Chapter 81: Dire Bison

Chapter 81: Dire Bison

The moonlight bathed the darkened hills in silver shades. Stryg and Loh rode up on their centaurs and peaked their heads over a hill, the tall grass serving as cover. A herd of root-bison marched between the hills. Patches of glowing lime light shivered across their dark brown fur in waves. Specks of yellow light traveled through their grey horns and chestnut brown eyes.

But, it was the root-bisons hooves that took Strygs breath away. The hooves were a pale white, practically bursting in golden light with each step. The grass soaked up the life mana as the herd tread by, leaving the grass behind more vibrant than before.

There are so many of them, Rhian marveled in awe.

I didnt know creatures could make such a sound, Stryg muttered at the sight of the rhythmic beating of hooves plodding into the ground.

I thought root-bison only moved in the day, why are they active now? Maximus asked.

They could be chased by a predator, but they arent particularly moving fast, so its unlikely. Loh stared up at the sky, Its a full moon tonight though, a lot of creatures act differently during nights like this. The root-bison are probably no different.

I remember the animals in Vulture Woods would act strange during the full moon too, Stryg nodded in affirmation.

Still, this is good for us, Loh said. Root-bison do not have great vision, especially at night. I can enhance my vision with my shadow magic and you have perfect night vision, we have the advantage.

Except we dont have good night vision, Rhian pointed between herself and Maximus.

True, but it is a full moon. There should be enough light for you not to trip and fall, Loh grinned. Just get us close to the root-bison and well do the rest.

Rhian bit her lower lip, but said nothing. Stryg noticed she was shivering. She was afraid. He knew the feeling well, but tonight was not a night for fear.

Dont worry, we have another advantage, Stryg patted her back.

Which is? Rhian looked at him.

We have the element of surprise, Stryg smiled wide, his small fangs glinting in the moonlight.

Exactly, Loh agreed. Well approach from the back of the herd and try to pick off one of the stragglers. Bison meat is quite delicious.

What about those large ones? Maximus pointed at a few of root-bison far larger than the rest.

What are those? Rhian asked with wide eyes.

Even if it was his first time seeing the root-bison, Stryg knew what they were immediately. Dire creatures. They are born larger and stronger than the rest of their kin. They appear in most species, always rare, sometimes extremely rare, depending on the species.

Judging from the dozen or so dire root-bison down there Im gonna say they arent that rare in this species, Loh smiled wryly.

The dire bison stood at about 12 feet tall. They were spread about the herd, most were in the front, but a few trailed in the back, ensuring no stragglers were left behind.

We want to avoid the dires. One bison will be more than enough for now. This will serve as good practice for your flame spells, Loh said.

Stryg looked at her in surprise, You want me to burn them? I cant even light a campfire properly.

Loh shook her head, You seem to struggle with small precise spells. Thats fine, everyone has their weaknesses. For now well focus on your strengths and take this in parts. Instead of focusing on small and precise, well only focus on precise. I saw how you cast that flame spell during your final exam. I know you have power within you. You just have to channel it properly this time.

But wont the bison be spooked by the fire? Stryg asked.

Loh winked, Relax, I have a plan. So long as we only focus on one root-bison well be fine. Ill encircle them in shadows and pull them away from the herd. At which point youll cast a large blast of fire. Just try not to burn them too bad, I do not want to eat burnt meat tonight.

...Understood, Master, Stryg nodded reluctantly.

Lets go Maximus, Loh ordered, her eyes alight with the hunt.

Wait, can we think about this for a second? Like maybe this is a bad idea? Rhian said in a trembling voice.

Rhian bent her legs and jumped to the left, Stryg flattened himself to her side, dodging the dire bisons charge by a hair's breadth. The dire bison circled back for another charge.

Coureis des vindur, coureis des vindur! Stryg screamed.

A jolt ran down Rhians spine. They needed to live. No matter what, she couldnt let Stryg die. She groaned and pulled as hard as she could, dragging Stryg up. He got back into the saddle, but he didnt have a chance to slip his feet into the stirrups.

