SJ was now hovering two hundred feet above the gnoll troops, the beetles continuing their relentless onslaught, assailing the gate and walls with boulders the size of small carts. That was when it happened.
SJ had never read the Bible, but everyone knew the tale of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea. As she watched, the river came to life, the water stopping and rising as though an invisible wall had been erected. It was an impossible sight, defying all laws of nature as it foamed angrily at being prevented from its journey. Then, with the roaring of a tsunami, it crashed down, its frothing rage redirected towards the beetle line.
The gnolls caught in the torrent tumbled like twigs, thrown by the immense pressure of the wave, crying in shock and terror as the wave took them. The wave didn't have the strength to reach further than the first two beetles, but it had been enough of a distraction. The wave hadn't affected the beetles directly; their pronged feet dug into the earth of the plains, securing them in place. What did, though, was the lead ammunition sledge as it broke loose from its fastenings of the nearest beetle and was carried crashing into the beetle behind. SJ was already moving as the wave had fallen, and watched as the legs of the beetle on the nearest side to the sledge were shattered under the impact of the boulders. The beetle collapsed awkwardly on its side, releasing a high-pitched screech as it struggled to raise itself.
SJ was aiming for the beetle furthest from the river. The gnolls' attention was drawn to the chaos the wave had caused. As she plummeted towards the ground, she aimed her claws for the spot behind the beetle's thorax where its wings met—a triangular-shaped recess of the scutellum. No one saw her, no one paid her any attention as she grew in the last few moments of her descent. She knew that there was no point in trying to strike a beast of the beetle's size in miniature form. Her claws would have been like striking a mithril wall. She reached her full size as she landed, the jolt through her body making her grimace as her claws, like raging spears, were thrust deep into the beetle's body.
A jet of brilliant yellow viscous ichor jetted upwards, covering her in the vile substance. The stench reminded her of fish being left out on a hot summer's day. She almost gagged from the stench. As soon as she had struck, she shrank, withdrawing her claws and pushing off skyward once more. The liquid clung to her, its consistency like PVA glue. Her wings felt heavy, and their movement was restricted.
As she forced herself skyward and away from her target, she watched it shudder as though its carapace had suddenly come alive. A ripple ran out from her point of impact, like a wave across the surface of a pond from a thrown stone. It seemed to grow in intensity, vibrations thrumming as though its body had resonated. As the ripple reached the limits of the beetle, its legs locked, flaring out sideways, splayed like an entomologist's display piece. It collapsed downwards, one of its legs having caught an unwary gnoll, piercing it cleanly through its chest. Another now screamed from where the falling beast had trapped it under its carapace. As the beetle stilled, its antenna twitched one last time before her notification triggered.
Congratulations, you have killed a level 34 Sand Beetle. For killing a beast over ten levels higher than yourself, you receive double experience. The 1860 experience was doubled to 3720 experience. Your experience gains are doubled due to your reputation bonus, 7460 experience awarded.
Within a minute, two of the behemoths had been neutralised. The one initially struck by the wave also no longer had an ammunition sledge, leaving only one actively able to throw their ordnance at the wall.
"Now that was one impressive hit and some exceedingly nice experience," Dave chirped excitedly.
'Only if I can get out of here,' SJ thought, struggling to maintain her height, straining against the ichor coating her wings. As she struggled to rise again, this time not because of a vacuum but the restrictive ichor covering her, the first stone came flying towards her. She saw it coming and just dodged it in time. The gnolls nearest to the beetle she had slain had now seen her, their attention drawn back from the chaos caused by the river.
A second and then a third stone flew towards her. She dodged and weaved as best as she could when a stone clipped her wing. SJ spiralled, like a spinning top in mid-air, fighting to right herself as another stone flew towards her. In her large form, the rocks wouldn't have been problematic in comparison. Yes, they could cause damage in either form. It was the size difference that caused problems—being hit by a stone the size of a small conker when only six inches tall was like being hit by a medicine ball. She was just glad it had caught her wing and missed her body.
The two remaining beetles angled their abdomens at her, wings humming.
'Damn,' SJ cursed as she immediately felt the air around her change. She dipped as she struggled to maintain her height, only being able to dodge left or right from the slings. The gnoll's accuracy was impressive. Each time she dodged, she lost more height and knew she still needed to get further distance to escape the dead space.
The lead beetle let out a screech, the unholy sound piercing her eardrums like needles. As it did, the air thinned further, and the vacuum pulled at her, drawing her down even more. SJ grunted and strained, trying to maintain any advantage she had with her height, but she could feel that she was losing.
In her vision, SJ saw something. It wasn't clear in the sky, but it flew faster than an arrow and was heading directly for her. She knew she couldn't get out of its way and readied herself for the impact.
The claws wrapped around her shoulders, and where she had expected pain and her skin to be pierced, it was surprisingly soft. She had been violently pulled by a beast, grabbing her. Its momentum almost concussed her as she suffered whiplash, her vision spinning from the sharp movement, but she was alive. That was when she realised what had grabbed her.
