The group nodded once more before Zova, Leannol and Gokkus crouch-walked eastward around the camp while Imbaka, Tanagy and Hazum Ka-te crouched walked westward. In less than a moment they had vanished completely from the sight of the Immortal. Cada Varl was greatly impressed by the fact Imbaka had spotted both the lone werewolf and the encampment for it was something that not even he with his immortal eyes had seen. As instructed he took two steps forward keeping himself low to the ground. “1, 2, 3…” he counted in his head as he looked out upon the enemy encampment. His heart was no longer capable of racing but the memory of such an action was the strongest it had ever been in his mind. Even if everything went to plan, this was going to be the most dangerous encounter of the entire journey so far. These werewolves were perhaps the most formidable they could be, not only did they possess incredibly weaponry, they had been well trained to use it. More importantly however was that these warriors might have possessed hundreds if not thousands of years of battle experience, a time that dwarfed the experience of any of the Helluvans. If that wasn’t a bad enough factor, the armor these creatures wore played to their tremendous strength perfectly. Their armor was far thicker and heavy than anything a human could wear. It was a dreaded fact in the lands of the man that eastern arrows were practically useless against this kind of armor, with the exception of course of Helluvan arrows, which were tailor made for such a purpose. Even so in order for a Helluvan arrow to pierce such armor its aim needed to be flawless right down to a part of a millimeter.
“33 34 35,” Cada Varl glanced around to the borders of the camp but could see no sign of the Helluvans. Either they had yet to find suitable positions or remained well hidden. If his eyes could not find them, chances were neither could the werewolves.
“40 41 42,” Cada Varl watched as one of the werewolves who sat around the fire lifted its head ever so slightly as if sensing something. It was a slight action that possessed a gravity that rivaled that of the very earth. Werewolves were known for their excellent sense of smell, in fact it was considered their strongest sense. Nothing Cada Varl or the Helluvans could have done would prevent their scent from being known, only the wind held such power. Though it was still at the moment nature had already proven itself unsympathetic to their cause.
“53 54 55,” Cada Varl looked away from the werewolf and towards a nearby blade of grass. For the moment it was standing still, but the tension was so strong that Cada Varl could almost sense the wind as it prepared to foil their plain. “59 60 61,” seconds more valuable than an entire lifetime. Cada Varl looked back towards the camp and saw that the werewolf kept its head raised but made no other motion. “66 67 68,” the time had arrived.
Cada Varl stood up and in the same action threw whatever had been given to him into the camp. It was a well-aimed throw that ascended high into the air and reached the center of the camp. When the item came under the light of the sun, it lit up with an intensity greater than a thousand bonfires. It seemed to steal the very light of the sun and though its light remained small it was powerfully intense. Every werewolf within the camp raised their head and looked upon it, a reaction that was blameless.
Immediately after heads had been raised Helluvan arrows were fired from somewhere unseen. The 6 six shots found their marks perfectly resulting in the quick deaths of 6 of the werewolves. Before the werewolves or the Immortal could make any reaction another volley was fired, just as brilliantly as the first. These volleys were not only well aimed their targets were equally well chosen. The dozen werewolves who had been killed were amongst those already armed, gaining valuable seconds against those who were not. Several of the werewolves howled in sounds so great they sounded more like 30 hounds in perfect sync than a single creature. The howls were a call to arms and in seconds the werewolves knew they were under attack.
This was proven by the third volley of Helluvans where only 4 arrows found their mark, out of the other two one bounced off the turned shoulder of a werewolf while the other was simply a fraction off its target. The light of the thing Cada Varl had thrown into the air was now diminished, as was the element of surprise for the Helluvans. Seeking to ignite this element once more Cada Varl leapt into the camp drawing his sword as he did so. There were no enemies immediately in reach of his weapon so the Immortal stepped forward, striking his weapon through the air as a werewolf had just enough time to turn and face the Immortal. Cada Varl’s sword cut through the neck of the werewolf like it was a clay figure whose owner had grown bored with looking at it. Dark purple blood exploded from the impact of the wound as its body fell a mere second before its head smashed onto the ground.
