Jellyfish - Chapter 6 Skirmish

The best way to kill a monster is with another monster.

Sure it might be ineffective in some cases, but there’s just nothing like riding into battle on mounts that would have killed you on other days.

You know what they say, fight Dire with Dire.

The cavalry rode beasts that they practically raised as their children. The Cockatrice were odd creatures to choose as members of the Valley. They had swift legs with that would kick the sand behind them and talons that could tear through rock. The Riders were holding a relaxed formation, mimicking the flock of birds above them. Webbed wings allowed the monsters to glide through the air, reaching far and wide whenever they leaped over a crevice in the earth. Every second, the beasts squawked and screeched in joy as their cute little chicken heads bobbled.

The enemy appeared towards the horizon, glistening in the moonlight and shining like suns. Unaffected, the Riders continued their valiant charge towards the monsters. None in the party even blinked, for they had prepared well for these sort of dangers. Cockatrice can run backward with their eyes closed, never missing a step. Hunters, on the other hand, had equipped specialized bone masks with small slits to see through. Every one of them resembled monsters in their unique ways.

…

“Five Vipers?”

Back at the village, pressed her thumb against her chin and paced around in circles.

“How many hunters have we sent?” the young girl asked.

“Nine. All armed with the usual. We have spotted a dark cloud as well.”

The messenger bowed respectfully, but he looked exhausted.

“Will you be departing, Nomad?” he asked.

“I will not.” She replied.

…

The desert had lost its temper. In the night sky, low hanging clouds approached with arcs of lightning embedded throughout them. They had little time to waste, so the Riders set about their dirty work.

The Glass Vipers would slither across the dunes as their sharp armor made of pure glass flashed moonlight. Their brown scales rested underneath blades and shards of obsidian. Glass Vipers had won the genetic lottery of their time.

A Rider on the far left of the formation drew his bow and fired a single arrow. It passed the snake and hit the ground behind it.

The sand there grew hot, the patch turned immediately into glass, and suddenly an eruption tossed debris everywhere.

Like a lost child, the monster raised its head and extended its disgusting tongue. Tasting the air, a method they didn’t rely on due to the effectiveness of seismic vision, the Viper stopped in its tracks.

With swift actions and precise movements, a Rider took another arrow and fired it towards the tongue. It struck, and the creature let out a hideous cry before trying to close its mouth.

The monster’s head blew up, sending scales and skin in every direction.

The head was the only part without sharp glass all around it. The collateral damage was minimal if the Rider’s aim was true. The rest of the body, which still twitched for a few seconds, would come to a rest.

It was time to finish the rest.