1.07

“Do we even have a choice?” Sharampf asked. Prepared to fight, they backed up the way they came.

An ear-splitting hiss sliced through the air as the monster spat up thick web and covered up the exit.

“Nope,” said Bodwyn.

“You three take care of the swarms. I’ll keep the monster at bay, join me when you’re done.” Fenrick and Tad kicked into gear and rushed off before anyone could react.

“On his own, is he mad?” Sharampf asked.

“Just determined,” said Mamzo.

In a single, slick motion, Fenrick grabbed a spear from Tad’s shell, leapt over the incoming amanitas, and hurled the weapon at the spider. Without missing a beat, Fenrick closed the gap, with Tad close behind.

Fenrick slid under the spider, narrowly avoided a bite, and slashed at the thick legs with his sword. Thick, green, and black ichor oozed from the gash.

Three amanitas, sharpened sticks in hand, charged at Bodwyn. He quickly released a bolt, it struck the head of one, and killed it instantly. Green ooze trickled from the wound.

With a snap reload, Bodwyn fired again. However, the bolt flew high and buried itself into a tree. The two attackers were on him now, and he did his best to avoid being hit.

Bodwyn made to leap over his attackers, but faltered in howling pain as a stick bit and tore through his foot. Bodwyn was buried under the two before he could react.

Mamzo quickly had four on him. He dodged and weaved and parried like a dancer. His blades flashed out and found purchase into one of the amanitas. Withdrawing the blade, Mamzo raised the pair and sunk each into a different part of the mushroom. The green ooze sprayed out and some landed on Mamzo’s arm. It burned his skin.

Mamzo weaved and parried, his movements like a dancer. A violent splash of green blood, and his attackers fell from four to three.

Overcome with a sort of frenzy, his three attackers flared with an onslaught of blinding attacks. Mamzo’s daggers flashed like petals in the wind, and they too exploded in fountains of green.

In two fights in as many days, Sharampf was overcome with a nervous excitement.

Surrounded by eight, Sharampf worked her mechanical arm and swatted four of the amanitas away.

The remaining four closed in from separate directions. Sharampf crouched down low, the mechanical hand was now a blade and her weapon spun like a fan above her and sliced the four amanitas in half. The first four rejoined the fray, they didn’t last long.

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Sharampf shuddered a little from the gore. She looked up and saw Mamzo fighting his way to help Bodwyn. Sharampf made to join them.

Thick blood oozed from a hundred cuts. The spider hissed in rage and a sly grin appeared on Fenrick’s face. The thrill of the fight boiled his blood and surged through his muscles.

Fenrick spun as he sensed an incoming amanita. He made quick work of the enraged mushroom. Seizing the opportunity, the spider thrust its stinger at Fenrick. A gush of water blasted him out of the way.

“Thanks Tad.” Fenrick quickly readied himself and rushed at the spider again.

Tad quickly retreated into her shell as she sensed the incoming danger. A tremendous blow struck her shell and she skidded away.

A sudden explosion of green mist rapidly filled the area. Fenrick felt his legs start to wobble as the noxious gas slowly choked the life from him. His vision blurred and he hit the ground with a thud.

“Go help him,” Mamzo barked at Sharampf. She nodded and ran over to help Fenrick.

Tad growled by his side, eyeing the monster with a protective menace.

“It’s okay Tad, I’m here to help.” She bent down and scooped the little warrior up in her arms.

Before she could react, a mighty impact launched Sharampf and Fenrick away. She watched as Tad’s shell withstood a bite from the beast. The spider reared and hissed, and Tad hustled away from danger.

“Thankyou.” Sharampf ran over to the others.

Bodwyn had propped himself up on one elbow, and they watched as the last of the amanitas retreated in silent fear. Only one remained. The one Bodwyn had shot, stood atop the great spider.

“How do we beat it? We’re down our best fighter,” Bodwyn asked.

“I don’t know,” replied Mamzo.

“We just have to try.” Sharampf stood up and readied her weapon.

“Throw me at it,” coughed Fenrick.

“Hey, you’re alright?” Sharampf looked at Fenrick, impressed with his tenacity.

“Throw me at it, with your arm. At its head.” Sharampf nodded and scooped Fenrick up with her mechanical hand. She approached the spider and Fenrick readied himself.

“Now!” Sharampf hurled Fenrick. Fenrick raised his sword, in a reverse grip, over his head.

The spider saw him coming and opened its maw. Ooze dripped from its mouth, and it spewed more web at the incoming missile.

Covered in web, Fenrick drove his sword down into the face of the spider. Green ooze spewed out everywhere. The burning blood splashed against his skin and Fenrick grimaced at the pain.

He pulled out his sword and drove it in again. The green ooze exploded like a geyser.

The spider swayed on its legs before collapsing. Fenrick pulled his sword and kicked away from the spider. He backflipped and landed five feet away.

The little mushroom creature with the bolt in its body looked at them, terrified.

“Go. We only ask for safe passage,” said Fenrick. The amanita nodded and scurried off back into the forest.

“Why’d you let it go?” Mamzo asked.

“Enough killing today, don’t you think?” Fenrick approached Tad, who was still hiding in her shell. He gave it a knock. “Thanks for saving my life again. Time to come out. Fenrick gave her chin a scratch.

“Are you okay to keep going though? You took in a lot of that poison gas,” Sharampf asked.

“Only a minor setback, I’m all good now. Not the first deadly poison I’ve come across.”

“What do you mean?”

“Poison gasses had become a popular weapon in the war from most parties involved. It was dirty.” Fenrick pulled his spear out of the head of the dead spider and put it back on Tad’s shell.

“The war, just how bad was it?” Bodwyn asked.

“It got to a point, tens of thousands would die in mere moments. New weapons, tactics and magics were developed at a rapid pace. Always trying to outdo each other. Monsters from other worlds were even used.” Mamzo felt an old pain from deep within rear its ugly head.

“Sounds…bad,” said Bodwyn.

“Hope to the Paragons that it never happens again.” Mamzo helped Bodwyn up and the three of them took off after Fenrick.