Another werewolf saw the Immortal but could do little more than growl at Cada Varl before he hacked his sword down through the creature’s armor, cutting deep and severing its heart. Amazingly the impressive armor of the werewolves did nothing against the ferocity of the Immortal’s sword, a weapon so unstoppable it seemed more suited to the hands of a god.
Arrows continued to fly into the camp and with each volley fired fewer and fewer arrows found their mark. The next werewolf that was close enough for Cada Varl to reach was met not by his sword by his foot. With astonishing power the Immortal kicked the werewolf so violently that it was thrown off its feet and moved with the speed of a ball fired from a cannon. The werewolf crashed into the depth of the campfire howling agonizingly as the flames burnt into its flesh. The fire couldn’t kill the creature and seconds after leaving the flames its wounds healed. With this, the presence of Cada Varl became the center of the werewolves’ attention forcing some of them to temporarily forget about the Helluvan arrows, it was a decision that cost a number of them their lives.
A dozen or so werewolves looked upon the Immortal and collectively howled, causing a collective noise that sounded like a whole army of dogs barking. The werewolf who had been kicked into the fire was now upon its feet, with a tremendous anger in its eyes it attempted to return the favor by hurling a large piece of the fire towards The Immortal. The fiery piece once upon a time must have been a log that began to fall to pieces as it came towards Cada Varl. The Immortal swung his sword horizontally meeting the log and turning it into fiery splinters. This caused a temporary explosion of flames before him and as they cleared three armed and ready werewolves were upon him. He stabbed the first in the chest killing it instantly before skillfully sliding back and avoiding the sets of Gotianik by the other two. He stepped inward and swinging his sword in almost a vertical circle sliced through the wrists of one of the werewolves, severing its hands from its body. This creature howled in pain as the blood sprang forth from its arms. A spilt second later the second werewolf had swung its own weapons towards Cada Varl, who using the flat side of his sword, forced its arms away from him before decapitating the best in a single powerful strike.
As the Immortal cut through his enemies like they were nothing more than unwanted candles the Helluvan arrows continued to fire. Though the element of surprise was no longer a factor the Helluvans still had two major advantages. The place the werewolves had chosen to camp was surrounded by close trees, in theory this would allow them to keep a much larger enemy force of werewolves from overwhelming them if they came under attack. The terrain worked so well it would enable them to possibly defeat a numerically superior army. But now it was working completely against them, the trees prevented the werewolves from seeing their attackers clearly. The trees worked well as barricades against the werewolves, stopping them from unleashing a quick and precise counterattack. The second advantage was the common knowledge that with the exception of sieges werewolves did not use projectiles. In their belief system killing was meant to be up close and personal, not distant and in their minds cowardly.
The werewolves who were not attacking the Immortal now were focused upon the Helluvans or rather getting to them as soon as possible. One such werewolf simply criss crossed its arms over its chest, effectively protecting its own heart from being pierced. It could not be seen which Helluvan specifically was
firing arrows at this werewolf but whoever it was they soon came up with a solution. A Helluvan arrow was fired into the right eye of the beast causing the creature to instinctually throw its arms up as it howled. Now unprotected another Helluvan arrow had no problem piercing the werewolf’s heart.
Utilizing quickness above all else several werewolves leapt up high into the air towards the border of trees. The strength of their legs was proven as they effortlessly leapt well over twenty feet into the air. While such a tactic made several of them easy targets for enemy arrows others came crashing through the treetops. It could not be seen what was happening as a result of such actions but it was clear several of the Helluvans had stopped firing.