Stryg looked back at the dire bison, Its gaining on us!

Rhian was already on it. She focused on her breathing, her heartbeat, and her legs underneath, connecting her to the earth all around. She could feel the vibrations thundering about, she could practically sense the dire bison coming up from behind them. She needed to make space, she pushed her legs harder than ever before.

The dire bison shook its head in frustration and charged low, its horns aimed at Rhians hind legs. The beast was catching up. Stryg raised his hands to cast a flame spell, but to his horror realized he had emptied his orange reserves in the flashy blast of fire earlier.

Stryg reached for his spear that hung from Rhians side. He turned his body to face the incoming bison. The centaurs jostling movements made it difficult for him to aim. He only had one shot to stab the dire beast in the head. But, could he even pierce that thick skull with his spear? Was the spearhead sharp enough, did he have enough strength?

An insane idea crossed his mind. He may have been out of orange mana, but he wasnt out of the other chromatic colors. Black magic wouldnt help him here, he could not create tangible shadows and necromancy was useless without a corpse and time. Greys drain spell required long periods of physical contact and he had no idea how curse magic actually worked.

What he needed was something else, something simple and direct. He needed unparalleled strength. He reached out for brown mana. The energy flowed into his veins, arms, and back.

A vigor spell was simple in concept, the reinforcement of ones muscles to enhance ones strength. Stryg imagined his arms stronger than ever before, he imagined the mana seeping into his muscles and granting him power. The mana felt warm through his body, he raised his arm up high and aimed at the dire bison's head.

The mana fluctuated, Strygs body felt hot, his muscles spasmed. He groaned in pain as his arms cramped. The spear slipped out of his hand and fell into the passing grass. He couldnt stop his stunned body from falling back into the saddle, his head bumping into Rhians back.

She glanced behind for a brief moment. Her master was motionless, in shock perhaps. He was not going to be able to help, she needed to protect him. The choice was obvious. She grabbed her dangling reins and threw them around Strygs chest. Hopefully it would be enough to stop him from falling.

A bolt of flame splashed over dire bison, it screamed in agony. Loh and Maximus approached from behind the creature.

Now! Loh yelled.

Maximus leaped and hurled his axe at the dire bisons back. The double-sided axe flew through the air and sliced into the beasts upper hind leg.

Rhian didnt waste a moment. Her heartbeat slammed into her chest, her breath was hot on her lips, the world seemed as if it had fallen in water, slowed and blurred. Yet, her focus and target were clear. She spun in a circle, gripped her lance tight, and thrust the steel tip straight into the dire-bisons skull. The lance tip pierced bone and brain in an instant.

Rhian pushed the lance downwards, driving the dead bison into the ground. She skidded backwards with agile steps. The other root-bisons scattered off, rejoining the herd now in the distance. Maximus slowed to a halt.

Loh jumped off and ran to her apprentice, Stryg, are you alright!?

His muscles are troubling him. Perhaps its an adverse reaction to the flame magic he used earlier? Rhian voiced in a cold tone. Her eyes scanned the area for any threats.

Maximus removed his helmet and stared at her. He glanced at the lance stuck into the dire bisons skull.

Rhian... that was a very well placed strike, he furrowed his brow.

Rhian tilted her head. That was a compliment, yes? From Maximus no less. That centaur rarely spoke and she had never heard him say a compliment to anyone. She should have been happy, proud even, but she felt nothing.

Loh pulled Strygs frozen body off Rhians back. The drow checked his pulse and pulled off his shirt. The goblins chest was a mixture of a soft cyan and splotches of bronze.

How am I not surprised? Stryg will be fine. He just miscast, hell be able to move in a while, Loh ruffled his hair.

Stryg groaned in protest.

Rhian felt the strength drain from her body. Her legs trembled, she fell to her knees.

Thats good, she sighed in relief.

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