bedlam.
To make matters interesting, he let loose two more barrages directed further and
deeper into the enemy host. Even from where he was, he could see the explosions and
the resulting confusion. He knew he had to take advantage of the current mayhem. The
error of the enemy in treating them as ordinary enemies, with mass formation and
shield tactics, will not last. It will be corrected by whoever is leading them. He fired off two more volleys. Now, he could feel body fatigue starting. The use of the spells was
beginning to affect him physically. He looked at his companions. They were also letting
loose with their bows. At the range, he doubted if they would miss.
“Concentrate your arrows on those still capable of fighting. Leave the crawling wounded!” he ordered.
But there was still a lot of them. Once the fires die down, the enemy leader will
definitely adopt a new approach. If ever he gets the idea to order a rush at the mound,
in scattered formation, then Tyler knew they would be done for. Hitting so many
targets before they arrive within attacking range is an impossible task. He remembered
the difficulty of hitting the attacking jotnar during the initial assault on the town. And
reinforcements from the front ranks will surely now be nearing the rear. He knew he
had to do something drastic to keep the enemy off-balance.
He shaped a huge arrowhead form and infused it with as much energy he could muster.
He felt significantly weakened by the effort. He launched it a mile and a half deep into
the column. He saw the flash of the explosion before hearing its thunderous detonation.
It echoed around the mountain peaks. Some rocks started crashing into the Gap,
loosened by the strength of the explosion. From the surrounding areas, flocks of birds
immediately fled. Serves you right. Voyeurs.
He saw that his latest effort resulted in more chaos and damage. He looked at Jorund.
“I think I may have to rest a bit. Try to keep them off for a while, won’t you?”
“Yes, Sire. You need to rest. I see magical exhaustion beginning to taking its toll on
you.”
With that, he slumped into the ground. He could hear his heart beating faster and his
pained head getting heavy. Rest. If only for a few minutes. I hope I don’t get a heart
attack now. That would be... awkward.
As he squatted on the ground, he gripped his staff with both hands, laying it on his
legs. Surprisingly, as he held the staff, his exhaustion slowly vanished. Huh? What did
that old digger do to my staff? He felt invigorated and a sense of potency swathed him
in an azure embrace. He stood up.
“Sire, they’re moving towards us again.”
He looked where Habrok was pointing. The ranger was right. A large collection of
various kinds of foes were rushing them. And this time, in a scattered motley throng,
each attacking at his own speed. His prediction was right. He immediately let loose
volleys of small fireballs, peppering the field with small fiery bursts. Dust swirled around the battlefield.
Then a sudden detonation shook the mound. A large and powerful fireball had hit their
shield and destroyed it. Quickly recovering from the explosion, the two bowmen were
already concentrating their arrows on the enemies in the lead. With nothing in front, they fired directly at the onrushing host, unlike before when they unleashed their
arrows from the side of the barrier.
Tyler tried to find the mage or mages responsible for the destructive spell but the sheer
number of enemies in front obstructed his vision. Then he saw the telltale sign of
another fireball being launched. He immediately cast SHIELD! in front of the incoming
deadly projectile and in turn, fired off a large sizzling blade directed at the area where it came from. The enemy spell again disintegrated the barrier though he could see the
detonation where his own projectile hit. Yet the blade exploded not on the ground but
only in the air. Its fire was deflected to the sides. Must have hit a shield. A powerful one at that to survive such a large fire blade. Unfortunately, the enemy was already very
near.
“SHIELD!”
The spell was just in time. Several ice spells in the form of large spears smashed into it.
Right in front of Jorund. The barrier collapsed. The enemy started throwing javelins at
the trio. He could feel the impact of the missiles against his personal shield, he knew it
was fast degrading. The sheer volume of projectiles was making sure of it. Instinctively,
he willed a powerful chain lightning spell directed at the middle of the closest group in
front. His skill in the spell was elementary but he hoped it would finish before it could
jump to his companions. Then he let loose a bombardment of fire orbs to the group of
enemies at Jorund’s front.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Jorund had his battleaxe out and was
exchanging blows with a mounted ice elf. The foe was armed with a wicked looking
weapon which looked like a short spear but with a sword blade. A solitary vargyr was
dead and bloody on the ground near him. Though warriors on foot may have been
deterred by the ditch, vargar could jump it. Habrok had moved to the back slope of the
mound, releasing arrow after arrow. Yet Tyler could see that the momentum of the
enemy was already flowing to surround them. He cast an area of effect lightning spell.
His chain lightning was proving to be deadly and devastating. He spotted the flashes
quickly jumping from one to another, leaving charred bodies in their wake. But he could
also see where the lightning met magical barriers. On hitting the barriers, the bolts
fizzled out with a large flash. Mages! They’re mixed with the warriors. He had to give
credit to the commander’s guile. Launching an attack in dispersed arrays, with warriors
in front and then mixing his mages with those following them. While at the same time
instructing vargar to launch their own attacks and others to flank them. The enemy
leader appeared to disdain the losses they were receiving against three individuals.
Another chain lightning attack to Habrok’s front and scattered ground level minor
fireballs
