Sierra's seven Avendre mercenaries took on one Sniper each while Sierra faced the remaining five.
- Attacked by Brandal bandit. You've taken damage. Health -40.
- Attacked by Brandal bandit. You've taken damage. Health -40.
- Attacked by Brandal bandit. You've taken damage. Health -40.
- Attacked by Brandal bandit. You've taken damage. Health -40.
- Attacked by Brandal bandit. You've taken damage. Health -40.
The red Werebear smirked as she saw the puny damage from the Snipers' knives. She didn't bother to defend their attacks and just went on a rampage against the Sniper that was in front of her.
Sierra killed three of the Snipers before the mercenaries came to help her out with the remaining two. Together they did quick work with them and killed them in a blink of an eye.
There were only five remaining bandits fighting against the Hunters and the Betulites. Sierra looked to Adder's end and saw that they only had three remaining.
Sierra and the seven mercenaries rushed to attack the five bandits from the back, but as they ran a loud thundering sound came from behind their catapults.
A mounted Canalha and twenty of his black ctenosaur riders jumped out of from the back of the tall shrubs and stormed towards the unprotected Sharur, Sharanga, Thyrsus, and Betulites. Canalha left five mounted Brandals to secure the catapult.
Sharur understood their intentions and quickly targeted his huge ballista at the stockpiled exploding barrels. The Orkelf released his spinning fire bolt and hit his target.
The explosion blew everything within five feet of the barrels to kingdom come. Canalha shouted and ordered his charge to shift from the Werebear to the Orkelf.
The five remaining mercenaries were still busy fighting the last five bandits that they were not able to give their needed support to the Betulites.
Sharur, Sharanga, and Thyrsus all focused their attacks on Canalha, but the riders in front of him would block any incoming projectiles with their bodies.
The Brandal that was hit by Sharur's bolts was knocked off from his black ctenosaur. Sharanga threw two of her traps and immobilized two of the bandits that were about to stampede them.
Thyrsus took command of all the Betulites and focused on one bandit at a time. The Fishermen would wait for his arrow and attack quickly after him. The Betulites had been efficient in retrieving their fishing spears from the fallen bandits around them.
Canalha was left with eleven stampeding black ctenosaur riders. He was dead set on killing the OrkElf that had blown up his men and his catapults.
The leader of the Brandals were only a few feet away from Sharur when he dodge the OrkElf's spinning fire bolt. Canalha cracked his whip and disarmed Sharur's ballista.
Canalha kept on with his whip attacks and Sharur's life quickly drained to (62,258/80,000 HP). Sharur grabbed a hold of the whip to stop the next attack.
The Brandal leader threw the base of his whip at the OrkElf and proceeded to throw his deadly knives as well. Sharur was hit by all six knives and was at a clear disadvantage.
Canalha was about to throw another set of knives when Sierra tackled him from the side and threw him off his black ctenosaur.
Sierra was filled with bloodlust. Her claws kept on slashing through Canalha's face and body. Canalha's lifebar instantly displayed (151,261/185,000 HP).
Five Brandals quickly threw ropes over the infuriated Werebear and dragged her off their leader. Canalha laughed as he Sierra captured.
"A base for a base eh. You're more resilient that I thought. You may have killed most of my men but I'll kill you again and that blasted OrkElf before I'll run to our headquarters and ask our Ultimo to give me five more battalions and wipe out the rest of your group."
* * * * * *
When Canalha leapt out from the behind Sierra's group, Adder instinctively knew that they had to rush to her side quickly.
He ordered his men to plow through the remaining bandits and run as fast as they could to Sierra, but he knew that the distance was too far for them to make it in time.
Adder called on Jinggu and told him to recalibrate the catapult and aim for Sierra's location. The Range Sieger didn't move and was hesitant at his commander's decision.
"I can't do that. The blast from the exploding barrels will damage all of our comrades."
"You're not gonna be loading the catapult with a barrel. You're gonna be launching me at them."
Jinggu couldn't believe what he heard. He was impressed by his commander's radical decision and obediently adjusted the catapult.
The recalibration of the catapult took longer than expected. Adder was only launched into the air right after Sierra was captured by the ropes of the five mounted Brandals.
Adder attempted to use his long double bladed sword as an aerodynamic rudder to guide him to Canalha. Jinggu's marksmanship was right on target and Adder was right above Canalha when he started to give his long speech.
WHOOOGGG!
+ Attack hit. +LIGHTNG DMG. BACK ATTACK. Adder damaged Brandal Leader: Canalha for 6249.
After successfully landing a back attack on Canalha, Adder fluidly took a low running pose and headed to Sierra. With his double bladed Blitztod, he slashed off the ropes that had bound her.
All the while Sierra's eyes were fixed on Canalha. Adder took on all five mounted Brandals and Sierra went straight for their leader.
The remaining ten black ctenosaur riders rushed to overwhelm the already outnumbered Adder. The one armed commander saw their gallop and made a decisive retreat towards his men.
Canalha was separated from the other Brandals as Sierra aggressively chased him into his ruined castle. He kept on throwing his knives at the Werebear but Sierra simply deflected them with her claws.
The Brandal leader steadily retreated further into the grounds of his hideout. Sierra's focus was on his rattled face.
Canalha started to run and made huge leap over the grounds. Sierra followed him steadily and as her foot stepped on the ground that Canalha had leapt over, it caused the ground below her to collapse and she fell into a deep pit that was filled with spikes.
