Azure: Gunner

“Oh PAST, help me settle for once and all the most ancient of questions! What is the greatest sport in the world?”

[THE ANSWER IS TRIVIALLY SIMPLE, PALADIN! BASEBALL IS THE GREATEST SPORT EVER CREATED! AFTER ALL, IT IS THE ONE AND ONLY NATIONAL PAST-TIME OF THE MIGHTIEST NATION TO EVER EXIST, THE GLORIOUS U.S.A.!]

- Lazlo Smith, Level 31 Patriotic Paladin, Fireside Chats with PAST

I blinked away the notifications, staring instead at the low-slung monster bursting out of the sandy ground. My gun was in my hands before I’d realized I’d summoned it.

“BEHIND YOU!” I screamed to Vale in warning, hearing the cries of the others around me.

“They’re all around us!” Raylan shouted as I fired my first shot, which flew past Vale to spark off the creature’s barrier. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a shield and scepter appear in Vale’s hands. I fired again, to no more effect.

The creature looked a lot like the scorpion I’d faced in the Tutorial, only much lighter in color and with its main body covered in small, snakeline scales instead of large plates. The one I’d shot was almost to Vale, its stinger drawing back, hissing – wait, that’s not a stinger, it’s a fucking snake head! The tail-head shot forward towards Vale’s armored back even as white light exploded from her.

The attack bounced off of the light like it had hit solid stone, and I felt the light sweep out and through me, a piece of it seeming to break off and wrap around me.

“Az, look out!” someone shouted as something crashed into me from behind and I was launched into the air.

Vale’s Shield saved me from injury, but I was still sent sprawling, barely hanging onto my gun. I landed at least twenty feet away, the glow around me nearly winking out. I groaned as I climbed back to my feet.

“COME AND GET ME!” Block roared, and I felt the mana from his Skill blast out. There were at least six or seven of the creatures attacking us, though even as I lifted my gun I could see that most of them were heading straight at Block, including the one that I thought had just hit me in the back. Block was retreating away from the group, drawing most of the monsters with him. Vale had finally turned around and was holding off the one I’d shot.

Another monster was attacking the other three recruits, who were all clustered together. I didn’t have a clear shot as Zaire was between me and the creature. I need to know what we’re dealing with!Identify.