Kibble, his wings tucked in tightly as he shot like a bullet from a gun, head and neck perfectly straight as he careered across the area at a low angle, the vacuum having little impact on his sleek form. His lead was flapping behind him, a scorch mark where the loop had been. SJ felt the sir stiffen, and as it did, Kibble's wings opened, his body shifting and turning as he aimed upward, beating quickly but in strong, meaningful beats. Every one of his beats provided the equivalent lift to almost twenty of SJ's wings. They rose above the battlefield, the curses of the gnolls following them as they flew higher into the air, the stones no longer a threat as they fell short of their target.
SJ was in shock. She didn't know what to say or do as Kibble carried her as though she weighed nothing, soaring across the plain and turning in a wide arc back toward the wall. He wasn't taking the chance of going near the battle, and SJ took the opportunity to look down at the devastation the wave and her actions had wrought. Several gnoll bodies now scattered the area, and the still form of the beetle she had killed. The second was incapacitated, its legs shattered, and the third had no sledge. There was only one left now, and SJ watched as it flicked its enormous head, releasing its load.
The boulder sailed through the air, its aim true. With a resounding crunch, the centre of the makeshift barrier gave way. As it did, showers of wood and splinters flew inside the area where the guards stood. SJ heard cries of alarm from a distance, and the rest of the gate fell. It didn't happen quickly; it was slow and painful, as the wood creaked and groaned, screeching as it lost its battle to remain, its integrity collapsing, and it falling into the entrance.
The only positive aspect that emerged from its collapse was the natural barrier it created at the gateway. It wouldn't hold for long, but it would prevent an all-out assault without being cleared first.
Cheers erupted from the gnolls, and as Kibble neared the wall, SJ saw the second line of gnolls advance towards the opening. The beetle party remained as they were, not approaching; they had performed their duty of breaking the gateway. It was now up to the remaining forces.
The scorpoids hissed and lacked, the thrum of their limbs skittering over rock and earth, creating a cacophony to match a charging cavalry. The gnolls ran behind them, but at a wary distance. None appeared to wish to impede the rabid eight-legged beasts. They were still held in place by a glowing circle of light as they continued to push forward. Their pincers, like huge lobster claws, clacked angrily, tails held high, threatening to strike at anything in their path. As they neared the wall, the light surrounding them vanished, and with relentless enthusiasm, the red demonic horde charged.
Kibble hovered just above the wall and squeaked. SJ understood, and as he released her, she landed in a crouch. He then landed next to her, gazing at her, his head tilted to one side and his neck curved. SJ didn't even grow before she threw herself at her companion and hugged him fiercely around his neck. He purred deeply, his head resting against her shoulder.
"Thank you," SJ said, almost tearful, before releasing him and growing again.
The ichor still covered her wings, and SJ immediately altered her dress to that of a half cloak and rubbed what she could from them, knowing the dress would clean the ichor. She looked down towards the gate. The troops were formed up in a line, standing there with their arms outstretched, and SJ could see the shimmer of the telltale barriers they had put in place. She also knew that maintaining barriers used mana, and no mage had an endless pool. Ballentine had left the wall and was standing alongside Jay at the front of the melee troops. The clerics stood only slightly behind them. They all glistened with armour and weapons.
Gary was calling out targets to the archers atop the walls as the enemy approached, the screams of the charging mob and angry beasts drowning out any other sound. Peering over the wall, SJ saw an arrow strike a scorpoid. It didn't even notice it as it bounced harmlessly off its armoured body.
"Be ready," Ballentine's commanding voice bellowed above the din.
The nervous tension was palpable as those charging neared the barriers. The scorpoids lead the charge, and as they reach the fallen gate, they skitter over it, their multiple limbs providing them with the dexterity to make it seem like nothing. Then they threw themselves at the barriers. They didn't pause, hurling themselves into them without regard. The barriers hissed and fizzed as they did so, more and more reaching them. The stench of burnt ozone filled the air. They appeared more like a collapsed scrum, legs, and pincers protruding from the mass of hostile, angry beasts striking out at the barrier, seeing their targets only feet away. SJ watched as Ewin dropped to one knee; the water spell he had cast on the river must have taken much of his mana from him. Seth in plate stepped from the line, hands held out, bathing Ewin in a radiant blue light. Ewin slowly rose again, with a renewed vigour, as his mana was replenished.
The scorpoids continued to crash against the barriers in waves of fury, their chitinous bodies sparking and their stingers lashing out with perpetual hatred. The glow of the barrier shifted, the soft red of Larion's flame shield fading. SJ could see a trickle of blood from her nostril. The mana exhaustion was taking effect. Ballentine cried for support as she staggered. Again, Seth stepped up, releasing his spell on her. The impact was lessened, but Larion still struggled, her face twisted into one of determination.
As though the scorpions had intelligence, they had noticed the weakness and moved to the left to strike at her section of shield, stinger after stinger thrashing against it, causing sparks of fury.
"It's going to break," Larion screamed. Seth cast another spell before downing a mana potion, but it was no good. The relentless assault on the one barrier had taken its effect, and the barrier shattered under a flash of sparks. Larion collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. Jay hurried forward, grabbing her and dragging her backwards behind the line.
