Chapter 131: B&C Interlude: Undeadtide II

Chapter 131: B&C Interlude: Undeadtide II

Fire. Fire and death everywhere. The town was ablaze, giants warred with cats, and Trench Dwarf 3 was digging for his life.

Keep going! The brave Cat Archer lived up to his title, firing arrow after arrow at the ever increasing tide of corpses battering their stronghold. Complete the defensive line or were doomed!

Trench Dwarf 3 grit his teeth, for he knew it was true. He had already lost his last remaining sibling when the northern defensive line fell. A collapse here would mean the end of his life and the death of all his comrades.

Yet no matter how quickly he dug into the earth, the distant wall he was meant to link up the trench with seemed forever out of reach. Each time he found a zombie stepping into his path, Cat Archers swift arrows knocked it down. Progress was slow, painful, and grueling.

But Trench Dwarf 3 did not despair. For the god of righteous war himself was watching over him from above. His armored, golden gauntlet wrestled with the undead gods withered hand in a dance that set the sky ablaze. Lightning struck after each clash.

The worlds fate hung on this battles outcome.

Here they come again! someone shouted, his warning swiftly drowned in the bloody gargle of his death. The ghastly wail of the undead echoed across the battlefield and drew ever closer to Trench Dwarf 3s position.

He dared to look over his tunnels edge and gazed upon the rotting face of death.

A shambling corpse dressed in a noblemans outfit rushed towards the trench, his rapier still painted red with Stonesiege Engineers blood. His eyes were black holes spewing darkness, and at his back were the horde of the dead and the damned.

The cursed Zombie Count himself was leading the charge!

Cat Archer paled at the sight, then readied his bow for one last stand. Finish it, finish it, finish it!

Yes! Tapping into all his remaining strength, Trench Dwarf 3 dug as he had never dug. The muscles in his arms strained from the sheer pressure of his work. Earth and stone alike bent before his will, his might, his dwarven spirit!

Until that fateful moment when his pickaxe bounced off an impregnable wall.

Done! Trench Dwarf 3 leaped out of his tunnel, his body sweating so profusely from exhaustion that his feet nearly slipped off. Done, done, done!

Good work! a new voice shouted from above. An ancient, one-eyed gnome in tattered robes floated down next to Trench Dwarf 3. The wooden staff in his hand glowed with magical power, but it was only half as long as the pointy hat on the newcomers head. We have them now!

Dwarf Magician! Cat Archers feline face morphed into a triumphant expression. As always, you arrive in the nick of time!

Trench Dwarf 3s smile didnt last longer than a second, for he immediately felt a fetid breath flowing upon his neck. He turned his head to see Zombie Count glaring at him on the other side of the trench. The rift was too large for the foul monster to jump over, so he swiftly turned his attention on the nearby wall.

We must combine our powers to bring him down! Dwarf Magician raised his scepter. Flames flickered at the tip. Let us clear the path!

Cat Archer readied his bow for the final slaughter. May your aim be true, wizard!

Fireball! Dwarf Magicians words were echoed by the crackling of magical flames. Trench Dwarf 3 leaped to the side as his friend unleashed a crimson sphere of raw magic. Return to the Hell you crawled from, vile specters!

Dwarf Magicians projectile exploded in the zombies midst and annihilated three of them in a single strike. The explosion illuminated the night like the dawn set the sky ablaze. The magical fire consumed part of the counts tattered clothes and boiled what remained of his pallid skin, but failed to bring him down for good.

That was the cue Cat Archer was waiting for. Flanking attack!

He let loose a single arrow faster than lightning. The projectile pierced through the air with a booming sound before impacting the Zombie Counts skull. Such was the strength of the blow, that the arrow continued its course afterward while carrying the head with it.

The dreaded Zombie Counts corpse fell into the trench, never to rise again.

It is done Trench Dwarf 3 could hardly believe his eyes. His heart pulsed like a drum as he rose back to his feet. You got him!

The battle isnt over yet, Cat Archer said morosely, before swiftly interrogating Dwarf Magician. What of Inferno King Surtr? Has he been dealt with?

Our Shieldmasters pinned him between the trenches and the river, Dwarf Magician replied, smiling at Trench Dwarf 3. Your brothers masterwork protects us even in death.

Trench Dwarf 3 graciously accepted the compliment, but he couldnt find it in himself to be happy. Not even victory would make up for the gruesome death of his brethren. He could only pray their god would welcome them in his Inventory heaven, so that they might fight forevermore.

Very well. Cat Archer raised a paw towards their new destination. We shall retreat north and reinforce the front

A flash of steel silenced him forever.

