Talon fell as the other three players panicked and took cover, his body shook on the floor whilst he held the wound on his neck. Blood gushing out as he tried to hold it, the pain was numbing away but the sheer terror of being unable to breath as blood filled your lungs…it was like nothing Talon had ever felt before.

“Shit! Where they coming from!?” exclaimed the other warrior as he dared a peak around the tree he was hiding behind, immediately he pulled back as an arrowhead tore through his left cheek. “Fuck! Do something!” he shouted at the rogue.

The rogue grimaced as he stood still with eyes closed, seemingly focusing before suddenly moving. He leaned low while turning around the tree he was using as cover, rushing forwards at high speed as two daggers appeared in his hands.

“Got you.” The rogue whispered with a smirk, he had sensed the aggressor’s position and moved low to quickly sneak up on him. He leaped, daggers slashing inwards as he pounced upon the ranger.

Raven quickly turned, hearing his attacker. Loosing another arrow, it flew true and towards the rogue. The rogue’s daggers clashed with the arrowhead, deflecting the attack before suddenly two more flew past his blades quicker than he could react.

Raven took a step back as the rogue fell towards him, an arrow embedded in his left arm to disable it and move it out of the killing shot’s way as it now protruded out of his forehead. The rogue’s body crashed down into the grass and rolled into the bush Raven was hiding behind. Seeing that the player was dead he took cover behind a tree, stepping out of sight. Listening carefully for the other three who he knew were still alive.

Raven had fired at the warrior first knowing full well he wouldn’t kill him in one shot, the mage was out of sight and the other warrior was similarly well armoured to the first. He knew that the rogue was his primary target from the start due to his probably high movement and agility but Raven also knew from experience that rogues tended to be highly perceptive.

Making a killing shot even from an ambush position…a high failure rate.

And he was right, the rogue was very perceptive and easily caught on to Raven’s position. Unbeknownst to the rogue, this was exactly what Raven had planned for. A well laid trap, as Raven held enough arrows in his hand to quickly rapidfire at close range. Overwhelming the rogue as he did and kill him.

Now came the hard part, dealing with the two well armoured warriors and a hidden mage.

He glanced from in-between foliage, keeping himself hidden while trying to discern his prey’s situation. And he noticed, from behind one tree a strange green hue was flowing out and towards the next tree over. (“Healing huh? Beginners.”)

The rogue was down, and apparently one of the warriors that he knew he hit yet was unable to discern the damage dealt…needed healing. This took away the attention of the hidden mage, and probably the warrior needing healing.

So only one warrior was on the lookout for him.

Taking this into account, Raven took the chance and carefully recovered his three arrows from the rogue. Before moving on. He kept to trees, hills and thick bushes. Moving as quickly yet quietly as he could manage, repositioning himself.

Until finally he found a position where he could barely make out one warrior, wielding a shield and sword this wasn’t his first hit. Raven didn’t want to engage the warriors yet, the mage was a much higher threat. So instead of taking a shot to kill, which he was sure he couldn’t manage with his low tier weapon against whatever armour they currently wore.

He filled his right hand with an arrow in between each finger, four in total as he nocked the fourth and drew. Taking aim, quickly calculating the angle and trajectory. Raven loosed.

The arrow flew, followed by three more.

As the shield wielder glanced about towards the direction he knew the rogue had charged towards, he heard an arrow embed itself into the tree he hid behind. Adrenaline rushing through him, he pulled his shield up and surely enough two more arrows embedded themselves into his shield. The fourth, flew past him landing only a few feet away from where Talon lay.

“Shit! More of them!” The mage shouted “Where’d Kris go? Damnit! Talon get up! You’re good!”

Talon noticing that the arrow was gone from his throat and that somehow the blood had disappeared from his lungs, snapped out of his state of shock and stood up. Unbeknownst to him, showing himself to Raven as he peaked through the trees from the hill above them.

Sound travelled normally in the world of COTD, so Raven heard every word they said. (“The mage’s in-between them.”) he guessed, by the voice of the one he thought was the mage and as the one called Talon seemingly looked up at someone. Not the shield wielder, but definitely focusing on the one speaking to him.

“W-Where’s Kris?” Talon asked as he slammed his back to a tree, moving out of Raven’s sight once more.

“I don’t fucking know! He ran out there and never came back!” The shield wielder shouted back, he was obviously panicking.

“Calm the hell down, how many could there be?” The mage reasoned as he crouched in-between a tree and a thick bush. (“It’s one bowman, he had enough time to move!”) he thought.

“Alright, Tucker shield up and take front. Reave stick close to Tuck, I’ll cover your back. Let’s get this motherfucker.” Talon told his party mates, having calmed down from his state of confusion.

“S-Shit man, we don’t even know where this guy is!” Tucker shouted back as he moved to cover Reave’s front with his shield, while Talon quickly moved to crouch down beside the mage. Gripping his longsword tightly.

“It doesn’t matter, we’re pinned like this. We need to move, push on him or move away from him it doesn’t matter. We need to get out of this forest!” Talon argued back.

“Come on! Go!” Reave hissed, slapping the tank’s back with his wooden staff.

