Chapter 12
The group had good reason to flee, there was no doubt that the scout that got away would be retreating to the main body of an army that could have been one million strong. Cada Varl and the Helluvans had proven that they could defeat as many as forty enemies under the right circumstances, but no amount of tactics on any kind of terrain could achieve victory against such a number. Even if the main army thought the group too small to go after it did not change the fact that for the first time on this journey many werewolves would know that humans were this far west. The sheer rarity of such a feat would cause word to spread quickly.
The group soon realized that horridly the terrain would not change just for them, it remained open with only the occasional hill or tree to break up the otherwise flat ground. They had to figure out something and quickly, werewolves could move much easier and quicker over such a landscape.
Eventually they came across something that could potentially save them from being seen as ridges, remnants of the mountain landscape they had passed through could now be seen. One such ridge appeared to possess the opening to some kind of underground cave system; the hole however was not ideal and would be a tight squeeze to move through.
As the group stood around looking down the hole Imbaka and Leannol raised their hands over the hole before Imbaka said, “There doesn’t seem to be any air coming through.”
She looked over to Leannol who said, “It may not lead anywhere.”
This was an important decision as though the group needed to get out of sight it would be pointless to enter such a place if all they could do was hide there for they needed to get as far away from these lands as possible. The Immortal stepped up and placed his hand near the hole as well, though he did not really know why for he had no reason to doubt his companions.
“I shall go look,” Cada Varl said bringing the attention of the group upon him. “I will go by myself and see where this cave may lead us to.”
It did not even take a moment for Imbaka to nod her head knowing that the Immortal’s ability to see in the dark would make the task quicker and simpler. Cada Varl placed his pack onto the ground, nodding his head in acknowledgment to his companions before sliding feet first into the awkward entrance. In a moment he was vanished from sight and the Helluvans could do little more than simply wait for him to return.
The land in this area was not quite as opened as the rest of the terrain but they still felt greatly exposed and it would only take the turning of a werewolf’s head to see them clearly if one were to come past. If such a thing were to happen than the group would find a way to deal with it but for right now they stayed silent with only their own thoughts to keep them occupied.
Zova’s mind was drawn to the most obvious thing in her vision, for it seemed completely out of place with the rest of the landscape. About 50 or so feet away from them was a kind of natural pillar, grown from a strange light brown stone. Even though the clouds of this land appeared comparatively low to the ground the pillar was enormous reaching up so high that the hungry clouds swallowed its top and kept it hidden from view. It was a natural structure of that she was certain, but it still seemed as though it had been misplaced in such a terrain. Her mind came up with several possibilities of what it was but she soon looked away, believing such thoughts to be ultimately fruitless. As they were all aware of no human had ever been this far in the west for thousands and thousands of years. There was no way of telling for sure what the strange natural pillar actually was.
It was not long after she had looked away that something fell from the pillar, down through the heavens. Before she could even look back completely the something had landed onto the ground, with great impact. Instinct took over and she took out her bow, stringing an arrow upon it. The other Helluvans instantly followed as they looked upon what now stood 30 or so foot away from them. It was a man, at least something that looked like a man, but it did not take a whole lot of guesses to know what it actually was. The ‘man’ stood an inch or two taller than 6 feet. His torso was mostly bare revealing a frame of intense lean muscle. Upon his right shoulder and arm was a kind of armor, forged from an unknown black, created in overlapping plates that continued to a lesser degree, over his heart and positioned by a simple thin strap that ran across his back. Upon his other arm was a simple band, created from shades of black and white, it had a symbol upon it that resembled somewhat of a twisted series of crosses, formed like shadows, overlapping one another until finishing in a perfectly straight cross. Possessing fingernails that were almost as long as an animal’s claws he wielded a sword in his right hand. The sword was over a foot wide and at least 4 and half feet long, with a large added curve at its end to ensure maximum cutting power when wielded. He wore long red pants that were bright to look upon along with simple black boots. A strange mask that shone the same colour as his pants but was made from some kind of metal covered his face. The mask was almost featureless with the exception of a vague line that creased vertically from his chin to the middle of his eyes, there was no holes in the mask for the ‘man’ to breathe through making his eyes stand out the most. His eyes were a strange sickly yellow and appeared more werewolf like than human. His hair was also mangy and an off black, almost gray colour, growing only an inch or so from his scalp.
