Dungeon of Niflheim

In his path of retreat a second rindar appeared with a mocking expression on his face.

“Haaaaaa the youngest never learns, always losing sight of the targets at the worse points.” The second rindar was the one from the right and was the first one’s elder brother.

He sighed and shook his head as he complained about his sibling’s failings before smiling evilly.

Despite his complaining he was in fact happy about his younger sibling’s mistake. This weakness allowed him to enjoy a real treat, a face of pure despair on the victims’ faces as their last hope of escape was erased thanks to his presence.

The second rindar was equipped with a mighty great sword held by his third and fourth hands and primed to slash at Douglas’s legs to prevent further escape.

Douglas frowned as he caught sight of the monster’s vicious and ecstatic expression, he fell right into the second one’s trap. A million thoughts flashed through his mind at this point, ways in which to endure the second rindar’s slash, possible escape routes, the next step if he survived but pretty much all of his simulations ended in failure.

This slash would hurt him badly, he may be able to save his legs but leaving without damage was impossible. The spectre of death intensified its grip around his heart and continued to whisper in his ear, foretelling his end.

Douglas bit his lower lip, drawing blood and sending a jolt of pain throughout his system allowing him to focus clearly. His eyes showed a stark refusal, he would do want needed to be done. Time was the goal, as long as he survived long enough he trusted that his allies would make it to him.

.....

He prepared to twist his body using his sword as a vault in place of his legs, staving off serious injury but ultimately sacrificing his weapon and use of his dominant arm.

His decision happened in an instant, fractions of a second after he noticed the second rindar appearing in his path he began twisting as though moving on instinct.

“Tsk!” The second rindar clicked its tongue but didn’t try to change the trajectory of his great sword.

Shatter!

Douglas’s peak 3 star sword shattered into dozens of fragments shortly after making contact with the rindar’s great sword. The residual force ran up his arm, cracking it and causing his body to violently spin but he survived the ambush.

Don! Don! Don!

Douglas rolled and skidded across the blood covered ground, landing over ten metres from where the rindar ambushed him.

With his legs saved he quickly found his feet and returned to a standing position. His shield was still firmly grasped by his shield arm and presented before his chest, but his sword arm hung limp by his side, numb from the extensive damage.

The old man’s breath was strangely calm and his eyes deadly focused on the second rindar who was already chasing after him.

“Not bad old man but I’d like to see how you dodge a second time.” The second rindar dashed after him the instant he was able, 10 metres was a real short distance for someone of his stature.

He raised his great sword over his head and shouted the name of a skill.

“[Demonic rending]!” Dark violet energy almost black in colour flowed from the rindar’s body covering his great sword in a menacing beam that expanded its size, leaving Douglas even less wiggle room. He wasn’t going to fail to catch a mouse a second time especially after openly mocking his younger brother.

Douglas raised his shield and braced himself for the devastating impact hoping his equipment could take the blow.

Booooooommmmmmm!!!!!

Thankfully however he didn’t have to, a blue fireball smashed into the rindar’s chest interrupting his attack and knocking him backwards.

“Douglas get out of there!” Ryuu hollered at the top of his lungs from the northern wall. Given his height advantage he was able to catch his friend’s situation and lend aid at the opportune moment with a blue fireball. His voice was also enhanced with wind magic allowing everyone in the vicinity to hear his roar despite the convoluted noise filling the battlefield.

‘Thank you Ryuu.’ Douglas internally thanked Ryuu for the assist before instantly running, making a break for the northern wall.

“Bastard! Get back here!” The second rindar sported a wrathful expression after patting out the flames. The damage was minimal, but it did forcibly stop him from taking down Douglas.

He desperately charged after Douglas and with his speed he was sure to catch up in a second or two.

“Oh no you don’t [Great sundering]!”

“[Heaven’s squall]”

“[Jade thrust]”

Suddenly three attacks found there way towards the second rindar. Bastion and two of the majors of the frost wolf battalion who were nearby reacted to Ryuu roar, instantly lashing out in Douglas’s defence. The Viscount couldn’t be lost here otherwise the battle would surely be lost. Douglas was the heart and sole of the soldiers and citizens of Furano, the backbone that gave them the courage to fight against this horde.

“Arghhh pathetic desperation!” The second rindar cursed as he was forced to halt and brace himself against the three skills and watch as Douglas made his way closer and closer to safety.

“Brother move!” The first rindar had gotten over his blindness at this point and barrelled his way past his elder brother, not to help him with the attacks of course but to catch Douglas.

But their plans had already been found out, Ryuu and another mage on the wall casted a 4th circle wind and fire spell and launched at the muscular rindar.

“Fuck!” Like his elder brother this rindar was forced to stop in place and prepare his defences. His scales and quills extended turning into a nasty looking armour.

Baaaannnnnggggggg!!!!

He was blown from the ground, his body flying backwards to crash through multiple trees over a 100 metres back.

“Urgh!” The muscular rindar coughed up some blood and his body was racked with pain. However after he retracted his scales it was obvious that the damage was minimal.

A monster’s body was truly different from that of a sapient’s no man or elf could withstand such an attack with their body regardless of their ranking.

Douglas paid no attention to what was happening behind him, focusing his entire strength on running, once he was closer to the wall he’d be safe. Hamon could redirect the forces to launch coordinated attacks against the rindar who exposed themselves on the frontlines.

Chasing Douglas any further was a real risk.

“Haaaaaaaa” a deep sigh passed through the din of the battlefield and into Douglas’s ear causing his spine to shiver and his heart to lurch. Instinctively he raised his shield and a moment later.

Baaaaaaannnnnggggg!!

A large scaly fist thundered against his shield leaving a clear dent before reversing his body’s momentum and knocking him back from the northern wall.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Douglas harshly skipped across the ground and coughed up a great deal of blood once he stopped. He lay prone on the floor, his head was ringing, and his shield arm fractured and useless just like his sword arm.

That attack was so fast and so heavy that he didn’t have time to properly react, he was saved by the sturdiness of his shield which thankfully was still in once piece.

The remaining rindar the leader of three appeared from nowhere and punched Douglas without muttering a single word, revealing himself for but a second before vanishing once again.

Douglas struggled to get off the ground but the leading rindar wasn’t even going to give him that chance.

“My brothers talk too much.” He appeared at Douglas’s side before punching out, his aim Douglas’s legs.

Crack!

“Argggghhhhhhh!” Douglas screamed in pain as the rindar’s heavy fists pulverised his left leg, turning it into a mangled mess. There was no way he could flee now.

“Douglas!!!!”

“Douglas!!!!” Ryuu and Bastion screamed out with bloodshot eyes, moving with their greatest speed to save their long-time friend and liege. Actions and expressions that delighted the leading rindar but unlike his brother’s he knew to not take any chances.

Booooooommmmmm!

He swiftly punched out with his back arms destroying Douglas’s right leg, making all his limbs powerless.

The leading rindar gave a cold chilling look towards the second rindar who trembled slightly under that gaze before nodding and placing himself between his brother and the three attackers, Bastion included.

Another blue fireball swiftly found its way from Ryuu’s staff but the leading rindar scoffed at the attack before smashing the ball of fire to pieces with a strike of his fist.

He then turned towards Douglas with an evil grin.

“Now that your escape is impossible we can begin the feast.” The leading rindar’s evil smile grew revealing his razor sharp teeth and long black tongue that was grossly salivating at the thought of picking Douglas apart in full view of his allies.

Douglas shivered as fear filled his body. All he could do was fiercely glare into the awaiting maw, his limbs no longer listening to him.

‘Fuck! Cass, Leo I’m sorry.’