Pain flared in her abdomen. Mei Mei gritted her teeth, thankful that the game put a limiter on those particular nerves. Still, it hurt like a bitch. Her vision was red with her rage, but some part of her knew that she wouldn't last much longer like this. 

She gripped the tusk at the thickest part, where it attached to the Boar King's face. He lifted her up like she weighed nothing, just by turning his face upwards. If he wanted to, he could snap her in half. 

And when Mei Mei went down...what would happen to Fallina? Without any other players to draw the Boar King, she'd be the only target left. 

He'd crush her.

Mammoth roared at the Boar King. She lifted her booted foot and planted it right between his eyes. Then she pulled at the tusk. Her muscles rippled, flexing to counter the resistance. Pain flared in her abused body. She strained.

SNAP!

The Boar King squealed with pain as she broke off his tusk. Mammoth fell to the ground, and rolled out of habit. By the time she got her feet under her, she was already preparing to die. It would suck to lose a level and half her gold, but the worst part was how vulnerable Fall would be when she went down. 

White light blinded her and she squinted against it. What the...?

A shimmering shield, bearing a crest of wings, floated in front of her. When she had adjusted to the sudden brightness, she could see the Boar King through the spell, but he was no longer charging at her. 

He was charging someone else. Mei Mei panicked. "Fall!" 

As if her shout had summoned her, Fall appeared beside Mei. The faerie slammed her spell staff into Mei, just as her rage counter hit zero. Mammoth hit the ground, hard, but her health bar inched toward half-full. "Fall," Mei strained against the feeling of weakness coursing through her, "you're safe?"

She heard Fallina chuckle, and then a party request filled her vision. "Hit the accept button, Mammoth, and then get up. We have to help this guy or he's going down. And right now, he's all the help we have."

Guy? What guy? Mammoth winked at the party invite and the green 'accept' button lit up. Fallina's stats appeared under her own. Mei Mei frowned. "You're almost out of mana. Do you need a potion?"

"I'm working on it." Her little faerie slid her arms under her and helped her onto her knees. "Give me a second." As Fall sorted through her inventory, Mammoth had the thought that she really should teach her some hot keys. 

Mammoth downed a health potion and immediately felt better. She regained her feet and stretched. "So, I take it whoever is helping us cast this Aegis spell?"

Fall nodded. "I didn't catch his name, but he's a Paladin."

Mei Mei frowned. A paladin by himself? Impossible. Where was his partner? A shout pulled her back into the moment. "Okay, I'm going to go help him. Fall, see if you can get him to party up. He'll need all the help we can give him."

"On it!" 

Mammoth threw herself into the combat zone, the Aegis spell still shimmering in front of her. She knew that Fall would do what she had asked, so she didn't bother to look back and check on her. Fall was as reliable as the stars. 

Mammoth slammed her fists into the Boar King, who squealed in response. This close, she had a better view of his health bar and how far they still had to go to win. She kicked up and grabbed the Boar King's bristly mane, holding on tight and punching his neck. 

In front of the boss, she could see another player. His golden armor gleamed in the starlight, and his eyes were fierce circles of blue magic. Above his head, his name flashed <GoldenHair [KnightsTemplar]>. A paladin, huh? Wicked cool. 

Beneath her, the Boar King bucked, and Mammoth gritted her teeth. If she fell off, she'd probably get trampled. Better not test the gravity engine. The paladin darted in and out of the Boar King's swinging range, his longsword swinging in practiced arcs. 

Fall's blue magic glimmered around him, healing his cuts and bleeding wounds. He'd taken one heck of a beating already. The Boar King struck. The paladin swerved to the side, but not quick enough. GoldenHair hit the ground. Hard. 

Mammoth swore she heard something snap. She winced in sympathy, her side still a dull ache that hadn't been fully cured by the potion. She dug her fingers into the Boar King's face, trying to blind him or at least distract him. Mammoth couldn't find purchase on the tough hide.

She yelled in frustration. Where had her broadsword gone? Her foot slipped off the boss' shoulder. Mammoth fell. She tucked her legs under her and rolled. 

Get out of the way. Get out of the way. Getoutoftheway.

She wasn't quick enough. The Boar King slammed his fist into her and the impact made her cry out. The Aegis spell above her shattered, cushioning the blow with the last of its strength. Her health bar shrank into a sliver that blinked red at her. 

The Boar King roared. Fall called her name. Her healing magic crept over Mammoth, soothing her aches and restoring some health.

It wasn't enough. 

The Paladin shouted and the sky filled with light. 

Above them, an angel spread her wings and the sky opened up. Fire rained from the heavens.