From The Ashes

I struggle to stand because my damn legs were still asleep as I shamble over to the
nearest tower. It should lead directly to the slums below. My men were still down
there. Not all the Karvithian forces were in the path of heaven’s fury, because they
actually hadn’t all made it into the city yet. More were pouring in from the
defenseless gates to reinforce the wizards.

Five of the knights followed me down to the city. The other took Aroura back to rest. These men were finally going to see some combat. By the time we reached the
bottom of the tower my legs had fully recovered. As we approached the ground
level, I began to feel a strange sensation within me. Similar to when I used up my
mana. Maybe it was something similar.

The city was a wasteland. While most of the ashes sat comfortably on the ground,
many large specks are hovering above the ground like grey snowflakes frozen in the
air. Further back, the ashes formed a thick fog. Each footfall brought up more ashes that stayed suspended in air. It was oddly beautiful. A beautiful wasteland.

I turned back to the five knights that followed me. “Our objective right now is to rally our troops for a counterattack. I spotted demi-human survivors earlier. Split into
four groups and help round them up back here. Be wary. The enemy still has three
wizards in the city and two ogres. Understood?”

They saluted and barked, “Yes sir.”

I pointed to the one in the middle. He happened to be the one who stopped my
ogling. “You. Stickler. You’re with me.”
The other four departed and Stickler followed me.

He lifted his visor to reveal a blonde curled mustache and asked. “What’s our
objective captain?”

“Scouting. We’re going to observe the enemy movements so when the army comes
together, we can better maneuver around them.”
Normally, this would be an easy task with all the buildings destroyed, but the fog
that concealed the battlefield reduced vision to about a couple spear lengths.
Vision would be a bust, but that made it incredibly easy to ease drop.

He kept talking. Are all humans so incompetent? “Then why am I here sir? Surely my suit would-“
I held up my hand

I whispered, although in the silence of the fog it felt loud. “Your mouth is leagues
louder than suit. You’re more eyes and ears. Now stay quiet.”

As we stalked through the fog, we came across the main road. At least I think it was. The gap between rubble was greater than all the other paths. A beam of magic
soared up into the sky, further down the road and exploded. Mostly likely a signal.
My concern was that it was much to close for comfort. Have they not moved from
their position when the Moon’s spear hit? I began listing closer and I heard them.
They were shouting at each other.

It was barely audible, but I could hear them arguing about giving away their
position… A retreat… Failing the King… Not enough death? Back to the signal…
Clearing the fog. With that, a blast of wind cleared the ashes around me and
therefore the fog. Then Stickler and I were staring down an Ogre who was just down the road. He glanced down at the armoured wizard who nodded. Now the ogre is
charging at us. This may have been a mistake.

“Run!” Stickler and I run in the opposite direction as fast as we can, but it only takes a few steps before the ogre grunts. Instinctively jump as far as I can to the side, turn
around to find the club dragging along the ground directly at me! I jump again and
barely avoid the impact as I vault over it!

I shout out to Stickler who is stupid enough to be standing there staring at me!
“Stickler! Reinforcements! NOW!”
As I finish saying that, a massive club smacks the black grass where I was just
standing. He lifts his club to smash Stickler, so I use the opportunity to close the
gap. The ogre’s armour is just a shabby as I remember; made of scattered plates
held together by thick leather straps. My sword easily finds its way around the metal plates but can only barely scratch his disgusting thick grayish-green skin. Unholy
black blood oozes from his scratch.

He begins to run after Stickler which lets me chase his feet down and slash again
and again. After a few attacks, he stops and stomps the ground where I was
attacking him. His growls resonate throughout the air when I slash at his other foot.
He begins stepping back and sweeping the area with his club. It’s no use. He’s too
slow. So so, very slow.

As the cuts begin to overlap, and more of his blood darkens the already black grass, he becomes desperate. He begins desperately stamping all around his ankles with
his club and feet both, all while roaring! But I dash through his attacks and make
more, deeper, cuts here and there. Something has to be slowing him down. I don’t
have time to ponder what could be making the beast so slow, because even with
though I’ve managed to survive this far, it’s taking everything I have to stay alive.

With a shout, I jump and swing at the back of his knee! My blade cuts deep and
snaps, leaving half the blade sticking out of his knee. The cut is enough to send him
falling to one knee. Fueled by instinct, I jump onto his back and begin climbing. To
stop me, he falls unto his back. I launch myself to his shoulder and sporadically
crawl onto his chest then prepare to plunge what’s left of my sword into his throat!
Before I can tear at his throat, I jump out of the way of his enormous hand, only to
be smacked by his other hand. The impact makes me drop my weapons as he
surrounds me with his vile hands! He has me trapped.

He starts to stand up and laughs. “What now, little man? I’m going to eat you! Then
the city!” He’s pulling me towards his mouth headfirst! I manage to get my arms
free but for what? I can’t give up! I haven’t come this far to get eaten by this unholy
beast! I! Will! Survive! With both hands I grab his big protruding tusk and shout!

