Chapter 90

The third ghoul lay at my feet dead. This one had lasted a bit longer than the other two and had died much noisier, howling in pain with each blow that connected until the last one silenced it. My heart rate was elevated and so was my breathing but not bad all in all I was in good condition.

I returned my attention back to the fog as I took several steps backwards to where I had started from. I made sure to look up now and again to prevent an ambush from above. Out in the fog, I can make out from brief glimpses that had attracted the attention of the rest of the pack. I knew that the alpha would not take the challenge like this with the death of several of its pack mates well. The question I was wrestling with was would it attack alone? Or would it come in with numbers and try to overwhelm me? From what we knew of our first I doubted it but can never be sure these days.

Sgt Grey told me they believed that this pack had ten ghouls but they were not sure of the exact number. So, three down was a good sign at the moment. I was taking the approach of every ghoul taken down now was one lesson I had to worry about later. I was peeking over my shield looking for the next hostile when suddenly a loud roar ripped out of the fog resonating through the air.

“I think the alphas arrived.” I said over my shoulder.

“I believe you’re correct Operative Harrington.” Came Sgt Grey’s reply.

“If they rush me, I will fall back otherwise and try to take out the alpha.”

“Ok.” Was her reply. She had expressed what she had thought of my plan earlier in short, direct sentences that questioned my sanity and parentage.

I turned my attention back to the fog. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the alpha made its move so had to be ready. And true to form it did not in the way I expected.

Out of the fog came a massive form. Standing at least over 7 feet tall in the hulking form of a humanoid male figure. As it became clear to see it was a ghoul but different. It must have mass me by at least fifty per cent even with all my armour on. Its skin was a dull grey and its yellow eyes were burning with hatred. Even being several metres away I could still smell it and was trying not to die desperately gagging on my own vomit. I had my shield up and was looking over the edge as it approached.

Once it became clear I noticed that its arms had bone protrusions or spikes running down the length of them that ended in nasty looking claws on the hands. It was also completely naked and I could clearly make out the muscles that covered its frame. It was completely hairless from head to toe as far as I could see.

“Shit! This is not good!” I said to myself quietly.

The alpha was in turn observing me. The fact that had not discharged in and tried to kill me straight away showed that it had at least a measure of intelligence and control. Combined with its size definitely made it even more dangerous than a normal alpha. I quickly began to break down the situation in my head to try to figure out a way to approach it in combat and survive.

The offer itself was I think doing the same. After looking at me it turns its attention to the three dead ghouls lying on the ground. It turns its body and head around slightly focusing on each one studying what details it can make out from the dead remains. I could use this opportunity to fall back into the storefront, but the size of the creature and its strength would likely negate the defence position behind me. It would simply power through and smash into the storefront and in such an enclosed space it would not be a battle it would be a slaughter.

Retreat then was not an option here I was going to have to face it out here in the open. The only advantage I would have will be that I have more room to manoeuvre. This thing had the advantage of reach, size and strength I could not let it in me in place. If I did it would kill me straight away as I expect its claws would rip through my reinforced shield very quickly.

I knew that there were some almost panicked conversations happening behind me in the storefront. The tone of the mutterings that I heard had changed and the note of panic and fear were now evident in the voices that I heard. I knew that Sgt Grey would control the situation, allowing me to focus on the threat in front of us. Like me, she would make the calculations and would know that if this creature got into the storefront, it would be a slaughter.

The only hope any of us had now was that I would be able to kill it out here. Grey and Hills might be able to come out and help me if the situation presented an opportunity during the battle that was about to happen. Realistically I knew that this was highly unlikely as the creature would quickly overpower them, I might have a chance here but it was going to be a close run thing.

I quickly looked over my opponent once more looking for possible weaknesses and planning on how I was possibly going to deal with this thing. The problem with any fight that people forget is that your opponent has a say in how things are about to go down. I knew from its size that it would be a waste of time going for the head so the only logical solution was that I had to go for the knees. If I could take out its knees, I knew it would be slowed down to the point where I could win this thing.

However, I did not get time to plan out anything else. It attacked.

It was fast. Much faster than the ghouls that I had just fought. I barely jumped to my left to avoid its attack. I knew that I could not stand my ground and break its charge like I had done with the others due to its size and weight. I had to keep moving.

A clawed hand passed centimetres from my body as I moved.

I quickly kept moving my feet opening up more distance between us. The creature did not follow up on its attack and I think was surprised that I had been able to move out of the way in time.

The creature righted itself and once more turned to face me. I had opened up a bit more space between us but kept it clearly in my line of sight. I made sure that I did not move so far away that the fog would stop to obscure it.

Again, the creature came for me.

This time I went to my right. I felt a slight glancing impact of its claws raking across my left arm. I did not inspect the damage as I kept moving however, I could not go as far as I hoped due to the fact that I was once closer to the role of buildings that contained the storefront.

It followed up with another lunge attack.

This time it raked across my shield as I moved to my left. I felt the impact much more this time as it was a more solid hit that sent splinters flying away from us. The kinetic energy shock of the impact even as slight as it was quickly travelled through the shield up my arm into my shoulder. I quickly backed away again opening up more space between us. I knew that we could not continue on like this, the thing would wear me down over time. I had to go on the attack.

A few seconds passed as it once again turned to face me planning its next attack. I use this brief interlude to make my decision on what I was going to do this time. It was a risk but I saw no other way.

It moved forward again to strike at me.

Instead of dodging to my left or right, I did something completely different I dropped to one knee and swung my axe in a horizontal strike aiming for one of its knees. I was able to judge it right and the axe head bit into one of its legs however I did not hit the knee but just above in the thigh. The axe blade sliced into the flesh of the creature but was stopped by the bone.

It let out a grunt of pain and then kicked me with its other leg. The leg impacted my shield in front of me and took the full brunt of the blow. There was an awful lot of pain. I was taken from my feet by the force of the blow and I skidded across the ground on my back. My right arm and shield were driven into my torso. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to back my feet. I had lost hold of my axe when the creature kicked me. As I got up, I quickly found and to my gladius from its sheath. My right arm and shoulder were throbbing with pain and my chest was bruised but my chest armour absorb a lot of the blow.

The Alpha had not followed up but had pulled the axe head from its leg and tossed it away a short distance. Black blood was seeping from the injury but it did not seem to bother it too much. I had hoped the wound would have slowed it down but there was no sign of that at the moment.

I was again looking at the Alpha over the edge of my shield, looking for weaknesses I can exploit. It has the advantage of reach and size but I have a slight advantage in the terms of speed. I had to use that to my advantage if I was going to win this.

I started moving around the Alpha looking for an opportunity to get back to my axe. My gladius was good for close in work the problem was this Alpha would quickly meet me down. Normally the range advantage it helps would mean that I would get it close but due to its size that was one of the worst things I could do. I needed to get back to my axe to help balance out this issue.

The Alpha was turning with me but not moving forward or backwards blocking my access to the axe. It had already worked out that that was my best weapon against it in this fight and was preventing me from regaining it. God, I had intelligent opponents!

I quickly ran through as many scenarios as I could to try and figure out how I was going stop this thing and come out alive on the other end. With its blocking access to my axe, I needed to get in close and that presented a whole host of new dangers. I could get Grey and Hills to come out and support me but that could lead again to a new set of bad options. So once again I dismissed that idea for the moment it was not viable.

That left me with only one option I was going after going close and trying to use my gladius to inflict as much damage as possible. I was no fool and knew this was going to hurt it was going to hurt a lot.