Hey everybody! Sorry I've been so long! Had to wrap up my master's thesis and fly back home. Then I caught the 'Rona! Don't worry though, I've tested negative and pulled through yesterday. Here's the chapter you've surely been dying for! TO BATTLE!
"This means I am speaking"
'This mean I am thinking'
*This is a sound effect*
This means this is a flashback
This means it is a combat line from the game in the speaker's language
"{This means someone is speaking in their native language, latin, japanese, etc}"
For Balance, For Honor
It took a beat or two for any of them to move. In their defense, there were few men who wouldn't freeze up in the face of such an absurdity. Their minds were still reeling and trying to parse if the chimeric creature bearing down on them was even there.
The rapid thumping on the sand as it swiftly charged straight at them might have been the shock they needed to snap out of it. For Edric and Siv at least.
They both pushed against each other in time to avoid getting gored, but not the boar creature's thick skull as they bounced to the side, flipping away. They tumbled across the sand in a midst of grunts and cries.
The creature continued its charge, not even breaking stride as it barreled in Shun and Rin's direction.
Taking their peers' example, both of them pushed and fumbled to get away. Shun dove to the side, sand spraying in his face. The boar's hooves thundered right through the space he just occupied.
He lifted his head to spot Rin roll out of the way on the far side of the beast. The boar squealed in fury at missing its quarry, sliding across the beach as it quickly turned in a wide arc and pointed itself towards her again.
The samurai scrambled and rolled away again, the boar's quills whistling as it charged past.
"C'mere, ya barbed sausage! I'm gonna eat ya!" Siv screamed, hammer raised high as she ran at the boar's left flank.
Alerted by the war cry, the boar deftly swerved. The hammer went wide and a dull smack rang out as Siv was body checked. She let out a strangled gasp followed by a string of norse obscenities, plowing through the sand.
The boar angled its charge again, this time in Shun's direction.
Scrambling to his feet, the monk grimly faced down the approaching beast. If he caused it enough distress, it might abandon its furious chase and run.
Bending his legs so his body hung low to the sand, he readied himself. His muscles tense and waiting to snap.
The boar bore down on him with its tusks angled low. Shun couldn't help the anxious breaths he took at the thought getting skewered on the front of this beast like a macabre masthead.
The boar was but a foot away when he sprung to the side in a spin. He let his momentum carry him in a full rotation, clambering his leg.
"HYA!" He yelled and delivered a hard kick to the side of the boar's head. The boar squealed in surprise and pain, turning its heavy body away.
"Ouch! This beast's skull is thick!" Shun hissed, hopping back and shaking the stinging shock out of his foot.
It appeared the boar came out of their exchange a little worse. It looked a little dazed despite its toughness.
It was an opening, one that Edric sought to exploit. Rushing wordlessly with his sword raised high, the knight swung. He let out a shout when the blade merely bounced off the boar's spiky coat, only succeeding in cracking a few quills without causing any greater harm.
It was enough to alert the beast, who promptly lashed out with its back hooves, slamming against the knight's breastplate with a resounding clang.
Edric gasped in pain and tumbled back, crashing next to Shun.
"Guh! Its hide is too dense! All we do is anger it! We need a plan!" He grunted, lifting himself to his knees with his sword.
"At least it's big enough that we can outrun it." Shun pointed out. "Perhaps one of us could distract it while we push the boat back out?"
Meanwhile, the boar had turned itself around and back towards the two of them. It snorted, then charged again.
"Here it comes! Get to the ship, I can stall it!" Shun said, getting ready to run. Edric gave him a nod and started sprinting away.
The boar's eyes narrowed at the shining metal human, recalling his attack not a minute ago.
It bellowed and in a move that defied all logic, it tucked its head and feet under itself. In the next instant, Edric was gazing up at a giant spiked ball!
Shun's eyes widened. Edric was staring at the oncoming attack in shock, completely at odds with reality. He wasn't going to avoid the creature in time and there was no telling if his armor would protect him. Shun was too far away to do anything.
The monk lifted two fingers.
