Warfang: (Sky Realms Online Book 5): A LitRPG Series

by Troy Osgood

  He crouched deeper into cover as the first-floor doors opened. Two people walked out. A man, even from this distance Hall could see that he was Gael. Tall and thin, bright red hair. He was dressed like the other Expedition soldiers had been, in a mix of leather and chain, but his was cleaner and in better condition. He had two swords strapped to his back. The other was a Desmarik. Red skinned, taller than the Gael, as broad as a Firbolg. Bald, with a braided beard that hung down past his belt. A giant war hammer was hanging on his back.

  Skill Gain!

  Identify Rank Two +.4

  Red Growl Caste Warreaver (orange)

  Expedition Blademaster (orange)

  Both appeared as orange to Hall, putting them at least three levels higher, effectively making them mini-bosses. Hall had no doubt they would be elite.

  That complicated things.

  The two, obviously leaders, walked to the edge of the village, looking over the cliff. They talked, too far away to hear any words. The Desmarik looked angry, making sharp gestures with his thick arms. The Gael raised his arms, trying to settle the Desmarik. With a final gesture, the Desmarik stalked away. Hall could see the Warreaver getting smaller as he walked away, not turning into any of the buildings, but continuing past the town and into the forest.

  Turning to look out over the water, the Blademaster stood there for a couple of minutes before heading back into the town hall building.

  It appeared that the Blademaster stayed in the village while the Desmarik might be camped at Warfang Hill. Maybe they wouldn’t have to find someone in the village to lead them there; maybe they just had to follow the Desmarik.

  Which was easier said than done. There were a dozen of them. It would be hard to sneak that many through the village, and Hall didn’t like the idea of leaving the Expedition soldiers behind them.

  Hall continued his count of the Expedition soldiers.

  “I had two dozen,” Hall said, looking down at the rough map of Cliff’s Walk he had sketched on a sheet of parchment.

  He was marking the locations he had seen stationary guards. Dain sat next to him, pointing out locations he had seen. On the other side, Caryn used another quill to tag the dock area.

  His two dozen were added to the eight that Dain had seen and the six Caryn had noticed. There was no way to know which, if any, were double counted and if any had been inside a building the whole time they watched.

  “Just the two Desmarik and Norn?” Ganner asked.

  “That I saw.”

  “What’s the plan?” Roxhard asked, looking at Hall.

  Glancing at Dain, Hall saw the Ranger, the eldest and most experienced there, nod. Taking a deep breath, Hall studied the rough map.

  The cliff from the lower tier to the water was a hundred feet. Smooth faced, not climbable. The fishing huts were at the bottom, built tightly together on a sandy beach, a path running up the cliff at a steep slope before twisting back to meet the village proper. No other way down. He’d thought of sneaking down there, securing it and coming up in a direction they didn’t expect.

  Taking that off the table, Hall thought of the mountain behind the village. The side wasn’t that steep, climbable, but there was no cover. They’d be exposed. Going at night would be too risky. Only a few had any form of night vision.

  That left the frontal assault.

  They’d have to attack both the lower and upper tier at the same time. It was the only way to keep from getting flanked. It meant splitting their forces.

  But nothing said they had to attack at the same time.

  An idea started to form.

  Skill Gain!

  Strategy Rank Two +.2

  “Okay, this is what I think we’ll do,” Hall said, motioning everyone in closer. He pointed down at the map.

  It was a restless night. Hall couldn’t sleep. When traveling with the Breakridge Irregulars, he’d gotten into the habit of taking the first and last watch, but with the added Rangers, it wasn’t needed. Because of their number, they didn’t even need to all have a watch each night. He still found himself waking up as if he were going to go on watch.

  Which was how he found himself sitting up in his bedroll. At the mouth of the cave sat a dark shadow. Avril or Lissie. Hall couldn’t remember which of the Rangers had drawn last watch. Out of the six who had come with them, Pacan and Leron had been sent back weeks ago at LakeEdge. Hall wondered if they had gotten back to Timberhearth and started gathering what little army the Greencloak Rangers could amass.