“I’m going!” Tucker answered back, stepping around the tree he glanced around continuously. He moved forward, watching his step while trying to hurry. Behind him followed Reave the mage, watching the two flanks his meat shields weren’t covering.

Behind them both was Talon, bringing up the rear he briefly glanced back at the still paralyzed girl on the forest floor (“Damnit.”) he thought, before quickly starting to look around behind them. They moved slowly and carefully, huddled together while keeping eyes on as many directions as possible.

Raven saw them huddled up, this made everything more complicated. They were moving away from him, and the mage was covered by the larger full plated warrior. He needed to move if he wanted to keep sight on them, but if he wanted to get sight on the mage he’d have to move faster than them. And that would not go unnoticed.

He thought of the terrain, it would take them a few minutes to get out of the forest entirely…(“Enough time”) he thought, before moving out of his hiding spot and following after them. Yet not entirely, as they were only in the path of the direction he took.

Quietly he reached Discordia as she still lay paralyzed, trying hard to keep his sights on the three players other than her naked body “Log out.” He quickly told her “The combat-log timer should of ran out by now, log out then log back in alright?” he was whispering, yet speaking plainly and calmly.

He waited briefly (“Damnit is she in shock or something?”) he asked himself, before a flash of green sparks burst out from beneath him. He sighed, then moved on to keep track of the three players. Briefly he saw the longsword-wielder glance back, chalking it up to the log-out message he still took care to stay out of sight.

He was slowly losing sight of them though (“She might’ve logged out for good this time, I wouldn’t blame her.”) resigning himself that he’d remain outnumbered 3 to 1. Raven was about to disengage from the fight all together.

“I-I’m here…” he then heard her soft whisper from behind him, he remained stoically looking after the three would-be rapists.

“Re-equip yourself, quickly.” Raven whispered back without looking back “That is, if you want to beat these assholes down.” He heard her shuffle behind him, probably gathering her equipment. As she did so, he sent her a party request.

DiscordiaX has joined your party!

She accepted, responding a few moments later “I’m g-good now…”.

Raven glanced back, she was fully clothed other than she was still putting on her gauntlets “Put those on and grab your halbered, catch up with me after you do.” He quickly grabbed the two arrows that had missed Tucker’s shield, refilling his quiver.

She nodded while watching him. “It’s a pol-” Discordia then realised and tried to correct him, but wasn’t given the time to as he immediately rushed through the bushes right after recovering his second arrow from the ground. She briefly watched after him, as he expertly moved through the forest. She knew it was just the system assisting his movements but in this moment, it still looked extremely cool.

Raven rushed ahead, all care for silence and stealth thrown to the wind. As he leaped over protruding roots and stones, while at the same time keeping himself situation about his surroundings. He ran, bow and arrows ready.

Until he regained sights on his target, still moving slowly and halfway to the forest’s edge. The three players weren’t as huddled up as before, but still wary. Noticing his loud approach right as two of them came into his sights.

Talon and Reave turned around to meet Raven’s eyes, as he nocked, drew and immediately loosed.

Talon dashed to the side, trying to cover Reave with his own armoured body…but the first arrow wasn’t targeted at Reave. It embedded itself in the ground next to his foot, tripping him as he tried to move. It was followed by two more, the second piercing through Reave’s defenceless foot as he tried to take cover and the third just barely missing his forehead.

Raven grimaced and refilled his drawing hand, noticing that he was down to the four arrows in his hand and two more inside his quiver.

“Bastard! I got you now!” Tucker shouted as he stepped into view, raised his shield and charged forwards. Quickly he was covering the few meters in between them.

Raven smirked, then stepped aside and behind a tree. The warrior charged by him, as he quickly turned tail and ran. Moving in an arch he heard the shield-wielder trying to run after him, the forest’s trees gave way for the warrior to move through easily but the bushes and roots were something else altogether.

Raven was much more agile, easily leaping over and stepping around obstacles. His armour flexible and lightweight enough, he wasn’t so sure about doing acrobatics but it definitely gave him an advantage in this environment.

So much so that the warrior lacked behind him, as he stepped into position…nocked, drew and took aim on the mage. Raven loosed his arrow, just as the warrior’s shield bashed into his body. The arrow flew true, the mage having little time to realise he was being targeted. As the arrow pierced through his left eye at an angle, going directly through his brain and killing him on the spot.

Raven was thrown back hard, rolling over as he fell but landing on his knees after tumbling. He quickly looked up to see Tucker’s sword falling down upon him, tucking his head low he rolled to the side and into a tree evading the downward slice.

The warrior didn’t stop there, relentless as he charged forwards with his shield held up before him once more. Knowing full well the ranger had no capability of fighting this close range…at least that was what he thought.

Raven’s mind raced as he watched the warrior charge at him, as he slowly rose from his kneeling position. He had three arrows remaining, but only time to make two shots. He was at a severe disadvantage against the armoured warrior in this close quarters, but he made the best out of what he had available.

Quickly nocking then drawing the last arrow in his hand, he shot at the warrior’s feet. He missed the shot but the warrior was snapped out of his charge, as he naturally stepped over the arrow as to not trip. He glanced over his shield, to see…Raven leaping at him.

