Killing Monsters

by R T Islington

  The sound of steel tearing through flesh could be heard relentlessly, cries of agony became more of a melody to the ears of the War Hogs as they slaughtered the war lords first wave, they had lost some men too, still they pushed on. Lions who were no longer mounted by their dead riders charged at the War Hogs, one of Terrance’s men could not avoid the raff of the beast, the lion pounced and bit through the face of the unfortunate soul, the giant canine teeth crushed the man’s skull and Terrance looked on in horror as he heard the sound of crushing bone and a blood curdling scream.

  “Bastards,” roared Terrance, he charged at the lion which had begun tearing the man's flesh from his face, Terrance thrusted his spear through the side of the lion, the lion yelped and fell to the floor, again and again Terrance stabbed at the beast, blood sprayed into Terrance’s face baptising him in blood, he killed the lion and moved on to his next foes.

  Man upon man charged at Terrance, and he dodged and impaled them effortlessly, his face was covered in blood and his white skin was no longer visible, he was a walking bringer of death bathed in blood. Terrance dropped his spear and drew his steel sword, slashing, hacking, and stabbing at all that moved until his arms became numb, his men followed behind to meet the next wave of enemies.

  Jadar moved like a cat, her reflexes and speed seemed to shock the brutish bronze warriors. “You armour won’t protect you from me,” roared the hunter.

  Jadar’s ruby ring began to glow as she conjured her fire magic, she rose her hand and shot a wave of fire at an incoming charge of five men, their amour melted as did their skin and they dropped to their knees, their white skin was now crisp and black, but Jadar’s rage had not finished. Another wave of lion rider’s descended upon the War Hogs and Jadar raised her spear. “Now, taste my emerald’s poison.”

  Jadar spun as the emerald spear glowed and secreted acid which burned through the fur of the lions and the flesh of their riders. The lions yelped and the men screamed, they could smell their own flesh cooking on their faces as it began to peel from the blast of poisonous acid. Jadar charged and impaled a lion rider through the stomach, he gasped and looked her in the eyes, his life was draining away as Jadar laughed, her white pearly teeth were easily visible as her face was red with blood, the rider spat blood onto her face and dropped to his knees as Jadar smiled and licked her lips, the taste of blood ran rampant in her mouth, though for Jadar it was a taste she had come to love, the taste of victory.

  The War Hogs were losing men too but only in small numbers, they were superior and carved through the first wave of their enemy like a butcher’s knife through a pig's belly. “More.” Jadar roared, “Push forward.”

  Jerome and the Bronze Giant looked on in shock, they could not believe their forces were being desecrated and their first wave had nearly been wiped out. “It’s time,” declared Jerome as he turned to one of his men. “We have no choice . . . unleash the troll!”

  Jerome’s soldier seemed shocked and his tone reflected that. “But Jerome, we still have many men to send, the troll will slaughter our men too.”

  Jerome pulled a dagger from his belt and stabbed his man through the neck, the blood squirted out like a fountain which brought a smile to the giant's face. “You,” roared Jerome at another one of his men. “Do I need to repeat myself?”

  “No Jerome,” replied the terrified lion rider who ran off to do as commanded.

  “Send them all in,” declared the giant. “Even the mounted cavalry and lion riders.” The giant wore his bronze bear helmet and picked up his giant bronze axe. “It’s all or nothing.”

  Jerome mounted his mighty land lion. “Now men, all of you! Join your warlords in battle!”

  Jadar and Terrance heard the roar of the last fifteen hundred men who began charging towards them led by the beastly Bronze Giant and the Raging Lion, Terrance smiled at Jadar which was met with a smile of equal pleasure. “Well.” said Terrance. “Looks like Archie and Crow get to have some fun too!”

  Jadar had become fatigued, as like elves, hunters feel the drain of using mass magic excessively too. Jadar knew she had one more magic attack left in her, she raised her poison emerald spear and took aim at Jerome who approached at a fearsome speed mounted upon his gigantic land lion, the spear began to glow green and was no longer gold. “You fucker, DIE!” roared Jadar.

