Chapter Fifty-Eight: Captains

FIFTY-EIGHT

A white flare rose high over the treeline and Moira darted away even as Roan rolled to his feet. The short woman was a blur as she raced into the darkening forest without hesitation.

“Damn, she’s quick,” Roan spat as he chased after her.

“Damn, I’m quick,” Roan said in wonder as the trees sped by him. It was like sprinting downhill, but without feeling out of control. Roan sped up faster, stretching his legs further as he slowly started to catch up to Moira who was far ahead of him. He blinked as the wind dried his eyes.

Ahead of him Moira cackled, her laughter flowing behind her as the unrivaled joy of their newfound strength was made apparent. For a blissful second, Roan let himself be lost in the moment. Then a goblin came screaming out of the bush at him, obsidian knife slashing wildly.

It was too slow, its ambush coming as he flew by it so that its knife cut nothing but air. Roan spun in mid air and lashed out with his warhammer, a flick of his wrist that splattered the goblin’s head across the trees.

Ahead of him Moira spun with grace, her staff bashing across several goblins in a row as she ran. Roan had to leap over the dead bodies as he ran, as the flare began to fade away. Moira was speeding up, hardly more than a shadow ahead of him. Roan gritted his teeth and ran faster, wind howling past him as he kept his eyes moving constantly.

Goblins came and went, too slow to stop him as they burst from their ambush spots to swipe at air. After the second kill, Roan stopped killing them, instead he ran with his eyes locked on where a second flare had burst to life, illuminating the entire area as sunlight failed and left the dense forest bereft of its warmth.

“ROAN!” Moira screamed and Roan felt his heart drop as he picked up speed, changing direction to follow after her voice. She screamed again, but this time it was in pain. A flare of orange firelight lit the air ahead of him and Roan raced directly toward it even as the heat bloom splashed against his face.

Flickers of flame continued to burn, leaves, grass, and bark on fire as Roan skidded to a halt. Moira was off to the side, hunched over her side as dark blood stained her clothes, clutching her ribs with her free hand while holding a sword now. Across from her was a tall, emaciated figure. Wispy hair rose in every direction off of its mostly bald pate while it lifted a gnarled wooden staff made of burnt wood. A stone glowed at the head of the staff, red light burning brightly as it slowly walked toward Moira.

Most importantly its lean back was to Roan. Moira launched herself forward in a stumbling attack, waving her sword back and forth wildly in an inconsequential attack. Inconsequential aside from occupying the creature’s entire focus away from Roan. The warhammer impacted the back of its head with finality. Bone and blood spattered across the ground as its legs folded instantly and it crashed to the ground.

“Thanks,” Moira panted as a healing potion appeared in her hand. She tipped it back and swallowed quickly, before turning to look at the fading light of the second flare.

POOR-GRADE

GOBLINOID SHAMAN

HORDE CAPTAIN

500 CREDITS

“It’s a horde captain,” Roan informed her as he bent down over the broken body of the shaman. It was physically weaker than the ogre had been, dying to only a single blow. The firepower it had wielded had been impressive though.

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