Ace's thought cut through Sean's roar. The undead sneered and howled behind Alex's shield. Ace and Chaewon hacked at Sean, but the man kept hammering the barrier.
Sean howled and vomited blood onto Alex. The sizzling liquid soaked in, but Alex only smirked as a cool rush of energy eased his wounds—one of their healers was on it.
Ace planned their next move. His thoughts leaked out, but he didn't care. Nothing could stop that now.
"We've gotta block the torrent before it reaches him and let him bleed out!" Ace shouted. "Marko, Mercer, this'll test you both, but we trust you! Everyone else dodge the blood when you can and lighten their load! Move!"
Sean ignored the plan and kept pounding Alex. The Crimson Water behind him swelled again. Only the shield could prevent the surge from healing him, and Sean knew it.
As wounds stacked up, Mercer's heart hammered. His heals felt slow.
"Ah, Big Marko!" he yelled.
"Yeah, lil' bro?" Marko called back.
"We need to move closer!"
"What? That's nuts!" Marko's chest thudded.
"Our heals crawl from back here. Up close we can patch them faster. I'm going, even if it's alone!"
A sheathed steel sword hung at Mercer's hip, loot from Ace's earlier scavenger hunt. Rankers and Black Umi had died, and their gear stayed behind. This blade wasn't cheap starter steel—it was someone's kit drop.
Resolved, Mercer stepped toward his next evolution.
Clutching his staff, Marko followed the Don Capo Gang's precious little bro. He wouldn't leave Mercer alone or fall behind in healing. The nearer they got to Sean, the heavier the pressure. One touch could shatter bones or drain them dry. Healers usually hid in the back, but Mercer pushed through and showed his potential. Marko trailed him.
They reached the most wounded allies and poured on heals. Up close they could see every cut and guide their magic, and just like Mercer said, their speed and efficiency shot up.
Ace noticed but didn't intervene. Mercer needed this chance to grow and keep pace with him, Chaewon, and Alex. If Marko leveled up too, all the better.
The Crimson Lake rose into a familiar tornado, ready to heal Sean again.
"It's time! Chaewon!" Ace yelled.
Chaewon darted behind Sean and sprinted toward the lake's edge. Ace ran beside her. With his power and her long blade plus her strength boost from her black jacket, they could sever the surge.
Their weapons hit the torrent, and the water split, splashing everywhere but missing Sean.
The crimson torrent seized Ace, wrapping around his shoulders and torso.
The wave reversed, yanking Ace under the lake's crimson surface.
"ACE!" Chaewon screamed.
Sean twisted and hurled himself back onto the shore. He laughed like he'd already won.
Faces fell as everyone watched Ace drown.
The Priestess's laughter pulled at their nerves.