The Orinthian Knight

Book 1: The Broodmother’s Awakening

Part 10

Dilo sprinted diligently at least half a mile before he skidded to a stop, before a steep mound of rock. He had been running where the Pyramid would direct him, and the Pyramid would show him, after a few calculations, that on the top of the mound was where he needed to go.

The mound was the average mountain-climbing experience, of course, so it was no exhausting feat for Dilo. Until a beast of a Thorny Dragon emerged from the sand with the Masked Man and a few other opponents on board beside him.

He was definitely buying henchmen in bulk.

“Staying would’ve helped you there,” he yelled out at Dilo in a more aggressive tone. It seemed unlikely that one survivor could pose such a threat to Dilo, but then again, there were survivors capable of handling the Overseer’s Trial of Death completely by themselves. “Maybe I wouldn’t have had to fight you for that pyramid and bounty on your hands. But then again, today is hunting day!” He would have convinced you to go hunting for meat farms with him hadn’t he been so gruff and trying to target you over half a mile.

“You will rue this fight,” Dilo would snarl warily back at the crew - consisted of a giant Thorny Dragon, the Masked Man, two dudes wearing hats and leather straps, and some thick-skulled hard-on guy who decided to come along with full Riot Armor (he spent all his points on Fortitude).

“You hear that? He wants a fight! Get him boys!” The guy in Riot Armor charged shield-first, ready for a bash, while the two leather guys brandished rope whips with spikes at the end. Dilo sidestepped as the heavily-armored guy charged and whacked his back with his tail, forcing him into the rock mound ahead. One of the spiked-end whips flung wildly towards Dilo, who grabbed the whip and pulled on it with his teeth hard, flinging the survivor directly to Dilo. Dilo then let go of the whip and grabbed the survivor with his hands, utilizing the thrust to further slam the survivor into the rock mound. The survivor attempted to punch Dilo, which was an ineffective move as Dilo spit his corrosive venom in the man’s hand, causing him to scream in agony as his arm quickly begun to burn off, leading to his death.

‘Nae Number One experienced dismemberment’

The heavily-riot-armored guy, previously disoriented, now returned to his feet and threw his riot shield at Dilo, whereas at the same time, the other guy cracked his whip at Dilo. Dilo grabbed the thrown shield, then used it to block the whip. He would get a few steps closer with every attempt at the whip the other survivor would try. It wasn’t too long before Dilo got close enough to smack the survivor with the shield and unleash a barrage of claws.

‘Nae Number 2 had been clawed down’

The heavily-armored guy then grabbed ahold of Dilo’s back, and the two wrestled as Riot (Dilo’s nickname for the heavily-armored dude) forced Dilo onto the ground. Dilo spat venom at Riot’s mask and watched as the venom spread across the man’s entire armor set. He saw this as an opening to clamp his jaws on Riot’s neck and throw him downwards, where Dilo stomped onto him and spat another glob of acid venom onto Riot’s now completely exposed face.

‘Gundyr the Rioter melted apart’

Dilo was just wiping the small bits of blood off his face when the Masked Man reacted to their deaths. “Gah, enough of those fools,” the now clearly frustrated Masked Man exclaimed, “It’s time you know what an opponent really is. GO GET YOUR MEAT FARM, JOINTS!” Joints the Thorny Dragon immediately obeyed his command and rushed for Dilo, giving him only a couple seconds to leap upwards and start climbing the mound as the thorny dragon chased after him.

- To be continued.