The kobolds paused once they reached the corner. The front of the building faced the rest of the settlement after all. If someone was going to see them it would be during the stretch from the corner till they made it through the front door. Amelia prayed for one of the gnomes to see them. The gnomes might be small like the goblins, but they were far stronger. If they could just stall them for long enough for help to arrive. Why hadn’t Mark gotten here?
She did not even hear any alarms from the camp. Which was both good and bad. Good since it would probably make the kobolds rush her. Bad since it meant that help was likely still far off. All she could hear was the gnomes' revelry. However they also would not be able to reach her in time to provide help. She could only hope that the kobolds would continue to wait. It was still twilight, maybe they would wait for nightfall.
However, her wishes were quickly dashed as they quickly bounded from the corner toward the door. The kobolds had apparently judged there was no one near enough to see them, and were moving to complete their mission. Like a switch had been pressed somewhere inside her, she suddenly had regained some control and she started to make her way back into the back corner.
The kobolds glanced around for a few seconds after bursting through the door. They took a moment to take in the situation. She had put herself in the corner of the room, keeping as many of the tables, storage bins, and whatever else she could between her and them. The kobold on the right just nodded its head at the one on the left.
One kobold on the left started to move around, along the side of the building. The other started to creep down the center. If there was only one she would have been able to keep moving around, but with two pincering her in there was little she could do. She watched as the two crept closer. They were not tarrying, but they also did not seem to be in a hurry. Their movements were purposeful. Why would they, even if the alarm went up it would only take them seconds to finish their grisly task. They would rather slowly move in tandem to ensure she could not escape. All the while, seemingly grinning with their toothy snouts.
The kobold moving along the wall had hit the turn, and started closing the distance even faster. The one in the center shifted to be ready to receive her if she bolted. She either could wait where she was, or run and quickly get intercepted. Only other option would be to dive under the table, but it was doubtful whether she would be able to escape that way. Maybe it would buy her a few seconds.
Before she could decide the door once again flew open. Both kobolds briefly glanced back to see Mark. The assassin along the wall started sprinting toward Amelia, while the other half turned to receive him while keeping her in check. Amelia was hardly able to hope since the other kobold was almost on her.
Mark hardly stopped as he moved toward the kobold in the center. However his arm blurred sending a spear streaking toward the other. Not that Amelia would have known the difference, but technically spears were not really made for throwing like a javelin was, however having to only cross about 30 feet, the spear’s aim was true striking the sprinting kobold in the center of the back.
A second later Mark slammed the other in a tackle. The kobold had attempted to catch him with its dagger, but the swing was slightly miss timed and went wide. Instead of jabbing Mark in the side, it carved down his back bouncing as it slid against the back of Mark’s ribs. The two collapsed and rolled. Both of Mark’s hands quickly found and seized onto the arm that held the dagger to keep it away.
Amelia was hardly going to stay still; she had already been moving when the kobold collapsed where she had been standing. She planned to run along the back wall and pass the two struggling in the middle. Then she would make for the door. Not that she wanted to leave Mark alone, but she could hardly help. However before she could turn she felt a searing pan in her back.
The kobold that had taken the spear, had immediately rose up on one of its forearms, and had pulled out a miniature crossbow, having decided that it would not be able to catch back up to her, the kobold had already dropped the dagger and immediately pulled out the crossbow. Only a couple seconds had passed between the kobold getting injured, and it sending a bolt her way. Amelia, made the turn she had been intending before slamming into a table and finding herself sprawled over on one of the chairs, facing back into the room.
Amelia struggled to roll back onto her feet after laying there dazed for a few seconds. Similarly the injured kobold was working to get on its feet. It was having some difficulty due to its injury, which might have clipped the kobold’s spine or damaged some nerves. The spear dislodged and fell to the floor alongside the dagger and the now abandoned crossbow. The miniature crossbow was seemingly only a crude one shot weapon.
Meanwhile Mark struggled with the kobold in the center. After the tumble he had found himself on top of the kobold with the kobold’s other arm getting pinned under it. It should have been a fairly dominant position, but even with both arms and using his weight he had not been able to fully prevent the dagger from sticking and slowly sliding into his shoulder. Shifting the dagger’s aim upward from his heart or lungs to his shoulder, and keeping it from quickly sliding all the way to the hilt was already difficult enough for Mark.
