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The Big Oof! Volume 2 Chapter 53: Just Don't Die
🕑 Added 2023-07-26 08:22:10 +0000 UTCAzelines ears perked up as she heard the two iconic sounds and charged out of the clearing like a bolt of lightning. Jucap however, hesitated at first as he gripped his spear tightly and held it close to his chest. His body trembled from fear and uncertainty as his mind fought against itself. Should he go after her? Should he run away? Should he just stay put?
A myriad of conflicting thoughts rushed through his mind as he was rooted to the spot. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as his stomach churned, threatening to force up what he had for lunch.
But then, he saw Azeline fighting.
A pair of unsuspecting Kobolds quickly snapped around and reached for their crude, sheathed weapons as another hissed in their guttural language. But before they could defend themselves, Azeline slammed her round shield into one, eliciting a sickening snap of bones and sending the creature flying.
The Northern woman didn’t leave time for the other to react as she simultaneously stabbed forth with her double edged blade and pierced the chest of the other. The kobold let out a garbled gasp, its eyes wide with surprise and fear before it slumped to the ground, clutching its chest.
Azeline didn't pause to relish in her victory however, she quickly turned her attention to the rest of the Kobolds, and stomped down with all of her might, letting out a thunderous roar that reverberated throughout the burrow. The earth beneath her seemed to ripple, sending out a shockwave that caused the nearby Kobolds to stumble or lose their footing and topple over.
The effect was immediate and devastating. Four of the surviving Kobolds were caught completely off guard by the sudden quake and fell into disarray. Some managed to keep their footing while others were sent sprawling, their weapons clattering to the ground. Either way, it was too late for them, Azeline took advantage of the situation and was already on top of them. With a powerful swing, she cleaved at one of the Kobolds waist, completely bisecting the poor wild Ferfolk before it had time to defend itself.
Azeline showed no mercy as she continued her onslaught. She moved like a whirlwind, her sword a blur of deadly precision. Another Kobold tried to scramble away, but she was on it in an instant, her blade slicing through the air and severing its head from its body. The remaining Kobolds could only watch in horror as their comrades fell one by one, their feeble attempts at defense proving futile against the former shield maiden’s relentless assault.
Meanwhile, Jucap stumbled forward in awe finally joining the fray, after seeing the Northern Aethari woman slaughter all 6 of the Kobolds within a few breaths. He charged forth and skewered a Kobold that was scampering out to see what the commotion was, pinning it to the side of the burrow entrance. Jucap then looked back in awe as he saw the predatory look on Azelines face as she brought her shield up and charged the entrance, slamming her shield into another Kobold that was rushing out to contest Jucap.
“You have to pay more attention, my oh so brave hunter.” Azeline teased as she effortlessly dispatched the Kobold with a swift stab of her sword. “Or else you end up in that pit.”
Jucap could only gape at her, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never seen anyone fight like that before, let alone a woman. It was as if she was dancing, her movements fluid and graceful, yet deadly. But what surprised him the most, was the fact that she was a Mana user…
"Y-yeah," Jucap stammered, pulling his spear free from the Kobold's body. "Just startled, I am."
Azeline smirked as she dug her shield into the ground, blocking most of the entrance and pushing her body weight against it. “Good, now start stabbing.” She said, motioning her head to the narrow gap at the top.
Gulping nervously, Jucap nodded as he lifted his spear and plugged through the gap, just as more Kobolds crashed into the shield. A high pitched squeal echoed out from within as he pulled back, and stabbed back instead with all his might. The spear found its mark again, and another squeal echoed from within the burrow. Jucap grimaced, his heart pounding in his chest as he repeated the action. Each thrust of his spear was met with resistance, followed by the chilling sound of another Kobold's death.
He repeated the action, his movements becoming more confident with each successful strike. Most of his stabs found no purchase, but all they needed to do was buy time and keep them at bay. Azeline, on the other hand, remained steadfast, her body pressed against the shield as her eyes scanned their surroundings, alert for any potential threats that might emerge from behind. Her bloodied sword was held at the ready as its blade gleamed in the blinding sunlight.
Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity as the tension in the air grew. The sounds of the Burrow below quietened as the Kobolds wisened up and decided not to throw themselves against the shield above them. Instead they sat back chattering angrily with each other and retreated further into their home.
With the pressure against the shield lessened. Azeline tensed, her grip on her sword tightening as she prepared for whatever was about to come. She knew that Kobolds weren’t the most intelligent of the thinking creatures of the Mortal realm, but they also weren’t dumb. They were cunning in their own way, and Azeline knew better than to underestimate them.She had seen firsthand how they could use their numbers and their environment to their advantage, turning what seemed like a simple skirmish into a deadly trap.
The silence from the burrow was unnerving. It was as if the kobolds had simply vanished, leaving nothing but an eerie quiet in their wake. But Azeline knew better. She knew that they were likely regrouping, preparing for another assault. Or worse, they could be tunneling their way out, planning to attack from a different direction.
"Stay alert, and be ready to defend yourself," Azeline commanded, her eyes still scanning their surroundings.
Jucap looked down at the crouched woman with a confused look on his face. “What ye mean? They be trapped in there, ain't they?" He asked, his voice filled with incredulity.
Azeline only responded with a click of her tongue as she shifted her grip on her sword. "Kobolds are diggers, you idiot," she explained, her voice serious. "They could be tunneling out another exit as we speak. We need to be ready for anything."
And just as she said that, a hole burst open from the ground a few meters away with another group of Kobolds scampering out.
A high pitched squeak left Jucaps mouth as he recoiled in fear. He could see that the dulled glisten of bone armor rested over the top of their gray scales and the creature's eyes sparked with a primal rage. They let out a collective hiss, their small bodies tensed and ready to attack.
But just as Azeline was about to charge, another much larger clawed hand emerged from the hole, followed by a hulking figure. Unlike the others, the lizard-like creature was significantly larger and more menacing. Its scales were also gray, but had deep red feathers on the top of its head that went down the length of its back, and it wore a well made, metal armor in place of the crude armor the Kobolds wore. In its hand, it held a large, jagged sword that gleamed ominously in the dim light. And it was followed up by another.
“Are those…Are those Skalbolds?” Azeline said with a stunned expression.
Jucap was hyperventilating as he started to slowly stumble back in an effort to get away from the newly arrived horrors. His first instinct was to turn and run, but he knew that would only make him an easy target. Instead, he tried to keep his movements slow and controlled, his eyes never leaving the Skalbolds.
Azeline’s eyes scanned the battlefield and saw that more unarmored Kobolds were pouring out, but they were more focused on retrieving their wounded and dragging them back into the burrow. She did some quick calculations in her head and counted 4 armored Kobolds along with the two armored Skalbolds and came to the conclusion that her hands will more than likely be full dealing with the two Skalbolds and she wouldn’t be able to assist her tag long.
"Hunter, prepare to defend yourself." Azeline instructed, her voice steady as she stood and readied her sword and shield. The once arrogant smirk on her face was replaced with a cold and professional demeanor.
A spike of dread hit Jucap as he felt his stomach literally drop and his blood go cold. He could hear the rapid beating of his heart in his ears as he frantically tried to think of a plan. "But-" he began to protest, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes darted between the Skalbolds and the Kobolds trying to find a way out while his mind raced.
Azeline slammed her sword into a shield as a challenge to the two Skalbolds as she looked over at the shaking man. "No one is here to save you, Hunter. You need to save yourself," Azeline said, her voice stern and unwavering. She then turned her attention back to the Skalbolds, who in turn let out their own challenging roar and stepped forth.
The armored Kobolds bowed their heads deeply towards the larger creature and turned their attention to Jucap, their beady eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. Unlike their previous undisciplined and unorganized kin, these Kobolds moved in unison, their movements eerily synchronized as they advanced towards the trembling hunter.
