Kael watched from the shadows as his stealth team of ice slimes slithered carefully toward the back of the wooden hut. As the slimes moved around the perimeter of the hut, they encountered nothing but the muted rustling of the wind, the eerie silence of a space too quiet, too still.

  The hut, on the outside, looked like something simple, almost mundane but Kael knew better. It was not just a home; it was a trap, designed to ensnare him.

  The slimes, silent and cold, climbed up the side of the hut, their gelatinous bodies pressing against the rough-hewn wood. The slimes, stacked upon one another, slowly inched their way up the side of the hut, their movements slow, careful, as they sought higher ground.

  They reached the roof without incident, the weight of their combined mass barely making a sound as they settled into place. Their job was simple, remain unseen and watch. But just as they began to settle into their position, the door to the hut creaked open.

  A Skara.

  But this one was different. This one was larger than the others Kael had encountered. The creature’s red scales glowed as it stepped out into the clearing, a massive battle axe held firmly in its hand. This was no simple scout. This was a warrior, built for destruction.

  Gerry stood ready. His two swords were gripped tightly in his hands, his stance wide, feet planted firm on the earth. The large Skara, with its battle axe, approached.

  The Skara charged, its massive form surging forward with surprising speed for one so large. The ground beneath its feet trembled as it closed the distance between itself and Gerry, its battle axe raised high, ready to strike.

  Kael sucked his breath in as he watched the scene unfold. The Skara, despite its size, moved faster than Kael had expected. It swung its axe in broad, sweeping arcs, each strike a blur of raw power. Frenzied Strikes, Kael realized. The Skara was attacking with reckless abandon, hoping to overwhelm Gerry with sheer force.

  Gerry stood his ground, unflinching. His swords, still slick with Skara blood, met each blow with impeccable defence. The first strike came, the battle axe slamming into one of Gerry’s blades with enough force to shake the ground. A hiss came from Gerry’s piston but didn’t budge, his other sword swinging to deflect the second blow.

  The Skara swung again, faster than before. The sheer weight of its blows was enough to make the air around them shudder. Every movement of Gerry’s was deliberate, the fluidity of his combat style enough to match the Skara’s frenzied pace.

  Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the Skara jumped, bringing its battle axe high above its head. Kael's heart skipped as he realized the attack that was coming.

  Impact Drop.

  The battle axe came down with a force that could split the earth itself, a killing move aimed straight for Gerry’s crystal heart.

  But Gerry didn’t flinch. He rolled to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow. The ground cracked beneath the Skara’s strike, sending splinters and dirt flying. The force of the blow created a shockwave, but Gerry was already moving, his body rolling to his feet as he slashed at the Skara’s exposed flank.

  The strike landed with a clean cut, the sword biting into the Skara’s side.

  But Kael’s heart sank as the blade barely skimmed the surface of the demon’s thick scales. The Skara grunted, but its scales had deflected the blow. The damage was minimal, the cut shallow. It wasn’t enough.

  The Skara roared in anger, its rage only growing. It spun around, its backhanded strike coming fast in a sweeping arc.

  Gerry tried to dodge, but the Skara’s reach was too much. The axe collided with Gerry’s side, sending the golem crashing backward, tumbling through the dirt like a ragdoll. The impact was brutal, the sound of the blow ringing in Kael’s ears. Gerry landed hard, rolling across the ground.

  Kael’s eyes flicked to his golem. Then to the oculothrax floating in the sky, observing the fight. The Skara’s Master must be excited at the prospect of winning.

  The Skara, fueled by a savage fury, rushed forward once more, its battle axe raised high as it charged at Gerry, who had just managed to push himself back to his feet. The force of the strike had sent him reeling, but Gerry was tough.

  "Now!" Kael’s voice was sharp, decisive. The moment had come.

  Above the battlefield, perched high at the corner of his square, Blue had been waiting patiently, its faint glow flickering like a distant star. Now, it darted into action, a streak of light through the fog. Blue shot down toward the Skara, moving too fast for the demon to react. The wisp’s movements were erratic, a blur of light that danced and flickered around the Skara’s armored form, darting with the purpose of a needle, probing for weakness.

  The Skara, focused entirely on Gerry, gave no attention to the sudden arrival of the wisp. Kael had hoped for this distraction, a momentary slip in the Skara’s concentration that would give Gerry the edge.

  The wisp’s small sparks of energy barely made a dent against the demon’s tough hide. Blue struck again, first at the Skara’s neck, then at its heels, sending tiny sparks of lightning. But to Kael’s surprise, the Skara didn’t even flinch. The Skara didn’t even seem to notice.

  The creature’s scales, Kael realized with a sinking feeling, were too thick, too solid to be affected by Blue’s nimble strikes. The distraction that had worked so many times before, was ineffective against this foe.

  Kael’s frustration flared, but he quickly quashed it. Think, Kael. Think.

