by Atlas Kane
He rushed in, using Wyrm’s Wrath, and used the increased speed to easily avoid Chandi’s other attacks. Cade dropped Culling the Pack, his fist rocketing out and slamming the ape in the side of his gut. Again, the ape was affected, this time his speed slowing further.
It was time to get serious. His foe has two speed reduction buffs and he had the opposite. Charging forward, Cade lashed out with his fists. The first punch was blocked by the ape’s forearm, and the next he snaked up and landed on the beast’s temple. A loud crack resounded, pain flaring in his fist. He’d broken at least one finger.
No more fists, dumbass, Cade chastised himself. Instead, he fell into the kickboxing form he’d studied for a time. He wasn’t particularly good at the blocking or the many articulate attacks that came with long study, but his low kicks were devastating. Cade slammed the ape in his leg, the attack coming as a surprise. With their short legs and insanely powerful arms, the apes didn’t consider the legs to be primary weapons.
Another few kicks and the ape caught on to the fact that he was getting his ass kicked.
Cade switched sides, hoping to land a kick to Chandi’s ribs, but the ape caught his leg and bulled forward.
In a surprisingly skilled takedown, Cade found himself being crushed by his foe’s bulky body.
For a few moments, Cade could do nothing but cover his face with his forearms, receiving a barrage of pounding attacks. He was bruised and thrashed about, but the ape lacked precision. Wrapping his legs around the beast, Cade fell into the familiar world of BJJ. Why the hell not? Take it to the ground? Yes please.
He’d always been more comfortable on the ground. He lacked the insight and lightning reflexes to be a striker, but when even huge opponents took him down, Cade had proven he was a hard nut to crack.
When Chandi lifted up one last time, Cade moved to the side, letting the ape’s arms land on the ground beside him. He used the moment to shove the beast away, and yet clung on with his legs. The move resulted in Cade gaining top mount. It was a lucky attempt. Only Chandi’s raw aggression had given him the advantage.
Using his final trick, Cade activated Earthen Assault for the first time. He felt his arms grow rigid and heavy with mana-forged stone. And even while Chandi tried to throw him off, Cade gripped the ape with his thighs and let it mother fucking rain.
A storm of elbows fell on Chandi’s face and chest. Cade used his enhanced Strength, improved speed, and stone-covered arms to great effect.
Most of the attacks were blocked, bone meeting stone in loud cracks. Yet a few made their way through the ape’s guard. The final landing on the corner of Chandi’s crown, brighter blood pooling instantly.
The end was within reach, and Cade saw fear in his opponent’s eyes. Uncertainly warred with outrage, but fear won out. Chandi used all of his might to twist around and attempt to pull away.
Go ahead. Give me your back, Cade chuckled. Only an idiot who’d never gone to the ground in a fight would make such a rookie error.
Like the badass spider-blessed gangster he was, Cade let the ape turn away and scrambled onto his back. In a flash, Cade had his arm around Chandi’s throat, his legs wrapped around his back. Chandi thrashed and rolled to the ground, crushing Cade’s body. But this was part of the treatment. Cade sunk his arm in tighter, wedging the other over Chandi’s opposite shoulder and wedging his fist up.
Rear naked choke, son! Cade thought, ducking his head into Chandi’s back as the ape reached back and clawed at him with terrifying claws.
For a few moments, Cade wasn’t sure if his choke hold would be enough. The ape’s neck was so strong and thick it seemed impossible to wedge. Taking a risk, he released his opposite arm and chopped upward into Chandi’s nose. The precise attack caused the ape to lift his head in surprise. Then like a constrictor, and thinking of his good friend Pablo, Cade wrapped his arm tighter, renewing his choke hold and arching his back with all his strength.
Though Chandi continued to wheeze and thrashed his body, his long claws tearing gashes into the top of Cade’s head, the fight was already over.
In a handful of seconds, the ape weakened. He rolled over and tried to walk away on his fists, but all of the effort and the lack of blood to his brain caused the great and powerful Chandi to slump forward, passing out into the mud.
Cade released his hold, arms aching and blood running down his face in a fountain.
