48

The Edge of the Swamp

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

Almost eight hours had passed since the first signal was given and the fires started blazing. Night had arrived and the temperature had dropped. But for Alduin’s group, this proved to be their most active period.

A roadblock they had been trying to cross ever since they started hunting lizardmen lay in front of them. They had arrived at one of this city’s main streets.

Small currents were blazing in Alduin's eyes. However, his serious expression betrayed his worries. “Five lesser-lizardmen,” Alduin counted, “Two regular ones.”

A heavy sigh rang out from the alley they were hiding in. Alduin looked at his group. They had reached this place before. One of the main roads in this city. But from their hesitation, it was clear how dangerous this challenge would be.

“They have really made this district their territory, haven’t they?” Veleda nervously said, “They seem to be everywhere.”

“We can’t wait much longer,” Leon replied. “Right now we’re at an advantage, who knows what will happen if we wait.”

“What about-“ But Ise didn’t finish her words.

They all knew what she wanted to say. They had spent the last hours hunting lizardmen while slowly making their way toward the army's location. But each time they reached this road, they turned around.

Each retreat was to look for a different path or to increase their experience. They had reached closer to where the first explosion was heard. But the more they approached the west district. The clearer “that” became.

“I don’t think we should head further west,” Alduin paused. “The gunshots are decreasing, we don’t know how close our pursuers are either. But most importantly-“

Silence descended as they all looked to their right. The dungeon that had replaced the landmark of the west district came into view. A massive Gothic tower. Even from such a distance, the terror it gave them overwhelmed what they felt from the Lizardmen.

Alduin looked back at them and thought, ‘we’ve gone over all our options already, and we can’t turn around either.’

They were bound to arrive at this place as the encirclement tightened. The question was, do they cross it on their own accord, or wait until they didn’t have a choice anymore?

Alduin remained silent as he once more went over their discussion. ‘They have completely surrounded us, even the risk of fighting them is increasing. Not to mention…’ Alduin thought, ‘We still don’t know where those high-lizardmen are.’

“We can’t hide,” Alduin said, convincing himself. “We know they are closing in on us, even if we hide, the patrols of that area will only increase.”

The three of them stared at him.

“Most buildings were broken into, and even if we hold out, we can’t stay there forever.” Alduin was merely repeating everything they had discussed. But the doubt in their heart was slowly fading as the conviction of killing lizardmen returned.

As if trying to convince himself, his voice softly said, “This time we’re ready, we have finally found a location and we have plenty of experience taking them down.”

Ise looked at him and nodded. There was no use in delaying it anymore. They stood with their backs against the wall and their options were clear.

“I think it’s fine too,” Veleda broke the silence. But as all three of them turned to her she started blushing. “I mean, you’re right. You don’t have to mind me!”

“No, you’re right,” Ise said, “The longer we wait, the smaller our chances.” She smiled at Veleda. But her hands started gripping her daggers as her cold expression returned.

Alduin grabbed Veleda’s hand and thought, ‘They’re all supporting me in their own way.’ The pressure of carrying the burden on his own lessened.

All three of them agreed with him. They would take the next step forward.

They needed to aim for the opposite side of the street. The fire still glowed the night sky red. And the intermittent gunshots proved the army was still holding out.

The problem was, the opposite side hardly resembled a city anymore. Debris, mud, and water. A mixture of this sludge flowed between the buildings across the street. Like the appearance of a sinkhole, the sudden expansion of a swamp was slowly devouring the buildings.

The main road marked the edge of the claimed lizardman’s territory. It was the edge of the colony and the heart of the lizardman's lair. A swamp waited in front of them.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

And like an infection, the entire street was painted with sludge.

But this time, their group had adapted to fighting them. Hit and run. Clean thrusts and short fights. But the problem was, while they had experience fighting three of them, right now they would be facing seven.

***

Demolished cars cluttered the street. Targets for the lizardman’s tail swipes had left wrecks in its place. But hiding behind them, their soft steps carried them closer to their targets without being seen.

‘Veleda.’ Alduin looked back. ‘She’s still behind me.’ His heart felt at ease. ‘Seems like Ise and Leon are in position as well.’

Alduin took controlled breaths. His focus now landed on the ground. ‘This time will be different.’

His eyes burned with conviction. They had taken the next step, they couldn’t pass this place unnoticed. Each of them used their utmost attention.

‘Those three are mine,’ Alduin thought as he used more strength to breathe. The warm current followed the circuit in his body cleanly. ‘One lizardman with a spear, two lesser-lizardmen.’

Alduin turned to Ise and signaled. ‘I’m ready.’

And like the gunshot at the start of a race, a throwing knife coursed through the air.

His mind became clear. His perception became sharp. With steady steps, Alduin shot forward. His breathing was under his complete control.

A hissing noise erupted from his side. Ise’s target drew all attention.