  Blue changed tactics, flashing bright light directly into the Skara’s eyes. A flash of blue, sharp and sudden, illuminated the creature’s face in an attempt to blind it, to make it stumble. But once again, the Skara barely reacted.

  Kael clenched his jaw, realizing that this Skara was different from what he had expected. But before he could formulate another plan, the oculothrax, who had been watching from above, suddenly came into play.

  Learning from Blue's distraction, the flying creature swooped down, its massive eye locking onto Gerry as the golem prepared for the next strike. The oculothrax circled above him, moving with speed, trying to confuse him, to break his focus. Its gaze, sharp and penetrating, aimed to distract Gerry.

  Gerry’s sword swung wildly, but the oculothrax was always just out of reach, its movements erratic and unpredictable. The golem swiped at it with one blade, but it only grazed the air as the creature soared higher, staying just beyond the reach of his strikes.

  Kael’s mind raced, calculating once more. The oculothrax is acting as a distraction now.

  The Skara, seeing the opening, charged once more, its battle axe swinging down in a vicious arc. Gerry was locked in a fight on two fronts now—against the Skara's relentless strikes and the oculothrax’s constant aerial distraction. The golem’s focus was split, his strikes less precise, his movements more sluggish under the weight of the dual threats.

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  Every strike from the Skara seemed to land harder, every move more precise, as if it were drawing strength from the sheer intensity of the fight.

  The Skara’s battle axe came down with a heavy, relentless force, each blow ringing out in the square like thunder. The crack of metal against metal echoed through both squares, the sound of steel clashing. Gerry, his two swords crossed in front of him, blocked the Skara’s mighty axe, but the force of the blow sent a tremor through his arms, rattling his joints with the sheer power of the strike. The golem grunted, his stance unwavering, but Kael could see the strain.

  The Skara is getting stronger, Kael thought, watching as the demon’s strikes grew more vicious with each passing moment.

  "Jello!" Kael called. "Go and assist Gerry."

  The green slime, always eager and quick to respond, moved forward. Jello was more than just a companion; he was Kael’s first summon, his trusted ally in these dire moments.

  Gerry and Jello had teamed up before, creating an unstoppable combination. It was Kael’s strongest move, but it came with a risk. He knew it was dangerous to reveal too much of his hand, to show all of his cards too early. Yet, at this moment, Kael knew the stakes. If Gerry fell, he would lose.

  "You guys back there, be ready if Jello falls," Kael said, looking back at his Slime Cape.

  Jello rammed into the Skara’s leg, his gelatinous body squishing with the force of the impact. The deadlock between Gerry and the Skara broke for a moment, the Skara’s balance faltering as it staggered back.

  Jello, being the distraction, squished and wriggled around the Skara’s legs, moving like a shadow beneath the creature’s massive form. The Skara’s eyes glowed with rage as it stomped, trying to crush Jello beneath its heel, but the slime was quick, darting away with each failed stomp.

  Gerry seized the opportunity. With the distraction, he swung both swords at the Skara’s chest, aiming for its least armored side. The blades bit deep into the demon’s flesh, drawing a trail of green blood that splattered against the ground. The Skara staggered backward with a loud hiss, its fury rising.

  With a roar, the large Skara charged again, its battle axe raised high. Gerry, already back on the defensive, locked blades once more with the Skara. The two forces collided, their weapons grinding against each other in a shower of sparks.

  Jello continued to squirm around the Skara’s legs, trying to move beneath the massive body to provide another distraction, but this time, the Skara was ready. With a swift motion, the demon reached down with its free hand, grabbing Gerry by the chest and lifting him into the air with a strength that Kael could scarcely believe.

  Gerry struggled, his feet kicking uselessly in the air as the Skara held him aloft, its iron grip around the golem’s chest. It was using Gerry as a weapon, the Skara swung Gerry’s body like a battering ram, hurling the golem toward Jello. The impact sent the slime tumbling backward, the golem crashing to the ground.

  Kael’s heart skipped a beat. Gerry was not finished yet. Jello was not finished yet. They couldn’t be.

  The Skara, its face curling with malice, placed one foot on Gerry’s chest, pinning him to the ground with a heavy, crushing weight. The battle axe was lifted high as the demon prepared for the finishing blow. Kael’s blood ran cold. If this strike landed, it would be over.

  The Skara hovered for a moment, poised to strike, its grip firm on the greataxe as its eyes locked onto Gerry. Gerry’s two swords, bloodied and heavy, were gripped tight in his hands, but the weight of the Skara was too great.

  “It was nice working with you, Kael.”

  The greataxe swung down but its trajectory changed, falling harmless to Gerry’s side.

  A squelching thud was heard and Jello had leapt through the air, its gelatinous body colliding with the Skara’s face in a reckless attack. The slime, small in comparison to the Skara, expanded around the Skara’s head, covering its eyes and blinding the demon in a wave of green goo.

  The Skara bellowed in frustration, its arms grabbing at its face, its vision obscured by the slime now clinging to its face.

