496 Bigger is better (2/2)

”Yes.” Nix nodded, and immediately all of his materials vanished into his crafting queue.

Pon shook his head at the size of the timbers Nix had dragged over. ”This thing gonna be around ten feet in height?”

”Nope, those were just the lower legs.” Nix read the crafting timer, ”Two hours to bake the new Blinky.”

Pon's skeletal hands clapped together. ”Blinky 2.0! I like it!”

”Me too. Let's get some of this sap back to camp, so I don't show you up too badly.” Nix ignored the one-fingered wave and picked up two of the larger pots.

******************

[Bone Fortress: Sandcrab Precinct, 1400 hours Ice Faction: 12,733, Undead 10]

/Alpha: Rhy: Movement on three fronts. They've split up ranged forces to the east and west edge. The main force is coming right down the middle; several shield bearers and heavy armor wearers are in the group.

/Alpha: Sharl: They won't break us. Nez will hang back while Morti and I take the brunt of the pressure.

/Alpha: Pon: Don't worry about the east side; they have a nice surprise waiting for them. Shae and I will help ease the pressure in the middle. About ready, Nix?

/Alpha: Nix: Two minutes until Blinky is ready! We'll come down the west side and try to hit the ranged fighters.

/Alpha: Edi: Is Alfie with you?

/Alpha: Nix: Yep!

Alfie stood on a large boulder, his empty sockets staring at the Inferno Leader. ”Shouldn't we get going?”

Nix shook his skull slightly. ”How's that even possible without our ride! Here he comes!”

[Critical Crafting: Forest Giant]

Forest Giant

Description: A finely crafted creation that stands forty-two feet tall and is made from the finest hardwoods. This golem has several different types of melee attacks, including kick and stomp. Its powerful heart is filled with the rage of upper-tiered brown flames. The Forest Giant will obey simple commands.

Alfie's mouth dropped open when he saw the golem rise up next to them. ”Heavens...”

”Binky! Give us a hand, please!” Nix dragged the archer onto the large hand that swung down. ”On the shoulder!”

Alfie jumped off on the shoulder while Nix scampered up to the head. At forty feet in height, Nix's view of the surrounding area made him wish he had more archers. ”We'll switch places once the fighting starts.”

Alfie nodded while notching an arrow into this bow.

Sharl lowered her shield and moved to the left side of Morti. He would take the brunt of the first charge while she assisted. She shook her head slightly when the cub's long claws dug into the rocks beneath their feet like it was clay. ”Let's show-em!”

Morti's huge skull nodded up and down. ”My favorite time is swatting time!”

Pon deactivated all the mines he planted on the choke-points east side; this was done on Nix's advice. The Inferno leader told him to wait until they were in the kill zone before he switched things on. This would ensure them a proper funeral. The skeleton mage clicked his jaws together and waited. ”Gonna blow passed your kills like you were in revers...” A booming sound followed by vibration caused his boney neck to swivel. ”The fuck is that thing?”

/Alpha: Nix: We late?

The golem's giant strides appeared to be slow, but they ate up the ground between them and their quarry. Nix pushed emerald flames into his blade, hilt, and swapped places with Alfie. ”Blinky! Stomp and kick all the bad guys in this section!”

/Alpha: Nix: Where's my lift?

/Alpha: Rhy: Incoming, 10 seconds.