Sydui

The next step was clearly preparation, we didn't know how long it would be until the enemy champions arrived, as much as I hated to admit it, The Unorthodox was our best chance of survival.

The first thing he tried was handing us his projectile slinger.

We found out very quickly that none of us could lift it, and worse yet, none of us to work the action by ourselves.

After a little more testing we found out that it took two Fifskae to hold it, and two to four to work the action... if it was two, they were worn out by the third reload, four delayed it until the tenth or so.

He couldn't even find a volunteer to use his jagged cutting implement, none of us could even make heads or tails out of how to fight with it.

Finally his short blade, that we could use easily enough, even if the balance was... shall we say 'unprofessional' at best.

He then handed out a couple of his projectiles and asked us to hold them in awkward positions to see how well we'd do.

The results were mixed on that one, there was a few that could do... whatever it was he was looking for.

After that, he left, and an hour or two later, returned with a shaved stick that had a hook on one end that terminated with a knob.

He looked at all of our confused expressions. "It's called an 'atlatl', it's the precursor to the bow." He laid it flat in his hand and placed a projectile on top, making sure the back was touching the knob from the stick. "This handy invention was used by my ancestors to fell the mighty mastodon."

He pointed at a basic target we had set up before reeling back and throwing the projectile with this strange stick.

The projectile missed and instead pierced deep into the wall behind it.

"As you can see, it's hard to aim without any practice, but it's quick to make and we have at least a few people here that can easily handle the task."

The disgraced foreman and blackmarket bodyguard both smiled with pride.

I just couldn't stop asking myself one particular question. "What's a mastodon?"

The Unorthodox looked at me with the expression I've come to realize meant 'I'm glad you asked!'

"A mastodon is a furry elephant-type creature."

"That doesn't really clear anything up."

"Oh right, aliens..." He thought for a moment. Then began to gesture in several different ways to emphasize the different body parts he mentioned. "Well you see, it's a big creature about the size of a small building, and it has big floppy ears, big teeth called tusks, and a weird nose-thing called a trunk. They're real fun because they make a fun noise." He then proceeded to demonstrate what could only be described as an Orichu being strangled.

Everyone nearby burst out laughing...

...And despite myself I joined them.

After giving us some time to calm down again, he continued. "Anyway, atlatls are very useful despite being easy to make, that's the takeaway. We're also going to have to make some wooden darts for it too... actually that might allow the rest of you to be able to use them too!" He gave the gesture that I learned meant he was getting pumped up. "Alright, I have a plan, it'll be hard, but I think we can pull it off!"

They arrived in the middle of the night.

All of us were startled awake by the sounds of champions fighting each other with displays of immense strength and power from just beyond our vision.

"Where is The Unorthodox?! If you don't tell me right now I'll-!"

I stepped out of the crude building I called my home, as a champion gargled its own blood and fell to the ground.

The Unorthodox then ran over and stabbed the champion in the head until it disintegrated.

"Oh hey Sydui. How was your sleep?" He asked me, slightly out of breath.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to cut through the pleasantries.

"Oh yeah, the champions have finally found me it seems."

He suddenly looked behind himself and dodged moments before a massive club slammed down on his position.

From my current angle I couldn't see the creature holding the club, just the club itself.

The Unorthodox was frantically pumping his projectile thrower as he ran.

It was then I saw what he was fighting.

[Polimus The Massive]

Danger Level: Certain Death

A creature that was a little under five times my height, holding onto the enormous club with a single hand, strode after The Unorthodox.

That's when a number of the other Fifskae came out of their various homes and began to attack Polimus just like The Unorthodox advised.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Each individual attacked at different angles and at desynchronized times to confuse him.

That gave The Unorthodox enough time to sink a projectile directly in Polimus' throat.

But Polimus only staggered for a moment, all but ignoring the attack by nature of his sheer size and toughness.

Polimus roared in pain and anger as he picked up the building behind me and threw it overhand at The Unorthodox.

A projectile to the collarbone threw off Polimus' throw, causing it to crush a Fifska and two champions who happened to be fighting in that direction.

The Unorthodox looked over at the crash site and roared in his own anger, before firing once more.

This one sunk in next to the first, creating a gash in Polimus' neck, but still not even slowing him down.

The Unorthodox called out. "Gredaw! I need another bolt!"

"On it Andrew!" Gredaw the disgraced foreman called back.

Just then, a wooden projectile slammed into a champion behind me, snapping me out of the stupor induced by the spectacle before me.

"Yes, yes, he's very attractive, but I need you to get into the fight!" Hund the exile called out to me.

"On it! Wait what was that first part?" I called back as I pulled out my 'metalcorn' dagger.

A bunch of us had them because as we were making the atlatls, The Unorthodox went out to collect horns as well as 'some food while he was out' as he put it.

"Some other time! Check your six!"

I turned to look at the champion who was about to end my life.

[Olto The Guileful]

Danger Level: High Threat

I watched him as he attempted to stab me.

I dodged out of the way and waited until the last moment to plunge my dagger into his neck.

As his neck became loose dust, I saw a line of text appear in my vision.

[New Acquired Title: Hazard]

A title?! Me?! But I'm not a champion!

That line of thought was interrupted as a huge crash happened in The Unorthodox's direction.

I turned and ran toward him.

A pair of champions fell to the ground in front of me suddenly, struggling to gain an advantage on each other.