The projectile moved so fast that Trench Dwarf 3 didnt even see it in action. The result, however, was unmistakable: Cat Archers throat split open at the jugular and sprayed out a fountain of blood. The commander collapsed dead in the ashes of his many foes.

C-Commander! Dwarf Magician choked in surprise and immediately moved to the archers side in a vain attempt to save. Too late. His death had been instantaneous. Commander!

Trench Dwarf 3 froze in terror. The death was sudden, brutal, and most importantly, far too familiar.

A dagger, Trench Dwarf 3 realized upon identifying the projectile still nailed in the ground. No its him

Got you, kitty.

The killer appeared atop a pile of burning stones and towered over both dwarves. Bandages reddened by all the blood he had shed covered every inch of his skinless, rotting body. He was as gaunt as he was tall, with the quickness of a panther and an appetite for death to match. His single yellow eye gleamed with bloodlust.

Trench Dwarf 3s hold on his pickaxe tightened. His throat swelled with rage as he called out the murderers name. Mummy Assassin!

Ohoh? The cruel undeads dagger instantly teleported back to his hand. You know me?

Youve killed my little brother. Trench Dwarf 3 grit his teeth, his soul heavy with loss and regrets. And your wyvern-riding pal murdered the other!

Ive slain so many dwarves today, but I think I know the one youre speaking off. He died begging for his life. The assassin flashed a ghastly grin as he raised his bloody dagger. Like an elf.

You bastard Trench Dwarf 3 trembled with such anger that he nearly broke his own pickaxe. Kisama

No, hes baiting you! Dwarf Magician shouted in alarm. Dont

But Trench Dwarf 3 did not listen. The flames around him didnt burn half as bright as the brasier of revenge within his heart.

On my honor as a dwarf, on my brothers name! Trench Dwarf 3 raised his pickaxe and charged. I shall slay you where you stand, villain!

Ohoh! So bold! Mummy Assassin gathered momentum to throw his dagger. And so very dead!

Trench Dwarf 3 knew he had no chance. The Mummy Assassin was quicker, deadlier, stronger. Yet he charged without fear, for it was in the face of death that ones bravery showed.

Oh just god of war, he prayed in his heart, guide my arm!

God answered his prayer with a bullet of justice to the spine.

The sound of a gunshot echoed across the battlefield, swiftly followed by a hole opening in Mummy Assassins chest. The undead was as surprised as his foe. A flanking attack?!

The wound was small, but the distraction was enough for Dwarf Magician to capitalize upon. The sorcerer pointed his staff at the undead and blasted his dagger off his hand; leaving him wide open.

Trench Dwarf 3 raised his pickaxe and gazed upon the face of his nemesis. His lone eye was stark open in abject terror. When you killed my brother, did he look as frightened as you?

Curse you, Mummy Assassin snarled, his hand desperately grasping towards his fallen dagger. Curse you, dwarf

Trench Dwarf 3 split his head open with his pickaxe. The monsters shattered skull fell into pieces upon the bloodsoaked earth.

Calamity Nidhogg, Forever SerpentCost: 15Range: 5 (Targets all units within 3x3 tiles)Move: 2 (Foot/Flight/Dig/Swim)Pow/Def: +20/+20Ouroboros: Immediately returns from the dead after being destroyed; this ability cannot be negated in any way.DwarfensteinCost: 3Range: 1Move: 4 (Foot)Pow/Def: +1/+1Deadjack: When one of your opponents units would be revived from the grave, you can take control of it. You can only Deadjack one unit, and you lose control of it if Dwarfenstein is removed from the board.

Basil spent his last resources to summon a new dwarf unit right next to his catapults: a small, bearded humanoid wearing a belt of explosives.

Dwarf PhilosopherCost: 2Range: 1Move: 4 (Foot)Pow/Def: +1/+0For a Just Cause: Can sacrifice itself to destroy all adjacent units, regardless of their defense.

Walters blood froze in his veins. Too far, he said, grasping at straws. My Nidhogg is ten spaces away. You will never reach it even with a catapults help.

Chief Hagens glee turned to sorrow. He had seen something his employer did not. Its already over.

Walter frowned in confusion until Basil made his move.

I use my first Dwarf Catapult, he said, to propel the second five spaces closer to your Nidhogg.

Walters eyes widened in alarm as a dwarf catapult was flung halfway across the battlefield. The necromancer immediately recognized the unit for it was.

A link in a chain.

I follow through by using my Duergar Witchmatrones Refreshing Brew on my first catapult, which can now fire again. Basil grabbed his Dwarf Philosopher. I use the first catapult to throw my suicide bomber at the second, which will then fire him again five spaces forward!

