CHAPTER 117: STAY DOWN

Wade felt like he’d been hit by a battering ram.

He could almost swear he heard a crack, his ribs flaring up with pain as he was sent flying, rolling through the mud. His vision blurred for a second before he came to a stop on his back.

A boar had rammed him clean off his feet.

The beast snorted, pawing the ground, steam rising from its nostrils. Its red eyes locked on him, pure hatred burning inside.

Wade gasped for air, the wind knocked from his lungs. He could taste blood.

Brody shouted something, Wade couldn’t make out what, as the boar pawed the dirt again.

The boar charged, barreling straight towards him.

Wade forced himself upright, pain screaming through his ribs, and the moment the beast came close enough, he threw himself to the side, boots skidding on the mud.

The boar thundered past, missing him by inches, the gust of wind from its charge nearly knocking him over again.

He gasped, clutching his side, then tightened his grip on Toothpick.

Across the chaos, Brody was shouting. He was locked in his own fight with another iron-hide boar, the two of them colliding in a spray of dirt. There’d be no help from that direction.

The first boar turned, its red eyes wild. Wade could almost feel the heat from its breath as it scraped the ground with one hoof, snorting steam.

"Fine," he muttered, rolling his shoulders.

The beast lunged.

Wade teleported, and reappeared on its back.

The creature screamed, thrashing as Wade raised Toothpick high and brought the hammer end down on its spine.

Crack.

The impact dented the boar’s armor plating, sending shockwaves through the beast’s body.

It reared, bucking wildly, trying to shake him off.

Wade swung again, the blow connecting with a crunch, then again, fire bursting from the hammer as he channeled mana into it.

"Stay down, damn you!"

The boar roared and flung itself sideways, crashing into the ground and rolling.

Wade barely had time to jump before he was hurled off its back, slamming into the dirt hard enough to see stars.

He rolled onto his stomach, coughing, mud clinging to his face.

The beast was already turning, its tusks lowering.

"Shit!"

It charged.

Wade rolled desperately, the tusks slashing through the space where his torso had been a moment ago. He hit the ground and pushed himself up with a groan, ribs burning.

The boar whirled again, preparing another rush. Wade didn’t retreat this time. He sprinted forward instead, meeting it head-on.

He ducked low just before the tusks reached him, sliding beneath its massive head. As he passed under, he swung upwards with every ounce of strength he had.

Toothpick’s axe head bit deep into the soft flesh of its underbelly.

The weapon tore through skin, muscle, and organ. Hot, stinking gore spilled out across the ground, splattering Wade’s armor and face.

The boar let out a scream that was half roar, half gargle, stumbling as its own weight dragged it forward. It collapsed to the side with a heavy thud, kicking feebly before going quiet.

Wade fell to his knees, panting. He swiped a hand across his face, smearing the blood and mud away, and pushed himself back to his feet.

That was when he heard the screech.

He looked up to see another Sky Buzzard descending, cursing under his breath.

Unlike the earlier one, this one didn’t crackle with lightning. It was a normal sky buzzard. But there were dozens more circling in the skies above.

He gritted his teeth, lifting Toothpick again.

"Come on, then."

The bird dove, talons wide.

Aegis of Reflection!

A golden barrier shimmered into existence in front of him just as the creature’s claws struck.

Sparks exploded from the contact, the barrier rippling but holding. The force of the impact sent a wave of vibrations through his arm.

He countered, thrusting his weapon upwards in a quick jab. The axe caught the creature’s leg, slicing through it. The bird shrieked, rearing back.

It swooped around for another strike.

Wade activated Focus Sight.

The world slowed, making every wingbeat, every movement of air, every gleam of light along the buzzard’s feathers visible in excruciating detail.

And most of all, he saw weakness.

The bird dove again, and Wade moved.

He dashed forward, sidestepped a claw, and swung Toothpick in a wide arc.

The hammer struck the creature’s chest as it dived, slamming it into the ground.

The moment it hit, he was already following through with another blow, and another.

The bird flailed, wings snapping and claws raking at the air. Wade brought his axe down one last time, Fireburst igniting at the point of impact.

The explosion engulfed the creature, feathers turning to ash.

When the flames cleared, the buzzard lay twisted and motionless, smoke curling from its corpse.

Wade stood over it, panting. His armor was scorched, and the acrid stench of burning feathers clung to his clothes.

He barely had a moment to breathe before another roar shook the ground.

He turned to see another beast charging through the smoke.

He fought it. Then another came. Then another.

And time blurred from his perception.

He swung, dodged, blocked, teleported, sometimes instinctively, sometimes blindly.

He didn’t know how long it lasted. Maybe seconds, minutes, hours, until the cry went up across the field.

"SECOND WAVE!"

Relief washed through the ranks like cool water.

The next formation of adventurers surged forward from the ridge, spells blazing, their fresh strength filling the gaps in the battered lines. The order came for the wounded to fall back.

Wade didn’t need to be told twice.

He staggered towards the rear, boots crunching over broken weapons and corpses, his breath ragged. Blood, both monster and human, painted the field.

By the time he reached the healing station, the once orderly rows of tents had become a chaos of groans and screams.

The scent of blood and burnt flesh hung thick in the air. Medics ran back and forth, their hands glowing as they poured healing magic into the wounded. Some patients cried. Some didn’t move at all.

Wade froze for a moment, staring.

One man clutched at the stump of a missing leg, his eyes wide and unseeing.

Another lay with half his face burned, muttering nonsense.

A young archer screamed for her brother, but the only response came from the wind.

A familiar voice called out. "Wade! Sit down, you’re bleeding!"

He turned.

Mercy stood among the medics, her white robes splattered red. She was moving fast, snapping orders, her face pale but calm.

Her mana flared in waves, weaving around her hands like silk threads. An instant later, a diagnostic skill swept through his body.

"I’m fine," Wade said, though his ribs burned with every word.

"You’re not fine, you idiot!" Mercy shouted without looking at him, already kneeling beside another adventurer missing an arm. "But you’re low priority. Sit down and wait your turn."

Wade managed a tired smile and obeyed, collapsing onto a crate at the side of the tent. He leaned back, letting out a long exhale.

For the first time since the battle began, he could actually feel how exhausted he was.

His vision wavered at the edges, his head pounding. He closed his eyes briefly, listening to the constant groans and muttered prayers.

Then, a whistling sound cut through the air.

Someone shouted, "Incoming!"

The world erupted in flame.