I stabbed the one on top in the neck and drug it across before plunging my dagger into the eye of the one on the ground.

"I don't have time for this!" I started running again, trying to make it to The Unorthodox, who was now clear across the village.

As I traveled through the middle of town, I could feel the constant destruction all around me.

But I could only hear my heartbeat.

By the time I got there, he was battered and bloody, holding his projectile thrower with a slack arm and looking up toward Polimus' club hurdling toward him.

I ran faster, my vision getting blurry, and legs burning with pain.

Then I called out to him.

"ANDREW!"

I tackled him out of the way moments before impact, however I suddenly felt a sudden pain in the back of my head and the world went dark.

----------------------------------------

Andrew

Sydui saved my life!

I'm going to have to thank her properly later.

I looked over to her and saw her head was bleeding.

She must have been hit by some debris that stupid club kicked up.

I picked up Sydui and ran, dodging another attack from Polimus.

I only had one good arm at this point, and could barely stand.

Luckily, I had managed to rearm the crossbow, even if I didn't have any bolts left at the moment.

Polimus had all six bolts in him at this point, but he almost didn't seem to notice.

I needed some time to plan.

I looked around to get some inspiration and saw a giant crowd of champions fighting each other.

Perfect.

I ran toward them at the closest thing to a sprint I could manage at this point.

Polimus, of course wouldn't let me get away, so gave chase.

I bobbed and weaved through the chaos around me, looking backward after a moment.

Polimus was starting to get mobbed by the other champions, just like I planned.

However, what I didn't expect was for Polimus to drop his club and start throwing them off of him.

Polimus roared in pain and anger as he ripped the different champions off him and threw them about.

While he was distracted, a champion climbed up his back and raised a dagger. "[Assassinate]!"

Polimus' eyes widened as a spurt of blood flew out of his mouth and he fell to one knee.

Polimus suddenly grabbed the unfortunate champion and crushed him in his hand.

"[Bloodlust]!"

Polimus clapped his hands together and slowly pulled them apart with apparent effort, and as he did so, a hammer the size of his previous club appeared.

Polimus' ragged breathing suddenly ceased as his eyes started to glow.

I immediately started running again.

I didn't dare to look back as I listened to screams of the dying and destruction of any buildings that happened to be in his way.

My legs finally gave out from under me and I tumbled to a stop, barely able to protect Sydui from the fall.

I had honestly forgotten that she was in my arms.

She came to blearily, looking around for a moment before noticing me next to her and Polimus running toward us.

I expected her to be mad, or to say something about me taking advantage of the situation or something, but instead, she said: "What's the plan oh mighty champion?"

I looked at Polimus. "I don't think- wait, I shot him with six bolts..."

I recounted and saw that only five were in him, and then looked at the ground behind him to see a bolt had been pulled out.

I sat up and yelled out as best as I could. "Gredaw! I need that bolt!"

Gredaw looked at me from his position behind Polimus and ran to get it. "Prepare for a long-toss Andrew!" He then built up speed and launched the bolt as hard as he could.

The bolt sailed over Polimus and within twenty feet of me.

Polimus however saw the bolt and turned to face Gredaw.

It was then I saw the massive gash that was created by the fallen champion who used [Assassinate].

I pointed to the bolt. "Sydui! Get the bolt quickly! I can't move!"

Sydui nodded and attempted to get up, instead falling down because of dizziness.

"Ignore what I just said, just get to the bolt as soon as you can, don't bother to rush if you can't!"

She started to crawl toward the bolt.

"Gredaw! We're going to need some time!"

"Understood! I'll do what I can!" Gredaw called back to me and he dodged another blow.

Just then Sydui finally got to the bolt and pulled it out.

"Okay, I need you to get back to me, I only have one arm right now so you're going to have to fire while I aim, okay Sydui?"

Sydui nodded as she began her journey back to me.

I looked back at Gredaw, who was clearly getting tired.

"Just a little more!" I yelled to both of them.

Sydui finally managed to get the bolt back to me.

As I loaded the bolt into the crossbow I looked up at Sydui. "Okay I need you to sit on my lap."

She looked back at me in shock. "Wha- what?!"

"Sydui we don't have time! Nor any other options!"

She took a breath in and got into position.

I held up the crossbow and perched my head on her shoulder so that I could aim.

"Okay, be ready to pull the trigger when I say 'fire', got it?"

"Understood."

I lined up my shot just as Polimus swung a helmsplitter at Gredaw.

I found out I was too slow as Gredaw collapsed onto the ground, out of breath.

"GREDAW!"

A massive splatter of blood gushed out from under the hammer, even if I couldn't see any of the gruesome details at this angle.

I grit my teeth in anger as tears flowed down my face.

"Fire!"

Sydui pulled the trigger.

The bolt flew through the air.

Polimus stood upright again, recovering from his attack.

The bolt slipped through his open wound and smashed directly into an exposed bone, shattering it instantly.

Polimus' body suddenly went slack as he fell forward.

Fifskae and champions fled in every direction as he slammed into the ground, causing a thunderous noise.

I laid back down on the ground, accidentally causing Sydui to fall backwards.

Her head laid on my chest.

She began to say something, but I interrupted.

"Sydui, I'm going to fall unconscious very soon, so be sure to bandage the back of your head okay?"

She looked at me in confusion before touching the back of her head with a wince. "Oh, so that's what happened."

I tried to laugh, but I was too tired.

And that's when I blacked out.