I don’t have to try very hard to find Malgazar’s tracks, ignoring the fact that this hilltop is decently small, the trail of carnage it leaves passing through an area is more than obvious, even for my flawed vision.

Passing by desecrated corpse after desecrated corpse I start to wonder if Malgazar really requires any aid from me.

I don’t even face any resistance as I push deeper into this hastily set up encampment.

It really helps put things into perspective, I mean this was a five hundred strong army, granted around a hundred of them weren’t present since they were harassing our own army.

But still, a whole four hundred Rovers have tried and failed to bring down me and Malgazar.

I can’t get conceited though, that mage for example could very well have been the death of me.

Well, it wouldn't have been a true death but it would still have been incredibly damaging to my renown, now at least should I perish there is no one to mock my failings.

Since the sounds of battle are starting to become duller, I pick up the pace, sprinting around hide tents and boulders to get to Malgazar.

I’ve taken care of the brunt of the Rover forces just as instructed but we still need to kill Vaelor.

So long as the leaders remain armies can be remade.

Especially considering this was apparently just a coalition of a few tribes and bandit groups, I imagine that made them rather expendable and easy to replace.

Charging around a particularly large boulder I reach Malgazar, as well as a very alive Vaelor.

The bodies of half a dozen soldiers litter the ground but not a single one of them is from Vaelor’s personal guards.

Those humans all remain standing, some are bleeding but not a single one bears any significant injuries.

I can’t blame Malgazar for failing to do its duty though, each and every last one of those guards wields an enchanted weapon that pulsates with energy on par with a knight's weapons.

Vaelor himself is even wearing enchanted armour.

How was this possibly just a minor army sent to delay the Empire's one?

Aren’t Rovers meant to have difficulty crafting enchanted weapons? Either my creator’s wrong, or they’ve improved on their methods.

Or this could have just all been a trick to lure in the Empire's knights and then kill them off.

I want to retreat back down this hill and warn my creator but I can’t.

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It’s like there's chains binding me, keeping me here.

No, not chains, orders, I can’t disobey my orders.

Desperately I try to send feelings of panic and nervousness through our link but it doesn’t work, we’re just too far apart.

So, with no small amount of reluctance, I move forwards to join the ongoing battle.

Malgazar’s missing its right limb and has countless deep cuts that coat its whole body but I’m still fresh so to speak.

I’m only slightly hungry, I have enough mana to spare should I be injured.

The question is what should I do?

If Vaelor wasn’t wearing enchanted armour I would charge them, sacrificing my life for his.

But as it stands that seems unlikely to work, still perhaps I can kill off a few of his personal guards?

I have to be quick though, so although it might not be wise, I lower all of my tentacles to the ground, curling them up like springs.

Then I shoot forth like a loosened arrow, intent on delivering relief to my fellow summon and death to the guards.

I try to spear the first guard with one of my tendrils since she was in a rather unmanoeuvrable position.

But with lightning fast reflexes she darts to the side, avoiding my strike before bringing down her sword on my overextended tentacle, cleaving through it with ease.

What's worse is that this attack seems to drain my mana, as my minor hunger grows stronger.

Not slowing down I let my momentum carry me past her and towards a trio of guards.

This time instead of trying to spear them, I try to whip them, swinging my tendrils around wildly.

I’m met with mild success as I strike one of the guards in the face and another on his sword arm.

Despite literally having their flesh flayed they don’t show any signs of pain, quickly counter attacking me with incredible speed

With no one left to charge, I try to turn myself around, skidding embarrassingly to a stop as I do so.

Still, the end result is that I’m now facing my foes so that's the main thing.

Malgazar’s to my right but I don’t think I can count on it too much.

Judging by how many wounds its got it must be absolutely starving.

I know I sure am, I've only lost a few limbs and I already feel like I’m wasting away.

Thankfully the guards seem a bit taken aback by my appearance, giving me enough time to ask one very important question, just what had gone wrong?

Enchanted weapons were immensely costly, I mean you had to sacrifice at least ten humans just to get an Elysara enchantment.

Considering each one of these guards had an Elysara enchantment on their weapons that meant the number of sacrificed people was likely over a hundred.

Ignoring the lives spent, what about the time and effort that went into creating these enchantments?

Plus it's not like they’re permanent enchantments, that would be ludicrous.

So then why were they willing to invest so much in this select group, what were they after?

Was there anything at all that I can use to sway the tides of battle in my favour?

Clearly not a big fan of waiting around, Malgazar stumbles forwards, provoking the Rovers to continue their offence.

Putting the possible ideas and solutions on hold I move forward as well to back them up.

Extending my appendages in all directions I prepare for the climax, no matter how fast these guards are, I’ll make sure they won’t have anywhere to escape to.