by TJ Reynolds
The axe, however, though as effective or more in some situations, could get stuck in certain types of armor. Therefore, aiming attacks at the neck and limbs of a foe was the preferred technique when using a battle axe. There were also many types of axes. Two-headed axes looked fierce, but Kai thought it savvy how other kinds were more diverse in their function. One picture in the back of the book showed an axe with a hammer on the opposing side. Another had a cruel hook on one side to pull an enemy off their feet and then finish them when they were on the ground.
In the same fashion as before, having finished the primer on the axe, Kai moved to the training room to test his newfound knowledge. The axe and hammer skill book was a good deal shorter than the sword primer, as the basic stances for both hammer and axe were less complex than those for the sword. In less than two hours, Kai was swinging a mighty hammer around in both hands, trying desperately not to smash his own feet.
When Ban summoned a new minion, Kai noted its different body shape. Short and broad, the creature that solidified before him was some sort of hound. The beast growled menacingly before flinging itself at Kai. Its legs stuck out from its flanks, and it scuttled along like a wolverine or a massive lizard. The thing’s head was wide, its snout almost as thick as a bear’s. The fur that wrapped its muscled frame was black and oily, and too many fangs crowded the beast’s mouth.
Kai practically fell over, avoiding its initial lunge.
“What is this monster?” he grunted, as he dodged another attack. Then, when it whirled around and prepared to lunge once more, Kai swung his hammer down and to the side, catching the hound full in the face. The crackle of broken bones and shattered teeth turned Kai’s stomach, but the possessed animal didn’t hesitate to attack again.
The only thing that prevented Kai from being mauled was the hound’s size. Had it been taller, he doubted he would have been fast enough to dodge the attacks. Assigning two points to improve his Dexterity made Kai a great deal more spry, his reactions coming faster. This little terror, however, pushed him to his limits.
When the creature snapped out a final time, aiming for Kai’s leg, Kai sprang back and brought the hammer down with all his might.
The heavy weapon crushed the minion’s head, sending a spray of blood and bone fragments flying across the training room. Gore splashed in his face, a chunk of mystery flesh lodging itself in his mouth. Kai turned away and spat out the offending glob and tried not to vomit.
Oh, my. Kai, that doesn’t look… Ban tried, but the young man cut him off with a raised hand.
After a few moments, still breathing heavily, Kai cleaned his face with his sleeve. Without a word to Ban, he walked over to the wall and hung the hammer back up firmly in its place. I’ll not be using a hammer again anytime soon. Are there other skill books I can cover today?
The axe remains a possibility. Perhaps—
Kai shook his head. No, Ban. I barely had the strength to use the hammer. I doubt the axe will feel natural. I’d prefer a bit of distance if at all possible.
Splendid! Ban replied in a sing song tone, clearly trying to calm his friend. Actually, there are two more. One skill book teaches the fundamental techniques of knife-fighting, which is fairly short, and will augment your current knowledge of swordplay. The other is on the glaive.
Kai wasn’t sure if he’d heard of the second weapon before. He glanced to the weapons on the wall and asked, Which of these is a glaive?
Ban answered, The one on the far right. It’s quite versatile.
Walking over to the bladed weapon fixed on the end of a wooden staff, he touched its polished veneer. This one? I thought this was a spear.
It is similar to a spear, Ban educated Kai, in the same way a mace and a hammer are alike, but it remains distinct. Both are polearms, but as you can see, the glaive has a one-sided blade at the end, and this one is longer than most spearheads.
Kai ignored Ban’s rather smug tone, and instead, admired the simple beauty of the weapon.
Then, without another word to the Earth Core, he ran back upstairs and searched for the two skill books. He considered reading only the book on combat with the glaive, but the book on knives was the slimmest of all. He took a deep breath and began reading.
By the time Kai finished, his back ached and pressure behind his eyes from a burgeoning headache pressed against his temples. He smiled nonetheless, and shouted to Ban in his mind, My brain may be close to bursting, but I think I’m ready!
Having the wits, at least, to eat and drink before facing any more monsters, Kai was back in the training room soon enough.