Jucap swallowed hard, his throat dry. He could feel the cold sweat trickling down his back as he gripped his spear tighter. He knew he was outmatched, but he also knew he couldn't back down. With a shaky breath, he steadied his stance, his eyes never leaving the advancing Kobolds. "Okay… Okay…" he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. "Just don’t die...."
And with that, Azeline exploded towards the Skalbold in a charge, the tip of her sword connecting with the jagged blade of the first beast as it parried her attack. Raising her shield above her head, Azeline felt the heavy blow of the second Skalbold as it brought down its own weapon in a powerful overhead swing.
A painful reverberation was sent through Azeline’s arm from the impact, but she held firm as her muscles strained against the force. With a grunt, the Northern woman pushed back, using the momentum to swing her sword in a wide arc towards her attacker in order to punish the strike, but the creature was quick, managing to dodge her attack by throwing itself back.
The Skalbolds let out deep, guttural snarls, communicating in their own language. They gave Azeline a wide berth, seemingly respecting her space, knowing that one errant move might end them. In a display of intimidation, the two Skalbolds slammed their thick tails against the ground with a resounding thud, chanting in a strange, rhythmic pattern while they glared at Azeline.
Azeline, however, was unfazed. She stood her ground, her gaze never wavering as she readied her shield and sword. She was a veteran Shield Maiden, trained in the art of combat ever since she was a young girl, as well as a seasoned Freelancer who had faced much more perilous odds. She was a warrior who had stared down death more times than she could count, and this was no different from any other job.
With a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her weapons, her muscles coiling like a spring. Then, with a fierce grunt, she stomped on the ground, sending another shockwave exploding towards the Skalbolds before shooting forward with her sword gleaming in the light.
Caught off guard momentarily, both Skalbolds quickly regained their footing and fell back into their practiced routine of block and counter-attack. However, Azeline was a step ahead. She transitioned into a shield bash against the blocking Skalbold, sending it sprawling to the ground while parrying the cleave of the other. A swift kick to the stomach sent the second Skalbold reeling backward and seizing the opportunity, Azeline stabbed downwards toward her fallen opponent, but the Skalbold was faster than she anticipated. With a swift roll, it evaded her attack and used its tail in a desperate attempt to unbalance her by whipping at her legs.
But Azeline was no novice. She had fought these things before and with a swift jump, she dodged the attempt and landed back on her feet only to bring her shield up to block the stab of the Skalbold she kicked.
The blow sent her stumbling back, once again creating distance between the two. Quickly glancing over her shoulder toward Jucap, she could see he was in dire straits. The hunter had managed to slay one of the armored Kobolds, but he was struggling against the remaining three. The man attempted to keep a hold of the spear with his bloodied arm as a look of horror spread across his face. The hunter desperately swung his spear in an effort to keep the Kobolds at bay, but they were edging around his vision, trying to surround him
"Stab, hunter!" Azeline called out, her voice echoing through the clearing. "Stab at the ones that look like they’re trying to get behind you!" She yelled before turning her attention back to the Skalbold.
This time, the Skalbolds took the offensive. One of them lunged forward, its jagged, butcher-like blade slashing towards Azeline. However, the Northern warrior was ready and brought up her shield just in time to deflect the attack and countered the other charging Skalbold by swiftly slamming the blade of her sword into the ground, causing a narrow line of jagged earth to erupt from the ground, aimed directly at it. The large creature had barely any time to react as it halted the killing blow it was preparing and used the flat of its blade to smash the earth spikes that threatened to skewer it. The first Skalbold, momentarily distracted by the sudden use of the ability, hesitated, giving Azeline the opening she needed. With a swift and powerful swing, poured as much mana she could muster in that moment into one powerful swing, causing the blade to dig deep into its armor.
An angry and loud hiss rang out as the injured Skalbold stumbled back, clutching its ribs as blood started to flood out. Once again, distance was created between Azeline and her opponents as the Skalbold hissed and barked at each other in an effort to figure out how to deal with the woman. It seemed they had underestimated the woman and figured she was much more dangerous than they had initially anticipated.