  Jadar threw her spear perfectly and it seemed as though Jerome’s life had come to an end as the spear soared through the air, tearing through all that crossed its path, burning skin with acid and poisoning brutish foot soldiers, however Jerome’s lion leapt into the air at impossible height and the spear missed, it did however explode upon hitting the ground and splutters of acid burned through more flesh and armour of warriors that did not move in time, their screams were loud and wild.

  “You fucking bitch,” bellowed Jerome. “I’ll take your fucking head.”

  For the first time in many years Jadar felt the cold chill of death run down her spine, her spear had missed, and she was fatigued. Jadar had gambled using magic in mass volumes and as her body ached and her energy diminished, she raised her jade viper headed shield and prepared to defend herself from an unbeatable onslaught.

  Flashbacks of her night with Jessie ran through her mind, the visions seemed like a lifetime ago and as she closed her eyes to envision Jessie’s heavenly touch one more time.

  A gust of wind was felt from behind Jadar, within seconds, thunderous gallops bellowed all around and the force of the War Hogs mighty mounted cavalry nearly knocked her off her feet, Archie, Crow and the second wave of War Hogs had entered the fray!

  “War Hogs, as one . . . ATTACK!” Commanded Archie.

  A thunderous collusion of blackened steel was heard as it beat against mounted bronze armour and plummeted against another wave of lion riders. Horses shrieked and lions roared as the mighty beasts collided.

  Archie was a masterful mounted warrior and sliced, hacked, and stabbed all beneath his mighty war horse, blood began to paint Archie’s greaves and sabatons, Archie had been painted like this many times before. Nobody could match Archie’s skill which caught the attention of the Bronze Giant who leapt off his horse and began making his way towards the old knight.

  Crow also dismounted from his horse as the mounted cavalry seemed to be pinning the enemies back again, the problem was the land lions, the fearsome beasts were pouncing on the horses and tearing them to shreds, Crow watched in horror as a lion snapped a horse’s neck with one bite.

  “Fucking lions,” roared Crow who knew what was needed to finally stem the flow of the beastly charges, he would meet them head on with his silver sword and speed.

  Archie continued to hack and slash at the enemies beneath his war horse, grunts of frustration were heard as all who tried to breach Archie were either gutted and fell to the floor or missed completely, then were finished by another War Hog, mounted or on foot, the War Hogs were dominating the battle and had outclassed the warlords.

  Jadar had regained her stamina and picked up her spear once more, Terrance had become feral and continued pushing forward, it seemed as though his rage was the only thing keeping his body together.

  Crow began slicing through his foes with a speed and accuracy that was rarely seen, he began targeting the lions, stabbing them and hacking viciously into their sides, anything to halt their beastly rages and bring their riders to the ground. “The lions, target the lions!” ordered Crow.

  Lion upon lion fell and the men that rose up were met with swords and spears from the raging War Hogs who fought ferociously as one by the sides of their commanders. The War Hogs were winning, and piles of bronze bodies began to mount as did the corpses of lions and their riders. Crow continued his onslaught. “Come on you fucks, I’ve had women in my bed tire me out quicker than you.” A bronze foot soldier charged at Crow and swung with an axe, Crow dodged and took the man's arm clean off who roared in agony. Crow stepped forward to finish the man off who began to smile, Crow laughed. “That’s it, smile for me,
at least you’ll go to the afterlife happy.”

  The brute sneered. “You’re fucked, the troll will be here soon!”

  Crow felt a fear like none before, he knew of trolls and their unstoppable bloodlust, surely the giant and the lion would not unleash one onto a battlefield of which their own men fought, he blocked out those thoughts and took the man’s head off, with one swift swing.

  Archie continued to push forward and with the enemies numbers dropping he dismounted to finish the battle on foot and attack the bronze cladded warriors, most of the beastly lions had been killed leaving the riders retreating or fighting at a disadvantage, the War Hogs had won this battle and though their numbers had taken a hit, Archie knew they could replenish their ranks comfortably.

  Archie turned to face another foe, the enemy backed off with a look of dread at something that had appeared behind him and as Archie turned the Bronze Giant struck Archie dead centre of his chest with his mighty bronze axe. The axe smashed through the chest plate of Archie, breaking his ribs and shattering his torso.

  The impact was heard from afar, and Crow yelped in despair. “Archie, noooooo!”

