Bane of Humanity 10


    cknail shuddered as an unnatural cold assaulted him. It burned as it stabbed through his flesh and seeped into his blood. Gritting his teeth, cknail steadied himself and looked toward the Doom of Coroulis.


    Keep running! he told his minions as he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the cold. They felt like they were freezing and cracking, but he could see fine.


    The mutant drake was still perched atop the remains of the ruined home. Its intense yellow eyes seemed to focus on cknail as the other hobgoblins ran past him. cknail took a moment to study it in turn. It was gigantic, muchrger than even many of the fancy homes of Coroulis. The mutant had the body of a grey-scaled lizard, but with a crest of blue feathers on its head that ran all the way down its back. The Doom was without a doubt unmatched predator. Its jaws were so thick and powerful they looked like they could crush boulders, and its magic abilities were made obvious by the blue crystal spikes sticking out of its skin.


    Saeter had mentioned this beast quite a lot, usually as some form of curse word. Saeter had never said it directly, hed almost never talked about himself, but others had told cknail that his master had been here when the city had fallen. His master had also apparently seen the mutant with his own eyes, just like cknail was now. The Doom was one of his masters enemies, which was one of the reasons cknail had agreed toe here. All his masters foes needed to die. That was cknails mission. That was the hunger that drove him forward despite the pain and loss.


    Form up and activate your amulets! Sir Masnin yelled from down the street. As the same time, many other humans began shouting and screaming. They sighted Myagnoir.


    Sir Masnins words brought cknail back to reality and reminded him that he had a heating amulet of his own, so he quickly reached up to activate it. As soon as his fingers squeezed it, he felt the oppressive cold retreat as warmth flooded out of the protective trinket. cknail would have felt relieved, but that was when the Doom decided to hop down from the building and began stalking his way. Right. He needed to get the hells out of here. He wasnt actually nning on killing the Doom himself. That would be beyond stupid, like something Khita would try to do.


    Turning around, cknail sprinted toward the humans down the street as quickly as he could, which was faster than hed ever moved before. The humongous predator behind him gave him plenty of motivation to push himself.


    Up ahead, Sir Masnin was readying his force to meet the Doom. Taking advantage of the wide street, theyd formed up into two lines of riders, and cknail saw that many of them were armed with the mages heatnces. Lord Ilisti and Werrick both had them and were on either side of Sir Masnin. Behind the riders were the mages and warriors withoutnces. One of the mages was already holding up a glowing staff. It burned with orange light and the air around it shimmered lightly.


    There was a loud crack as stone shattered beneath Myagnoirs weight as he ran. cknail flinched and looked back. He was almost to his allies now, but the drake had closed the distance considerably, even if it didnt seem to be moving nearly as fast as it could. Instead, it seemed aggressive but wary.


    In fact, Myagnoir slowed instead of charging straight ahead at the riders. It roared  shaking the air  and then the crystals jutting from its back glowed menacingly. Immediately, frost appeared on the ruins around the beast, the air above it swirled violently, and then two huge jagged shards of ice formed above the drake. Soon, they were bothrger than a horse.


    As Myagnoir roared again, and the ice shards shot forth. The first went straight toward Sir Masnin and the other riders. There were fearful shouts as the icy projectile closed in on the humans, but then one of the mages responded. He raised his staff and it let out a pulse of roiling red me. This wave of burning power washed over iing spear of ice and disintegrated it. The humans werepletely unharmed.


    However, cknail didnt have time to feel relieved. The second icy spear had been hurled his way. Panic raced though cknail as he reached into his core and grabbed as much magic as he could. Shoving the magic into his muscles, he threw himself sideways out of the way of the ice spear. His body burned from the effort as a wave of cold overpowered his amulet and prickled his skin, but a momentter, the huge projectile flew past him. Hed dodged it! He was still alive.


