Interval IV: Grit and Iron

This is bad. We have been doing okay up until this point but this flood of monsters flowing out of the dungeon and breaking our line shows no signs of ceasing. My feet feel heavy. The sand saturated with monster remains is not helping. At first the smell was nauseating but now I’ve grown numb to it.

Something large impacts the back of my head. It pulls yanking my neck and snapping the chin strap of my helmet. It is torn off and launched to Goddess knows where. It must have been a frog warrior. I hope they choke on it.

“RRRRRAAAAAWWWWWRRRRR!”

I turn to see Brutus in a battle rage tearing through the monsters. It is a haze of carnage.

Even though he looks like he’s struggling too, his speed still turns them into mist. With all the chaos I haven’t been able to see what Silence is doing. I know they can handle themselves. However, if they use too much mana and fall into the horde…and if I don’t see them fall then it is almost certain death…

I take a risky moment in between my swings to see if they are still alright. I see them maintaining the magic and levitating above the monsters. Are they lower than before? They are still casting numerous attacks into the crowd trying their best.

A Living Coral charges at me while I am distracted. I raise my shield to withstand the blow. I take the hit but I am starting to feel my body buckle. This isn’t good if something doesn't change we won't be able to save the town.

“LOOK ALIVE MOMO!”

Brutus spins slamming both of his blades into the monsters. It disintegrates under the weight of his attack. I can see it in his eyes, he is pushing his limits.

“Sorry Brutus! I got distracted.”

“Keep that big eye of yours focused on the battlefield. That elf can handle it. They know what they are doing.”

He is right. Silence is the most experienced out of us. They won’t fall so easily. Neither should we.

I slam my club into a group of advancing zombies. The limps fly. It’s getting hard to see with all this monster blood and sand in the air. The sea breeze can’t even reach us in all this for a little relief.

Periodically I hear some weird sound echo out the dungeon entrance. At first I was hopeful it was a sign of this stopping but I have heard it enough times now to know it's not the end of this.

“What the–”

I hear the orc’s confusion but I can’t get a look–

A hand touches the top of my head. It was so light I could barely feel it. I look up to see some lanky helmeted man with two shields. Who is that? What kind of adventurer would be crazy enough to run on top of the monsters?

I can’t see his face. He tosses a bag at my feet and disappears diving into the dungeon entrance. Is he crazy? I grab the bag. It’s filled with mana potions!

“Was that the speed demon everyone has been yapping about this past month before we left for our guild mission?”

I can barely hear Brutus over the battle. I don’t know if it was an adventurer, a demon, or an angel. Whoever they are gave us a fighting chance again.

“SILENCE! CATCH!”

I toss the bag on mana potions. They use their levitating staff to grab hold of the bag‘s strap. Instantly the elf begins to gulp them down one by one without relent.

Their violet hair glows in the early morning sun. Slowly they descend to the horde below. The moment one of their toes touches the ground–

The earth shakes. Roots blast through the dirt impaling all the monsters in a close proximity. Their bodies wiggle then eventually cease. Large walls of stone form from the ground building a defensive barrier.

“DEATH CLAP!”

I turn to see a phalanx of shields and guardsmen slowly working their way through the stragglers that escaped Silence’s devastation up the cliffside path. We have a little moment to breathe. The salt air is tainted by the smell of monster blood. Sand still floats making each breath taste of grit and iron.

“Is that you Keith? What's the situation in town.”

“Jim got word to the Guild. The adventurers are holding the walls. The town guards are here to provide you all the support you need.”

“Do you have any idea who that was who just ran into the dungeon?”

“No clue. I heard people yelling something about a speed demon. The adventurers might know more.”

“Whoever it is I pray the Goddess keeps them safe…they are alone in the flood…”

Brutus snorts and takes a moment to sit.

“I pray he knows what they are doing!”

“Brutus you better be ready by the time that next wave hits. Silence gave us some breathing room but at the rate the monsters keep flooding out of the dungeon they will be on us in no time.”

Silence walks forward. They are staring deep into the entrance. I have never seen Silence look so worried before.

What are they looking for?