A magical explosion lit the night sky with an eerie green glow. We were still a few blocks away and did our best to keep pace with the Kurskins without being spotted. They were fast, so staying far enough behind to not be seen was an easy task.

  They would stop soon, and hopefully, we could pinch them between the other group of Hunters battling just blocks away.

  The Kurskins picked up their pace, and so did we. They halted at an intersection ahead and turned right. We ran as fast as we could, hoping to see where they made their next turn. We didn't make it in time, but where they were heading was clear. All one had to do was go toward the screams.

  We bolted another hundred yards down the street and Val had us cut through an alley she had tracked the Kurskins through. As we reached the end, I stopped and peeked out. Down the street to my right, there were at least fifty humans, some Hunters, some not, in an intense melee with ten lizards. Only now, another thirteen Kurskins were about to even the odds.

  The group of Hunters sent this way was only twenty strong, which meant civilians had joined the fight, just as I'd hoped.

  We had to act now while the Kurskins' backs were to us. I asked one of my Hunters to take a bow to the roof and stay there. She was to fire only after we engaged. Ersabet and the other Hunter were with me.

  There was no point in trying to be quiet. Our steps wouldn't be heard over the roar of the conflict ahead.

  The Kurskins were employing similar tactics to mine, and they would pay a price for it.

  Three lizards stayed back, preparing to attack at range, while the rest rushed forward and collided with a group of distracted humans, killing a handful of them instantly.

  We snuck up behind the three that hung back. I swung the engraved blade of my sword laterally and clipped the back of the neck of a Kurskin who was readying an arrow. He died instantly. I turned left to aid my fellow Hunter, but a dead Kurskin already rested at his feet, a dagger sticking out of its ear hole.

  I didn't even need to look at Ersabet to know she had taken her target down.

  I patted the Hunter on the shoulder. "Let's grab a drink after this." I was sincerely impressed.

  He smiled a rotten-toothed smile and slammed his fist to his heart.

  An arrow flew past us and embedded itself in one of the Kurskins ahead. We rushed to join the fray as more arrows passed over our heads, striking the Kurskins with practiced precision.

  Those Kurskins turned to see who was shooting and instead met us only feet away. I brought the sharp edge of my blade down, but my target managed to bring his sword up in time to block. My razor-sharp sword severed his, but it suppressed the blade's momentum enough that it didn't fully pierce his leather armor.

  He kicked me in the chest and knocked me back (I really needed to learn to dodge their kicks). I managed to keep my feet, but it took the wind from me and ruined my moment of surprise. The Kurskin moved to attack but was tackled from the side by my Hunter friend. They hit the ground together, and I ran forward to attack. I didn't want to dismember my ally accidentally, so I flipped my sword into my left hand, fell to a knee, and activated Devastating Strike.

  My fist hammered straight down on the head of the struggling Kurskin. His skull was crushed under the force, and my knuckles sank a few inches into his grey matter.

  I almost gagged at the squelching noise my fist made as I pulled it out.

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  I opened my hand and winced in pain. Something was broken. More likely some things. So much for my upgraded Brawler knuckles.

  I'd have to fight through it. Thankfully, the adrenaline kept the worst of the pain at bay.

  Another lizard lay dead at Ersabet's feet while she engaged a third. To our left, another was clawing at the ground as it died, its body riddled with arrows.

  The lizards seemed to all simultaneously discover that the greater threat was behind them. In a matter of seconds, they had halted their slaughter and turned their attention to us. A bolt of lightning shot out of the group, and my Hunter buddy flew backward as it struck him in a thunderous blast.

  Ersabet conjured her whirlwind, but one of the Kurskins made a motion, and it dissipated.

  The ground beneath me began to rumble.

  "Run!" Ersabet yelled.

  The road beneath me cracked open, revealing nothing but deep darkness below. It spread wider, and I tried to jump to the side, but it kept growing, and I only managed to catch the edge with my toes.

  I flailed my arms as I slowly tilted backward.

  A hand grabbed my arms and yanked me forward into a tumble. Ersabet had leaped over the pit and saved me from falling in.

  We both rolled and stood as fast as possible. A few of the Kurskins had turned around to deal with the human assault, but they were taking five down before any human could land a blow.

  The crack in the ground snapped shut, leaving a raised scar in the earth. Another magical explosion rocked the night. It was similar to the magic grenade Kreech had used during my first battle, and it sent a scattering of people through the air.

  Unsure of what to do and with half the group of lizards still focused on us, I activated Enshrouded. Shadows quickly wrapped around me, and I bolted to my left while closely watching the eyes of my opponents.

  They followed my direction but couldn't lock onto me. They could see me, just not that well. It would have to do.

  I charged forward and activated a Simple Distraction right behind my target for good measure. He quickly turned to see what was right behind him and, upon seeing nothing, turned back to me. His eyes found my shadowy form before I drove the tip of my sword through his stomach and sliced upward with the engraved side of my blade, widening the wound a few inches before I yanked out my sword.

  I turned to face my next opponent but flinched at a jolt of pain. Then my muscles seized, and I dropped my sword. My arms felt like they were on fire. My shadows turned from black to a hot, burning white.

  My muscles loosened, but the fire remained. I screamed and flailed about, considering whether rolling on the ground would be my best option. But I wasn't on fire. Not really. "Val, what is happening?" I asked in a panic.

  'It appears you have been hit with a dispel ability. The pain will wear off momentarily.'

  At least I wasn't going to die, but the pain was nearly unbearable. It was as if my skin was boiling. Tears streaked my face, and then the pain was suddenly gone. My burning shroud vanished, and I was left stunned by the event.

  A knife embedded itself into my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. The Kurskin who threw it smiled and wiggled her fingers at me.

  Two more Kurskins flanked her. I glanced to my right and saw a bleeding Ersabet stumble. She fell to a knee and then rolled out of the way just before a morning star struck the ground behind her.

  The lizard lifted the morning star like it weighed nothing and pursued her. He howled and flinched back when an arrow struck his shoulder. In a rage, he ripped it out and threw it on the ground before doubling his speed toward Ersabet, who had yet to fully regain her feet.

  My attention was pulled back to my own confrontation when the dagger in my shoulder ripped itself out and flew back into the hand of the female lizard who had thrown it. Blood erupted from the hole in my shoulder, and I put my hand over it to stem the flow.

  My teary eyes found my sword on the ground, and I picked it up. I closed my eyes and prayed that Close Combat Specialist would kick in because without it, I was going to die.

  The sound of a war horn made my eyes snap back open. It came from behind me. I turned, and relief flooded through me. It was the city guard, and Harl was atop a horse, leading the way next to the leader of this regiment.

  At the sight of such a large and equipped force, the Kurskins decided this wasn't a battle they could win.

  They scattered as the front cavalry of the city guard thundered close. I limped my way to Ersabet and pulled her to the side just as they passed. The remaining Kurskins fought back violently, and I saw multiple cavalrymen fall before the foot soldiers joined in. It was costly, but none of the Kurskins left in this melee were going to make it out alive.

  Harl had done it. He saved us. He saved me. With the city guard on our side, we could march through Danver and overwhelm any group of Kurskins that would dare defy us.

  The battle wasn't over yet, but I felt the light growing inside me. It was that spark of hope that I wanted to spread across the world. The Kurskins and the Dalari were not invincible. They could bleed. They could die. They could be defeated.

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