    One of the hobgoblins in front of him wasnt so fortunate. The spear mmed right into him. His body didnt even slow it. He simply disappeared as the icy projectile mmed into him, and then they both flew into one of the ruined homes alongside the street. The impact threw a cloud of dust up into the air as the building copsed in on itself. There was no sign of the now very dead hobgoblin, except a single boot hed left behind on the street. It was just sitting there where hed been standing a moment ago. cknail had no idea how that had happened, but he couldnt spare it a thought. Myagnoir was still charging toward him.


    As the drake roared again, cknail resumed his frantic dash toward his allies. As he moved, he noted that Herah was already there. So much for her never leaving his side or whatever! He would remember this.


    A momentter, cknail reached the line of horsemen and quickly charged past them without stopping. He didnt n on being anywhere near them when the fight started. He wasnt getting paid to fight city killing monsters. Hed found the thing for them, so now killing it was the humans job.


    Sir Masnin raised hisnce and began shouting more orders. Forward knights! For righteousness, and for humanity! nk the beast like weve nned and target its weak underbelly as you pass.


    As soon as he was done yelling, there was a determined cheer from the other mounted warriors, and then the pdin sprang into action. Shouting wordlessly, he urged his horse forward and it began charging toward the enemy. A momentter, the other knights and warriors followed. Splitting apart, the charging horsemen went up both sides of the road, leaving the center open. Obviously, they nned on nking Maygnoir instead of facing him head on. This n also had they advantage of giving the mages that had remained behind a clear line of fire, which they immediately took advantage of. Lances of searing me and hissing fireballs shot toward the mutant drake.


    Seeing the iing fire, Myagnoir roared again and the air around him began to swirl like a miniature cyclone. Then, the vortex was filled with swirling white shards of ice, turning the exterior of the cyclone into something that almost looked like a solid barrier thatpletely surrounded the drake. cknail felt the tip of his long nose freeze for a second before his amulet adjusted. The battleground had grown even colder. Now, white sparkling frost was everywhere, on both the ground and the nearby ruins. It was a good thing that the mage with the orange staff was shielding all the humans that didnt have amulets. Theyd all probably be dead without the shimmering haze of heat that was radiating from the staff. After the battle, cknail would have to look for an opportunity to acquire it when no one was looking. It be nice to have over the winter.


    Up ahead, the mages fiery spells mmed into the drakes freezing cyclone, creating explosions of steam and throwing the cyclone into chaos. It grew more frenzied and chaotic as every st hit it, until it began to shrink and fade.


    Growling, Myagnoir eyed the charging knights and abandoned his cyclonic shield. As it faded, he came to a stop and smashed one of his front ws into the stone of the road. Immediately, the earth rumbled and an unnerving cracking filled the air. A secondter, as everyone watched breathlessly, the road in front of Myagnoir erupted violently. Huge jagged shard of ice burst out of the ground, lifting up tons of earth and stone to form a huge wall right in front of Myagnoir. The mages fireballs mmed into the icy barrier and exploded without doing much in the way of damage.


    Forward, for country and divinity! Sir Masnin yelled as he rode past the wall. His subordinates streamed after him. cknail saw Ilisti and Werrick ride past the other side as well.


    Regardless of the ice wall, the knights were too close to Mayagnoir for the mages to keep throwing fire at the beast, so they lowered their staffs to watch like everyone else.


    Although the ice wall was partly in the way, cknail could still see almost everything. As he watched, the two lines of knights streamed toward Myagnoir. The massive drake growled and swiped at Sir Masnin with one of its ws, but the pdin and his horse managed to dodge the attack and make it past the beast unscathed. This also gave the other group of knights an opening that they ruthlessly exploited. Charging in, Werrick stabbed one of the mutants legs with his firence.


    Myagnor screamed in pain but reacted quickly and smoothly. The great drake spun around, so that its tail swiped at the knights from behind. Scattering, most the knights were forced to abandon their charge, and two of them were hit by the long scaly appendage. The impact sent both men and horse flying off the road and into the ruins. Judging by the loud snapping sound of armor and bone breaking hed heard, cknail was sure they wouldnt be getting back up.


