Chapter 410 (2/2)

But he supposed that’s why rewards were given for exemplary times. Because getting a good time was difficult. Randidly also wondered what exactly would qualify for exemplary-

Hissing, Randidly spun. “We’ve got company.”

Several groups of cats descended from the upper levels, around 3 groups of 20. And then another dozen dropped right down, to the area where Rose, Ptolemy, and Clarissa were standing, in no discernable formation.

Of course, Randidly was there too.

“Plant Dominance,” Randidly whispered, his eyes glowing a poisonous green color. Thorny vines and gnarled roots erupted out of the ground before the cats could even catch their balance, ripping into the weak undersides of them, knocking those too close to the spellcasters away from them. Then, with a few Wall of Thorns, Randidly isolated the cats and allowed his team to gather.

“Oh, so they were the numerous type of enemies,” Ace said, extremely unhelpfully, cracking his knuckles against the shoulder of a cat and sending it sprawling into its compatriot. “Perfect warm up.”

Truthfully, the team was ripping through the cats where they encountered them, or at least Alana, Lucifer, Ace, Thea, Chrysanthemum, and even Drwaswere. However, although Ptolemy had some basic hand to hand combat, these cats were fast, and had sharp enough claws to damage Donnyton quality armor after a few swipes. It was best not expose them too much.

Meanwhile, Rose seemed to be effectively useless, and Clarissa…

Well, if Clarissa was too directly threatened, Mrs. Hamilton had informed Randidly that Clarissa had a bad habit of forgetting her teammates, and spraying large AOE spells like Frost Nova and Chain Lightning everywhere. Receiving damage from teammates, especially magic damage, was not high on Randidly’s to do list.

And Annie…

Randidly looked around, but couldn't find her. But arrows were rapidly sprouting from cats, causing them to shudder and expire, so… she was probably fine.

Time to experiment, then. “Call Grove Defenders: Strength!”

Even the frontline fighters paused in their slow reforming into a formation, as a low, dull sound seemed to emerge from Randidly’s chest, like the deep bellow of an ancient ivory horn. The cats even stopped, confused, giving everyone time to move into a tighters shape, to protect the spellcaster. Then the ground directly behind Randidly rumbled, and a green hand pushed itself out of the ground.

After a few seconds of struggle, that hand managed to wriggle itself, revealing a huge, green-black forearm, with several small leaves growing out of the furr. A meter away, another, similar hand poked up, and then a third.

It was about this time that the cats realized that whatever was coming wasn’t their friend, and resumed there attack. But for now, the lines were separated, allowing the spellcasters to do their work.

“Chain Lightning! Blast Spark! Chain Lightning!” Randidly made a mental note not to stand near a blast spark, which appeared to simply be an electric grenade that Clarissa could through. She paused in her casting and drank a blue potion.

“Arcane Orb!” Ptolemy yelled, and Randidly assisted with a few Incinerating Bolts, but then he heard an angry bellow behind him and turned to look at the source.

Behind Randidly were standing three apes, their chest, shoulders, and arms thick with muscle. However, they were only a meter tall, but about that wide as well. Their square bodies made them slightly amusing, as they pounded their chest and pointed at the cats in fury. Then, at the same time, the three seemed to see Randidly, and instantly their eyes lit up.

The one in the center, which Randidly assumed was the leader swaggered forward and sniffed Randidly’s ass.

Shaking his head, Randidly turned away. God save him from eccentric pets. Hopefully, the size was related to his low Skill level, and not a permanent thing...

Then he gave the order, and those bundles of muscle threw themselves forward, screeching with fury.