Meanwhile, Edric could only gape at the absurdity bearing down on him. None of his years of training or the battles he survived after could prepare him for this. He briefly registered that his window of escape was swiftly sliding closed as the boar got closer and closer. His feet remained rooted, thus his arms brought his sword up to shield himself, for whatever good it would do.
Then, a sound. And in the next instant-
Shun slammed into Edric's side!
"Guh!" They tumbled over each other through the sand as the boar ball roared past. Grains rained down around the two men as they continued to roll end over end before they slid to a stop, the monk sprawled across top of the knight.
Shun shook the stars from his eyes and glanced down. "You alright?"
Edric lifted his face plate and turned his head to the side to spit out a glob of sand. He wheezed and gave him a glare. "I'll be a lot better when you GET OFF ME!"
"Oh, apologies." He scrambled off, letting his companion pull himself off and straighten his back. "But you're welcome."
"Save it. Wait, how did you get over here so fast? Ugh, later." Edric grumbled and pointed his gaze across the shore. He grimaced, baring his teeth. "Damn, this thing is just full of surprises!"
Shun followed his eyes to see the boar uncurl itself to face Siv and Rin, the former once again charging the beast hammer raised and blood curdling scream on her lips and the latter's sword drawn. The viking's swung against the boar's side with a resounding boom, which prompted a squeal of pain and outrage. It reciprocated by slamming its skull against the barbarian and proceeding to bowl over her to a chorus of equally furious cries before a flash of light heralded Rin's attempt to slash against the grain of the boar's quills. A few quills scattered and she was rewarded with a brief spray of blood, but a shallow one. The samurai jumped back to avoid the kick that followed and turned tail as the boar started charging after her.
"We need to end this now!" Shun said grimly. "Any ideas?"
Edric glanced at him in question. "Why are you asking me? Really trust me that much after we just tried to kill you?"
"The betrayal stung, yes, but it wasn't unexpected." Shun admitted with a little nod. "But I also trust that whatever plan you make will be a good one. Yes?"
Edric blinked and pursed his lips. "I might have something. This thing is still part boar, that means our best bet is to aim for under its head. If we can stun it, we might have a chance to attack it. Be ready."
Shun nodded. Edric slammed down his faceplate with a clank and both warriors spared no time getting back to their feet and running towards the brawl across the shore.
Siv spat out some blood and looked up as they approached, making a strangled sound halfway between a snarl and groan. Her body was marked by small bruises and cuts but she otherwise seemed alright. "What're you-"
"No time! Get up and get ready to attack!" Edric said quickly, his offhand fumbling around in one of his pouches as he ran. He glanced up at Shun."Get the samurai to lead the beast back towards us, we must face it as a united front!"
"Got it!" Shun turned and watched as Rin somersaulted away from another rushed sweep and made another hasty one handed swing, only nicking the side of its head. He cupped his hands and yelled:"Miss Rin! Bring it back to us!"
Her head cocked up, their eyes met and Shun could tell she already put together their plan, or at least as much as he himself could guess. She immediately pivoted and dashed towards them, the boar braying and running hot on her slipper heels.
Across from her the other three warriors lined up, Siv getting to her feet and gripping her hammer tight, Shun lowering himself into a crouch with his arms and legs coiled and Edric fumbling with a tingerbox.
"When I say, close your eyes as tight as you can!" He ordered.
Siv started and looked at him like he was mad. "You have to be joking!"
"Just do it, the beast draws near." Shun defended the plan as Rin and her porcine pursuer got closer and closer.
"Steady… come on…" Edric muttered, hitting the metal and flint together.
Shun swallowed and Siv's heel bounced. "Sir Edric?" He asked nervously.
"Come on!" The knight hissed, the striking of his arsonous materials becoming more frantic.
The thundering of the boar's hooves rose in volume to match the pounding of Shun's jugular. "Edric?!"
"Almost..!" Another strike and a puff of sparks followed by a hiss. "Got it!" He barked and pitched his arm, launching the lit metal sphere to the sand a couple meters in front of them.
