《Ephemeral Cycle》----- Chapter 16
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Longish, 5500 words? Anyways enjoy what was originally planned as routine bandit hunting :P
“Elves and dwarves fighting alongside one another? Taryk is it just me or does that seem wrong for some reason?” Spoke Andrew as he leveled his weapons once more, cursing the acute pain that seemed to come from his chest.
Laughing awkwardly, “Ya, two very, very different people. I could see it if they would hate one another. Though I would have thought both of the little humans would fight together. Not the elves,” Taryk said with a forced smile as he saw the numbers near with every thundering echo of the weapons slamming into the ground.
“I take high, you take low?”
“Sure thing Boss, don’t wanna get stabbed ‘there’ again, do ya?”
“Bastard, how about you just go ahead and eat those rocks? This fucking gluttonous midget will starve before me, I swear.”
“... That could work, but as - shit. SHIT! DUCK!” Screamed Taryk as rain of arrows appeared from the elven contingent.
After the arrow storm was loosed, the warriors from the dwarves came charging even before the arrow could reach their respective targets. The four and a half feet tall dwarves wielded weapons seemingly far too large for their small stature. Though stocky, it wasn’t nearly enough to use a five and a half foot long greataxe or greatsword. With less than graceful steps they charged behind the arrows, occasionally tumbling under the weight of their weapons.
‘Compensating much?’ Thought Andrew with a wry smile, though he was fiercely trying to dodge and duck from the arrows.
With only a few sudden sharp pains, he made it through the fire, however, he had neither time or opportunity to check on Taryk’s condition. Raising the massive ax away from its position - largely amounting to a vain attempt to block the arrows flying towards his face, he readied himself for the charging dwarves.
Even before the dwarves came within range, he started cleaving the space in front of him with a systematic horizontal figure eight pattern. The fearless, or perhaps mindless, dwarves simply rushed headlong into the killing field. Without any major signs of resistance, the ax kept its simple path as it severed limb after limb from the approaching wave.
He kept his rhythmic pattern as it seemed to him the dwarves still madly came into the attack, after a few moments he sped it up to combat the thicker waves of dwarves coming. With a major strain coming from his battered muscles he tried to keep it up. But, as it were, a dwarf had decided to use his massive halberd as a javelin and threw it at the unsuspecting man.
It wasn’t until the halberd cleaved through the second unlucky dwarf that Andrew finally saw it. Destroying his attempt to keep the dwarves at a distance, he was forced to turn the blade of the ax towards the flying halberd.
With a great clash of steel, both blades rang loudly in the cavern - echoing on the walls. For his ax, it survived well intact, but he had to jump back from the still surging group of dwarves. The halberd, on the other hand, was split in halves, with one section flying off in the distance behind him and the other cutting deeply into his shoulder.
Wincing slightly, he felt the air speed past the front of his face. Fanned out in a semi-circle around the man and the still fast approaching dwarves, were the elves. Bows notched and aimed, though they themselves seemed against shooting their own as they didn’t immediately fire.
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Screaming in frustration in his head, he charged into the dwarven ranks, knowing full well how ridiculous of a situation it was. But it was the only solution he could think of to rid himself of those who simply waited to launch an arrow into his skull. With a final cry of defiance he met the blades and maces of many a dwarf.
Completely consumed with the thought of massacring the contingent that pushed him to this ledge, he swung. And swung, and swung. Even as blades brushed past his skin or lodged themselves completely, he kept attacking. Never stationary; always moving towards his next victim.
It was the only thought process left in his mind; kill, kill them all. With no one else around to stop, or even slow, his actions he kept going past the pain, fuelled by a deeply hidden rage that nearly threatened to consume him every waking moment since his days in the streets. Now the filter was removed. No dwarf still stood standing in mere minutes, those who remained bisected, but still moving, were crushed ruthlessly underfoot.
