The Mimic in Monsterland

Tutor watched as Liam stepped onto the field of battle. She could see that his head was flooding with apprehension and doubt. It was a problem he’d struggled with even before his time on Kniyas. She wanted nothing more than to speak to him. To give him her special brand of encouragement.

She was sure it would boot him into the right mindset like it did last time. “A swift kick in the pants is all he needs. That deer dude almost had him with that slap. But he needs just an inch more. He’s a stubborn one.”

Her hand reached for the display. But she stopped and sighed. “I can’t keep babying him forever.” She retracted her hand, closing her eyes in the process. “He won’t grow. Not truly. Not like he has to if he is going to have a chance to do what this world will ask of him. What they will ask of him.”

Tutor brought her hands to her chest.

“You’ve got this Liam. Just fight like you have been. I’m sure you will be alright.” She said with a gentle smile.

——

My mind reeled as I held my spear. Each step felt like I was trudging through swamp waters. Heavy and slow. I looked up at the battle; it was several hundred feet away now. Then back down at my hands. My knuckles were white—an odd look especially when my skin was tinted green.

My grip loosened. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve fought so much in this world. Why can’t I do it now? What is blocking me?

With each leaden step, my mind stayed silent, giving me no answer. I looked up again, and the battle was less than one hundred yards. A football field’s length away. The snarling of beasts and screams of soldiers deafened in my ears. I closed my eyes.

Why did I think I could do this? I should have just stayed in the Forest. Fight a few monsters each week, and get stronger. That kind of stuff. It would have been easier than this.

“AGHHH!” A cry roared in the air, waking me from my panicked trance. The battle was even closer now. Either I must have kept moving or it got closer. Both options didn’t matter now. My eyes searched around looking for its source.

And they found it. It was a person. A human man. One with longer hair tied in a bun. He had olive skin and legs covered in bushy fur and cloven feet. He looked like a faun from old Earth mythology.

He screamed out once more. A wolf-like monster was biting on the man’s torso. Its fur was mostly red, but had a few black streaks running through it. It was massive. The man’s body was almost engulfed by its maw.

I rushed forth, Fight and Flight activated. I was at the monster’s side in seconds. I shoved my spear into the distracted beast's side, somewhere in its ribcage. It released the man from its clutches with a great yelp. The man fell to the ground holding his profusely bleeding side. I held on to my spear as the wolf snapped at me, its hot, gnarly breath blowing on my ear and cheek. Warm, dark blood ran down the spear shaft, ultimately flowing onto my fists.

I gripped down even harder. I attempted to yank the spear from its body, but I didn’t have the strength in this form. And the wolf's muscles were most likely flexed, keeping the spear firmly lodged. Seeing how that wouldn’t work any longer, I pulled and twisted the spear around the wound. I was hoping I’d hit an internal organ and that this would shred it to pieces. The red wolf threw itself on the ground and writhed. Trying with all its might to throw the interloper off. However, the wolf’s panicked motion only aided me in my endeavor.

And my plan seemed to have worked. The wolf’s movements slowed down until it finally came to a stop. It fell to the ground, and with a final exhale, went limp. I stayed still for a moment, regaining my balance before pulling the spear from its side after some effort.

I heaved some air. My stamina gauge was down to 70%. “Shit. That ability uses so much.” I mumbled to myself. I heard a cough. It was the faun. He was still on the ground but no longer holding himself. His arms were at his sides and his torso moved slowly. Seconds went by before each breath.

I rushed to his side and knelt down, planting the bloodied spear into the ground. His chest was covered in teeth marks and blood. So much blood. I put pressure on the largest wound I could see. “I’ve got you. Don’t worry. HELP! MEDIC!”

I looked into the man’s eyes, he looked back. His mouth moved but no words came forth. His eyes faltered. “NOOOO!!!” I tried to lift his body, but my diminutive stature made it difficult, along with the blood making my hands slip.

Before I knew it the man wasn’t breathing anymore. I put him down. Tears streamed down my face as my right hand clawed into the dirt.

I raised my head and stared into the lifeless man’s eyes. I closed them with a quick motion of my hand. I stood up. I grabbed the now blood and dirt covered spear from the ground, twirling it around for a moment, stopping it abruptly, just above the ground. The dirt and blood splayed on the grassy field.

Salamandran, bald, dark skinned, wielding a glaive. Find him and bring him back to Terl. I nodded at the orders, confirming them in my head. I ran heading straight for the thick of it.

I looked out and saw two other fighters going against a toxic boar. One of them looked hurt while the other swung a dagger around wildly, clearly panicked.

I’m not going to let that happen again though. I ran over to the side of the boar and shoved my spear in its throat. I had plenty of experience dealing with these beasts, so I knew right where to aim for a quick kill. The boar fell and I walked over to the shaken people.

The hurt one was a half elf boy. He was small and had what looked like turtle shells growing on his shoulders. His leg was bleeding and smelled awful. Poisoned no doubt. And probably doesn’t have an immunity to it like me. I looked over to the half elf girl with the dagger.

