Arcane Fountain Gauntlet 4

(Grace's POV):

I was completely in awe with Robin's skillful maintenance even against three skeleton kings that are mini-bosses that cannot be battled alone easily. With our party, we may be able to handle one but three is just too much, especially when we're surrounded. I was more or less inspired to train more when I get the chance. I have to lead these guys alone soon so I might as well learn his tricks...

"Robin, how do you lead without panicking?"

"Panicking? Well, it takes a long term training just to get to the level where everything runs smoothly I can say that the simple principles are don't think that everything runs into the plan." - Robin

Everyone is currently talking about Robin's skills on combat. Jay was looking extremely excited while Ridley and Rylle were just laughing a little bit.

"Hmm, let's say that you initially enter a room with these guys in a dungeon. You then get two rooms that are actually the same except it's elevating in difficulty. Do not assume that the third one is the same." - Robin

"I see..."

"And then, keep the mindset that you're in a dungeon. Anything can change within the dungeon and will become fatal if you didn't expect it. I just usually consider everything as a threat and has a possibility to adapt. Just beware when it comes to watching over others from the front as it is completely difficult to maintain all of that." - Robin

I was listening well into Robin's instructions without leaving a single bit of information behind. All of his experience will be a valuable lesson so I can improve in some way or another.

"And then when it comes to fighting against other players, make sure that one person has view over everyone on the backline. Jay would be fine on that role. Be sure to use whatever you find to your advantage, it will be important to get even at least a small opening gap from a combo attack. Another one to take out is the cooldowns of various abilities. Skill cooldown is extremely vital when it comes to timing everything well." - Robin

"I see... What about things outside the group?"

"Pay attention to the enemy's goal and try to act against it, you will need more than just simple guesses to get through. Sometimes, you need to plan ahead with the collected information from the libraries. There's a complete one in the castle which you are free to read. You aren't allowed to make noise though." - Robin

"I see, just to make sure we're prepared against the enemies?"

"Yep, you'll know their classes, potential abilities and possible tricks they could unfold into the battle. It's not just skills and coordination, information is also essential in combat." - Robin

"You're really experienced huh?"

"Well, just say that I got all that information from Seymour." - Robin

Robin stood up and stretched his body.

"That concludes your lessons for today. Let's head toward the next room." - Robin

(POV Shift: Robin's POV):

After giving Grace some lessons on leadership, everyone immediately followed me to the next room to battle on.

"Now that you guys know what will be coming for us, try to be careful since it does get a little tricky. I'll handle two skeleton kings at once, while you guys try to deal with one of them."

"Got it!" - Everyone

"Just in case, their numbers could be doubled so you guys have to be careful because you'll get double teamed by two skeleton kings in one go."

After going into the arena which is basically a long hallway, I pretty much get what the battle here is gonna be.

"Everyone, stations of holding out the front. I'll take main vanguard, get to your positions behind me."

Grace positioned herself right behind me while preparing her two katanas.

"Ready when you are Jay."

Jay opened the chest which began the next part of the dungeon. Hordes of heavily armored skeletons started emerging from the dark hallway. Behind them are heavily armored skeleton kings. They start marching slowly so I might as well try to shave off their numbers while they're super far away.

"Light blast!"

A blast of light flew towards the horde of skeletons when I noticed a huge pit which skeletons could fall through. Wait a second, why do we have to defend when there's an impassable pit?

Thoughts pass through me mind and one thing got me.

"Advance! We can't let the skeletons fall into the pit!"

The only thing that entered my mind is the fact that there might be some sort of trigger in the pit that can be activated by a skeleton which prevents any form of escape.

"Jay, stay here in the back line and continue supporting! Some things might start appearing behind us! Grace should stay here with you incase you get targeted! Ridley! Rylle! Forward!"

"G-got it!" - Grace

"Aight!" - Ridley

"Alright!" -Rylle

Jay stayed silent as he seems to be in focus mode. He shot a bullet straight to a skeleton king and knocked it down. Very good, keep up your perfect accuracy against monsters.

Me, Ridley, and Rylle advanced forward while launching various attacks.

"Searing Light! Searing Beacon!"

I brought out Heaven's Beacon and used two forms of lasers. One came from my hand and the other from my sword. I had to stop running for a bit as it could ruin my balance if I keep my hands up front. I had Ridley and Rylle move forward to maintain the positions.

When they arrived, I started to run forward but some skeletons fell down from the ceiling. Damn, I have to get into position quickly.

I brought out three searing blades and used it as flying follow up attacks. I then brought out my revolver once again and moved to the front lines while clearing what's in front of me. After entering position, I made Ridley and Rylle kick back from the front lines and defend from behind. I then start loading my revolver and try to fight against the horde of skeletons alone.

"Better start loading with wind and light magic here..."

I activated a skill which creates powerful bullets of light. I then fired it ruthlessly which killed a bunch of skeletons in a straight line. I mainly use this for enemies that line up so it's a good thing I brought this out.

Multiple skeletons were pierced by the light and fell down to the ground. I then started to hold the ground while slicing off multiple skeletons. I sense no necromancers... Is this a timed battle?

While thinking about what are the possibilities of this battle, two skeleton kings started marching in towards me. Ah crap, better deal with these guys quickly.

I shot two bullets with wind element supplements this time to increase the range of the bullets. I then start to eliminate the horde more while using various kinds of light magic that could damage an area. When I had noticed, the third skeleton king stood up and started moving forward. Three at once huh... This will be quick.

"I'll be serious now..."

While holding the line from the hordes of skeletons coming right into my position, I started to charge up a powerful attack.

My body starts glowing little by little as I start to accumulate more energy that could be extremely dangerous. The mana expenditure starts becoming more serious as the charging goes for more time.

After a few minutes of holding out and charging, I had completely started to glow with extremely bright light. Perfect, now to clear off these monsters.

I'm currently holding out against three skeleton kings while trying to maintain the line. I blocked the greatswords, and a battleaxe, along with the spears of the smaller skeletons.

Jay shot a powerful bullet which knocked down one skeleton king. I fired light bullets towards the other two to knock them down and continued to protect the gap.

"Don't let anything slip! Goodbye front line! Converged Light!"

I then used the charged mana to fire a powerful converged light to destroy all the skeletons right in front of me. This doesn't even allow any kind person or monster in front of me stay alive.

The bright light shined right behind Ridley and Rylle while Jay was fascinated in the back line. Grace is currently not letting any skeleton get Jay in the back line.

After expending all the light, the area started becoming dark again. I used Illumination to heal and buff everyone while allowing them to see in the dark. There are currently only a few skeletons remaining after the charged attack so it was currently cleanup.

"The exit opened!" - Jay

"Grab the key! Everyone! Retreat!"

Me Ridley and Rylle started running back towards Jay and Grace's position while slicing off stray skeletons. The gap has closed up which means the area has been officially cleared. I charged up a little bit for another Searing Light just in case the stray skeletons started coming up to us in the central room.

After returning to the position, Jay took out the key from the chest.

"That's the fifth key, let's go."

Everyone went out and exited the hallway towards the central area.

"This is just for insurance so that no skeletons would appear from the hall. Searing Light!"

I activated Searing Light and burned the rest of the skeletons down pretty quickly. I checked once more if there are skeletons but nothing was left. Aight, that's pretty clean, let's get some rest a bit...