Chapter 42: Pitched Battle
byThe Champion prowled around the base of the tree that stood sentinel over the surrounding woods. Despite its thick limbs and stocky chest, it leapt from root to root with lithe agility. Kaius and Porkchop watched the lethal depths-born from behind the relative safety of a bulging root, a little ways into the edge of the treeline.
“This place is way too open,” Kaius whispered. “No way we are going to get the drop on it.”
“You’re right. We will have to strike with fury and bravery in our hearts.”
“What, just run out and charge it?” Kaius grunted, watching the way the Grimclaw moved with sleek grace. “With how bloody big the bastard is, I don’t think my armour will matter all that much. One good hit and it’d just cave my chest in. I’m not so confident at dodging this one, Porkchop, it’s moving around like a chase predator.”
“I’ll do it.” Porkchop said with finality. Images flitted across the bond, filling Kaius’s mind. Challenging a worthy opponent, the rare one able to match him in physicality. Winning, bloody, broken, and triumphant. A glorious final roar, shattered body of the challenger lying limp under paw. Porkchop was serious.
Kaius looked at his friend with a cocked brow, then turned back to look at the distant Grimclaw. “Porkchop, look at the claws. You’ll get cut to ribbons.”
“You forget,” Porkchop said with a threatening rumble. “That you are not the only one with a full set of legacy skills. My hide might not be as unbreaking as your new scales, but you will find that I am hard to kill. Wounds that would end you would just slow me down.”
Biting his lip, Kaius continued to watch the champion. It stalked the area of the massive tree, slinking through the shadows to patrol its demesne. Reacting to some unseen motion, the Grimclaw dug its claws into hard roots with buttery ease. Kaius’s breath hitched. Wheeling around with startling ease, it blurred across the clearing. Away from them.
Gods damned it was fast.
It snapped up …something in its jaws, before slinking back to the tree trunk with easy grace.
Kaius shook his head. He needed to get a grip. It was a big bastard, but he’d managed to take out two Champions alone. He’d grown significantly since then, and he had Porkchop as well. Things would be fine.
He looked over to his friend. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.” Kaius let out a steadying breath. He drew his sword, the blade glinting softly as a beam of yellow swept over them from the hanging lanterns above. “Let’s do this.”
Porkchop let out a low rumbling growl, thick digging claws sinking into the ground. “After I challenge it, go offside and follow once I have it distracted. You will know when I engage.”
Kaius nodded. He set off, leaving Porkchop behind to move through the trees. He leaned into the stealth aspects of Explorer’s Toolkit, shadows reaching out tenderly to wrap him in their embrace. Once he had gotten far enough, he moved closer to the clearing. Pressing himself close to the trunk at the very edge of the start of the canopy far overhead.
With his path set, their approach decided, Kaius’s nerves dissipated. In their place a rising anticipation grew. The slow rustle of the surrounding foliage faded. His vision sharpened, heart pumped slow and heavy as a tingle started to grow in the tips of his fingers.
The Grimclaw didn’t seem so imposing now. He hoped it would put up a good fight.
A Father’s Gift rested in his hands, its comfortable weight reassuring him of his success. He had armour now, had grown his skills at an unimaginable pace. The Depths had thrown its best at him, and he had come up time and time again. Using the challenges as a stepping stone to higher heights.
He was born for this. Trained for this.
He was a warrior.
A deafening roar echoed across the clearing, soft ambience of the glade shattered by the sheer rage of Porkchop’s battle cry. His friend charged into the open, sprinting over loose earth and twisting roots. His hackles were raised, massive teeth bared at the Grimclaw.
**Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Grimclaw Dreadbeast **
Kaius watched the Champion turn to Porkchop in shock, whirling with a snarl of its own. It locked eyes on his friend, the very air seeming to hold its breath. Snorting its own challenge, the Grimclaw sprinted to engage.
A cold calm descended over him. Not yet. He had to wait until the Champion had fully committed. If he tore in now it would see him, ruining any advantage of surprise. His grip tightened on his blade, muscles tensing in anticipation.
The Grimclaw dropped its head at the last moment, trying to gore Porkchop in their collision. Porkchop went low. They collided with a crash, both beasts snarling as they snapped at each other. Wrapping his thick red and black arms around the Champion, Porkchop reared up.
Despite easily being thrice Kaius’s size, Porkchop picked up the beast with ease, sending it sprawling backwards with a parting snap of his jaws. His friend slammed down, diving towards the Champion’s undefended belly.
Porkchop had always told him that his thick dagger-like claws were for digging out burrows. They seemed to eviscerate flesh just as easily.
The beast howled as Porkchop ripped open its midsection. It kicked out, using its powerful legs to rake Porkchop with its claws. He was forced back, thick lacerations on his chest weeping blood.
Porkchop only seemed to grow more enraged. He moved. Jaws snapped shut around the Grimclaw’s shoulder. With a contemptuous heave, Porkchop tossed the champion in Kaius’s direction. It flailed through the air, a steady stream of blood from the gaping wound in its stomach splattering against the earth below.
“That’s my cue,” he thought.
Kaius vaulted over the high tree root he was hiding behind, sprinting out into the open field with his sword held ready.
The Grimclaw was still entirely focused on Porkchop, scrambling to its feet with a lash of its tail as it howled in fury. Porkchop returned the call with a roar of his own, charging forwards.
Kaius grit his teeth and sprinted as hard as he could, legs burning as he kicked up loose dirt.
He was almost there.
Porkchop reared up, drawing back a paw to deliver a crushing strike. Kaius saw the Grimclaw tense. It lowered his head. Kaius’s eyes widened, knowing what it was about to do. Porkchop was still in the throes of his fury, unknowing or uncaring about the threat of the Champions horns. His friend’s claws descended, ripping a furrow through its front shoulder. Its leg buckled slightly.
The wound stopped nothing.
Driving its back legs forcefully into the ground, The Grimclaw launched itself forwards. Burying its stride long horns into Porkchop’s chest. The world hung still. Time pausing for one moment of terrible realisation.
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Kaius watched in mute horror as his friend let out a gurgling whine of surprise and pain. The haze of fury left Porkchop’s face. Fear and confusion were left in their wake.
The Champion tossed its head, savaging the wound. The beast pulled back and Porkchop dropped to all fours. He watched the blood gush from Porkchop’s wound, watering the earth with rich red. Kaius’s heart leapt into his throat. Porkchop cringed, shying away as the champion lashed at him with his claws. Leaving weeping rips across his friends face.
Rage roared through Kaius. He had to do something. Take the pressure off his friend.
His world collapsed, narrowing to just the dripping of Porkchops blood and the last few steps he had to make to help.
The final strides between him and his target vanished in an instant. Kaius brought his sword up high. A roar slipped from his lips, every muscle in his back and arms contracting to bring his blade to bear with as much force as possible. Reacting to the sound the Grimclaw whirled towards him. Even with all its agility it wasn’t fast enough.




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