Seeing the elven contingent still up and moving after his elimination of the dwarves, he picked up at great ax at his feet. Hurling the ax horizontally, he cleaved through a few elves before it simply arched off into an empty field of battle. Wielding another, he threw it once more before taking the last one at his feet and speeding towards the now sparsely packed elven contingent.
With two axes in his hands slowly him down while arrows whisked past his face, luckily none hit the man. Even if they were to have pierced into the man at this point, it would likely be completely disregarded in his fury. Only ten metres or so from the nearest elf, he hurled the looted ax. Neatly bisecting the one and shattering two more behind it. Finally it once more flew softly into the crowd harmlessly.
Now at five metres he noticed something strange. With their attention half turned to him and half turned behind, he simply took his chance to end more of the creatures.
The first elf he met raised his bow in defence of the massive double headed ax, but he simply laughed out loud maniacally. Splitting the bow in two - and the elf behind him - he continued his near mindless assault on the group of archers. With the relatively trigger cautious elves holding their fire unless Andrew himself was directly in front, he quickly decimated their ranks, receiving only a few glancing blows with the point blank arrows.
Black blood and brown sludge once more littered the cavern floor, however, as the last elf was decapitated by Andrew’s ax, so too did its pelvis shatter into small shards.
Surprised, but still on alert, Andrew repositioned his ax so that he could swing at any time. Yet, what met him was something a bit outside of his expectations.
Taryk, with several small arrows still sticking out of his shoulders and upper arms, wielded the morningstar with such a grim resolve that it even caught Andrew off guard.
As soon as the two made eye contact, they laughed merrily.
“Ah, Bro, didn’t think you made it, what took you so long?” Questioned Andrew happily with his blood red irises dimming slightly.
“Demon, we meet again! What a surprise, I was gonna ask you the same thing!” Replied the wounded goblin, who himself seemed as oblivious to the pain as Andrew was at the moment.
Without any further conversation, the two met up with the next three contingents of slate covered soldiers. One goblin, hobbit, and a dog faced goblin-esque squad approached the two. Both merely kept their pace as they met up with the hundred and fifty, 4 foot tall, creatures.
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As the man and goblin approached, the dimmed red irises flared up once more. Again the rage surfaced after its temporary retreat, demanding the destruction of the small creatures in front of him. Diving straight into the depths of the ranks, he was slashed occasionally with a small dagger or sword, however, the massive ax quickly dealt with the creatures. As he could swing and kill them twice over for how long it took them to enter the range to use their small weapons, he swiftly dealt a quick death to those who got in his way.
It was mostly a matter of compatibility as they could only truly harm him if they surrounded the man, but they simply weren’t given time to organise such an assault. With Taryk ending those still struggling in the rear and blocking those that dared to approach from that behind, the goblins ranks were devastated quickly.
The hobbits, although known for their agility, couldn’t display any major independent thought and they too were quickly put off as well. A race that would excel as an assassin, but failed to have the forethought to act on it due to their condition. Such was their curse; their end.
The dog faced creatures who wielded long staves and kept their near animalistic instincts, approached the pair next.
With their small canine teeth and wooden staves which were swung in truly unconventional ways, they vaulted over Andrew’s swinging ax or dived underneath. Sometimes biting their ankles, sometimes slamming their staves into the blind spots of the two, simply acting only to intensify Andrew’s anger.
Finally having enough of the small, agile menace, Andrew released a furious roar.
Instinctively the dog-faced creatures trembled so he took the chance to grab one by the neck and squeezed. Incapable of screaming out loud, the creatures froze seeing this display and as the head was ripped off and thrown to the feet of the surrounding creatures, they seemed to change. Whether it was their inherent pack-like nature, mere anger at the man or perhaps the world, they charged.
Abandoning any of their instinctive tactics they came face-to-face with the massive ax without fear. For every brother that was beheaded, their efforts redoubled, flooding into the man’s ax and eventually even clawing at his face as they clogged up his ability to swing such a large weapon.
