The dwarves halted the advance of the Sommerdan force as their superior weapons slashed through the enemy. As the bodies began to pile before them, the dwarves and skardians began their advance, pushing the enemy back. They trampled the dead unceremoniously into the bloodied snow as pained cries for help rang out beneath their boots.
Shields shattered and weapons snapped as the fighting grew more intense. Harik heaved great lungfuls of air as his gaze whipped to the sides of his formation. ‘They’re trying to flank us!’ He quickly scanned the nearby warriors, searching for Thovok. Eventually finding him as he buried his axe into a man’s thigh before smashing the bridge of his opponent’s nose with his helmet.
“Thovok! Take some men and reinforce the right flank! I’ll be heading to the left! If they get around us, it’s all over!” Harik bellowed as he drove the point of his sword through the shoulder of another enemy from behind.
Thovok ripped his axe from his enemy’s flesh as he nodded towards Harik. Assuring him that he would get it done. The dwarf quickly lumbered off, grabbing the attention of his kinsmen as he went. Harik’s concerned gaze turned towards the left flank as he wondered how many warriors he would have to take. If he took too many the the centre of their line would eventually break.
With a groan, he pushed his way towards the rear lines before pointing at several captains. “You lot, bring your warriors… We’re going to reinforce the left flank!”
The captains cheered at their Jarls request and enthusiastically encouraged their men to follow them. Moving from the rear lines made the journey easier on them than forcing their way through the ranks. However, when they arrived, the situation was worse than they imagined. The left flank was already on the brink of collapse, and the Sommerdan warriors stood cheering at one of their comrades…
“Ania… This scent… The hero from the mountain is engaging Jarl Harik!” Skovi growled as he finished tearing the throat out of a man who attempted to impale Ania on his spear.
Ania grunted as she released a lightning bolt, frying several men in their armour. “My father will be fine! Focus on this battle Skovi!”
Even though that was what she said, she still felt her heart sink a little. She had faith in her father’s abilities, but this was a hero they were talking about. Harik was just an ordinary man and skilled warrior. But Bjorn had proven that those things meant little against someone like him. So it was only natural for her to worry about her father.
Meanwhile, Exile’s eyes scanned the warriors still in reserve. He could clearly feel the presence of Parthus and others over there. However, none of them were making a move. It would be stupid of him to use up his DP dealing with normal attacks. At least, it would be until the others arrived. ‘What are you waiting for? Are you really planning on letting the NPCs fight this battle for you? Or are you waiting for me to make a move first?’
Exile furiously tried to figure out Parthus’ intentions. But he could not help but second guess every thing he thought of. Parthus was unlike anyone he had ever faced. This game seemed to favour his enemy’s skillset over his own. ‘There’s nothing else he can do but break through us. There’s no other tricks he can pull. There are no other paths that another army could be taking to surprise us.’
Exile nodded as he felt secure in those evaluations. Even if more Sommerdans passed the mountain chain further down the line they could never make it in time. Besides, they would likely run in to an army coming to reinforce his own side. Exile nodded at he put the uneasiness in his heart to rest. ‘No, this is definitely it. He’s only got this force to work with.’
Exile turned his back on the reserves and headed through the crowded battlefield to Ania’s side. He gave her a gentle smile, even as she pierced the throat of a man charging at her blindly. A slight smirk appeared on Exile’s face as he watched the limp body collapse at her feet.
‘She’s changed so much from that timid girl in the sack…’ It was beginning to dawn on him how quickly things could change for the NPCs. Although he spent most of his time in the game, he still thought of it in the context of time in the real world. A few days at a time. But for theNPCs those few days were weeks at a time. It really made him realise that one thing caused a divide between the players and NPCs that could never be fully overcome.
‘Did the developers do this on purpose as well?’ Exile frowned at the possibility. After all, it fit with the myths and movies of time being different for the Gods compared to mortals. But this was not the time to think about these things. His smile softened as he placed a hand on Ania’s shoulder. 𝙚𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝙡.𝙤𝙧𝒈
“Lord Exile!” Ania beamed as she pulled his spear out from the guts of another enemy. But she was silenced by the look on his face.
“Ania, you will have to listen to me carefully during this fight. It is likely that Skovi will soon leave your side.” Exile turned his gaze towards Harik’s group. “We have to win this battle and move to support your father as soon as possible…”
Ania nodded with a serious expression on her face as she raised her shield and spear. “Tell me what to do…”
Harik wheezed as he barely avoided having his throat slit by the Sommerdan warrior before him. ‘He’s fast! And that sword… Its reach is incredible!’ Harik cursed his luck as he guessed this was the enemy that had forced even Skovi to retreat. ‘Bjorn would have been the best opponent for him…’
Harik shifted his weight and suddenly felt like he was falling! ‘Damn! My foot!’ One of the bodies he had been standing on had chosen that moment to roll over, taking his foot with it. A nasty grin appeared in his vision, as a long curved blade sliced at his throat! ‘Oh…’
The man chuckled as he stood over Harik’s body, the last of his life force fleeing from it. “I’ll give you this, you had good instincts. But you were so focused on me you no longer paid attention to what was going on around you. That’s why you died…”
Before he could finish, he felt a sensation of danger tingling at the back of his mind. Forcing him to leap backwards in time to see a large pair of jaws snapping closed where his head had been. His eyes narrowed as he recognised the wolf from the pass.
“You!” The man laughed hysterically as he took in the sight of Skovi. “Now where did you come from I wonder? Hm, no matter. This time I’ll be taking your fur back with me for sure!”
The warrior raised his blade expecting Skovi to pounce again, but was horrified to see a different scene unfold…