A second later, after taking a huge breath, Chandi turned and jumped toward Cade. Cade was exhausted, and he knew his buffs were fading or gone already. Expecting to be struck down, he was as surprised as Chandi was when the Kotani Ma himself landed between them, his huge hand out to blunt his son’s attack.
The fight was over, and when the Kotani Ma looked Cade in the eyes, there was a well of rage boiling there. Yet beneath it all was a growing and undeniable respect.
Chandi was a sore loser if there ever was one. The ape wouldn’t look at Cade or acknowledge his defeat even after his father announced the bout was over. When Cade picked up his buckler and used Restoration of the Grove, however, and Chandi’s wounds closed, the bruises of battle fading, he at last earned the ape’s friendship.
After that, the big guy wouldn’t leave Cade alone. A Kotani party was ordered, the fervor of which was increased when the other villagers of Camp Casmeer deposited their own stores of fruit, hundreds of pounds of food, before the ape chieftain.
The Kotani weren’t sophisticated enough to make instruments, but a few of them made their way into one of the caves. A massive, dried log lay within, and sure as shite, they started pounding on it and producing a primitive but catchy song. Again, Cade had the pleasure of seeing the women of his village dance. Although, lacking the encouragement of good wine, Satemi declined, preferring instead to observe the festivities.
Cade was given a place of honor beside Chandi, and both of them were painted once more. Then the most awkward part of their trip occurred, at least to Cade. Chandi came up to him with a young and gorgeous Kotani female. The ape presented herself to him in the style that most mammals adopt, her rump swollen and eager. It was a most flattering gesture, but Cade politely refused. The female ape was confused and angry, but after Ketzal spoke at great length, the ape finally left him be.
“What the hell did you say?” he asked, wondering what had caused the dramatic shift in the ape’s behavior.
Ketzal smiled, her face wincing somewhat. “I might have mentioned that you have a disease. Sorry. Still, now you don’t have to mount an ape. There’s that.”
Cade laughed, the entire situation growing so absurd in his mind he couldn’t help it.
As the day began to fade, the apes encouraged Cade and his friends to come with them into a very special cave. Entering first, Cade’s nose picked out the treat they were in for. The sour twang of fermenting fruit was everywhere, and when he saw the carved basins filled with mashed fruit pulp and bubbling water, he was less than excited.
Being the gracious guest he was though, and already having refused the tribe’s beauty, Cade got down on his hands and knees and drank alongside Chandi.
It was strong, and soon Cade was drunk, the night slowly spinning around him. Things might have gone south had Minda not found him and forced him to drink a Health Tincture. The medicine helped him sober a bit, enough to enjoy himself at least.
The apes celebrated the reformation of an old and shattered pact they’d once held with the humans of Tanrial. The Kotani Ma spoke at great length with Cade, again emphasizing that the apes would be granted permission to raid the city’s gardens for fruit and seed. And he wanted to have back the relic that was stolen.
“Of course. You may take what your village needs. We only wish to free those who have been taken over by Vormer,” Cade answered, then asked Ketzal to explain their intention further. It would not do to unleash a pack of powerful Kotani Apes on Tanrial and having all of the Silver Guard and the rest of Vormer’s slaves killed in the effort.
The great leader underst
ood though, and agreed that they would attempt to subdue those that fought against them on the following day. He would tell his warriors to disarm the men and remove their masks when possible. Yet they all understood that battle was a fierce and unpredictable beast. Lives would be lost, on both sides, and it was simply unavoidable.
After the music had ceased, and the apes began to find their places for the night, Camp Casmeer was offered a cave of their own. Grateful for the easy shelter, everyone threw out furs they’d stored in the Inventory and prepared for a good night’s rest.
A loud commotion made Cade sit up and take a look out of the cave. Sure enough, Bellows had found a friend. A lovely female boar was clacking her tusks against his. The two flirted in the way that Brimstone Boars do until she was convinced she’d won him over. Then in a flurry of limbs, she rushed out of camp, Bellows hot on her heels.
Cade laughed, happy his silly friend had found companionship. It was a good thing, letting the boar indulge, for there were no promises on the morrow. Battle was ahead, and even though Cade felt confident that this newly forged alliance might prove sufficient to win the day, there was no telling which of them might not survive the attack.