‘I’ve got him!’ Steadying himself, he couldn’t help but slide forward. But it didn’t matter, the twisting of his torso and his arm that launched forward was enough to hit their mark.

“HA!” A shout rang out from behind him, but he didn't look. He trusted his friends.

His target turned to the side and showed its eyes. Blood-red with a pitch-black vertical pupil. The moment it tried hissing at Leon, Alduin arrived.

‘Pierce!’

Blood erupted. A hard object held the spear back. The jolt was a signal for Alduin to retreat.

Each step he took almost cracked the ground. The main focus of this fight was to improve his footwork. And with large steps, he arrived at a lesser-lizardman.

“HA!” Alduin used Leon’s tactic to draw attention.

‘Got him!’ And before the second one could even defend. Another thrust was used.

Once again, a hard surface blocked the speartip as blood erupted. Two thrusts hit their target, each of them piercing straight through their brain as he hit their skulls.

‘Next.’ Alduin felt his perception increase. A current of electricity seemed to rejoice as the warmth spread over his body.

Each breath gave him an exhilarating experience from his spine to his brain. But this time, his heartbeat didn’t go out of control. This time, blood didn’t want to rise up his throat.

Joy and excitement.

The speed of his growth increased after each fight. The energy circuit seemed to grow wider as his perception grew sharper.

A resounding impact rang out.

Alduin’s eyes opened wide. “FUCK!”

The thrill of combat was hard to get used to as the back of a car was launched at him. Sliding over the mud, this wasn't something he could dodge. But before the car hit him, he jumped in the air and allowed himself to be launched back.

HAH, his breath escaped him as he landed almost a meter back.

But this time he didn’t falter. He didn’t lose his balance. The spear that was used to defend him had bent out of shape and Alduin threw it forward.

The third target approached him with erratic steps. It still showed strength but its speed wasn't comparable to before. He couldn’t help but smile as he said, “Perfect!”

He still had to get used to the mud. But compared to the first time, he now managed to show his full strength even in a disadvantageous position.

Alduin reached the first lizardman he killed and stole his metal spear. It was almost the same as his earlier one. For the first time, he took a moment to overlook the battlefield.

Several shrieks were already heard.

“Three left!” Alduin said with joy. A smile painted his face, Ise had succeeded in killing the other lizardman, and Leon had killed a lesser-lizardman in the first encounter.

Only three were left. Each of them was facing one.

Alduin shot forward again.

The creature had also looked around at the same time. A deep breath was taken. A raging voice seemed to whistle as the air met the liquid in its throat. The lizardman started shrieking.

Alduin’s eyes turned sharp but he didn’t stop his approach.

‘Aim!’ For the last time, the lesson he had learned while facing the boar showed itself.

‘Anchor!’ He steadied himself as his torso twisted.

“Pierce!” He shouted out.

The thrust shot forward like a blazing bolt of lightning. A bright light seemed to reflect in Alduin’s eyes. The surroundings slowed down, and the speartip entered the lizardman’s mouth.

Vicious eyes met Alduin’s. But Alduin wasn’t intimidated. No, his eyes seemed even more ruthless than this monster’s. From the moment he faced the Goblin Captain, all aversion to killing different creatures had dissipated.

The brain stem was pierced from its open mouth. The last lizardman he faced slumped down.

His breathing had turned erratic near the end of the fight. But the feeling of exhilaration only seemed to increase.

Alduin’s eyes instantly found Ise and Leon. His adrenaline was spiking once again. His thoughts were racing through his mind, ‘They both succeeded!’

He couldn't believe it was going this smoothly. They had trained a lot for this moment but everybody fulfilled their roles perfectly. The last two lizardmen fell down. Even Ise, who wasn’t strong in direct close combat, had succeeded in taking her second opponent down.

‘Even if it’s due to hypothermia,’ Alduin wanted to run closer, ‘To think we-‘

His thoughts immediately stopped. His footsteps pushed him to his utmost limits. His eyes landed on Veleda and Hati as he raced forward.

“RUN!” Alduin roared as loud as he could. His eyes opened wide, his thoughts only focused on one thing.

A hissing noise erupted. All of them felt it at the same time.

“Who?!” Ise was the second one to notice as she already pulled Leon ahead.

A flame erupted from an alley further away. A signature of magic shone like a beacon in the night.

They had picked the place with the least amount of lizardmen. They didn’t choose to linger and wait for the net to encircle them. But still-

Alduin reached Veleda, who was running towards him. Barking and hissing erupted at the same time.

“HELP!”

“RUN!” Alduin and Veleda ran to the opposite side of the street. Their target was in front of them.

Countless creatures seemed to be hissing in unison. Four large magic signatures erupted as the flames completely exited the alley.

Not a single one of them had any thought to fight back.

“HELP!”

Not even for the voice that called out to them.