Mei’s voice came over the Communirune.

"Commander, I’m sensing a change in the weather coming in fast. Winds are picking up speed—we may be in the middle of a storm in minutes."

I slashed through another demon, flames gorged on another victim. A bright flash of light crawled across the sky revealing the true level of annihilation—hundreds of demons laid slain. But the lightning also revealed something more worrying.

A massive shape was moving through the city streets. Its towering body could be seen lording over the roofs of the dilapidated square.

A rush of wind almost pushed me over. The drumming of raindrops impacting the ground grew in intensity until the rainstorm was on top of us, soaking the square completely.

Each time the lightning flashed, the shape of the approaching foe grew larger.

Luke emerged from the shadows, "Commander, we need to go. This storm is getting worse by the second, and I don’t want one of these roofs coming up and burying us in debris."

"I don’t think we have that option." I said as thundering footsteps shook the ground beneath us.

An ear piercing screech paralyzed me, and incredible pain flared against my forehead. Luke’s face was stuck in a twist of pain as well. His hands were holding his head and a weak cry escaped his lips.

Hailey cried out and dropped to the ground, clutching her head. Soren and Alistaire faltered momentarily, but composed themselves quickly. Julius didn’t even appear to be fazed by the noise.

The monstrous figure stepped closer, its true shape now in view. An Ettin. It stood over twenty-feet tall. Broad, musclebound shoulders supported two grotesque bald humanoid heads. Both heads looked almost identical, save for the unique scarring that bespeckled their faces. Eyes as black as the Void peered at us through the fog.

Its arms stretched downwards, gripping an enormous crude mace that looked like it was created by hammering large iron spikes through the mast of a ship. The Ettin was without any heavy protective equipment, wearing only a weathered loincloth.

A large chain was wrapped around its waist, along which were strands of rope. Each rope ended with a knotted skull that dangled in place as the monster advanced.

With a wild swing of its giant mace, it struck a small building, shattering the tiled roof and splintering the wooden frame. Gigas roared a guttural battle-cry and shadows moved in the darkness around us.

Julius readied his sword. He took a wide stance with his arm pulled back, the blade angled up sharply. Soren and Alistaire lunged forward swinging their swords in a diagonal strike aimed at Gigas’ legs. Its mace swung between them, colliding with the blades. Both of them were knocked back by the strength of the blow.

Out of the corner of my eye I watched their health drop substantially.

Julius jumped in without hesitation. Gigas was still recovering from its own swing, and didn’t have a chance to block the attack.

His sword connected with the demon’s torso. A clean hit. The deep cut glowed with golden light from Julius’ weapon imbuement.

"Groaaaaah!"

Gigas bellowed with fury and staggered backwards. Light glinted from both sides of its legs. Soren and Alistaire had recovered and were taking advantage of the momentarily distracted demon’s lack of attention.

I took off in a run to catch up with the fighters.

As I passed by Hailey, her staff flared brightly with golden energy as she began casting a spell.

“Blessed and divine light, lend me your strength. Through me, channel the goodwill of your power and deliver them from harm. Healing Grace!”

A runic sigil formed in the space above her and rays of light beamed down on Soren and Alistaire.

Luke shimmered in the light and he faded out of sight as he activated a stealth ability. Moments later he reappeared near the darkness beyond the aura’s reach, eviscerating a group of smaller demons that had encroached on our battle.

He vanished once again into the dark and more bleating screams were heard.

Turning my attention back to the bigger threat, the giant had recovered and its club came crashing down overhead the three swordsmen. Julius managed to jump back, pushing off of an overturned stone slab. Soren grabbed Alistaire by the wrist and pulled him narrowly out of the attack's radius.

I was now close enough to hear Julius hiss expletives at the monster.

If we put pressure on the giant with all of us at close range, it’s going to continue using these power attacks.

We watched as the monster heaved its mighty weapon from the crater the blow had formed. Maybe keeping pressure on the giant was not the greatest plan. With a simple thought I opened a mental channel to the party over the Communirunes.

“Spread out and attack during the recovery period after each attack. Julius, see if you can taunt the thing to give us an opening to strike.”

I heard him mumble something, but he wasn’t close enough for me to make it out. But it had sounded like he may not be enjoying this fight. I was positive that stupid grin of his was long gone.

“Come on you ugly bastard, over here! Rooaaah!”

The Ettin turned its attention down towards Julius. It lifted up its weapon and prepared to swing.

I lunged forward to get a quick strike in while it was distracted. The flames of my blade licked at its flesh as the ebony metal cut through its thick skin. As my sword came free and I readied for another attack, I was stopped as my plan fell apart…

The giant had stopped its swing short and was now turning around, its weapon racing at me with an incredible momentum.

Julius dived in front of me. Now stuck between the impending mace attack. He had tossed his sword and was gripping his shield with both gauntleted hands.

“Light, grant me Strength. For in Strength I find—”

Julius’ incantation was cut off as the giant’s mace impacted his shield. The force knocked him off his feet sending him tumbling backwards.

The attack was deflected slightly, but not nearly enough as the weapon bearing down on me struck me hard in the right shoulder.

“Shaaaaaa!”

An unearthly screech clawed its way from my throat as the metal plate was sheared from my breastplate. The jagged metal was driven downwards across my arm, slicing a deep gash through my bicep.

My stamina drained away into the black-zone and I was left writhing on the ground, paralyzed with a stun effect.

My left hand released its grip on my blade as I grabbed onto my shoulder. The sword clattered to the ground, dark crimson flames flaring brightly. An icon blinked into existence next to my interface and a message displayed in my combat log.

» YOU HAVE BEEN STUNNED.

» YOU ARE AFFLICTED WITH EXHAUSTION RANK I.

» YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM A CRIPPLED ARM.

Shit. Can’t heal this wound until I get my arm set.

I craned my neck using every bit of strength that I had remaining, trying to look up.

A shimmering figure in the distance was barely visible. Luke was still dealing with the horde of demons that flooded in around us. Soren was on the giant’s flank. He was charging in for an attack, sword high above his head—

“Watch out!”

Luke's voice echoed through the courtyard and rang out in my ear as the Communirune crackled with feedback at the surprise shout.

I turned my head back to where I last saw him. Three demon hounds had skirted past him and were barreling down the cobbled roadway straight at me.

Double shit.

The stun effect was wearing off and I tried to stand. My footing didn’t hold and I staggered forward, catching myself from hitting the ground face first by extending my left arm.

“Aaaah!”

I cried out in pain as my right arm twisted from the impact. I rolled left and swung backwards to sit on the ground.

I lifted my left arm and channeled a moderate amount of magick through it.

“Righteous Fire!”

A bolt of golden flame struck the closest hound, exploding and taking it out of the fight.

The remaining two snarled, unphased, and continued to close in.

Golden light coalesced around my fist, I readied another HOLY BOLT.

“Righteous Fire!”

Another hound was taken down in an explosive light show. I reached out for my sword, grabbing it just as the final hound lunged at me. I brought my blade up to attempt a deflecting parry and caught the beast’s jowls with it.

Vicious claws ripped and tore at me as the demon snarled violently. I pushed back with my limited strength in an effort to free myself. My stamina bar flashed wildly in my periphery.

The beast’s legs found purchase in the pavers beneath us and I was pushed down onto my back, knocking the breath out of me. I wheezed hard, and the hound freed itself from the entanglement with my blade.

My health bar was now flashing almost as wildly as the stamina bar below it.

I was now in a position where I was praying my armor would absorb the damage long enough that someone could arrive to help. I raised my good arm up to protect my face from the impending attack.