BXBX NOVEL 178 Chapter 178
[ Third Event - Attack of the Reaper's Army
Objective - Survive the attacks or Find a way to stop the attacks
Reward - Unknown, Top 10 per Continent receives a bonus ]
"Reaper's army? The undead? Gobi! Send 3 scouts towards the cave." - Ian
"Yes my Lord! Giniti, Guboti and Gemama go!" - Gobi
"Okay, Boss Gobi!" - Giniti, Guboti, Gemama
The pillars of light still shine brightly in the sky, and I could see a few in the direction of the Krepost as well as around the mountain and toward the area where I first spawned into the game. There was a lot that I had anticipated, but the cave was still the closest pillar of light.
"Boss Gobi! Lord Ian, there are skeletons coming out of the cave and already approaching us!" - Giniti
"Already!?" - Ian
"Yes, my lord! I estimate they will reach here in 10 minutes." - Giniti
"Alright, archers use the heavy arrows, shield bearers at the front. Move up to the bend and defend both the left and right banks. Use the bridge as a foothold. Goblins in the sniper nests fire the flame arrows at the torches, we are going to need some light." - Ian
"Yes, my Lord." - Everyone.
[Heavy Arrow
Attack: 10
The arrow is created by attaching a golem stone at the top. Instead of a sharp point for the arrowhead, it is more blunt and heavy, perfect for smashing through something.
Made by Lime ]
Name: Ian
Race: Arachne
Faith: 7256/10,000 ( Reach 10,000 to pick a Religion )
Happiness: 30 ( Happy ) 240/5000( Reach 5000 for a Golden Age )
Culture: 56 / 950 ( Reach 900 to choose the first Social Policy in Tradition )
Health Points (HP): 90/90
Mana Points (MP): 22/22
Strength: 45
Vitality: 45
Intelligence: 45
Dexterity: 30
Agility: 55
Luck: 36
Skill: Enhanced Agility, Quickstep, Cleave, Charge, Stealth, Emerald Gaze, Earth Spike, Eye of the Roc (Passive), Predator Instinct (Passive), Limb Regrowth (Passive), Buffalo Horns (Passive),
Equipment: Lucky Goblin Totem Necklace, Araneae Ring, Vomva Bronze Trident, Skala Mail, Copper Chest Plate, Copper Arm Guard, Copper Leg Guard, Code of Hammurabi
I push forward along with the shield bearers, checking my stats as I move. Gobi and Howard are right next to me, with Gobi using the Hobgoblin's Club and Howard using a Stone Mace.
The two of them position themselves on each side of the riverbank, while I stood in the middle of the bridge. The shield bearers position their shield close to one another, allowing only 3 on each river bank and 2 on the bridge. I had another layer of shield-bearers holding the shield above everyone's head, protecting them from any projectiles. Then, the rest were behind, readying their spears.
The archers were positioned above in the sniper nests as well as further behind. We made simple elevated floors out of mud prior to the event to allow archers an easier time attacking over our shields. Archers were also in the towers, looking over the situation, with Robin being in the tower that overlooks the canyon. The gate at the front of HavenFall is closed, with a small group of goblins and shield-bearers keeping watch.
Old man Hus and the rest of his blacksmiths were still making weapons. Frantically making more arrows and stone clubs, anything that was quick to make. While we still had a lot of arrows and weapons in the Barracks, there can never be too many weapons.
With everyone ready in seconds, we patiently wait for the army of bones to arrive at our doorstep. The canyon was lit up as it bends around the corner, torches blaze along the canyon walls as if it was a flaming caterpillar scurrying away from our domineering appearance. Setting off one torch lights the one after it all the way to the cave and as the skeletons come closer, their shadows loom along the canyon wall.
A dancing shadow, bobbing up and down in a chaotic rhythm, but then they show themselves. A tsunami of yellowish-white bones, some in the shape of humans, others similar to goblins, kobolds, orcs, and even beast-like monsters like giant rats and snakes. Each and every one of them with a small blue flame lit in their eye sockets. They move as if they are one, taking a step forward one at a time, matching each other's stride. Closer and closer they come.
