Unfortunately, the orcs had also realized that while the two were a threat, they could be handled. Now that they knew this they quickly restructured themselves, the chieftain took the lead of the group and organized them into small groups.

These groups were made up of three orcs, keeping ten meters between themselves. Close enough to act to help the others, but too far to let normal AOE spells do anything.

Lastly, the Chieftain did not follow the orcs. Instead, he kept staring at Eldrian and Ceph. Ready to act to whatever they would try.

'Crap, why are they so persistent?' Eldrian cursed as he wondered what more he might be able to do. He could try to go after the orcs one by one, but the risk was high.

He could also stall a few groups but not all. And the Chieftain who was staring at them made him fear that there was even a bigger ploy at play.

'I know too little about them and I don't...'

'We need to do something!' Ceph interrupted Eldrian's thoughts as he watched the orcs rapidly close in on the soldiers who had stayed behind to stall for them. It was clear that they did not stand much of a chance.

'I-I don't know. I don't think we can do more.' Eldrian said, sacrificing himself he knew he would not be enough to save the villagers. If he and Ceph both fought to their deaths they might be able to accomplish something more.

Yet, not only would that lead to many problems. The pain Ceph would feel by dying was not something Eldrian would ever wish on his friend.

Ceph was not a player, the battle and his death would be filled with all the pain and horror it held for normal people.

-No, that should never be a choice- Eldrian firmly denied and sighed in defeat. All he could do was try to slow some groups down and hopefully give the villagers more time.

'We will focus on trying to delay them for as long as we can.' Eldrian said and Ceph took off to catch up with the orcs who were now reaching the walls of the village. Walls that meant little to them.

Some of the orcs simply jumped over the three-meter wooden wall, others hacked at the logs and cut through them with minimal effort.

Flying up behind them, Eldrian scanned all the orcs and tried to determine where to help and strike first. Ideally, he might be able to get clear shots to kill a few orcs.

'There!' Eldrian directed Ceph to one orc who had just jumped the wall. Only to be met with two centaur soldiers striking out with their spears. The orc managed to grab one spear before it pierced him, and even throw the centaur from the wall. The other however pierced through his thigh.

As the orc was about to pull the spear out and attack the soldier, Ceph swooped down and Eldrian sent an arm-sized icicle at his neck.

Sensing the danger, the orc jumped back and off the wall. Yet the icicle followed him without losing its mark.

As it was just a few centimeters from the falling orc's neck, another orc suddenly sliced through the icicle. Having moved as soon as the falling orc had jumped.

'Wh- Fuck!' Eldrian cursed as Ceph suddenly drew in his wings and dived down. A spear passed where they were just seconds ago at a speed faster than an arrow.

It was only the first of many. Where all the spears were coming from Eldrian had no idea, but after Ceph just barely managed to dodge the tenth -each spear coming closer and closer to hitting- he realized that the Chieftain had a dimensional storage.

'No wonder he stayed glued on us!' Eldrian cursed again and told Ceph to fly higher, to escape.

'But, the people!' Ceph countered but Eldrian didn't have time to argue.

'Ceph! Go, now!' Eldrian shouted as he moved a ball of ice in the path of a new spear. It was not strong enough to stop the spear, but it did just slightly alter its path.

Enough to let it not hit Ceph right in the heart, but not enough to have it pass without damage. The spear sliced through his chest, just above his front legs.

The pain momentarily blinded Ceph as it filled his mind.

Eldrian was already doing all he could to heal Ceph and get him to think clearly again, but it was too late. They were now in range of all the orcs and all types of random items were flying at them. From swords to spears to random rocks or even helmets.

'Luckily... They do not have any archers.' Eldrian thought as he used Kyma's shockwave ability to send himself and Ceph towards the ground even faster.

They crashed through one of the roofs of a random house. Avoiding all the weapons and Ceph just getting a little more banged up.

Eldrian on the other hand was dealt a bad hand. He was covered in splinters and a few pieces of broken roof had taken the liberty to pierce him like arrows as he had been thrown from Ceph's back thanks to Kyma.

'Shit, this is bad.' Eldrian coughed out some blood and was extremely happy that his pain reduction was still in effect. He was quite certain that along with everything else, either a rib was piercing into one of his lungs or some of the roof.

'Ceph, you okay?' Eldrian asked.

'It hurts, it burns so bad...'

'I know buddy, but we need to act quick or it will be even worse.' Eldrian gently rubbed Ceph's head after crawling towards his friend. Continuously healing him and racking his mind for a new plan. Ignoring himself and his quickly dropping HP.

'Ceph, I need you to escape.' Eldrian said as he could feel his body becoming extremely heavy. Looking at his HP, he sighed. It was now in the double digits and quickly draining even more.

Only now did Ceph realize that he wasn't the only one in pain. He looked at Eldrian, his eyes filled with horror as he immediately realized that Eldrian was at death's door.

'No, nononono, stay with me!' Ceph shouted and quickly did the best he could to heal Eldrian. He pushed all he had into it. Eldrian just shook his head.

'Ceph, we need to focus on escaping... Not healing me.'

'Bu-b-but, if I-'

'It's fine, we need to focus on getting out of here before the orcs...' Eldrian's arm started to drop, smiling, he explained his plan to Ceph.

"Nooooooo!

" Ceph shouted with all his might, but Eldrian just smiled and told him that it was the only way.

'Ceph, you have to go. Return to Kynigo and find me there.'

'No! It's all my-'

'Ceph!' Eldrian shouted as sternly as he could muster. 'Leave! Now!'

With tears and self-blame, Ceph nodded and slowly stood up.

'Remember, make-' Eldrian said as his connection with Ceph broke as Ceph's emotions became too unstable to keep it up any longer. 'Wind- be- Your shield...'

With that, Ceph took off into the hole of the roof. Summing winds as chaotic, angry, and rageful as he felt at the moment. A storm quickly covered him and anything the orcs tried to throw at him simply became part of the storm.

AN: A big thank you to everyone who continues to read and support the story on WN.