<< Previous Chapter
>> Next Chapter
^^ Index
The final events of the 26th of Felsite.
Ironblood ran at the Hydra in a fury. The monster reared back to give itself more room, only to find his fist connecting with one of its necks.
The Hydra choked, partly from pain, partly from surprise, and recoiled, sending the fearless dwarf flying backwards, landing uncomfortably on the ground.
The Hydra seized the opportunity, and struck at the dwarf with a mere two of its many heads. Its teeth closed on him, but came away with only grime to find the dwarf missing.
Instead he felt the sensation of being punched in another neck with the force of a landslide, sending the hydra tumbling back in pain.
Ironblood, now standing atop the Hydra, seized his chance.
Grabbing one of its throats, he began to crush the life from it.
The Hydra had never felt such a vice-like grip in its life, and tried to tear him off, only to receive a punch from the dwarf's free hand that made things significantly worse.
The Hydra tried twice more, receiving a third throat injury and a broken skull in return.
Ironblood seethed, focusing his might on the throat in front of him. If Hydras have any weakness, it is their nervous system, and right now he was intent on shutting it down.
Already the Hydra writhed in agony, its body unable to cope with the torturous destruction of one of its spines.
It spasmed once more under his steel grip, and then collapsed beneath him, leaving him standing on a mound of so much scaly flesh.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" screamed the Baron, standing from his seat above.
"Oh... oh no..." muttered his wife, in abject terror.
Ironblood just stared at them coldly, and pointed a finger at the Baron.
"It seems we need to have a 'meeting'." he said, coldly.
He grabbed a handhold in the masonry, and hauled himself up the side of the arena with frightening speed.
Ironblood was mad, and he wasn't picky. He came first to the Baroness, though she tried to run away.
Grabbing her by the ear, he beat her to a bloody pulp, as the Baron stood and watched, a whimpering terror.
As he watched the dwarf crushed his wife's form, he came to a sudden, horrid realization.
Ironblood didn't use an axe because he needed it. He used it to be kind. And right now he wasn't being kind.
And now he turned to the Baron.
"No... please! I'll give you whatever you want!" shrieked the Baron.
"All I want, Baron... is vengeance." Ironblood replied, and brought down his bloody fist.
Events of the 27th of Felsite.
Ironblood awoke in his bed. His head still hurt, but the red cloud had gone.
It was true the Baron and Baroness were dead, however. And by his hand. A hydra too.
Despite the obvious accomplishment there, he wasn't pleased.
He had been betrayed by the aristocracy, again.
He didn't really want any more to come.
Elsewhere in the fortress, the Acolyte had been awake all night. So many unpleasant surprises in an evening had rendered her unable to sleep.
From a scrying pool she had witnessed Ironblood destroy the Hydra. all whilst naked.
She had also seen him slay her companions and then head back to bed.
It was all going awry, but she still had to carry on. Her god depended on her, after all.
And now the divine reward would not have to be split between four.
Hopefully Archibess would remain sane and faithful to her.
Ironblood, however, was even more of a problem. She had no idea that his strength ran so deep, and though she had guided him gently previously, it was clear that this was going to require even more tact in the near future.
The Captain was a serious danger to the operation, but how could the fortress operate without him?
The Acolyte had lost control over the goblins since Song's death, and though they kept coming, the Acolyte had no control over them. She just had to hope they would get lucky and strike down some of the more powerful members of the military.
But, of course, if she could complete her mission, surely that would cease to be an issue. Her god would return, crush these infidels, and raise her to a status beyond the imaginings of mere mortals.
Yes. That is what must be done.