Taking a breath, whilst completely ignoring the claws and bite marks covering his body, he jumped.
With his speed and strength it was little wonder that he found himself 7 metres in the air before he finally stalled. Rotating his waist, he heaved the ax to further his acceleration. Continuing his fall downward, he himself spun rapidly with the ax moving with him.
Tilting the ax downwards with little resistance. he finally touched the ground - carving a wide trench along the way. Though it wasn’t gentle, it hardly made much a point to man. His body was still spinning for a few moments as he tried to regain his footing. Slowing to a halt, he find himself blocked on all sides by the rocky corpses of the dog faced tribe.
Looking around in slight confusion, he heard a voice, “you done in there, outside is good now, ya hear?”
“Yeah, yeah, give me a moment,” spoke Andrew with a deep exhale as he lifted his ax once again. Cleaving a path through the corpses surrounding him, spraying blood and sludge all over his body.
Again he was greeted by the goblin, but the two simply waited for the next group to appear. As he waited, he went to grab a few of the greataxes left by the dwarves bodies. Gathering four of them, all resting by his feet, he spoke callously to the awaiting force, “Time to get a move on, or else we’ll die of old age. It isn’t like there aren’t more of you guys raring to go.”
“Ya, send more of the furry bastards, they seemed to actually be a challenge,” said Taryk with his usual impetuous fashion, which the slate army seemed happy to oblige.
Whether planned or they reacted to the goblin’s taunt, the next three contingents were all beast-men. More beast than man, however. With a once flowing manes now covered in rocks, men that seemed to have taut cat-like features, the other’s seemed to be something akin to the panther man, though whether feline or canine it was hard to judge over the rocky exterior.
No weapons seemed to be worn, however, the slate covered men and women seemed more than ready to engage with their fist, claws, and teeth. Once more marching towards the two, the previous battle rumbling of slamming weapons was no longer heard. Only silence reigned in the dimly lit cavern.
‘Padded feet... on rocks? Well, here’s to hoping they won’t be as sneaky as the dog-goblins,’ mused Andrew as he stretched out his arms.
Already arrogantly pacing up to the group was Taryk who, for better or for worse, resigned himself to die fighting. With a deep sigh, Andrew grabbed the axes and started dragging them forward.
With the constant grinding of metal on stone, he approached to see the two sides waiting for someone to start. Setting his own ax down, he grabbed one of his borrowed axes and threw it.
Even with ten metres or so between the two groups, only those in front could see the flying blade and dodge in time. Those behind weren’t so lucky. Even more so when a second came their way - then a third, and finally a fourth.
Within the first few seconds twenty five already fell. While they themselves held onto a sliver of life, it wasn’t enough to be considered a threat to the pair.
Even as the first ax was lobbed over into the group, those in the front had already started advancing. Carefully at first, but they soon abandoned that tactic as the ax blades just barely swept past them into those behind. Andrew was only just barely able to grab his ax before the first came within reach. Completely unable to swing with the creature so close, he chose the next best option.
With a heavy kick he sent the charging lion flying back into two more, causing them all to fall helplessly on the ground. Not paying attention to such targets for the moment, Andrew began to cleave his ax rhythmically, launching rocky body parts from the targets into the distance.
Although he was occasionally hit from behind due to the agile nature of the enemies, Taryk promptly stopped those from doing anymore damage with their claws. Ironically, even as Andrew dealt the most damage to the creatures, it was Taryk that was the one to managed to kill just as many by finishing off the near helpless ones left in Andrew’s wake.
Advancing into the beast division, which simply looked essentially to be the same at this point, Andrew felt a hand reach for his foot. And then the other. Though he could be considered to be the strongest in the fight, the constant fighting had drained him immeasurably and the surprise of it all made Andrew stumble - into a flying claw.