Picking up a pair of bronze daggers, Kai called out for Ban to summon him something nasty to fight. Without hesitation, Ban called forth another of the venomous snakes. Growling with frustration, Kai set about battling the quarrelsome foe.
It took a bit longer to kill the snake using only a pair of daggers, and the snake managed to bite Kai once again. Fighting a fifteen-foot snake with six-inch blades was a fool’s sport and the dragonling made sure to mention this to Ban more than once. Still, within ten minutes, Kai was yanking a dagger out of the top of the snake’s head while trying to avoid the still-whipping tail in its death throes.
Inevitably, Kai rested while Ban purged his system of toxins. It took him less time to recover this time, in part because Ban had started healing him during the fight. This was great news to the young man, as Kai was burning to try the glaive.
The sleek weapon seemed almost to call out. As he picked it up, a tingle of anticipation ran through his arms. It was light compared to the hammer, yet sturdier than he’d originally supposed. The blade stretched out beyond the long haft, spanning a little more than a foot. Kai realized it was nearly the size of the short sword but wider in its profile and thicker.
To balance it out and increase the strength of the weapon, the butt of the staff was wrapped in bronze. When he rested it on the stone before him and held the weapon out at arm’s length, the glaive was as tall as he was, quite a bit shorter than the spears favored by the Brintoshi army. He’d seen a column of soldiers marching past his uncle’s farm once, when he was younger, and could still picture the bristling polearms that towered above the soldiers. The Brintoshi spears must have been at least ten feet long.
Giving the staff an experimental twirl, Kai marveled at how well balanced it was, and how, even after only reading a beginner’s skill book, he felt quite capable of graceful destruction.
“Summon the hound again, Ban,” Kai said, and crouched to wait for his enemy to appear.
This time, when the beast ran at him, Kai used a series of deft thrusts to harry the animal, keeping it at bay. It was as fast as ever, but now with the advantage of reach, Kai could hold the hound back for as long as he wished. In just a few moments, he’d cut the creature’s face, and sliced into a leg, hampering its movements. Kai leapt back and drove the point of the glaive into the hound’s chest. With minimal effort, the blade pierced the beast’s flesh, and Kai marveled at the weapon’s potential.
“Again!” Kai shouted as he watched the body dissolve.
He glanced at the glaive once more and shook his head. This was the weapon he’d been born to wield. The spine of the blade was straight, only curving back slightly just before it reached its point. The blade swept back cleanly, joining the spine in a firm and deadly point. It looked like a hunting dagger but for the size of the thing.
The other feature of note was a large hook that curled from the spine of the blade. Having read the primer, Kai knew he could snag an enemy with that hook to pull them off balance or off their feet entirely. It would be a useful technique when fighting a humanoid.
When the hound appeared, Kai attacked relentlessly, this time employing the glaive’s slashing capabilities to good effect. In under ten seconds, the hound was dead.
My goodness, Kai. So it seems you’ve chosen your favorite then?
Kai nodded, certainty written on his features. Yes, Ban. Now let’s try it again. This t
ime, summon two, please. He bounced from foot to foot, waiting for the flash of ether that indicated new minions were being summoned.
The beasts formed before him, and though he was forced into a purely defensive posture for much of the fight, he was thrilled to find himself up to the task.
One of the hounds was more aggressive, so Kai side-stepped its constant attacks, making it pay for every snapping lunge with a score from his glaive. The other beast held back until Kai had committed to a thrust, goring its partner. It bounded towards him, snapping at his leg. Kai rolled backward, buying himself some room and jerked the blade free from the first dead hound.
When he looked up from his crouch, he could nearly see down the throat of the beast as it pounced at his face. Kai flipped the shaft of the glaive in its mouth, cracking a few of its teeth and suspending its momentum. Then he kicked the hound in the chest, stood up, and flashed his blade across its throat.
It died moments after.
Once more, Kai felt the flood of Progression fill his body and watched as the beasts were absorbed into the dungeon. He couldn’t help it and, given his rapid improvements, finally felt justified in celebrating. “Seven hells, Ban! That was awesome! Again! I’d love to try three but that seems to still be out of my league. Two more!”