Canalha burst out into his maniacal laughter and went closer to the death trap.
"Bwahahahaha! How silly of you. You really thought that I would cower before a pathetic beast like yourself. Now, you'll have the full taste of my knives on your impaled bod..."
Sierra leapt out of the pit. She was able to grab ahold on the walls with her claws and escaped from being impaled on the spikes below.
She pounced over Canalha and pressed him down with the full weight of her Werebear body. Her claws focused their attacks on both his arms.
Sierra was determined to sever them off. The Brandal leader screamed in pain as he felt his limbs being slowly removed.
After a few more slashes with her claws. Sierra finally amputated both of Canalha's arms. His lifebar displayed (17,786/185,000 HP).
Canalha spewed out his blood and was left with less than 10% of his life.
"Hahahaha... Well played. But you should know that I've already sent a runner to warn our Ultimo about this incident. When he doesn't hear from me, he'll send hordes of Brandals here and wipe out all of yo..."
Sierra formed a pentagon with her claws and plunged it deep into Canalha's heart. She squeezed it hard from the inside and crushed it. The Brandal leader's lifebar was completely depleted.
+ You've dealt a fatal blow to the Brandal Leader: Canalha.
+ You've killed the Brandal Leader: Canalha.
+ You've gained 300,000 exp.
+ You've gained a level.
As the body of the Brandal leader Canalha started to fade, it left behind a precious loot.
+ Acquired epic knife belt: Brandal's Infinite Knives.
Sierra picked up the epic knife belt and placed it inside her backpack window as soon as she did she received a game notification.
Incurred the wrath of the Brandal Bandits.
You and the rest of your party members will be hunted down by all of the Brandals.
|
Sierra closed the notification window and stared blankly around the ruined castle. She stepped outside to check on the results of their counter attack.
All the members of Smoke's private army were alive, but there were still casualties in their hard fought battle. There were left with only seventeen Betulite Fishermen and eighteen Avendre mercenaries.
* * * * * *
The aftermath of their battle against the Brandals was catastrophic. Sierra and her comrades were still slowly recovering.
Sharur and the WoodElves were busy cooking a medicinal blood pheasant stew, while Adder and the rest of Smoke's private army were picking up the loot that was left behind.
The Betulite Fishermen and the Avendre mercenaries were gathered around the camp fire and waited for their medical treatment.
After an hour when everybody was fed and was treated. Sierra gathered Smoke's private army in front of a smaller campfire. There she told them about the imminent Brandal horde that was coming.
"Most likely they will kill everyone in the unprotected villages. I propose we warn everybody, have all of them escape to a far and safe place. Maybe Coatl or some other place. Canalha said that this was just a small fraction of their entire organization. We can't risk facing them."
Adder quickly interjected.
"But Smoke sent us here to secure the labyrinth's exit."
"I know. I'll have to talk to Smoke about all of this. I just want to have an escape plan for all of us before committing to anything else."
All of them had somber faces. They didn't look like they had just won a great battle.
* * * * * *
As Sierra and company stared at the campfire, cold yellow eyes with black slits watched from a far. The hidden figure ran further away and contacted her High General with her golden magical plate.
"High General Lizardo, this is Netteria. I have urgent news. One of the encampments of your Human ally Ultimo Maire, has been decimated by a resistance group composed of some Betulite Fishermen and Avendre mercenaries. They were led by a red Werebear and a one armed man."
The High General's eyes widened.
"Red Werebear? One armed man? Are you sure they weren't led by some stupid looking DarkElf?"
"I'm positive. All the Elves that I saw were two WoodElves and two OrkElves."
"HAHAHAHA. He may not be there but that is clearly Smoke's army. So, he has made it as far as Coatl. I wonder if Maire's luck will be better than mine in dealing with him. Thank you, Netteria. Continue on spying Maire's activities. I don't want him double crossing me."
Lizardo stood up from his throne and walked towards an ornamental Knight. He pulled the Knight's lance and a secret door was revealed on the wall beside the Knight.
He went inside his secret chamber. The hidden room was wide and spacious. It was dimly lit. It had a comfortable chair and a table filled with his memoirs.
One of the walls had several shelves that had several large glass containers on them. Each container had a light green fluid in it, together with a severed head.
Lizardo took one of the glass containers and placed it on top of his table. He took a seat and started writing. He looked at the severed head and spoke.
"Maybe I shouldn't have changed my mind. Maybe I shouldn't have taken you up on your offer, Spyteria. Maybe I should have kept you on Smoke's trail. I really thought that he would stay in the far southern regions of Nanahuatl. Oh, well. What's done is done. I just wish Talino would tell me how to deal with that accursed DarkElf. If Talino wasn't the only Lizardite Shaman left, I would've killed him ages ago."
Chapter Five: Single Stone Beggar
The noon sun shone brightly over Coatl city. Three individuals were having a serious discussion over lunch. Smoke, Laernea, and Madam Dawny talked about Macher's proposal on the Mounted Race.
The young lioness Lioumerean spoke with a mouth full of vegetable salad.
"I think you should do it. I mean, he looked like a decent guy."
Madam Dawny rolled her eyes when she heard Laernea's suggestion.
"You used to be very jaded, but your time in Nanahuatl has made you soft. Do you remember when you were younger? You wouldn't even trust me, and I only had your best interest at heart. Now that you're out of Nanahuatl you should regain some of your mistrust."
