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After some rest, we gathered our strength and headed to Wastemines the White Evenness.
We arrived with the sun high in the sky, being certain that we did not wish a repeat of the previous incident, in which we were
ambushed as we lay camp.
We approached from the west, and managed to glimpse a dragon landing some way to the east of us, beyond the mouth of the cave.
Hoping to negate the necessity for a cramped battle inside the cave, we approached the beast, hoping it was alone, and was the one we had been sent to slay.
Melica and the others voiced their concerns as we crept up on it. They felt that we could have no hope of successfully defeating both dragons in the one day, and I could certainly understand their worry.
We crept up carefully. But we didn't see them.
Arc wondered aloud where the beast could be, and just then we spotted them. Both of them.
They hade been resting on the grass together, bathing in the sun. Our intrusion had stirred them and they turned upon us angrily.
They descended on Entropy as one, grabbing him.
One crushed his throat as the other sought to tear him to shreds, starting first by biting off his weapon arm.
As he screamed silently, unable to draw breath, I leapt atop one of the pair, slashing out its throat.
At my side was Melica, busy trying to distract them from Entropy.
I shouted at her to get away, and I was surprised to discover her obey. She later confided in me she was so scared she couldn't think of doing anything but obeying orders.
The brother of the dying beast saw its sibling's mortal wound, and tossed Entropy aside, finally dead, turning its attentions on poor Jintor, who was shattered in mere moments.
Bob, now terrified out of his wits, started running, and was pursued by the dragon I had mortally wounded, now enraged in its final moments. I used the chaos to deliver a mighty blow to the uninjured dragon.
I nearly pulverised its face, as I slashed downward, cleaving through its head, slashing away both eyes, damaging its horns, and slicing through its throat. The blow was enough to render the monster unconscious, as well as blind.
I felt elation, both dragons mortally wounded in the space of a few seconds.
The still active dragon grabbed Bob moments later, only to be confronted by terrified Arc Darkhelm. With the dragon at my feet unconscious, I turned my attentions to saving Bob, while Kalen and the others got to work dismantling the fallen dragon.
As the others started hacking at the fallen dragon, I engaged the active dragon, reaching it as it loomed over Bob.
I buried my blade in its hip, and found myself unable to extract it. I thanked providence that I always carried at least one spare, and didn't skip a single beat in renewing my assault.
With its attention turned to me, I quickly found myself embroiled in a dance of death with the remaining dragon, each of us vying for the other's destruction. I was intent on distracting it long enough for it to bleed out, and it was intent on my destruction.
We battled furiously, each gaining the upper hand at times only to be thwarted. Finally, it launched itself into the air over its fallen brother, attempting to destroy us in one blast, whilst evading our weapons.
Regardsless, our blades reached. We made them reach. I slashed mighty wounds in its hide as it sought the sky in cowardice.
Enraged, the beast leapt at me, and despite my shield I was knocked back some distance, sliding through the underbrush unflatteringly. I got to my feet, now knowing I could not continue fighting in the hope of slaying this beast with a single blow.
Not wanting my comrades to be injured, I did the heroic thing, and ran. I intended to do the noble thing by drawing it off them, so that it would bleed out during its chase.
I ran vaguely south, finding that I accidentally discovered Arc Darkhelm hiding behind a tree.
His eyes widened, and I noticed the furious glow of dragonfire around me. I turned suddenly, and blocked the dragonfire.
"Get over here and help, coward!" I shouted at Arc. Seeing the enraged look on my face, he was only too happy to oblige. He probably figured that if he ran, either me or the dragon would end up getting him.
We flanked the beast, battling it fiercely. In the distance I saw my friends shouting as they realised their particular monster had awoken. I ordered Arc to keep this one busy and hurried over to it, ruining the monster's features once again.
Arc was horrified by the prospect of being left to face the dragon on his own and attempted to run after me.
He was engulfed in the flame and emerged from it ablaze.
"Help me!" he screamed, tumbling to the ground beneath the hungry jaws of the dragon, which descended on him seconds later, tearing him to pieces.
I rushed to his assistance too late, though spurred on to end this monster's life sooner rather than later.
I lost my second sword in its scaly hide, pulling out Fistruled, the scimitar I had claimed from the Chaos Lord. This was the last resort.
We danced around the trees, me shielding myself from the infernal breath that turned the trees into pyres.
It became obvious that the struggle was taking its toll on both of us, except the dragon had nothing left to lose.
I was relieved as I saw the others coming to assist me, the other beast evidently having been dealt with.
Likhan was sadly missing from their number. I suspected that I had caught sight of him being caught in dragonfire moments earlier, and surmised his current unfortunate status.
My strength failed me utterly and I collapsed from weariness, hiding behind my shield from the dragon's incessant blows.
"We thought we'd come help ye!" shouted Kalen through the thick smoke, and threw herself at the dragon with vigour.
It's about that time when I blacked out. When I came to, I found myself some ways distant from the battle site.
Melica was at my side. She was the only one of them remaining.
We took ourselves back to see Aliwe, and told him we'd had enough of this grim business.
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Melica interrupted. "Kodor dear, no doubt your brother is wondering why the others weren't simply restored to life."
Captain Ironblood nodded. "The question had crossed my mind."
Kodor nodded. "They'd all died before. At that battle. Each time they'd tried to swing things differently, each time they'd failed. We must have fought that battle so many times. I remember it once. Melica remembers it twice. In her first version, she tries to fight the dragon as well, after seeing me pass out. She obviously didn't make it. In her second run, she decided to think more about my fate, and dragged me off. I'm told that the dragon slaughtered the others handily before trudging off to die in peace. I'd never seen such a horrific scene of carnage."
"Anyway, as I told you, we went to tell Aliwe were were quitting this business, and were heading on our way, world be damned."
"He didn't try to stop us. He just thanked us for our work, and told us that my brother would be needing me. He said the Soulsmith was coming, and he was coming here. I couldn't very well let you die like that, so I decided to come. I bought this title with my vast fortune, and arrived as the Baron I am today."
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Captain Ironblood sighed and leaned back, surveying his brother and newfound sister-in-law.
"So, let me see if I understand you. We're part of a magical kindred created to serve the Blood God with the power of the Blood God, in order to finally defeat his mortal enemy the Soulsmith. Both of you have died before, and have served as soldiers in the army of divine servants of Armok, slaying mighty beasts in the process."
Kodor nodded. "That about sums it up."
"Well... I guess it's time for a beer." he decided, then looked at the goblin bootcleaner. "Are my boots done yet?"
"NICE AND SHINY!" screamed the goblin, holding a boot aloft. Somehow the mud seemed... polished.
"It's going to be a good day." the Captain said cheerily. "I feel it in my bones. Come, let me show you my wonderful tomb."
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Topic: Nist Akath - The Complete Story (Read 602924 times)