He hadn’t even bent his knees when he had fallen from the heavens; the ground had cracked many times over from the impact he had caused upon it. His horrid yellow eyes quickly darted back and forth to each Helluvan moving with a speed that was inhuman, like his eyes were literally trying to escape his own head. His eyes then slowed considerably as he looked again, this time much more deliberately.
“Ah,” The masked man said with a conviction that was as chilling as it was powerful. “I thought I smelled something foul in the air.”
His voice was wicked and if frost was capable of speech, then it would sound a lot like him. There was an era of silence carried out in a single moment before the masked ‘man’ spoke again. “The west must truly be falling apart, for humans to be so far west.” It was clear by the added emphasis on such words, that this masked ‘man’ had a great disdain for mankind. All the Helluvans looked worried as they looked upon the masked figure, but Hazum Ka-te had the most powerful look in his eyes, it was not fear but it was pretty dam close.
“Aneeku,” he said in a voice so forced it sounded like a whisper.
Several other members of the group then gasped as the identity of this figure had been revealed. Aneeku looked upon the wielder of the Cloud Cutter as he said, “I haven’t been anywhere near that wretched border in 20 years, my you have a good memory.”
If this was intended as a compliment (which was doubtful) than it certainly didn’t sound like one. The group had every reason to be worried for this Aneeku was a rogue with a reputation to match. 400 or so years ago during a border dispute with the now perished kingdom of Estovia Aneeku was struck between the eyes with a silver arrow. Such a wound severed a part of his brain and would have left him a mindless psychotic killer, but because of his service to his commander he was spared and a special mask was forged that would prevent insanity from claiming him. However it also prevented him from transforming into his true form as werewolves called it. Because of this lack of ability he had been forced to fight like a human, such a thing made him a target within his own kind but through the centuries he not only survived, but also thrived. Though he had fought for many warlords, ultimately he was an outcast, one who was known for his tremendous fighting ability. The sheer fact that he had survived for so long was proof enough of this.
It may have been unknown what exactly such a werewolf was doing there, or if he was alone, but it was an indisputable truth that he possessed a tremendous hatred of humans.
“You know who I am, good for you,” Aneeku claimed “I might not know your names but I have a word I can call you…dead!”
Upon hearing this chilling remark the Helluvans fired their arrows, each a perfect sh
ot. Aneeku in turn swiped his sword through the air with a kind of speed the Helluvans had never before seen. He swiped the arrows away like they were nothing more than annoying insects, catching the last of them in his spare hand. He had caught the arrow as if it was nothing more than a falling feather. He seemed completely unfazed by the sudden attack; disturbingly it took no effort for him to block the powerful arrows. He looked down at the arrow in his hand for a moment before looking towards the group.
As he snapped the arrow like a twig he said, “So you’re Helluvans? That would explain the terrible smell in the air, don’t you damn things ever bathe?”
His extreme skill and insult did nothing to the Helluvans, they showed not an ounce of fear as they exchanged their bows for their other weapons and collectively charged towards the red masked enemy. Aneeku remained perfectly still until they were exactly upon him swiping his sword upwards to counter their attacks. He blocked each of their blows so easily, like he was doing nothing more than swatting away flies. He possessed a strength that matched his quickness; a strength that each Helluvan felt as his counterblows rattled them to their very core. Aneeku continued blocking their attacks; strangely he seemed not to even need to look upon them as if his instincts were so great that they automatically blocked the attacks.
