The whistling noise abruptly stopped. An arrow struck a Dragonkin at its chest while its ally beside collapsed on the ground with its hand over its throat, gurgling blood.
“That’s a hit. Nya really spot on with your shots, Tomoe.” Tama laying prone watched the flying arrows find their targets through her telescope. “Oh, I spotted one giving commands. It’s two heads away from the one you just took out.”
“En. I’ll prepare.”
Lily tugged on her longbow. She closed one eye, adjusting the trajectory of her projectile based on the distance. She mastered the bow to the point it was second nature of being able to read how much the winds could affect her arrow on a whim.
Her draw strength improved dramatically over numerous battles and was able to release a projectile from over five hundred meters. The air around her vibrated as the arrow took flight.
The arrow unfortunately crashed into a magical barrier and snapped. A Fairy hid among the enemy, casting barriers over the heads of the Dragonkins from being picked off. Even when Lily’s arrows bypassed it using her powers, an Alf raised her shield to block them.
“They’ve begun adapting.” Tama confirmed. “We better join nyup with Krullu before they send someone after us.”
Suddenly, the floor trembled. Lily and Tama looked towards the source find an open area of demolished buildings. They spotted Aten carrying Yizdra and swatted down when Salith teleported into the air.
“Wasn’t that the Rozzalian the grumpy one saved? What’s going on? Why is she attacking the Vivirian-?” Tama then pointed. “Nya?! That Tortoise left the frontline!”
What about those who covered the rear line? It was smoking where their rearguards were supposed to be stationed. Moments later, the Giant in her [Wars Blood] towered over the place and threw her fist at the ground below. A small dot buzzed around her then an explosion of light knocked the Giant onto her back.
Lily couldn’t see past the wreckage, but Aten and Ainig managed to stop Salith from rampaging. What happened? Did Salith turn on them?
Though she wanted to quickly locate Carmyn and check on her, Lily couldn’t leave the advancing Scalemen to fight for themselves. Leaving her post would only relieve pressure for the enemy.
She casted her worries aside and turned her attention back onto the battle.
Just then, a claw grabbed ahold of the ledge of the building and a figure leaped into the air.
“Found ya, Archer! [Rolling Crown]!”
With a twist and somersault, the ambusher dragged his greatsword reacting to the owner’s shout. The blade left a trail of blue light behind as it cut into the roof of the building. The gap travelled from the top to its foundation. Seconds later, the two halves of the structure toppled inwards.
The Lycanthrope slashed his way out of the collapsing rubble and brought down his claw at Lily.
“Nyot so fast!”
Tama swiped her bladed weapons poking out of her sleeves and forced a retreat from the Lycanthrope.
“Tama! Dammit. Why are ya here?!”
“Rogus, it’s not too late to follow us and go back to Douglas.”
“I already said I can’t!”
“Why are nya so stubborn? You’re making Douglas and your ma worried!”
“I ain’t interested in bein a tavern boy fer the rest of my life! This is why I took my chances to join up with de Oracle while you travelled with a fake!”
“Look here. Ny’m asking nicely.” Tama scrunched up her face. Her expression was one whose patience was nearing the limit. “Don’t make an enemy out of me.”
“My bro put ya up for this. Listen, this is the only chance I can prove myself! I’m sick to always being compared to em! If you don’t stop getting in my way…” Rogus pointed his greatsword at Tama. “Then I’ll have to bear my fangs at ya.”
“Bad choice Rogus. You choose to bite the hand that fed you? Remember. Your choice.” Tama tightened the straps to secure her bag. “Tomoe, you go on ahead to the next spot.”
“Hang on, he just destroyed a building!” Lily warned. “You can’t take him on by yourself!”
“I haven’t introduced him have I? This mutt here’s Rogus.” Ignoring Rogus’ objection of being called a mutt, Tama continued. “Remember the Lycanthrope we met in Pamalyra’s first port? Douglas asked the grumpy one to drag this mutt back in one piece, but that no longer is possible. I’m going to collect a debt.”
“Don’t do this Tama. The Oracle gave me a task to kill that Archer-.”
The stubbed blades sticking out of Tama’s sleeves suddenly extended, leaving a shallow cut on Rogus’ cheek.