Veins in his face and neck stuck out and his face was turning red due to the strain, but he was at least maintaining the stalemate. The kobold was not able to push the dagger any further. Mark was already breathing heavily from the fight and likely having sprinted all the way here. It seemed he would be content to let the stalemate persist.
However, the kobold was not. Its partner was struggling to move, so it was up to it to reach their true target. The kobold clawed at Mark’s side and stomach with one of its legs as it seeked to find purchase. Small gashes were cut into the soft flesh as the claws dug through his shirt and into skin. Most were little more than bad scratches, but some dug in and carved more gashes into Mark.
Eventually, the clawed foot found the purchase that it sought in between them enough for the kobold to be able to fling Mark several feet away by extending its leg. Mark slammed into another desk and then into the floor. The kobold paid no more attention to him as it made it back to his feet, eyes set on her. Amelia was coughing out blood, but she was able to make it to her feet. She quickly moved to keep a desk in between the kobold and herself.
For a few seconds the two of them played the game. If the kobold shifted to the right then she went to the left, but after only a few feints by them both the kobold chose a side and surged forward. Amelia went the other way, evading a wild swing, but the kobold moved in to follow. It only got a few steps before being once again tackled from behind.
A bloodied and shredded Mark had dived across the desk and caught the kobold with his arms. One arm caught around the kobold’s neck. The other once again grabbed for the arm with the weapon. Both collapsed to the floor, but Mark would not be dislodged from his choke hold, likely since he would likely quickly die if he lost his grip. However his other arm was not able to catch the kobold’s arm.
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The kobold stabbed up and deep into Mark’s side. It was a grievous wound that would likely prove fatal if not seen to immediately, however it did give Mark the opportunity to pin the weapon wielding arm behind its back preventing it from withdrawing the dagger.
Amelia could tell he would not be able to hold on for long. She couldn't help but freeze in indecision. She was really hurting herself. Every breath was a struggle and was like she was being stabbed anew, and perhaps she was. The bolt had likely pierced into one of her lungs, but she was at least on her feet. The other kobold was still struggling to move. Its control of its legs was all messed up. It was all it could do, but to somewhat put its weight on them, but only while leaning against one of the desks for support. Thankfully, it did not seem to have another one of the single shot crossbows.
She could not leave him, she finally decided, but more figures burst through the door before she could take one step. It had taken them over half a minute after Mark had arrived, but some goblins had finally arrived. As if it had been what he had been waiting for, Mark’s strength gave out as soon as they appeared. He slumped back to the floor, barely conscious. The kobold rested itself free, pulling the dagger from his side. The kobold attempted to lunge for Amelia, but it had taken it several seconds just to break completely free from Mark.
It had only been able to get up halfway before several spears pierced through its black cloak and into its chest. Other goblins were already moving toward the other injured kobold. The assassin was only able to fend off the goblins for a few seconds. Its lack of mobility made it easy for one of the goblins to close in as it fended off two others. All at once the battle was over.
Amelia collapsed on her knees by Mark’s side. His wounds were grievous. Amelia had never seen someone die, but something told her Mark did not have long. Tears were already gathering at the corners of her eyes.
Mark sputtered blood seeping from his mouth. After a few attempts he was able to get out one word, “Poshuns.”
Nehemiah Rourk Day: 40
This Amelia Cromwell must have some amazing luck, Nehemiah sighed. His kobolds had easily been able to infiltrate past goblin scouts and patrols. His 10% map uncovering reward from his specialization that allowed his scouts to not instantly show up on enemies tactical maps had almost allowed him to claim a second dungeon.
It had been so close. The scouts that Nehemiah kept near their dungeon had seen the girl constantly moving alone back and forth between the dungeon entrance and the other building for the last week. It was almost predictable. His level 3 scout kobolds only needed to wait for the perfect opportunity, and it had come all too soon. The kobolds would not dare try and hope for success during the day, but twilight was more than acceptable. The girl likely would not stay out past dark.
Now unless they were stupid, they would not be so carefree and trusting of the interface features to keep them safe. It was why he had instructed his kobolds to bide their time, and wait for the perfect chance since they would only get one shot.
