CHAPTER 31: 31: DAGGAR FROM THE TREES

Mike looked down at his injured friend; his jaw was clenched tightly. The sound of the man’s laughter echoed through the trees around him.

Mike turned his head to Chad. "Help him," he breathed, then pulled his sword from its sheath. With a fierce look in his eyes, he dashed into the forest toward the man.

Chad bent down, pressing his hand to Drake’s back lightly, who was still wheezing as he breathed. It was the only indication that he was alive. Chad’s hand was shaking as he still held his new sword. For a moment, he blankly stared at the elegant blade, still feeling the calming, refreshing feeling. His eyes turned to Drake.

Thoughts raced through his mind. An epiphany of knowledge swirled in the depths of his thoughts.

As if instinct took over, he gently pressed the flat of his sword onto his friend’s back, hoping it would help. At the same time, he slowly pulled the dagger out of Drake’s back, being careful not to make the wound worse than it already was.

Chad knew that his sword could heal; it was pure instinct. However, He didn’t know if it could heal a wound as bad as Drake’s. Slowly pulling the dagger out, he prayed that it wouldn’t cause his friend to bleed to death. It was a chance that he had no choice but to make. He couldn’t try to heal the wound with the dagger still lodged in his back, and he could think of no other option.

Drake, with his face pressed to the dirt, sucked in air, producing a wheezing sound as he did. He knew that the knife had pierced his lungs. There was so much pain that he couldn’t think. He could only feel. The taste of metallic blood was present, as hot liquid filled his lungs, as it tried to clog them, preventing lifesaving air from reaching him. It was difficult enough to breathe, but it made it even harder, as he struggled not to drown in his own blood.

Drake could feel a sudden warm feeling touching his back. Soon after, a sharp pain followed. His breathing became even more difficult as the sharp pain grew. His throat gurgled as he tried to breathe; the air was trying to get past the flowing blood that seemed to fill his lungs faster.

The warmth was near the sharp pain. After several moments, it suddenly started to spread through his body, and then the pain began to fade. Slowly, his lungs took in air with less difficulty. Drake could feel that the blood stopped pouring into his lungs, but there was already a lot, causing gurgling sounds as he breathed in and out. He coughed violently, forcing the blood out of his lungs. The blood sprayed out of his mouth in a cloud of red, clearing the way for fresh air.

Chad’s eyes were filled with tears as he held the blade firmly, yet gently, to Drake’s back. He kept his eyes glued to the wound. As he watched, he saw the area where the dagger had been, the flesh closing slowly. He didn’t stop, afraid he would stop too soon. The flesh closed up, sealing the wound, then the cloth of his clothes followed. Chad’s eyes widened, but he continued. He didn’t dare stop. The hole in his armor was finally sealed. From looking at Drake, there was no evidence that he had been injured at all.

Chad smiled; relief washed through him. His tears fell rapidly, only this time out of relief for his friend. He still didn’t stop pressing the sword. He refused to stop until Drake woke up.

Drake’s breathing slowly became normal. He could no longer feel any pain. He lay on the packed dirt, taking in the calming energy. The healing warmth, still spreading throughout his body. He could feel it replenishing his life force, mana, and strength. Whatever was happening to him was putting all of his attributes to their peak. Even his energy was becoming fully restored.

***

Mike dashed toward the man in the trees. He weaved around massive rocks and trees as his anger boiled, his eyes locked on his target. The man’s laughter was still echoing through the forest around him. Mike was running with his sword, already in his hand, anger and hate pulsing through his veins. He wanted vengeance in the form of the man’s death.

As Mike got closer, only a few feet away, the man stopped his laughter and grinned; there was a menacing glint in his eye. Pulling a dagger out from behind him, he threw it, aiming for Mike.

The dagger sliced through the air at lightning speed toward Mike.

Mike was a football star; he was used to catching moving targets. Mainly, the football during a game. As the dagger approached, Mike reached up with one hand and caught it with ease, then dropped the dagger to the ground, his eyes never wavering from the man in front of him.

The blade of his sword started to flicker, and electrical currents crackled as it moved up the length of the storm sword, lighting the elegant blade. It crackled and pulsed as it grew stronger, the current building up. The blade grew brighter.

Mike didn’t even notice. He was too focused on the man in front of him.

The electricity crackled louder as it reached the blade’s tip, pulsing for several seconds before leaving the blade entirely, leaving only the echo of soft white.

The man’s eyes widened, and a flash of fear crossed his face as he saw the bolt of lightning heading toward him. He turned to run, but as he did, the lightning blade hit the man in the shoulder just as Mike tackled him to the ground. The man’s face was planted in the dirt. Mike looked down at the cauterized hole in the man’s shoulder that his sword had created.

As Mike pushed the moment of confusion away from seeing the hole his sword had made, he noticed that the man was reaching for something. Not wanting to take chances, swung his still crackling sword down, piercing the man’s head. The man quickly burst into a burst of light particles, confirming that he was dead.

Still angry, Mike stood up and scanned the area. The dagger that was thrown still lay where he had dropped it. Picking it up, he looked at it. There didn’t seem to be anything special about the weapon.

Looking around the area, where the man turned to light particles, there was a set of gauntlets on the ground. They were thin, like ordinary fingerless gloves. The leather they were made from looked similar to his armor. The same runed etching that matched those on his armor. Thin plates of metal surrounded the knuckles, where strange, curved spikes protruded. He liked it a lot, but he was more worried about his friend. He knew he needed to get back.

With one last look around him, he headed back to his friends.

***

Drake lay on the ground, still taking in the healing energy that he had been feeling for a while now. He didn’t want to move; he was afraid it would stop. Worry flooded his mind as he remembered his friends. It was silent around him. The only light was the small lantern he had received: The lantern of truth. His thoughts drifted. He didn’t know if they were in the same situation as he was. He needed to get up and make sure they were okay.

He hadn’t heard their voices since before the pain had consumed him. There had been no movement either. His fear rose. Just as he was about to sit up, to look for his friends, the familiar soft voice floated in his mind.

{A member of your cohort has slain a level 1 assassin; your cohort grows stronger}

{A reward has been given, Spiked Storm Gauntlets}

(Strength + 1}

His first thoughts were on Mike. Gauntlets would be a good weapon for him. The system called them ’storm’ gauntlets. It had to have been him. Drake slowly sat up. Whatever was pressing lightly on his back lifted. A pair of arms appeared around him. It was Chad.

"You’re alive...you’re alive... You’re alive..." Chade said, over and over. It was spoken as if it were a mantra. Relief was written all over his face. Tears fell from his eyes, creating a widening wet spot on Drake’s shoulder.

Drake allowed his friend to hug him. The relief his friend was showing told him that he was close to death. Drake decided to hug him back.

"Where’s Mike?" he asked as they detached themselves.

Chad suddenly looked worried. His face paled slightly. He pointed to an area of the trees. "He went that way. He went after the guy who tried to kill you." Chad had his head bowed. He was afraid to leave where Mike had left them. He feared that if Mike came back, he wouldn’t be able to find them.

Drake put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. "He’s okay. He just killed a level 1 assassin. He even got gauntlets for doing."

They waited for several minutes, staring into the spot where Chad had pointed. A figure stalked out of the trees, his eyes on the ground, not wanting to see his dead friend. His features were filled with grief and anger.

"It’s Mike," Drake smiled, pointing at his approaching friend.

They watched as Mike looked up, seeing them waiting for him. As they watched him approach, the anger and grief in his features changed to relief and joy. His steps increased until he was running toward his friends.