NOVGO.NET Chapter 2015 - 2015: Harpies' Attack
After dispatching the troll, Saeko rejoined her fellow mercenaries, who were still engaged in fierce combat against the remaining trolls. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and blood, the sounds of clashing weapons and battle cries echoing off the rocky walls of Black Mountain. As they fought valiantly, Saeko felt a surge of adrenaline; she had tasted victory and was eager for more.
Just as the last troll fell, a piercing shriek echoed through the air, sending a shiver down Saeko’s spine. The sound was high-pitched and filled with rage, a warning of the new danger that approached. The adventurers looked up, squinting against the sun, and their faces blanched as they spotted a group of harpies soaring above them, their wings a blur of feathers and fury.
“Get ready!” one of the mercenaries shouted, raising his weapon in anticipation. “They’re coming in fast!”
Saeko’s heart raced. Harpies were notorious for their speed and agility, and their aerial advantage made them formidable opponents. Unlike the trolls, they were cunning and swift, swooping down from the skies to attack with sharp claws and beaks.
“We need to take them out before they can strike!” another adventurer yelled, panic creeping into his voice.
Saeko felt the wind call to her, urging her to harness its power. She focused intently, channeling the element through her body. With a swift motion, she created wings of wind that sprouted from her back, shimmering with energy. The gusts wrapped around her, lifting her off the ground, and she felt an exhilarating rush as she took to the air, soaring toward the harpies.
“Saeko, wait!” someone shouted, but she was already airborne, her heart pounding with excitement.
The harpies, sensing the challenge, veered toward her, their shrieks echoing through the mountain air. Saeko grinned, feeling the wind beneath her wings as she maneuvered gracefully, darting to the side just as one of the harpies swooped down to strike. The creature’s claws grazed the air where she had been just moments before.
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned the wind to her katana, charging it with energy. As the first harpy turned to come at her again, she unleashed a slicing gust, sending a sharp wave of wind slicing through the air. The attack caught the harpy off guard, knocking it off balance and causing it to spiral downward, screeching in surprise.
Saeko didn’t waste a moment. She followed the creature, her wings propelling her forward as she aimed her katana at the harpy plummeting toward the ground. Just as it was regaining its bearings, she struck, the blade glinting as it connected with its target. The harpy let out a final cry before falling silent, and Saeko felt a surge of triumph.
But there were more harpies, and they were furious. The remaining creatures circled above, their shrieks piercing the air as they regrouped. Saeko glanced back at her comrades below, who were struggling to fend off the remaining trolls and now faced the added threat of the harpies.
“Stay together!” she called out to them, her voice cutting through the chaos. “I’ll handle these!”
With renewed determination, she launched herself higher into the sky, the wind urging her on as she ascended toward the swirling mass of harpies. They swooped down to attack, their talons outstretched, but Saeko was ready. She spun through the air, dodging their strikes with grace.
One harpy came in from her left, clawed feet aimed directly at her. Saeko twisted her body mid-air, evading the attack, and in one fluid motion, she slashed her katana toward the creature. The wind-enhanced blade cut through the air, and the harpy screeched as it was struck, spiraling away in pain.
“Come on!” she taunted, her voice filled with excitement as she challenged the remaining harpies. “Is that all you’ve got?”
The remaining harpies, enraged by her defiance, charged at her all at once. Saeko could feel the rush of wind as they swooped down, their talons gleaming ominously in the sunlight. The sheer number of them was intimidating, but Saeko remained undeterred. She called upon the Wind element once more, the energy swirling around her in anticipation of the coming clash.
As the first two harpies dove toward her, Saeko executed a perfect roll to the side, narrowly avoiding their razor-sharp claws. In the same motion, she spun and unleashed a gust of wind that sent them tumbling backward, disoriented by the force of her attack. They screeched in frustration, their cries mingling with the howling winds of the mountain.
With her newfound momentum, Saeko launched herself back into the fray, her katana poised for action. She spotted a harpy that had lagged behind, perhaps too confident in its ability to strike. With a swift thrust of her sword, she sent a focused wave of wind toward it, the pressure slicing through the air with lethal precision. The harpy let out a final shriek as the wind caught it, knocking it off course and sending it crashing into a rocky outcrop.
“Three down!” she shouted, her voice ringing with exhilaration.
The remaining harpies regrouped, their eyes glinting with anger as they circled above. Saeko could see their strategy forming; they were planning to dive in unison, hoping to overwhelm her with sheer numbers. But she was ready.
Recalling the lessons learned from her previous battles, she focused on her breathing, allowing the wind to flow through her. With a flick of her wrist, she created a whirlwind around herself, a protective barrier that would deflect their attacks. As the harpies swooped down, she stood firm, the wind swirling around her like a tempest.
The first harpy dove in, claws extended, but hit the barrier instead, deflected away as though repelled by an invisible force. Saeko seized the opportunity, leaping into the air and following its trajectory. She spun in mid-air, her katana ready, and struck down at the creature with all her might. The blade connected with a satisfying thud, sending the harpy spiraling to the ground in defeat.
With a fierce battle cry, she soared higher, her wings of wind granting her the height she needed to gain a tactical advantage. The remaining harpies, realizing their plan had failed, began to scatter, but Saeko was relentless. She pursued them, her katana gleaming as she slashed through the air.
One by one, she picked them off, using the wind to guide her movements and enhance her strikes. A quick slash here, a powerful gust there, and before long, the sky was clear of the vicious creatures. The last harpy attempted to flee, but Saeko was faster. With one final burst of speed, she closed the distance and delivered a decisive blow, sending the harpy crashing to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Saeko landed gracefully amidst the chaos, her heart racing with exhilaration. The battlefield was littered with the fallen harpies, their threat extinguished. She turned to see her fellow adventurers and mercenaries still battling the trolls, but now they were emboldened by her swift victory in the skies.
“Let’s finish this!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the din of combat.
Rallying behind her, the rest of the group surged forward, driven by newfound determination. Saeko joined them, her katana still humming with energy, ready to take on the remaining trolls. With her agility and the wind at her back, she became a whirlwind of destruction, darting between her comrades as they fought side by side.
The trolls, now outnumbered and demoralized after witnessing Saeko’s prowess, began to falter. One by one, they fell beneath the onslaught of the united adventurers, and the air filled with shouts of victory as the last of the trolls collapsed, defeated.
As the battle came to an end, Saeko took a moment to catch her breath, surveying the scene around her. The group was battered but triumphant. The trolls lay defeated, and the threat of the harpies had been quelled.
“Well done!” one of the mercenaries called, clapping her on the back. “You took on those harpies like a pro!”
Saeko smiled, her heart swelling with pride.
“Thanks, but we still have to keep moving. Those chimera won’t hunt themselves.”
With the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, she led the group onward toward the cave that marked the lair of the chimera. The path ahead was treacherous, but Saeko felt invincible, her spirit soaring with the winds of Black Mountain. Each challenge was a stepping stone on her journey, and she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
The mountain loomed before them, and as they ventured deeper into its shadowy embrace.