I had heard of undead on the forums and skeletons were a common occurrence but the description of skeletons had always been on the more meek side. Brittle bones that break with one swing of a club. Nothing fascinating and nothing special about them. Yet these skeletons seem to have a life of their own. Less of a bag of bones and more like a squadron listening to their commander.
"Archers at the sniper's nest, hold off attacking until they are closer to you! Aim for anything that might seem to be a leader or commander of the skeletons and aim for the head. Archers behind, wait for my command to fire the heavy arrow! Everyone else be ready! The skeletons don't have weapons other than their arms, legs, and teeth. There are human skeletons and monster skeletons mixed in the army so each attack will be different be prepared and be ready to defeat against all kinds of attacks!" - Ian
A quick command gets sent to everyone as I look at the approaching army of bones. I feel strangely calm while I look at the skeletons. My heart is still racing faster than ever yet my mind is as tranquil as a pond. I can feel the vibrations in the earth as the skeletons walk closer and with each step that vibration becomes stronger. My hands grip the trident tighter and I flex the spider legs up and down. My mind sharpens with the approaching monsters as Predator Instincts activate.
"SNIPER NESTS FIRE! BACKLINE FIRE!" - Ian
With a booming voice echoing in the night I let loose the one command everyone was waiting for. The start of the battle.
The goblins in the top send loose arrows into the middle of the crowd, picking off skeletons one by one while a rain of arrows flies over our heads landing on the enemy front lines. Each arrow smashes into the heads or bodies of the skeletons, cracking and smashing through. Bone fragments splinter away like a mini-explosion and the blue flames in the skeleton's eye sockets extinguish.
"SHIELDS READY! SPEARS READY! BACKLINE FIRE!" - Ian
I command the second wave of arrows as the monsters draw closer, eliminating yet another group of monsters but the endless wave persists. Like an ocean of bones, it swarms towards us.
"SHIELDS…. SPEARS… ATTACK!!!!!!!!" - Ian
"HHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" - Everyone
I thrust my trident forward, attacking the nearest skeleton, an orc skeleton. The moment the trident touches the monster a small explosion appears damaging the skeletons right next to the strike zone. I eliminate the first skeleton and immediately swing up while commanding my front two spider legs to attack the ones next to my target. Each attack eliminates a skeleton immediately, extinguishing the flame in its eyes.
I attack with my spider legs as I look to the right and leg observing the first clash of the army of undead and HavenFall's troops. The skeletons could only bash on the shields not even able to create a dent in them while spears shot out of the gaps between the shields breaking limbs and skulls alike.
"ROBIN! ATTACK AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!" - Ian
"YOU HEARD HIM! FIRE!" - Robin
"GOBI! HOWARD! ATTACK HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT!" - Ian
"YES MY LORD!" - Howard, Gobi
"AURA OF BATTLE!" - Gobi
With Gobi using his skill, a yellow ring appears around his feet, shooting outward and covering 65% of the frontline, including myself. I keep attacking whatever moves in front of me and after confirming that the skeletons prove almost no threat, it was time to make my move.
"Enhanced Agility." - Ian
The lower two spider legs, push down on the bridge while I lift my legs up, jumping over the handrails and landing in the river using the lower spider legs as support to keep me above the water. Most of the skeletons that approach the bridge were tall enough that at most only their lower bodies were in the water while their upper body was above the water. I stabilize myself using my lower spider legs to move forward, swinging my trident in front of me.
Explosions litter my surroundings each blowing up a skeleton and heavily injuring the next. My front two spider legs attacked in angles that I couldn't reach as well as defending myself from the sides. It was only the start of the event and only the start of the endless wave of monsters. The night will be long but regardless we will prevail.
I can only hope that everyone else is doing fine. The scale of this attack is significantly higher than what was predicted in both our group as well as the forum. Evan who is currently without a solid base would have the most trouble during this event and even Stellar's group who is scattered in the forest will have to reach either HavenFall or the Krepost if they encounter an army this big.