With one side of his vision growing dark, he fell into a slight bout of madness. Immediately grabbing the beast that swung his claw, ignoring those other attacks that came into his body, he tightened his grip on the beast’s arm.
With one quick pull the arm was removed, then another. Then the lion’s legs were severed by Andrew’s ax.
Andrew spoke venomously, “Taryk, don’t you fucking dare touch that one, leave him where he is. He’ll witness this whole charade coming to an end.”
Whether Taryk received it, Andrew wasn’t certain, however, the bisected beast who held his legs had every other limb severed from his body before Andrew began wildly attacking the hordes of rocky beast-men. Giving up on strategy and clear-mindedness, he simply charged weaving through the ranks of the beasts with his massive ax clearing the way.
As the last fell, he panted loudly trying to catch his breath. Eventually he walked over to the two still squirming torsos of the beast-men. Speaking softly, “whether or not you can feel pain will be decided, I suppose. Anyways, sit tight and don’t die before I come back.”
With an almost inaudible crack of his neck he looked forward to see the last contingent that lay in front of him.
While the number was still 50, the arrangement was clearly different than last time. Of the 50 grey rock covered creatures, 15 were human, 10 of which wearing shield and sword, five spears. Another 10 were burly dwarves, once more wielding their obscenely large greataxes, behind those were ten more elves. Fitted with bows and arrows behind the organised ranks of the shield wall and berserking dwarves. 5 more stood in the shadows with small glistening blades, hobbits or goblins from their stature, however it was simply too far to make them out clearly.
The remainder were 14 feet tall scorpion styled demi-humans. Standing on six legs and possessing a large tail which doubled as a venomous stinger: it was a centaur of monstrous proportions.
Likely reading Andrew’s possible intentions, Taryk dragged a few of the remaining greataxes that were left from the original contingent of dwarves. In total, ten were brought over when Andrew was studying his enemy. Completely absorbed in thought, he didn’t even register the scraping noises as it was dragged over the slate corpses and stone floor.
‘What’s the most efficient way to burn through that army? I’d really, really would like to test that theory with that fucking bastard,” even with only one good eye, Andrew was adapting to the new sense of vision. But every time he noticed his lack of vision in his left eye, it caused anger to rise further inside of him.
Taryk, standing behind the fuming human, murmured to himself quietly, “so this is what it’s like to see Boss mad… yep, do not wanna be that rock kitty back there.”
The blood red color from his eyes seemed to deviate slightly. No longer did it just come forth from his eyes, it also radiated from his ax.
Feeling a strange sensation of reluctance to set down the ax, Andrew was puzzled, but managed to urge himself to do so. Lifting a five and a half foot tall greataxe, he lightly waved it back and forth mockingly before launching it over to the group. As the first connected, shattering a shield and three men behind it, another was launched in the same spot. And another until he ran out of ‘ammunition.’
He completely cleared the middle most column of the small army, even taking the head off of a scorpion man the process.
“Hah, this could be fun. Taryk, target practise?” Spoke Andrew with a predatory gaze towards the army.
“Huh, whad’ya mean…? Oh! I see, let me try too though.”
As the group was repositioning themselves Taryk approached with four more greataxes. Three he left at Andrew’s feet and one he tested in his grip. Complaining loudly, “How’d you do do that? These damn these must weigh about as much as me! Or, well, when I was short,” however, he still threw the ax before he sighed to go grab new ones.
Seeing the goblin’s ax only skim up to the shield bearing men’s legs, Andrew laughed loudly before hurling his three in rapid succession. Once more cleaving through the shield and taking the lives of at least six more. Waiting on the goblin, Andrew noticed the small rhythmic pounding of weapons come once more. Small at first, growing louder and louder with every passing second. Noticing the goblin feed one ax into his hands, Andrew hurled it and three others as the army finally began to march towards the pair.
With at least half already downed by the army’s own weaponry, Andrew laughed derisively at the approaching wave. With a single smooth motion, Andrew hefted his prized ax unto his shoulder as he met with the group in the open field.
