Chapter 8 - 8

Round after round jumped from the barrel, crossed the short distance between me and the enraged monster. The destination was the massive erect "limb." The first shot hit him high to the right, shy of an inch. The next round traveled down his barrel, shredding it as it cut through it. The next round was high left and afterward... I managed to drop the rest of the magazine into the shredded limb tree that was his groin.

He didn't roar but fell over backward silent as his nether region had been turned into a heap of ribbons by half a magazine of 9mm. His face was contorted in a silent scream, one that no longer registered my existence. I dropped the magazine and loaded another one, which turned out to be my second to last one. The empty magazine dropped into my lap, almost as warm as the beast's blood that was now splattered across the c.o.c.kpit.

I didn't know what my expression was as I racked the slide back. All I knew was that if I was going to die, it would be in a pile of green bodies, un-r.a.p.ed. It didn't occur to me that others could have been out there as well, but at this moment, it was me and him. The sick and twisted green monster that had enough force to do what he will. On the ground because of my last equalizer, the XM17. Its barrel still smoking from the last barrage I had unleashed upon the nightmare.

Despite the pain, the hob heard the loud click of the slide and turned to me. Its face pale and its one good eye wide. And for the first time during the short fight, it reflected fear as I unleashed another barrage. The bullets tore through its nose, eye, and forehead.

Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang---

Even after his head fell limp, only jerking slightly with when a bullet made its home inside it, I didn't stop. Not even when the slide locked back, and the chamber smoked.

A harsh silence fell, only disturbed by a faint click.

Click.

Click.

Click...

« Simon † Erhn »

P ∇ V

The pungent scent of death hung on the wind, accompanied by something that smelled like spent mana and sewer waste. Hundreds of dead goblins littered the ridge. Only a fraction of that scampered off to the east, the wrath of the Gods in their hearts.

I surveyed the carnage, longsword in hand. It glimmered in the wake of the full moon; untouched by the filth of blood. It was not that I lacked the courage to face the monsters on the field of battle, but the adventurers attacked with such enthusiasm, none of the knights had a chance. I doubted most of the adventurers had ever worked together; they were B-Ranked teams. While they were just civilians, I had to admit; they were too effective at killing.

I was sure the others Knights would see them in a new light, or at least, show more respect to them; but that did not matter right now. At most, the adventurers had killed less than a hundred goblins. I had a sinking feeling that they were not the reason they retreated. I turned around to the tune of my armor as it rustled and looked to the large dark maw of a metal contraption. This… Thing… Was the center of this carnage.

It was only a week ago that I had stepped foot on this very ridge. Me and my wife, to settle our problems. It was beautiful then. The birds sang as the sun shone, and the wind danced across the grass. Now…

Under the full moon, as if a spell had been cast over the ridge, the grass had been dyed red. Bodies were piled: two, three, and sometimes five high. Instead of the salty wind, there was only the smell of iron. The scent that drifted from the new addition on the ridge… gave off an even stranger smell. Death, blood, and… something similar to magic, but nothing of the sort. There were no signs of magic being used.

As the adventurers were returning, I walked across the bloody field. The crush of grass was accompanied with a wet "splat". If anything, this was a massacre. Where the goblins willingly ran towards death and killed it. I passed a blood-splattered rock outcrop. Several dead goblins were torn apart by it. I wondered if it had been a melee weapon, or maybe- My thoughts froze when I saw the front of the rocks. It was pulverized, scarred, and pock-marked. I looked to the other rocks behind me. They were the same. I looked further back to the trees. They were the same.

I turned in horror to the epicenter of the battle.

"What's wrong?" A lovely young woman, older than my wife, but younger than me, stopped beside me. She was dressed in a deep blue robe that went down to her ankles. While the b.r.e.a.s.tplate was the only visible piece of armor, I knew full well the rest was covered under the robe.

"Mrs. Weichselbraun." I bowed my head politely, despite the circ.u.mstances. She only waved it off and I sheathed my sword. I pointed to the mangled goblin bodies beside the rock. "I'm afraid I do not know what kind of weapon, aside from magic, could do such damage." Before she could reply, I walked gestured to the rock face. "The rock is also badly damaged. I was here not but a week ago. I know that the rocks were not like this at that time."

More adventurers walked up, led by Mr. Weichselbraun. He was slightly taller than his wife, but still shorter than I. He wore thin seeing glasses and held a clipboard in his hand. He and his wife were the Guild branch leader and vice leader respectively. While I made a point to treat others with respect, I took great care to treat these two with far more respect. I greeted him as I greeted his wife. I knew he would have been curious to our conversation, and I repeated my findings to him.

His thoughts reflected mine. "I'm going to investigate the structure, would you like to come?" I asked.

"Yes, but here." Mr. Weichselbraun pulled a spear from the hand of an adventurer next to him. He then held it out to me. "Confined space, use this."

I took the spear and bowed my head with courtesy.

I lead the way up the hill, flanked by adventurers while the other knights walked around the bodies; bored.