Civilization

Explosion after explosion, like fireworks lighting up the night sky. My trident dancing to the tune of death. Whether it was in the river or on the riverbank, my lower spider legs carefully dodge anything and everything, as if they as a mind of their own. With each thrust of my trident, I destroy another skeleton, and with each swing, I create a ring of explosions.

Glancing around, I see Howard was having a great time supporting the shield bearers. Casting away his shield, he used his Stone Mace to bash the skulls of skeletons into oblivion, with a couple of demi-humans next to him supporting him by thrusting their spears at any skeletons that Howard missed. With such a big grin on his face, anyone would have misunderstood the situation, thinking that he liked the endless wave of bones.

On the other side, Gobi's troops were fired up. The Aura of Battle skill had increased his own stats as well as the people around him, making the battle seem less difficult than it seems. I saw him break formation a few times, activating a skill that was just added to his arsenal, Tornado Spin.

Tornado Spin (Active) 5MP - The user dashes forward, spinning at high speed to attack multiple enemies in a straight line. The user can activate the skill again to dash in a different direction. ( 20 + Weapon Attack + 10% Strength ) Cooldown 10 minutes.

My front two spider legs have helped me during this attack as well. Since I was the only one in the middle of the skeleton army, I had to be careful but sometimes, I would over extend my attack leaving me open. Thankfully, the two spider legs were able to react faster than my own body, penetrating the skulls of any skeleton that got close to me. Their attacks were faster than my own as I command them to attack any skeleton that got close to me.

"IAN! COME BACK! GEWARI CAME BACK FROM THE FOREST!" - Howard

Perking my ears to Howard's sudden announcement, I activate Cleave in front of me, clearing a path, and using my lower spider legs, I jump over the heads of the shield bearers landing on my own feet near the archers. Turning towards Howard, I rush over to me anxious about what happened with Gewari.

"What happened?" - Ian

"Gewari is at the top near the gate. She sent an archer down to inform you but since you were in the middle of the skeleton army, the archer informed me instead. Afterward, they ran back up, saying for you to come up as soon as possible. I think skeletons are coming towards us from the forest as well." - Howard

"How about here do you think you can manage?" - Ian

"It should be fine. The majority of enemies are here and worse comes to worst, we can back off a bit and fight before the kiln." - Howard

"Alright, I'll leave you and Noah in charge." - Ian

"How is Noah right now?" - Howard

"He is positioned at the wall near where we first came to HavenFall, Belle is also there with her wolf pack. There are skeletons coming through there but not as many. He is able to handle it with the archers already positioned nearby." - Ian

"Alright, I'll send someone over there as soon as I can." - Howard

I rush up the path towards HavenFall's main plaza, passing Solar and Lucina's group. As I was passing them, I turn around and call out to Solar.

"Solar, come with me. I might need your help." - Ian

Passing the basket of herbs in her hands to Lucina, she follows me as I rush towards the gate.

"What's wrong? Why are you rushing this way?" - Solar

"Stellar's group happened to run into something and Gewari is at the front gates defending against monsters. I don't know the details but right now, I left everyone else down in the canyon to fight off that horde of enemies. They should be fine, but I don't know how Gewari is holding up, so I'm heading there first.

I wanted you to come with me in case anyone was injured as well as your magic. They should be more effective against the skeletons. " - Ian

"Oh no, Stellar…" - Solar

"Don't worry, Stellar will be fine." - Ian

Arriving at the gate, I climb up the steps positioned next to the wall to see over it. Gewari as well as 5 other goblins were surrounded by lizardmen skeletons, each equipped with weapons, shields, and armor. The archers on the towers were desperately shooting arrows at the skeletons with some hitting their mark, but there were just too many.

"SOLAR CAST SHIELD ON THEM NOW!" - Ian

Solar had just climbed halfway up the tower, but it was enough to see over the wall. She starts to chant the spell while I use my lower spider legs to launch myself over the moat, wooden spikes landing on the ground not too far away from the skeletons. They wield stone weapons and wooden shields with leather armor, but their numbers were staggering, and they were increasing as time went on.

