With that news, it made perfect sense that the main lines were sending them on an urgent mission to eliminate the Giants before dark, when the boulders would be hidden by the dark until they were almost in the camp.
What this bit of the line was doing so far forward was a mystery, but if they were doing better than the other main line portion, it was good work on their part that got them to that position.
“Twenty Giant artillery team with four Commanders leading them. Does the same routine as before work for everyone?” Karl called to the mages riding on Thor’s back.
Tessa gave him the thumbs up, and Dana nodded, while Tori began to form the magic missile firing orbs that she used as her primary offensive ability. Spreading out the mana cost made the battle much easier on her, and if she had a bunch of them charged when they arrived, she could eliminate a number of the weaker targets right away.
[Two hundred metres, just over the next ridge.] Hawk reported.
“Get ready, we’re charging after the ridge.” Karl informed the team.
He took out his bow and prepared to fire while running. The Giants were at the bottom of a hill, which sucked for the defenders, but kept them out of sight of the Golden Dragon Nation scouts. Being uphill allowed Karl to let loose his first arrow just as Thor and Rae began to charge down the slope.
He wasn’t particularly skilled at shooting and running, but it was possible, and he was still hitting them with [Chain Lightning] while Thor closed on the artillery emplacement.
Tori rolled off his back when they got near the bottom, and Dana stood up to cast her Golems in the Frost Giant ranks before jumping clear of Thor’s back as well.
Rae and Lotus had vanished into the trees, but the Spider Golems were going for the Commanders already, leaving only Ophelia a few seconds out of combat when Thor came crashing through the catapults with a happy braying noise.
[Smashing poles!] He cheered as the Frost Giants roared in frustration.
Karl closed in, so he could provide support for Ophelia, who was going to need someone to watch her back in a battle this crowded, but he kept his bow out for now. Firing from ten metres away was even more effective than from a hundred metres, even if he was close enough that he could have used his skills through a blade.
Only when the Giants rushed him did he switch to the two-handed blade and join Ophelia in close combat.
Royal Rank [Flame Body] was making short work of the Ascended members of the group, while Hawk’s fireballs and the Spider Golems kept the Commanders from assisting in the fight.
[We need more speed.] Rae complained as she called another set of Golems to replace the ones that the Frost Giants had almost finished hacking apart.
Four on two, with a few Ascended Rank assistants trying to pin the constructs down made for an unfair fight, and while they had severely injured all of them, the constructs had only killed the Ascended Rank pair when the Golems first died.
[Alright, watch this.] Karl agreed.
2 Points {10 Points for Balance} [Haste] improves the speed of the target beast by 10 percent per Rank (40 percent at Commander)
{10 points spent. [Haste] obtained.}
Karl cast the spell on all three of his pets. The sudden burst of speed from the Spider Golems caught the Frost Giants off guard, and Thor’s next charge nearly tossed Tessa from his back with the force of impact when he collided with an Ascended Frost Giant.
Karl could hear the sound of breaking bones as the Giant crumpled, right before Thor smashed its face with an [Earthquake] enhanced tail.
Hawk was blocking ice attacks with his [Wind Shield] so he didn’t have to take away from the flames for his fireballs, and the increased attack speed was the final straw for the Frost Giants.
All Four Commanders fell within seconds, and the remainder of the Ascended artillery operators were close behind.
Karl checked the sun, which was just touching the horizon.
{Command, this is 95988. The Artillery team has been eliminated. I will collect my rewards later.} Karl joked.
There was a short pause, then a new female voice came over the radio.
{95988, confirm count of the Artillery team.}
{20 members total, including 4 Commanders. Ten Frost Giant Catapults were destroyed on location as well.}
The voice sounded shocked when it spoke next. {Excellent work, Commander. We recommend relocation before dark.}
{Understood. We will check in at dawn.}
[It might be easier to say we’re finding a spot than to actually rest in one. There are four other groups of Frost Giants in the area.] Hawk informed Karl as he returned to scouting duty.
“Hawk reports four more groups in the region right now. We’re going to have to deal with them now if we don’t want to fight them all night.” Karl informed the team.
“Can Rae make us a Fort in a reasonable time after dark, or will we be in the open?” Tori asked.
“Yeah, she can make a quick fort after the fights.” Karl agreed.
[Just watch me, I’m fast as fuck Boiii.] Rae agreed.
[Who is teaching you to talk like that? Am I going to have to speak with Lotus?] Karl replied.
Karl looked toward where they were standing, and Lotus burst into laughter. She was definitely teaching the Bloodbath Spider strange things.
[The first group is coming to you. Tell Thor to bugle, so they don’t miss you.] Hawk instructed.
Thor didn’t wait and let out a happy nasal bugle, which brought the sound of smashing trees from two different directions.
[Oh, we got two. Efficient.] Hawk added.
“I don’t think I need to explain, everyone in position to block a charge by Frost Giants. This way will let us get rid of most of them before it’s fully dark. I can fight just fine in the dark, but I know nobody else can.” Karl explained.
He didn’t know how well the Frost Giants could fight in the dark, but it probably wasn’t any worse than what the mages would be working with, even if he used his blade to light the battlefield. Or, one of the clerics could do it. They had light spells, and their weapon and armour enchantments could make a bright golden glow.
The Giants didn’t hesitate as they charged, but they were scout teams, only one Commander and two Ascended Rank Frost Giants in each group.
That wasn’t even a warm-up for the Spider Golems, and Tori had stacked up a whole new batch of orbs before they arrived, so she could mass bombard them.
“Watch your stamina usage. If you’re too exhausted to walk after a battle, it will be a pain. If Thor gets injured, he needs to rest in a separate space, so everyone ends up walking.” Karl explained as he saw the barrage of spells chasing after his arrow.
“Thanks, I will keep it in mind. Did we have more fights tonight?” Tori replied.
“Two more. Hawk is scouting them now, so we can set up a nice secure camp.”
[Go southeast toward the main lines, over the ridge. There is a group there, and I will get the training group to the North.] Hawk decided.
Karl led them over the ridge, expecting to find another large group of Frost Giants, but what they came across was a blended unit, with one Commander Rank Frost Giant walking crouched over to look smaller, and ten Yeti wearing Frost Giant cloaks, so they looked like juvenile Giants, not high Ascended Rank elite Yeti warriors.
Karl was going to launch the attack right away, but Rae decided it was no fun if she didn’t get to taunt Hawk first.
[Fear not, valiant Hawk, we will avenge you.] She announced in her best grieving tone.
[What are you talking about? I’m not dying to some stupid trainees.] Hawk retorted.
[No, we found an entire team of Elite Yeti, dressed up as baby Giants.] Rae informed him.
[I will make these die right away. Don’t start without me. Two minutes, just give me two minutes.] He pleaded.
[We’re starting now.] Rae taunted as she moved into position.
[Behave, you two. We will save a few for you when you get here.] Karl insisted.
“It’s Yeti elites dressed as baby Giants. Be prepared, they’re high Ascended or possibly early Commander Rank, and they can use quite a bit of magic.” Karl warned.