Both the girl and her champion got injured in the struggle. He could only hope the champion actually died before he was able to get help. When his feed had cut off the young man had definitely been on death’s door. However the girl would most definitely survive. Well unless she passed out or something, and the goblins or gnomes could not do anything about her wounds. But Nehemiah knew that was a long shot. There were potions in the interface store after all.
It was what it was, Nehemiah decided. It would have been nice to have, but was not necessarily essential. He could tell things in the succession battle were picking up. Both Amelia Cromwell and Mareth Ingall had secondary outposts. Their production had doubled just like his own. He was not quite sure about Gale Barbary and her dungeon well into the swamp. Scouting the swamp was more difficult, and Nehemiah sent less scouts that way. His scouts could easily miss movements made by the lizardmen dungeon.
Overall, Nehemiah was doing a very good job at revealing the endless bluff map. He had nearly a third of it uncovered, with his completion percentage now rested at 32%. The map appeared to be a square. He had found the left edge and both the top and bottom edges. He had also uncovered two more clumps of dungeons and pretty much confirmed his theory, that the 35 dungeons had been split into five equal groups of seven dungeons. The creators were likely looking for one dungeon to emerge dominate from each of the groups, although things probably would not quite work out how they planned. Some might conquer their regions very quickly. Others might never do so.
It also appeared that the five clumps of dungeons had been arranged in a circular manner with a near equal distance from the map's center. It was likely that if he were to put dots in the center of all five clumps and then connect the perimeter with lines, it would form a perfect pentagon. However with only three clumps discovered, he could not confirm this yet, although it made sense.
His clump of dungeons would be the northwestern point of the pentagon. To the South was an arid desert like region. All but one of the seven dungeons were still around, but that probably would not last for long. Nick Holt was in that group, and he was a top favorite for this battle. He would likely swallow the others once he started to receive full support from his family. The clump located directly to the North of the center of the map did not have a clear favorite. There were several contenders that would vie for supremacy in what looked like a far more mountainous region of the map.
Nehemiah was just glad he got put in the group that he did. Gale Barbary was from a big faction, but Amelia and Mareth certainly weren’t. Amelia was from one of the five small factions, and was the only contender sent from Altair. Mareth was from a medium sized faction like himself.
Regardless, Nehemiah could not have asked for a better group. Gale fell all over the place from about 8 to 15 on contender favorite lists. Mareth and Amelia fell even lower on the lists. Perhaps there had been another top faction or two in their group that would have proved difficult later into the battle. If there had been, fortunately Crassius’ early game rampaging had knocked them out. Regardless, his chances of coming out on top were not bad.
If he could secure his region of the map, then he would perhaps stand a chance. It would be difficult to overcome the favorites, but if he could become one of the finalists he could at least make a name for himself.
Nehemiah shook his head. He was not really even close to securing his own region. Gale would have been nearly impossible to dislodge with the mud wall, but she was already building a better stone wall. A half year from now she might have an impenetrable fortress.
The first few weeks had been geared toward scouting out the map to unlock rewards at each percentage that he unveiled. The hope was that the rewards, especially those at the 5 and 10% marks would give him the edge he needed. The miniature one shot crossbow had been one such item, since crossbows were still unavailable in general. Although he thought he got them at the 27% mark. It made sense, besides for an assassination weapon they were not really all that useful.
After that the focus had shifted to building up his dungeon while his scouts continued to uncover the map. Now his focus was on reaching level 2. Nehemiah had just unlocked his second branch. Deciding to stick with the reptilian theme and to help in transiting the swamps he had chosen lizardmen. They would provide the muscle that he had been sorely missing with the kobold branch. After all two of the best units of his kobold class had been beaten by a regular human. Sure one had been partially paralyzed by a lucky blow, but the other one had not been able to immediately put the man down. despite being stronger. The top lizardman unit would probably have snapped the champion in half. Nehemiah looked forward to unlocking it
But it could wait for now. The two branches would hopefully be sufficient for now. They would have to be since Nehemiah was working toward leveling up his dungeon. Supposedly, there would be other branches offered at the different dungeon levels. If he needed more units, he would just unlock one of them. Should be better units anyways since they did not have units weaker than a 2.0 power rating.