There are 4 Mana types.
The first is the normal Mana used by most living things and spirits. It’s the Mana adventurers use to level up and cast their spells.
The second is called Unholy Mana or Dead Mana. It’s Mana that steams off dead creatures and is extremely harmful to living beings of all kind. Used and by the Undead as power and nourishment, it’s more concentrated and therefore more powerful than normal Mana.
The third is Demonic Mana. It’s Mana emanated by the hells and wielded by demons. Also more concentrated than normal Mana, but not as much as Unholy Mana. The usage of such Mana acts like a drug to the user bringing forth urges of destruction and mayhem.
The last type is Holy Mana. Generally used by gods and great spirits. Less powerful than normal Mana, however it has the property to nullify Unholy and Demonic Mana. This made Holy Mana incredibly deadly to Undead and Demons.
Being in Hell meant to be showered in Demonic Mana bringing forth all sorts of intrusive thoughts that one could not ignore for long. However, being just arrived, Matthew and the others still haven’t fallen under its influence.
The building landed surprisingly gentle on its rooftop and soon all those inside started to leave and gather away from the crumbling structure.
Matthew, Faralynn and Erin, however, were in a standstill with the one eyed man. He was dressed as a doctor, had short brown hair and a faint beard on his chin. He looked handsome, but it could be the effects of a high Charisma that the Caller and Summoner class line gave the adventurer.
Matthew was aiming his gun towards the man. The only reason he didn’t shoot was because the man held his arms up.
"Look kid. We’re not in position to fight right now. I don’t want to waste Mana in a useless fight while I’m sure DEMONS will come soon." He said stressing the danger they were in.
"How can we trust you?" Faralynn said with her sword up and ready. "You were just trying to kill us."
"I didn’t come to kill you. You’d be already dead if I wanted to. My mission was to kidnap you, my lady." He explained taking a more gentle tone towards the elf.
"Kidnap?" Matthew scorned. "You almost killed her in the dungeon."
"I didn’t meant that to happen! I wasn’t expecting the dungeon to react to my servants and break the pact." He defended himself. "The hobgoblins were just supposed to subdue the lady long enough for me to teleport her away. But as soon as I left the dungeon to prepare the teleportation marks, my pact with them were broken and the dungeon went berserk."
"So you don’t want to kill us?" Erin said lowering her staff.
"No! If the lady dies, my master will kill me."
"Who is your master?" Faralynn asked approaching him.
"Your uncle." He answered making Faralynn’s face freeze in terror.
"Let’s say we believe you. What’s preventing you from kidnapping her right now and kill me and Erin?" Matthew asked without dropping his aim.
"I’m not a murderer. You’d be already dead if I wanted to kid. I’m a level 21 adventurer. I have much more at my disposal than hobgoblins. Also I’m not powerful enough to teleport out of hell."
Faralynn put her hand on top of Matthew’s and made him lower the gun.
"What does my uncle want with me?" The elf asked with a trembling voice.
"Your hand in marriage. His claim to the household is fickle nowadays. Marrying you would bring legitimacy to his claim, specially if you produce an heir."
Faralynn shuddered with the thought of marrying her Father’s brother. But for elves, that had an incredible low birthrate, marrying into family was a normal occurrence.
"We’re out of time. We can discuss this more later. But you need to know that keeping you alive now is my priority until we can leave." The glass eyed man said.
"No way." Erin said. "We won’t let you take her away."
"Again, kids. Not the time to discuss this. This place will be filled with demons anytime now."
"Me and my friends." Faralynn said.
"What?" The man replied confused.
"You’ll protect me and my friends."
"As my lady wishes. I’ll bring no harm nor allow any harm to befall unto them."
"Then let’s leave before the building comes down." Faralynn ordered and left dignified like the noblewoman she was.
All the survivors of the building collapse were gathered on a hill far from the hospital. Some very injured being treated by the doctors and nurses. Among the medical staff, some were adventurers that had healing skills, but none seemed particularly talented.
The four of them gathered with the survivors. Erin took out Faralynn’s armor from her inventory, but the elf’s bow was not among the items she was keeping for her friend. Away from onlookers, Faralynn dressed herself out of the hospital gown and into her armor.
Far away, they could see lots of demons gathering. They’d soon be there.
"You’ll try to take her away as soon as we leave." Matthew accused to the glass eyed man while reloading his gun.
"If we get out of here, kid. If we find ourselves back on Earth, you’re welcomed to treat me as an enemy again. But here, we need to be allies."
"Can we survive?" Matthew changed the subject.
The survivor forces were comprised by the 4 of them, a doctor who was a level 3 Healer, another doctor who was a level 10 Healer, a nurse, level 1 Healer, a priest, level 5 Priest, and 2 adventurers both level 3 Warriors. All the others were civilians.
Erin and Faralynn were both at level 2, but they leveled up fighting the hobgoblins earlier.
"What class should I pick?" Erin asked Faralynn while fidgeting with her screen.
"Mage again? I don’t know. I think I’ll take one more in Warrior."
"No." Matthew intervened. "I know this can mess with your original builds, but I think both of you should take the Priest class."
"Why?" Faralynn asked confused. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel★fire.net
"We’re fighting Demons. Take the Holy Mana skill. It’ll be the most effective skill right now. And plenty of MP to use it."
Erin and Faralynn looked to each other. He was right.
"That priest is useless in the fight. He can only cast Break Curse and Purify." The glass eyed man said as Matthew got close to him. "The healers too. The other 2 will be useful."
"So, what’s the plan?" Matthew asked.
"My servants will take the front line. You, me and the redhead will cull the ones flying. My lady and the adventurers take those who pass the front."
"If no greater demon shows up. We might survive today."
"What’s your name? Can’t be calling you kidnapper in the midst of battle." Matthew said as a sign of trust.
"They call me Orson of the Horde" He said. "Call me Orson."
The civilians, the priest and the medics were positioned behind them, on a crevice on the hill. Orson took off his white coat, extended his hand and summoned his servants. In a bright light, hundreds of goblins and hobgoblins appeared armed with swords, bows and spears. Two ogres also surged, each with giant cleavers on their hands.
A goblin dressed with feathers and bones approached the summoner. A goblin shaman, one able to use spells. He carried a red robe neatly folded and a staff adorned with a golden dragon on the point.
Orson put the robe on, picked up the staff and stood between the crevice and his small army. He urged Matthew and Erin to stand with him and the goblin shaman and Faralynn and the other 2 adventurers to keep a line with the 2 ogres behind the goblins.
Marching towards them, a disorganized mass of demons approached. Orson smiled, they were lucky. Imps and Dretches, the least powerful demons, the lowest of the Demonic casts.
Imps resembled goblins, but with red and yellow skin and small wings that allowed them to fly short distances.
Dretches were pig-like bipedal creatures. They had large mouths and uneven pointy teeth and long ugly ears. Their skins were green and pink. But the worst part of fighting them was their smell.
Both were more powerful than goblins, but adventurers of low levels like Faralynn aided by his might, could defeat them. He dared hope on surviving.
"Keep an eye on my lady kid." Orson said to Matthew. "Charge forward if she needs aid."
"Matthew." He answered. "I won’t let anything happen to her, but call me Matthew."
Orson smiled. "Get ready Matthew, Erin. We’ll take down those who fly." Then he addressed his small army: "Hold your ground! Kill those bastards! Defend the lady! We will not die here today!"