Mt. Ohm - God Slayer - K. van Marshall (books recommended by bts txt) 📗

“Be ready, those things will suck the life out’ya in a second!”, yelled Zweek from behind.

The haemadipsa formed a squirming line, each coil pulsating, fainting to spring at the on rushing meat. Their round mouths gaped wide, rimmed with thousands of tiny pointy teeth. A sour vinegar stench created an invisible barrier, halting most of the groups charge - Stow however, flung himself through the foul air.

“End the ones I don’t!”, yelled Stow, to the brave individuals that followed him through the nostril burning smell.

The largest of the creatures, pushed its bulbish green eyes upwards - until both dangled from black spotted tentacles; it gauged the distance. After a squelch, its body suppressed flatter than an inch, then sprang at Stow.

With hands already in place, Stow latched onto the haemadipsa just behind its jaw - catching it in mid air. Its tail thrashed wildly and its eyes reared up to focus on the shockingly strong Stow. Using the momentum of its leap - his powerful back twists nimbly and he slams the huge leech into the dusty ground - before its slippery body could attempt to ensnare him. The beast struggled intensely, the pure mass of muscle writhed in desperation to slip free of Stow's colossal grip. Stamping down with the heel of his boot he pins the tail in place, then with a thunderous strike, renders it flatter than ever; green blood sprays through the air.

The other haemadipsa hurtle forward one after the other, all aiming for Stow’s bulging back. Each one is dispatched by reinforcements, rapidly. After being shown the technique to nullify the leeches leap, the brave followers teamed up and were able to finish their prey before the wimps behind caught up.

With everybody working in teams, we will survive, was Zweek's original thought, and so far his choices had been justified. Putting the dependable Xena in charge of the rear, giving her the role of herder - making her primary concern the protection of the injured and traumatized. This was an obvious call for Zweek. With her calm nature she would not push the weakened spriggers too hard, this was crucial for later; Zweek still planned to escape. With a sword in her hand Xena is one of the strongest in all of Niisarm, even without she would be able to take the place of Stow in the Vanguard, but Stow is not as versatile; the role of protector does not suit him. Xena grabbed the most dependable to help her escort the weakened captives up and out of the pit. Her group pushed, carried and dragged as many as they could out of the pit and up the path; realising that only more misery awaited them victory or not, a good few excepted the watery grave.

Aradian looked down upon the movements of Zweek and co. With the water not far behind, he smiled and gestured to be taken outside. The golvurs slowly pulled themselves around, and turned to walk through the exit. Below, the training ground completely abandoned, and now fully submerged under water. Giant ocean creatures cascade into the cavern, along with a now clear green sea water.

Zweek was a sharp thinker and came up with his plan the second the gates opened. Confident in his abilities - he gave himself the most difficult task. Selecting four nimble footed fighters, all survivors of Niisarm, he set off. Climbing the steep walls of the spiral pit, his groups aim, to head off the beasts a few levels above and find a life line.

Towu, Somi, Seenah and Goombi have been apart of Niisarm since their bandit days. Knowing them well, Zweek choose to bring them as he could trust their fortitude and experience. For a small team like this chemistry is key, and these four had been working together as part of Bast, Niisarm’s elite mobile strike force, for a while. Zweek made use of his groups exceptional mobility and managed to climb three levels quickly. Once on the destined level, the group sprint at top speed, passing several open rooms. The vibration of their footsteps draw slumbering beasts from the cells. Stuck in a tunnel vision, Zweek searched desperately, eventually finding the target; the room may be the key to their survival.

When Zweek first arrived in the camp, this room was his first taste of his new life; he does not have fond memories. In fact he does not remember much; mostly waking up after three days covered in wounds.

Where are they? Where are they? Zweek sprinted around the room in a frantic search. Only a few of the rooms allowed the sprigger's to use weapons, and this was one. “Yeeeess!”, screamed Zweek, kicking through a stock room door and confirming his hazy memory as reality.

He ran back outside, his group were in the middle of battle against a molerthert; a huge brown skinned, claw footed mammal. Spear in hand, Zweek bounced into the air above the creature and came crashing down, spear first - impaling the brown beast through the top of its skull. Forcing its multi tusked nose to splinter against the hard stone ground; the impact brought instant death.

“Come”. Without pause, Zweek grabs Towu and Goombi, dragging them into the trap room. The three emerge seconds later, arms loaded with weapons. They drop them to the floor.

“These ain’t worth spit”, said Somi.

“Yeah the swords are rusted and spears splintered”, added Goombi.

“There are not enough weapons for everyone, but enough to make a difference, they’ll have to do”, said Zweek.

While the four gathered the weapons, Zweek checked on the progress of Stow and Xena. Their ascent had slowed dramatically, to the point of which Xena's group had become a large mass with Stow’s vanguard. To make things worse, a trio of agile land predators were making their way down the slope towards his unaware friends, and worse, the water below had begun to rise drastically.

