A Rattling Monster

Chapter 74: The guards arrive

Oslo, please, answer. OSLO, OSLO. Don't do that, please. Seriously, I am not even capable of returning to the tomb with the weapons and armors. Ok, I am maybe exaggerating this part, but I really want your help. For the great God Oslo, ruler of Forslo and thousands of other worlds. Nothing? Damn, I really tried everything this time. I just hope I won't have to make a trip to the fairies once again and look for the crystals of life. Because he was clearly a lot stronger than when we first met after the death of the last Agorians. And just his godly eyes are enough for my survival, but I get even more with all the information he gave me. OSLO! No, really nothing. I tried one last praise, thinking that if he was listening he will speak or say something. So he is really gone for a moment. That is a little scarier than I thought.

But now is not really the time to think. My battle has ended, but the aftermath will appear shortly. First, the previously blind and deaf guards will encircle the place and check everything. Under the cover of the law, they will try to scavenge everything not taken or destroyed. In the end, I still have fought for nearly a half of an hour, from the beginning apparition inside the plaza. By now, every scavenger or despaired men will try to gain the most out of this battle. They still fear me and my skeletons warriors, but after seeing that I only have two remaining, maybe courage will find them. Thinking that they are numerous, they will even maybe try to attack me. As for that possibility, only one thing will stop them to do it.

I turn back from the hole where everyone had melted, reaching the original front door. There, I ask number one to violently kick it. Before that, I have of course checked their armors and weapons, verifying that nothing could leak their condition as an undead. I casted [Nightfall] on me once again, shrouding my body with darkness. And now here we are again, at the same place where everything had started, but with two fewer companions.

I can see that the previously dispersed crowd is now filling the plaza to its full capacity. Most are weak and unarmed, but some are already bloodied, probably an earlier fight. Only a few wear the colors of the two other gangs, weird that they didn't move at all. I would have expected them to be coming here with a bigger troop, trying to win their part of the treasure located inside the master bedroom. Or they already know that Shadow has escaped, and therefore the treasure is just a bait to the blind populace of the slums. Baiting them to come here, and kill me.

For now, everyone stays away from the door and me. But I can see some touching their swords, hoping that they will use it. And as I am leaving, they are counting the number of people still alive. Unfortunately for me, the low number that can be seen is a great thing for those outlaws. The previous fear is replaced by joy, surprise, expectation. One was far too imprudent and rush toward number one. Without even me saying anything, my strongest skeleton warrior just cuts in half the foolish man.

Well, well, well. Did you really expect us to let you go in that easily? Did you expect us to be frightened by your number? I can kill all of you with just a single spell, but you will not be used that way. You are the ingredients of the growth of my skeletons warriors. And since I am still blocking the access to the house, you all animals will have to step on number one and four to enter. I can see some retreating, feeling that their lives are more important. But they are just a few drops of this sea of criminals. Only a spark is needed now, and the fire will start and try to burn me.

-THEY HAVE TAKEN THE TREASURE OF SHADOW!

I turn my head toward the source of that shout. It is one of the members of the gang. He is wearing a green hood. I will remember you and your gang for that action. The green will die next. As for the blue gang, after hearing that shout, he quickly disappears. Tactful, you will be spared for now. As for the consequences of saying this, well, all I can say is that the fire is burning more violently that I expected.

I can see inside the eyes of the closest men the flame of greed, such a deadly sin. A few seconds, without anything happening. Then, someone shouts the same sentence, quickly the all crowd shout it. As a war chant, to give them strength, to give them hope. Frenzy is spreading in their bodies. The worst part is, I don't even know what is that supposed treasure. I will probably never know.

The first dogs are pouncing on number one and four. Outnumbering them. But, having their backs on the wall near the door, they are only attacked from the front. And those weak human bodies are nothing to them. They cut in pieces the first attackers, and kick the rest. When three or four are too close, they use their shield to bash them away. But more and more dispirited scums are coming.

Truthfully, if number one and four were not undead, they would have never managed to survive that long. Between the fight inside the houses and the fight on the plaza, their stamina would have been depleted. But that's the best part about them, they will never rest, they will never need to do that. Second after second, minute after minute. Waves and waves crashed on them, but they are solid, sturdy, like a rock fending the sea waves. Dead bodies can be found everywhere near them, the other humans not caring about it and stomping the injured on the ground. More and more in the crowd are shouting, shouting to kill me and my undead servants. To hang us, to torture us, to tear our limbs apart. More violent way to die coming after another.

But even if words could kill, they will certainly not be able to slay number one and four. On the other hand, my two skeleton warriors were harvesting, collecting death after death. The very ground was filled with fountains of blood. After a time that I couldn't determine, the crowd finally fled. Only to let me see the result of the massacre. Countless bodies can be seen all around the plaza. Most were not even our doing, just the crowd stepping on some that fell. The closer we get from us, the more dead bodies can be seen. And at the feet of my undead servants, only pieces of bodies can be found. Not a single intact corpse. I don't even know how many died here. At least three hundred trash were reunited here against us. Barely hundred manages to flee. As for who truly died because of my skeleton warriors and who died because of infighting, I can't know.

The only other person still standing is the green hooded man. His face is even making me laugh. It's like he saw the devil in flesh right in front of him. He is stunned. As for your precious gift, I will return the favor. I order number one to pick up the best sword laying on the ground near him and to throw it at the man. That poor soul doesn't even react to the movement of number one. Moving only after seeing my undead servant begins his throw. But it is far too late. I can see a sword deeply inserted in his left shoulder. Won't be lethal, what a shame. This insect is now crawling away, expecting his master to save him. Don't worry, you won't wait for a long time.

-Are you sure that they attacked the fortress of Shadow? Are they insane?

-No captain, I saw them, they should still be fighting at this very moment.

-Good, if what you say is true I will rewa WHAT?!!

And here comes the guards, always late for the party. They were coming from the left, a dark alley where nothing of the plaza could really be seen. But after they arrive, they immediately the scene that can be seen only during war times. The guard that is nearby the captain is looking at me and my two swordsmen with frightened eyes. He really didn't expect us to survive the battle inside the houses, so the huge massacre that he is seeing is making him wet himself. It is not a hypothesis; I can see it. He will have to wash his armor a lot. As for the troop of guards, most are retreating like they never saw a single thing.

The captain looks at me for a moment, then looks toward the only two guards that are not running away and takes a decision. He removes his helmet, waves at me for a second, then puts his helmet in place and walks away. A few seconds later, that walk turns into a loud run, hearing from a very long distance. The armors of those guards are really loud. Now it is time for me to reach my favorite tomb.