One werewolf who was large even for its kind did not leap into the air but hurriedly rushed towards the tree line taking no notice of one of its kind who fell dead before its feet. This werewolf wielded a single unified blade that stretched out from its metal glove. When it came towards the trees it did not even break stride, instead it sliced its blade through the air cutting through the tree with the same precision and quickness as Cada Varl was hacking apart his enemies. As soon as the tree began to fall, the werewolf, like a giant to a fly pushed the tree causing it to fall away from the beast man as it crashed through the shrub. It was a tremendous display of power, one that proved ultimately pointless to the werewolf who was struck down dead by a Helluvan arrow.
This werewolf may have failed but it had opened up the way for another of its kind. One such werewolf actually wielded a large shield that was as large as it was circular. Like the armor the creature wore it was plain, with the exception of a length of red paint that decorated one arc. This was not the only shield the encampment possessed, but most of the others had simply not been seized quick enough before the arrows could perform their duty. A Helluvan arrow was fired towards this shield but bounced off instantly leaving not so much a dint upon its circular frame. The werewolf hid its face behind its shield to deflect yet another well-aimed arrow. The werewolf seemed determined not to deflect a forth. It rushed forward keeping the shield over its face, effectively protecting it from any harm. In spite of its quickness another arrow was fired, this one was directed towards its unprotected foot. By a distance too difficult to measure the arrow barely missed and the beast warrior was through the trees.
Seemingly it could sense Tanagy for he barely had time to drop his bow before the beast warrior had struck the Abider with its shield. To say the force of the blow was tremendous was like saying an ocean was fairly wet, a gross understatement. Tanagy was hurled back, striking a tree with so much force the tree almost broke in two. Even his armor, made from the strongest metal known to man, dented greatly, but saved him from serious injury if not death. The werewolf looked over its shield and the two warriors from two completely different worlds stared each other down. Rattled but far from defeated Tanagy reached for the swords upon his back but the werewolf attacked before he could unleash them. The Abider with surprising speed hurried his body sideways avoiding the shield. But that was not the only thing the werewolf possessed as the blades of a Gotianik came slashing downwards. Tanagy turned his body but did not avoid them, they scarred his armor but failed to penetrate. He managed to pull his swords out before the werewolf could attack again.
As the werewolf swung its shield once more the Abider thrust the tips of his own blades forward. It was not a maneuver to pierce the shield but rather to stop it from striking his body. He was forced back but it seemed a controlled maneuver before Gotianik and swords briefly clashed. The area that the two fought in was small preventing the Abider from gaining much distance between the two of them. After blocking the Gotianik Tanagy slashed his swords across the shield, as if only to perform an offensive move, even if said move was pointless that was pointless. When the werewolf tried to use its shield once more Tanagy brought his foot up to meet it. Incredibly he used the strength of the werewolf and the sturdiness of the shield to launch himself into the air.
As he came crashing down upon the ground once more he drove both of his blades deeply into either side of the beast warrior’s neck. The werewolf let out a cry of pure agony as Tanagy moved his body so that he landed behind the creature. Though it was far from a graceful move Tanagy landed on both feet, dragging his swords out of the deep wounds he had delivered. Before the werewolf had a chance to turn and face him he brought both blades across its neck, almost like an over grown pair of scissors. Purple blood gushed as the beast stumbled but it took another swipe of both swords before the creature’s head was removed from its body and it lay dead before the warrior. Tanagy took no time to admire this fresh kill, he placed his swords back into their sheaves without cleaning them before quickly reclaiming his bow and resuming firing.
Cada Varl had slaughtered enough of these creatures that bloody body parts lay around him like he was the centerpiece of some deranged piece of art. Most of the werewolves that were left were drawn to him, none showing fear of his disturbing ability to easily cut them to pieces. In quick succession he buried his sword into the heads of three enemies adding their bodies to his collection. As another beast warrior came towards him he swept his blade across the air literally turning the blades of the beast’s gloved weapons into useless shards before driving his sword straight through his enemy.
How Gods Bleed Page 12
