Chapter 77: Three against one
The first Wendigo was on the eastern side, pacing back and forth. Its back was to Kyle.
He moved slowly, each footstep deliberate. The mist helped — muffling sounds, hiding his shape.
Twenty feet. Fifteen. Ten.
The Wendigo’s head turned slightly.
Kyle froze.
The creature sniffed the air. Its glowing green eyes scanned the mist. Then, after a few heartbeats, it turned back and kept pacing.
Kyle exhaled silently.
`Close. Too close.`
He waited until the creature reached the far end of its patrol route. Then he moved again.
Eight feet. Five.
He raised his sword.
`These things always scream the moment a fight starts. If I don’t shut it up immediately, the others will come running.`
He activated his skill. Crimson glowed in his eyes.
`Don’t scream.` The command sank into the creature’s mind.
The Wendigo’s mouth opened—then froze. Its jaw trembled. No sound came out.
But the creature felt something was wrong. It spun around, eyes locking onto Kyle.
Its axe came up fast.
Kyle barely got his sword in the way.
CLANG!
The impact sent a shock through his arms. He stumbled back. The Wendigo pressed forward, swinging wildly—still silent, but furious.
`Shit! It’s fighting through the command!`
Kyle ducked under a swing. Slashed at its ribs. The blade cut shallow. Not enough.
The Wendigo swung again. Kyle blocked. His arms screamed.
`This one is stronger than the ones I’ve been fighting.`
He flooded his body with internal energy. The flame roared. His muscles tightened, and his strikes came faster.
But the Wendigo matched him.
Axe against sword. Steel against bone. Black blood sprayed from shallow cuts, but the creature wouldn’t fall.
It swung low. Kyle jumped. The axe passed under his feet. He landed and drove his sword into its shoulder.
But it wasn’t deep enough.
The Wendigo grabbed its blade with its free hand. Black blood dripped down the steel as it pulled.
Kyle pulled back. Neither let go.
`Let go, you damn pile of bones!`
He jumped and kicked it in the head. The creature stumbled. Kyle yanked his sword free and stabbed again—into its chest this time.
The blade sank deep.
The Wendigo’s eyes flickered. Its grip loosened. But it didn’t fall.
It swung its axe one more time.
Kyle twisted sideways. The blade grazed his arm, cutting through his sleeve and into his skin. Blood welled up.
He gritted his teeth and pushed his sword deeper.
The Wendigo finally went limp.
[You have slain a Wendigo.]
[Unused Stat Points: +2 | Shop Points: +20]
Kyle pulled his sword out. The creature collapsed.
He stood there for a moment, breathing hard. His arm was bleeding. His shoulders ached.
`One down. Two to go.`
He looked toward the hill. The other two were still pacing. Neither had noticed.
The second Wendigo was on the northern side. The third was on the western. There was a gap between them—maybe twenty meters.
`If I can lure the second one away...`
Kyle picked up a small stone. He threw it into the trees behind the second Wendigo.
The stone clattered against a rock.
The creature stopped. It turned its head and sniffed the air.
Then, it started walking toward the sound.
Kyle backed away slowly, deeper into the forest. The Wendigo followed.
Thirty meters. Fourty.
`Come on... Keep coming.`
The creature stopped at the edge of the treeline and sniffed again. Its head turned left and right.
Kyle didn’t give it time to think.
He burst from the mist, sword swinging.
The creature’s axe came up. Blocked.
Steel clashed. Sparks lit up the darkness.
The Wendigo opened its mouth to roar.
`No, you won’t!`
Kyle’s eyes flared. "Silence!"
The creature’s jaw locked. A choked grunt escaped, but no roar. Its eyes widened with confusion.
Kyle pressed forward.
Slash. Stab. Block.
The Wendigo was strong. Faster than the first one. Its axe whistled past his ear. He ducked under the next swing and drove his sword into its thigh.
Black blood sprayed.
The creature stumbled. Kyle didn’t let up.
He flooded his body with internal energy. The tiny flame roared. His arms felt lighter, his strikes came faster.
The Wendigo swung its axe in a wide arc. Kyle jumped back — then forward again. His blade found the creature’s armpit. Sank deep.
The Wendigo’s arm went limp. The axe fell with a heavy thud.
