Path of Dragons

Hak Tar gripped the haft of his spear, looking forward to slaughtering the powerful beast. The animal was strong. Otherwise, it would have been entirely disabled by the camp's defenses. Without a Wardwright – a Sorcerer meant to empower magical fortifications – the boundary was only mildly effective. However, with one of the Wardwrights funneling ethera into it, the ring surround the camp was debilitating to any intruder.

Over the eons of their devotion to war, his people had developed quite a few tools meant to aid in battle. But none were quite as impactful as the boundaries they used to protect their encampments. According to the Wardwrights – who would extoll their personal virtues to anyone within earshot – the boundary could cripple even a demi-god. So long as the Wardwrights themselves did their job, which they claimed was a guarantee.

With that in mind, the fact that the beast managed to escape while under its influence was a testament to its power. And that meant Hak Tar and his team of fifteen Warriors and Rangers stood to gain quite a bit of experience.

Perhaps he could leverage that gain into a higher position. Captain Hak Tar had a nice ring to it. Much better than Squad Leader, at least.

He pushed those thoughts aside. The creature was weakened, and would remain so for hours yet. However, that didn't mean it wasn't dangerous. Underestimating the enemy was how battles were lost. He couldn't bear that dishonor, so he pushed on, crouching low as he led his squad across the trampled meadow and to the razed city.

The pleasing smell of charred wood danced in Hak Tar's nostrils as he approached cautiously. Another squad had already gone around to the other side of the settlement, meaning to cut the creature off from escape. Hopefully, it would try to hide rather than flee.

With a hand gesture, he motioned for his five defenders to take the lead. Heavy shields held before them, they advanced. Five skirmishers – melee-focused Rangers and Warriors – followed, while the ranged fighters came last. Hak Tar remained in the center of the formation, close enough to attack in every direction, but with limited exposure to danger.

Losing their leader would be catastrophic for the squad. They could scarcely think for themselves, much less survive any significant engagement with a powerful enemy.

Not for the first time, Hak Tar wished he'd been granted the Tactician archetype. Or better yet, if he was one of the lucky few who'd gained the Warcaller class. Both were necessary parts of the army, and as such, they were well protected and nurtured. They had every advantage to gain levels, increase their cultivation, and obtain the best gear. By comparison, people like Hak Tar – the backbone of the army – were given scraps.

It would have been galling if he didn't recognize just how important those Tacticians and Warcallers were. The former empowered the army, letting them overwhelm any opposing force with ease. They protected and strengthened everyone beneath them, and as such, they held a place of honor amidst the soldiers.

The Warcallers were different.

Sorcerers that had been groomed from birth to fill one specific role, they fulfilled that purpose well. In fact, they were the true reason the War Elf armies were so successful. After all, a fighter wasn't very effective if he didn't have any ethera to fuel his abilities.

That wasn't the extent of the Warcallers' offered benefits. They also served as pseudo-Healers and could cast weak, albeit widespread, damage spells. And they'd been well-trained in the use of those wicked maces they carried around. In short, they were jacks-of-all-trades whose lone focus was incredibly impactful on any battle. Hak Tar had seen entire armies falter when the Warcallers joined the fight.

Unfortunately, they were far too important to be included in a simple as hunt, though Hak Tar knew they wouldn't see it that way. Their lust for battle and progression was legendary, and if the command structure would have allowed it, the Warcallers would have jumped at the chance to fight such a powerful beast.

As they crept through the city, Hak Tar couldn't help but remember the recent battle. The goblins had put up a fight – better than most of the planet's natives – but in the end, they'd succumbed. As was right and inevitable.

There was nothing like pillaging and putting a city to the torch. Not only did it provide a trickle of experience, but the domination it represented was addictive in a way that most war elves took for granted. The thrill of battle followed by the joy of conquest – every other feeling came up short in comparison.

What would it feel like to conquer an entire world?