Rin's eyes widened and fell into a slide the moment she sprinted past the smoking sphere, landing between Shun and Edric. All the while the boar lowered its head, ready to smash through their line like the living battering ram that it was. So focused in its destructive mission, it hardly noticed the lit cord leap inside the metal sphere.
"NOW!" Edric cried and all four slammed their eyes shut right before the flash bomb detonated in a corona burst of light and smoke. Shun's eyelids briefly turned to bright red and he could hear the boar squeal in surprise and pain. Opening them, he saw it stumble and slow as it whipped its head back and forth, trying to diffuse the dizzying effects of the grenade.
"Go for it's throat!" Edric bellowed and the beast was swiftly introduced to the wrath of four tired, starving warriors.
Shun was the first to strike, delivering two lightning quick punches to its snout. He dashed back to make room for Edric, following up by throwing his shoulder against the boar's skull, then grasping his sword by the blade he swung the heavy pommel across its brow. It squealed again and it stumbled further and was left wide open as Siv charged in, hammer pulled back. "EAT THIS!" She roared and swung skyward. A small boom was heard as the block of metal collided with the underside of the boar's jaw, followed by the shattering of bones as its head was thrown back.
Dashing in, Rin drew her katana to plunge it into the boar's soft underbelly.
And would have, had the boar made the choice to roll sideways at the last moment, the tip of her blade only just slicing through the upper crest of its nostril. It rolled out of reach before getting back onto its hooves, its beady eyes blinking to get rid of the remaining effects from the grenade.
"Damn it! How did you mess that up?!" Siv jeered.
"None of that." Shun chided getting back into his stance. "It's been heavily wounded, it will run or we will finish it off."
'Though it will likely be the latter.' He noted, as the boar seemed to be stubbornly holding its ground against the group, glaring hatefully at them. Heavy, beleaguered breaths puffed out of its ruined mouth, its jaw hanging open almost in the shape of a grotesque smile while a slurry of drool, mucus and blood dribbled onto the sand. It pawed the ground again and they all tensed with Rin in the front.
"Get ready, it's going to charge again!" Edric warned, leveling his sword.
Shun lowered himself back into position, ready to dodge out of the way and aim a kick to the side of the boar's head. They waited, but the beast made no move to charge.
He pursed his lips. Something wasn't adding up. Then the beast quickly spun around to point its hindquarters in their direction. But instead of running away, it sucked in a breath. All of the quills on its back stood on end and began to quiver.
A chill ran down Shun's spine and his eyes widened.
"DUCK!" He yelled and let his legs fall out under him. The other warriors all turned to him in surprise and were caught off guard when a hail of quills suddenly erupted from the boar's back like a barrage of arrows! A cacophony of whistling, metallic pings, meaty thwacks and pained grunts echoed around Shun as he laid flat on the sand, shielding the top of his head with his arms.
After a few more seconds, the whistling of airborne quills stopped and he dared to lift his head.
The sand all around them was littered with discarded quills like the aftermath of an arrow strike. Next to him lay Edric and Siv, both in a groaning pile of limbs. Edric seemed almost undamaged, only a few quills lodged into the loops of his under armor coat of mail, the rest having ricocheted off the plates. Siv wasn't so lucky as her leather gambeson seemed to have stopped any reaching her vitals, but she had quite a few sticking out of her arms.
Before Shun could check them any further, a self satisfied snort drew his attention. Turning his head to the right he saw the boar. Beyond that was Rin, who had apparently thrown herself wide to avoid the impromptu volley. Not unscathed however, as a quill jutted out of her thigh, blood staining her pant leg. She was struggling to pull herself across the sand towards her katana, which lay out of reach.
Judging by the hoof kicking the sand, the boar wasn't going to give her the chance.
Shun bit back a curse. There was no way he could get close enough to save her, not this time.
"BREEE!" The boar once again began to charge towards the hapless samurai, who immediately redoubled her efforts to crawl towards her sword.
'She's not going to make it!' Shun's head spun, looking for anything that he could use.
Then a gleam of sun hit his eye and he saw a small metal shape poking out of the sand a couple meters away. He gasped. It was the kunai Rin had thrown at him in their earlier skirmish.