  Quietly, he got up, pausing as Leigh shifted next to him. She didn’t wake. Letting his eyes adjust, his Limited Night Vision activating, Hall stepped around the sleeping bodies. The Ranger on watch, he now saw it was Lissie, glanced back. She looked at him with a question.

  “Couldn’t sleep,” he whispered, standing a couple of steps to the side.

  The forest was quiet, peaceful. He could hear some nocturnal animals, small ones, but that was it. A pinprick light appeared in the forest, blinking off and on. He watched the firefly disappear out of sight.

  “Why don’t you get some sleep.”

  “Thank you, Lord Hall,” she replied, stepping back.

  He sighed. Dain didn’t call him lord, but the other Rangers did. The few times he interacted with them. They’d been traveling for weeks, and he really didn’t know the Rangers. Even Dain was more a mystery. There hadn’t been time for idle chat, and the Rangers, all of them, were a quiet lot. They barely talked among themselves. Usually just related to the mission.

  The Greencloak Rangers were nothing like he remembered.

  Pre-Glitch, he really hadn’t interacted with any outside of receiving quests or turning in items. There were plenty of Ranger NPCs; none of the ones he had encountered post-Glitch he remembered from before. None came on missions. They were just there to direct him on the missions. Even though they were silent companions, Hall found he liked this new level of interaction.

  It felt more real. Not just immersive, but truly real.

  He sighed, looking up at the moon barely visible through the trees, mostly blocked by an upper island. He tried to remember just how long they had been trapped in the game. Months now. But how many? He’d lost track.

  Seo would know. He probably had a calendar in that notebook of his, all the days marked out.

  But it wasn’t important, Hall realized. He didn’t care.

  He looked over his shoulder, picking out the sleeping form of Leigh, the big shaggy shadow of Angus next to her, Pike lying on the cow’s back. His eyes moved to Roxhard, Jackoby and Caryn. The purple glow of Tulla, very dim but still noticeable, came from the cage near Sharra’s head. Old friends and new. These people were important to him.

  As was everyone in Skara Brae.

  Even Timmin.

  Hall chuckled at the thought of the administrator and how he’d react to hearing that.

  Guilt crept up on him. This would end up being the longest he’d been away from Skara Brae. The village probably functioned better without him there, but he was still the lord, and it was his responsibility. Should have sent a message from Timberhearth, he thought. But even if he had, it would be a long time before he’d receive it. He thought he’d reconciled the need to be an adventurer with being the lord of the village, but it seemed not. Maybe it was just the length of time they’d be away. This quest was going to be long. He could make a promise not to go off on long adventures anymore but knew he wouldn’t keep it.

  Especially with the threat of the Desmarik.

  Maybe when that threat was neutralized, if it ever was.

  The moon was low, setting. Only a couple of hours and they’d be attacking Cliff’s Walk.

  Hall pushed the thoughts of Skara Brae to the back of his mind. Time to focus.

  Chapter 34

  Hall crouched in the woods, in almost the same position as the day before.

  The sun was starting to rise, casting light from behind him, low on the far eastern horizon. It was the time in the morning whe
n the dark was just starting to lift, people not fully awake. The best time to attack.

  Four guards stood where the others had, leaning against spears and fighting off yawns. Most of the village would just be waking; these four were waiting for their relief to come out so they could get their sleep. Already not paying attention because there were no threats near Cliff’s Walk, and now tired.

  He shifted, waiting. Glancing up into the branches above him, he saw Pike, talons grasped around a branch. The dragonhawk appeared to be sleeping, but Hall knew he was just resting, eager for the coming fight.

  The signal came.

  A loud crash came from the path leading to the upper tier, the sound of wood breaking. Smoke drifted up into the early morning sky. The guards ran that way, two moving ahead, the other two staying slightly behind, not wanting to leave their posts. But all their attention was toward the upper tier and the smoke.

  Someone loudly yelled, “Fire.”