“Nyo can do. Tomoe’s a valuable asset and is one of my favorite business partner along the grumpy one. I’m profiting by following them and if you knyow me, I love money more than anything~.”
“You ain’t threatening me! I’m going to prove I’m stronger than my brother!”
Tama hurled a fan of knives at Rogus and snuck a jab to which Rogus parried. Right before the Lycanthrope caught her arm, Tama dropped a smoke bomb and slipped away.
Rogus dashed out of the cloud of smoke where his nose led him to a pack of incenses burning with a distinct smell like Tama’s. He quickly turned around, following a gut feeling and cut up a spear thrusting out of the smoke into fragments.
“You tricked my nose!”
“You should knyow a warrior against a merchant isn’t a fair fight!”
Tama pounced onto Rogus, swiping at him relentlessly. Being the more experienced fighter, Rogus deflected her attacks with little to no trouble, but the endless barrage simply gave him no chance to counterattack.
He tried to kick her, but the Werecat’s flexible body and strange movements allowed her to bend away unharmed.
“Nya ha~! You missed!”
“Ngh! Dammit!”
Tama twisted her foot, throwing the weight of her backpack at Rogus. Whereas heavy weighted warriors like Alc’Bruk was able to withstand the blunt impact of hundreds of wares, the Lycanthrope’s build was lighter. Rogus’ feet were knocked off the floor and sent sprawling over another building’s roof.
“Have nya given up yet?”
“Don’t screw with me. I won’t kill ya, but don’t expect me to go easy any longer!” Rogus spat.
The air around him changed. He assumed a running stance on three, hunched over, with a hand holding the hilt of his greatsword resting on his back. His body swelled as if he was contracting his muscles to the point they appear to nearly burst. His eyes gained a look of bloodlust, each strand of his dusty silver fur stood up like a beast preparing to hunt its prey.
“Oh nyo. That doesn’t look good. Time to dip!”
Tama hurriedly move to get as far away as possible. While she jumped over roofs, Rogus suddenly appeared above her.
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The Lycanthrope whipped his greatsword in front of Tama, demolished the building. His nose caught a whiff of the Werecat’s general direction, leading him to discover Tama tumbling out of the ruins.
“NYAAAA! I hate this! You were just a mutt a few years ago! You weren’t supposed to get this strong! I should’ve charged the grumpy one more if I’d known about this!”
Rogus hopped from wall to wall like a feral beast then dove at her with insane agility. He dragged his greatsword behind, batting it into Tama’s oversized baggage down the road.
It was clear she was physically overpowered. The agileness she thought as her advantage was overwhelmed by Rogus’ spurt of monstrous speed and power. Not to mention as a Lycanthrope, his keen hearing and sensitive nose could locate Tama within moments.
“Can’t hide, can’t outrun, can’t bring him to the Scalemen! Aten! I have to get the Viviran’s help! But where do Nyie go?!”
Like a prey running through the maze aimlessly, Tama ran around the block being chased. Faces of buildings behind her were smashed down left and right.
“[Rolling Crown]!”
The Lycanthrope cut perpendicular to the intersection Tama was about to cross. A powerful blade of vacuum struck across the cobblestone path, raising a curtain of stone and debris.
Rogus suddenly flanked her. He rammed the flat part of the blade at her side.
The Werecat flipped in the air doing a perfect landing when strength in her legs suddenly gave out. Blood dripped down her nose and splat onto the ground. Her vision turned hazy. The concussive blow took a larger toll on her than she thought as she stumbled to get back on her feet.
“Tama. Don’t make me do this. Ya can’t beat me.”
“I wasn’t trying to beat you, Dingo. Tryin nya take you back.”
“That ain’t happening. Sorry. Just give up on whatever silvers Douglas promised ya.” Rogus sheathed his greatsword and extended his hand. “I don’t want to hurt ya more than I need to. Can ya at least look the other way until I become a Hero?”
“You? A Hero? Nyahahaha! Erk! My ribbs!”
“Yer only going to hurt yourself if ya don’t calm down. What are ya laughing for? That wasn’t easy to say without embarrassing myself ya know?!”
“No hard feelings but, you chose the wrong side Rogus. You know the Archer from earlier? She has a Hero’s crest.”
“She does?! How did she get one? The Giant that was with us had one too.”
