Chapter 98 – Surprise Attack

"WE'VE GOT COMPANY!" Shimmer shouts out. Geta, who was just wrapped up in my arms, is already standing. I join her and we head out to see what Vanya and Sextia brought to our camp. I guess something could've stumbled in, but I'm betting Sextia had a skill run out of mana or something. We're still in our travel gear, a mix of plate, chain, and leather.

Outside, it's easy to see who the uninvited guests are. A couple of griffins chasing the scouts. Vanya is carrying Sextia as she sprints across the weed-infested fields.

"Mages, get behind! They'll be ready for magic this time, so prepare for a real fight!" I shout, joining up with Shimmer. Yaleph comes up with me and Geta to help form our front line, with the mages filling in behind us. "We need to move out; there's no need to let them destroy the camp we just set up," I command once everyone's here and somewhat set.

Geta takes the lead with a tower shield prepared to cover Vanya and Sextia up once we reach them. Yaleph and I were on either side to take the focus of the Griffins and let the mages attack at will. The sound of the beast's wings grows as we approach each other. Vanya finds some energy to give out a quick burst of speed to meet up with Geta and fall under the protection of her shield.

I use a taunt skill and watch one of the Griffins' eyes lock onto mine. A howl of wind blasts in my direction. I reinforce my position with a skill and hold my shield to block the magical attack. Once again, the sky fills with the hues of mana. The beasts, this time, defend themselves against the first onslaught. They circle around the group, one keeping its eyes on me.

Shimmer lets out a wall of flames, causing an updraft to push the griffins farther away as Elyne works to keep them from escaping.

The draft pulls the Griffins right into Elyne's wall of wind, which brings them right back into the flames, causing a vicious cycle. They lash out with their own wind magic, but they can't break free as more and more magic piles into their loop.

Finding magic attacks to not work, they tuck their giant wings and dive in. The one still focuses on me; it's dive coming right for me. I dare it to keep going and run its stupid beak into my shield and see which is stronger.

It takes just a few moments for its dive to reach my shield and plow me to the ground. My helmet smashes the dirt. Feathers, weeds, and stars fill my vision as I scramble to get my short sword to strike the beast. My ears are ringing, blocking out the entire world but me and the damn bird.

My body aches, but the beast keeps keeps attacking me. My sword glanced off the underbelly of the beast. I'll have to count on my wives to kill the damn thing. I give a yell to let them know I'm alive under the beast.

It keeps trying to peck my head, my shield the only thing keeping it from killing me. Its legs are too big to reach underneath it and join the assault. I do my best to keep hitting the same spot, hoping to break the feathers and let my sword dig out its guts.

Slash after slash, the feathery armor holds above me. My ears slowly start to clear out when I hear a loud screech come from above me, and its legs give out. The bird once again comes crashing down on me.

If only I had my damn plate armor on. The steel would take a lot of the weight off me.

It seems My wives didn't kill the beast. It squirms above me, my head just peeking out of its fat. My legs aren't as lucky. I feel the bone strain under the weight of the beast. My sword pinned useless between the beast's belly and my own.

"GET IT OFF!" I plead out with the last of my breath, my metal chest piece flattening and pushing my breath out.

Then, just as quickly as the beast put its weight on me, it disappeared. I let out a grunt and put my chest piece away. I roll over and force myself to my feet. The beast is still alive, but it looks just as bad as I must look right now. I taunt the beast again to draw its ire, planning to stay on my feet this time.

I can hear the other one fighting behind me. I'm not sure who is fighting mine with me, so I swap out the short sword and shield for my great sword and prepare to kill it myself.

I let out a yell and charged the weary beast, aiming to chop off its eagle head. It backs up out of range, dodging my swing. I follow up with a simple slash, looking to make a cut across its skin. Once more, it backs up. It follows up the dodge with a strike of its own, diving forward and making me roll to the side. I pop up onto my feet and get ready to use a skill.

I feint another cut at its neck, hoping it dives in for a counterattack again.

It goes just as I planned. Short hop back to dodge, then its beak thrust forward. I use my skill to reset my swing, my blade meeting its head and getting a slash down its eye, drawing more blood. A fire bolt strikes the beast's side, causing it to howl out and look for the second attacker.

I take the time to use another skill to empower my next strike and get a great slash across its neck. Now, it should just be a waiting game for it to bleed out.

I press forward to keep it distracted. Small, short swings keep it from doing anything about its impending doom. I get another strike in on its other eye before the beast falls and lets me take its head off, ending my side of the fight.

