Chapter 6 Blood Is Surprisingly Warm

The three of them were steadily approaching the battle, located on a slightly elevated hill. The only landmark that could be seen was a tree of pure stone without leaves.

But under the tree branches there was a fierce battle between the warriors of the camp and an unending wave of spiderlings. As soon as Ryan saw the battlefield he rushed in to help his comrades, leaving Constant and Ferret in the dust.

“Do you have a weapon?” Constant asked while preparing his attachable claws.

“Uh no, I lost all my stuff when i fainted earlier”

“Take that!!!” A weapon was thrown at Ferret from Constants direction; it was a war hammer.

Ferret caught the hammer but stumbled to the ground, as he was surprised at how heavy it was.

Ferret examined the weapon closely, it was a very simple war hammer with only some engravings, it was just like a bigger version of hammers you use in construction.

“We got this” Could be heard from the mole at the side of Ferret.

Constant took the lead into battle, with Ferret falling a bit behind.

When they got close enough to distinguish what was truly going on in the battle, they realized There were hundreds if not thousands of spiderlings charging at about twenty three Soldiers. They were truly outnumbered and outmatched.

Warriors were dropping like flies, being ripped apart by the sheer strength of the spiderlings. Constant and Ferret that had now joined the fight. Ferret started smashing as many as he could with the hammer he claimed.but for every spiderling that got slaughtered, two more came from the gaping opening at the edge of the battle.

“We need to destroy the opening!” Constant screamed out to all the fighters that were still alive. A few responded.

“It's impossible we can't get through”

“It's hopeless”

But Constant had a plan “Fall back we need to regroup!”

Most of the warriors responded by running, some getting caught and ripped apart. All in all, about fourteen remained. For some reason the spiderlings stopped advancing.

“We really need support,” Ryan cried out. Being in the frontline he had lost his ring finger and one of his hands.

“Do we have any mages?” Constant asked. These words were followed by somber expressions from almost all the survivors.

“The…..spiderlings went for them first, like they knew” One of the warriors responded.

“Is there not any left?” Constant asked.

“Well there is but she is gone hunting with her group” Ryan said “That's what i sent the scout out for. To find them”

“Lets pray they get here soon, we will need them”

Everyone was now catching their breaths, when they realized the hill had gone quiet.

“Wait, did the spiderlings stop?” A poor fellow who lost his arm said.

“Strange indeed,” Constant answered.

A loud noise could be heard from the slight elevation where the battle had taken place only minutes before. And a figure could be seen in the shape of a Squirrel.

“It's him, isn't it?” one of the people surrounding our trio said.

Cashew slowly approached the small group that remained below him.

“Prepare for anything” Constant whispered.

Shew was now only four to five meters away when he stopped.

“I'm deeply disappointed in all of you” He said with a slight grin.

No one responded to Shew’s remark, all of the people were staring him down in silence, preparing for the inevitable.

“But i'm also impressed That you decided to close the tunnel when all you needed to not get attacked was give Samien his sacrifice you know”

Ferret looked over at Ryan and Constant, both of them had shame in their eyes.

“But because of you incompetens to follow simple commands, i will take four sacrifices today” Bloodlust emitting from the squirrel as he readied his claws.

Everyone knew what was about to happen.

Shew leapt into the crowd, Hitting two of the survivors with his claws. Both of them fell almost immediately to the ground, bleeding tremendous amounts from their wounds.

“Maybe i'll take more than four, this is fun'' As he swung hitting a soldier right across the face, instantly killing him.

Ryan, seeing an opportunity, he ran with sword in hand. He swung at Shew from the back.

“Arghh'' could be heard from the squirrel as blood started pouring from his back. Shew responded by swinging his tail to make Ryan fall. Ryan hit the ground, now defenseless from the incoming scratches from the Merciless.

“You will suffer for that'' Shew said as he turned around to face Ryan, who was on the floor.

The beast swung his claws, but all that could be heard was claws hitting metal.

A Hamster with a big shield and armed with an iron gauntlet had blocked Shew’s attack. And behind him stood a swordsman and a woman.

“You came” Ryan cried out.

Shew backed up, staring daggers at the trio that had arrived. “You will die a painful death” Shew said as he showed his claws.