Again, Zweek thought fast. “Come quick”, demanded Zweek, grabbing an armful of assorted weapons, then diving down the cliff side, followed by the rest. The five streak diagonally down towards the imperilled trekkers - tumbling and skidding down the steep gravel walls.

Down in the group, panic had revealed its ugly head - they could see and hear the massive sea creatures splashing below, and to the front even the boulder Stow had been stopped dead by an immovable beast. Amongst the growing hysteria, Xena was so calm, she seemed completely nonplussed by the maddening yelps; in reality she had no time to sooth their fragile minds. She was more concerned with the three meadow sharks approaching from above. Their stocky, low to the ground bodies, were making simple work of the steep slopes. With their wedge shaped head and yellow skin, Xena recognised the famous predator immediately. Most continents have a version, either bigger or smaller, but most importantly, all are known as expert pack-hunters.

Stow leading the line was in no position to help the center or rear of the formation. His hands were full with golemeers. On another day, this would be the sort of match Stow could relish, but not today. They were on a time limit, their watery deaths stalked from below and these huge rock skinned monsters; renowned for their strength and even more so for their toughness, had become a stubborn obstacle. With a long trunk and a bear like body, the beasts are not easily moved. Then there are the meadow sharks, grassland hunters and deadly.

Xena tracks the movements quietly, making sure not to let slip the coming threat. They were going for the rear, as if they could sense the injured and weak. Xena prepared herself to take the fight to the sharks, glimpsing a desperate Zweek trying to cut them off from the side; she can only hope he will make it in time.

Zweek, drops the stash of weapons, keeping hold of a rusty sword and splintered spear, the meadow sharks are almost on top of the group. Running full out, his heart pounded - Zweek twists his body as far back as possible - holding the spear behind him, arm straight; ready to launch. He aims and hurls the spear.

The rusty broken spear flies through the air - striking straight through the shark at the center of the pack. Sending it flying off the path and splashing into the water below. Triarkines, huge mouthed carnivorous sea predators, tear it apart in an instant.  

Climbing a level above, Xena intercepts the leader of the pack, leaving the rear in a state of pandemonium. Calmly she stands boldly before the predator. With a snarl it pounces. Nimble and fast, Xena steps to the side - using its momentum against it - she sends it tumbling, with a swift quick; she joins her pack-mate in a quick death. With Zweek at its rear, the third shark was surrounded on all sides. Scales raised on end, and alone, the beast turns at a pace and flees up the steep wall.

Having sent the rest of his group to the aid of Stow. The nimble four arrive to help Stow finish off the golemeers, launching spears and attacking from behind - the beasts are are forcefully subdued.  

“There are more weapons, about three levels up, and the top is 10 levels away”, Zweek informs the group, he then takes the lead with Stow, charging forwards. The group make it to the weapons cache, and several more pass without issue.

Eventually the sprigger's reach six levels from the top. With nearly everyone is exhausted, their only blessing was the rate of the rising water had slowed dramatically. Zweek estimated this was due to the cone shape of the dungeon and its width growing in circumference. With his theory seconded by Xena the group slowed their pace, slightly.

Maybe it was the exhaustion, or the moment of respite, regardless not one person was ready for what came next. As the group passed one of the many open gates - hundreds of long, thick, slimy green tentacles flew forth. Flailing and thrashing, they knock fifty sprigger's into the water instantly. Most died from the impact, all were immediately swallowed by triarkine's, for good measure. Another hundred were bagged and snagged - in quick succession they were whipped into the room - their disappearance was followed by horrific screams and loud crunches. The tentacles swiftly emerge again, smashing a load more into the pool and grabbing a second helping of spriggers. In no time at all the group found themselves split in two, Zweek, Stow and the strongest contingent on upside of the door while Xena’s group of injured were left behind.

Xena is with them but most of the people in the rear were injured, they have no way of making it up the cliff side or any possibility of fighting their way through the tentacles, not without help, agonized Zweek.

“What is this thing?”, huffed Stow.

“Don’t know, never went to this training room”, sighed Zweek. “Bast guys, you still here”. Zweek’s mobile unit stepped forward. “You still got weapons”, said Zweek, looking them over. “Good, two stay here, two follow me”, ordered Zweek, before hopping onto the wall beside them. “The rest of you go”.

“You sure?”, quizzed Stow. “We can fight this thing together”.

“No, we will lose too much time, and fighters. Just clear the way ahead”, replied Zweek, continuing to the level above. Stow nodded, then waved to Xena before leaving with his herd.  

It did not take long for Zweek and the nimble duo to climb to the level above. However, good deeds, never go unpunished. The three were met by the lonesome surviving meadow shark. She reared up at the sight of the sudden threats. Her wedge shaped head snapping open and shut, teeth gnashing.

“Oi, get - be ready!”, exclaimed Zweek, springing to his feet, the surprise scrambling the words as they exit his mouth.

Instantly ready to battle, and down the beast, Zweek stood prepared.