    However, not all the riders missed their chance at the drake. Lord Ilsisti managed to duck under the tail and continue on. Before swerving away, his firence bit deep into the side of Myagnoir, leaving a bleeding and faintly smoking gash. The drakes scales were thinner near its belly. It was injured, but not enough to hamper it. Ice-cold malevolence radiated from its yellow eyes as it red at the humans.


    Myagnoir roared in defiance and rage once thest its foes had streamed past. The beast seemed insulted at being injured by such tiny attackers, even if it had only taken minor wounds. However, the roar was more than a scream of defiance. A st of freezing air surged away from the drake toward the retreating knights. Thankfully, they managed to dodge the center of the icy st, and their amulets protected them from the freezing winds that swirled around it. This seemed to infuriate Myagnoir further, it scratched the ground with one of its ws  tearing up paving stones - and let out a low menacing growl.


    Turning away from the knights that were now attempting to reform for another charge, Myagnoir peered around the wall of ice and rubble it had made, and directly at cknail and the people near him.


    Uh oh! Herah remarked. Shed shamelessly made her way over to his side now that it was safe.


    Bah, that stupid lizard cant hurt us, Khita said dismissively. Shed also wandered over from somewhere.


    Ya, were probably fine, cknail replied. There were over a dozen humans in front of him, including two mages. While they may not have been knights or Vessels, they were still heavily armed warriors. They also had plenty of defensive magic. If Myagnoir attacked them, hed simply be opening himself to an attack from behind by the knights while he was distracted. cknail almost wished he would do that.


    However, cknails confident sneer soon grew lopsided. As he watched, Myagnoir took a step back behind the icy wall, spun around in a circle, and mmed his tail into a boulder that was sitting atop his wall. There was a loud cracking noise as the ice broke, and then the boulder was sent flying straight toward the center of the humans'' formation. Flying with startling speed, it was headed right at the mage with the orange staff. Immediately, the mages tried to defend themselves. A shield of fire rose into the air and a fierynce shot toward the boulder. However, thence shattered the boulder without stopping it, and the rock shards were ckened by the shield but not deflected. Before the mages could raise a more appropriate defense, the shower of stone mmed into the center of the human formation. Screams filled the air as the rocks tore into flesh and bounced across the road.


    cknail was out of the immediate danger area but he still threw himself further away, just in case. Herah and Khitanded next to him a momentter.


    Stupid lizard is smart, cknail growled as he picked himself off the ground a few momentster. He should have known better than to ever agree with Khita. She was always wrong. Always!


    Looking around, cknail saw that the mage with the orange staff was definitely dead. Both his body and his staff had been torn to pieces by the deadly hail, dissipating the heat aura hed been creating. That was very bad. cknail saw that everyone nearby was already starting to feel the effects of the cold. He was the only one - other than the remaining mage  who had a protective amulet.


    So cold! Its freezing, boss, Herah groaned as he climbed to her feet. She was hugging herself and shivering uncontrobly.


    Khita nodded in agreement. Ya, its colder than a nobles heart all of sudden.


    Get out of here, cknail ordered them as he gave Herah a push. She didnt move fast enough, so Khita grabbed her arm and began leading her away. The redhead seemed to have some protection from the cold thanks to her status as a Vessel.


    Almost all the nearby humans were running or stumbling away now too. With the death of the mage protecting them, their entire formation had been destroyed and be a chaotic mess. cknail grimaced as he looked around. Although the Doom had turned back around to face the knights charging its way, this probably wasnt the smartest ce to stand. He was exposed and alone in the middle of street. Thus, cknail jogged over into the nearby ruined buildings to look for somewhere he could watch the action from.


    cknail found a perch on a nearby wall just in time to see Sir Masnin and the others make their second pass. The thundering of horse hooves grew louder as they approached withnces ready. The Doom growled at them andunched several small ice spears their way, but none of them hit. Two were blocked by a hazy shield created by a mage, and the other missed the riderspletely.


