ONCE THE PILLS took effect and he felt magic flow into his body, he took position on one corner of the support beam while Jiehong the other. He talked Jie through the basic 'method,' he used the last time he used Sweeping Fire, and though there were a couple of false starts, Jiehong got the hang of it quickly enough. Before long, both of them were going strong, with tongues of flame leaping from their hands like sweat when one pulled off their glove after a hard day's work.
He watched as the fire engulfed the whole wall, sending a shriek or two, or what sounded like a cry, anyway, up from the Grazes as the fire consumed their fungal masses and taught them death. Once more, he was nearly drained on his magic, but they had overcome the fae-construct network, bolstered by a System notification saying there weren't any fae-detectable. 'Our first network overcome. If this is anything like what we are going to face in these bunkers, then maybe it is time for me to really dig in deep and start improving myself more...'
[Physicality: Skill Level Increased (2)]
A chime in his ear. MAC had something to say, "Congratulations, Ranger-Knights. You have cleared out the fae-constructs in this room. My sensors indicate this space is one of the core components of this defensive facility. I will begin repair work on this room immediately."
"Excellent. How long do you think it will take to bring it up to code?" Jiehong asked.
"A long time, unfortunately. The repairs will not be done anytime soon. I recommend continuing exploring the bunker and clearing out any remaining fae," MAC said, ending his word.
"We have to be getting close," Jie complained to no one in particular.
"I am hoping so as well. It feels like we've already destroyed a small army worth of fae," Whiskey stated.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"A couple of small groups. At best," he replied, trying to keep his team's mentalism in check.
Readying themselves for the next part of their Order responsibilities, Whiskey got up from her sitting rest and asked, "Where is the next room? I'm not sure if I recall any other locked doors."
Sharing Whiskey's trepidation, he consulted his map-in-miniature. "Looks like there is a door we haven't been through within the nineteenth room."
The group returned to room nineteen. They pushed through the door and entered what he labeled as room thirty-two.
'A long hallway. Super,' he intoned as he and his friends walked along the path.
They came upon a right turn, walked, turned right again. Then came upon a descending stairwell flanked by alcoves holding decorative plants, or what had once been plants, if the rotted carcasses of potted plants were anything to go by.
"We did it? But wait. A stairwell. How many floors -- never mind. We've been over that already," he said, trying to say something leader-like.
"Yeah. We did it. We cleared the first floor of our first bunker. Wonderful. I am hoping the second floor is less intense," Whiskey replied.
Taking the lead and heading toward the staircase, he thought better of it and said, "How is everyone feeling? We just had a big battle. Lunch?"
Strangely short silence ended before it began with Jie's mockery -- "Come on, bro! I want to see what is coming up next. I can handle a bit more."
"I concur. Let's keep moving forward," Whiskey added.
His teammates evidently fine with their condition, and his own body actually in decent shape because of Whiskey's healing, he shrugged and continued to lead the way. 'If my team is fine, then who am I to--'
"Who is there?" he yelled stopping dead in his tracks.
Not asking for clarification on what he meant before they drew their weapons, Whiskey and Jiehong went straight into battle positions. They tried to see what he felt, but -- of course -- there was nothing there.
Whiskey looked to him and asked, "What did you see?"
"It wasn't what I saw, per se, it was what I felt..."
"Okay, then," Jie said. "What did you feel?"
"I felt... ugh! You're going to think I am crazy... but I thought I saw Mentality."
