Pax gave a quick glance at his crew after the battle, glad to see everyone on their feet, though some looked pretty worn out. “Anyone who needs a few moments in Dahni’s and Neptid’s boosting fields, hurry. We need to recover and recharge before the other beasts get here.”
When he turned back to the two warriors who’d joined them, he saw Finrick exchanging a look with his sergeant that was both nervous and hopeful. “I’d like to tame the digger, if you don’t want to.”
She chuckled and waved a hand in permission. “You go first, kid. I’m too old to be the first in line with a new experiment. I’ll wait and see how it works out for you.”
After aiming a possessive glance at the caged digger, Finrick turned back to Pax with eager excitement.
Pax grinned and nodded, glad to have someone excited about the new things they were bringing to the rebels. “You don’t by chance have a mana manipulation skill, do you?”
“No.” Distress replaced Finrick’s eagerness. “Should I? Is that going to mess with the Taming?”
“Probably not.” Pax sighed, realizing how spoiled he was by his crew’s willingness to follow his example on unconventional paths. “But a mana skill bumps up the chance of success and also the chance that you unlock the Taming skill yourself.”
Finrick’s eyes went wide as he looked between Pax and Ironfist. “That would be amazing. How do I get it?”
The warrior’s enthusiasm was contagious, making the others smile at his excitement.
“It won’t be today, but if you’re able to Tame the digger, we’ll need helpers to do more of this. We plan to keep Taming until everyone who wants a companion has one. If you’re interested, we could get you trained up to help us.”
“Definitely.” He bobbed his head before remembering his sergeant and shooting her a nervous look.
“We can pass your request up the chain.” She shrugged. “But if this works out today, I can see them reassigning a few warriors to help. They’d be idiots to not want fully grown Tamed beasts fighting with every warrior we have.”
“Exactly,” Rin muttered from behind Pax.
Time’s up, kids. Eldan’s voice interrupted. Couldn’t keep them distracted after that loud show you put on a few moments ago. They’re coming. Both of them.
“Incoming!” Pax called out as everyone scrambled quickly into formation.
In moments, Bryn had them jogging away from the caged digger and in Eldan’s direction. Pax rattled off their plans to remind everyone what to do.
As soon as they found a clear area reasonably far from the caged digger, Bryn called a halt and everyone got busy. They had little time to prepare, but they’d expected that and hadn’t made their plans too complicated.
Talpa and Dahni quickly got to work building the modified version of the forts they’d developed during the war games. Neptid helped keep Dahni from completely depleting his mana. It was a five-sided shape that they’d adapted with extra pointed extensions that bulged out in sharp arrow-shaped formations, or bastions, from each corner. There was room in each bastion for up to three defenders to fight. The bastions eliminated blind spots, and the angled walls helped blunt and deflect the force of incoming attacks and beast charges.
The walls reached the height just over that of an adult man before angling back to provide some cover from aerial attacks. They didn’t completely seal the ceiling, leaving a central opening overhead. Dahni could always close it up if they needed to turtle up against a horde.
For now, he built a sturdy column with handholds up to a firing platform that sat just below the roof’s opening. He grew a short lip along the edge of the hole to provide additional cover so Rin or others could pop up to rain damage down on the attackers.
Talpa scrambled around, popping out firing holes at multiple strategic places while Whisk draped himself across the front wall of the fort, facing the expected arrival of the beasts. He’d use his Amorphous Defense to further mitigate incoming damage.
As the walls rose around them, Bryn and Tasar moved up into the two front bastions, explaining them to Finrick and Ironfist.
Dahni moved up to the straight portion of the wall between the two front bulwarks so his support spell could reach the fighters in both bastions. He pulled out a sturdy chair and set up right in front of a peephole. Neptid settled at his feet. Rin was already up on the firing platform, bow in hand.
Tyrodon climbed up after her with his supplies. In moments, he pulled out his sturdy shelf that had shelves and grooves to hold his various supplies within easy reach. Eris cried out loudly from above
Rin stiffened. “Less than a minute out.”
