Return to Jorgaldur Volume IV: Reunion

Trap

Engenak's agents came closer and closer, tightening the circle. One of the assassins in the first circle raised his hand, thus indicating that they were ready to attack. As soon as he lowered it, they would cast the spells they were preparing.

As they advanced, an arrow shot up into the sky from a distance. Those who were facing it frowned, not really knowing what it meant. They saw it come down over the tent, and some thought it was the signal to start. For this reason, they watched with attention and tension the one who had his hand raised. He never put it down.

The Ethereal Arrow entered through the roof of the tent, through a hole in the shield itself that was supposed to protect it. It should be said that the shield would have been totally insufficient in the face of the attacks that were coming.

The projectile entered the tent and collided with a magic circle, belonging to Self-Destruct. The mana from the arrow caused the trap to activate, in a small explosion that woke up other similar traps.

Despite being not very powerful traps, the chain effect that was created wasn't negligible, although their detonation wasn't the main target of that framework.

Hundreds of explosive potions were stored inside the tent, and they began to explode due to the action of the traps. That caused a terrible explosion of fire and a no less terrible shock wave.

The Engenak agents who were in the first circle, the closest, were annihilated by the explosion. Half of those in the second circle were also unable to resist the effects of the unexpected detonation, while the other half were seriously injured.

Those in the third circle, a little further away, suffered mixed luck. Two died instantly as they were impaled by speeding fragments, which were remnants of armor, weapons, or rocks. Some suffered serious injuries, including severed limbs.

Only slightly more than half of the agents in the outer circle were left virtually unscathed, with minor injuries. They were in a state of shock, pushed back by the shock wave, and not believing what they were experiencing.

"Let's go!" Gjaki urged them.

Nilgha, the fake Engenak's agent, though stunned by the unexpected explosion, reacted to the vampiress' words. A few moments before, she had agreed to attack with them. Rather, she had volunteered, eager to take down the survivors with her bare hands.

She had seen them carry out too many atrocities without being able to do anything. While Nilgha had been able to avoid some, that didn't stop the frustration and horror she had experienced in the last few months. Now, she could help put an end to it.

Dozens of arrows ceased to be Held, and rained down on the survivors, which took most by surprise. They hadn't yet recovered from the shock when the attacks had come.

However, they were experienced fighters, so many had instinctively renewed their defenses after the explosion. Despite this, there were barely five left in a condition to fight.

"Traitor!" one of them accused, as he was being attacked by the infiltrated agent. He blocked her sword with his own.

"You're the ones who've betrayed the people you were supposed to protect!" she replied.

The crash threw him back, for she was carrying the momentum of the run, and he had barely managed to get up. That unbalanced him, which she took advantage of to kick him in the stomach.

The agent barely had time to react and block an arrow that threatened to pierce his neck. However, that left him totally vulnerable to the thrust of his rival, which pierced his sword hand.

His body was covered and protected by the armor, while his hand was exposed.

"You..." he wanted to accuse her.

However, a new kick, this time in his face, prevented him from continuing to speak. He had had to drop the sword, and his enemy hadn't given him time to react.

The impact pushed him back. As he fell, he drew a dagger from the sleeve of his uninjured hand, and threw it at her with a skill similar to Fleeting Dagger. It was poisoned, thus making it a deadly attack. It was also difficult to discover until it was too late.

The resistance member easily avoided it. She had seen them fight on countless occasions, and had studied each one of them. In part, to send reports to the resistance. In part, in case she needed it herself.

She dodged by turning on herself, with Deadly Dance, and took advantage of her movement to elbow him in the face. It broke his nose. Her arm continued, and brought a hilt blow to his jaw that knocked out some of his teeth.

The impact pushed him to one side, though it didn't stop him from trying to spit out a tiny dart also covered in poison. It was a last resort that he had never used, so she was unaware of it. It crashed against Projectiles against me?.

Eldi had provided her with that and other blessings, as well as the rest of his companions. Although, if not, the resistance member probably could have solved it. She wasn't a rookie at all.

"It's good to have allies," she told herself.

Not only had the blessings strengthened and protected her, but Goldmi's arrow had helped her seize the initiative. She was used to working alone, so this was a welcome change.

However, she didn't stop at her contemplation. Her sword quickly sought the throat of her enemy. He protected himself with the arm whose hand was pierced. It stopped the thrust at the cost of earning a deep wound.

He was on the ground, with one arm impaled by a sword, and with the other hand he was trying to get up.

"Aaaaarrrrghh!!" he screamed in pain as a dagger pierced his eye.

He wasn't the only one who had concealed daggers, or that could throw them out of the blue with the other hand. In fact, he wasn't even the only one who had them smeared with poison.

He convulsed a few times, foaming at his mouth before his heart stopped completely, before he died.

She plunged her sword into his throat to make sure of his death, and looked around her. She had to come to the aid of her allies if necessary, especially the man who had the emblem. Nilgha couldn't help but be suspicious of his identity.