Chapter 99: Speed Run, Real Time Attack - Run 1
A sudden movement made Kir turn, just in time for his spinal ridge to knock away a short-sword that had been headed for his heart.
The assailant was dressed in matte brown leather and grey cloth, with a grey mask that hid the bottom half of their face. They fell to the ground with a thud as Kir took a defensive stance. Then their friends appeared.
A large beastfolk man, goat-like in appearance but with wide horns starting at his brow ridge in addition to the ones on his forehead. Like protective mutton chops. He had a two-meter-long greatsword with what looked like an entire mace for a handle.
A dark-green orcish woman, broad-shouldered and wielding a long bow held her arrow ready from dozens of meters away. Her hair was straw-blonde and her face had a look of complete focus. Only the fact the beastfolk man had stepped in her way kept her from shooting.
Goat, Grey, and Archer - Kir identified and sorted them in his head for convenience.
From Kir’s left, the grey-clad assailant flipped onto their feet, a lithe figure of indeterminate species. They drew a second short sword, eyeing the one they’d let go of when it failed to impale Kir. Their black-painted eyes narrowed with annoyance. "It’s a pugilist," they said, an oddly pleasant lilt to their voice.
"Wrathian then," the goat-man’s voice boomed low. "Bones can’t break steel."
Wrathian?
"Wait, stop!" Kir tried to say as the greatsword was swung heavily at him. Even if he was comfortable in his warform, he was a much bigger target. And now that he saw some regular-sized people, he knew he was larger than Maledict had been when his mothers had fought him.
An arrow plinked off his horn an instant later, and Kir turned as quickly as he could, drawing Kangetsu from his shoulder storage as he dodged, using the blade to knock away the much thicker greatsword.
Kangetsu left a deep score in the metal that made the goat man snarl aggressively when he saw it. "You’ll regret that, demon."