[Overbearing Zen: I only have 500HP left.]
[Dominating Zen: Me too…]
The two mage brothers wore worried expressions as the sandstorm kept shaving away at their HP. Soon they would fall, being buried under ten layers of sand.
But just then Melodious Edelweiss smartly took out her lute. A crisp note pierced through the roaring storm.
"Phamolh elao vanai."
An angelic voice spread as a circle filled with vital, green magic spread with the bard as the center, emitting life-saving power.
[+1110!]
The group felt greatly invigorated. Final Fend's confidence was reignited as he slapped his own forehead.
How could I forget that we have a healer with us. No need to be this anxious.
With the time bought by Melodious Edelweiss the group could extend their search area. They stopped going straight and instead walked in an S-shape.
A few seconds later to the right of their original path Final Fend stepped forward and suddenly found himself in an area protected from the sandstorm.
Melodious Edelweiss followed directly behind him. Realizing that they made it to safety she couldn't help but exclaim in joy:
"We did it!"
The two Zen brothers also let out sighs of relief. They looked at the NPC sitting on the ground in the center of the protected area. He wore the tattered clothes of an adventurer, clinging to a live-saving sand shield in his hands, his expression utterly exhausted.
While Final Fend's group made it to safety, their pursuers gathered outside the sandstorm zone, caught in a heated debate.
Fat Tiger faced off against Silken, speaking angrily:
"They have already entered the danger zone. There is no way they survive! Why should we chase after them now?!"
Silken kept a neutral face but his chin was raised arrogantly:
"If they die to the sandstorm, their equipment won't belong to us."
"Our goals were getting the set equipment and delaying Dream Avenue. Although we can't achieve the first goal, the second one was successful. Let's just leave a few people behind to keep track of their movements.
I have better things to do than going on such an uncertain chase."
Therva snorted mockingly:
"You damn coward. Did you lose so often that you don't even dare to fight?! Only if we personally kill Dream Avenue's second team will it be a blow to their reputation!"
"Oh, look who's talking. Miss super fangirl. Do you really think someone belonging to Dream Avenue's core would join you just by delivering a little setback?"
Glorious Sunrise, standing next to Fat Tiger, let out an ugly laugh as he argued with Therva.
"Hmpf. You have no idea of my tactics!"
Suddenly Silken raised his hand slightly, interrupting the argument:
"Guys, now is not the time to be at each other's throats. Who knows how long Final Fend can survive. I have a suggestion:
Fat Tiger, Glorious Sunrise, you lend us some people who enter the sandstorm together with us. The rest of your people can stay outside and block possible reinforcements from Dream Avenue."
Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunrise glanced at each other and nodded. This suggestion was quite reasonable. Now, no one could accuse them of slacking off, and maybe one of their guild members even luckily discovered Final Fend's group first.
"Ok, let's hurry up!"
Silken saw that everyone agreed and immediately urged them. The guild leaders split their members into smaller teams which quickly dove into the sandstorm.
Soon only Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunrise were left outside with twenty of their members. They could only hope that The Only Way's compensation would be generous enough, as the subordinates they sent into the sandstorm were pretty much doomed to die.
"This time we invested quite a bit.", sighed Fat Tiger.
"Yes. We will probably lose about 60 players in total. Even if only a sixth of them lose items, it is still ten pieces. That's about half a dungeon depending on luck."
"However, if we can snatch a single set equipment on our own it will be worth it. Uncommon items can easily be bought but for set equipment there exists no market. Their worth is incalculable."
Glorious Sunrise nodded solemnly. Just as he wanted to continue the conversation, he suddenly noticed something in the distance.
A dust cloud rose suddenly as a few players on mounts sped in the direction of the sandstorm.
"Who is this?"
"So fierce."
"Should we block them?"
Gradually the figures became clearer. Glorious Sunrise used his hand to shield his eyes against the sun as he stared in the direction of the newcomers. Suddenly his body froze. Others shouted out their discovery:
"It's Bleary Mirage!"