That was their mandate. Earth was rife with resources that could be of great benefit to the Everlasting Empire. The Third Army was tasked with subduing the locals, killing any who resisted, and taking everything for themselves. Once the threat of excisement was behind them, the bureaucrats would come and truly induct it into the Empire.

So long as the Third Army did their job.

That was not guaranteed, either. Upon arrival, they were all untested. Barely more than children in the eyes of the Empire. Well-trained and prepared to sweep across the planet, certainly, but inexperienced and low-leveled. The subjugation of Earth was meant as a test. A training ground. An induction into their true purpose as an enforcing arm of the Empire.

If they proved themselves, they would be sent to more established worlds to fight the enemies of the Empire.

A gentle rustle was the only warning Hak Tar got before he heard something clatter to the ground behind him. He wheeled around to see one of the ranged fighters clutching his stomach. The woman's arm fell away as she collapsed to her knees, spilling entrails onto the ground.

She tipped over onto her face – still breathing, but not for much longer.

"Contact!" Hak Tar shouted, his voice echoing oddly off the burnt-out buildings.

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Another clatter came a second later, and he jerked his head around just in time to see one of the defenders on the ground. The beast – no, it was a monster – stood atop him, its dagger-like claws buried in the Warrior's chest. He gurgled once before the creature ripped its claws free.

That's when the others attacked.

They jabbed their spears forward, each one glistening with ethera from one skill or another as arrows filled the air.

The monster leaped high into the air – at least forty feet – then somehow, drove itself even higher, only to disappear over a building.

"What was that thing?!" someone hissed.

"How was it so fast?!" another demanded.

"I don't know!" came the answer.

"I thought it was debuffed!"

"Shut up! Focus! Against the wall. Defenders out front. Make it come at us from the front," ordered Hak Tar, his body shaking. He embraced a couple of skills meant to empower his attacks and defenses. They were short duration, but with the monster's speed, he thought preemptive use was prudent.

True to their training, the squad – two diminished – reacted to his orders without hesitation. Fortunately, there was an intact building nearby, and it provided good protection from the rear.

If the monster wanted them, it needed to come at them head-on. And if it did that, Hak Tar was confident that it would be easily killed. The thing was fast, but that meant it was likely weak and fragile. That was how monsters worked.

"Did you see the markings?" asked one of the rangers as he scanned their surroundings. "It's venomous. You can tell."

"It can't use any abilities," Hak Tar reminded him. "And we're all durable enough to withstand natural venom. Keep your eyes forward and –"

A black-and-green streak flashed across their faces, followed by the distinct clamor of armor ripping apart. The soldiers tried to react, but the thing was gone before they could get any good hits in.

Another fighter fell, her legs practically severed.

"We need to get her to a Healer!" shouted one of the Rangers. "Hold on, Naska. We'll get you –"

He didn't have a chance to finish that sentence, because something big and scaley dropped on them from above. In seconds, the Rangers were screaming in pain as claws and teeth ripped them to shreds. The attack only lasted a couple of seconds, but in the time it took the defenders to wheel around and attempted a counter, the creature was gone.

And it had left carnage in its wake.

Their armor was useless in stopping the thing's claws. Had the debuff simply not taken? Or was the thing truly that powerful? Since arriving on Earth, the Third Army had encountered plenty of strong beasts. Some guarded natural treasures, but others were free roaming. And most of them had required the concentrated effort of the entire army to down them.

Was this one such creature?

"We need to retreat," he said aloud. "Formation two. Shields out. Defenders, activate –"

Another attack came – this one, from the right side. In the darkness, Hak Tar had only seen the thing's basic characteristics, but with a flashing light from an activated ability, he got a good look at it for the first time.

The beast was bipedal, with comparatively short arms and a mane of spines that screamed a threat at anyone unlucky enough to glimpse them. Its feet were equipped with claws the size of long daggers, and its mouth was full of sharp fangs.

