B4 Chapter 485: Plight of the living, pt. 3

The second Kaius had rejoined the front line, he was looking for his next target.

Only a handful remained of the two dozen or so beasts that had been harassing the villagers. Two wolf-like creatures kept a loping gate as they sprinted through the long grass — circling wide in an attempt to strike at their unwatched flank.

It wouldn’t work, he and his team were simply too strong.

Three more beasts worked themselves into a rabid fury straight ahead of him and Porkchop. It was an unnatural pairing — another bullish creature more than happy to stand side by side with two furred lizards as large as a horse.

A deep twang thumped as Kenva loosed an arrow. One of the lizards was suddenly silenced, blood and pulped brain erupting from a new hole in its forehead.

“Nice shot!” Ianmus called

“What can I say?” Kenva replied, before switching her attention back to Kaius. “You two ready for us to fall back?”

Kaius nodded. Their plan was simple: Keep the villagers safe, keep the Pegleg from getting overwhelmed, and never stop moving in the direction of Deadacre.

There was no point in Kenva and Ianmus staying on the ground. The Pegleg was swift, and atop its decks they would be far better situated to protect the archers. Even now they readied themselves to fire at beasts far stronger than them.

Plus, his back line would be far more effective from an elevated position, with their targets unobscured by long grass and the scattering of bushes and trees.

His team was strong, strong enough that creatures that had barely broken a hundred levels were of no threat. Not with numbers as low as only a few dozen.

That ease would fade. Kaius could see motion across the Frontier: beasts drawn by the howls of their battle, smelling strong foes on the wind.

While the surviving villages had managed to stay ahead of the densest concentrations of the tyrant’s horde, the beast army was an unregimented thing. Within only a few leagues of their position, there were thousands of beasts. The longer they fought, the more would come.

At least, for now, they would be unharassed by fliers. For reasons unknown to him, they stayed tightly corralled, hurtling through the air in teeming flocks above the meat of the tyrant’s army that was still hours away.

Two beasts charged. Bovine and an unnaturally-thin lizard.

They barely made it ten steps before their legs crumpled as new blood spilled on the frontier. It only took a single spell and a single arrow.

An itch dug deep into Kaius’ soul. It would have been so easy. A simple flicker of will was all it would have taken to drop one of the teaming horde with a nail. He forced himself to leave it to his back line.

For all their strength, he knew that he would have to pace himself, since extended battles were far from his specialty. He could feel the lingering exhaustion and dread that had found him in the boggart warrens over half a year ago. The swarm had taught him a valuable lesson: strength and certainty of might only mattered if he could maintain it until the battle was done.

It would this time.

His spells had been carefully tuned for the coming engagement during their flight. Heavy on Stormlash and Hateful Nail — the former more than the latter — both were more than potent enough to eliminate a beast instantly.

He’d avoided his Eirnith spells — as well as Starfall. The beasts were so weak and numerous that the single target Compel Obsession was pointless, and both Starfall and Zone of Discombobulation had one annoying factor that hampered their use: once set, the area they covered was static.

As they were moving as fast as the Pegleg could manage, it would be far harder to ensure it hit its intended targets.

He still had a single charge, in case they needed to clear the field — but no more. It was far too expensive to justify.

The two canids were unshaken by the death of their only remaining allies. The beasts raced in, claws digging into the soft soil as their maws hung open. They were smart — choosing a moment to attack from the side when Kaius and Porkchop were focused on the ‘threats’ directly in front.

Each foot fall may as well have been a thunderclap for how easily he could hear them.

One of the hunters atop the Pegleg let out a yell. Shaky arrows loosed — each going wide. The wolfish creatures were fast. They weren’t playing with their food any more, keeping a pace that would have been little more than a blur to the archers and hunters.

Kaius shifted, a casual move as if he were surprised by the sudden noise. He brought his blade high.

“Ready to make them bleed?” Porkchop asked.

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The beasts pounced.

Porkchop lunged to his left. One paw caught a leaping canine, his claws digging into its chest as the creature let out a wet and ragged gasp.

Kaius kicked off with his good leg — suddenly racing towards his target. It hadn’t leapt — charging straight through the long grass. He could see its eyes. They were wide and bright, filled with a maddened hunger and fury that bound it tighter than physical chains.

He brought his blade down right as it lunged for his throat. Honed crystal parted flesh and bone with equal ease. Its head fell free.

**Ding! You have slain Terrormaw Wolf – Level 114 Savage Pursuer!**

**Experience Gained! Reduced Experience for slaying a foe of significantly lower level!**

Momentum carried the carcass forward. As it slammed into his chest, Kaius grunted as his footing slipped slightly.