Tack
Tack
Tack
Rayliar's slow, steady footsteps echoed like a melancholic tune among the trees.
Six hours had passed since the young man had razed the outpost to the ground, and in that time, he'd destroyed just as many others.
And finally, he had arrived.
Before him, atop a hill, a massive wall encircled a village.
Strange...
Rayliar thought, studying the structure.
No mud, no wood. Just cold, solid stone.
At first glance, it looked more like a city than a mere village, akin to the ones scattered throughout the Empire.
At its center, towering over every other building, stood a massive spire. At its peak, a large bell was faintly visible.
A broad river flowed at the base of the walls. Two distinct bridges crossed its waters, connecting the city's north and south sides.
Toledo.
Though Rayliar couldn't possibly know, this was none other than the Spanish city of Toledo, once nestled along the banks of the Tagus River.
This won't be easy... not at all...
He mused.
Two points of entry... too visible, almost certainly guarded. If I want to get in, I'll have to find another way.
His gaze wandered along the riverbank.
And then he saw it: a small drainage canal, hidden by moss and underbrush, cutting through the walls.
How fortunate I am...
He thought, making his way toward the passage.
Splat
Splat
Splat
The icy sewer water soaked his pants, sometimes up to his knees, other times higher.
Damn it... this place is a damn maze.
A well-constructed sewer network sprawled around him. The stench of decay assaulted him with every step, forcing him to use a scrap of cloth to cover his nose.
I hope they don't use the sewers as a base... my grandfather always told me about the crocodile in the sewers of that city... what was it called? N... New... New York! That's it!
Slow and deliberate, Rayliar pushed through the putrid waters.
Darkness and silence were his only companions.
W-What's that? A ladder!
Ahead of him, in a small alcove, a narrow steel ladder emerged from the shadows.
Carefully navigating the sludge, Rayliar approached it. His hand gripped the first rung.
Disgusting... it's slimy.
And like the crocodile from his grandfather's tale, he climbed toward the surface.
With a shove, he pushed the manhole cover aside, revealing a city still asleep.
To the east, the sun was lazily rising.
Using his arms, Rayliar hoisted himself out and wiped his hands on his sides.
"Never again... never again..."
He muttered under his breath.
Before him, a narrow alleyway with uneven cobblestones stretched between tall buildings.
Small, dark stones, interlocked like puzzle pieces, formed a monotonous descent.
The path was tight and winding, crossing numerous parallel streets along the way.
"D-Damn it."
Rayliar whispered to himself.
Ahead of him, a massive beast lumbered back and forth.
Thump-Thump
His heart pounded in his chest, threatening to burst.
He darted to the side, pressing himself against a wall.
Thudum
Thudum
Thudum
The sound of heavy boots grew closer.
Thudum
Even closer.
Thudum
Thudum
The acrid stench of the creature's leathery hide filled the air.
Thudum
And out of the corner of his eye, he saw it turn the corner.
Slowly and silently, Rayliar's hand moved to his side, drawing his short sword from its sheath.
Finally, the beast passed by him.
With a deep breath, Rayliar lunged.
Fast and precise, his blade slashed through the air, plunging into the creature's neck.
Splat
The lizardman's tough hide tore apart, spraying blood in every direction.
In one swift motion, Rayliar clung to the creature's back.
For a moment, the monster's claws latched onto his arms, then fell limp at its sides.
Good...
Rayliar thought, shoving the corpse into the manhole.
___________
Splat
On the wall beside him, a splatter of blood appeared, as if painted by the brush of an artist.
Slowly, Rayliar released his grip on the creature's neck.
The veins that had bulged moments ago, ready to burst, receded as if they'd never been there.
Tuck
With a dull thud, the lizardman's corpse hit the ground.
"I'd say I've made it," he murmured, lifting his gaze.
Before him rose a square-based structure, towering over the rest of the city.
At its corners, four identical towers with greenish domes reached skyward. Along each side, rows of uniform windows repeated across three monotonous levels.
If not for the wear and tear of time, it could have been the perfect subject for a postcard.
"Now, all that's left is getting in..."
Rayliar approached the entrance, raising his right leg. With a decisive motion, he slammed his foot into the door, shattering it to pieces.
Boom
"Excuse me!" he called out, stepping over splinters of heavy wood.
Ahead of him, a hundred monsters turned to face him, their yellow eyes glinting in the dim light.
"Ohhh... what do we have here? A nest?"
_________
INFORMATION
Although Lizardmen are classified as one-star threat monsters, their peculiarity lies in their communal living, almost symbiotic in nature. This means that when you encounter one Lizardman, it's likely that others are nearby.
_______
Rayliar's axe gleamed like a diamond.
For a moment, he and the horde locked eyes, the creatures visibly confused.
"One... two... boo!"
His sudden exclamation only deepened their confusion.
Shoom
Taking them by surprise, Rayliar surged forward, placing himself at the center of the hall.
His axe sliced through the air as swiftly as the wind, embedding itself into the neck of one Lizardman.
With a fluid motion, Rayliar stepped past the falling corpse, his weapon ready for another strike.
"Come on! Bring it on!"
He roared, his voice echoing through the chamber.
As if understanding his taunt, the beasts charged at him in unison.
Rayliar shut his eyes, feeling his heartbeat slow.
Then he opened them again.
In his vision, the world seemed to grind to a halt.
The claws of the Lizardmen hung in midair.
His leg muscles coiled like springs, his knees bending slightly before launching him forward.
In a frozen world, Rayliar moved like the only being untouched by time.
Dancing from one point to another, his axe painted arcs of blood in the air, a macabre masterpiece in a single hue.
With each movement, another life ended.
And then, all at once, everything resumed.
Tuck
Tuck
Tuck
Tuck
Like bowling pins, the hundred Lizardmen collapsed one after another.
"Looks like I'm done here too," Rayliar muttered, not even bothering to glance back.