“Rowland!” Lucas shouted. “Heal!”

Rowland looked up from petting Dennings’ cheek. “But Dennings needs more love. She’s still dizzy, aren’t you, babe?”

“HEAL ME, ROWLAND!” Lucas shouted again, and this time, he actually received the aid he wanted. The spike retracted from his foot, and the wound patched itself up just as a Rock Lob exploded next to him, sending dozens of fist-sized rocks hurtling toward him. Lucas was struck across the face by several of the flying projectiles and then five more slammed into his chest, pulling him down to 193 Hit Points. Seconds later, Rowland healed him a second time, once more restoring his lost health.

“Smash, come on! Smash!” Lucas dashed forward and zig-zagged around so that the casters wouldn’t be able to target him so easily a third time.

“So many people . . . Smash don’t like this many people! SMASH SHY!”

Smash’s giant log crashed down on four people, hammering them into the floor and scattering their entrails in all directions as if they were fruits dropped from five stories up onto the pavement.

“SMASH NEED LESS NOISE!” Smash pushed forward and pounded two more players into the ground with his log before swinging his arm around in a backhanded attack. Several more people were caught by his flying fist, and they all went flying back into the hallway and into the wall there.

Meanwhile, even though Lucas hadn’t intended to play the part of a tank, he had drawn the Mage’s fire, leaving Smash and the guards to wreak havoc on all the melee combatants that kept pressing forward. It wasn’t long though before two of the guards were struck down by scythes and pitchforks, and the swarm of peasants pressed farther into the throne room.

It was beginning to look rough for Lucas. He was constantly running back and forth, doing his best to dodge and relying on Rowland to patch him up, when Smash finally reached one of the Mages. With a single swing, Smash’s giant, trunk-sized log splattered the sorcerer who had been chain casting Earth Spike at Lucas.

“Change targets! Take the big guy out!” the red-robed Mage shouted from the back. He was an Alfar standing a head taller than those around him. “The big guy will kill us before we can take out their Enchanter!”

Lucas wasn’t about to let them off easy. They must think that I’m not paying attention to what they’re saying, like an NPC wouldn’t. They’re issuing out orders the same way I do when I’m fighting against monsters! He laughed to himself in amusement and rushed forward the second the Mages changed targets from him to Smash.

“Nooo!! Leave Smash alone!” Smash yelled as Lucas approached the entrance. Smash wasn’t able to handle the volleys of magic the same way Lucas could, and in less than five seconds, his skin turned from green and grey, flesh and stone, to nearly a solid coating of blood.