I pushed forward, carrying Farisyah, her screams cutting through the chaos as Shawn maintained his brutal grip on her arm. He kept his other hand on her head, directing her wails toward the Temple fighters guarding the clocktower.

  Siva and Jess flanked us, providing protection as we moved.

  It was a nightmare.

  We couldn’t see it, but there was an invisible wavelength of sound that followed her screams. Anyone caught in its path had their heads torn apart in a grotesque explosion. The deaths weren’t subtle. It was immediate. Tops of heads burst open, splattering blood, bone, and brain matter in every direction.

  The Temple fighters scattered, avoiding the direct line of fire, but they retaliated, launching projectiles at us.

  We made some progress toward the clocktower, but the brief lull in the relentless barrage gave our fighters the opening they needed. They surged forward, breaking the Temple’s defensive line.

  The battlefield erupted again. Shawn released his grip on Farisyah, but she continued to sob, hands pressed firmly over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. I knelt in the middle of the fight, Jess, Siva, and Shawn keeping the pressure off me as I pulled the little girl into a tight hug.

  I pulled away, meeting her wide, tear-filled eyes. “I’m sorry. We had to do that. I hope one day you’ll understand.”

  She didn’t respond but kept her hands over her mouth, taking hitching breaths as she fought to calm herself, her sobs fading.

  I glanced up just as a Temple fighter had broken through and swung a massive sword down toward us. I instinctively hugged Farisyah tighter, shielding her, but a fireball slammed into the fighter’s chest, throwing him back in a burst of flames. He landed a few feet away, thrashing as he rolled on the ground.

  Farah appeared then, grabbing Farisyah’s hand. She gave me a look, disappointment written all over her face, but there wasn’t time to dwell on it. A wand appeared in her other hand, and they both vanished, disappearing from view.

  I tried to shove the guilt and Amira’s disappointed voice out of my head. How could you…? Not now. I didn’t have time for this.

  I shot an arrow while still on one knee, hitting a fighter who was about to cast something at Jess.

  “You good?” Siva asked, slicing through another fighter who got too close.

  “Let’s do this,” I said, standing and slinging my bow. “Eric! On me!” I shouted.

  Eric came running, crouched low, his face a mask of fear. I didn’t blame him. We formed a protective barrier around him as we fought our way toward the clocktower. I led the charge, clearing a path with arrows, while Shawn and Siva flanked the sides, cutting through enemies. I could hear the unmistakable thwumph of Jess’s [Wind Blade] spell from behind us, slicing through the mobs like a hot knife through butter.

  We fought our way forward, one step at a time, cutting down anyone who came too close. The golden dome of Jess’s [Holy Nova] flared to life again just as two massive fireballs came at us. They splashed harmlessly against the protective shield, dissipating into nothing. But I knew we didn’t have long; Jess’s spell was running out.

  I grabbed Eric by the arm, pulling him with me as we moved forward, the dome moving with us. My team followed close behind, cutting through the enemies as we made our way toward the clocktower.

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  We were only a few steps away when the sudden pain hit me. A sharp, agonizing jolt shot through my chest. My legs locked up, and I fell forward onto the steps. Around me, everyone froze. Even the Temple fighters stopped moving. I could still see, but I couldn’t move. The pain was overwhelming, a vice crushing my body.

  I could feel someone lying across my legs. Eric, I assumed. Siva’s arm was outstretched to my right.

  My chat pinged with urgent messages.

  Shawn: I can’t fucking move!

  Jess: I can’t do anything!

  Eric: What’s going on? What’s going on? Fuck!

  And then, from somewhere in front of me, I heard her voice. That cold, triumphant voice.

  “Enough!” Jennifer shouted. Her footsteps grew closer, and I didn’t need to see her to know it was her. I recognized the voice.

  I thought back to what Farah had told us about Jennifer. How she had been kidnapped, frozen in place, unable to even use her chat. But this felt different. I was still receiving messages in my HUD.

  I started scrolling through my inventory. I could still access everything. That was strange. Jennifer couldn’t fully lock us out while freezing us.

  “Look at the deaths you’ve caused, Chris!” she shouted at us. She wasn’t speaking in our heads anymore. No, she was shouting, and that meant there were limits to her powers.

  I focused back on the chat, mentally crafting a plan.

  She kept ranting. Her words about our destruction and the mess of the day were just noise now. She went on and on, about mercy, about slaughter, about the human race. I didn’t pay attention to her anymore. Classic villain monologuing. Let her keep talking.

  Siva: I can actually move. I’m just acting.

  Jess: How?

  Siva: I think it’s the necklace Chris gave me. It’s resisting her somehow.

  Shawn: Then fucking pop up and kill her!

  Chris: No! Wait. If we attack now, it’ll break her hold on everyone, and the fight will start again. Even without her.

  I quickly laid out a different plan in the chat. One that would take out Jennifer and give us time to regroup once the fighting restarted.

  Chris: Everyone know what they gotta do?

  Eric: You’re all crazy. You’re all fucking crazy!

  Chris: Eric, will it work?

  Eric: Yes! But… fuck it. Let’s do it.

  Siva: I’m ready.

  Jess: I’ll heal you two ASAP.

  I checked the HUD for the tab only I had. It was simply titled: "Pet."

  A Ranger’s pet. In any RPG, it was an ally that could attack, defend, flank. My pet was Eva.

  I’d already checked with her, and she was sure it would work. I opened the tab and prepared my action.

  For it to work, I needed Jennifer close. Ideally, right on top of me, but any proximity would do. Siva kept an eye on her as she continued to rant, oblivious to what was coming.

  Siva: Now!

  I didn’t hesitate. I’d already pre-selected Eva in my HUD. At Siva’s command, I cast [Summon Ally].

  Eva wasn’t just in the Grave Digger anymore. She was the Grave Digger. [Summon Ally] triggered the [Wrecking Ball] enchantment, and the truck came for me.

  In an instant, the Grave Digger smashed through the barricades, buildings, and fighters, barreling toward us.

  Siva sprang into action, grabbing Jess and Eric, diving out of the way.

  The truck ran over me and Shawn, pain flaring as the six-thousand-pound vehicle crashed through us. But it didn’t stop. It continued its path straight toward Jennifer.

  She was knocked off her feet, her body flying back and crashing into the base of the clocktower with a sickening thud. She slid into a sitting position, motionless.

  She was dead.

  The truck stopped, its back wheel inches from my head.

  Jennifer’s enchantment shattered, and I slammed a healing potion, wincing as my bones snapped back into place.

  For a moment, there was silence. The battlefield was quiet as those affected by Jennifer’s control stood or lay dazed.

  It was nice. That quiet. No clanging of swords or casting of spells. I could just lay there for a little while.

  But then, the noise of battle began again.

  Siva quickly bundled Eric into the truck, standing guard outside. I ordered Eva to act.

  She shot the winch attachment into the clocktower, smashing through Jennifer’s lifeless body, anchoring itself into the building. The connection was made. Eric was already at work as tendrils of green electricity snaked up the winch and into the clocktower.

  I sprang to my feet as Jess helped Shawn up, scythe and morningstar appearing in their hands.

  “Form up!” I shouted. “We gotta protect the truck!”

  And we went to work.