Looking behind her once more, Azeline found that Jucap had slain another of the Kobolds, but sustained more injuries himself and was tiring fast. The man limped, clutching a wound at his hip as he used his good arm to stab at a Kobold who was trying to close the distance.
“Gods damnit…” Azeline muttered under her breath, her eyes darting between Jucap and the Skalbolds. She knew she couldn't afford to split her attention, but she also couldn't just leave Jucap to fend for himself.
If he fell now, then she’d be stuck fighting all four of the damned things and that was a situation she wanted to avoid at all costs. It didn’t help that the Skalbolds she was fighting were actually skilled warriors, their movements coordinated and their attacks precise. They were a far cry from the usual mindless beasts she was used to dealing with. It was almost as if she was fighting for the Jarl’s armies all over again.
With a huff of indignation, Azeline realized she was going to have to take a few risks in order to turn the tide of the battle. She’d managed to seriously injure one, but she needed to take one out of the fight to even the odds.
And so, Azeline closed her eyes for a brief moment and sucked in a lung full of air to steel herself. “This is going to hurt…” She muttered, opening her eyes and exploding forward once more. Her body moved like a blur and her sword was a streak of silver in the sunlight as she aimed for the injured Skalbold, her sword raised high and ready to strike.
A deafening and metallic clang rang out as the injured Skalbold blocked her heavy attack with its own weapon. The uninjured Skalbold, seizing the opportunity, raised its weapon above its head, preparing to bring it down on Azeline in a crushing blow. But she was ready. With a swift movement, she lifted her arm and used the top of her shield to catch its blade.
Azeline smirked evilly and thanked Ulina in her heart for letting her borrow this specific shield. Made of Valkdrasil wood, its core was sturdier than most timber, but the outer layers were rather soft. Perfect for getting an axe or let’s say… a sword stuck when you hit it.
With a swift and powerful twist of her arm, the Uninjured Skalbold was yanked downwards as Azeline cocked her arm back and shot forth with a vicious stab towards the creature's throat. This however, left her completely open to the Injured Skalbold as it recovered and prepared a panicked swing in an effort to save its ill fated brethren.
However, it was far too late. Time seemed to slow to the compromised Skalbold as, eyes wide in terror, it watched the sword rocket towards its throat. The creature let out a strangled gurgle as Azeline's sword found its mark, slicing through its scaly hide and into its flesh.
A horrid cry was screamed by the remaining Skalbold after it saw the blood spurt out from its kin’s throat. It raised its own blade above its head in a fit of rage and grief, preparing to strike down Azeline in retaliation. Azeline pulled her blade from the slain Skalbold and twisted her body in order to avoid the blow, but she realized it was too late. She was going to get hit and all she could do was avoid being killed.
But just as the Skalbold's blade reached the zenith of its prepared cleave, Azeline heard the all too familiar sounds of her companion's magical weapons. The sounds were akin to a swarm of angry hornets, hissing and whizzing above her head in sharp, individual snaps as the Skalbolds head exploded, spraying her with droplets of its blood.
“I KNEW THIS WAS A SHIT IDEA!” Elijah yelled as he sprinted towards Azeline, pulling off his medpack. His eyes were full of anger as he slid next to the woman and started patting her down for any injuries.
Azelines face went from confused to flustered as she felt his hand grope her in a manner she would deem rather inappropriate. “H-Hey! Watch your hands!” she yelled, covering her chest and crotch.
“Shut the fuck up and stay still!” Elijah shot back, his tone laced with urgency and frustration. He pushed her hands away, his eyes scanning her body for any signs of injury.
Once sure the woman was completely fine, Elijah sighed in relief before looking over towards the Hunter and saw the man was in a bad state. “You’re goddamn LUCKY we got here in time!” Elijah looked over his shoulder and snarled at the Northern woman before running over to Jucap to provide aid.