But Hak Tar was more concerned with its eyes.

They were intelligent. Calculating. Aware.

Its tail whipped out, impaling one of the defenders before she could get her shield up. When it ripped free, it did so in a cloud of gore. Then, the beast was gone.

"How many down?" Hak Tar demanded, his voice quivering with well-founded fear. "How many?!"

"Seven," came a half-whispered voice from beside him.

"Retreat!"

To their credit, the squad reacted without hesitation. The remaining defenders formed a triangle around the others, then activated one of their signature abilities. Shield Wall was not as effective with so many angles of potential attack, but it would give them more protection than if they hadn't used it.

Meanwhile, the Rangers and skirmishers readied their weapons, clearly believing that if they could just get one good hit in, they might stand a chance.

Hak Tar knew it would be useless.

They'd already hit the thing a few times, even drawing blood. He'd seen the evidence in the wounds on the beast's sides. However, it hadn't slowed down. Not even a little. If anything, it had gotten faster.

The squad moved as one, evidence of their strict training and extensive experience in war. They'd been through so much since coming to Earth, and they had reaped the benefits, both in levels and skill. Each one was ascended, which was why they'd been chosen for that night's quick reaction force.

They used those abilities to great effect, keeping close to the walls so as to protect themselves from one vector of attack. That worked for a while, and they drew closer to the edge of the settlement. But they all knew that was where the true danger would come.

They couldn't protect themselves from all sides.

But then again, if the creature followed, it would be exposed as well. Perhaps that would give them an opportunity to whittle it down. Or at least slow it enough that they could reach the safety of the encampment where they could gather reinforcements.

Sure, the thing could overmatch a single squad, but it would surely fall before a company. Or if necessary, the entire army. Especially if the Warcallers joined in – which they most assuredly would. Never did those zealots miss an opportunity to use their abilities or enforce the will of the Empire on its enemies.

A shadow passed in front of the group, eliciting a series of sharp grunts and a rustle of weapons. But there was no attack.

Perhaps they'd wounded the creature more than Hak Tar thought.

Another whisper came from behind, and the interior of the formation jerked in that direction. No one saw anything, though. Maybe it was just the wind.

"When we reach the edge of the settlement, we need to –"

Hak Tar was interrupted when the creature finally struck, ramming into one of the defenders with enough force to send him skipping across the ground. He slammed into a nearby wall, the impact stunning him. More distressingly, breaking the Shield Wall meant that it immediately disappeared, exposing the entire squad.

And the beast was more than ready to take advantage.

Hak Tar tried to keep track of what was happening, but amidst the carnage and screams – and the speed of the attacks – he couldn't keep up. But he did know that his people were dying, and too quickly to stop.

The moment that realization hit, he shouted, "Retreat!"

Then, without waiting for his people, he took off at a dead sprint. With his Strength and abilities like Momentous Charge on his side, he could cover quite a lot of ground extremely quickly.

He did spare a thought for his squad, though only to acknowledge that he could easily outpace them. If the creature was occupied killing them, then it wouldn't have enough time to slaughter Hak Tar.

But as he had since the beginning, he underestimated the monster's power.

It hit Hak Tar when he was still almost two hundred yards from the encampment. He tried to fight back, but the sheer momentum the beast could bring to bear overwhelmed his attempts at mounting a defense. He ended up on his back, a huge, taloned claw on his chest as the monster leaned close.

Hak Tar yanked his dagger from his belt and hit the creature in the cheek.

The blade only sank in a couple of inches, and the monster didn't even flinch.

"You have a chance to survive," it hissed, surprising Hak Tar. Monsters weren't supposed to be able to talk. Not at such a low level, at least. He paled at the implications. "Tell me what I want to know, and I may allow you return to your people. Refuse, and I will kill you very, very slowly."

In Hak Tar's mind, there wasn't even a question. So, he said, "I will answer your questions, monster. Just spare me."

"Maybe."