Just as I was about to invoke the mana oath, I paused.
Not because I had second thoughts about killing Corvin.
I paused because sothing felt wrong.
It was taking the beast far too long to break through the Tier Ones. A creature that even we Tier Two fighters had struggled to contain was sohow being held back by two Tier Ones.
I turned my head and saw that its gaze was fixed on Corvin. I stopped using the mana oath. Just as Corvin was a few ters away from reaching the tall trees, the beast swept its tail, knocking everyone down, and for so reason charged straight at Corvin.
Without wasting any ti, I followed the beast.
“With !” I shouted, forcing my body forward as I ran after it with all my strength.
I noticed blood streaming from my nose, pain flashing through my skull, but I ignored it and pushed through. This was my chance. I could not let it pass.
The beast reached Corvin first.
Its trunk wrapped around his legs, lifting him off the ground before smashing him down with terrifying force. Bone cracked. Corvin scread once before the sound was cut short.
Taking that opportunity, I dropped my shield and used both hands to attack the underbelly, driving myself down onto one knee beside the beast as I poured mana into my spear. The glow intensified, expanding until the tip burned white, almost like fire. I thrust upward into its exposed underbelly.
The beast let out a shrill cry and lashed out with its tail, but I was not afraid.
I could already sense Kael and Varric approaching from behind. Before the tail could reach , they stepped in front of , stopping the attack before it could co anywhere near. Using the opening, I drove my spear deeper and dragged it along the beast’s body, carving a large wound into its flesh.
The mammoth let out another shrill cry. This ti, when it moved, I knew it was about to sweep its tail and rotate its body three hundred and sixty degrees, so I shouted a warning as I jumped out of the way.
“Three-sixty-degree tail sweep!”
Allowing Varric and Kael to dodge in ti, Kael still took a slight hit from the beast’s tail, knocking him down.
The beast rose onto its hind legs to unleash a seismic strike, but the motion only worsened its injuries. A large pool of blood spilled from the wound I had created.
anwhile, I was prepared for the incoming wave of earth. As it reached , I locked myself firmly to the ground using [Mana Reinforcent (UC)], maintaining a stable posture.
Then the beast charged at . Now that I was no longer in formation, I knew I would not be able to stop it.
So, using [Unbroken Stride (UC)] and [Mana Reinforcent (UC)], I launched myself sideways in a twisting roll. The mammoth thundered past , skidding several ters before turning back toward .
“Varric, Garran, Barry, take position on the right side, twenty ters back!”
“Rokan, Daren, Silas, and Peter, left side, twenty ters back!” I shouted, stopping them as they rushed forward to support .
As the beast charged again, I held my ground until it fully committed to the attack. When it was only a few ters away, I took a few steps back and then leapt out of its path once more.
This ti, when the beast ca to a stop, my squad mbers were already positioned on both sides. The Tier Ones and Peter were on the wounded side, while the Tier Twos held the other. Without wasting any ti, they drove their spears into it.
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The beast let out one final cry and, with what seed like its last bit of strength, attempted another tail sweep. Instead, it lost its balance and collapsed.
It was still alive, breathing shallowly.
Varric and the others struck it a few more tis, finally ending the fight.
Silence followed.
After a few seconds, we all collapsed where we stood, gasping for breath, staring at the dead beast with three spears still embedded in its body.
Oren lay injured where our initial formation had been, with Brakk standing over him, checking his wounds.
We stayed like that for several minutes before I forced myself to stand.
“Good work,” I said, my voice hoarse. “We survived because everyone did their part.”
I looked at the Tier Twos, who were still catching their breath.
“Varric, Barry, Garran,” I said, “co with . I need to verify sothing.”
Then I turned to Kael and Peter.
“Check on Oren and the others.”
I knew that even Garran, Kael, and Barry were injured, but before I started treating any wounds, I needed to confirm sothing first.
Varric and the others followed as I made my way toward the hill.
We ca near Corvin, or rather Corvin’s body.
He was lying in a pool of his blood with his head split open. Barry, seeing this, ran and kicked the body lying on the ground.
I went past the body and stopped before entering the tree-covered area.
“Barry, don’t,” I said, with disapproval in my voice.
Barry stopped and looked at with a frown, then jogged over to join .
“What, are you going to fucking defend him?” Barry asked.
“He is already dead. What is there to defend?” I said.
“Yeah! But kicking the bastard a few more tis would help let off so frustration,” Barry said.
“I feel we should respect the dead, no matter what,” I replied. Then I paused and, looking Barry in the eye, added with a smile, “After all, he is the reason we survived today.”
Hearing my reply, both Varric and Barry started laughing. I found myself smiling as we continued walking through the dense forest and towering trees.
It had been a brutal fight. During it, there were many monts when I thought I might die, or that soone from the squad would. Thankfully, the only team mber who died was a coward and a traitor.
But that smile faded as we reached the foot of the hill and saw what lay inside the beast’s den.
In the center of the cave carved into the hill sat two large eggs, almost one foot tall.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Why the beast followed Corvin instead of crushing us.
Why, even after getting injured, it never retreated to its den.
Why it struggled until the very end.
It was a mother protecting its eggs.
I once again sat down on the ground, my eyes on the eggs.
Suddenly, that beast had gained more respect in my eyes than Corvin. I knew beasts would not care for a second before razing a village, yet I could not help but feel that I should make sure these eggs survived.
“What should we do with them?” I asked quietly.
“Make an olet?” Barry said instantly.
I ignored him and looked at Varric and Garran.
“I bet they taste good,” Varric added.
“I’ve never eaten Tier Three olet before,” Garran said with a shrug.
I shook my head. Talking to them was only a waste of ti.
I went ahead and picked up the eggs, hoping Peter might have a better idea than making an olet.
I sighed, did a last check of the surroundings, and then we made our way back toward the clearing.
On the way, when we once again passed Corvin’s body, I felt conflicted about what to do with him and how to handle his remains. I was still angry at him, but disrespecting his body would not help in that matter.
For now, I had far more important matters to attend to. I forced myself to look away and focus on my living squad.
I saw that Kael and Peter had already administered first aid to Oren, with Brakk hovering over them. Silas, Rokan, and Daren sat nearby in a circle.
“How is he?” I asked, making my way toward Peter, still holding the eggs.
“Nothing critical,” Peter replied. “A rushed stab. The knife’s still lodged, though.”
I nodded.
“Do you know any use for these eggs? And please don’t tell to make an olet.” As soon as the words left my mouth, all the squad mbers around perked up. Even Oren, who was lying face down, tried to look.
I could almost see stars in their eyes.
Maybe my whole squad was just a pack of hungry wolves in human form.
Even Peter smiled when he saw their faces.
“Yes, sir. These are Tier-3 beast eggs. They hold a lot of value. Specialized cavalry units or any Earth-affinity noble house would be interested in them. We can exchange them at any fort for rit,” Peter replied.
I did not know how the army or nobles treated beasts, but that was at least a better option than making an olette out of them.
“Can you please keep them in the cart? I will start healing Oren,” I said, passing the eggs to Peter. “Also, bring so jerky for all of us.”
It was about ti I fed these poor, hungry bastards.
As I sat beside Oren, before starting to heal him, I checked my mana.
150 / 1847
I was running low. Far too low to use any of my skills.
So instead, I took out stitching thread from my pocket and looked toward the horizon. Maybe all the jokes about making olets, or the simple relief of having survived the first half of the mission, had allowed to loosen up a little.
Now, we waited for the Vanguard to arrive.
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