Raven had pulled out an arrow and drew as he charged at the still warrior, leaping with all his might as he loosed it mid-air. The warrior raised his shield, blocking the arrow but also giving Raven a stepping stone as his raised feet landed on the shield’s flat face.

With Raven’s weight pushing on the warrior, he took a step back…tripping over an arrow and beginning to fall back. At the same time Raven had lowered his stance and pulled an arrow out of the warrior’s shield, quickly nocking then drawing it as they fell.

Tucker fell flat on his back with Raven now standing above him, loosing an arrow as he got sights on the warrior’s face. The arrow got deflected off the warrior’s metal full-helm but at the same time, knocking it off position slightly and blinding the warrior.

Tucker pushed on his shield, throwing Raven off and relieving himself of the ranger’s weight. He moved to rise as suddenly another arrow, Raven’s last arrow hit his helmet once more this time knocking it off entirely.

Tucker groaned as he shook his head then faced the now ammoless ranger before him, but Raven didn’t give him the time to notice as such. As he charged forwards once more and directly into the warrior, Tucker raised his shield and prepared his sword in retaliation.

Raven quickly grasped another arrow off the warrior’s shield, before quickly stepping back. Tucker lunged at that moment, slashing his sword forwards in a wide arc and slicing Raven across the chest. The ranger ignored the pain and took several steps back, as he nocked the arrow and quickly drew.

Tucker’s eyes went wide as he tried to retake stance, pulling his shield back to cover himself…but Raven was faster, as he loosed the arrow. It flew off his bow, pushed by the stretched string. Bending as it soared, a brief flight over the still rising shield. Until it hit skin, tore through and then broke bone.

Embedding itself directly in-between Tucker’s eyes. The warrior fell forwards, all motion in his body ending yet retaining his forward momentum as he had begun to charge forwards. He sprawled out onto the grassy ground glowing green but now splattered red. Dead.

“You bastard…” Raven heard a voice from behind him, as he looked over the dead warrior. Glancing back his eyes widened, as Talon’s longsword approached his neck. It glowed a fierce red, radiating with heat as steam oozed behind its path “Just die already!”.

Raven quickly raised his hands before him, taking the imbued blade head on. The fiery metal was met with little resistance but got through his armour, searing his skin and then flesh. Raven grimaced through the pain as he pulled back and away from his new assailant. But it was too late, Talon’s blade was already slicing through his left hand…as it met bone and cut right through with a sudden burst of downward force.

“Hah!” Talon laughed as Raven’s hand fell to the ground, splattering blood before suddenly exploding into green sparks of light “Gotcha.”

Raven quickly leaped back several steps, grasping his now stumped hand. Eyeing the bow he had dropped from having it cleaved off.

“Not so tough without your damn bow.” Talon said followed by a chuckle, as he raised his longsword towards Raven. Wearing a demeaning smirk.

Raven clicked his tongue in annoyance, was this where he fell? Weaponless and cornered.

Talon took a step forward, pulling his sword behind him “This is why you mind your own god damn business, thought you’d be the hero eh?”

Raven met the warrior’s eyes with his own solemn and calm gaze. “Hero? I just saw an opportunity to PK and took it, you were actually with your pants down.” making Talon falter for a brief moment, giving him time to notice a glimmer from the corner of his eye “At least I don’t need to force myself onto women to get some.” He then said with a wide grin.

Talon’s eyes filled with rage as he two-handed gripped his blade, leaning forwards as his entire body suddenly blurred with the heat that oozed out of him “Go to hell!” The weapon skill went into effect, as Talon charged forwards with unparalleled speed.

Unparalleled, except for someone using the same exact skill before he did.

A warrior appeared inbetween them, her body glowing a bright red hue as she held her Pole-axe forwards. Standing in Talon’s path as he charged, directly into her weapon’s top spike. Yet the momentum took him further, his armour already broken by the spike it cracked further from the force of collision.

The entire pole-axe’s top pierced through his belly and burst out of his back, to the point that even half the pole’s length had gone through him. His charge ended there, as he coughed up blood and slowly looked up with surprise.

Meeting Discordia’s eyes as she stared at him with pure hatred in hers. He glanced down, looking at his ripped belly. His own armour had cracked and bent inwards, ripping the wound open wider and letting out things that shouldn’t have been allowed an out.

“This is why, you mind your own self. Actions have consequences, and this is yours.” Said Raven, as he appeared to Talon’s left. Holding Tucker’s shortsword, he crouched down next to the warrior. Only held up by the pole-axe’s length as its blade lay on the ground and Discordia held tightly onto the other end.

Raven stepped around to stand behind Talon, raising his sword to the warrior’s back. But before ending him he leaned in, looking at Discordia as he whispered into Talon’s left ear while he cut off his armour straps “It also saddens me to say, that as a man you bring disgrace to us all. Because never will any man, ever reach as deep as this woman got inside you.” He smiled, amused by his own joke.

As Talon’s back-plate armour fell, his eyes widened with fury.

Right then Raven ever so slowly stabbed the blade through, filling him with pain. Until eventually it ripped through his heart, killing TalonT.