Luke was pulling the mana rope upwards as Noah helped from the side and pulled Shane and Ruby up.
Shane lied flat on his back on the ground, gasping for breath.
Ruby bent down supporting her hands on her knees, taking deep breaths.
She then moved towards Shane and mana condensed on her hand and moved towards him, covering him in a golden hue. Slowly his fatigue died down and he felt rejuvenated.
"Thank you, sister!"
"So, you can use healing magic too?" Noah asked in surprise.
"She was chosen by the temple because of her healing trait! My sister is the most talented one among the priestesses!" Shane said with a proud face, making Ruby give a warm smile.
"If you're alright then we can move further ahead." Luke said seeing Shane doing alright.
"Damn! This is completely different then what I expected to be on the top!" Shane was surprised seeing the tall and thick grasses in front of them. Except the small region near the cliff, wherever the eyes went, there were more than five feet tall grasses everywhere.
"Stick together and don't get separated!" Noah warned them.
The four of them stayed close and started moving forward. Luke moved the grasses away creating a path for them to move ahead.
As they went forward the ground started slanting downwards, they realised that they were going down towards a valley like region.
Suddenly a rustling sound came from the grasses and Luke immediately stopped in his tracks.
"What could it be?" Shane asked, he was sweating nervous.
"Form a shield Ruby and be on guard everybody!" Luke said, as he started channelling prana into his fists.
Ruby chanted a spell and a runic magic circle formed on the ground covering the four of them. A hemispherical golden transparent shield rose up from the ground and surrounding all sides.
The rustling sounds intensified and started increasing, their anxiety grew as sweat trickled down from the forehead for the unknown danger approaching them.
Intense rustling noise started coming from their back and the sound intensified, indicating that something was approaching.
THUMP!!
A huge rotating ball like thing struck the shield, shaking it throughout. Slowly the ball unfurled and the picture came clear.
It was a rodent like beast about six feet in height. It had a leathery armor shell covering the head to the long flat tail, and sharp claws.
"Fuck!! RUN!" Noah screamed.
Ruby removed her shield and all four of them started running hearing Noah's warning.
"What's the matter?" Luke asked, confused.
"That's a Matillo! They are killer class beasts and not that dangerous alone!"
"Then why are we running?" Shane asked.
"Because that's where the problem is. They're never alone!"
Just then rustling noises started coming from all directions. The ground started vibrating, notifying them of the danger approaching.
Just then as they were running, the ground started going further downward as it got more inclined. Noah didn't waste time and pulled his shield up and threw it on the ground.
"Get up on the shield!" Noah said as all three of them got on and with a push it started sliding down fast. "Luke come to the back and try to deflect any Matillo that comes rolling."
Luke nodded and moved back. Noah moved to the front and steered the shield. They were going blindly as there was no vision because of the tall grasses.
"I hope the grasses don't end at the cliff!" Shane said.
"Don't jinx it, Shane!!" Ruby yelled at him.
She was not showing but she was the most scared right now. this was her fist time fighting beasts and she never imagined that it was this dangerous where life and death is separated by such a thin string.
A rolling Matillo jumped out of the grasses towards them, about to hit them hard. Amber prana covered his fists as Luke swung his arm, the gauntlet hit the Matillo right in the middle.
Intense shockwaves released as it zoomed away from them.
More and more of them came rolling out, some of them passing by them while some directly in their path. Luke kept punching as booms of shockwaves were heard every time a Matillo went flying.
"Hold tight!" Noah yelled out a warning.
They followed hi advise and held the shield tight. Suddenly light came rushing into their eyes as they were out of the grass field.
Noah pulled his hammer out and pushed the shaft deep inside the ground, trying to deaccelerate, and after sliding a few meters they slowed down and stopped completely.
The Matillos immediately unfurled and stopped rolling just when they were just out of the grass field.
They whimpered as if afraid of something and retreated back immediately inside without looking back once.
All four of them lied flat on their backs on the ground, gasping for breath and relief over their faces.
"Haha…hahahaha!! Adventuring is great! I LOVE IT!!" Shane screamed excitedly.
"How is that great? We were about to die right there! I can't allow you to do this anymore!...." Ruby kept on rebuking Shane as she went on and on.
Luke and Noah laughed out loud, seeing the sister and brother pair bickering amongst themselves.
'Adventuring really is fun though!!' A wide smile spread on Luke's face.
*****
On the other end Adriana and the others were on their knees, gasping for breath. There were bruises all over Jordan's body. His armor had cracked in many places. Adriana was no better as she had multiple bruises on her arms and face.
Jane being a wizard, survived under the protection of those two.
"You said there were no beasts in the sword mountains!" Adriana looked questioningly at Jane.
"Shit! I don't know! I just said what was in that book!...They are probably the most annoying beasts in the forest!" Jane said in annoyance.
"These Matillo will seem cute compared to the beasts in the middle zone that our seniors and the generals engage with!" Adriana smirked at Jane.
"It was fun!" Jordan said with a wide smile.
"Obviously you'd enjoy it you musclehead!"
"Let's move ahead. Drink the potion, Jordan. We can't wait too much." Adriana said.
Jordan nodded and pulled a glass vial with a red liquid inside from his pouch at the waist. He removed the cap and drank it whole. Slowly the bruises started disappearing and his fatigue vanished.
Adriana did the same and after recovering the three of them stood up, ready to move forward.
"Let's go!"