Chapter 47 (2/2)

The whole group stilled. Dozer shifted, looking up at Randidly. Then his ugly, flat face split into a huge grin. He dropped his short sword and shield, and drew the huge club that he had obtained in the dungeon. All around him, men shed armor and small arms, drawing axes, clubs, halberds, and spear. Huge, weighty weapons that were meant more to bash and slaughter.

Dozer strode forward, his 10 man squad following him. The 4th squad was currently at the front, holding back the monster horde.

“SQUADS 6 through 10,” Dozer belowed. “PART.”

Confused, they shuffled to the side, revealing Squad 5, who nervously glanced backwards, while the 4th squad struggled with grim expressions. Donny formed up a group of 25 or so people, hurrying after Dozer.

Dozer and his group began to run.

Randidly threw down handfuls of fire, not at the area near the gate, but in a line directly forward, thinning enemies in the way.

His huge thighs bulging, Dozer crouched behind the 5th squad, their eyes wide, and then leapt, his huge, 2 meter club held high overhead. His squad loyally followed, roaring. Their huge, muscled forms reached the apex of their leap, then fallin, weapons swinging.

Most nearby monsters were meat paste before they understood what was happening. Dozer rumbled forward, his huge club swinging, 4 or 5 monsters crushed or smashed backwards with every blow. His men charged after him, swinging like mad themselves, and the monster horde was quickly bulldozed before them.

Donny followed, the golden glow of Aegis suffusing his group as they walked forward, mopping up the mess left by Dozer. Feeling that the time was right, Randidly bombarded the area around the Godmother Wolverine with flames, killing the weaker monsters and antagonizing the boss.

It roared and stood on its hind legs, shouting its challenge towards the sky. Then it lowered itself again and charged forward, heedless of its minions it crushed. Within seconds, Dozer had caught sight of the charging wolverine and laughed wildly, raising his club.

The two forces met with a huge boom, Dozer staggering back several steps, but the Godmother Wolverine stopped dead. Its face was confused, and then furious, and it reared up again, but suddenly Donny was there, shield blazing with golden light, and Shield Bashed it directly in the face. Stunned, the thing stumbled, and Decklan was there, sweeping in, his knives leaving long scratches on its flank.

Their squads spread out around them, knocking the monsters back and forming a loose defensive circle, letting the powerhouses meet.

Randidly felt slightly disappointed that he wasn’t a part of the struggle, but he sensed that this enemy was not one that would get his blood flowing. Although it was as high of level as the things beyond the boundary, it just had a prodigious amount of health. It was enough for the three of them to defeat it. And also, they would be further reassured of their ability to survive without him. That was very important, for the future.

Instead, Randidly drew his spear and hopped off the wall. Now was time for him to play.

****

Randidly had a satisfied expression as he watched the sun rise. For one, there were only 3 deaths this morning, and 1 of them was an NCC who got too curious and wandered too close to the horde.

In addition, Randidly experienced an enjoyable amount of level gains. Spear Mastery increased by 2, Phantom Thrust by 1, Spear Phantom’s footwork by 3, Heavy Blow and Fighting Proficiency by 1, Haste by 2, Sweep by 4, Empower by 3, Calculated Blow by 8, Roundhouse Kick and Edge of Decay by 4.

Fireball also increased by 3, with Root Manipulation going up by 1, Pollen of the Rafflesia and Summon Pestilence both by 2, and Mana Strengthening by 3.

And the ever important Equip went up, putting it at 20, and giving Randidly a nice surprise. He was finally able to identify and equip the necklace he had gotten from the first cat he had killed.

Necklace of the Shadow Cat Lvl 20 ®: (Vitality +1, Strength +2, Agility +7)

He certainly savored that Agility boost, after wearing it without any effect for long. Then Randidly’s eyes widened as he wondered if the habit of teeth necklaces denoting authority came from imitating him. He shook his head ruefully.

There was no way that was the case, right…?