Seeing another ax fly into the group, he laughed even harder. While the stubborn goblin tried once more, he simply wasn’t cut out to throw a forty pound ax with such accuracy. With crimson eyes and a seemingly burning ax, Andrew met a small group of arrows in the middle of his own march.
Compared a swarm of fifty projectiles that was literally impossible to dodge entirely, the five remaining archers simply had no way of hitting the man. Those that could dodge were lightly sidestepped, those he couldn’t were blocked with the ax. In no time at all the two sides met once more.
Swinging his ax towards the shields, he cleaved through the first as he spun in a complete circle to take the life of two approaching beastmen. Another swing ended the lives of the hobbits group entirely as they tried to attack his flank, and another still finished off the last of the shield bearers. As the approaching spearmen blended in with the agile beastmen and berserking dwarves, he received a few small holes that otherwise shouldn’t have been there, however, they too were dealt with in an orderly fashion.
In a few short moments all of the ordinary troops was devastated and only the indifferent scorpion men still stood - save, or course, for the one who currently was without a head.
Seeing their less than enthusiastic approach towards the man decimating their rock-covered comrades, Andrew walked calmly back to where the stockpile of axes were, in other words, the location of the dwarven contingent that now lay motionless. After dropping his pebbles, to which was rather annoyed, he loaded his inventory up with 16 of the remaining axes.
Walking casually to the location where he stopped his previous slaughter, he stared at the still indifferent scorpion beastmen. Seeing no major reaction to his presence he sighed loudly while muttering, “you all better be more than a couple of idiots otherwise I’d feel like one myself for doing all of this. Well, either way it needed to be done, I guess? Whatever, here goes.”
Withdrawing each of the at even intervals Andrew created a line of floating greataxes, although they would only last for a minute at the most it was still plenty of time for Andrew’s plan.
Once more setting his now crimson glowing ax on the ground where the last contingent lay dead, he gripped the first ax. With a small drop, he felt the entire weight fall onto his arm. Testing it momentarily, he swung it a few times before hurling it across the room. As the first neared its target another was released. So on and so forth.
Slight startled because of the man’s action, the first scorpion, tried first dodged to the side, only to realise his companions were casually chattering their legs in expectation to the sides of him. With nothing left to do, the scorpion ducked while trying raise its tail in a last minute defence.
With his failed first move, he simply didn’t have time to react. Thus, as the tail came over his head, his entire human torso was severed from just under his rib cage.
At this point the others who deemed the comparatively small human as a meer pest were alarmed - it still didn’t stop three more from becoming victims of Andrew’s axes due to their negligence.
With five still remaining, Andrew sighed loudly, ‘Apparently the shitty rock axes won’t do much to those bastards. At least the non-human parts anyways,’ with the other’s finally cluing in as the first cried out, they managed to raise their tails, duck, or merely scuttle away in time.
Now with their full attention Andrew called out arrogantly, “Five more, five more axes? Let’s play a little game, shall we?”
As he had said, there was only five axes remaining from the line-up. As soon as he saw the defensive abilities of the carapace Andrew was annoyed, though it didn’t stop him from throwing a few more to be sure.
As each side looked down upon the other, it was truly a scene to bear witness to. A demon bathed head to toe in black, decaying blood and brown sludge dribbling down his body. Paired with deep, crimson eyes and a brightly glowing ax lying underfoot and several floating axes in front of him. In front stood pitch black centaurs - man and scorpion. Five brothers covered in shale with their shiny obsidian carapaces layering over their colossal legs and massive tail.
Taryk stood on the sidelines entranced over the whole scene, refusing to budge his eyes in hopes of catching even just a bit more.
Andrew deposited four of the floating axes before sending one towards a scorpion. With a loud rumble caused by the shattering of iron and rock, the blade fragmented in front of the leftern most scorpion. Calling out indifferently, “you seem to be pretty high and mighty from up there, are you willing to teach this one a thing or two?”