Dahni pulled out a mana potion and chugged it. Setting everything up this fast must have drained him, even with Neptid’s help. Pax gave him an approving nod. They’d need his boosts as soon as the battle started.
“Overcharge hitting.” Pax pulsed a good third of his mana into the spell, knowing that their plan depended on him managing the battle this time instead of casting as many spells as usual.
“Woah,” Finrick called out from his bulwark, a bit of reflected moonlight glinting off the teeth of his smile. “That’s a potent buff. I want you in my crew now.”
“Sorry. I’m taken,” Pax said before switching to his Echo and contacting Eldan. We’re easy to spot in the bastion fort ahead of you. You can get in from the top.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
No thanks, kid. I prefer to stay mobile. Air mage, remember? I’ll step in only if you need me.
More details on the beasts, please? Bryn asked, voice urgent.
Level 4 Cyclone howler air beast. Has powerful gusts of wind that can push back or suck in opponents and redirect projectiles. Don’t bother shooting arrows at it. New Level 5 Inferno Serpent that hasn’t reached its adult growth yet, but is still big enough to choke one of you down. Its ability isn’t anything fancy, just a huge torrent of flames from its maw whenever it has enough energy. I’d say they’re both down to between a third and half strength. I tossed in a little free damage to help you. Oh, and I want the howler. Don’t kill it. I’ve got a cage and can trap it once you subdue it. Got it?
The others agreed, while Bryn and Tasar briefed the other two warriors about the update from Eldan.
Their plan firmly in mind, Pax hurried to squeeze into the forward bastion with Bryn and Finrick and placed one eye to a T-shaped attacking slit. The view wasn’t the best through the thin layer of Whisk’s body, but Pax was more than happy to peer through it in exchange for his companion’s protective ability.
“Coming into view in a second.” Rin’s warning was calm.
Pax’s muscles tensed in anticipation, anyway. Next to him, Bryn and Finrick tightened their grips on their spears.
A pelting storm of kicked-up rubble came bubbling out of a stand of small trees and brush up ahead, announcing the angry howler. Only by stretching his senses was Pax able to spot the subtle undulation and swaying grass off to the side that had to be the serpent advancing.
“Howler front left. Serpent front right.” Bryn was obviously paying close attention, too. “Remember, no impaling attacks. Blunt weapons only. Stunning attacks first and finish with captures. Pax’ll take over after they hit the fort.”
Pax patted the cool dirt of the wall in front of him, the earthy smell making him feel safe with Dahni’s magic infusing and strengthening it. Since the beasts had the courtesy of giving them enough time to set it up, they were going to use their fort to their best advantage.
With no opposition and simple dirt walls protecting the juicy prize they could sense, the beasts charged forward without bothering to use their abilities.
Perfect. Pax watched until the last moment, doing his best to see what they were facing as the two beasts came into full view. He shuddered as the appearance of the howler made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
Instead of the expected flying air beast, it was a mass of gleaming black chitin, legs, claws and speed. It skittered across the ground with an uncanny speed. Dust and debris swirling around it with a dangerous energy that disguised its approach in the darkness of pre-dawn. Pax couldn’t make out a mouth or eyes through the cloud, but had no problem catching the gleam of sharp claws on the tips of every leg.
Off to the right, the serpent emerged from the low grass, rushing across the bare rocky ground in front of their fort and finally out in the open. They’d chosen their position well, giving them an open killing ground mostly free of obstacles.
The scales of the inferno serpent gleamed with a deep obsidian color, very hard to see in the moonlight except for the bits of flame that glowed between them. Spurts of energy popped out, sizzling around it as it made a headlong rush for their fort. Its eyes gleamed a molten red, filled with a malevolent hunger that made it clear how much it would rather devour them than the other monster.
