others raised shields, the overlapping barriers flickering and melting at the edges.

"Keep your distance!" Rowan yelled, already activating a skill. A cyclone of dust and wind tore up between them and the drake, blinding it briefly.

It didn't last. Another shadow passed overhead, with two more drakes swooping down, wings spread wide.

Wade's gut clenched. "Three of them! Front and above!"

They all moved instinctively, spreading out.

Wade dove behind the body of a fallen monster, channeling Fireburst through his weapon and hurling it at one of the flying beasts.

The blast hit the drake's flank, setting one wing ablaze, but the creature simply screeched and kept coming.

"Don't let them take the air!" the archer cried, firing arrows that trailed smoke.

One arrow struck true, embedding in a drake's chest and detonating.

The explosion sent fragments of glowing flesh raining down, but it wasn't enough. The creature was still alive, thrashing wildly.

The injured drake lunged again, snapping its jaws towards Wade.

He ducked low and swung upwards with a retrieved Toothpick, smashing into its lower jaw.

Bone cracked and blood sprayed into the air, but the momentum flung him backwards. He crashed into the mud, gasping as his ribs screamed.

A pair of boots slammed down beside him.

"Up!" someone yelled, Daryl, one of the warriors. He planted his feet between Wade and the drake, shield raised high. The drake's next strike hit him dead-on, claws screeching against steel.

"Go!" Daryl grunted, shoving Wade aside.

He drew in a deep breath, the blue trim along his armor lighting up.

Then he turned his head just long enough to grin. "Make it count."

The next moment, he charged.

He rammed into the drake's mouth as its jaws opened. There was a flash of light, then a concussive blast that shattered the air.

The explosion ripped through the drake's skull, flames bursting from its eyes and throat. The shockwave threw Wade to the ground again, the heat washing over him.

When the smoke cleared, there was nothing left of Daryl but charred armor fragments, and a headless drake collapsing into the dirt.

Wade stared, chest tight. There wasn't even time to mourn.

"Behind you!" Rowan's voice snapped him back.

He turned just in time to see the second drake diving. He raised his barrier too late, and the claws clipped his side, tearing through armor.

Pain exploded through his ribs, but he forced himself to stand.

They fought back-to-back, weapons swinging and skills activating in desperation.

Wade swung wildly, hammer and axe head flashing. He drove Toothpick into one of the drake's eyes, yanking it free in a spray of blood.

The third drake swooped low, biting one of the archers clean in half. Another adventurer screamed as the same creature's tail smashed into him, crushing his spine against the ground.

The rest fought harder, fury overtaking fear.

Rowan raised his staff and unleashed a cyclone of slicing air. The storm ripped at the wounded drake's exposed flesh, flaying it alive.

Wade leapt forward and drove Toothpick down into its skull with all his strength.

The beast's head cracked, then burst apart in a wave of fire as Wade used Fireburst point-blank.

Wade staggered back, panting.

Then a cry went up in the air.

"Rowan!"

He spun around just in time to see the last drake's claws tearing through Rowan's arm.

His friend's staff went flying, blood spraying like mist. Rowan fell backward, clutching the stump where his left hand had been.

"No!" Wade roared.

He ran, Fireburst blazing around his arms, and slammed into the drake's flank.

Flames erupted. The monster whipped its head around, trying to snap at him, but Wade ducked under its jaws and drove his axe straight into the exposed chest cavity.

The blow sank deep.

Fireburst!

The explosion tore through the drake's body from the inside.

The creature convulsed once, then collapsed, its carcass smoldering.

Only four of them remained. Himself, Rowan, the archer, and the last warrior. The others were gone. Dead.

Rowan lay on the ground, pale and trembling. Blood soaked the dirt beneath him.

"Stay with me," Wade said, dropping to his knees beside him.

Rowan gave a weak chuckle, his voice rough. "Guess… that's one way to drop weight, huh?"

"Don't," Wade muttered, tearing strips of cloth to wrap around the wound.

His hands shook as he tightened the makeshift bandage, trying to slow the bleeding. Rowan hissed but didn't resist.

"We have to move," the archer urged, eyes darting to the horizon.

Above them, flying beasts still battled in the sky, drakes fighting against buzzards, and wyverns tearing into each other.

The chaos had spread everywhere, including around them, where goblins were much more interested in fighting each other than fighting themselves.

Wade nodded grimly. "We'll go on foot. No flying. It's too risky."

He slung Rowan's good arm over his shoulders and lifted. His friend groaned, nearly collapsing again.

Together, the four resumed the fast trek back towards the ridge.

The ground trembled constantly now, quakes rippling with every clash of titans in the distance. The Chymerion's roars echoed through the air occasionally.

They weaved through what looked like a sea of blood and corpses. The monsters kept fighting each other. That was the only reason they weren't being swarmed.

But the path home was still a nightmare.

At one point, a wounded iron-hide boar staggered into their way, eyes wild.

Wade had to drop Rowan and with the others, take care of it.

By the time they reached the first outer line of the army's makeshift defenses, he could barely feel his legs.

"We're close," the archer said, her voice trembling. "The camp's just ahead."

Wade could see the healer tents, which were much closer now. Relief surged in his chest.

They reached the edge of camp, another of the Chymerion's roars reaching their ears.

"Medic!" the archer yelled, waving frantically as they stumbled into the rows of tents.

The scene inside was bedlam.

Dozens of wounded adventurers lay sprawled on cots, their cries mixing with the frantic shouts of healers. Blood soaked the ground, making it look like they were standing on pools of the red liquid.

Wade dragged Rowan inside, half-carrying and half-pulling him towards an open space.

"He's bleeding out!" Wade shouted.

A healer, older and with weary eyes, looked up from another patient and gestured to the side. "Lay him down there! We'll get to him as soon as we can!"

Wade obeyed, lowering Rowan onto a bloodstained cot. His friend's skin had gone cold, his breathing shallow.

Rowan managed a faint smile. "Looks like… I'll get that rest I was talking about."

"Shut up," Wade said, his throat tight. "You'll live."

He pressed his hand against the bandage again, feeling the sluggish pulse beneath.

All around them, chaos reigned, with shouts, sobs, and orders being barked over the din.

Wade's body screamed for rest, but he stayed there, kneeling beside his friend, blood and sweat dripping down his face.

Outside, the sounds of war still rumbled in the distance.

He looked around at the rows of wounded and dead, then back to Rowan, who was now pale and barely breathing.

And for the first time, he wondered if this war would leave anyone standing.

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