“Take him to the medics!” I shouted over the roar of battle, pointing back to the tent.

She nodded. Her eyes were wide open. I’m not sure she is comprehending anything. I looked back over the two. They looked young, middle teens was my estimate, but I don’t know other races' physiology well enough to confidently guess ages. What I did know is that they seemed too young to be fighting. I grabbed her face and forced her to look into my eyes. “Get under his shoulder and start walking that way. Or he won’t make it.” I said in the best calm voice I could which was way harder with all the adrenaline.

The girl nodded. She got under the boy's arms and lifted him up. Before they started limping away, I asked them about the man I was looking for: the guard.

The boy was the one to answer, coughing throughout. “I know who you're talking about. He was fighting not too far from us, trying to protect the class that was outside.” He raised his head and looked around, then pointed to the side of the building closest to us. “That’s where he was last. He was getting people inside.”

I nodded. “Thanks. Now go.” They limped away. I watched them go. I was still at the edge of the battle so they should run into any monsters.

Pain flared in my back. Something barreled into me while I watched them, launching me forward. I rolled on the ground, attempting to move with the momentum and lessen the blow. I jumped back up and looked at my attacker.

It was a giant cyan goat but with large ram horns on its head. Not the tri-horned ones I was used to and twice the size. It kicked up dirt, preparing another charge.

I took the initiative, running at it first. You can’t let those things get up to speed, so cutting it off felt like the right choice. I charged forth, my spear aiming for its head, choosing not to use FnF this time. It needed to be used for emergencies only. Its stamina drain would be too great and I couldn’t afford it this time.

Its horns shone in the sunlight with a bright red glow. Shit ability! The beast’s head slammed into the ground, making the ground crack in front of it. Not large cracks, but just big enough to get my right foot caught while I ran at it.

I pulled on my foot, releasing it quickly. I looked back at the huge goat, only to catch a glimpse of its horns coming straight for my face. Fuck.

I brought the spear up to guard the blow. It took a large majority of the blow, but it still sent me flying back through the air. I landed hard on my already sore back. The wind now completely knocked out of me. I gasped for air. Need to get up. I heard its charge come again. NOW!

I struggled to my knees and then on all fours. I grasped at the spear and held it up to block another blow, not that I could get into a good stance from a kneeling position. Feels like an emergency to me. I activated FnF, rolling out of the goat’s advance just before it got to me. I swiped at its side while it moved but I could only shave its leg leaving a shallow cut. 63% stamina. For half a second too. I got up from the ground and ran at it before it turned around.

I shoved the spear in its hind leg, which promptly kicked out, just grazing my stomach. I tried to pull the spear out, but it was stuck again. Well, I knew what to do about that. I twisted and yanked the spear like I had with the wolf.

Crack!

I fell on my ass. I brought the spear to my face. Half of the spear that is. I looked at the goat who turned and got right in front of me, the other half of my spear sticking out of its ass. Awesome…

Its horns glowed red again while it roared out. I activated FnF again, but instead of dodging, I crammed the broken spear into the monster’s mouth. I jumped back while the goat gagged and sputtered, trying to remove the broken shaft wedged next to its larynx. I took the chance to retrieve the actual deadly side of my spear.

That proved to be another challenge though, seeing as the goat was now bucking around the area like a pissed off bull at the rodeo which would have been quite the scene, if it wasn’t heading straight for another soldier caught in the middle of a fight with a toxic boar.

“Shit.” I thought it was going to crush the fox eared fighter, but it changed direction and slammed right into the side of the boar. The man was surprised of course but took the chance to slice into the ram’s neck with his great sword. I hopped on the back of it and pulled my broken spear free. Then launched at the boar and stabbed through its throat.

I got my bearings back and checked on the fox man. He stabbed into the goat's chest, making sure it was dead.

“Strange way to assist but I will take it, thanks.” He grinned at me, his face covered in blood and sweat. He must have been fighting since the start. “Anytime,” I answered.

I looked back around, trying to regain my bearings.

“What are you looking for?” The man’s orange ears twitched as he asked.

“Need to find the guard officer who was around the building over there. Salamandran splicer, bald, wields a glaive. I’ve orders to bring him back to the tent. We need him so we can get some semblance of order to this fight.” I spoke out, my eyes glued to the battlefield. I was looking around, making sure we didn’t get blindsided.

The man nodded. “Sergeant Ghrond. That’s who you're looking for. He‘s my commanding officer. There were kids out training when this went down, he ordered us to protect them. I went after a pair of half elves who ran the wrong way. Reckon they didn't make it. I was too busy with these rascals.” He pointed at three other boar carcasses lying around.

“Boy had shells on his shoulder?”

He nodded, surprise all over his face.

“I think he will make it, I sent him and the girl over to the medic tent.”

“Good, then I’m free. Let’s find Sarge.”