Although it was questionable as to whether or not the man could understand him, the scorpion did advance alone. Tapping one leg awkwardly to the others, he received a another series of taps, ‘morse code?’ Mused the man as he lifted his ax up on his shoulder.
Meeting on a relatively corpse free spot in the cavern, the two stood waiting for the other move. Andrew, being the challenger, acted first.
Moving towards the six legs rapidly, he closed the ten metre distance in less than a second. With the ax still resting on his shoulder he went after the closest leg. The scorpion, casually raised the targeted leg as it seemed to smirk under the stony exterior. With the leg raised Andrew simply moved to the next - closer and closer towards the tail.
As Andrew seemed to begin swinging his ax - he tossed it forward.
Grabbing a sheathed short sword from his side he immediately throw it towards the human body of the beast. Grabbing the ax still in the air, he then chopped at nearest leg.
However, that wasn’t necessary. As the leg was cleaved off, the giant’s body slowly slumped to the ground. Seeing that reaction, Andrew immediately jumped up onto the body of the scorpion and cut off its head.
With battleground entirely quiet, Andrew then chopped off its tail. The legs then soon followed. After the entire corpse was dismantled, he looked over to see the others’ reactions.
Taryk clapped happily from the sidelines whereas the other scorpions stood in disbelief.
‘These ones were given a little bit more than the others from the looks of it,’ mused Andrew as he tossed another ax. With the massive tail in one hand tossed haphazardly on the floor and his great ax in the other, Andrew advanced to the one he challenged. Deciding he ought to know a little more about his opponents he used the [identify] feature on them.
[Experiment Si-07
Level 25
Description: Some say magic is a blessing; some a curse. However, to these poor soul, it certainly is the latter. Few know the horrors this creature has endured during the mage’s reign in this area, however, it is certain that those that know cannot speak of it. Whether inability or the conscious choice to abandon that facet of humanity, these creatures merely exist at this point.
Created by a vile magic that deviated from nature’s intended role, it fused the bodies of two to create the being that stands before you. While it possessing human characteristics, it is likely that the feral nature of the animal DNA will remain dominate. Tread with caution young adventure, theses creatures are not to be taken lightly. ]
“Well, damn. That was vague as all hell. Anyways, level twenty five. Cool. Now, hurry the hell up you bloody insect!” Roared Andrew after finishing his external monologue.
Although tapping was heard, no action came from the four. Waiting impatiently for one to stand up, Andrew withdrew another sword to replace the one he left in the scorpion’s slate human torso.
Walking towards the scorpion as an added measure to force it into one on one combat, Andrew slowly made his way up giant creature. When he neared about five metres from the line of scorpions, he brought his ax forward once again.
Hearing the consistent tapping on the ground, but no movements, Andrew got irritated, ‘such a prideful creature before they were involved - now they simply want to prolong their own insufferable lives. Too big for their own good, be it size or ego.’
Even with Andrew nearing even further, the creatures showed no sign of attacking him. As the silent irritation wore off and turned into loud scoffing laughter. After a small series of breaths he moved.
Dashing to side of leftern most scorpion once again, he narrowly dodged a tail coming towards his body from the right side. Considering his distance to the scorpion he swung his ax with as much force as he could generate towards the first of its legs.
As the leg was being raised above Andrew’s head - it sudden split. Although only the last three feet or so of it was cut off, it was still enough to limit its mobility. Pressing forward Andrew moved to the next.
With a quick reaction and speeding tail Andrew dodged inwards - almost directly underneath the carapace of the scorpion.
Seeing a giant mouth with rows upon rows of gaping teeth and a smell that could only be rotting flesh coming from its 4 foot wide, circular mouth.
Horrified for but a moment Andrew finally found his nerve. Not wanting to near such a thing, he quickly slashed underneath the carapace before running out. As he exited from the rear, he took with him a leg that wasn’t even being raised.