“The thing is, that Rozzalian who had a crest before Tomoe did was aquatinted with the grumpy one. Supposedly, Nyie heard she got hers the day after the apocalypse by opening a path for the grumpy one to escape.”
“What about the Archer?”
“She got hers by saving the grumpy one. It’s a private matter, you should ask her if you want to know.”
Rogus gulped. Did it mean he chose the wrong person to follow? There was no doubt the Oracle who recruited him had the power to fight the Towers, but the fake possessed an identical power. Thinking thoroughly, the Oracle’s other feats were unknown.
He started to doubt the Oracle.
The Oracle’s only connection to the Rozzalian was a slave master contract. A forced contract. Meanwhile, the heroes had genuine connections with the fake to who they both earned a Hero’s crest.
Rogus knew Tama for all his life as a reliable informant if not the best he’s ever known. She gathered information about creatures he used to hunt down to the very detail of their behaviors and diets, though the cost was to split materials with her.
He sensed Tama had completely given up the will to fight. Although there was a chance she lied to him, her words aligned with occurring events.
“I also heard Xu’s sacred tree bloomed thanks to the grumpy one.”
“Bloomed as in?”
“Xu is recuperating, and they are now slowly taking back their lands stolen from the Towers. Vivrus too.”
It was an absurd claim. The Oracle Rogus followed never mentioned anything about Sacred Trees to be part of the Oracle’s duty. Then again, he was told after clearing a dungeon they managed to cleanse Easul of the Tower’s influence.
After fighting within numerous dungeons in Stusis, he realized the group never came close to what they claimed. On the other hand, Tama’s words sound more plausible.
Even when the Oracle supposedly liberated Easul from the Tower’s influence, the lands of that country are still contaminated.
“Dammit! I don’t know anymore! But I know I ain’t going back!”
“Stop throwing a tantrum. You’re not a pup anymore.” Tama then smirked as she rubbed her paws. “Y’knyow, the grumpy one is currently trying to recruit a member of the Scalemen to become a hero. Depending on my mood, maybe I can convince him to let you become one.”
“Maybe?”
“I can’t guarantee anything. The grumpy one isn’t a fool to trust strangers easily. Especially one that was an enemy to him. I can only put in a good word for you. If he considers it, the rest will be on you.”
There was no guarantee as Tama said, but Rogus knew this to be his last opportunity of his dream. He was told he had qualifications to become a Hero by the Oracle. What if the Oracle was wrong? What if qualifications didn’t matter? What if he chose wrong?
“This is so much to take in… I need time to think.”
“Could you at least help treat the injuries you gave me while you’re contemplating?”
“Oh right. Do ya have medical supplies-?” Rogus took a whiff, the scent of burnt wood filled the air. The smell started off as faint, growing stronger. “Tama, we’re getting out of here!”
He put Tama’s arm over his shoulders and dove for cover. Raging flames turned everything behind them to ash.
A figure emerged from a pile of burnt debris holding a shield up.
Alc’Bruk, The Crimson’s Wrath, fell from the skies to deliver a quaking blow against Draigh’s shield.
“Goliath, has your strength waned? You have became so pitifully weak compared to our previous encounters!”
Draigh knocked Alc’Bruk’s deer horned knife aside and threw a fist into the Dragonborn’s face. The ground around them trembled.
“Hrm… was that all?” Alc’Bruk glared at the fist pushing against the side of his face. “My turn!”
“Like I’d let you!”
Draigh ducked a straight punch and grabbed Alc’Bruk’s wrists. He tossed the Dragonborn over his shoulders. Before he was able to throw his foe onto the ground, Alc’Bruk flapped his wings, orientating himself to land on his feet in preparations to counterattack.
Draigh suddenly jumped and head butted Alc’Bruk’s snout. He leapt after the stumbling Dragonborn and rammed his armor gauntlet into his foe’s stomach.
The ground reverberated. The powerful beat echoed across the air. Draigh felt as if his fist punched an unmovable wall with Alc’Bruk taking the impact unflinching.
The Dragon’s ire locked onto him. Between his fangs, embers spat out.
“I’m not done yet!” Draigh roared.
He pushed forward with his entire weight and hurled Alc’Bruk into a set of buildings before the flame breath escaped the Dragonborn’s maw. Pebbles and debris flung into the air soon rained down.
