"Thats not possible!" Taylor shouted.
"And yet here we are. Demigods from two sides, facing off." The leader said calmly.
"Demigods? But we aren't demigods." Kiara said.
"No? Most mortals don't live for 250 years. In fact I dont think any of them do. And gods don't die like we do. More than mortal but less than divine sounds like a demigod to me." He responded, sounding amused at the whole interaction.
"So you're troops of the African Empire?" Travis asked.
"Kingdom of Oceania actually. The Empire's troops, well let's just say they need a bit more time in the oven."
Suddenly the soldier on the right spoke. "Do we need to explain anything to them? They killed our allies troops. Lets just get this over with so we can go to their lines with their heads on spikes."
"Always so impatient." The leader said. "But you're right of course. Go."
Suddenly all four sprang forward attacking the shield at once. More cracks spread along in under the relentless assault. Soon it would collapse. Travis grabbed his glaive and Kiara her war hammer.
"Buy me some time!" Taylor ordered as she closed her eyes and spread her arms out to her sides.
"I'll take the left two, you take the right two?" Kiara suggested.
"Sure, might as well."
Then the shield collapsed. Travis charged left to engage his targets.he slashed downwards with the left blade. Then thrust it towards the leader. He jumped out of the way as the other tried to close on his flank, so Travis used the right blade to slash horizontally, forcing both back even further.
The move created an opening on his right which the leader took advantage of. He closed and swung his hammer at Travis' flank. It connected, sending the man flying to his sister's feet. She still stood motionless, so he got back up and put the glaive on his back, deciding to draw his dual spatha instead.
The hammer had broken through his personal shield and hit his armor, which took most of the impact, but his ribs were at least bruised, possibly fractured. But Travis had more important things to worry about. Namely, the two enemies closing in on him and his defenseless sister.
Travis rushed forwards, creating space between him and Taylor. He met the leader, who swung his hammer down as he got close. Travis used his right spatha to push the hammer to the right as he stepped left, avoiding getting crushed. Then he kicked the man square in the chest, sending him flying back 30 feet.
He turned to meet the other one, blocking his sword with the left spatha. He thrust the right one into the man's gut, then slashed left, partially eviscerating the man. Then he slashed horizontally across the man's throat with his left, beheading the man and letting his body drop.
"NOOOO!!" The leader roared. He charged in swinging his hammer horizontally, forcing Travis back. Then he closed again bringing his hammer down towards Travis' head once more.
Travis, off balance from his previous move raised his spathas and crossed them to meet the hammer, but it came down with two much force. He slowed it down, but the hammer still slammed into his head and forced him onto the ground, dazed and in pain.
His vision was blurry, but he could see the outline of the leader looking down on him hammer raised. Travis rolled to the right, barely avoiding getting crushed, but sending stabbing pain through his head, threatening to force him unconscious.
Suddenly shape tackled the leader, then another, then 5 more, until he was no longer visible. Travis could hear growling amid the crunching he assumed were bones and the screams that were most definitely the leaders.
After about a minute. Silence reigned. Travis thought the shapes would turn on him next, but to his relief, they ignored him. Heading towards where the base they were supposed to attack was.
"What would you do without me brother?" Taylor said as a shape that must've ben her approached him
"Tay?" He asked weakly.
"Yes brother dearest, its me. Are you ok?"
"Ribs bruised, maybe fractured. Definitely have a concussion, skull is probably cracked too." He told her. "Are you hurt?"
"No, you two did well keeping them off me."
"And Kiara? How's she?"
"Alive. About 30 yards to your right. Pretty major cut on her thigh, down to the bone. She's bandaging it now. Already applied a tourniquet. Now get off your ass." She held out her hand to him.
Travis took her hand and she pulled him up. She tried to be gentle, but he still almost passed out.
"Hey sis? Could you hand me my spathas? I can't see very well right now, so I have no idea where they are."
"Yeah, here you go." She said placing the swords in his hand. "Now come on, Kiara is waiting."
She led him to Kiara, who had just finished bandaging her wound. She held out her hand to Travis. "Help me up please."
He took her hand and pulled her up. She tried to put weight on her leg, but immediately winced at the pain, regretting even trying. Hearing her wince, Travis put her arm over his shoulder so he could support her.
Taylor laughed seeing the two of them. "One of you can't see, one of you can't walk. Together you make a full person."
"Shut up Tay. So whats the plan? I dont think either of us is in condition to go into combat." Travis asked.
"No you're not, we are going to regroup with the squad, or whats left of it. As for our objectives I'm handling it."
"Handling it how?" Travis asked
Kiara lightly punched his chest. "The same way she handled the people who were about to kill us idiot. She's a necromancer."
"Indeed, for the people defending those bases, it will be like they're in a zombie movie. Now follow me to the rendezvous point."