  Hall activated Leap, jumping out of the woods. He arced high, coming down near the two rear guards. Using Leaping Stab, his spear slammed into one guard’s shoulder, twisting the man, causing him to stumble as it was pulled out. Hall landed, ignoring the wounded guard behind him. With the tip of the spear facing behind him, Hall jammed the butt end into the stomach of the Expedition guard. Leather armor offered little protection. Nearly folding in half at the blow, all air forced from his lungs, the soldier was unprepared when Hall twisted the spear around his body, slamming the tip into the soldier’s chest. The man fell back, coughing up blood.

  Hall kicked out, knocking the soldier to the ground. He spun the spear, shifting his grip, and slammed the tip down. The guard gave a last spasm as the spear was ripped out. Hall turned to finish off the wounded guard, but there was no need. Two arrows quivered in his body, one in his stomach, the other in his throat. He stared in amazement, looking from Hall to the arrows, before falling to the ground dead.

  Taking a step toward the other two guards, he saw there was no need. One was dead on the ground, three arrows in his body. The other fell as Jackoby’s hammer crushed his chest.

  Quickly turning to face the village, Hall scanned the street and the homes. No one was out yet, but would be soon. The noise would bring them. He risked looking up the path at the upper tier. Caryn raised one of her twin blades. He lifted the spear in return. Behind her was a barrel, smoke rising from it. Pieces of another lay behind it, smashed against the mountain.

  Not the most complicated of distractions, but it had worked.

  Hall heard a door slam open, returning his attention to the village.

  Jackoby rushed past him, slamming into an Expedition soldier who had stepped out of the first building. The large Firbolg knocked the soldier back into the building but didn’t follow. Instead he slammed the door shut, crashing his large hammer into the frame. Taking a step back, he nodded in satisfaction.

  More doors opened. A blast of fire streaked past Hall on one side, slamming into a guard a couple of houses down. He screamed, smoke curling up from his clothes. A swarm of splinters whizzed through the air on Hall’s other side, striking an opening door. The guard yelled as some hit his exposed body, quickly pulling back into the building.

  A crack split the morning, blue-white lightning flashing as Pike swooped down from the sky. The bolt slammed into a soldier. He’d managed to get his hands up, expecting talons, the lightning causing the wool to smoke. The soldier fell back, yelling in pain. The arms lowered, not protecting him from Pike’s following attack. He fell forward as talons raked across his back.

  Hall saw that the soldiers emerging from the various buildings, most from the town hall, were barely armored. Some struggled to pull leather on, others just in their clothing. They’d been woken by the breaking barrels and cries of fire.

  Arcing through the sky, Hall jammed the spear into the chest of a soldier, using his momentum to drive the man to the ground. Landing in front of two others, Hall slid the spear around his body. The soldier behind him gasped in pain as the tip tore out of his shoulder. Activating Sweeping Strike, Hall slashed the spear across the chests of the two soldiers before him. Quickly utilizing Double Thrust, he slammed the weapon into the soldier on the right’s chest. The man stepped back, reaching down to clutch at his stomach, the blood leaking out, staining his white wool shirt.

  Hall twisted, avoiding an attack from the soldier on his left. He slammed the shaft of the spear into the man’s shoulder, following up with a hit across the man’s arm. The wood hit, causing the soldier to drop his sword. Before he could respond, Hall had slid the shaft back through his hands, gripping it close to the tip. He took a step forward, slamming the weapon into the soldier’s shoulder. Pulling the weapon back, Hall twisted to the side, slamming the spear forward. He caught the other soldier in the throat, the man’s yell turning to a gurgle. Stepping forward, driving the spear forward, he pushed the dying man to the ground. Turning, pulling the spear out, Hall kicked the left soldier in the knee.

  He heard the sound of bone breaking, the man screaming as he fell.

  Pivoting on his foot, Hall rotated, seeing the first soldier he had attacked starting to stand. The spear slammed into his back, pushing through his chest. The man fell back, trapping Hall’s spear.

  Cursing, Hall let go, drawing his sword.

  None of the three at his feet were getting up, Hall looked for his next target.

  There were plenty to choose from.

  Sheathing his sword, Hall kicked at the body, freeing his spear.

  More soldiers ran out of the buildings. Most still without armor, but many now had it. Hall fought the urge to look behind him, having to trust the others to take care of any that came from those houses. He had enough to handle with what was in front of him.