So he watched Bellows disappear into the gloom, only hoping the boar would wander back in time for their morning march.
24
Some Serious Braveheart Shit
Riding atop a tank-sized boar, surrounded by powerful women strung head to toe with weapons, and leading a caravan of massive and deadly apes wasn’t an experience Cade thought he’d have in his life. Yet when he looked back and saw the Kotani Ma pulling up the rear, his twenty hardened warriors in tow, he felt this was an accomplishment worth remembering.
“We’re approaching the barrier,” Ketzal said over her shoulder. The tension in her voice made it obvious she was nervous, but not once had the woman shown reluctance to reenter Tanrial. She’d transformed quickly while in the presence of those who respected and supported her. Gone was the simpering woman quick to lower her eyes. In her place was a Beast Caller who barked a command to Bellows, slowing him to a halt. “Stabit!”
The boar obeyed, diligent as ever, and Cade dismounted then held up a hand to help Ketzal do the same. They were going to ride into battle, sure, but there was the matter of the barrier to deal with first. Cade just hoped it wasn’t too difficult to figure out.
As they waited for their allies to approach, Cade noticed something odd about the air. It felt charged, thick and humid, and more than what was normal for the jungle. Then as he was about to mention it to Satemi, a curling finger of mana sparked in the air before his eyes.
“Ether storm!” Satemi shouted. “We need to hurry! Cade, get your ring working. If we are caught out here without shelter, all will be lost!”
The apes coming closer noticed it as well. All around them, filaments of mana pulsed and popped around them. It was as if the air itself were about to discharge a great blast of power. The Kotani Ma barked orders, and the apes sped up, falling into a scrambling run.
Knowing they were all heading toward him and his supposed manipulation of the barrier, he ran forward and shouted out to Pablo. Forming as his familiar dragon shape, Pablo looked around him in concern. “You have a few minutes until this entire area explodes with excess mana. The ether storm is near upon you, Cade.”
“I know. And I need help figuring out how to use my skill. It has a ten-minute Cooldown. If I screw this up, the apes will be trapped out here.”
Pablo huffed, eyes looking around in anxiety. “I don’t know how, Cade. Just calm down, concentrate, and mentally activate the skill like you do with anything else. When it begins to work, just don’t release it until you’ve figured out the desired result.”
“Vague as hell, Pablo. But okay,” Cade grumbled and held out his fist pointed at the barrier. The skill was right there, as easy to trigger as Shroom Shield or Culling of the Pack. Focusing his mind, Cade activated Shield Bend. A thread of light leapt from his ring and touched the barrier. His hand tingled as mana was leached from his body to power the skill.
Now what, Cade? Come on! Think!
The women gathered around him, Ketzal having gone to talk with the Kotani Ma. The apes hooted in near panic behind them, but their great leader was doing a good job of keeping everything under control. Cade had to do the same.
He thought about bending the shield, and suddenly, the shimmering force shield before him shifted, bulging inward awkwardly. Cade imagined the shield opening up into a door, but nothing happened. It was only when he returned to his first thought, of trying to bend the shield to his will, did it flex once more. Cade twisted it sideways, and as he did so, a small opening appeared.
Bigger, he thought. I have to make this a lot bigger.
Cade calmed himself, breathing in deep and then slowly releasing it. Then he used every ounce of focus he could muster to bend a huge portion of the shield barrier, twisting it in on itself and opening a hole big enough to let Bellows scamper through. Ketzal urged him forward, and the women followed on foot.
Clouds were forming above their heads even as the Kotani Ma shouted a command. The ape warriors charged through the barrier even as the first jagged bolt of discharged mana cracked down from the sky.
Dropping the skill, Cade ran through the barrier last of all. His skin tingled from the few drops of ether-infused rain that had fallen on him. And when he peered back into the growing gloom, Cade saw a great bird lifting up from a branch, its wings beating frantically. Another bolt of ether struck the bird and it split down its back, its body writhing for an instant, and then a glob of skin and feathers fell to the ground as a new beast, transformed and terrible, flew away. The poor bird had been turned into something leathery and fell, and it shrieked out its rage as it flapped into the distance.
