Chuckling, Boris looked around excitedly while Marla shrugged off her pack and withdrew a simple hooded brown cloak.
Boris extended his spiritual senses.
“I can detect a powerful Animus signature deeper inside the Rift,” he said.
“They’re Beast Bonded, without a doubt.”
Now fully cloaked, Marla rose to her feet.
“Let’s link up with them.
This is still a four-star Rift, dun—”
A sudden wave of dread crashed over them.
The words died in her throat.
Both cultivators turned sharply toward the source.
Scrape…
Scrape…
The slow, grinding sound of steel dragging across ice echoed through the corridor.
Emerging from the pale blue haze came a Lesser Dragon Guard.
Nearly three meters tall, the reptilian warrior lumbered forward with a permanent hunch, dragging an enormous butcher’s cleaver behind it.
The monstrous blade was so massive the creature needed both scaled hands to wield it.
Every pull gouged deep furrows into the frozen floor, sending showers of ice chips skittering across the passage.
Thick plates of black pig-steel armor covered its body.
Wicked spikes protruded from the pauldrons and breastplate, on a chain wrapped tightly around the creature’s waist were yellowed human skulls that swung gently with every heavy step.
“He’s a big boy,” Boris muttered.
Then he noticed the figures behind it.
Two Drowsy Shamans padded silently after the Dragon Guard.
They were unsettling creatures, cloaked in shaggy yellow fur.
Their bodies were vaguely humanoid, they had long pointed ears, that were complimented with a long broad nose, yet where mouths should have been there was only smooth skin.
Thick white manes encircled their necks like frozen lion’s ruffs.
Each carried nothing but a polished silver ring suspended from a strand of black filament.
The rings swayed rhythmically.
Without making a sound Marla smoothly nocked an arrow.
Boris stroked his goatee, his eyes never leaving the approaching formation.
“The Dragon Guard is their shield.
Those two are support.” His gaze narrowed.
“Drop the lizard first and the shamans lose their protection.”
CLANK!
A heavy metallic impact echoed from behind them.
WHIRRRR…
The grinding of enormous pig-steel gears filled the frozen corridor.
Boris sighed.
“Good heavens…”
“What is it now?
More sword-wielding dragon men?”
He glanced over his shoulder and immediately froze.
An enormous wall of black pig-steel was racing toward them.
Its surface bristled with hundreds of rusted spears and cruel spikes.
Bleached human skeletons still hung impaled upon them, their frozen remains rattling as the wall gathered speed.
Boris’s eyes widened.
He reached into his hide kit bag.
“It appears the situation is rapidly developing.”
His fingers closed around a polished yellow Attack Stone.
Bringing it briefly to his lips, he flooded it with Animus and Intent.
The technique sealed within the stone ignited.
“Lightning Cascade!”
He hurled the stone, there was a sparkle and a pop, it burst apart in midair.
Brilliant ropes of yellow lightning exploded outward, dancing wildly between the enemies.
CRACK!
One bolt struck the first Drowsy Shaman.
CRACK!
A second slammed into the other.
Electricity surged through their bodies, locking every muscle in place.
The silver rings fell still. Get faster updates on g.com.
The Dragon Guard, however, …
Marched straight through the storm unfazed.
Boris clicked his tongue.
“Close enough!”
He pointed toward the immobilized shamans.
“I’ve stunned their backline!”
Then he jabbed a thumb toward the accelerating wall of spikes.
“But we’re running out of time Pussy Cat!”
“On it!”
Marla closed her eyes for the briefest instant.
Drawing upon the teachings of her clan, she cast the technique.
“Wind Step!”
A powerful circular torrent of wind formed around both cultivators.
The wind spiraled around their feet, making them feel almost weightless as their movements sharpened and quickened.
Boris grinned.
“Good girl!”
Already reaching into his pack again, he retrieved another Attack Stone.
Animus flooded into it.
“Break Armor!”
Boris screamed and hurled the crimson stone at the advancing lesser dragon guard; there was a blood red sparkle; ”Pop!”
A cloud of fine scarlet mist engulfed the monster.
The pig-steel armor hissed violently.
Rust spread across its surface like wildfire.
Bolts snapped.
Rivets burst apart.
Heavy plates crashed onto the frozen floor one after another, exposing the thick cords of muscle and scarred green scales beneath.
The Dragon Guard roared.
Now stripped of its heavy armor, it hefted the enormous butcher’s cleaver and charged!