`One more hit!`
Kyle raised his sword for the final blow.
Then he heard it.
A crack. Behind him.
He spun.
The third Wendigo was charging. Its glowing eyes locked onto him and its axe was raised high.
`Shit!`
Kyle threw himself sideways. The axe slammed into the ground where he had been standing.
The impact shook the forest floor.
He rolled and came up swinging. His sword cut across the third Wendigo’s chest. It’s shallow, not enough.
The second Wendigo—the wounded one—was getting up. Its arm was useless, but its other hand was reaching for its fallen axe.
`Two... At the same time?!`
Kyle’s mind split.
Part one: watch both enemies. Track their movements. Don’t get surrounded.
Part two: fight. Strike. Block. Survive.
He activated his skill again.
"Hesitate," he commanded the wounded Wendigo.
The creature froze for half a heartbeat. Its body locked up. Its good arm stopped moving.
Kyle used the opening. He jumped and kicked it in the chest, sending it stumbling backward into the mist.
Kyle used the push to make him flip backward in the air. Then he turned to face the third.
The third Wendigo swung its axe in a horizontal arc. Kyle ducked. The blade whistled over his head. He came up slashing across its stomach.
Black blood dripped. The creature howled—silently, thanks to Kyle’s command still holding.
`I can’t keep this up forever...`
His internal energy was draining fast. Each strike cost him. Each dodge cost him. The commands were taking a toll on his mind, a dull ache building behind his eyes.
`I need to finish one... quickly!`
He feinted toward the third Wendigo. The creature raised its axe to block. Kyle spun at the last second and drove his sword into the wounded one’s neck.
The blade went through.
The third Wendigo collapsed.
[You have slain a Wendigo.]
[Unused Stat Points: +2 | Shop Points: +20]
One left.
Kyle turned.
The second Wendigo was already swinging.
He raised his sword to block. Too slow. The axe hit his blade at an angle—not a direct hit, but enough to send a shock through his arms.
His sword flew out of his hands. It landed somewhere in the dark with a clatter.
He is now free handed!
The Wendigo raised its axe for the final blow. Its eyes glowed bright with hunger.
Kyle’s eyes flared crimson.
"DROP YOUR AXE!"
The command hit the creature’s mind like a hammer. Its fingers twitched. The axe wobbled, but it didn’t drop.
Kyle cursed in his mind. The creature’s resistance was strong.
He tried again. "STUMBLE."
The Wendigo’s legs buckled. It fell to one knee. The axe swung wide, missing Kyle by inches.
He dove for his sword. His fingers found the hilt in the dark. He rolled and came up slashing.
The blade cut across the Wendigo’s throat. Deep. Almost to the spine.
The creature’s eyes went wide. Its mouth opened, but no sound came out. It tried to raise its axe one more time. Its arm wouldn’t obey.
Then it fell.
[You have slain a Wendigo.]
[Unused Stat Points: +2 | Shop Points: +20]
Kyle stood over the body, breathing hard. His arms were shaking. His shoulder was bleeding again. His sword was dripping black blood.
He looked at the three corpses scattered around the hill.
`That was not smart.`
Soon, Nightmare landed near him.
He had been sitting on a distant branch, watching the whole scene. Comfortably.
Kyle stared at him a little, unbelieving.
"Did you like the view from above?"
Nightmare moved its head, as if praising Kyle for what he did. `Good job!`
Kyle’s face distorted a little.
"If I didn’t need you now, I would PLUCK YOUR FEATHERS!"
Kyle didn’t bring Nightmare into the fight in the first place because he didn’t need to. Even though three wendigos were a lot for him, he was confident he could handle it.
If he brought Nightmare in and got hurt somehow, he would lose his only escape route.
Who knew what was in the cave? Maybe it really was a Wendigo nest!
Kyle sighed, then he sat down on a rock and let his head fall back. The mist swirled above him. The three moons were bright.
He was full of minor injuries from the fight. But no serious injuries.
He didn’t feel any pain because of his skill. He had already done his boosts before the battle even started.
Kyle stood up. He picked up his sword and wiped the blade on the fur of the nearest corpse.
`I have come this far. Might as well see what all the fuss is about.`
He started walking toward the hill.