  Crow began charging towards his old friend, but his path was blocked by Jerome. “Sorry, was that your lover,” joked Jerome spiteful. “I’m your enemy now, focus on me!”

  Yoshihiro looked down on the battlefield that was once a contrast of green and brown and now looked more like a blood red carpet, he felt the lifeforce of Archie draining and knew the Raging Lion and Bronze Giant had entered the battle.

  Yoshihiro turned to Ragrim and his five hundred men. “GO! Slaughter them all.” Ragrim, Yoshihiro and their War Hogs began charging onto the battlefield, Yoshihiro could feel Archie slipping away.

  Archie laid upon his back, ribs broken, torso bruised and shattered, he coughed what felt like a ball of blood which splattered across his face. The Bronze Giant marched forward and removed his helmet to reveal his disfigured face. “You fought well for an old man, I’ll make this quick and take your head with one swipe. But first . . . ”

  The giant pulled a blow horn from his side and blew into it, the horn was loud and a deathly silence befell the battlefield. Everyone stopped, seemingly pondering what the horn would summon, a mass roar was heard from afar and what seemed to be another wave of bronze cladded warriors began to emerge.

  Jadar gasped. “Another wave, they have another wave.”

  Jerome laughed spitefully at Crow and the lion riders and bronze foot soldiers seemed to have had their morale lifted, they rose again and continued to fight as another wave of seemingly thousands of enemies battered into the War Hogs yet again, the two warlords had been clever and hid another wave of fighters, the War Hogs were now on the backfoot.

  Yoshihiro had emerged onto the battlefield, he dismounted from his horse and drew the butterflies razor, his five hundred men crashed into lion riders and bronze soldiers, he began slashing and cutting through man after man desperately trying to make his way to Crow, he wanted Jerome Gillies head.

  “Ragrim,” roared Yoshihiro. “Your hammer, beat down that wave with your hammer.”

  Ragrim charged into the new wave of men, nearby warriors stopped battling, what did the little dwarf have planned to pin back hundreds of men?

  Upon approach, Ragrim jumped off his horse and flew through the air with his hammer grasped in both hands, the gem stones begun to glow and red sparks of lightning sparked and hissed around Ragrim’s forearms. “FOR THE WAR HOGS,” he roared and landed before crashing his hammer into the ground.

  A massive shockwave shook the floor and caused the ground to rise, bolts of red lighting from the hammer shot and blasted through enemies, shocking and burning through flesh, Ragrim had just easily slaughtered hundreds of men. “Now feel the wrath of Ragrim Bjorn!” Ragrim spun like a cyclone, the power from his hammer was unequalled and he smashed through armour and bone. The new wave of lion riders had been floored and those that remained had their skulls crushed by Ragrim’s hammer. A bronze armoured foe lied upon his back and reached for his sword but not before Ragrim landed a killer blow, his hammer crushed the man’s helmet and skull with ease. The hammer began to shake, and the red lighting sparks became more vicious and hissed louder. “Fuck!” roared Ragrim. “One more magic blast left, fucking hell, I wish I was an elf.” Ragrim raised his hammer one last time and struck the floor again. The impact shook the floor and more vicious red ruby lighting scorched and burned through flesh

  “Somebody kill that fucking dwarf!” bellowed Jerome.

  Ragrim grasped his hammer once, the rubies magic had been depleted but he could still fight well, he looked upon a band of men charging towards him, Jadar ran to Ragrim’s side. “Need help Ragrim?”

  “I’m afraid so, I’m shattered,” joked Ragrim. “I think I’m getting too old for this fucking shit.”

  Deeper into the battlefield, the blood-soaked grass turned darker and shrieks and gasps became louder. “Hit him, Hit him.” someone roared, “He’s not human . . . He’s a monster.” they also bellowed aloud.

  The frantic pleas were met with laughter from Yoshihiro. “Yes, you're all correct. Now brace yourselves from more relentless attacks, I’ll slaughter you all.”

  Yoshihiro’s katana dripped with blood and the blades magnificent glow had been hidden, covered by blood and flesh as he fought his way past challenger after challenger, legs, arms and heads flew through the air due to the masterful strikes from the famed swordsman who left behind a path of death and corpses.