Suddenly Aneeku swept his sword through the air and though it had been a deliberately easy attack it was enough to make the Helluvans back away. They now surrounded him on all sides, their weapons raised and at the ready. They did not allow their eyes to show it, but the Helluvans knew that this enemy’s skill was far greater than anything they had ever faced on this journey. Keeping his head perfectly still Aneeku looked around to each of them, his eyes capable of movement beyond the sight of man.
“Uh Oh,” Aneeku said mockingly, “The arrows didn’t work, neither did attacking him all at once, whatever are we going to do?”
Aneeku was fully aware of his abilities and he was arrogant because of them. But it was an arrogance that was more than deserved.
His abilities may have been great but the Helluvans did not stand intimidated, again they went on the attack with Tanagy being a split second faster than the rest of them. He swung his swords in opposite directions trying to catch Aneeku off guard. Aneeku easily struck both blades with his own quick enough before they could go anywhere near him. He tilted his head back ever so slightly avoiding the axe head of Leannol’s powerful strike. Aneeku turned slightly to meet the sword of Imbaka whose arms trembled to cope with the power of the enemy’s counter. Gokkus swung his staff in a circle like fashion but was blocked just as easily as his companions. Hazum Ka-te was forced to duck a swiping blow of Aneeku before he could even finish his spear’s lunge. The swipe was so fast that Zova was forced to block the blow with her sword, almost causing her to lose her footing. Imbaka tried another strike, this time stabbing her weapon forward. Aneeku merely turned his head and avoided the weapon completely as he blocked another blow from Leannol. He then used the armor of his arm to prevent the twin blades of Tanagy from finding his flesh, before pushing them both away in time to block the attack of Gokkus.
In comparison to one another Aneeku looked like a great and legendary warrior blocking the blows of overzealous children. He seemed light years ahead of them all in strength, skill and speed but this did nothing to stop the Helluvans from continuing their attack. Working as well as they did against the scouting party they fought on against their masked adversary. Imbaka blocked a strike by Aneeku as Leannol attempted to bury her axe-head into his neck. Though the attack failed it had come very close to cleaving the werewolf’s skin. Gokkus used both ends of his weapon to issue a series of short and quick attacks, Aneeku may have blocked them all but this gave Zova a chance to hammer her own sword down. Aneeku stepped back with uncanny speed, twisting his body to avoid the head of the Cloud Cutter with enough time left over to stop the blades of Tanagy from cutting through anything but air. Leannol, Gokkus and Hazum Ka-te worked together bringing all of their weapons down across the blade of Aneeku. Their combined strength was enough to make him lower his weapon. Imbaka and Zova then leapt over the bodies of their companions, using them to get even higher into the air. Aneeku saw them coming and easily brought his blade up, freeing it from the weapons of the other Helluvans.
He swung his sword across the air, forcing the two women to block his blade and lose all momentum. Tanagy tried to attack from the right, away from where he was facing, but Aneeku easily maneuvered his blade to counter the attack. After pushing Tanagy away he swung his sword back the way it had come, which the other Helluvans barely avoided. Zova and Imbaka then landed on the ground, neither landed gracefully but both turned the momentum in their favor and were soon back on their feet charging towards the enemy. Aneeku blocked the attack of Zova before bringing his blade across blocking the attacks of Gokkus, Leannol and Hazum Ka-te. He then, through his blade, forced the sword of Imbaka to bounce off of it. He even was able to turn his body and bring his weapon up in a vertical slash, causing Tanagy to stop his attack before any of the others could continue their onslaught. With a single blow he stopped the thrusting attack of Leannol’s spiked end and Hazum Ka-te’s Cloud Cutter before hitting the staff of Gokkus with so much force the man dressed in black almost crumbled under the force of the blow. As all the weapons clashed together there was a look in the eyes of Aneeku one that made it horribly clear that he was blocking their attacks with little effort.