The other directly across soon fell as well. However, as the tail straightened out beside him, he felt the air rush past his face.
Looking to the side, he saw another venomous tail stabbed into the abdomen of the scorpion he was fighting. As the tail left the other’s body Andrew immediately jumped back as far as he could.
Not only did it seem that the venom from the tail was highly poisonous, it was also dissolving the first scorpion’s body at an alarming rate. Sighing, he threw a short sword directly into the chest of the decaying scorpion before moving onto the next.
Even as he dodged another tail, he operated his menu mentally to retrieve another blade. Grabbing the levitating blade from the air after sidestepping a crushing leg. He finally after jumping back from a colossal stinger he immediately threw it once more.
This time he wasn’t so lucky. The blade harmlessly bounced off the rocky, hard carapace of the scorpion’s tail before it landed gently on the ground. Then was crushed unceremoniously underfoot.
Displeasing Andrew greatly, he merely went back to swinging his ax towards the creature’s legs. As he cleaved one leg off he jumped back to dodge one tail. With another waiting for him in midair.
Raising his ax to meet the tail head on, he heard a loud, reverberating sound echo through the cavern. As the needle like tip of the tail met with his ax, Andrew was pushed back ten metres, rolling backwards before having his body dragged through the rocky open grave that was behind him.
Fanning his rage even more, he, with great difficulty, brought himself up to see the sneering expressions of the scorpions. Even the one missing its leg seemed to brighten up considerably. Dragging his massive ax behind him on the ground, generating sparks and cutting shallow lines where he walked past.
As his crimson eyes seemed to darken to that of darkest, heaviest shade of black, he withdrew two swords. With one already on his hip, he placed the other in the sheath and wielded the last in his left hand.
Marching steadily towards the group with a slight limp, Andrew faced them once more. Seemingly excited noises came from the scorpions side with their clicking and clattering conversation raging on in full swing.
As he neared the group, he stopped. Dropping his ax and picking up the once discarded tail of the first beast, he stared intently on the group with eight foot long venomous tail. Sinking his hand into the rocky exterior of the tail in his right hand and the sword in his left, he threw the venomous tail towards the group.
While it was blocked by one, a sword neatly came through the opening created. Beheading the bystander scorpion from before.
As he picked up the ax the two others turned their heads to see a small pool of blackened blood collecting on the creatures back, dripping rhythmically onto the ground.
Andrew, just the opportunity as it was given. Quickly closing the remaining ten metres of distance and swinging his massive ax. With a few corrections in his form and swing, he cleaved through the entirety of the scorpions right legs, leaving it with only three on one side to let it stand - if at all possible.
The other, still missing the one, raised its tail trying to stab the relatively small human. Nimbly sidestepping the tail, which pierced into the ground, Andrew furiously swung his ax.
Severing the top most portion of the tail, he unceremoniously dodged another, severing that too.
Briskly pacing past the other side of the crippled scorpion, he met with the other who seemed to tap angrily at the man. Staring at one another, the two moved in unison.
Both charging towards the other, they met with one final clash.
Jumping up to the charging beast’s human body, he bisected it from head to carapace. As the scorpion slumped over, Andrew jumped off its body, taking one final glance at the fanning out halves of its body - still attached.
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Life in The Forge is rarely fun, least of all when you've got an AI that wants to turn you over to the authorities, a stolen ship full of creepy cult shit, and you've pissed off the only guy in the Devil's Helix who doesn't want you dead through sheer incompetence. Unfortunately for Ash, worst courier in the helix, that's his day-to-day. When he gets offered an opportunity to get back into this boss's good graces (and finally get something decent to eat), Ash jumps at the chance, even if that means getting tangled back up with figures he'd rather leave in the past. This is a solo play log of Shawn Tomkin's ttrpg Starforged, as such, even I don't know what's going to happen next! Enjoy the ride!
