Pantheon Online

Chapter 307 Eye Of The Storm (Part 2)

307 Eye Of The Storm (Part 2)

"Commander Elandrial," a male elf with sharp features said as he dragged two captured Skardians before her. "I've cleared the eastern section. These fellows looked important so I've brought them over for interrogation."

"Well done, Thalion. But how many times do I have to tell you to call me Vaerina?"

"As long as we're on campaign I'll never call you by your given name. It would set a bad example for the troops."

"Fine," Vaerina replied as she studied the captives with her hawkish gaze. "Have you heard any reports about the Skardian princess?"

"No, if it weren't for this fog we should've captured her by now."

Vaerina's gaze lingered on the two Skardian captives, their faces a mix of defiance and weariness. One bore the scars of countless battles, while the younger one still had the fire of rebellion in his eyes, though it flickered under the weight of their defeat. She smiled thinly, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Send them to the rear," she said, her voice as cold as the winds howling around them. "We'll question them later. Right now, we need to focus on the western section."

Thalion nodded, gesturing to a nearby squad to handle the prisoners. As they were dragged away, the male elf turned back to Vaerina, his eyes narrowing as he studied the swirling fog around them. "This fog is unnatural. It's slowing our advance. I don't like it."

Vaerina's gaze swept across the hazy landscape. "Nor do I. I can only assume it's a gift from one of their Gods. If I were them, I'd use this opportunity to get any valuable officers out of here." She paused, then added, "There's a man in the western section. He's gathering what remains of their forces. If we break him, the rest will collapse."

Without further words, the elven commander gestured forward, and her forces melted into the ruins. They moved with deadly grace, their footsteps nearly soundless as they traversed the crumbling ruins toward the west. Each elf was little more than a shadow, blending seamlessly into the fog, their bows drawn and swords at the ready.

Vaerina advanced ahead, Thalion following close behind. The Skardians were warriors to be sure, but they were predictable, brutish. They relied too much on raw strength. That's why they would lose.

In the distance, the sound of clashing steel rang out. Vaerina signalled for her forces to halt, her keen senses picking out the rhythm of the fight. The Skardians were making their stand just beyond the walls ahead, defending a narrow chokepoint in the ruins.

"Hold the line! Hold the fucking line!" a voice roared, cutting through the din of battle.

Vaerina's eyes gleamed. "There he is."

Thalion stepped forward, crouching low as he peered through the gaps in the crumbled stone. "They're dug in deep. But I can see their weak points."

That was when Skalr's free hand went to the pouch at his belt, and he quickly pulled out a small runestone. He pressed his thumb to the glowing surface with a grin. A pulse of energy shot through the air as the runestone activated, sending a jagged bolt of lightning crackling toward Thalion.

The elf dodged to the side just in time, the lightning bolt crashing into the ground where he had stood. The earth sizzled, scorched black from the impact. Thalion's heart raced. Skalr wasn't just a brute with a sword. 'This is bad. He's using his runes to shift the battlefield in his favour. I thought this old magic was extinct in Skardia.'

"Impressive," Thalion muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "But runes won't save you from my blade when I get serious."

Skalr's eyes narrowed. "Then come and try to back up that claim, elf."

Thalion lunged forward, faster than Skalr anticipated. His sword flicked out in a blur, feinting high before twisting down to strike low. Skalr moved to block with his blade, but Thalion was already gone. The elf had slipped to the side and sent another strike toward Skalr's neck. This time, Skalr wasn't fast enough. Thalion's blade grazed his shoulder as he tried to evade the blow, drawing first blood.

Skalr bellowed in fury, but Thalion didn't give him time to recover. He pressed the attack, his sword moving in swift arcs and stabs. Each move probed for a weakness in Skalr's defence. Skalr, for all his experience, struggled to keep up with the elf's speed. Yet Thalion knew it wasn't enough. He was wary of the fact that Skalr's runestones would tip the balance if he didn't finish this quickly.

Skalr, sensing Thalion's intent, dropped another runestone on the ground after activating it. The earth beneath them trembled, and jagged stone spikes shot up, stabbing at the persistent elf clinging to him like a nagging wife. Thalion leapt backwards, narrowly avoiding being impaled. But that cost him the initiative in this fight.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Skalr thrust his sword forward with a mighty roar after using the reprieve to activate another rune. Thalion blocked the strike with his own blade, but the force of the blow sent him skidding back. 'He wasn't this strong before!' Skalr's strength had become immense, and even Thalion could no longer match him head-on. But he didn't need to.

As Skalr shot forward again, Thalion flicked his wrist, tossing a handful of dirt into Skalr's eyes. The result of which was him cursing and swinging wildly, blinded by the trick. Thalion used the moment of distraction to move behind him, his sword aimed for the back of Skalr's neck. However, before the strike could land, Skalr activated another runestone he had kept at the ready. This time he unleashed a burst of wind that sent Thalion sprawling back, crashing against a crumbling wall.

The elf groaned, forcing himself to his feet. Meanwhile, Skalr wiped the dirt from his face, his grin returning. "You'll have to do better than that, elf."

Thalion spat blood from his mouth, his eyes flashed with murderous intent. "Oh, I will."

As Skalr prepared to strike again, Thalion's keen eyes spotted something. Skalr didn't appear to have another runestone ready yet. A plan formed in his mind, but it would require timing.

Skalr roared, charging once more. However, Thalion didn't retreat. He dashed forward, ducking beneath Skalr's swing, and with a quick motion, he jabbed his blade toward Skalr's waist. Skalr roared in agony as he jumped to the side, the elf's blade leaving a shallow wound behind.

Seizing the moment, Thalion launched a frenzied assault. His blade was barely a blur as he struck Skalr's now-vulnerable side. The Skardian warrior bellowed in pain as fresh blood poured from another new wound. But even then, Skalr was not finished.

With a snarl, he unleashed a runestone he had kept tucked into his sleeve, sending a shockwave through the small battlefield. Thalion was thrown back once more, but he had achieved his objective. Skalr was weakening, and soon he wouldn't have the strength to fight back. The Skardian's time was running out.