CHAPTER 2734: 2734. IN TO THE RUIN DEPTHS

"Healers arriving!!!" The shout was a warning to make room for the large group of healers who had arrived. By the time Alice had led her healer group to the camp where Walker, Midnight, and Su were, it had meant leaving behind smaller groups to follow leaders to smaller villages being built or other nearby camps working on herbs, logging, or crafting.

Midnight shot out of a tent and leaped in to the air to spot Alice before dive bombing her in to a big hug. The welcome was enough for Alice to let loose a small giggle that shook the light mana around her. However, she was back to being serious just a few moments later once she noticed how many of the guards and soldiers were prepared to head in to the ruins. She seemed to have arrived with the best healing students she had at the right time.

She cleared her throat and spoke up, "as you see, the guards we are working with are ready. Healers do not always have the time to sit down and relax. We must keep moving. This is why you train physically too, you will not be able to stop in a time of need. So we will divide up and join the groups following the orders of captains and those above the captains."

With their orders out, the healers started to split off from the main group as they had been taught. The few who complained about needing rest or needing time to recover were reprimanded by the nearby guard and soldier captains. Alice didn’t need to tell anyone that they were acting too weak for the trianing they had already undergone.

To be fair, it was a rarity that healers of any kind would have gone through any physical training just a couple of years ago. Now, it was a main focus so that a healer could enhance their ability to move and defend themselves. The healers who had come from adventurer teas had ensured this fact was passed down to those they taught.

It wasn’t founded just because of traveling though. It was about survival. In the wilderness, a traveling caravan, a ruin, and even a massive battle the healers were weak and easy targets. They could be killed off without issue if they had no sense to dodge and keep moving to avoid dangers. Right now, the healers, while young and inexperienced, had been taught to move and dodge. They had the basic training that should be the foundation of continued survival.

"Alice, you made it safely. That’s good since we are about to begin the clearing of the monster nest. We have several known nests and unknown corridors to map out. The adventurers are split up since they have scouted the known nest and can help the most. You are joining Midnight and I while we clear some areas right?" Walker knew that Su would potentially head off by herself since she had to teach the elite guards, so he didn’t mention her just yet.

"I can come." She was smiling happily while Walker showed her the map. She had enjoyed the walk and seeing how the young healers adapted to the wilderness with minimal guards. Especially the youngest battle healers who had to adapt to the fact that they were set apart from normal healers.

The different kinds of healers were already varied compared to what she had known just a year ago. Now, there was a lot more to worry about since those different forms that healers took needed different training. Different experiences to allow them the best path of growth.

In the terms of battle healers, they could also use basic attacks utilizing a smaller weapon or potentially using magic to attack and defend. They were somewhat similar to the support healers who could use a basic elemental barrier with whatever their affinity was. Otherwise, they were both good classes to have which were perfect for expeditions like this.

"Perfect. We are heading to the largest next of a monster called dragon tick. Apparently they have dragon blood in them that causes them to grow to the size of an average human. They have six sharp legs and they just want to drain the blood and whatever else from prey. They will gather in darker areas and wait to feel a very large monster move passed so they can latch on. Sometimes they will swarm though. That’s what we need to avoid."

Walker had a basic appraisal of the monster that he was leading them to deal with. However, he would still grab an all around appraisal when he could. It was better to know more in any circumstance. Especially a monster that had a small amount of dragon blood history which allowed them to grow so large. They were not a simple pest like other ticks might be. They were fully predators now.

"Walker! The guards are asking if it’s time to move!" Su shouted from a few groups away getting everyone’s attention. She was also ready to make a move, her shields were swapped to those that had an affinity with earth mana. This way in the ruins she would have better defenses to block entire routes if needed.

He smirked and looked at the few healers unsure of what they needed to do who were glancing at Alice. "All of you need to get to your groups now. You are not on the front line to battle but you are their protectors. You keep them alive and safe so they can see their families. So they can build their families. They have a future and it is your job to make sure they live despite any injuries they receive in this endeavor. We will rely on your hard work." He nodded to Alice and to Midnight as they moved ahead. Walker saw Su come next to them as well. It seemed she had planned to be beside them regardless.

The four knew their route since Walker could easily memorize the entire map so far. He also knew that they could pursue the other passages leading to the inner workings of the fallen floating island. The more that he and the others cleared the better and faster the research in to the creation of proper and lasting floating islands and cities would go.

The ruins were impressive from the edge. Plenty of statues with broken angel wings depicting the strength this city had once possessed. There were damaged homes or warehouses as well, remnants of a once flourishing city fallen due to war and loss of direction. This was one city that had fallen from the sky because of the fighting between the two factions of the angel race. A loss due to their internal strife that buried a great amount of history from themselves.

It was hard to think that there were races who caused their own decline even though the world had been cut off from the elemental planes. Yet, it was also easier to understand in that respect. Plenty of races had been lost to time whether within our outside of the world. Meaning that any race still surviving had plenty of opportunity to see what would come next. What they could do to advance yet again.

"We are going to enter a cut path. It’s not a proper entrance but the ruined area and monster damage proves that it was cut out over time. We have a lot to cover to get to where we know the central control room and formations overlaps should be. That’s the very place we have to get the researchers before we can get the last information needed for proper tests."

Walker dwelled for a moment on the attempts at gravitational rune formations like what had been used on the floating ships. However, he knew that those were at most small and supportive. They were not powerful enough or refined enough to be able to be used entirely on a small island let alone a larger one that could carry a city. This was what they needed to learn. How that formation worked and how it was able to connect and be controlled.

The angel race lost the knowledge to properly maintain and build new floating islands. Today, he would put himself and everyone else on the path to recover it.

"I have the lead then. Midnight, think you can keep a sharp eye out for any approaching monsters?" The smaller space meant that Midnight could only fight in her dragonkin form, not a bad thing, she was still very powerful. However, it was her sharp senses that would help Su the most, and it was why Midnight took a close stand behind Su to match that plan.

"Nothing to worry about then. We can proceed safely." Walker made sure Alice was in the center. She was their support and he would cover their backs.

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