"SHIELD!" - Solar

"EVERYONE! PUSH TOWARDS ME! GEWARI TAKE UP THE REAR!" - Ian

Diving into the crowd of skeletons, my trident sets forth a chain of explosions utterly destroying some skeletons, but some noticed my movements. Their blue flames flare brighter and their teeth chatter against their bony jaws. Raising their shields and pointing their spears and axes towards me, they charge recklessly into the face of death.

"My Lord! THESE MONSTERS KNOW HOW TO USE THEIR WEAPONS AND SHIELDS!" - Gewari

"I NOTICED THAT! COME TOWARDS ME REGARDLESS, I'LL TRY TO BREAK OPEN A PATH!" - Ian

Proceeding to eliminate each lizard man took some effort, especially since there were so many of them. Compared to before when each time I swung or thrust my trident I would kill skeletons, this time each attack had to have pinpoint accuracy. Shields would appear to block hits and the skeletons worked like bees swarming me with constant threats.

They would work together as if they were one body. I was attacking a skeleton, aiming for their skull, but another would bring their shield towards my trident setting off an explosion and pushing them away. My spider legs were having trouble as well, defending against the many stone axes and counterattacking only to penetrate through the armor and attack air.

"BALL OF LIGHT!" - Solar

Solar sends a Ball of Light in front of me, eliminating a group of skeletons. Seeing a path towards Gewari and the rest, I activate Charge and then Cleave clearing up the remaining skeletons that separated us.

"COME!" - Ian

There was no time, this was only temporary relief. Within seconds the skeletons swarm us again but this time we were together. Surrounded but together. The shields on the goblins were waning, and their conditions didn't look too good either. I quickly check their stats, only to see they had a quarter of their HP left, while Gewari, had half.

"BALL OF LIGHT!" - Solar

Solar sends another Ball of Light in front of us, leading towards the gate. Quickly I activate Earth Spike, knocking away the approaching swarm from our left, and Quickstep to the right where I quickly stabbed 3 times activating the explosion 3 times on different skeletons.

"RUN!" - Gewari

Noticing that I was keeping the path as clear as possible, Gewari lead the goblins forward slamming her body against a nearby skeleton that was about to attack me. The goblins rush towards the gate, with two of the archers opening the gate and letting them in. I stab the skeletons near Gewari and grab her wrist, pulling her close to my chest. Using my lower spider legs I try to jump over the skeletons like how I jumped over the shield bearers earlier, however, one of their spears nicked the tip of my spider leg causing me to become unbalanced mid-jump.

I land on the ground on my side with Gewari in my arms. Quickly getting up, I block a spear attack aiming for Gewari's head with my arm. The spear bounces off the Copper Arm Guard but barely misses Gewari. Surrounded once again.

"My lord! What do we do?" - Gewari

"Nothing much we can do. We need to get out of this situation as fast as we can. Staying surrounded will kill us, especially with how many skeletons are here.

"HASTE! TOUCH OF THE SUN!" - Solar

I glance over at the tower and see Solar out of breath after casting 2 of her spells on me and Gewari. A heal, and an Agility boost. While it would have been nice if I could have received a shield as well, the skill had a 30-minute cooldown after she casts it, and she had already cast it once on 6 people.

"AAAAAOOOOWWWWWWWWLLLLLLL" - Razor

Glancing on top of the wall, I see Razor as well as 2 other wolves, leaping down from the top of the wall and growling at the crowd of skeletons that were surrounding Gewari and me. I smile, it seems like Howard suggested to Noah to allow a couple of wolves to come to me to help. I feel glad that both of them could think quickly on the spot.

"Gewari, follow my lead. We are going to push toward the wolves. Use the extra Agility to dodge and focus on only attacking when you can kill them. I'll handle keeping them off us with my spider legs. " - Ian

"Got it, my lord.' - Gewari