“My God! That was close. How do those storms form so quickly?”
“We do not know, Cade. That is just what Antinium is like,” Satemi explained.
Minda was speaking with Gemma, letting her know what was going on all around them. Everyone was looking up at the barrier, pulsing blasts of ether landing all across the dome. They had been saved by the skin of their teeth.
A voice shouted in the distance, and Cade turned to see one of the Silver Guard sprinting back into the city. The alarm was being raised. It was time for battle.
There was only a few hundred yards of grass between Cade’s fledgling army and the city proper. He needed to organize their attack.
“Mount up!” he shouted, running up Bellows’ flank and pulling himself into his saddle. Seconds later, Ketzal, last of the Camp Casmeer warriors, was seated before him. “Take us out to face the apes. I need to make myself heard. You’ll need to translate. And you’ll need to shout.”
Ketzal barked an order to Bellows, and he sprung away then turned around to face the loose cluster of apes.
“I won’t be long winded! The longer we wait, the longer the asshole with the golden scales waits inside, comfortable and content.” Ketzal gave Cade a look that made him remember his audience. He cleared his throat, seeing more than a few confused faces amongst his ape friends as the demoness tried to translate.
He shifted gear. “We go now to crush and to pound! Smash the shiny coats and take off their masks! Follow me and we win all of the fruit and females!”
Feeling foolish, Cade turned to see Minda enjoying his performance. Satemi laughed and even clapped her hands, mocking his Terran customs. “Eloquent, Cade. Eloquent.”
But when Ketzal finished the translation, the apes went… apeshit. Pounding the ground and screeching in unbridled passion, the mob was thoroughly stirred. So they wheeled about and charged across the field toward Tanrial.
It might have been a clear shot into the city if not for the speed of the abyss beasts. Kargina Loor, the liquid-bodied abyss cats, poured from the streets of Tanrial, making a beeline for the charging forces. Behind them lumbered a dozen of the bulky Maktar Loor, the abyss bears that matched the Kotani
Apes in size. Even a half dozen Fenmali Loor raptors darted out last of all, their reptilian movements stark and terrifying compared to their companions.
Like fodder, the cats sprinted ahead, teeth bared, and Bellows ran into their midst. Ketzal used her shield’s protective barrier, and it blunted the dozens of vicious paws that swung at the boar. The demoness cracked her whip and ordered Bellows to use one of his most devastating skills. Cinder Breath triggered, and the beast roared out a shuddering cloud of fiery sparks, burning the cats’ hides and making them scream in pain.
Cade made use of his new ring, blasting one of the abyss cats with the gelatinous mana. It scorched a hole through its ribs, and the monster died on its side still trying to run. Then Cade dropped an Explosive Shot amid another group, dropping two more and wounding another.
Gemma launched arrow after arrow, the mana shafts sinking into the abyss creatures’ flesh easily. Then she pulled the string back, and opening her mouth wide, fangs flashing, the woman shouted. A winged bird made all of flames erupted from her call and shot along with a dozen arrows. The cloud landed amid the cats and ended five of them in an instant.
The ramshackle cavalry was nearly finished with its first charge, and a large cluster of the abyss cats were regrouping behind them. Bellows was quick on his hooves, but the cats proved much faster. At least twenty of the beasts sprinted at them and began attacking at their rear and flank. Sholl’s spear flicked out like a snake, dropping a few of them, and Cade and Gemma focused their fire on the growing crowd as well. But in seconds it seemed they would be overrun.
Sholl yelped as one of the cats managed to leap up and rake its claws across his greaves, the attack somehow passing through his armor. The cat clambered past him, and was finally struck down as Cade smashed its skull to the side with his hammer.
More of the beasts crouched to pounce, and Cade opened his mouth to urge Ketzal. Yet the woman was already on it. Her own cry split the air, “Hell Roar!” she belted out, the boar beneath them reacting instantly. Bellows bellowed out a resounding cry so loud it vibrated the chain mail over Cade’s chest.