I continue to shout with all my might until his tusk snaps off and he drops me! He
stumbles back, hands on his mouth roaring in pain then trips on the rubble. When
he lands, a cloud of dust erupts around him, barely concealing the log now
protruding out of his shoulder. With his tusk in hand, I stagger to my feet then bolt
at him with all my strength and pounce unto his face! All while his roars echoes
throughout the city and my screams fill the gaps, I plunge the tusk deep into his eye!

Pulling out a dagger, I jolt back and sink it into the vein slightly exposed through his neck As I pull it out, I jump back to the street and swivel in place preparing another
attack. It’s almost disappointing when he doesn’t get up. His roars turn slowly to
cries then to silence. He was dead.

I spent a slight moment to stare at my hands. Where did that strength come from!?
The strange feeling I had earlier was now an obnoxious presence in my core. Could
this have been caused by the Moon’s spear? I just pounced a house’s height, giant
tusk in my hand after I ripped it off! I have no idea what’s going on, but I’ve won. All
that’s left is the wizards and the full plated men.

Speaking of, they came to watch. They just arrived, shields raised in a standard line, all staring at me. I couldn’t prevent a sadistic grin from crawling over my face. They
graciously let me pick up my broken sword and cracked shield.

The ashes began to fall back to the ground, ever so slowly. I turn to the foe before
me. “I hope you’re quite ready. Do try to make this entertaining for me.”

Ten of them in total. The three standing in the middle of the line charged at me while the others ran to cut off my escapes. Instead of charging them as well, like my gut
told me to, I slammed my sword into its sheath and ran away. Or so they thought. I
turn into what used to be an alley and scoop up a handful of rocks and spin. With
the opening of the alley in sight I chuck the handful of stones with explosive force.
They barely had enough time to block the brunt of the attack. A few stones
managed to dent in a few helmets, but most of them just exploded on their shields.

In a flash, I’ve grabbed more stones. Expecting another volley, they hide behind their shields. After a second when nothing happened, one peeked over his shield to see
an empty street. I had jumped onto the rubble and silently jumped back to the main street. While in the air, I let out a grunt of effort, as I launch the stones from my
hand. The closest stones blast apart on the armour of the closest knights! They cry
out under the pain of their broken sword arms! Two down.

When I land, I dash ahead and pick up the dropped sword. He attempts to smack me with his shield, but the force of me ramming into him with my own blasts him back
into his broken partner! The other knights run around to surround me. Not
happening! I lunge at the one furthest out. He, of course, tries to slash at me. The
sound of his sword clashing with my shield hung in the air for a split second before
the clanging of our swords replaced it again and again! Then his friend joined.

With his sword occupied, I kicked the first into his approaching friend and turned my attention to the one who interrupted my duel. With his sword arm raised above his
head, he swung down at me with incredible speed! My weapon rose to meet it! The
two blades cut into each other, becoming stuck. Perfect. I let go of my weapon and
snatched the knight’s leg and swept him off his feet! I swung him overhead like a
club into the man behind me, letting his body crash onto the other’s shield with an
incredible crunch!

He used both hands to stop the blow and still struggled to stand. In an instant I drew my broken blade and drove it into the small gap between his helmet and body. He
dropped everything and stumbled back gurgling. I jumped back to another alley and snatched a hefty stone.

They were hesitant, but right now I didn’t have a weapon. My previous weapon is
currently stuck in a gullet. A stone would be fine, but I have no reach. They all stood back with their shields raised. They didn’t even notice the monsters lurking behind
them. I raise my arm, preparing to throw another rock, so they each take cover. A
death sentence. Stickler returned with Wal and a squad of saurians. The knights
were systematically smashed by the hulking lizards except for the one closest to
me. Hearing the carnage behind him, he whips around. Then a rock embeds itself
deep into his back.

As he falls to his knees, I walk over to Wal. Stickler greets me first. “Glad to see you
alive captain!”

I ignore him. I’m still angry he stopped my lusting. Wal greets me next. “Agreed. I’ll
admit, I was surprised to find you alive.”
He looks back at the ogre corpse. “With minimal damage.”
His eyes turn back to me with an expression I’ve never seen from him before. Relief? “How did you survive this?”

I look to the gentle ash flakes descending back to the ground in contemplation.
“Whatever that spell did. I think it’s enhancing my strength. Among other things. It’s
making my blood boil and I feel like rage is overwhelming me.”

He stares at me with icy eyes before dropping his mace and placing his clawed hand on my shoulder. “Don’t let the fury consume you. You’re much too important to
lose.”
He let out a toothy grin. “Plus, you don’t have any scales to save you.”

I let out a single laugh and slap his shoulder. “That’s what you’re for.”
Then I hear something I never thought I would ever hear. Wal laughed. Once. Then
his smile faded as he turned back towards the destroyed gate. Back to business.
“What of the others? How did they fare?”

He begins to answer but is stopped by a terrifying sight. There were three wizards
standing just down the road. Still arguing. But they were no doubt staring directly at me.