The Climb

"Now what do we do?" Retainer exclaims.
"How are we going to fight that thing if one wrong step means death?" Ranger joins in.
"Easy," I state. "We don't"
They all look at me, confusion evident on their faces. I can see Ranger's hand already moving towards his quiver, probably thinking of some reckless plan. Captain's jaw is set in that stubborn way that means she's about to argue.
"Okay, it can only attack us if we step on the wrong square, or if we attack it first." I begin explaining. "So the easiest way to win this fight is by doing nothing to the boss itself, and just figuring out the grid."
"But, I only have two soldiers left, and we've only got one square figured out." Captain adds, her voice tight with concern.
No, that's not correct. We actually have three. Sure, two are incorrect, but it's two removed from the pool. Every piece of information matters in a situation like this, even the failures.
"Why don't I just shoot it?" Ranger asks, holding up an explosive arrow. The tip gleams with that telltale orange glow of volatile magic.
"If you do that, we will all die." I bluntly tell him. "It's counterattack will cleave the whole room, including us, in two."
He lowers the arrow slowly, getting the message.
"Should I send another soldier out?" Captain offers, I nod.
The soldier makes a brave dash and lands on B7. We all hold our breath, waiting for the inevitable scythe to swing down. Nothing.
"Another one, let's go." Ranger celebrates, pumping his fist.
A3, B7. I can see Retainer in the corner of my vision noting it down as well, her fingers moving quickly across her notepad. Always the meticulous one.
"Try C5 next." I tell her.
Captain nods, walking her soldier onto the square I asked for.
Again, nothing happens. The silence in the room feels almost oppressive now, broken only by the faint mechanical whirring from the boss.
"A3, B7, C5." I say them out loud, racking my brain for my knowledge of a boss fight I hate.
The pattern should be forming, if only I could remember it clearly.
"I know the way," I sigh. "But, it's not good."
"How is it not good?" Priestess asks, her voice tinged with worry.
"Yeah, isn't it good to avoid fighting it?" Retainer joins in.
"From C5 it's a straight line to the exit." I tell them.
"A straight line?" They all exclaim. Priestess continues. "Isn't that incredibly easy then?"
"Wait for it."
I watch as they look at the grid, following what would be our way out, leading straight to the boss currently standing on F5. I see the moment it clicks for each of them. Retainer's face falls first, then Ranger's excited expression morphs into frustration.

"Why does every enemy cheat now?" Retainer huffs, throwing her hands up.
We're all currently sitting at the start of the grid, having a snack, waiting, hoping that the boss might move.
But so far, we've had no such luck. The thing hasn't budged an inch, standing there like some kind of twisted sentinel.
"We can't just sit here, we'll be even more screwed if a Guardian shows up." Captain finally speaks up, voicing what we're all thinking.
"Are you sure we can't take it out?" Ranger asks, still eyeing his arrows.
"It has a control module on its back, that's what keeps it moving, which only appears when it attacks." I finish chewing. "Hit anything else and it's counterattack cleave."
"Maybe I could leap over?" Retainer thinks out loud, already calculating distances with her eyes.
"The air above the squares count as well," I shut her down.
"There has to be something," Priestess finishes eating as well, brushing crumbs from her robes.
"We go over it."
It's simple really. If the boss is in our way, but only attacks us when we go on the wrong squares, then we just climb over the boss, who is on the correct squares. Sometimes the most obvious solution is the right one.
They all look at me like I'm crazy, like the plan is mad.
I just shrug at them and start walking towards the grid.

"It's a lot bigger up close," Ranger states, staring up at the imposing boss.
He does raise a good point, this thing is about twenty metres high. One wrong move and the scythe might not be the problem. A fall from that height would do the job just as well.
"This is easy, but humiliating." Captain's voice comes from above us, she's already made it halfway up.
Well, her soldiers carrying her have made it halfway up. Must be nice having summons to do the work for you.
Priestess to her credit is going at a slow but steady pace, her staff stowed in her inventory, while she takes the safe route. Her face is pale but determined.
Retainer is already at the top. Show off.
I give Ranger a pat on the back and then begin my climb. I've stowed away my weapons and armour to make my climb as easy as possible. Hand hold there, foot goes there. It's a relatively simple climb, just needs extra caution. The wooden surface is surprisingly warm under my fingers, probably from all the magic coursing through it.
Ranger ends up zooming past me, understandable, considering the class difference. Agility builds always had the advantage in situations like this.
Soon enough, we're all at the top.
"So, now we just go back down right?" Priestess asks, clinging tightly to me, trying not to look up or down.
"Yeah, land on H5 and we're home free." I give everyone a nod and we begin our climb down.

Up was the easy part. Down though, is a problem. We're now climbing down its back where all of the arms are springing up from. Meaning we have to fight against the twitching movements every time we try to get lower. Each mechanical spasm threatens to shake us loose.
I go to grab an arm for support, but as I do, it suddenly moves and my hand only grabs air.
My stomach drops as I swing precariously for a moment.
It takes a few moments but I manage to steady myself, and find another handhold. My heart is pounding now, adrenaline making everything feel sharp and focused.
Priestess isn't so lucky. She's about five metres below me, just off the ground, when the boss decides to turn.
The sudden movement shakes her free and she falls the last few metres to the floor. Landing on H4.
Without thinking I let go.
"It takes four seconds for him to turn around, run." I scream, the impact from hitting the ground sends a shock through my entire body, probably would have killed a normal person.
Pain explodes up my legs but I force myself to move.
Captain, who has already made it to safety, has already sent her soldiers running to help. Ranger is currently in the process of helping Priestess up, but her foot seems injured. She's trying to put weight on it and failing.
The soldiers are too far away, those two won't get out of range in time. Only one thing left.
I quickly equip my armour and shield, not bothering with my sword.
In hindsight, I probably didn't need to bother with any of them, as the scythe effortlessly rips through my shield, and penetrates my armour, as well as me.