In a bloody battlefield, two genius stood strong against destructively deranged Zaelough, and behind the two is Ruth.
On the right, Jaimy a swordmaster facing many Zaelough by himself. One try to slip pass by, only to meet with stab in the back of its head by Jaimy fiery sword and like a gas it blow, melting the monster slimy blue body.
On the other side, it was an ice mage Zaya, clashing her magic spell against Zaelough witch, each in perfect timing sequence. As she lock in focus, through her blind spot an assassin type try to destroy the magic shield around her, which she answer with sharp icicle upward penetrating that monster head.
In between the two, within their center Ruth standing in front of their crystal core, keep supporting both with his spell, even when blood trickling down from his nose.
As for the rest of the team, they already eliminated when dealing with this enormous Zaelough forces.
Now the whole position was appear to be dead lock.
And yet.
We can't defend this position, sooner or later they will breakthrough our defenses, there must be some other way.
"Enhance my speed!" Jaimy shout his order.
While Zaya demand, "Keep your shield on me, peasant!"
Both shouting at Ruth, since both can't held their position for long as the pressure keep mounting.
Jaimy being attacked relentlessly, in a barrage of offense, one after another without any space and time adjust, forcing him in a reacting position.
As for Zaya, she is getting poked from each angle, pushing her to waste many of her spell, while the Zaelough witch preparing its ferocious spells.
What should I do? Looking both ways back and forth, there is no right choices left. Ah, clenching his teeth, then Ruth do something unthinkable, he sprint toward Jaimy.
Abandoning their crystal core.
"Come back here!" Zaya shout.
Jaimy from the tail of his eye, sees it, "What are you doing?!"
Noticing Jaimy split seconds distracted, a Zaelough dash to the sides in a quick motion, break free from Jaimy block move past Ruth, the target was clear it the ice mage.
That exact moment Zaelough move past him. This is it. Ruth sharply bolted out of his trajectory, darting toward something else splitting in the midst of the battle. His foot glows with movement magic, making it light and nimble.
His unpredictable act took everyone by surprise, since Ruth now aiming at the enemy crystal core by himself and no one can stop him in this moment.
Just as Zaelough witch's spell finish brawling up, reaching its peak power, without hesitate the monster aiming back past Ruth, on their crystal core.
The destructive spell flying fast ripping through the air
Ruth sprint with all his breath, closer and closer. Almost there. His foot fell all the pain, his ears roared like pokes with needles, in his eyes the ground is trembling, everything began to looks blurry. His mana depleting faster, one drop away from emptying.
Sizzling sound was heard thundering in the air.
In all blurriness, the target was stand there in front of him. No longer far nor do it was close. It's still not enough. With his last effort Ruth throw a magic bomb at it.
Please.
Two projectile racing against each other through time.
And within this battlefield, time was the only master who decide control of the result.
Bam!
The crystal core shatter, right before Ruth magic bomb hit the enemy crystal.
____
From the artificial training ground Ruth comes out, body full of bruises, head still dizzying.
Before he could think clearly, the collar of his leather armor was pulled roughly.
Right in front of him, woman face staring angrily at him. "This, why I can't trust commoner like you!" Zaya's beautiful face can't hold its fury.
"Your job is simple, just use your spell on me. How stupid you could be?!" While her sharp ice staff was right next to Ruth's head.
Ruth won't stare back, so he choose look to the side. Only soft voice come out, "sorry" as light as a whisper, which the angry mage for sure can't hear it.
"Did you listen to me?!"
She asked, while punching Ruth's solar plexus in annoyance. Ugh. Making his chest feels a sting burn.
"Zaya! that's enough." Jaimy comes up, stopping by grabbing her forearm.
Seeing Jaimy eyes, Zaya let go of her hand away, "I'm hungry, I will go first."
She went past Ruth and with full intention her staff hit Ruth in the head as she move away, leaving a small sharp cut on Ruth's temple.
"This girl."Jaimy shakes his head.
Right before he went after her, Jaimy put his hand on Ruth arm. "Next time, you need to keep in track of your casting time." Then move away.
Listening at his words, Ruth nod in agreement.
"I will."
___
Walking out of the underground training facility, Ruth's face fix at the floor.
What went wrong? Contemplating the previous battle. Should I stick with her? Thinking of what the mage says. No, they will end up break through from Jaimy sides.
What about supporting Jaimy? For a moment considering it. It also didn't work, the opponent magic spell is too strong.
His body full of bruises, his hand rubbed his temples gently to stop the bleeding and rather than felt the pain his mind was busy thinking what he should does differently.
Until he stops at the military potion stall.
The seller officer take a quick glance at him, "What you need?"
"Two low potions please, health and mana."
A simple purchase, which the seller no need to calculate hard for it.
"It'll be 20 contribution point, boy."
Ruth pull out his wood army tag, putting it on the counter, to be check.
The officer took it, only to sees the tag etched exactly with 20 contribution points. He look back at Ruth his expression tinge with a slash of pity.
"You need to give more effort, kid. Low level potion is not enough if you want to grow stronger." The officer advised, as he bring the potions out, while deducting the point from the tag.
Ruth didn't answer, but his chin definitely nod at it. Took his tag and put the potions to its bag.
Afterward he went into bread shop, pay for a small one he could afford, while his thought still stuck in previous battle.
Then through the hall a group of women came running in a hurry.
"Sir Jaimy is in the eating hall, let's go!"
Some collided with Ruth's shoulder, make the bread in his hand fell. Which quickly after it get stomped by their feet, that unaware of what they've done.
When they finally gone, looking at his stomped bread Ruth squat at the floor.
After glancing back and forth in the hall to make sure no one was watching, he took the dirty bread. All that was left was a small piece of that small bread.
Clean by wiping it to his leather armor, then putting it inside his pocket. It's still eatable.
___
Arriving at eating hall, Ruth sit at an empty corner table, that gave him view of the whole room.
He began to eat that small piece bread, chewing it longer and slowly enough to trick his own stomach to feel something.
In front of there Zaya and Jaimy were surrounded with their admirers both men and women, as the center of the attention. They looks like heroes and its side characters. Both of them have everything a good look, status, and even strong power.
Meanwhile Next to his table a group also talking about them.
"Do you think lady Zaya is single?"
"Mmm... Don't know, she never took interest at any guy within our army." answer one of his friend.
"As expected, she is a beauty and from a high status, probably she think of us as bunch of dirty commoner." adding the others.
"So still single. That mean, I got some chance."
"No chance at all, beside she always sticking with that young master Jaimy."
"Hey, it's not official yet, what the worst thing could happen? Other than she just says no."
"Yeah, keep dreaming buddy."
Quite a confident one. Ruth can't help be amused at their conversation, he turn his head trying to peek at the group. Owh for such a confident, I'm not expecting he was that ugly.
That confidence guy look is rough, with slightly big ear than normal human, big nose on the center, the one thing that looks fine was his hair, put to the back slick and shiny. Yet if all this appearance get combined is still a minus point.
Well a man at least need to have one strong point, I guess.
And half an hour eventually pass by within the eating hall.
Zaya and Jaimy was already gone, their admirer too some time after, so do the group's next table.
Meanwhile Ruth still sit on his table, while people constantly to come and go.
Yet not a single person ever notice a slight smile on his lip. Good, no one finds the body.