49

The Swamp Devours

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The battlefield that had fallen silent, erupted with a symphony of chaos. Heavy breathing. Erratic steps. The splashing of mud rang out as the situation changed instantly.

‘When chaos reigns, all preparations are for naught.’ This was the sole thought running through Alduin’s mind as he ran for his life.

His steps carried him further. The mud coated his legs. The opposite side of the street was in front of him. But no matter how fast he ran, everything he perceived seemed to slow down.

The energy he tried to control escaped his grasp. It was impossible. Just like how a person who was learning how to run, breathed instinctively in a sprint. So did the energy course through his circuit and his veins without any regard for order.

His hand gripped Veleda’s hand.

Another explosion rang out.

“ISE!” he roared. His instincts were blazing. An unknown feeling welled up in him. The district in front of him was unknown territory.

“ON IT!” A slender figure passed them, with eyes colder than the night and a moonlight wolf following close behind. Both of them became their vanguard wearing a thick coat of mud.

Alduin’s head turned. The chaos became clear in his eyes. Blazing flames erupted in defense as spears of water broke the heat. The impact that followed trumped any sound that could be heard.

‘How much did we try? How much did we prepare?’ Thoughts of regret entered his mind. But he didn’t feel bad for himself. No. He loathed his weakness. He despised this situation. And rage rose up unlike any he had felt before.

‘Twice now.’ Alduin hardly heard a thing in the crescendo of shrieks that erupted from everywhere. ‘Twice, someone ruins everything I prepared!’

His pupils glowed with currents of light. Their plans shattered when they hit reality. The caution they proceeded with all rendered useless by a single unknown element. A single unknown element that had hit at the worst possible time.

“Where are we going?” Leon ran next to them, carrying a sword that seemed sharper than usual.

“The university!” Ise shouted back. “That’s where the army can be heard from.”

Crumbling buildings waited in front of them. Mud was devouring all, as the foundations of this city seemed to have vanished. And right before they entered the swamp of ruins. Another shout rang out.

“HELP US!” A woman’s voice pleaded.

“RUN!” A man shouted back. “Follow them!”

“Midgard - Prison of Water”

The hissing voice once more dominated all. Another spear was coated with water. Ecstasy of this hunt could be heard in its voice with the activation of its circuit.

The high-lizardman that blocked their escape. The creature that ambushed them. The one born in the depths of a swamp, had now caught sight of its prey.

But unlike before, when it was alone, three high-lizardmen had gathered.

“Midgard -”

A man roared back.

“Crimson Eruption!”

A coat of fire exploded forward as a spear impacted the man’s shield. The spear was deflected. But the water violently boiled and exploded into steam. Larger and more impactful than Alduin’s lightning that once burned the liquid, this explosion launched the shield bearer all the way to the other side of the street.

The man passed the woman.

A long trail was etched in the mud. Yet the large shield the man was holding never left his grasp.

“Bertrand!”

Alduin turned around. With a single impact, the man had almost reached them.

‘What do I do?’ Alduin’s heart beat faster. Ise was already ahead of him. The buildings they entered between were crumbling. And the shrieking noise erupted from all around them.

The man looked at him. A pitiful gaze. Eyes that begged for help.

Alduin decided. The anger in his heart was aimed at this man. The danger they faced was caused by them. They could have reached the army safely. And now, every reptile in their surroundings knew of their presence.

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“Keep going!” Alduin let go of Veleda’s hand. “Follow Leon!” He stopped and turned.

The sight of watching the man flying reminded him of his first encounter with the goblins.

“Alduin!” Veleda turned with surprise, but Leon already grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

“Follow quickly!” Leon’s voice returned, they had no time to waste.

“Help!” The woman had almost reached Bertrand.

A well-built man, no older than 28, but with grey hair and sharp eyes looked at Alduin’s approach. The man had lost everything he carried, only a single shield in his arms.

‘That’s not from earth,’ Alduin instantly realized. His eyes filled with rage as he stepped forward with strength.

“Midgard - THUNDERCLAP!”

A raging current of lightning erupted from Alduin’s body. The energy he had long since recovered, once more shone like a beacon in the night sky.

The hand coated in light left streaks and cracks in the air it passed. Burning oxygen and small vacuum pockets sounded out as exploding thunder.

Alduin’s slap hit a spear.

Mist erupted.

‘First out of three,’ Alduin thought. His hand grabbed the gray-haired man by his neck and pulled him out of the mud.

Two eyes, shining with a current of light stared at the other side of the street. Steam flowed from the lizardmen and the three high-lizardmen. Their bodies were heating up as energy coursed through their bodies. Hypothermia couldn't chain them down.

And two brown eyes, with shining blue pupils, stared right back at him.

