Storming the Gate

We had positioned ourselves just beyond the sightline of the garrison gates in the minutes leading up to the routine patrol. Even at our distance, the terrible scent of burnt flesh and smoke tainted the air, acting as a foul reminder of our previous encounter. Unlike the last time I had seen it, the space was no longer guarded by an enraged uvula. Instead, a pair of Beseen guards now stood at attention, their pale white faces—a side effect of the cranial manipulation—were locked forward, and their vacant eyes slowly scanned.

I inspected their uniforms from afar. The clothing they wore was loose-fitting and a crisper white than their colourless bodies. Deep purple buttons, matching the armbands and helmets, held the pieces tidily in place. The clothing was nearly identical to what the villagers had described when we rescued them. But these were only expendable frontline soldiers, which meant their baggy armour was likely nothing compared to the Komants' fascist-chic attire.

Classic master species bullshit is going on there. I thought as I slinked back from my shadows into position with my allies.

"All ready?" I quietly asked the group, holding a hand to my head.

"Yeah," Rionriv whispered back, a finger to her temple. "We're all set to begin."

"Any minute now," Sharzin added to the back of my mind. "These enemies are always on time."

As Sharzin and Aesandoral had previously noted, at the top of the noontime hour, the gates clanked loudly, their sound echoing down the tunnel before the sound of scraping metal against the stone floor replaced it. I listened as the massive gate opened before the sound of boots replaced it as they began to clack in a coordinated march forward. Subtly, hidden away where we couldn’t be seen, I curiously peeked my head around the corner. It was then that I saw them for the first time. Moving in careful formation, just as I had imagined they would look, a patrol emerged from the garrison. They were outfitted in their pure white clothing, with crossbows slung over their shoulders, the straps of which held loosely in their grips. As I had suspected, half a dozen Beseen led the perfect lock-step march, followed by three intimidating-looking Sturaan, and finally one proud Komant adorned in its fitted black leather.

The fighting force moved casually forward, in no way expecting the fight to have suddenly shown up at their doorstep. And though I saw it with my own eyes in the moments before retreating to my companions, a second confirmation arrived in the back of our minds through Sharzin's communique. She had jumped ahead of us using the special cloak that Mama Ellis had gifted her while staying at the Thantossa's manor. Currently hidden in the room, the rogue had taken cover behind the fleshy mass that had been our previous target. Acting as our forward scout, she would inform us when the heavy gates to the garrison were closed, preventing the enemy from quickly retreating and locking themselves in.

“Gold Flare,” Sharzin reported in the back of our minds as the moment finally came. “Gold Flare.”

Aesandoral, Rionriv and I exchanged acknowledging nods as the moment had finally arrived, and the time for us to act was at hand. In that instant, magic flowed to my feet and fists as I released three quick, centring breaths. Kicking off with all my might, I sprinted down the short length of the tunnel towards the cavern that, just a few days before, had nearly taken my life.

Whatever doesn’t kill you— I thought as I rounded the corner and the Fliant force came into view. Can likely still kill you the next time. Time to focus up. Game time, Iz.

Luckily, the first part of the plan was simple. All I had to do was draw the Komant's attention. The thought was that if you cut the head off the snake, the body would die, and the same could be said for military forces. Without the commanding presence of the Komant, the remaining soldiers would be stunned and, thus, easier to pick off. That said, as long as the anti-spell capabilities of the Fliant mini-boss were focused on me, it couldn't cancel out the attacks that came from behind.

Rounding the cavernous corner and racing forward, I realized we had the element of surprise on our side. The overly proud Fliant fighting force had not even considered that a diminutive guerrilla group would have the gall to ambush them outside their base. And it showed the moment I raced towards them, as neither the Sturaan nor Beseen had the opportunity to draw their crossbows before I had broken their ranks. Like a moose charging forward, splitting a stream, I cut through the stunned Beseen. Knowing that the following Sturaan would be more difficult to break through, I leapt into the air with all my might, preparing a mighty punch.

"Honey Badgers!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I flew through the air.

More than simply quoting a movie about teens fighting communists, this coded phrase was all I needed to trigger several pieces of the plan falling into place at once. If successful, I was confident that it would all but guarantee a successful sneak attack.

First, as I flew past the ill-prepared soldiers, a lightning flash presented itself in the back corner. Without a moment of hesitation, Rionriv had teleported herself and Aesandoral into the distant shadows behind the enemy. We had decided that getting the drop on them would mean more than simply charging in headfirst. Thus, some flanking friendlies were on the docket for this sneak attack.

With that, Aesandoral was already prepared, releasing two arrows the instant she appeared. Her deadly aim once again amazed me as I watched the first arrowhead piercing the Komant’s Achilles. A flash of green energy flared, releasing a bramble of vines that connected to the stone before crawling up its body and rooting the Fliant in place. This was when the second arrow connected where its temple should have been, causing its head to twist to the side from the sheer force of the impact, shifting its magical-negating gaze away from me.

Next, from the shadows, Sharzin released another pair of arrows that suddenly appeared and pierced the back of its scaled skull. Thanks to her skills, the rogue had struck true, dealing a critical blow to the abomination. In an instant, I could tell that it was off balance, beginning to tumble forward into my fist, with its legs locked in place.

At this point, Sharzin would begin her next job. From the shadows, she pivoted into a new position to prepare her take-down of any soldiers attempting to re-enter the garrison.

It was finally my turn. With my flight coming to an end, thoughts rushed through my mind. Curiosity took me as I wondered if the Komant had been surprised by the sudden turn of events. I wondered if the beast had had a face instead of the emotionless flesh-coloured scale surface, would it have worn a look of surprise or fear as I flew towards it with my fist raised? Then, at that, something twisted and coiled in the back of my mind. A terrible thought came to pass as I wished for nothing more than to see the terrified look of a nozi in the moments before death. That look of realization that its unbreakable mind was about to be split open for the world to see. For its own allies to realize that they, too, were flesh and blood, and the day had finally come for theirs to be spilled.

But I let those morbid thoughts slide from my consciousness as I felt the power of my magic pooling into my hand for a final strike. Everything had been set up and executed flawlessly so that I could deliver this super-charged punch to the Komant’s face.

Fug yeah! I thought as my momentum pushed me forward past the Komant with my fist landing hard enough to break scales and shatter bone. Love punchin’ some nozis in the morning!

But I wasn’t done yet, even as I felt the head twist unnaturally around, listening to the cellulose-like crunch of alien neck bones echo in my ears. As I continued my flight past the monstrosity, I reached back, gripping firmly to the neck of its leather trenchcoat before using my momentum to suplex it into the stone. The Komant struck the ground hard enough to bounce, releasing a final, sickening crack that echoed through the chamber.

Landing with an acrobatic tumble forward, I quickly righted myself before spinning to face the remaining soldiers in my usual defensive posture. They were turned towards me, and though their faces were expressionless, I was left with the feeling they were looking at the prone Komant. Finding myself curious, I decided to also peek down at the figure around my feet.

Oh shit!

A pool of dark purple blood slowly stained the stone beneath the motionless Fliant as it became apparent that my professional wrestling moves had forced Sharzin's two arrows through the skull and out front of the monstrosity's face. In that moment, I saw no signs of movement, not even shallow breathing from its stained breast. But I wasn’t even sure how the Fliant breathed. Afterall, I wasn't a doctor of cosmic horrors. Technically, I just pretended to be one in the sheets.

Well, I guess that wasn't so hard.