42
Hunting the Lizardmen
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“We’re talking about remains, mainly bodies of those creatures, no matter how small, to the food they consume. Any item that looks valuable will increase your contribution to the camp as well.”
The words of the army clerk still rang fresh in their minds. Each of the volunteers had received a mission to get to a designated point and wait for a signal from the army. Yet not a single survivor had received adequate information.
While it didn’t matter how they got there, it was even advised to hide from, and avoid these enemies, the impression all volunteers had gotten from the army’s information was far from what reality proved to be.
But Alduin and his group didn’t care about their mission. They were here for something else, and they were planning to devour everything on their path.
Soft steps were heard as someone walked from behind a corner to the middle of a wide street.
A large creature sat there. Its body bent forward as its thick green scales reflected the sunlight. A massive muscular tail swept over the street as water and mud were launched and painted the buildings at the side of the street with dirt.
Gnawing and hissing rang out as it was occupied with whatever was in front of it.
The language of the lizardman, as foreign as it was, now sounded familiar in her ears. The air was pulled through cheeks filled with liquid until it formed a sort of whistling noise. Yet she couldn’t understand any of what she heard.
Cracks of bones echoed as Ise finally pulled something from her pocket. The pupils of her eyes had a deeper darkness as she saw two legs from behind this creature. Once again, a lizardman had dragged a corpse to soak in a puddle before eating it.
All her physical strength was gathered as a warm current flowed through her arms. And finally, a large stone was aimed at the back of this creature.
A small collision rang out as the stone ricocheted from its muscular and scaled back into a window of a building. The sound overwhelmed the gnawing of this creature and finally, its sweeping tail stopped moving.
The intermittent taps stopped in favor of the creature standing up. Its large body turned. A crocodilian snout with sharp teeth that were completely exposed. The head with yellow eyes and black vertical pupils turned as the flesh of that mangled body still hung from its jaw.
But the moment Ise saw its eye, another stone was thrown with all her strength. She had a target she needed to hit.
Another collision rang out as a hiss of anger erupted. Ise looked with a frown at the creature in front of her, she no longer hid her presence and her voice muttered coldly, “I missed.”
The large lizardman finally took a step forward. Its thick leg pushed its claw into the pavement, sharp nails left marks, and thick webbing spread between its toes. This was quickly followed by another as the lizardman started running forward.
While its body was adapted to move around on dry land, it was obvious this was not its preferred terrain. Yet, even so, the strength of this creature pushed it to a speed one wouldn’t give such a large creature credit for.
Ise threw several stones, but while most could hit the lizardman’s head, not a single one hit its eyes. She was still getting used to her strength as well as actual combat, so whenever she had time, she tried to increase her experience.
“There’s no more time,” Ise said with disappointment. She turned around and ran, a raging hissing noise screeched through the street as it followed her. Even from a distance, the shout still gave Ise an uncomfortable sensation.
Her steps were faster than the heavy lizardman as she disappeared behind the corner. The creature screeched in rage as it passed the houses with even more ferocity.
The claws gave it incredible traction, but right now, the streets were far removed from being a swamp. Long gashes marked the pavement as the lizardman made a tight corner, its thick tail swung to the back and its eyes spotted Ise.
But before its shout could ring out, a sharp knife was thrown. A voice of joy resounded as the creature hissed with madness, “I GOT HIM!”
Even more enraged, the creature ran towards the fragile human. Its charge cared not for the houses it passed. But its heavy steps betrayed its approach. Before it even knew what was going on, a shout rang from its side.
“HA!” From an open door to the side of this monster, a blond-haired young man charged forward. Leon pushed himself forward with all his might.
A loud impact followed. A screech of chaos rang out as the lizardman was launched to the other side of the street. Its charge made it lose all stability it prided itself in.
“NOW!” Another shout rang out as the thick yellow eyes, and pitch-black pupils stared up. It tried its hardest to move to the side, but before its muscular tail even moved, an ash-gray thorn already pierced its brain.
The screech rang out again, the hissing noise of madness was accompanied by the convulsing muscles. But slowly everything stopped and silence descended.
Two callous eyes stared down at its target. A ruthless expression watched the creature’s death throes closely. With a final twist, the thick spear was pulled out of this creature’s brain.
The only thing that remained was a gauged-out eye socket that was slowly being filled with thick slimy blood.
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“It’s already dead?” Leon who had stabilized himself after his shield bash walked over in surprise. His eyes stared at the scaled monster lying in front of him. “When do I get to use my sword? How come they keep dying so quickly?”
Alduin looked up and started smiling. “HA!” He mimicked Leon as he started laughing. “What was that, why do you announce your position when making a sneak attack?”
Leon looked up from the scaly creature and laughed back. “You’re one to say that, now, anchor, pierce, does that really help?”
Leon touched the sword on his waist. But his hand continued gripping his spear as he approached even closer. “Ise, seems like your accuracy is increasing.”
The black-clothed woman walked closer with Veleda and Hati in tow. Her cold dark eyes stared at the corpse of this monster. Yet disappointment was etched on her expression as she said, “I thought I pierced its eye, I still missed it slightly.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that you’re improving,” Alduin said, “Seems like it’s been paying off.” His eyes landed on the creature, a deep gash could be seen, right behind its eye, in the soft part of its eyelid.
Their capabilities were slowly improving, even their teamwork had become smoother. It had only been the fourth lizardman they killed, but they felt much more confident fighting one.
“Let’s make this the last one, I think we’ve gathered enough information.” Alduin finally decided. “What do you think?”
“I’m fine either way,” Ise pulled a sharp kitchen knife from one of her back pockets and started experimenting on their target.