Walter could only watch as the tool of his destruction was flung across the board.

As Dwarf Philosopher climbed into the catapult, he looked up to the sky one last time. The golden hand of the war god shone brightly in the darkness like a beacon of hope. Even in the bleakest of time can one find comfort in the fortress of faith.

Is it death that gives life meaning? Dwarf Philosopher pondered out loud. There was never a better time to confront the universes secrets than when it threatened to end. Are we born for the purpose of dying? Do things need to be finite to have a point? Is that the curse of free-will, that we must find our own answers before our time draws near? Or is it true that mortals have no control, not even over their destiny? All I know

He gathered his breath as he reached his final conclusion.

Is that I know nothing!

In the end, it mattered not to him. Some would say that a good death was passing away of old age in a bed. Dwarf Philosopher begged to differ.

A good death was one without regret after a life well-lived.

The moment and method did not matter. Dwarf Philosophers existence on this board had been short, but well-spent. He left behind no remorse, no unachieved task, no dream left unfulfilled. His death would follow the same principles.

The great pale serpent opened his mouth to roar at him. Such was its height that its wings cast a shadow over the entire battlefield. Countless heroes had fled in the face of this behemoth, this apocalypse engine.

Not Dwarf Philosopher. The catapult threw him across the air straight into the monsters jaws.

He would not falter, even in the face of hell itself!

Let this be my last words! Dwarf Philosopher lit his belts fuse mid-flight. The future of dwarfkin is brighter than the stars!

Fire engulfed him, and all became light.

A hole opened on Basils chest as his unit self-destructed.

He knew he would bear his soldiers death on his flesh and conscience, but he soldiered on all the same. Victory excused everything.

Walter too shared his miniatures pain. He felt the flames licking his flesh and the sheer overwhelming weight of the enemys fighting spirit. But when his prized Nidhogg rose from the dead, it was no longer under his control. The beast he had sacrificed so much to summon now obeyed another.

And his last commander was within its attack range.

I cant do anything. Walter scanned the board in search of a last-ditch contingency in his panic. He found none. I cant do anything!

The impossible had happened.

Walter Tye was about to lose at Board & Conquest.

Walter.

Walter locked eyes with his opponent.

You must seem like a master player to most but to me? Basils hand moved across the board. You are nothing more

He flipped Dullahan Duke over.

Than a filthy casual.

Dullahan Duke watched on with grim pleasure as Nidhogg rose anew.

He had to admit that this dwarf had guts. He had managed to blow the pale serpents head off like a chicken. It had all been for nothing, of course, but at least he had died a martyr. It was more than all the dwarves could expect once Nidhogg was done slaughtering them.

The age of dwarves is over, Dullahan Duke boasted as Nidhogg fully regenerated. The age of the undead has begun

The great serpent had turned its head in the Dukes direction.

What? The undead commanders surprise turned to horror as his masters greatest servant opened its mouth. No, no, no!

Already the Vampire Ratking and other vermin scampered off in panic. No matter how fast they fled, it made no difference. The great Nidhoggs dark breath swallowed all.

Its impossible! Duke Dullahan raised a defiant sword, unable to accept the truth. I refuse to die until I have accomplished the will of my god!

The darkness he had so fervently worshiped vaporized him in an instant.

For those who live by evils laws, by evil deeds shall perish!

The final attack threw Walter across the room.

The thunderstorm summoned into the room violently cleared off with the sound of fingersnap. The accumulated energy unleashed a shockwave that overturned chairs, shelves and everything not nailed down to the floor. Hagen stumbled while Vasis forcefield cracked like glass. It was a testament to her skills that it held at all.

When the wind died down at last, only the board table stood intact. Basil Bohen had collapsed on it, barely hanging on to life.

Chief? Hagen immediately rushed to his employers side. Are you all right?

I am fine, Hagen. Walters physical wounds were already healing on their own. He couldnt say the same for the mental ones. I I have lost fair and square.

It hurt to say these words, and yet and yet Walter felt an odd sense of gratefulness as he uttered them. He glanced at the board table.

Basils hand was grasping the Nidhogg figurine he had bet so much to win.

Walter was furious at his loss. His pride demanded retribution, which he would earn at the gaming table. But in a way, he was thankful. Walter had been reminded that for all of his power, he could still lose.

I think I understand your resolve now, Basil. It was the same Walter once possessed, before too many victories lulled him into a false sense of complacency. You have reminded me what true strength is the way only a friend could.

Basil Bohen would become Overgod. Walter no longer doubted it.

Well, this was a colossal waste of time. Vasi dusted off her robes. Can we go back to saving the world, please?