  Gerry, seeing his opening, scrambled to his feet. With one powerful motion, he stabbed his sword deep into the Skara’s leg. The demon screamed in pain as the blade sank into its tough scales, causing the Skara to kneel, its balance lost. For the first time in this fight, the Skara seemed vulnerable.

  But the fight was far from over.

  The demon, with its raw strength, managed to pry Jello off its face, tossing the slime aside. Jello tumbled through the air, his body landing in an unceremonious heap beside Gerry, who reached out to catch him, pulling the slime back into the fray.

  The Skara, roaring in frustration, grabbed its dropped axe and leapt into the air, its axe coming down with terrifying force. Kael’s eyes widened in horror. It was another Impact Drop. A brutal, earth-shattering move that would obliterate anything in its path.

  The Skara descended like a falling star, its battle axe raised to crush anything below it. The air crackled with the force of the blow. A cloud of dust erupted upon impact, a thick haze that swallowed the square whole. For a brief, harrowing moment, Kael couldn’t see anything through the dust. He could only hear the echoes of the battle. The grinding of metal, the scrape of stone, the growl of the Skara.

  Then, the dust began to settle.

  Gerry, lying on the ground, had rolled to the side just in time to avoid the full brunt of the Impact Drop. But the damage had already been done.

  The Skara’s axe had cut deep into Gerry’s right side and torn through the earth. The golem’s right arm had been severed clean from his body, the jagged stump still smoking from the force of the blow.

  The Skara, meanwhile, stood tall, its axe lodged deep into the ground. It had dealt a grievous blow, but it had underestimated the resilience of Kael’s companions.

  Jello moved quickly, wrapping its gelatinous body around the Skara’s axe. The slime constricted tightly, forcing the Skara’s weapon to remain stuck in the ground. The Skara twisted and pulled at the axe, but the slime had it bound, trapped. It was a momentary distraction, but it was enough.

  Gerry, with a deep, guttural grunt, raised his remaining sword. The golem’s grip was shaky, but the blade found its mark, plunging into the Skara’s exposed eye. The Skara let out a deafening roar, its massive body shuddering as the blade drove through its skull.

  Kael watched, as the Skara collapsed to the ground, its immense body crashing in a heap. It twitched once, twice, then lay still, a viscous fluid leaking out from the wound dealt to its eye.

  But Kael knew it wasn’t over. He gripped the Blacksmithing Hammer tightly, its weight heavy in his hand. He could use the hammer’s magic to repair Gerry’s arm in an instant but the thought of showing himself, of revealing his position, was far too risky.

  He’d learned that lesson well. The tube room in Highhaven had taught him the dangers of revealing himself too soon. That battle was chaotic and he was lucky to have made it out alive, his companions in tow. He was not sure if he would be lucky again this time.

  Before Kael could finish his thought, the door to the hut creaked open again.

  Kael’s heart skipped a beat.

  Out from the doorway charged another Skara. This one was as large as the previous one, wielding a massive battle axe with ease. Behind it, another Skara followed, this one carrying a stone club, equally massive and equally deadly.

  Kael's stomach tightened. Gerry, Jello, and Blue had struggled to take down one. And there were two this round. He wasn’t sure if they could handle both.

  The enemy was relentless, and now they were sending in heavier forces. He could hear the crunch of the Skara’s footsteps, the deep thrum of their approach, and Kael knew there would be no room for error.

  The balance was tipping to the other Master and Kael needed to tip it back to him.

  His eyes flicked to the roof of the hut, where Mush and the other ice slimes waited, concealed in the shadows, ready for their moment. But Kael immediately dismissed them as a viable option. They wouldn’t be much help in this kind of fight, not against enemies this large.

  "Three Arms," Kael called, his voice firm, his eyes never leaving the new threat. "Deactivate the Dagger of Fog. Come out and help the others."

  The fog had been disorienting, a useful illusion, but now it was time to face their enemies head-on. With Three Arms joining the fight, their chances would improve, but Kael knew this would be no easy task.

  The golem sprinted out of the forest, an instant after his order. Three Arms, his body hiding an arsenal of daggers, made his way to the other companions. Gerry, one arm gone, stood tall despite the damage. Jello remained by Gerry’s side, its gelatinous form shifting as it moved with surprising agility, preparing to strike. Blue, the wisp, hovered in the air nearby, its bright glow almost playful, but Kael knew better than to assume the creature would be enough to tip the scales in their favor.

  Now, the four of them—Gerry, Three Arms, Jello, and Blue—stood against two towering Skaras. It was a match that seemed unfair, stacked heavily in the demons' favor. But Kael had seen what his team could do, what they were capable of.

  We’ll need to work together. We’ll need to make every strike count.

  The larger Skara wielded its battle axe with primal rage and savagery. The stone club of the second Skara swung in a deadly arc as it moved forward, its grip tight and steady.

  Kael whispered to himself, his voice low but certain. "We fight to win. And we will win."

  ******