  Six Expedition soldiers stood about ten feet away, eyeing him warily. One was completely without armor, another without a shirt. Two had just leather pants and wool shirts. The last had managed to get a chainmail shirt on.

  That was Hall’s target.

  Using Leap, he covered the distance between them. Landing in front of the surprised soldier, he stabbed with the spear, catching the soldier in his leather-armored thigh. The man yelled, taking a step back but falling, stumbling into the soldier next to him. With Double Thrust, Hall caught the soldier’s side, coming from low and striking up under the chainmail shirt.

  Hall twisted to the side, pulling the spear tip out, taking a hunk of the soldier’s flesh with him. Managing to avoid the down swipe of the sword, Hall struck the soldier in the side with the shaft of his spear. The man growled but reacted quickly, grabbing the weapon tight. Hall jerked the spear back. It didn’t move.

  The soldier grinned smugly, raising his sword. He swung down at the shaft, Hall quickly pulling his hands back. There was a clang, like metal on metal, the sword’s edge striking the wood. The sword vibrated, sending shocks through the metal and into the soldier’s arm. He yelped, almost dropping the sword, releasing the spear.

  There wasn’t a mark on the wood.

  No non-magical blade would ever damage the ironwood shaft of the spear.

  Hall smiled, pulling the spear back and quickly slamming it forward. Not a solid hit, it grazed the man’s side. Hall took the chance to step back.

  To his right, a soldier was helping steady the chainmail wearer, who couldn’t stand on his injured leg. The one Hall had just wounded growled, taking a step forward. The other three had spread out, working to surround Hall.

  He heard a heavy thudding noise, rapidly coming closer. Fast and solid, the ground almost shaking. Jackoby slammed into the two soldiers on Hall’s right, drawing the attention of the others. Hall activated Sweeping Strike, the tip of the ironwood spear slicing across the chests of the soldiers, drawing sparks when it struck the chainmail shirt.

  Stopping the swing of the spear, Hall snapped it forward, the tip catching the middle soldier in the chest, not penetrating but pushing him back. Hall pulled the spear up, the tip hitting t
he man’s jaw, drawing a line of blood. Lifting his hands, Hall pushed forward, the tip sinking into the soldier’s throat. He raised his hands, trying to clutch at it, but Hall stepped forward, driving the spear deeper.

  To his left, the soldier raised his weapon, ready to charge. He never saw Pike. A blue-white bolt of lightning crashed into his back, smoke rising from the impact, streaks of energy cascading around his body. He spasmed, trying to turn, exposing his side to Hall.

  Who took advantage.

  The Expedition Bladeswinger hit the ground, Hall turning away, spear held in front of him. The last soldier, the one who had helped hold up the chainmail wearer, growled in frustration as his sword hit the wooden shaft. Hall angled the spear, sending the sword flying out to the side. The soldier recovered, swinging it in to block Hall’s thrust.

  Hall stepped to the side, jabbing at the soldier, keeping his attention.

  Pike flew low to the ground, through where Hall had been. With a flapping of wings, he angled up, talons slashing across the surprised soldier. He fell back, raising his arms defensively, sharp claws cutting broad gashes through the leather and flesh. The soldier never saw the spear; he just felt the tip bursting into his chest, pushing through his body and out the back.

  With his last breath, he felt the boot against his stomach, pushing him off the spear.

  Hall glanced at his Energy bar, seeing it very low. His Vitality had gone down a point. So far he’d been lucky not to take any significant hits, his Health still almost full. Because he was still in combat, his regen rate was low, but the Energy was going up. Not time for a potion yet.

  The guards they’d faced so far had to be lower than his level. They were going down pretty quick and easy.

  To the side Jackoby was finishing off the last of his two. Hall looked ahead, the town hall a couple of buildings down. Outside about a dozen guards had formed a line, shields held out. Not quite a shield wall, there were gaps, but it was close enough. A couple of bodies, riddled with arrows, filled the space between. Behind the line of soldiers Hall could see the Expedition Blademaster he’d seen earlier. The one that the Identify skill had marked as a mini-boss or elite. A harder enemy than they’d faced yet.