System Break

Dark Bear loved to fight. He'd been front seat to the action and emotion for the last few days through our link. He'd missed the chance to help with the beastmen and now there were fifteen orks arrayed in front of him - it was like Christmas.

The orks couldn't take their beady eyes off him. He stood on his hind legs and growled while pawing the air. He wasn't much taller than me, but his sheer bulk was impressive. I wondered why the orks on the roof didn't shoot, maybe they were stunned.

While the bear had their undivided attention the Svartalfar gained rooftops surrounding the manor. Snow and Kysandre walked calmly up the main street behind me.

The time had come and there would be no mercy for the orks that had killed so many civilians who were just trying to live their lives. I ran up a wall, passed Dark Bear and shouted, "Kill em all."

Qi arrows flew and the threat from the orks on the manor roof was removed in moments. Two died and one dived for cover. He was now severely outnumbered, and it wouldn't take much to keep him pinned. Svartalfar bows and their qi-arrows were far superior than the ork's cheap rip-off.

I ran to the top of the closest building and leaped. While I flew through the air I maneuvered the tabletop under my feet, put my arms out and bent my knees. The fifteen orks eyes filled with panic as they readied for an assault from a humungous bear and flying tree monster.

My tactic was to cause as much chaos in their ranks as possible and it worked a treat. I crashed amongst them with the ad-hoc shield breaking apart on an orks head. I dived and rolled behind them as the giant bear began to claw and bite like he was starving for a fight.

Orks were scattered like rag dolls and their weapons were ineffective against Dark Bear's qi covered hide. There was no nuance to Dark Bear's attack it was pure power backed by his qi enhanced natural defence.

His claws were like ice picks – sharp and strong. His first swipe literally shredded the ork with five deep cuts through its flesh from shoulder to groin. I began to strike from the rear with my qi swathed fists metering out blows with strength and speed beyond their ability to defend.

Arrows began to take them down and within moments the initial assault had taken their number from fifteen to ten. I punched my way to their left flank while Dark Bear just charged through their centre. They swung scimitars and axes, but they were like children's toys to the bear.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kysandre and Snow attacking their right flank.

The largest ork - their commander - stood toe to toe with Dark Bear. His face a mask of rage and he lifted his double bladed axe high above his head. He was their strongest and unafraid. His muscles strained and he took one step forward to bring down his blow. 

Dark Bear bit his head right off.

I laughed as I stuck another in the neck. My palm was flat, my fingers stretched out and my qi slid up the wood and followed through. I was practising this strike on the orks, during a battle to the death. It was very one sided, so it was basically their death.

I was busy with the orks in front of me and Demon Bird monitored the two groups of three who had been sent to flank and cut off my escape. They were now in no mans land and Ailen had one group in his sights. I regretted not being able to watch Kysandre fight. She had an elegant long sword and danced between them. 

Snow had the same capability as Dark Bear, except she was strategic and cautious in comparison. She swatted orks like pesky flies after her honey. She used her qi intelligently and severed their limbs with a single clawed strike. Her qi whipped out from giving her claw another foot in reach.

The orks didn't stand their ground. They didn't fight bravely. They were massacred where they stood with no chance to run.

When they others began to flee I signalled to Gisael and Ailen to chase them down. Gisael needed no encouragement. 

Kysandre flew up the outside of the manor using the water from a stray bucket to lift her off the ground. I watched her manipulate her qi into a disc shape which lifted her and the water. It was slightly curved like a bowl and I wondered if she could do it without the water which sloshed up the slides and spilled out as she rose.

Once she was on the roof she hunted down the last archer who was hiding. She was a protector and a single ork was not a challenge for her. She easily parried the wicked knife by severing the offending hand at the wrist. With a flick her own wrist her qi strike sliced the orks throat.

A stray thought nagged at me. Maybe I could have won against the orks by myself, but I enjoyed using my old tactics in the new world. And seeing my companions stomp the orks was a lot of fun.

The six adventurers ran down their three orks and Gisael did the same. They were in full flight and all she had to do was shoot them down as they tried to escape.

When Ailen returned I pointed towards the hills. "There's another three up there. Demon Bird will guide you by flying above them."

He smiled and nodded. "I thought there was supposed to be fifty orks and a thousand ferals?"

"Was," I said and pointed. "Go. We don't want any to escape."

With a flick of his head the five new recruits followed him to the south. They climbed the wall and followed Demon Bird.

"What happened to the others?" Meili asked.

Ailen chuckled. "What do you think? He killed them."

"One thousand ferals?" she said in disbelief.

"Maybe the people in the fort helped a little," Ailen said. "Focus, these orks are no pushovers."

Their eyes narrowed. From what they just witnessed the orks looked like pushovers.

"Gisael kept us out of melee in the first fight, but this time if they don't run we'll use our swords." They kept running and Ailen added. "If they run we'll shoot them down and retrieve their cores."

Dark Bear gnawed at the dead orks. 

"If you eat a core you're in trouble," I said and waited for the others to return. He spat out the gross flesh and whined. "So predictable," I teased.

I pointed at Snow who kept watch and waited for Gisael's return. "Why can't you be well behaved like Snow?"

Dark Bear flicked his head indicating all the orks he had killed and whined again. His whine was like a high pitched growl and it echoed down the street.

Only a couple of the bravest city folk came out onto the streets. And then I saw Carney running towards us.

Kysandre leapt from the building and landed beside me. "The manor's roof is clear," she said. "Anymore?" Then she eyed the young woman in the torn dress and unruly red hair who ran towards us.

Carney stopped a few feet short of Dark Bear and put her hands on her knees. "Protector are they all dead?"

"Nearly," Kysandre answered and Carney stared at her. She pointed to me. "I mean the protector, not you."

I laughed and put an arm around Kysandre. "She's a protector too. Or was."

"Kysandre, this is Carney one of the people that live here but she works for us now. Carney this is Kysandre. She was a protector in Dawnharbour until recently."

I pushed Kysandre gently towards the young woman. "You two get acquainted and calm down the city folk. Let them know it's over."

Kysandre eyed me. "Where are you going?"

I led Dark Bear and Snow towards the manor then turned my head and said, "We need to rest. Handle everything for me."

Kysandre pouted. "I'm tired too. I ran all day and night. Gisael drove us because she was worried about you."

"Then handle things quickly."

I pushed the furniture aside and made a large space for Snow and Dark Bear. "You two can rest with me in here." We stretched out on the comfortable rugs in the large common room. I fed them a core each, not as a reward they were drained.

"Don't get used to this," I told Dark Bear. I lay my head on his large comfortable stomach and closed my eyes. The women could sort everything out while I slept soundly for the first time in days.