Red Army

The horizon was a line of fire that lit the night.

Dreadoxprime and his officers had already left with incredible speed, including the old Dabimen. Not even Madego could catch up with them. Lucky for me, since the Esgrimidora was our protector.

Tooko and Catsifhed stayed with us to complete a ‘Party’: a group of five Heroes, distributed strategically for battle. But to be honest, Kalandra and I weren’t a help at all—not even with the Ice Wizard’s dagger in my hand.

“The Master gave you both an opportunity and a trial. You don’t have the appropriate level to hold such a weapon. You would do better with rocks and a stick.”

Catfished’s matter-of-fact words were a hurt blow to my confidence. Yet it was true, and my arms were already a little bit exhausted from holding the weapon. The only thing that saved me from total despair was the two women in front of me.

Madego and Took, as the proclaimed “Tanks” (the Party’s front warriors), lead the way. The Solid member was a Targeteer and moved confidently despite the heavy sword and shield she carried. Madego wore her light, blue uniform, but thanks to the shiny foil at her right hand, she looked deadly.

At our rear, the cold Catfished followed us, attentive to the surroundings. She was a Brani, an assassin of sorts.

“This is far from ideal, so keep the formation and don’t do anything foolish. We have no healer, and I’m barely properly equipped.”

I would never do anything “foolish”.

“Look! At the west border! Mobs on sight.”

The Brani was right. Thanks to the fire’s light, I could distinguish the bear-like body with the beaver head of the monsters. But no, those weren’t their characteristic features.

The eye.

The only eye in their face.

And the mouth.

The big, toothy mouth in their belly.

Kalandra’s shrill scream snapped me out of my shock.

“The Mapinguari are here! We are dead! Juro-Juro, save our souls!”

“Shut up your native friend, and try not to die that easily, damn you!”

Catfished words are so reassuring.

Madego and Tooko changed their direction and turned around towards the beasts. It wasn’t until the soldiers were in sight that they advanced. Because commanding the Mapinguaris was a group of soldiers in shredded leather armor pieces.

A red cloth was tied to each of their left arms.

The Red Army.

“Run all of you! The only way we can survive this is by going through them!”

We run behind Madego and Tooko, while both of our Tanks made a big leap into the air, just in time to cut through the rain of arrows fired by the Red Army archers.

I held Kalandra's hand, without knowing what to do next. A cold sweat ran down my body. Terror? Adrenaline? Or a mix of both?

This pressure is what I felt with the serpent and Dreadoxprime. I can feel it, the power, the level difference. Yes, I know I could die right now.

While dark thoughts gnawed inside me, the two front women were already upon our enemies. The Red Army just avoided them while leaving the work to the beasts. Nonetheless, the foil and the sword reached them, and many fell, never to rise again.

Catfished drew a bow and began firing arrows in rapid succession, and some hit the only eye of the Mapinguari.

“Not my weapon of choice, but I can leave you girls alone.”

I’m no more than a hindrance. Damn legs! I can move them! Why can I be brave when it matters?

The Red Army’s cunning tactic was working. Tooko’s strength and Madego’s speed were outmatched, but they were tired, and more enemies were approaching from Matilda’s border.

Suddenly, one of the Mapinguari’s claws reached Madego’s back.

Tooko tried to protect her, but her shield could not withstand so many.

Should I run away?

The mere thought filled me with guilt, yet the terror was so great that my body was about to move on its own.

When I thought everything was lost, a man in flames jumped from out of nowhere, followed by six spearmen.

Streager, Solid’s Quartermaster, burst into the scene with his bare hands and chest, throwing punches at everyone within his reach.

The spearmen quickly reached their leader and helped with the “cleaning”.

“Why are you so late? We officers had to separate from Dreadoxprime. Hurry up and send a messenger, we need to reinforce the west streets. Report to the Plaza at once!” commanded Streager, while suffocating a Mapinguari.

“Master, the lieutenant cannot do more combat! She needs healing at once!” Tooko’s words froze my blood.

“No time, all Healers are supporting the revolt in the prison. Those madmen! This is insane, working with the mobs? Not even a Mage or Hunter can control them.” The officer paused for a moment. “Tooko, take the lieutenant to the medical house. If the Heirs left any Surgeon, she won't die. Not today.”

Streager’s words were not subject to appeal. Not in a time like this.

Catfished stayed with the officer’s party to contain the combined forces of monsters and soldiers, while Tooko carried Madego on her back. My protector had lost consciousness and was now losing blood at an alarming rate.

“Hear me, you two, I can carry the lieutenant and my shield with my strength, but I can’t fight. No matter what happens, run to the meds. If the worst happens, drop your weapons and carry Madego between the two.”

I know what that means. Are you really willing to die for two strangers?

“You…you follow me. I know the fastest way. The medical building…that’s in my neighborhood. Alicia, you know the one. That’s…where you woke up.”

Tooko and I ended up following the shy woman into narrow streets. Whether this was the right way or not, we couldn’t tell. The only thing left was to trust Kalandra’s memory.

When the fire wasn’t visible anymore, a man with a red cloth in his arm appeared at a distance.

He noticed us.

And showed us his rotten teeth with a smile.

“Wretched invaders, this is where you die. For the Land!”

The ragged man wasn’t fast, but we were scared, and Tooko couldn’t react on time. In a few seconds, he pounced on me and threw me to the ground. With great difficulty, I managed to prevent his small axe from piercing my head. His breath reeked of alcohol and hatred, and his eyes seemed to boil with blood.

One more second, and the Red Army man could have killed me right there, on a dark and forgotten street of a poor city. But blood started pouring from his mouth.

Kalandra’s knife cut through his neck. My companion cried inconsolably.

Tooko let out a sigh of relief. It all happened in a matter of moments.

All of a sudden, Kalandra’s body glowed for a few seconds, and all the small wounds and scrapes disappeared from her skin. She let out a sharp cry of surprise.

“Silence, native. You leveled up. We don’t have time to know how much. I know that all of this must be hell for both of you, but we need to keep going.”

“I almost died right now. Kalandra, thank you.”

Kalandra continued crying, yet she continued the march. Not even she had time to process her first kill.

I’m sorry for not being the best with words. I wish I could at least comfort you.

Finally, we arrived at our destination: the medical building. Kalandra had led us through the back door—it was the fastest way to reach it. What we saw would later change the course of my “adventure” forever.

Blue-uniformed men and women from the Heirs of Othal lay dead near the entrance.

Dabimen, Solid’s Master of Levies, was barely crawling along the ground, his body covered in blood.

Standing with a broadsword, a full-armored Renzhar was about to deliver the final blow.

And on the building’s roof, a white rabbit was looking at me. He looked at me with urgency.

Renzhar noticed us, and my misfortunes continued.