Scrabbling on all fours desperately, Shun sprinted as fast as he could towards the throwing knife just as Rin tried to get on her one good leg, just to stumble. The boar built up speed, galloping in a furious bloodlust, eager to stamp out the life of at least one of the interlopers that mutilated its snout!
Shun leapt and dove for the kunai, sliding the last couple feet forward and reaching as far as he could. The cool metal ring of the handle hit his palm.
The boar reared back, intent on smashing the samurai into paste!
"MISS RIN!" Shun shouted and their eyes met. He twirled the kunai around his finger and flicked his wrist. The blade flashed and her hand snapped out and without hesitation, she thrust it right into the boar's jugular!
The beast shrieked and slammed down on top of the woman in a splash of dark blood and sand, where it lay still.
"Miss Rin!" Shun coughed, standing up and running to the boar's side. The samurai was barely visible under the beast's monstrous size, only an arm and a leg poking out the right side. "Can you hear me?! Are you alright?!"
She promptly thumped the sand with her fist and heel, muffled Japanese cursing scarcely heard underneath.
"Well that's a good sign." Shun muttered. "Hold on, we will get you out!" He said as the remaining two warriors had finally pulled themselves up and were slowly making their way to him.
"Ugh!" Siv brusquely yanked a quill from her bicep and rolled her arm. "Fuck that hurt." Edric scoffed.
"It's what you get for not wearing proper armor."
"Didn't save you from getting knocked on your ass."
"Least MY plan almost worked. What did you do again? Run at it screaming?"
"Can you two stop bickering for a second and help me here?!" Shun interjected, making both warriors cough awkwardly and step in line along the boar's flank. They reached down under its legs and grabbed the fur, careful not to get quills in their faces.
"On three, one, two-HEAVE!" Siv crowed and they all grunted in exertion, lifting with all the power their tired, nutrient deprived muscles could muster. Bit by bit, they raised the boar up and eventually pushed. It flopped with a heavy thud, its legs sticking up and gore pooling from the dagger lodged in its throat.
Underneath lay the trapped samurai, who promptly leaned up, making Shun and Edric grimace at the sorry sight. Her armor was slathered in boar fluids, coating her in a thick odor of musk and viscera.
Rin raised a shaking hand and pulled her mask to the side, her mouth the only part of her face clean of boar fur and clumped sand, pulled into a thin line. She took a deep breath, trying very hard not to vomit and somehow save face.
"Not… a… word…" She hissed, her voice low and terrifyingly quiet.
Shun and Edric could only nod out of fear, hoping she didn't hear the stifled snickering behind them. The monk leaned down and offered a hand. Rin promptly grasped it and was lifted to her feet, albeit gingerly with the needle in her leg.
"How's the leg?" He asked.
"Missed the artery. I'll live." She answered simply before they all turned to the corpse before them.
"So… what the hell was that?" Siv asked, nudging it with her booth.
"No idea. It's some kind of… chimera." Edric muttered, lifting his faceplate.
"It's like a giant… angry porcupine bred with a boar." Shun said, stepping around it and inspecting its face, still frozen in a macabre scream.
Siv's mouth twisted. "A porky what?"
"An animal that lives in China."
"We have those too. Did." Rin added, getting sick just being near the thing. Considering how close she had been with the monster and wearing its various fluids, Shun couldn't blame her.
"So do we, but… never this big. Look at the size of these needles." Edric snapped one off, turning it over in his hand.
Siv hummed. "So it's a… boar-qu-pine?"
They all looked at her.
"Well doesn't that sound ridiculous?"
"Hmph." She crossed her arms. "Like you could come up with better."
"Wait, so… none of you have ever seen something like this before?" Edric questioned.
"Valkenheim had boars, but not porcupines, or boar-qu-pine."
"The Myre didn't have anything like this, thankfully."
"Neither did China."
Edric pursed his lips. "Then there lies the greater question."
All heads turned to the forest, a new weight hanging in the air as they held it in a new light.
"Where are we?"