Headed by a Snake

"Maximus!"

Lightning struck through the canopy of trees, setting a portion of the forest ceiling ablaze and barely missing Korr. As she leapt away, she collided with a small sapling, breaking it.

Maximus dashed to her side and thrust a powerful ensorcelled spear at Korr's center of mass, "Maximus!"

In an explosion of energy, Korr was blasted backward, tumbling through brush and thorn, colliding painfully against a thick tree root. She stood up, her clothes torn, bloody scratches all over. She gripped a sword in her right and a broken sapling, longer than a spear, in her left.

She regained her balance and began sprinting forward.

Maximus formed his hand into a circle and held it in front of his mouth, "Roar of the Sky Dragon!"

With an ear-shattering boom, a draconic screech shook the forest. A line of electrical energy surged towards Korr, halting her movement and lighting her sapling on fire. She dropped her sword. But she slammed her right fist hard against her chest as if to restart her heart.

The action stunned Maximus. And in that moment, Korr's thrown flame-wreathed sapling struck Maximus in the chest. The man was launched backward an entire 3 yalms, before smashing the impromptu javelin apart with his shield.

Korr picked up her sword. Some of her hair stood tall from the electrical energy in the air, making for a ghostly image. Her functional eye was wide and bloodshot, and she hobbled towards Maximus like she was possessed, "Come on... Let's fight."

Maximus crossed his arms, "Korr, the Unbreakable. You are a terrifying existence."

Korr tilted her head, "Are you ready to fight? Out of spells? Let's fight. I'll slice open your stomach and choke you with your guts, you worthless cretin."

Maximus shook his head and unfurled his wings, his form towering over Korr. And with a gust of wind, he flew up into the air, hovering stably against a backdrop of smoldering leaves.

Pointing his spear downward at the grounded woman, he began to ready another lightning strike.

Korr smashed her sword blade into a nearby tree, its bark erupting in smoky, shadowy rot, "That's... that's not fair!"

...

Tycon stared through the forest canopy and narrowed his eyes in annoyance. Dark clouds had too quickly begun to block the afternoon sun.

"Tss. Doesn't look good."

Barza Keith rested his two swords on his shoulders as he walked, "Yeah, I know what'cha mean, Boss. I didn't bring a jacket."

Dragan twisted his tree-trunk neck over to look at the two, "Think it's already started, Boss?"

Tycon tapped anxiously on the sword hilt on his waist, "Mister Wroe, the dark clouds?"

Wroe's blue eyes glowed with an arcane light, "I don't detect dark magic. But there is a lot of lightning mana up there."

Dragan rolled his eyes and his entire head with it, "Well, yeah. That's how thunderclouds work."

Wroe stared back unflinchingly, "Shocking."

Tycon checked his pocket watch.

Barza looked apprehensive, "Boss, should we go look for Pale?"

Tycon returned an annoyed hmph, "His half-a-bell has yet to finish. Why are you so worried?"

Barza scratched his head with his thumb, "He is kinda young."

"I'm certain you were just as capable at Pale's age, Mister Barza." Tycon responded.

Dragan sidled up with a peculiar grin, "What were you doing when you were 9, Lone?"

Barza thought for a moment, "Well... Uh. I think I was probably pissing myself in primary school."

Dragan began to laugh, holding his stomach. Tycon rolled his eyes, "I apologize, then. It seems not much has changed since then."

"It was ONE TIME!!" Barza yelled indignantly.

"Oi, here 'e comes!" Dragan called out. He dropped his axe and bounded a few steps forward.

Dragan reached his arm out and caught a fast-moving leather-armored bundle. He spun around a few times in a circle to ease the force of impact, eventually releasing a dazed Pale.

Pale fell to the ground, the golden leaves crisping beneath him.

Tycon tapped the fallen Pale with his boot, "I don't know why you insist on doing that, young man."

Wroe smirked, "When can I get next?"

Tycon turned to Dragan, "If Mister Wroe does the same, don't catch him."

Dragan grinned, "I'll treat him like target practice. Boss' orders!"

Pale stood up with a salute, "Sir, reporting as ordered!"

Tycon nodded, "Report."

"There's a big battle ahead! A group of soldiers that are wearing a lot of green and then people from the sect!"

Tycon sighed, "Numbers, boy. What's the distance? And what armor are they wearing? I thought I taught you specifically how to report."

"O-oh. There's... a lot? I didn't count."

"More than 20? More than 50? 100?" Tycon pushed the boy's head.

The boy grinned foolishly, "I dunno, Sir! But it was definitely more than 50."

Tycon sucked in air through his teeth. He wasn't keen on approaching the battle straight on.

The boy continued, "They're less than 10 minutes away. Everyone is armored in leathers... They have crossbows and swords and spears and--"

Tycon raised a hand to stop him, "Enemy mercenary company. Armored uniform. Trained with cold weapons and crossbows. Am I right?"

"Yes, sir! And there was a... deer on their flags?"

Tycon nodded, crossed his arms, and shut his eyes.

« System, search with conditions: List:Guilds. Color:Green. Symbol:Deer. Nation:Alizeau. »

[System response: 1 encountered result. Staghorn.]

« System, inquiry: Any relevant information concerning Guild Staghorn. »

[System response: As of the last update, Guild Staghorn is led by Heavy Armor Knight Emilien Leserre. No other information.]

« System, inquiry: When was this last updated? »

[System response: The last update occurred in the adventurer's guild in Nice.]

Tycon frowned, deep in thought. As helpful as his System was, it wasn't omniscient, "Bucket, did you spot any elites?"

"Yes, sir. There was a Knight in full armor and a flail, there's a guy with blue wings and a shield and spear-- oh, and there was a guy in a big wizard hat!" Pale put his hands over his head to indicate the hat's ridiculous size.

Dragan's eyes brightened immediately, "Boss!! Geek the mage?!"

Pale nodded, "My dad always said 'when in doubt, geek the mage first!'"

Wroe pulled his magic sword out of his waterskin, "Let the geeking commence."

Tycon nodded resolutely, "We geek the mage."

Barza followed along cluelessly, "Guys! Guys? What does that mean?"

...

Heavy Armor Knight Leserre pulled on Clemont's robe, "Hey. Wizard. Should we... help Sir Maximus?"

Clemont gulped uncomfortably, his mouth dry. The field in front of them consisted only of two combatants, the winged Maximus and a woman in a bloodied shirt flinging boulders and small trees at the former. Maximus was able to easily dodge the telegraphed projectiles and he returned an equally neverending barrage of lightning strikes. The green moss and gold leaf forest had quickly turned into a charred wasteland.

Clemont rubbed his face, wishing he could wake up from the nightmare. He looked to his left and right. Guild Staghorn still had 3 dozen combat-ready men and women. But with their strengths... "Sir Knight, I believe intervention would beget needless casualties."

The crowd began to shift as a dark-hooded scout weaved his way through. The scout placed a hand on Clemont's shoulder, "Master Wizard, I have a suggestion."

Clemont scrutinized the green-haired youth before him, not remembering his face. Since when had they had a scout with such bright, golden eyes? "Speak your mind, Scout. I pray your suggestion can change the status quo."