Stranded - Chapter 12

The ground shook and brittle. Thunderclaps erupted and drowned out everything else. The flame flickered and died out from the impact. Sato fumbled around looking for his spear, while Ordovis’s shadow was still casted over him and Sasha.

“Clarisse?”

“I’m alright. How is everyone?”

“We are all good. The Outworlder is gearing up now.”

Sato gingerly stepped forward, his spear readied. Sasha peeked out of Ordovis’s back, squinting her eyes. As the dust settled, she could see Clarisse illuminated by the moonlight, in a fighting stance, a thin layer of smoke covering her, which was emitted from her claymore.

“What now, Ordovis?”

“This altered our plan greatly. But I can brute force this. How many casts do you have left?”

A dry roar rung out from the darkness of the forest, which was soon followed by a ray of lightning. Clarisse swung the claymore again, the ray of lightning trailed along her blade before getting swatted away. The lightning bolt struck into the helm of the cave, causing some dusts and rocks to fall and clatter.

“I have full casts. But these pesky things might cost up to two.”

“Tch. Lend me your blade then.”

Clarisse deftly dodged another bolt and tossed her sword to Ordovis, who then jumped and kicked the sword in its hilt. The sword whizzed away into the darkness of the forest and shortly after, loud animalistic shrieks rang out from where the sword flew. Ordovis then calmly walked towards the spot, and from the darkness he emerged again with the bloodied sword.

“This should do for now, how are our friends doing?”

—-

Brant could feel himself trembling in both awe and excitement. The strength displayed by the Sword Saint was most extraordinary, which made him again itching for another glimpse.

“Again, Lisa.”

Smal Lisa nodded, her hands glowing and from it, blinding light erupted towards the confused Thunderboars they were standing nearby. The boars roared and squirmed, dazed and angered. Their attention was then redirected by stones flung at them by Marley, who deftly guided the beasts in their confused fury towards the Sword Saint and the Maiden.

The beasts howl and again thunder and lightning erupted from them, disturbing the wildlife nearby.

“Perfect.”

Brant muttered, putting his trembling fingers beneath his mask, and from the mask, a muffled, thin and piercing sound reverberated, cutting through the thick air of the forest. The noise persisted, and from the darkness, multiple loud roars tore through the silence of the forest.

—-

Sato watched the events unfolding in a daze and was only pulled back into the present by Sasha tugging at his sleeve. She gestured and mouthed “We have to go.”

Ahead of them, their new friends were wiping their weapons, chattering away. The onslaught of the animals has stopped for now. A perfect time to go back home.

Sasha took Sato by his hand, and led him away, towards the cave’s entrance.

“Goodbye, new friends. Our meeting was tumultuous, but it was not without joy. I hope we can meet again.”

Sasha hushed, her feet moving swiftly, dragging Sato along. She seemed strangely panicky. The flame has been snuffed out completely, the ashes billowing and flying along the quick movements of the people.

“Hold on, where are you guys going?”

“Lady Sasha?”

Sato could feel the grip on his hand tighten even more.

Piiiiiiiiiiii—

A low, piercing sound resounded, akin to the needle that pierces through the thick veil of night. Sasha flinched, her grip on Sato’s hand drenched in sweat. The sound made Sato’s skin crawl, and from it he remembered. Cold sweat started to break out from him, as he recalled, the noise is-

—-

Piiiiiiiiiiii—-

The noise pierced through and through. disturbingly so.

“What…?”

Billy hastened his pace along with the hunters. The noise is the bear-goading whistle, one that he was teaching Sato and the new hunters. And it was only meant to be used in hunts, not in scavenging sessions.

“No, no, no, bloody hell…”

Billy swung his axe around, rustling and cracking noises followed as he cleared the path. As his eyes were slowly accustoming to the dark, roars resounded, shaking the very earth.

“Fucking hell… Make haste, men, make haste. Our chief-to-be is not to be harmed.”

“What about the Frail One, Indomitable One?”

Billy swallowed, his feet running faster.

“… He is expendable. In worst cases, prioritise saving our Sasha first.”

As he ran, a “slosh” sound interrupted his progress. Billy felt something soft and warm, and wet on his foot. He looked down, to be greeted by a grotesque sight. A dead stag, its body emitting a soft dying light, its tongue hung out, its antlers scratching into the trees as if trying to claw onto them. Blood leaked out of its eyes and nose, and its head has been horribly twisted backwards, the very skin of its neck stretching like a wrung rag, as if something has been twisting the poor creature’s head.

Billy repulsed a bit, and then again sped up towards the direction of the roars.

“Bloody hell. Bad omen.”

—-

Mayhem ensued before Sato’s eyes. Shortly after the noise, a fresh horde of furious boars rushed at the cave, this time not bothered with sniping with their thunderbolts like their fallen kin. Ordovis rushed and stomped hard into the ground, rupturing it and unbalancing the rampaging beasts, as Clarisse weaved among them, this time with her whips and sword both unleashed, maiming each and all. Debris and carcasses flew towards Sato and Sasha, only to be blocked by Sasha’s wind wall.

“Haha, what am I even here for…”

Sato sighed, only to be interrupted by another deafening roar and the rumbling ground. He flinched, remembering the roar. In split seconds, Sato rushed to cover Sasha, as beams of light swept through the area they were standing. He covered her just in time, the destructive rays of light have burnt away Sato’s jinbei’s top and the armour, leaving only the trousers along with its belt. Sato could see the smoke lingering on his body, but he felt no pain nor heat.

“Frail One!? Are you alright!?”

“I-I am alright, Lady Sasha.”

Sasha patted Sato down like before, turning him in full circles. As he was being fussed upon, Sato could see their companions. Ordovis stood tall, appeared to be unscathed, except that his cape has been burnt away, fully revealing the armour inside, while Clarisse hid partly behind Ordovis and a large rubble, the helms of her cape appeared to be charred.

Another roar resounded. The group fully rose up and went in full alert. This time before them were large bears, veils of smoke lingering and flying from their mouth, their eyes shining with voracious intent. The Runebears growled and started to lumber towards the party.

Shortly after, the ground rumbled. Another group of Thunderboars rushed out from the forest’s thick, alerted by their natural foe’s presence.

Chaos again ensued, as rays of light and thunder swept through and burnt everything, the bears and the boars rushing at each other and the humans, burning the night with their light and thunder.