Adrenaline flooded through Pax, making his heart race as the two beasts charged forward on a direct collision course for the fort. The serpent would hit his bastion first while the howler skittered toward the one holding Tasar and Ironfist.
“Brace!” Bryn called out a moment before impact.
Everyone leaped back from the walls, nets and ropes ready to hand with mana swirling with prepared spells and abilities. The expected stench of Horrid’s Odor Traps going off hit all of them just before the walls shuddered with a dull boom. Dirt cascaded everywhere, but with Whisk’s help, the walls held.
Ouch. Whisk’s single word of complaint made Pax smile as everyone leapt into action.
“Stunning attacks!” Bryn yelled out.
Pax triggered his combination of Haste and Sphere of Perception. His mind struggled under the flood of information about the two beasts, as well as the motions and positions of all his friends.
He pushed through, glad of how much his Haste helped slow things down enough for his mind to handle everything better. As all the details snapped into place, Pax reveled in how much he could see and analyze. He didn’t even need to press his eye to the attacking slit to know exactly what was going on.
The beasts careened off the sharply angled walls of the bulwarks, their momentum sending them to slam into the perpendicular surfaces of the connecting walls. But the first collision had blunted a good portion of their momentum.
The rapid impacts with walls that didn’t budge stunned both of them for the briefest of moments. They’d obviously expected their attack to break open the container full of prey.
Dahni’s Quagmire turned the ground under both beasts into a mess of soft, sucking earth. Horrid added to the sensory attack with her strongest Frenzy that made bile try to rise in the back of Pax’s throat. Amil triggered small bursts of his Concussive Blast in front of each of the beasts.
The warriors were jabbing the beasts with their strongest abilities, using blunt weapons to hurt and stun but not permanently injure. It also kept the beasts angry and focused on staying close. They needed the beasts to stay in melee range to capture them.
At the same time as the rest of the stunning attacks, Rin sent a flight of arrows racing out. A fierce grin tugged at Pax’s mouth as he stretched his skills to keep track of everything happening. They hadn’t ignored Eldan’s warning against arrows. Instead, they’d exploited it. If the howler was going to destroy the arrows, they could make that work for them.
Tyrodon had been experimenting with ways to throw his small handbombs further, and Rin’s arrows were the perfect test vehicle. He’d modified his bombs to a cylindrical shape that was easier to attach to the arrow shaft. It made them a bit wobbly when shot, but they worked for short distances.
The arrows peppered both beasts and the ground between them. The howler took exception to the attack, sharp claws lashing out in a whirlwind of destruction that shattered arrows and the attached containers. A sharp tang of chemical smell joined Horrid’s stunning attacks, and Pax did his best to ignore it all.
Off balance, the howler raged at the fort, its legs lashing out in a whirlwind of deadly slashes. The serpent shoved at the attacking slits, its mouth gaping open, and sputters of flames struggling to build in its throat.
Is it time yet? Now? Amil’s impatient voice jabbed at Pax. He’d been conserving his mana for his role.
Almost, Pax answered.
Last flight is loose. Rin said with triumph a moment later.
You’re up, Amil, Pax said.
“Take cover!” Pax called out, glad to sense both Rin and Tyrodon sliding down off the firing platform with desperate speed.
His Sphere made it hard for Pax to see minor details like expressions, but he knew Amil would have a fierce battle grin spread across his face as he raced forward at the same time as the others pulled back to the safety at the center of the fort.
Dahni’s had his hands up. Sweat streamed down his face as he closed the firing holes on the side of the fort facing the beasts.
Pax decided to be safe and with a quick stretch of his mana, cast a reflective Ice Mirror just in front of Whisk’s protective layer on the front of the fort. He wasn’t able to manipulate it to match the irregular shape of the two bulwarks with their connecting wall. So, he just curved it and covered as big an area as he could. Hopefully, it would be enough.
A blazing stream of fiery mana filled Pax’s Sphere vision as Amil let his Molten Storm burst out of the single remaining firing hole.