"Cyclone!"
"Damn, they look so cool… I mean…"
"Hotpot actually came here?!"
The players all froze. Despite outnumbering Liam and his friends two to one, no one thought they could win in a fight.
"Boss, what should we do?"
Beast Den's prominent tank Fighting Bear turned to Fat Tiger noticing the boss's pondering expression.
Fat Tiger gritted his teeth as he ordered:
"We try to slow them down but that's it! Don't fight them head on!"
"What?! No way! They are not some deities! We can't be so afraid as to not even fight! We have twice their numbers!", Glorious Sunrise stared at Far Tiger, refuting angrily.
"A wise man submits to circumstances. I can accept that we are no match for Hotpot in a direct clash. We can retreat for now and face them with a prepared strategy next time."
"What strategy?! How is fighting two against one not a strategy?"
As the two guild leaders argued Hotpot was coming closer by the second. From the path they chose it appeared Liam and his friends tried to avoid the players outside the danger zone.
Eventually Glorious Sunrise led his guild members to intercept Hotpot. Fat Tiger cursed angrily. His mind was torn between two options.
Without his help Glorious Sunrise only had 12 people, which definitely wasn't enough to face Hotpot. But Fat Tiger was certain that even with his help they wouldn't be strong enough.
Bastard! What do I care. Our cooperation is only based on personal benefits anyways!
Although these were Fat Tiger's thoughts, his heart still clenched looking at Glorious Sunrise's back. The two guild leaders got along quite well, or they wouldn't have been working together so closely for more than two months.
"F*ck!"
Eventually Fat Tiger cursed loudly and ordered his people to follow along.
Not far away Glorious Sunrise heard the movement behind his back and let out a sigh of relief, followed by a smile playing around his lips.
On the other side Cyclone narrowed her eyes shouting angrily:
"Guys, they are trying to stop us!"
"Do we take them on?", asked Radiant Shield riding at the front.
"Let's avoid them. Why fight an uncertain battle here, if we have the full advantage in the sandstorm?", said Liam.
The others followed his lead and were just about to steer their mounts in another direction when Liam said some more:
"Let's not waste time. Use [Flying Dash]!"
"Alright!"
Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunrise squinted their eyes staring at Hotpot.
"They are coming closer! Get ready! Use immobilizing spells!"
Orders were relayed among the guild members as they braced themselves for combat. Everyone's hearts were in their throats knowing they were about to face the game's top players.
But just as Hotpot entered their range, something unexpected happened.
The colorful basilisks opened their proud wings wide, fluttering heavily. All ten members immediately soared to the sky, their shadows falling on the sandy desert.
The guild members stared slack jawed at their enemies. They even forgot that they could cast their spells at the flying enemies. Ten shadows arrived first before Liam and his friends followed, passing above their heads.
A breeze hit the guild players. Sand fell down from the basilisks' claws. A short while later Hotpot landed behind their backs and dashed towards the sandstorm.
Only then did everyone come out of their revery.
"Damn, that's cheating!"
"Did they get flying mounts?!"
"Why was there no information about this?"
The players discussed chaotically. Some turned around but instead of casting spells they tried to get pictures of the flying enemies.
Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunrise looked at each other with strange gazes, not sure what to do. Now their earlier argument appeared quite silly. And after the demonstration just now they weren't eager to chase after Hotpot.
"Boss, we got news!"
Suddenly Fighting Bear's loud shout attracted Fat Tiger's attention.
"What is it?"
"Dream Avenue members are appearing in the Northern Desert. They are moving uncoordinated, but our informants estimate that they must be at least 30 people with new ones still coming."
Finally Fat Tiger let out a dejected sigh. He looked back at the sandstorm before ordering:
"We retreat. Let's go!"
This time Glorious Sunrise didn't disagree. The two guilds felt defeated without even fighting as they left in the direction where no enemies were expected.
They could only count on the members within the danger zone, praying that someone was lucky enough to somehow receive a piece of set equipment.