Chapter 10 - Fomorian Emblem

I notice some vines growing on the side of the walls. Instead of sneaking around the Perilous Ruins, maybe it is better to just scout from the top of the ruins? I mention it to Fiona and grab onto the vines to begin climbing.

Fiona: "...I don't th-"

*SNAP*

After that sound, I fall flat on my ass. Thankfully I wasn't too high up when the vines broke. Otherwise I would have taken some fatal fall damage.

"Ouch... I guess that's out of the question."

We proceed deeper into the ruins. There are many turns and paths to take. Fiona led me around effortlessly. It appears that she's already experienced with the layout of this place. We have not identified any Fomor activity so far. Are the gnolls really here?

Suddenly, Fiona grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. I was about to ask her why until I see a worm-like creature pop out from where I was seconds ago.

"What the hell is that?!"

The creature wiggles around in the air disgustingly after unburrowing from underneath the ground. Its thickness matches a young tree trunk. Though it does not look as sturdy.

Fiona: "...That's a hemdrill... Fomors have been growing them as defense around their parameters... Their only weakness is that they can't move freely... They're rooted to the ground, where they're first planted..."

The meter long hemdrill displays its million fangs at me with its open mouth while swaying back and forth as if telling me to come at it. In anger, I kick that fucker out of its socket. The worm-like body lay on the ground lifelessly after squirming a bit. Red fluids spurt out from its roots. Fiona turns away from this sight instantly.

Fiona: "...Seeing hemdrill here means that the Fomors have been in this area... They have already set up defenses around the perimeter... Which can imply that Perilous Ruins is crawling with Fomors..."

Fiona scans the area thoroughly before continuing on.

Fiona: "Be careful. There will be more to encounter..."

Taking extra care of any other underground assaults, we moved further in. Either the gnolls are horrible with patrol or they're not here. We have not seen any of their presence ever since we got here. Could the information Marrec received been false? No... I should be more patient.

My thoughts are disgarded as Fiona stretches her arm out to stop me and gestures me to lay low.

Fiona: "...Stay quiet. They're close..."

Peeking around the corner, we find a group of gnolls camping around a fire while roasting some meat over it. In the middle of the gathering, a 2 meter tall, dark blue gnoll is busy gnawing hungrily on a piece of cooked meat. I presume that's the leader of the bunch. On a closer inspection, an ornament hangs around its waist. It seems similar, if not identical, to the one found in the bell tower.

Fiona: "...No way... What's a gnoll like him doing here...?"

"What's wrong?"

Fiona: "...That big gnoll there is Shadow Fang...one of the commanders for the gnolls... It is best that we back off here... Seeing him is all the information we need..."

Her words hold a hint of fear. As our mission is simply reconnaissance, withdrawing is the best option right now. The gnoll commander suddenly raises its head and sniffs the air. It seems to have caught our scent. Then it gets up to grabs its giant spiked gnoll club lying to the side. It swings the club onto the ground a couple of times before letting out an ear-piercing roar. Immediately, all of the surrounding gnolls turn to sprint in our direction with their weapons in hand.

We scatter in a hurry to prepare for the encounter. Running is no longer an option. Their speed on flat terrain is terrifyingly swift. The gnoll archers draw their bows once in range. And with a snarl, they fire away the first wave of arrows. We slip away in opposite directions to evade the incoming fire. Just from this maneuver alone, it is clear that our teamwork is not in sync. Our scrambling has brought enough time for the vanguard gnolls to reach us.

The melee fighters swing down their spiked clubs. In an attempt to disengage from the mob, I block and guide myself along the impact of their blows and back away. However, the forfeited ground was merely a feint. I establish my foothold to dash forward. I re-enter the fight in a flash and cut down several gnolls with a quick fanning slash. Their pleasant screams of agony fill the skies. Following the momentum that I created, I proceed to kill the remainders effortlessly. The fight was a little disappointing. I expected more from the Fomors. This wasn't much different from the training site. Doesn't that mean the training site is actually an excellent simulator?

Meanwhile Fiona is busy dealing with gnoll fighters and a pack of gnoll archers as well. She's alternating between offense and defense patiently, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Just like at the bell tower, she's holding up quite well on her own. I dash over to help clear the mobs but I get slammed down by a charging gnoll out of nowhere. I groan and roll over to get up. My leather armor is now in tatters and in ruins, literally. At least it offered some form of protection.

Although it wasn't really a surprise that the gnoll commander was the culprit as we've only fought his trash mobs so far, the impact of its blow is truly fearsome. Shadow Fang glares at me with its angry eyes. It will definitely pose as a threat in the future. It is sensible to grab Fiona and leave immediately. That is our mission.

But I won't do that. I need to deal with this right here and now. I would not forgive myself if I retreated here. I would NEVER forgive myself if I retreated here.

Finally managing to catch a break between battle, Fiona calls out to me.

Fiona: "Lethita...! We're leavi- Kuh!"

Before she can finish the sentence, a spiked club slams into her wooden buckler. Due to the spikes wedged in the gnoll club, it catches easily on her shield, rendering it useless. Suddenly, the struggle for shield control begins. I immediately rush over but the commander stops me in my track. It swings its giant spiked club over me as I roll under it. I instantly turn around to deliver a rising crescent.

My attack misses its target. Shadow Fang has already jumped back after his swing. Too busy focusing on my own fight, I'm unable to determine Fiona's state. I only hope that she is able to handle it on her own. The high agility of the large gnoll marks this fight a battle of speed. Shadow Fang crouches down in preparation to charge again. The distance between us two are about 10 meters. It will take a mere second to close the gap if I engage him now. Should I dash forward, backward, or to the sides? There are risks and advantages to each option. Given that I have nearly zero protection due to the broken armor, I should take less risks for now. Therefore taking the sidestep is the least risky.

As predicted, the gnoll commander surges forward with frightening speed. Its charging swing sweeps up a cloud of dust that follows in its path. Noticing that I escaped to the side, Shadow Fang's second swing follows me to my destination. Since the momentum has been lost once it slowed down, I effectively parry the second swing as well as thrusting the other sword towards its chest. I would have aimed for its head to decapitate but that action leaves too much room for mistakes. Bigger the target (bigger the hitbox), easier to land attacks. The tip of the short sword manages to cut into a bit of its flesh as Shadow Fang retreats back a few steps as it realizes the danger. If only my weapons were a little longer... The fight would have been over already.

I must have reached into an artery with my thrust. Blood profusely spurt from the open wound as Shadow Fang crouches down clutching its chest. The skulled emblem is forcefully teared off its waist. Seeing their leader down on its knees, the rest of the gnolls howl for retreat. They let up on the continuous assaults at Fiona and redirect their attention towards me. Given the opportunity, the preoccupied Fiona launches a kick that sends 3 gnolls flying. I was about to deliver the decisive blow but was stopped by the furiously charging gnolls. While trying to disengage from the attackers, the gnolls have began backing away. Within seconds, they disappear deep into the ruins, leaving behind a field of fallen comrades stained with blood.

With a sigh, I pick up the Fomorian emblem and trot over to Fiona to check her situation. She had a few cuts and bruises here and there but overall in an okay state. She turns towards me with a shocked look, seemingly about to say something... But in the end, she simply shakes her head and lead me back to the boat and then to the mercenary outpost for reports.

The inability to kill Shadow Fang left a bitter taste in my mouth.
If only.. The sword had been longer...
If only... I thrusted a bit deeper...
If only... I had been faster...
If only...
If only...!

I can add a million "if only" and it still wouldn't change the result. The fact is... I was unable to kill Shadow Fang. Consequences will definitely come bite me back in the near future. Damn it.