Hissing laughter rang out. Laughter for having caught their prey. No matter how much they hid, they managed to push it deeper into their territory.

The woman arrived next to Bertrand. Yet, only a single glance was given before she ran after Veleda and Leon.

‘What?!’ Alduin looked back.

The hissing shook the air as the crescendo reached ever higher. Tails smashed into buildings and pavement. Buildings they used to hide in started fracturing as an earthquake seemed to hit.

Alduin stopped any thought he had. His blood turned cold. His arm pulled the man up as he started running.

Another signature of energy could be felt behind him.

Alduin’s eyes opened wide as he pulled the man back down again.

“What!” A voice of rage and confusion could be heard.

“SHUT UP!” Alduin roared back.

The wind split right above their heads. Droplets of water left a trail in the air as another spear was launched.

‘We would have died!’ The rage he felt grew as he saw the woman running farther. Alduin ignored the water as he stood up and pulled Bertrand by his collar.

“Run if you don’t want to die!” he growled and pulled him into motion.

‘I can’t see them anymore,’ Alduin worried about what was ahead. It had only been a short moment, but this was the first time they split up.

‘They’re following us as well.’ His head turned for the last time as countless lesser-lizardmen filled the street. The tremors of their approach could be felt by him.

The steps of Bertrand could be heard behind him. ‘He reached his limit.’ Alduin cursed under his breath as he grabbed the spear that flew over their heads.

Blood had drained from Bertrand’s face. Even his muscular physique seemed smaller than it should be. His gray hair was slicked back with blood-soaked hands.

“How many times have you used it?!” Alduin asked as he turned a corner with quick movements.

But silence replied.

“You don’t have to answer, but if you want to follow us, you’d better listen to me!” Alduin looked back and yelled in anger.

Sharp eyes looked back as Bertrand nodded. “T-“ The man swallowed before he continued, “Three times.”

‘Fuck,’ Alduin thought, but he couldn’t pay attention to this man anymore. Right now, his priority was to catch up with his group.

Intermittent gunshots could still be heard. Alduin’s steps trod through the mud as his running speed was plummeting. The pavement that used to lay here was now submerged to the middle of his shin.

His only lead was the traces left behind by his group and the woman. But relief started to wash over his face. ‘It’s not far anymore!’ Even he started to recognize this neighborhood. ‘The university is near!’

“Where’s Alduin?!”

“He’s behind me! Keep going, they’re right behind us!” An exasperated voice erupted.

“What do you mean?! What happened to them?!”

“Veleda, calm down!” Ise yelled back, "we can’t get distracted."

“What do you me-“ A growl and a bark interrupted Veleda from within her embrace.

“How far are we?” Alduin asked as he turned a corner. He had caught up quicker than he expected.

The cold expression on Ise’s face melted slightly as she noticed Alduin’s approach. “You used it?”

“I had to.” Alduin walked over carrying two spears. “This fucker is dead weight. And you-“ Alduin trudged closer as he stared the woman in her eyes. Unchecked rage coursed through his eyes. “If you pull something like that once more…”

His breathing was rough. His heartbeat hadn’t slowed down. Even the adrenaline that spiked continued to fuel the heat in his navel.

Alduin had already suppressed his rage to its limit. But still, the grip on his spear tightened as small remnants of lighting continued to jolt over his hands and through his eyes.

“Who are you?” The woman snarked back.

Air seemed to explode and a swallow was heard.

A dagger and a spear pointed at the woman. Silence descended, as they all momentarily stopped walking.

“One more word from you and you’ll be our decoy,” Alduin growled at her. His patience had run out. “You’re unreliable, you either listen to what I say, or you stay here and wait for them.”

The tremors of their pursuers seemed to soften. But now, water that coated the mud started to vibrate as the lizardmen closed in on them.

“Ise,” Alduin said, no longer caring about the woman. “We have no time left. We’re heading straight towards the army.”

The detour and scouting they were planning, there was no time for either of them.

“Leon,” Alduin said as he saw Ise increasing her pace. “Carry Veleda on your back.”

The moment she heard him, Veleda wanted to object. But the look in Alduin’s eyes reminded her of the first night in the church.

“Right,” Leon said. There wasn’t much luggage they were carrying. And now, even with Veleda on his back, they would manage to increase their speed.

“Try and keep up,” Alduin ordered the two that tagged along. He had finished observing them. “Prove your worth.” His eyes now stared ahead.

They were close, the gunshots were near.

‘A shield bearer and an archer,’ Alduin thought, the weapons betrayed their specialty. ‘They did well surviving until now.’

His eyes turned sharp as he followed Ise. Their pace increased, and slowly but surely, they were approaching the eye of the storm.