  Finally, Yoshihiro had reached his destination amongst the blood and guts and Jerome Gillie stood in wait, he had been battling Crow for some time and Crow's body had paid the price. Crow was bruised, cut, and fatigued, to make matters worse Crows torso bore multiple wounds and deep gashes from the large fearsome land lion.

  Crow saw Yoshihiro appear, he joked. “You took your time! Look at the state of me.”

  Crow dropped to his knees but not before Yoshihiro brought him back to his feet, he placed Crows arm around his shoulder. “I told you, Crow, you need to wear more amour.”

  “I want my body on show brother, there could be ladies around!” laughed Crow. “Archie’s not doing well, our men have tried to protect him, but the Giant is moving in for the kill.”

  “Go to him,” ordered Yoshihiro. “This is my battle now.” Crow took off into the distance to rescue the wounded Archie, Jerome dismounted from his lion.

  “Before we fight, I might share you with my friend here, he’s hungry,” declared Jerome. The lion roared, it was no longer brown and was soaked in blood, it was a walking, blood-soaked bringer of death.

  Yoshihiro smiled, he knew of the challenge that stood before him and welcomed it. “The lion falls first, then I’ll have your head Jerome Gillie . . . Come!”

  “Kill him,” commanded Jerome and his lion darted towards Yoshihiro, the muscular frame of the beast powered towards its target at unbelievable speed, his eyes were red, his claws were sharp and his mouth was opened wide, ready to end the life of the famed swordsman.

  Swing after swing the giant slaughtered any War Hog that approached him, his bronze amour glowed in the sun as the rays bounced off the giant brute, he swung his axe at unbelievable speed which seemed impossible as the axe was as big as him and must have weighed a fair load. The ground around him was covered in severed limbs, arms and legs were scattered throughout the giant’s path as his axe cut men in half with ease. The War Hogs that stood before him stepped back in fear, terrified at the monster that stood before them. One man pissed his pants and seemingly accepted his fate, he charged at the giant and struck with his sword, the giant didn’t even move, opting to let the sword strike his armour to prove a point and instil more fear into the War Hogs, the sword didn’t even scratch the thick bronze armour.

  The giant looked down upon the man. “Pathetic.”

  The giant grabbed the man by his head and bit a chunk of flesh out of his neck, the blood sprayed into the air and bathed the
giant's disfigured face like a fountain. The giant lifted his axe and chopped the man in two as Archie could only watch on in horror. “Now it’s your turn,” gloated the giant.

  As the giant approached and stood over Archie a commotion was heard, the giant turned and saw Hiroki charging towards him with the last thousand men of the War Hogs. Crow, Jadar, Ragrim and Yoshihiro looked relieved as the reinforcements arrived at the right time, Hiroki had timed it well, just as Yoshihiro knew he would.

  “War Hogs, kill them, all of them,” roared Hiroki which was met with a cheer from his men as they crashed into the hundreds of extra warriors that the warlords had summoned and that had followed the giant’s path.

  The giant seemed intrigued by the young Hiroki and roared, “A new challenge! Come boy, test me!”

  Black War Hog steel beat against bronze armour and as swords clashed with axes and spears met shields Hiroki approached the giant with the white sleeper in hand. “Giant, today you fall and the Centre Plate bears witness to a new fearsome swordsman, the dragon tamer, Hiroki Mitsue!”

  The giant sniggered. “Your eyes are odd colours, they're pretty, I’ll tear them out and use them as earrings!”

  Hiroki charged towards the giant at blinding speed, the giant tried to swing his bronze axe, but he was too slow, Hiroki jumped and slashed at the giants face taking his ear clean off. “Heavy weapons . . . a bad choice when facing an opponent as quick as me, speed is what kills, not power.”

  The giant stumbled back in shock, he couldn’t match the speed of the young boy, he placed his hand over the fresh wound as blood seeped through his fingers. “My ear, my fucking ear!”

  The giant charged towards Hiroki in a rabid fury and the steps of the colossal foe seemed to make the ground shake. The giant swung his axe again and again, but Hiroki dodged the attacks effortlessly whilst smiling at the giant whose rage grew. There was a look of an underlying shock expressed on the giants face; the monster was being bested by a mere boy.