‘Four kills,’ Alduin thought, ‘We should be ready to face them head-on now.’
They had changed their tactics to cover their weaknesses. They had stopped close combat until they finally understood their physiology completely. Veleda played her part as well, everything they collected was noted down by her. And gradually, several places were found to be the largest weaknesses of these reptiles.
“I’m fine to stop luring them as well,” Leon spoke up, his feet firmly anchored on the ground. “But let’s find a place without any mud just to be safe.”
A wide smile bloomed on Alduin’s face. His eyes looked at Ise and Leon as he saw them regain their lost confidence. The oppressive unknown of entering the outskirts of the ruined city was being unveiled. His thoughts eventually gathered as the grip on his spear increased, ‘This time we’re ready.’
Neither Alduin nor Ise had released their attribute ever since the first fight. They both limited the flow of energy to their muscles, just like Leon did, and they were finally getting used to their increased capabilities as awakened.
But Alduin’s eyes eventually landed on Veleda. ‘I can’t have her fight with us.’ His heart was still filled with caution about her joining them. ‘Besides, the increase in her physical ability is different from Ise’s. Even Leon and I don’t differ that much. Am I missing something?' As he was worrying about her physical condition, her eyes stared back at him.
A radiant smile formed on her face as she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll listen to you.”
Alduin held eye contact and smiled as well, “We’ll find out what your strengths are, don’t worry. Besides, you’re not the only one.” He walked closer as he picked up the small pup sitting on the ground and continued, “Isn’t that right? When are you going to help us fight, Hati?”
A growl replied back but its eyes were firmly locked on the hand piercing the lizardman’s stomach.
“You want this one as well?” Ise’s cold eyes stared at the pup.
If there was anyone Hati listened to, then it was Veleda. But if there was someone it didn’t dare to defy then it was the woman in front of him. For some reason, it felt like it was the prey of that woman. It could only reply with a small whimper as it lowered its gaze.
“That’s a good dog,” Ise said as she petted the pup with her blood-stained hand. But still, the pup didn’t dare to complain. “Good job.” Ise’s hand pushed the black core in front of it before it was rapidly devoured.
“So, we’re looking for the next one?” Leon asked as he started stretching.
Alduin smiled and replied, “We’re done luring them, it’s time to face them head-on.”
Blades had cut through every part of the lizardman’s body and comparisons had been made to see if there were discrepancies within the species. Everything led to this moment, four people and a pup would finally start their assault. Their preparations were ready, and they had grown with experience.
Thirty minutes were left until they needed to be at their gathering point, but they wouldn’t hide and evade the creatures any longer.
“Ise,” Alduin said, “Get ready.” Three people walked forward in the street towards a lizardman that was facing them.
‘There’s no mud this time,’ Alduin tapped his boots on the ground to make sure its grip wouldn’t slip. “I’m ready.”
A hissing noise rang out from in front of them. The crocodilian would assault them head-on for the first time.
Alduin’s heart beat faster, his anticipation could no longer be contained. His expression carried a wide smile as the spear, which was significantly taller than him, stood next to him.
The charge of the lizardman was intimidating. Its eyes set on devouring them as it ran closer.
“Leon,” Alduin said to the man in front of him.
“I’m good.” His eyes were also burning. Leon felt a strong current flow through his body as strength gathered in his limbs. “Here it comes!”
Sharp claws broke the pavement. It had arrived in front of them. Using the momentum of its charge, the torso of the lizardman turned as the muscular tail was used as a whip.
“HA!” Leon held the thick metal shield in front of him as energy coursed through his body.
A loud collision rang out, but this time Leon held his ground.
‘Now!’ Alduin thought, his arm shot forward to the backside of the lizardman’s leg. ‘It’s turned!’ Excitement washed through him as the back of the lizardman was exposed.
The thickest part of its scales was located on its back, the thick protrusions of solid scales made it the perfect defense. Together with a long muscular tail, the combat style of this creature was easy to figure out. But this also provided them with an opportunity.
Almost instantly after the spear shot out, an ear piercing shriek rang out as the lizardman dropped through its knee. A gaping hole was left between its thigh and calf. The spear had pierced through the back of its leg until it shattered its kneecap.
“BACK!” Alduin yelled out, their strategy relied on speed. Both Leon and Alduin performed a hit-and-run.
And now, the second phase of their strategy commenced. The desperation of the lizardman was visible as it started thrashing with its tail. Even Leon would find it hard to block the continuous attacks, but they didn’t need to worry. It was out of their range and it couldn't move.
“NOW!” Alduin shouted to the front.
A sharp dagger was thrown, the moment the lizardman became immobile, Ise had already passed its position.
The shriek rose in tension as the lizardman grabbed its head.
“NOW!” Alduin followed the rhythm of this fight as both he and Leon pushed closer again. The tail swept right in front of them, but they only needed one opportunity.
UGH, A grunt rang out from Leon as his arms shook from the impact. But his feet were firmly anchored in the ground.
From the opposite side of Leon's defense, the three-meter-long spear, an ash-gray thorn shot forward. The lizardman’s tail was held back, it's side was completely open.
Large crocodilian jaws coated in blood became visible. But Alduin no longer intimidated him. Even the scales that seemed impossible to penetrate no longer held him back. But most of all, the viciousness in its eyes was no match to the viciousness that Alduin showed.
“DIE!” A shout of triumph rang out as Alduin launched his spear with such strength that it became a blur.
Blood erupted, a thick vein was pierced, and the spear in Alduin’s hands bulged the thick scales on the lizardman’s neck from the inside out.