Kai kept his weight forward, balancing on the balls of his feet. He focused on the area before him where his new opponents would coalesce. He opened his mouth to repeat his request for new minions to battle, but at last, Ban answered. Kai, I want nothing more than to help you power through your Crimson levels—already you are halfway to Crimson 2—but I’ve been putting something off for too long already.
What is it? Kai asked, curiosity causing him to stop and turn towards the sound of grinding rock. A portion of the dungeon’s rear wall dropped away, and Kai squinted to see a small form waddling forward to fill the space. He lifted his glaive, but Ban called him off.
No, Kai. This is a friend, Ban cautioned the dragonling. While digging about in my roots, I discovered that we’re not at all alone in this mountain.
As the Earth Core explained, a gray-skinned creature walked forward, its body hunched, black eyes blinking. It opened a wide mouth and needle-like fangs shone in the dim light.
What in the Dragon Kingdom is that? Kai asked, wondering vaguely if the beast was smiling at him or about to hiss.
Ban answered in the careful way people do when introducing two dear but different friends. Kai, I’d like to introduce you to Mowie, leader of the Stonespine gargen clan that live below us. Please, do be kind.
16
Beggar Your Neighbor
Bancroft
Mowie attempted to bow, and though the gesture was kindly meant, it was not as graceful as the gargen had no doubt intended. The creature’s round body more or less rotated forward, making her look more like a slimy boulder than a fearsome clan leader.
Kai blinked in surprise, unsure of what to do. Ban forgave the dragonling, all but lacking in Charisma, and helped move things along. Mowie is the leader of a powerful clan of humanoids, Kai. If you can’t tell, she has just bowed to you and is awaiting a corresponding gesture.
Oh, Okay, Kai thought, in a predictably awkward fashion. He bowed back to Mowie and then said aloud, “Nice to meet you. I hope your Stonespine friends are well.”
Ban approved of the attempt, if not the execution of Kai’s greeting. The dragonling had the finest of hearts, after all. And there’d be plenty of time for him to increase his Charisma. It was with great satisfaction, that Ban then watched the gargen toddle forward and set down a slimy bundle of gray matter.
Kai’s face wrinkled in disgust, and Ban was glad that Mowie had no cultural reference to comprehend the insult he had just given.
Kai, this is a gift from the Stonespine Clan. You must now accept it and return the gesture with a gift of your own.
With only a little hesitation, Kai set his glaive down and stepped forward. Then, with as much grace and dignity as Ban could have wished, he picked up the sodden lump in both hands and bowed again. The dragonling then walked back and set the lovely gift down near his new favorite weapon. He turned around again and picked up the two daggers on the training room’s wall, setting them down at Mowie’s feet.
The gargen flung her thin arms wide to either side of her head and screeched. The noise was startling, similar to what one might expect if a massive bat were drained of all blood and bile in a single, drawn-out torrent.
Kai covered his ears and crouched into a fighting stance, but he needn’t have worried. Ban almost laughed as he saw the gargen kneel down reverently and pick up one of the daggers. Mowie cooed over it and held the blade to her chest. The dagger looked like a short sword compared to her small body.
I believe she’s pleased, though I was not sure for a moment, Ban said.
Yeah, I was pretty sure she was going to kill me. What a noise!
Without further preamble, Mowie picked up the other knife and skittered away, back through the passage at the rear of the cave, and out of sight.
Ban laughed with Kai a moment; the sight too ridiculous not to.
I am hoping this means that we have new allies? Kai asked.
Yes. I’ve given them more than a few small gifts and they’ve since declared me their deity. Ban chuckled ruefully. It feels quite good, being worshipped, I mean. I must admit, Kai, I never knew I needed it.
Kai rolled his eyes then inspected the gray lump Mowie had given him. Peeling back an edge, he saw that it was a fish wrapped in gray leaves. Though it was indeed slimy, it looked just like any other fish except for its bulging blind eyes.