The swordsman readied his blade in response.

Shew once again leapt into the air, His claws meeting the blade.Sparks could be seen flying everywhere as Shew kept attacking and the swordsman kept blocking. Shew jumped back, Bloodlust overflowing from the squirrel’s body.

“I'll rip you apart!” Shew roared at the lone swordsman.

But all the swordsman did was ready another stance, infuriating Cashew even more. “Diiiiieeee!” Shew jumped towards him and swung,

‘slash’ Shew had gotten countered and now had a gaping wound on his stomach bleeding scarlet liquid. The swordsman’s Sword now dripping blood on the ground. He readied himself again but this time in an attack stance.

Shew, looking at the combatant in front of him, knew that he was in trouble. Cashew readied his claws, once again walking in circles around the swordsman. The Swordsman remained vigilant, following his every move, never straying his eyes.

Shew charged in swiping with both his paws. the sword and claws meet again. sparks flying off the collision. Both of them pushed with heavy force to win the power struggle. Ultimately the merciless won as the swordsman's blade slipped downwards, Shew taking the chance to cut him down, swung his paws at the swordsman's face. But the swordsman took his chance when his blade went under his claws, and slashed at the squirrel's gut.

Cashew Jumped backwards holding his abdomen area that was now covered in blood.

The swordsman was still standing, until blood could be seen dripping from his head where claw marks were apparent, his flesh exposed and one of his eyeballs split in two, He fell to his knees.

Cashew slowly got up walking towards the now incapable swordsman. “I can help!” the woman screamed out from behind the combatants. The swordsman lifted up his paw and made a stop sign towards the woman. She just stared in disbelief.

Shew readied his claws once again and struck, piercing the gut of the once brave fighter, But no fear could be seen from the hamster, “You are probably the strongest opponent I have faced, But in the end it doesn't matter…. DIE!” Shew ripped his claws that were still inside the swordsman's gut upwards, splitting his entire chest area open, blood pouring out together with his intestine. The corpse fell sideways as if in slow motion to the ground.

All the survivors looked in shock at the scene. Everyone but Ferret, The brave hamster stepped forward as if he was about to challenge the Merciless.

Shew, unsure if he could win was hesitant, But finally readied his claws ready to fight once more. Ferret, still new to the whole fighting thing, just held on to his hammer.

Shew wasted no time leaping towards Ferret, ‘I can do this, all I need to do is block and counter like the swordsman did, simple right?’ Ferret thought. He raised his hammer in the best way he could think of. As Shew opened his arms to do a cross scratch.

“I got this just coun…..t…” Ferret was struck over his chest, warm blood leaking out, tainting his once clean fur. Shew standing at the side of Ferret with a triumphant grin.

Ferret, just like the swordsman; collapsed to the ground. slowly bleeding as he thought of what he could have done differently. “Enough, splinter fire” A fire projectile was launched from the woman hitting Shew right on his back.

“Arrghh!” The squirrel turned around to face the caster, Sizzling could be heard from the Squirrels back as he made grimaces as to not show pain. “You Female dog!”. Shew charged, claws ready. The Shield bearer dashed in infront of the mage holding his shield towards the incoming threat. The merciless let out a screech as he struck with all his power at the shield, he got stopped right in his tracks by the seemingly immovable object.

The Shieldbearear swung his shield at Shew, hitting him in the already wounded abdomen area. The squirrel now staggered, The shieldbearer thrusted a punch with his metal gauntlet striking where his shield had hit moments before. Shew fell back landing on his four paws coughing up blood.

“Now!!” The new hero shouted.

“Flame spear!” The mage shouted out as a spear of fire was launched right at the defenseless squirrel. Hitting Cashew right on his cranium, his skull burst open with flames, blood and bits of his skull flew everywhere covering the already blood covered area.

“It's finally over.” Ryan asked.

Rumbling could be heard from atop the hill where the first half of the battle had taken place.

“Maybe not yet” The shieldbearer said in response after hearing the noise.

But it was the noise of the spiderlings retreating into the cavern where they had originally come from.

“Help!” Constant shouted at the mage while holding Ferret's bleeding body.