It was almost unfair, the sheer amount of attacks that were suddenly directed towards the rock-thrower ape. Two little humans with pointy sticks, sure, but then the ice that flew through the air? The log? The little human that rushed out from nowhere and started doing lots of tiny cuts? The log? Then a thrown spear?

It was a lot, more than what the Abom could defend against, more than what the Abom could hope to withstand. Its rushdown was slowed by the five frozen lances that shot towards its body; it absorbed them with its limbs, but the blood still flowed, matting its fur. Turn towards the [i]whump whump[/i] of the thrown log, the Abom managed to catch it just in time, the uncomforting snapping of two ribs sounding through the air, as the makeshift javelin slammed into its chest. Muu appeared then, a flash of steel and crimson, but a wide swing forced the Bladedancer back, even as her saber snipped off three fingers. And yet, no reprieve could be found for the overwhelmed ape: Siwon filled in the gap that Muu left, the winged spear slicing shallowly into the knee, a light thrust unable to break through the bone beneath.

But it was enough to cause the ape to falter, and in that moment, Katya, too small to be noticed, popped up from behind it. The creature was tall, yes, but her quarterstaff was tall as well! Twisting her body for a heavy swing, she smacked it hard in the back of the head, just enough to stun it as Siwon’s spear flew through the air!

[i]THUNK![/i]

Tempered steel sank into the soft eye. The Fiend Knight wasn’t strong enough to throw such a weighty spear with any real proficiency, but proximity helped him here, and the ape finally fell back. Now, it was merely a matter of finishing the job. Muu, Ettamri, Siwon, Renauld, Katya. Who will claim that kill?

…

Meanwhile, Oscar was in the same position as the rock-thrower ape, in that he was outnumbered. His knife throw had been sloppy, the goblin’s dagger poorly balanced for any sort of throw and his own skill wholly lacking, and the knife ended up just clattering hilt-first against the fur of the grappler ape. Renauld’s frozen shackles had expired at this point as well, hardened ice turning to frost as the two Aboms freed themselves from their bonds. For a moment, neither side moved.

[b]“UOULOOO!”[/b]

The axe ape stomped up a cloud of snow, a blanket of white swallowing Oscar whole. It wasn’t harmful, but it was blinding, and by the time he wiped the detritus out from his eyes, the rest of the monsters were gone, leaving only large, well-defined tracks in the ground.

For now, it seemed as if the fight was over. All that was left then, was to check up on the motionless Argen, his body still strewn against the corpse of one of the monkey monsters.