Jackal Among Snakes

Galamon had taught Argrave a lot about combat, commanding, and strategy. The man was a great general, and Argrave was eager to learn whatever he could from him. Barring his own personal interest on the matter, as things proceeded, he would be talking to and commanding a lot more than a group of four and their pets. He needed to learn these things.

He told Argrave of a simple principle—when fighting multiple foes, focus on ending one foe quickly so as to upset the balance in one’s favor. That strategy held up with his knowledge of video games in general. When fighting multiple bosses, or even just regular enemies, it’s best to focus on one and knock it out quickly. After deliberating on the matter, Argrave recalled a phrase that was used to describe that, even if indirectly.

Divide and conquer.

It wasn’t a one-to-one match in terms of definition, but the point stood—enemies united are much more difficult to deal with.

“Galamon!” Argrave shouted as the golems approached them. He triggered the Blessing of Supersession for caution’s sake, though he was not sure he would need it. He could not bombard these foes with electric eels.

The golem on the left side bore lightning on its spear. Its actions were smooth, fluid, and it proceeded towards them in an almost human run. In stark contrast, the golem on the right side without lightning was more withdrawn, and it did not move half as fast as its companion. Soon enough, it trailed behind its lightning-clad ally.

Galamon received Argrave’s command and rushed forward to meet the lightning-wreathed golem. Though the elven vampire was huge, the golem was titanic—Argrave estimated it was near twelve feet tall, and with the black storm clouds billowing from its body, it appeared larger. Nevertheless, Galamon approached it without fear.

Argrave cast a subset spell of [Pack Leader], commanding his Brumesingers to attack what he willed. Simultaneously, he shouted, “Durran!”

“I know!” the tribal returned as he moved along the edge of the circular tower, heading towards the rightward golem.

Galamon met with the lightning-wreathed golem, his greatsword at the ready. He kept a safe distance away, not moving to attack at all. The golem raised its spear in one hand, then thrust. The attack was inhumanly fast, yet Galamon returned with an equally ridiculously fast sidestep. The spear impaled the ground, sending a single surge through the jade spiral. None were on the jade, though. It dragged its spear through the stone, sending rubble and sparks flying everywhere, and did a great underhand swing at Galamon, who again dodged narrowly.

On the opposite side, Durran engaged with the other golem. Though slower, it was still ridiculously potent. Because of its slowness, though, Durran led it away, battering its spearhead with relentless casts of the D-rank spell [Wind Blade]. It rarely had an opportunity to swing. Argrave and Anneliese followed this fight. Argrave’s four Brumesingers relentlessly battered its spearhead with conjured warriors, the foxes howling their song while writhed in the brume. Anneliese contributed where she could, but without getting dangerously close it was difficult to be accurate.

Argrave’s gaze constantly wandered to the golem battling Galamon. It was a ridiculous show of prowess from both sides—the golem had a machine ruthlessness, destroying parts of the tower parapet with ferocious swings as Galamon dodged with finesse entirely unbefitting the plate armor he wore. The armor served its purpose, though, shielding him from stones whistling through the air after each staggeringly powerful attack.

because of worry. He was waiting for

golem put two hands on

He slid beneath its legs and then took off in a desperate sprint towards the opposite side. The golem fighting Galamon raised its spear up and slammed the ground. Just as they had before, pillars

now bore lightning, and Galamon disengaged to go meet it. He and Durran passed by each other, and Durran took the attention of the

had fled too well, or if Galamon had disengaged too slowly. Regardless, the twelve-foot-tall monstrosity of angry metal turned towards Argrave and Anneliese. Its first ground-shaking step made it clear that they didn’t have enough time to get away. They

quickly. Anneliese is to my right. Galamon is to my left. He’s the only one that can deal with this golem effectively. She’s

decision, Argrave ceased retreating. He stepped forward and pushed Anneliese further back in one motion. He tried to head towards Galamon,

and lurched backwards. He could feel heat move near his face as the spearhead passed by. In seconds, the towering thing grew closer. It pulled its hand back, preparing

the speed of a snake’s bite, and the attack met the golden ward. The shield didn’t last more than a second before shattering. Fortunately, Argrave didn’t need more than a second. He dodged, and the attack sunk deep into the stone

kicking air. His eyes darted to the ground

hit a weak part of the floor, Argrave realized. He started to see the half-jade, half-stone stairs below as the floor beneath him fell away. Argrave sought out something, anything, to find purchase, but the entire floor was collapsing. Galamon

eyes billowing smoke, sparking with electricity. He felt it move,

at all. He grabbed at his chest. It felt like someone had dropped a 300-pound barbell right on his ribs. He’d probably been struck by the shaft of the golem’s spear. If not for his enchanted gear, he was

in small, pained breaths as his windedness faded. He tried to stand but failed. He was spasming slightly—likely the electricity from the

did turn from Argrave. Galamon had thrown his axe and stood holding his greatsword in one hand. Argrave

She helped him to safety, and once she was content he was there, moved to rejoin the fight. She said something, but Argrave couldn’t hear over the ringing

already damaged the spearhead heavily. Durran held off the other admirably, luring it far away on

“SWITCH!” again. The shout must’ve dislodged

Anneliese launched herself in the air slightly with a spell of wind. She held her hand out and used the C-rank [Ice Spear]. The spear of ice met the descending slam in transit. A crack echoed through the air, and though the lightning

within it dispersed, surging towards the other golem. Argrave spotted the severed spearhead, and feeling some triumph, faced the other foe. Though clad in lightning

the now-immobile other golem, and he

were every bit as ferocious as before, it seemed different, somehow, as though Galamon had figured something out. His dodges

dance. Galamon continued to avoid the golem’s flurry, not an inch away from the spearhead with every attack. Whenever the golem paused, Anneliese, Argrave, and Durran all attacked it. The golem pressed forward, ostensibly on the offensive, yet it felt like they were beating it