††† Siegfried †††
Siegfried's weighty footfalls reverberated across the neighbourhood as he hastened to keep pace with Kaz. He didn’t care if the whole district would be alerted to their presence. In fact, he wanted them to be aware. It would make it easier for Haylee to stay undetected if there was a distraction.
Beyond his concerns for Haylee and Sally, Sieg was also furious about the brazenness of those kidnappers. Despite Kaz’ assurances that the major players of this seedier part of the spiral grounds would be careful with attacking a party of unkown strength, they’d been targeted on the first day.
The winding paths, carved deep into the stony ground, were a confusing maze, while on top of the walls, everything was crowded with wooden constructions of various size and quality. From shacks to two-story houses, often connected by improvised swing bridges, every bit of space was used. If not for Kaz being able to follow Haylee’s scent, it would’ve been impossible for Sieg and Rayden to find her again.
The local residents hid well before Sieg came into view. Wooden doors were slammed shut and fur-curtains closed wherever the three went. When the streets open up into an empty courtyard, Kaz stopped, sniffing twice.
The end of the open area was occupied by a blocky structure without windows and a single, heavy slab of stone acting as the gate.
“This is bad,” Kaz growled. “That’s the base of Rot, a mob-boss with a nasty ability and a tough crew. We should wait for Rak and Samuel to catch up. Maybe we can convince him that Sally isn’t worth the trouble and –”
“She’s in there?” Sieg interrupted, walking towards the kidnapper’s den. It wasn’t tall but must’ve been deep as no houses were visible atop the strip that the den took up for quite some distance. He ignored Kaz’ protests while he focused on his knuckles growing out, transforming his fists into hunks of jaded bone and enamel.
Any further objections were drowned out by the explosion of stones, blow after blow. The integrity of the wall failed, and it came down like a miniature avalanche.
“Well, any advantage of surprise is gone now,” Kaz usefully announced, brushing some debris out of his fur.
“I don’t want them to be surprised,” Sieg clarified. Several sturdy protrusions of bone grew out of the skin over his left pectoral, widening until they connected and formed a shield for his heart. A wicked-looking ridge shaped on his forehead, strands of enamel flowing down to model a grim, featureless faceguard as he looked over his shoulder at the lion-man.
“I want them to be afraid.”
Rayden climbed over the rubble without uttering a word, but Kaz stood at the entrance, eyes flicking anxiously between them and the dark tunnel that led inside. The feline knew his own limitations, so Sieg relented. “Stay here and wait for Rak and Samuel to catch up. Tell Rak to follow us in.”
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Not waiting for a reply, Siegfried caught up to Rayden and focused on his transformation. Step by step, he pushed protrusions from his ribcage that melded slowly into white armour, covering lungs and intestines, then the inner side of his arms and legs where the major arteries went through. Sharp back-bent spikes sprouted from his forearms like fangs, and similar curves bones with enamel coating grew from his shoulders outward.
The corridor, lighted by the small, gloomy rest of what the Spiral could provide, led slightly underground to a set of wooden double doors. The sturdy wood splintered under the weight of his kick, and Siegfried stepped into a massive, round room.
The periphery of the room rose like the grandstand of an arena. Several dozen grim-looking figures lounged on the smooth stone, watching intently. At the same time, the floor was empty except for a single rustic stone chair. A green-yellowish monstrosity reclined there, a sour expression on its swollen face. They were vaguely humanoid in shape, but every part of their body was covered with fungi-like protrusions, some of which oozed yellow liquid.
“Do you have any idea of how big a pile of shit you just stepped in?” a male voice growled, cracked lips twisting into a snarl.
“Where is she?” Sieg asked calmly, unsheathing the enforcer’s sword from his hip and starting to walk.
“Insolent little bug.” The fungi-man lifted two fingers, and several figures rushed in to intercept Sieg and Rayden.
Two that came from the left side were feline but burlier than most he’d seen, their fur black as tar. A heavily scarred bruiser with grey skin lumbered behind them. From the other side, a lizardmen with an extremely long tail and an insectoid with too many limbs and wicked claws approached.
Siegfried continued to walk, Rayden at his back, until the first feline reached him. The claw swipe, aimed at his head, was as powerful as it was fast. He lifted his shoulder to catch the paw with the curved spike, but the feline managed to lift the arm in time.
When Sieg grabbed after the appendage, his opponent was already out of reach, and the second feline raked its claws over his hand, tearing the back until they bounced off his reinforced knuckles.
He lifted the sword in his right hand to block a stab from a chitinous arm. Three more stuck at the same time. One managed to pierce his side, but the others scraped over the plate on the inside of his arm, and he clenched it back to his chest, trapping the appendages.
Rayden’s leg connected with the insectoid’s midsection, throwing them back hard enough to rip off the trapped arms.
Sieg swung his sword left in an arc to keep the feline from rushing at Rayden when the end of a green-scaled tail wrapped around his throat. The reptile man stood with his back to Sieg, feet braced to pull while the black-furred menace came from the other side.
This time, the feline went for his back. Their eyes widened when Sieg leaned into the attack, pulling the reptile man along. Pain sprouted from his shoulder blade where the claws sunk in, but he managed to hook the spikes on his forearm into the furred biceps. His sword plunged into the gut of the shocked creature.
He let go and reached back to grab the tail. With a roar, he flung the lizard into the remaining feline.
Rayden’s hand pressed against Sieg’s back, and the warrior felt the worst of the wound in his side stitch together, stopping the bleeding.
The bruiser was almost on them, but Sieg ignored him, picked up his sword and sprinted for the man in the chair. Their milky yellow eyes narrowed in annoyance until Sieg's stride faltered. His muscles cramped and started to burn from the inside. His throat constricted until he hacked up blood, falling to his knees. A menacing chuckle sounded just out of reach as he felt Rayden collapse against his back.