AuthorShawnWilson

Undying Blood - Beta - Chapter 019 -

Added 2024-09-27 13:00:09 +0000 UTC

A wave of energy shot forth from Stenson's blade as he swiped it twenty yards from the incoming beasts.

Two of them stumbled to the ground, their front two legs cut off as some spell or attack connected, sending them tumbling end over end.

Without hesitating at their fallen allies, the other two turned and angled toward Stenson.

One moment, the general was in his saddle. The next, the man was jumping off, rolling, and coming to stand on his feet.

The stallion moved to the right, and like a string, Francis was pulled along as the mare stayed up with it.

Twisting as best he could, the impact of the first beast that reached the older man sent out a shockwave as the sword came up, slicing through the creature's lowered head, the tip of its horn hoping to gore the one-armed man.

Instead, its body lost that very head.

Like a dancer, Stenson swiped and moved with a speed that seemed impossible for someone his age.

He has to be advanced… maybe a master?

Yanking on the reins and hoping the horse would stop, Francis couldn’t see when the second one reached the general.

Seeing the horse's direction and how he was being led away, all that was left was to free himself from the horse that didn’t care what he said or did.

Carefully putting the tip of the sword blade through the leather strap, it cut quickly, revealing just how much the piece had done to keep him in the saddle.

One moment, he was there, looking like he belonged in the cavalry. The next, Francis was tumbling to the ground, twisting and tossing the blade, hoping not to kill himself upon hitting the ground.

Pain came as the wind was knocked free from his lungs, but beyond that, nothing else appeared damaged or broken.

Clambering to his feet and scanning the battlefield for his weapon, he spotted it, running toward it as a pair of knights collided with a beast nearby.

One died immediately but his lance had hit the creature and stuck.

The second knight had done something similar to Stenson’s move, leaping from his horse and landing on the charging animal.

It started to slow down and then suddenly the beast stood up, its front leg coming up to where the lance was impaled and a hand with tiny fingers grabbing onto it as it pulled.

The knight who had been on its back tumbled off as the beastkin stood. Not missing a moment, he began swinging the sword in his hand, hacking at the side and leg of the now fourteen-foot-tall monster.

He wanted to watch, but Francis could see that both beast and knight were far faster and stronger than him and being here, alone with just a sword, wasn’t going to help him learn anything besides how death felt again.

Racing to where Stenson had been, he saw the older man moving like water along rocks in a stream.

Nothing held him back. He flowed from side to side, blade out, each slice cutting down the animals that came near as if they were simply a stalk of grain before his harvesting tool.

If he had two arms… how powerful would he be?

That thought seemed stupid, yet Francis knew there was a reason his kingdom valued those who reached a high rank with a weapon.

“FRANCIS!”

Turning to where his name had been called, he saw the blond-headed knight running toward him, covered in black blood and a piece of his armor missing from his left arm.

“Ginge!”

In seconds, the knight was there, breathing heavily and smiling.

“You’re a fool for being here! Still, you need to stick with me. These things are stronger than most of these men and way beyond you!”

All he could do was nod and then point to a charging beast about forty yards away, moving toward a trio of men trying to help one of their fallen brothers.

“Stay close but not too close!”

Before he had finished shouting, Ginge was moving, his silver sword gleaming in the light of the sun, somehow still looking flawless even though it had obviously slain many already.

Chasing after the man, he watched as the knight intercepted the charging animal, moving to its side and cutting a long gash that ran the length of its body.

Turning and standing, the beast roared, lashing out with its left front leg, which Francis now realized was just an arm.

Dodging backward, the knight easily avoided the blow and stepped sideways, not missing the follow-up attack that once again drew blood and left a large cut in the beast's hide.

Armor covered its chest, yet on the side where bands of leather held it in place.

Now they were cut, no longer keeping the armor tight and providing places for the trainer to do work.

Each step and attack from the beast had enough force to easily squash a man, yet Francis didn’t allow that to happen, using his speed and skill, carving away flesh like a butcher.

It’s been maybe twenty seconds!

When the animal fell, a leg gone and a sword finding its throat, Ginge was far enough away that the black mist which hung around the dying or dead animal to be safe from whatever was taking place.

“Don’t breathe that!”

“What is it?” Francis asked as he waited for Ginge.

“Some kind of death spell. Not all of them have it, but those who do can weaken or kill a man. Now then, where is…”

Trailing off, the trainer scanned the battlefield, ignoring the pockets of fighting and studying the carnage that pressed toward the enemy lines.

“There! We need to join him!”

A hundred-plus yards ahead, Stenson created a trail of bodies as the general moved toward the enemy lines.

“What rank is he?!”

Laughter came from his blond-haired instructor.

“Not my place to say, but far better than me!”

Unsure if it was the sword, the older man’s skill, or something else, all Francis could consider was how powerful the man was and what a difference he made on this line.

If I can be like that… how many men and women could I save?

They raced forward, trying to catch up with Stenson, who had a group of six warriors near him, all protecting his flank, though most did nothing beyond calling out the enemies or finishing off the ones left crippled by the one-armed monster.

“I’m here!” Ginge called out when they got within shouting range.

Stenson turned once, spotting the pair, and frowned.