8 197Dauntless: Origins
Snow white hair, blue eyes, pale. Devil, monster, mutt, failure.This story follows one Tyr Faeron, crown prince, heir primus and mass murderer. A wrathful, angry, and lost young man that has made it his goal to hunt down the men that killed his mother - and he is on the cusp of finishing the promise he'd made before her cairn stones so many years ago. On the surface he is duplicitous, whimsical, and base of cunning - but within the depths beyond the many masks he wears, something is waiting. Waiting for an end, the end he'd come to long for, whether it be to himself or any possible threats in his vicinity. After that long labor of vengeance is completed... Nobody knows, not even him - an arrogant and otherwise solitary individual with nothing in the way of friends - only the brothers of the blackguard who follow him through life as he pursues this mission. He was born a prince, but he'd be called a disappointment - failing to manifest the great power that he was born to before being summarily discarded by his father, a 250 year old 'primus'. That word again... Men who can shatter mountains and level cities, that's what he was supposed to be. Some call them demi-gods, all Tyr sees is a poor excuse for a parent. Time had made him bitter, cruel, and arguably psychotic - seeing only enemies wherever he looks. They'd come for him, too, one day - to wipe the slate clean and make room for another - and it's his conviction to ensure that he dies while taking as many of those rats with him. This is a story about finding acceptance, growth, and understanding - from the point of view of a cold and brutal individual who wears many masks. Of someone who was born to be the greatest emperor the eastern continent has ever seen - but he failed in that. Strong, yes, but only in the context of a man - Tyr's magic is weak. His convictions are weak. He has been made a beast of instinct by loss and a constant confronting of his own impotency in the face of his father. A mythos that stretches across planes, of magic, a pantheon of cruel gods. Of someone who's dedicated his entire mind to the art of killing a man, and none to living a normal childhood or coming to understand friendship, empathy, or compassion. The first five years of his life a mystery, a hole none have ever been willing to fill, leaving him warped and twisted. His formative years gone and what must've been most of his humanity along with it. Now 17, he is on the cusp of leaving the city he'd never been permitted to leave for what might be the first time in his life. Always searching, though he won't know what for, for some time. An episodic that follows experience and symbolism rather than a never ending series of battles - where the conflict lay in constantly searching for wholeness in lieu of great villains or heroes. This is where it all started, the origin, the tale told a million times - and yet it hadn't been, 'reality' is tricky like that. The greatest lie ever told by the tongue that speaks is that any of this was real at all.
8 248Human: Paradigm
With Scientific advancements developing over time, hybrids of humans with supernatural abilities exist in the near future. Matthew is in his last year of junior high school. He wants to pursue art, but his father is against it. Nevertheless, he is fine. Everything around him is normal. He must blend in. However, a bombing incident disrupts the normal flow of his life. Everyone around him becomes different. Everything about him changes. And Matthew is set to explore unfamiliar things due to his newly gained supernatural abilities.To start a new life. To save himself from death.
8 125Sons of God, Daughters of Men
Locked deep in the mind of Analise Crawford is the location of the last piece of the map to the Gates to Hell and the key to unlocking it. Five years ago, to protect this secret, she injected herself with a serum to erase her memories. She remembers nothing of her decree to protect humanity from the darkness, nor that The Firm, a secret cartel of demon loyalists, has been sent on a mission to collect her. However, vivid dreams of shadowy men, broken stone tablets, and strange encounters with familiar, but unrecognizable, faces awaken her curiosity and set off her paranoia.When a clandestine Firm tracker locates Analise her estranged family intercepts, bringing her back to a vicious power struggle between light and dark. As Analise slowly regains fragments of her memories, she tries to piece together answers to the two big questions: Where is the last piece of the map, and why am I charged with protecting it? In the meantime, The Firm is closing in on a source of leverage, a still forgotten secret—her daughter.
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