Ban, can you? the hero began, gesturing to the fish.
Of course, Kai! One second. Ban absorbed the fish, and then told him confidently. Now, after your training tonight, I can summon a few fish you can cook in your fire. I’m sure you’ll appreciate some variety in your diet.
The young man stood up and smiled. Ban could relate to the desire for something new. Had he nothing but loam and quartz to eat, he would quickly grow sick of it, despite its rather pleasing taste.
Kai snatched up his glaive and prepared for battle. Without another word, Ban dropped two of the bulky hounds in front of him.
Both hounds were aggressive this time, forcing Kai to retreat almost constantly, all the while badgering their hides with the tip of his glaive. Once the first hound fell, however, the fight was quickly over. The battle hadn’t been quite as smooth as the previous one had been. But, despite three bloody furrows across his lower leg, the dragonling was still successful.
When the second beast fell, instead of a handful of coppers dropping, as had been the case with the previous hounds, a single silver coin clinked to the stone floor. Kai shouted and scrambled to the ground to pick up the precious chip of ore.
“Silver! Ban, did you see this?” Kai shouted. “I didn’t think you knew how to make silver!”
Ban replied cheerfully, Honestly, I didn’t think so either… not anymore at least. Once, I could make eleven types of ore. I’m so sorry to ask, Kai, but can I have that one? Once I absorb it, I can consciously summon it again.
Smiling down at the silver bit, Kai nodded slowly. Then he flipped it in the air to land on the ground before him. I understand, Ban. It’s just … that’s a whole silver earned in a matter of minutes! I could be a rich man if I kept this up.
A rich dragon you mean? Don’t fret, we’ll both have plenty of shiny things before we are through.
I trust you, Ban, Kai said graciously, picking up his glaive once more. You say that there’s more where that came from? Kai’s grin stretched from ear to ear. Would you mind summoning more minions? And cycle between the three, if you don’t mind. Two at a time seems good for now. Something like a rat and a hound, two hounds, a hound and the snake: any combinations you can think of would be great. Unless there are any other creatures you have remembered?
Ban approved of Kai’s enthusiasm, but he urged caution. Let’s stick with th
ese three for now. We can discuss more advanced minions soon enough. You ready? Kai nodded, and when the ethereal flash of a giant rat and hound appeared before him, he darted forward eagerly.
When his dragonling finally left his dungeon, he would not have the luxury of being able to control who and what he fought. If he were to survive the years to come, Kai would need to master his weapons, gain new skills, and develop his magic.
But that did not mean that watching him swing his new favorite stick around was all fun and games for Ban. No, Ban had some serious work to complete. He started by completing a tasteful ramp that wound up to the training hall from the gargen’s lair. They lived in a series of tunnels beneath the dungeon that led up into caverns closer to the surface. The entrance to those caves was out of Ban’s area of influence, but he trusted that the little creatures knew enough to build their home in a safe place. If they had to contend with any predators, Ban didn’t know.
Around a dozen of the gargen tunnels spilled out into a wide cavern that would have creeped Kai out in no time. Strewn with dangling roots and a low ceiling, and home to a hundred crawling bugs, no surface dweller would enjoy the space. Judging by the way they acted though, Ban figured the gargen considered their little domain, which included a rocky beach around a murky pool, the very height of luxury. The little beasts liked to swim and lounge about in their chamber, but spent most of their days refining the tunnels they slept in.
Ban would have resented anyone telling him how to keep his home, so rather than attempting to clean or modify this area, he instead created an elegant new tunnel leading up into the side of the training hall.
He formed alcoves along the path, filling these with densities of ether that acted as dim lamps. It was quite fetching.
It tormented him to no end that he still couldn’t recall the proper pattern for a doorknob. Instead, he devised recessed stone doors that could easily slide back into the wall with the slightest hint of ether expenditure. This solved the problem of leaving a creepy opening in Kai’s training hall. Although it was, of course, Ban’s dungeon, the young man needed his own space. Since most of Kai’s time would likely be spent in the training hall, Ban wanted it to feel as comfortable as possible.