Just a few seconds pass before the pain hits me. Needles spike all over my legs as I fall over, struggling to find my breath.

"DEAR!" I hear behind me. A hand shaking me.

"Alive," I whisper out.

"Geta, get her to the camp. The other one is basically dead. Sextia can wait. She's stable already!" are the last words I hear before the world fades for me.

...

"I don't feel too bad," I say when I wake up inside my tent.

"Yes, Ioelena was quite worried about you no matter how much Geta assured her you were going to be fine. Forced Chi to heal you completely," Inanos says from somewhere around me. Rolling over, I spot her meditating, naked for some reason, in the middle of the tent. Blankets covering my own naked form in the bed roll.

"Dear. Why are you naked?" I ask.

"Thought you would enjoy the site. The rumors are already starting that you're a bit of a pervert," she teases, opening her eyes. "Chi said she didn't have anything to help me. Then you, Sextia, and Yaleph come back hurt, removing any chance for her to even try helping me."

"Sorry, I miscalculated the angle and let the damn bird knock me over. Was Chi at least able to help the other two after me?" I ask. The honeymoon period is over. I'll need to tone down the shamelessness I display. Marrying a prostitute is going to be hard enough without adding in rumors I'm a pervert.

"Chi just patched Sextia up. Yaleph wasn't hurt too bad. Similar issue to you. Some fractured bones and gashes. Not perfectly healed, but she'll make a full recovery soon."

"Good. How long was I out?"

"Just a few hours. You should head out. Ioelena still doesn't think you'll be fine. Geta wants to attack the remaining Griffin tonight so it doesn't run off. But they need you to approve of the decision."

"Alright. Thank you for the view, but you can wear clothing. You're a treat to look at clothed and naked."

"Sure, sure, dear."

"Glad you're feeling better. Well, I'll go rally the troops. Wouldn't mind this being a short trip."

I pull out simple shit and pants to put on. I'll need to wear my full armor on the attack, so there is no point wasting time getting dressed up for now. I walk out barefoot to talk to the group.

I can hear Geta talking to the group as I approach. "We can do it. Elora is fine. She just had a lot of cracked bones that gave out at the end. Chi put her back together. We charge out now and..."

"I agree. Sorry for worrying you all. Misjudged the angle and got myself trapped. I'm good now, and well, I wouldn't mind ending this little trip in a day," I say, interrupting Geta.

"Are you sure?" Vanya asks, still in her full armor.

"Yes. I just need to put on my full plate this time. No need to break my bones twice in one day."

"Alright, then in fifteen, we head out. Is that good, dear?" Geta asks, clearly wishing to leave right this second. Already in her full plate, hand twitching for her sword.

"Is it just one left?" I ask.

"Yes," Vanya says.

"Then get ready everyone. One more Griffin to kill!" I head back to my tent, and a few maids follow to put my armor on.

Inside, Inanos is still meditating, this time wearing an oversized shirt.

Is she trying to tease me into bed?

The maids stripped me down, bound my breast, put on the first layer, then all the armor, taking the full fifteen to work through it all with their practiced hands. Skills are a wonderful thing.

Outside I find everyone grouped up at the edge of the camp.

"Ready?" I ask.

"You're the last one."

"Alright. Vanya you good to lead the way?"

"Let's move," she says.

We move across the abandoned fields silently, watching for the last Griffin. Vanya and Geta take point while I bring up the back. The mages fill in the middle. Only Sextia is missing among them, so it looks like only the warriors got hurt in the last fight.

We make slower work than Vanya and Sextia did, taking about three hours to get into view of the nest where the last Griffin is circling. It's head swinging around looking for an intruder. We've started crawling on the top of the hill, careful to stay hidden. The sun setting over the horizon in front of us. We could circle around and use it to try and hide us. But with this many fighting one beast, we'll be fine, and Elyne can keep it still.

"Elyne, once again, focus on keeping it here. Everyone else overwhelms it like the first one," I whisper.

"I'm ready," Elyne says.

We all stand up and start the attack. Geta and Vanya run at the lone beast. Spells flying past them towards the monster. I stay back with the mages, ready to intercept anything it throws this way.

The first few spells get deflected, the Griffin sending its own attack at Vanya. She does the smart thing and dodges the wind. Geta reaches the beast a few moments later and strikes out with her sword. The beast dodges the sword by gets hit by a few spells, knocking it to the ground. Geta takes its head off while it squirms on the ground.

"That's all of them!" Geta calls out.