Chapter 10 - The Arachnos arrive
On the wooden wall, after receiving the communication from the elder, Gih passed the order to one of the elves adept at magic. Soon, a strong wind began to blow between the wooden wall and the forest.
- Control the wind so it doesn't put out the fires; and it doesn't need a lot of strength, just enough so that the smaller spiders don't reach the village, try to conserve your energy as much as possible. - Completed Luh.
- Yes ma'am. - replied the elf, while adjusting the magic.
As expected, with the wind, the smaller spiders couldn't get close to the pit. As for the larger spiders, after passing through the thorny field, were shot by archers.
Luh continued using her enchanted arrows to renew the thorny vines that were being crushed by the spiders. Meanwhile, Gih continued to issue orders to the group and maintain the troop's morale.
- The defense of the village is going well, keep it up. Don't lose focus, the wind will keep the smaller spiders away, it's the bigger ones we have to deal with. They have nowhere to hide with the area in front cleared. The thorn vines slow them down, they are easy targets. Let's not waste arrows. One shot, one hit.
- Don't let your guard down, and don't these small victories go to your head. We're just getting started. - added Luh. - The villains haven't even appeared yet.
At that moment, four figures appeared near the edge.
...
- This Luh, what a crows mouth. - sighed Ed.
From the elder's house, with a privileged view of the trees, Ed had a clear image of the four creatures. Close to two meters tall, with a strong physique, four log-like arms. Four legs - two clearly humanoid and two insectoid. It's entire body covered in hairs. Completing the picture, the head of a spider, with eight eyes and sharp chelicerae. The first arachnos soldiers emerged from the trees.
- The first guests have arrived, time to light up the party! - Ed exclaimed.
- What about the wind magic? - Asked the elder.
- They can stop it, we don't want to risk putting out the fire.
With a nod the elder telepathically sent the message to the troops in the front lines.
- Soon we will have to go to the wooden wall too. Once the battle leaves the forest and heads towards the wall, our view will be compromised.
...
On the wooden wall, Luh gave the order to one of the archers. An incendiary arrow was fired into the ditch. From the point where the arrow landed, a barrier of fire roared and soared towards the heavens while spreading throgh the whole extension of the moat, soon reaching a height of two meters.
The arachnos and spiders immediately retreated into the forest as the fire erupted, clearly surprised and afraid.
Soon the flames stabilized at a meter and a half tall, allowing the archers to see their targets again. With an order, a volley of arrows descended into the forest, hitting everything within a two meter perimeter of the forest.
....
In Ed's vision, when the wall of fire appeared he saw the enemies expressing fear for the first time.
- Now the countdown begins, we have until the fire goes out to find the leader of the attack and eliminate him; "cut off the snake at the head".- Ed said, not losing focus on the images he was seeing through the trees in the forest.
In the woods, before the creatures could pull themselves together, a shower of arrows caused another wave of terror among them. However, even with the arrows hitting them, the arachnos didn't look hurt, just scared, maybe surprised.
- We're going to need more than arrows to take care of these spider-men. Other than the psychological shock (which will be negligible when arachnos with superior bloodlines give orders), the arrows are just irritable stings for them. We have to 'let' them get close, and then allow the spearmen to confront them directly. - Ed said.
Hearing these words the elder showed some nervousness for the first time, clearly putting the elves in danger didn't make her comfortable; Ed didn't miss her feelings, since they were both connected between themselves and the trees.
- I take no pleasure in putting elves in danger either, but you saw it too. Arrows won't do anything to them. Spells can help, but the elves here have almost no attack spells. Luh's thorny vines can help, but it will hardly deal decisive or fatal damage. - reasoned Ed.
- I know you're right, don't worry; I won't question your methods. But I'll never be comfortable putting the villagers in danger. I watched them grow up, they are all like my children and grandchildren. - Said the old woman, stabilizing her emotions.
- Rest assured, I will do my best to avoid losses. - Ed comforted the elder, squeezing her hand to reassure her.
- The question now is how to attract them, preferably one by one. - Ed said, as he forced himself to think of ways to end this fight as quickly as possible.
...
On the wall, Ed's thoughts also passed through Gih's mind, who was looking at the forest with furrowed brows, after seeing that the arrows did nothing to the Arachnos.
Her instinct was to leap off the wall and seize the moment to slay the arachnos soldiers at the edge of the forest. But knowing that the elder and Ed were watching everything, Gih didn't dare act.
At that moment the elder's voice sounded telepathically in the minds of the elves on the wall.
- Don't leave your posts. There's an arachno general in the woods, he might be baiting us. The wall and the fire moat are our most important defenses and without orders no one shall put themselves in danger. That said, the arachnos are proving more resilient than we thought. Ed believes that direct combat is the most effective way to eliminate the Arachnos, as arrows have done nothing for them. But this fight has to be on our terms, not theirs.
- Continue with the arrows volley, the intention is to irritate them. If any of them cross the ditch, spearmen can descend the wall and engage them. Every spearman must have a rope tied to his waist, if the situation is gets out of control, whoever is on the wall must pull them back.
The elves knew that the idea came from Ed and not from the elder, since she would never let the elves put themselves at risk. Still, they complied with orders with a decisive look. The elder has always taken a position of extreme caution, as she sees all elves as family and wants to protect them. But in the current situation, the only way to protect themselves is to face danger.
As per orders, the elves continued shooting arrows around the perimeter of the trees, hitting spiders and Arachnos soldiers, forcing them to retreat, which as predicted angered them. Their orders, given by the general, were to go forward, their genes are conditioned to obey the superior bloodline. And each time they retreated, a wave of terror rippled through their spines.
Soon, the first arachno soldier lost his composure. With a sharp hiss, the insectoid giant advanced towards the village, his speed slowed as he reached the fire barrier, but it wasn't long before the psychological pressure influenced him to run and jump over the fire.
- That one is mine.- shouted Gih, as he took the spear from the nearest spearman. The elf beside her tied a rope around her waist, just before she jumped.
...
At the elder's house, Ed watched the arachno leap the wall of fire and finally lost sight.
- Probably, Gih will be the first to jump down the wall. She has a strong desire to prove herself in battle, it will be hard for her to contain herself. - Said the elder.
- Maybe that's not bad, she is the most experienced after all; and killing the first Arachno will boost the elves' morale. Show that our enemies aren't that scary. Also, Luh is there, she will cover for Gih. - replied Ed. Than he continued. - On the other hand, I we have to go there too. We've already lost sight of the main battle, and surely after the first one, the other arachnos will follow up and jump the bonfire as well.- Saying that, Ed and the elder got up, and went towards the wall.
...
In front of the village, Gih and the arachno soldier faced each other. The giant was surprised to see the elf coming down on it, just after passing through the flames; the elf also was excited (and nervous) as she faced the creature.
Gih was the first to break the deadlock. With one swift movement, she thrsut the spear straight for the arachno's throat, but he managed to recover in time and barely dodge, suffering only a slash to his collarbone.
The elf, not wanting to lose the initiative, used the shaft of the spear to hit the side of the opponent's head, disorienting him, as she retracted the spear and thrust it again. The arachno tried to dodge it while backing away, but this time Gih didn't allow it, releasing some of her grip on the spear shaft and giving more reach to the thrust, she saw the blade penetrate the giant's chest.
A feeling of excitement coursed through the elf as she felt her weapon inflict significant injury on the enemy. But that small moment of lost focus created the opportunity the arachno needed to recover and counterattack.
Grasping the spear, with all of his four hands, the arachno soldier used his strength to disarm the elf and hurl the spear into the fire; while it's hind legs dug into the ground, ready to launch itself at the elf.