“That’s the Goliath and the Dragonborn. They’re monsters…” Rogus muttered.
“Hey you, let go of the Werecat!”
“Hang on! I ain’t fighting her!”
“It’s true, Sir Goliath. I managed to talk to this mutt. I’m sure the Grumpy one mentioned a Lycanthrope he wanted me to convince.” Tama waved a paw casually at Draigh. “This is him.”
“So what? Is he a friend?”
“Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. I haven’t received an answer from him.”
Rogus hesitated on giving an immediate reply. Depending on his choice, he’d have the Goliath or the Dragonborn as his enemy. Preferably Rogus would like to avoid fighting Alc’Bruk, but the Goliath, who faced the Dragonborn toe to toe, stood on the same side as Tama. Maybe, just maybe the two of them could force the Dragonborn to retreat or even defeat him.
He set Tama gently down.
“An acquaintance, Goliath. I’ll prove it to ya.” Rogus faced the direction of the Dragonborn marching towards them. “Tama, go find somewhere to hide.”
“Aye! Got it!”
“Curse you, Leotharp! I now understand why Teach highly regard you as his pupil. You have a way with words to sway the heart of the Oracle’s companions to your side!” Alc’Bruk bellowed. “I shall show gratitude in place of the Oracle for weeding out unfaithful Heretics!”
A ring of crimson light expanded beneath Alc’Bruk and everything it passed was assailed with a mass of scorching air.
“Goliath, how are ya injuries?”
“No bruises, only light scratches. I’d appreciate some help though. He’s got a tough hide.”
“Good! With this, I’ll be sure to cross hunting a Dragon off my list!” Rogus grinned. “[Rolling Crown]!”
There was a ringing of metal as their weapons met. Sparks showered over ruins as Alc’Bruk’s fiery blades blocked an overwhelming somersault strike.
The Dragonborn spotted a large shield rushing him and slammed his tail in retort. His jaws spat flames, driving his attackers away.
Rogus and Draigh were assailed by a mass of hot air. Their stamina was rapidly being drained away just by standing within the sea of flames created from the Dragonborn’s flame breath.
“Fall, Traitor!”
Alc’Bruk threw his entire weight forward and unleashed a powerful slash dicing up a building Rogus stood in front of. Debris shaped of cubes toppled into a pile with their faces cleanly cut.
“Hey you, get out of there!” Draigh warning.
After landing back on his feet, Rogus was faced with a deep crimson light shining his way and dive away. A destructive magic beam disintegrated everything within its path. Thanks to Draigh’s warning, Rogus emerged with the hair on his left shoulder sizzling.
Draigh then saw Alc’Bruk soar towards him and threw a punch at the Dragonborn’s fist. A shockwave detonated around them, blasting everything around them away.
Visible signs of tiredness were written over Rogus and Draigh’s expression while Alc’Bruk kept his top form.
“Alc’Bruk, answer me this. Why are you hellbent on killing all Scalemen?”
“Then Goliath, I ask of you. What worth do the Scalemen have for you to sacrifice your life to protect them?”
“I dunno. It felt right.”
“Then what of us Dragonkins? We who bravely fought the front lines, idiotically believe we’d receive reinforcements. We who were sacrificed and left behind. We who were the first to stand against enemies of Stusis to protect everyone!”
“Protecting? Look at you. You’re killing everyone else!”
“Were we also not worth protecting?! Is that why nobody lent us a helping hand?!” Alc’Bruk roared. “Are we merely antagonized because of our suffering? Know this, Goliath, you have also abandoned us in our time of need.”
“I didn’t! I just chose what’s best to save more lives-.”
“And that is your sin! There are no longer words to convey our grievances to you any longer. You have been branded as a Heretic!”
A projection of the Crimson Dragon wrapped over Alc’Bruk, ascending him to the second stage of the Elder Dragon’s blessing with a change. While increasing his offensive abilities, it doubled as armor to protect him from physical attacks.
“All Heretics shall submit to the Crimson’s Wrath! Burn in my presence!”
But before Alc’Bruk commenced his assault, their battle was interrupted by an explosion from the base of the Tower. Shortly after, a red star flew under the crimson clouds with smoke trailing behind.