"Shields," Ballentine roared in defiance as six of the guards stepped forward. "Fill the gap. Don't let any of them through." The guard's tower shields interlocked as they filled the gap from the barrier's loss. Several scorpoids struck at the shields, but the remainder moved almost as one, as they targeted the next shield. Sparks flew and light flashed over its surface, crackling and spitting angrily with each contact. This was Ewin's shield.
Ewin was already winded, and he soon dropped to his knees again. SJ watched as the paladin turned and shook his head at Ballentine.
"Second wall," Ballentine screamed as another six guards stepped forward, ready for its collapse.
SJ felt useless now. She was unsure what to do. She was a melee fighter, but without shield skills. Her abilities were designed for hit-and-run tactics over any prolonged fighting. She had been taught the hard lesson in Asterfal about her weaknesses in drawn-out combat. She wasn't even sure if her martial arts skills would help her against such beasts.
A scorpoid skittered over the back of another by the first set of shield guards and launched. It sailed over the shields, landing awkwardly on the ground between them and the remaining fighters. Jay was the first to react, and he roared as he charged forward.
SJ triggered her identification skill on the scorpoid.
Scorpoid
Level: 26
Hit points: 245 of 245
Mana points: 0
Armour Class: 95
Strength: 34
Dexterity: 76
Attacks: Pincers, Stinger
Special: Poison
Weaknesses: Ice Magic
SJ cursed as she realised she should have identified the beasts sooner. She knew that few had her level of skill, especially when considering the weaknesses of targets. She sprinted towards the fight at the gate, moving towards where Ewin continued to struggle to maintain his shield.
Jay had grabbed the pincers of the scorpoid that had breached, holding them in his enormous fists, as it tried to lash out at him with its stinger. Jay was the highest-level fighter they had, and his skills from brawling made him exceedingly agile. He dodged and weaved as he kept the scorpoid at bay, as two other guards moved at it from the sides. A cleric brought his mace down with a sound like that of a gong as it bounced off its chitinous armour harmlessly. The scorpoid was trying to turn to face its new enemy, but Jay held it firm. A guard swung his sword at the scorpoid on the other side, again his blow bouncing off uselessly. Most of the town guards weren't even level 20 yet, and would struggle to penetrate the scorpoids' natural armour.
"Ewin. Can you use ice magic?" SJ cried as she neared.
Ewin glanced at SJ as she stopped by his side. He was on his knees, his arms held forward, convulsing, and his teeth gritted with determination as he tried to maintain the barrier.
"Barely... I am not a specialist," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"The scorpoids are weak to it," SJ said.
Ewin just nodded his head, unable to answer verbally. His face flared in pain as more scorpoids hit the barrier.
"If you have a weapon enchanted with cold or ice, use it," SJ shouted, turning to the gathered. She turned to look at Ballentine, who nodded.
Ballentine stepped forward, seeing the guards struggle with the scorpoid Jay held at bay, wielding his great axe. With a flourish and a cry of pure anger, his axe cleaved through the air. The air stilled as it did, as though silence enveloped the world for only a moment, and he met the scorpoid's tail just below the stinger with his swing. The wail of pain that erupted from the scorpoid as its stinger was cut free and sent spinning across the open ground. Thick, dark ichor seeped from the scorpoid's stingless tail, flecked with neon green from its poison.
A shower of blue sparks exploded outwards from the gate as Ewin's barrier broke. He fell backwards with exhaustion, his head lolling almost unconsciously as two guards pulled him away.
'So much for him knowing ice magic if he can't even lift his head,' SJ thought.
"That's a bit callous," Dave said, sounding shocked.
'I'm more annoyed at myself for not identifying them sooner. It was stupid of me.'
"You can't always think or do everything."
"Next group, be ready," Ballentine bellowed as he lifted his axe from where he had just slain the scorpoid Jay had held.
Olek's shield was the only one now remaining. He stood stock-still and upright, his face almost serene, his eyes closed. The only show of effort was the trickle of sweat running down his brow. He appeared in a meditative state as he maintained the last barrier, its grey translucence shimmering as the scorpions redirected their fury.
'We won't be able to hold on long once the barrier falls. There are too many of them, and their levels are too high. It took Jay and Ballentine to take out one scorpoid between them. There must be almost twenty of the damn things.'
"Actually, there are twenty-eight," Dave sighed.
It was difficult to count them due to their erratic and constant movement, as they clambered over each other.
"Gary. How goes it?" Ballentine bellowed.
"Not great. We have hit a few, but the gnolls are maintaining their distance, and our arrows are useless against the scorpoids," Gary replied.
"We need to do something. We can't hold this line forever."
The howl cascaded down into the valley like a roll of thunder. Deep, guttural, and meaningful, it cried of valour and hope. As SJ turned, she saw Patch and the pack at the top of the rise as they started to bound down the valley wall. A figure in mottled green leather armour accompanied them on all fours. Cristy and the pack had arrived. It may not have been much, but it was a small sign of hope that they needed. If they were close, hopefully the remainder of the guard force wasn't too far behind.