    Sir Masnin lead the first group of knights that charged at Myagnoir from its left. The massive drake appeared to have learned caution from itsst run in with the knights. Instead of the facing its attackers head on, it swiped at the pdin and jumped back. Sir Masnin tried to dodge, but he took a ncing blow from the ws. He swayed back, but didnt fall, thanks to his heavy armor. A few secondter, he rode past the mutant drake. The other knights attempted to stab the Doom, but it disyed a surprising amount of agility. Dodging away, it avoided the knights in the first group, and then it spun around again to avoid the second group trying to nk it. As they passed, itshed out with its tail and sent another knight tumbling off his horse. cknail sighed as observed the conflict. This wasnt going his sides way.


    Sir Masnin seemed to have reached a simr conclusion, because he changed strategies. After turning around to face the Doom again, the riders shifted their formation and split into three equal sized groups. The third hung back behind the other two, who approached Myagnoir from opposite sides like before. Sir Masin and Ilisti led the forward groups, while Werrick led the back one.


    As they raced toward battle, Myagnoir attempted to raise another swirling shield of freezing air. However, as the vortex began to spin around him, ance of hissing me shot out of the ruins and mmed into it, scattering the winds and briefly washing over the drakes hide. The surviving mage from cknails group appeared to still be in the fight. Good. Myagnoir was undamaged by the magical attack but snarled angrily as it turned to face the riders charging it. Its blue feathery crest rippled as if to disy its rage at being challenged.


    Myagnoir tensed up as if in preparation to fight, but the approaching knights didnt immediately attack. Instead, the first two groups split up and rode past it, before quickly turning around. Growling, Myagnoir could only watch as it was encircled, and only then did Sir Masnin and Ilisti lead their forces in. They moved cautiously as the advanced all at once. cknail smiled to himself. It was obvious Sir Masnin was nning on pinning the Doom down so that the third group of knights could get strike a powerful blow. That was a good way to hunt something so big and nasty.


    The Doom of Coroulis didnt like being surrounded. It snarled and hissed as itshed out with its ws and tail. The riders under Sir Masninsmand were being cautious, but they still took a few hits. Two knights were thrown off their mounts, although one got back onto his feet. As cknail watched, a third rider was bitten in half by a snap of Myanoirs jaws. He wouldnt be getting back up.


    The knights werent ineffective, though. Ilisti dismounted from his horse and rushed in on foot. Dodging a w, he then countered with a sh of his own. His heatnce cut through scales, leaving a smoking gash on Myagnoirs leg. Enraged, Myagnoir turned to face him and hunched down as if to pounce. That was when Sir Masnin ran in and stabbed one of the beasts back legs. Hed also dismounted.


    Startled, Myagnoir yelped and almost lost its bnce as it flinched. Off bnce, itshed out at Sir Masnin with its tail. The pdin took a ncing blow and was knocked backwards. He then fell and rolled across the ground but got up a secondter. He didnt seem wounded. It was hard to hurt a Vessel in full armor.


    Taking advantage of the distraction, Lord Ilisti charged at the beast. Myagnoir responded by swiping at him with a w, but the beast was still off bnce, and the vympir was able to duck under the attack. He then stabbed the Myagnor in the chest with thence. The weapon hissed and smoked as it sunk almost a foot into the beasts flesh.


    Roaring in pain and rage, Myagnoir jumped back. Its eyes glowed menacingly as it gathered mana, and uponnding, there was a sh of blue light. cknail blinked. For second, it seemed like everyone had frozen in surprise, but that wasnt right. Their upper bodies were still moving. Their lower bodies were simply stuck to the ground by ice that had risen up from the earth.


    Steam rose from the humans boots as their amulets fought to free them, but they werent quite fast enough. Ilisiti pulled one foot free, but before he could get the other, Myagnoir spun and hit him with a swing of his tail. The was a metallic ringing and the vympir was sent flying. He hit a pile of stone next to the road, sending up a cloud of dust.


    cknail winced and then looked down the road. He sensed something was amiss. What was taking Werrick so long?