“Keep him safe! We push for the line!”

Without waiting for a response, the general turned and continued his path at an army that Francis finally really noticed.

He had seen it, but knowing they were only three hundred or so yards from the row of everything that lay beyond, his knees felt a little weak.

“Where… where did all the enemies go?”

“They pulled back,” Ginge said as he slowed down, pointing at the figure emerging from the enemy line. “Looks like he’s caught their attention.”

Francis saw the movement and the figure that stood out from the row of different beastkin. There were others like the ones they had just faced: catkin, wolfkin, ravenkin, and even some snake-like creatures.

They all stood there, shouting and making noise, yet none moved as a cat-like creature came forward.

Stenson slowed down, and he glanced back at the group.

“Stay back… this is obviously not meant for you.”

None of the men protested, each of them forming a circle around Ginge and Francis, eyes scanning whatever might come their direction as the general slowed his stride, moving toward the beast.

“It’s fucking at least twelve feet tall!”

Ginge grunted as he bobbed his head at Francis’s outburst.

A jaguar-like head had gleaming golden eyes, which were locked on the older man with a red sword. It moved with a grace that seemed uncanny for something its size. Both arms were muscular and had black spots along its orange fur.

Each leg looked like a tree trunk, powerful muscles rippling with each step.

Unlike many they had faced, this one wore armor, but it looked nothing like the metal or leather they had seen. Something about it flowed, almost shimmering like liquid.

A large sword was being carried in each hand, the blades easily five feet long.

“Can he win?”

“You better pray he can,” Ginge replied. “That thing looks like it would eat me for a snack and spit me out. We knew they had some kind of elite-like fighters, as the kingdom of Shundonga had mentioned facing one. Still… I never expected to see one.”

The distance between the pair was being removed as both man and beast moved with a pace that left no doubt neither wanted to linger long, unsure what might come from the other army.

When only fifty yards remained, the creature roared a high-pitched scream that caused fear to try to take hold in Francis’s chest.

[ Mental Resist Check Success ]

[ Mental Resist Skill Learned - 19 Novice ]

None of the men reacted either, and even from the distance between the group, the grin on the elite beastkin was visible.

That thing wanted to see if it could intimidate us…

It charged at Stenson, one sword high and the other low, body slightly bent as it almost seemed to glide across the packed soil.

The general set himself, armor gleaming, and the red sword appeared to be glowing, vibrating with power.

One moment, the creature was there, moving toward the man. The next both were a blur, swords causing sparks and no matter how fast Francis blinked or didn’t, he couldn’t follow a single strike.

The pair was like a tornado, spinning, and moving, dirt being thrown around from the force of their movements.

The sounds of metal on metal came at such a pace that it was almost like a bee buzzing in one's ear.

This… is true power right here.

After about thirty seconds, the pair were over twenty yards apart. Each of them took deep breaths, blood running down both fighters.

Stenson appeared to be struggling to stand, using the sword for stability; the red glow appeared dimmer.

The left sword of the elite was cracked, a foot missing from the top, and it made a weird angle at the part of the blade that was no longer there. It, too, had blood coming from both legs and a spot on its chest.

Ginge started to move forward.

“Don’t!”

Stenson’s shout carried authority but the tone was weaker. Blood trickled down his scalp, the brown hair matted against his head.

“What… what happened? I couldn’t see any of it?”

“I only saw a few things,” Ginge replied. “They used skills and their ability is that good… I’m afraid–”

It was at that moment the older man dropped to a knee.

Without hesitating, the elite moved, a trail of dust coming as it did so, weapons moving so fast they vanished.

That red blade came up just as fast, and an explosion took place when the two collided.

Sword fragments rained out near them, falling about seven yards before them, yet as they fell, so did the head that had sat upon Stenson’s shoulder

The left arm was missing on the elite, gone completely, not even to be found lying on the ground.

Howling in pain, it bent down, sticking its right sword into the dirt. Then, picking up the general's head, claws digging into the face, it shook it in the air triumphently.

Roars erupted from the army they hoped to have defeated.

Without waiting, the beast put the head in its maw, chomping and chewing as it grabbed its sword and turned toward them, blood running down its orange fur as it consumed its trophy.

“Shit!”

Those were the only words Francis got out.

***

The sound of the morning bell rang out, and Francis’s head felt like it was going to explode.

"It's earlier than usual," Michael grunted as he sat up. Their room was mostly shadows due to the lack of light. "What gives?"

Touching his neck, the memory of what had happened flooded through his mind. Unable to help himself, he leaned over the bed, emptying his stomach of the bile inside.

“Oh hell no, don’t tell me you’re sick! I don’t want to deal with that!”

Wiping his mouth, he shook his head at his older brother.

“No… just… I’m not sure. I… I feel fine. Just for a moment, something hit me.”

He could see his brother frowning in the dim light.

The pain that radiated through his body was far more overwhelming than it had ever been before.

“You sure? I’m really not wanting that asshole to make me suffer because you’re in here playing sick.”

“I’m fine… really. Let’s get dressed. I’ll clean this up later. You and I both know we don’t want to be the last ones.”

As he got dressed, he needed to see what might have changed.

[ Status ]

Francis Mudaburg

Age 17

Strength: 14