Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Battle (II)

Unlike the elves, the barbarians met the losts who charged toward them by charging toward them in turn. The sound of breaking bones was more than noticeable, although not those of the barbarians. Their powerful muscles and numerous reinforcement spells made it impossible for them to suffer in such a short period of time. It was evident that they had the appropriate skills for such an encounter.

Although some losts had powerful bodies, not all of them were like that. Furthermore, the generals hadn't bothered to organize them, or to study their enemies. In part, because they weren't as competent as they themselves wanted to believe. In part, because that heterogeneous army of all kinds of corrupted creatures was downright difficult to organize.

The barbarians received them with blows, axes, maces, hammers, clubs, and with many other weapons. It was a direct style, which however had a serious problem. The wounds and the expenditure of mana and energy would accumulate, while their enemies were endless. There was no great advantage in finishing them off quickly.

The shamans fighting side by side alleviated some of these shortcomings, but they couldn't cure the fatigue or the gradual consumption of mana. In a prolonged battle, such as this one was going to be, it was a serious inconvenience.

Therefore, they had two options. The first one was to divide into at least three teams, one attacking, another waiting their turn and covering their backs, and another recovering strength. It should be noted that, in the case of barbarians, unable to contain themselves, three weren't enough. It would cost them much more to recover than to expend all their energy. Since they needed more, this would cause their battle front to be much smaller.

The other option was the reason why the dwarfs were next to them. The iron dwarven formations covered their backs, and allowed the barbarians to wreak havoc on the enemy ranks until it was their turn to rest.

Even so, they were prohibited from going too far, in case unforeseen events arose. If they did so, the losts eliminated in that round wouldn't be added to their score.

It must be said that everyone came back bloodied, full of cuts, bruises or bumps. There was also a smile from ear to ear if the hunt had been fruitful.

For them, such wounds were rather a source of pride, although in a pitched battle, there can always be accidents. Due to their constitution, they would hardly be lethal, but they could put them in a bind. As was the case of a barbarian whose leg had been seriously injured after the tremendous impact of a huge corrupted rhino beetle. It had pierced its own companion to reach the barbarian.

"Injured leg! Evacuate!" one of Crushy's daughters exclaimed, as she inflicted a powerful hammer blow on the beetle.

She stood in front of the barbarian, along with one of her cousins, Smashy's daughter. Her bodies took on a reddish color, the result of the Revenge skill. It is as powerful as the conditions for casting it are strict. It requires an ally to suffer serious wounds, to direct anger toward a temporary increase in blood circulation. Together with energy and some mana, it considerably increases strength, defense and agility.

"Great! 10 points for evacuating a wounded one!" one of Smashy's sons was quite happy.

"I'm not hurt! It's just a scratch!" the wounded barbarian protested.

"Of course, of course. If you don't stand up, it's just to make them over-confident," an acquaintance mocked.

"Ha, ha. The fucking blonde with a hole in his leg says it's nothing," a dwarf laughed a little further back, while making way for the injured barbarian.

"Of course it's nothing! It's a fucking hole, there's 'nothing' inside anymore!" another dwarf joked.

"What a shit joke," a third criticized.

"No fucking fun," another agreed.

"Damnit...! It was a hell of a joke!" the author protested, while his colleagues were shaking their heads.

The wounded was taken to the rear for the wound to be treated, although not for his depression. Not only his round had been interrupted in midway, but he had helped his rivals. Some had cast Revenge, and the others had points for bringing him back. Gritting his teeth and ignoring the pain, he vowed not to make a mistake again. He had started badly, but there was time to make a comeback.

While they were healing him, he couldn't help but admire the work of the gnomes who had followed them there. As with the elves, they were rearming several catapults. He couldn't help but be curious about what the effect would be. He was looking forward to seeing it.

In Merlin's case, his battalion had a more standard composition, similar to the elves, although with a greater number of mages. The area attacks of the visitor and his children were especially destructive against the overcrowded army of losts.

"Stop ranged attacks!" Merlin ordered.

"What's wrong, dad?" his daughter was surprised.

"The catapults are ready," her father smiled.

"Oh..."

All the mages stared at the mechanical devices, which were loaded and ready to release the projectiles. The minute adjustments to direction and tension had already been made, and all that was left was the command.

In the first catapult, far away, a rope was stretched to release the pin that held the throwing arm in place. Immediately, it was propelled forward at high speed.

Barely a second later, the next one was released. Then, the next one, and the next one. One after another, all the catapults were released, thus launching their projectiles consecutively.

When they reached those who were behind Merlin, he and the other mages followed with their eyes the flight of the strange spherical projectile that had a whitish shine.

"Get ready. Start chanting the spells," Merlin announced, without stopping looking in the direction of the sphere.

Finally, it arrived behind enemy lines, and exploded on impact. Contrary to what many expected, it wasn't a terrible explosion, but rather silent and without great destructive power. Although it was indeed very bright.

In fact, to them, it was practically harmless, but not to the losts. The purifying power eliminated not only those close to the impact, but the entire miasma many meters around.

"Now!" Merlin exclaimed.

"Advance!" the front commander ordered.

A hail of arrows, fire and lightning fell behind the enemy lines, but not as far as the catapults did. At the same time, the warriors came out from behind the tanks, ready to destroy their enemies.

The tanks themselves advanced behind them. They were gaining ground step by step, and were prepared to cover the warriors' retreat if necessary.

There were still many enemies, but they were ready to face them. This was a battle they couldn't afford to lose.