The forest began to thin after five days of travel.
The dense canopy that had surrounded K-10 and Seralyth gradually gave way to scattered trees and longer stretches of open ground. The oppressive darkness of the Black Forest Region receded behind them, replaced by sunlight that spread across a landscape of rolling hills and grass.
K-10 stepped out from beneath the last line of trees.
Seralyth followed a few paces behind and looked back at the forest.
“I am relieved to be out of there.”
She adjusted the straps of her pack before looking toward the road ahead.
“I am also tired of walking. We should have horses.”
“The Guild could not afford them.”
“Lyra could have found some.”
“The Guild is struggling financially. There was no money for horses.”
Seralyth sighed but said nothing more.
K-10 continued forward, his attention shifting toward the terrain.
The landscape had changed dramatically. The forest floor had disappeared beneath broad stretches of grass, broken by long, gradual slopes and shallow depressions. The terrain reminded him of places on Earth.
He stopped and studied the surroundings.
His eyes moved across the ridgelines first, then the valleys between them. He examined the scattered tree clusters and the folds in the ground where someone could conceal themselves from travelers on the road.
The terrain offered long sightlines but little cover. Any force approaching across the open grasslands would be visible from considerable distance, while the few areas of concealment were obvious enough to become natural positions for an ambush.
“The terrain is similar to the Midwestern grasslands,” K-10 said. “Some areas also resemble the Eurasian steppes.”
Seralyth looked toward him.
“Those are places on Earth?”
“Yes.”
She studied the hills for a moment.
“It looks peaceful.”
“Peaceful terrain does not indicate a lack of threats.”
Seralyth gave him a sideways glance.
“Of course.”
They continued along the narrow path.
It wound through the grass for several hundred meters before gradually widening. Ahead, two worn tracks converged with a much larger road.
The difference was immediate.
The smaller path was little more than a trail through the grass. The road ahead was broad enough for multiple wagons to travel side by side, its surface marked by deep wheel ruts and the flattened grass of frequent traffic.
Seralyth recognized it immediately.
“The King’s Road.”
K-10 approached the intersection and stopped.
He looked down the road in both directions. It extended across the hills before disappearing over a distant rise.
K-10 retrieved the map and compared the surrounding terrain with the route marked across the page. His eyes moved between the map and the landscape several times before he folded it and secured it again.
“The location is consistent.”
“So this is the road to Ansell-Vend?”
“One of the primary routes.”
They stepped onto the King’s Road and continued east.
After several hours, K-10 consulted the map again.
“There should be a town within two days.”
Seralyth adjusted her pack.
“I am looking forward to a bed.”
K-10 returned the map to his equipment.
The road remained quiet for several more hours.
Then he stopped.
Seralyth took another step before noticing.
“What is it?”
K-10 turned his head slightly and listened.
At first there was only the wind moving through the grass.
Then the sound reached them.
Shouting.
Metal striking metal.
Something large bellowed in the distance.
“I hear commotion ahead,” K-10 said.
Seralyth listened for another moment before nodding.
“I hear it too.”
K-10 looked toward the nearest hill.
“Higher ground.”
They left the road and moved up the slope.
K-10 kept his profile low as they climbed. Seralyth followed close behind, her bow already in her hands.
Near the crest, K-10 stopped.
He slowly raised his head above the ridge.
Below them, the King’s Road had become a battlefield.
A merchant caravan had been attacked.
Several wagons stood at awkward angles across the road. One had overturned, spilling crates and supplies into the grass. Merchants and guards were scattered around the vehicles, some attempting to defend themselves while others dragged wounded men away from the road.
Something enormous moved among them.
K-10 focused his attention on the creature.
It resembled a rhinoceros, but it was considerably larger. Its body was massive, covered in thick armored plates that extended across its shoulders, back, and flanks. Heavy limbs drove it forward with surprising speed, while two large horns projected from its head.
The creature struck one of the wagons.
Wood splintered beneath the impact.
Seralyth stared at it.
“A Bicornitrax.”
K-10 glanced toward her.
“You know the species?”
“Yes. They are extremely dangerous.”
K-10 returned his attention to the creature.
“It resembles a rhinoceros.”
“A what?”
“An animal from Earth.”
Seralyth looked back toward the road.
“Your rhinoceros sounds considerably less dangerous.”
K-10 continued observing.
He studied the creature’s armor, movement, horns, and attack pattern. Then his attention shifted to the caravan.
Several guards were already down. The remaining defenders were struggling to keep the Bicornitrax away from the wagons. Every charge forced them farther back.
K-10 assessed the situation.
The merchants did not have much time.
“I choose to engage.”
Seralyth looked at him and nodded with approval.
“The armor is strongest along its body,” she said. “The back of its head is exposed. There is a gap between the armor and the neck.”
K-10 studied the creature and confirmed the vulnerability.
Seralyth stood and drew an arrow.
Light gathered around the shaft as she infused it with energy. She continued charging until the glow reached maximum intensity, then released.
The arrow crossed the distance in an instant.
It struck the exposed section at the back of the Bicornitrax’s head.
The creature staggered.
For several seconds, it remained motionless.
Then it raised its head.
The arrow had wounded it, but it had not killed it.
The Bicornitrax released a deafening roar and turned toward the hill.
Its eyes found K-10 and Seralyth.
It lowered both horns and charged.
K-10 stepped forward.
The Bicornitrax reached the slope at full speed.
Seralyth fired first.
Her arrow struck the creature’s armored shoulder, forcing it to veer slightly. K-10 used the opening to close the distance.
The Bicornitrax swung its head.
K-10 ducked beneath the horns as they passed over him and drove his blade into the armored flank. The Lunarium blade scraped across the creature’s plating with a sharp metallic crack.
The Bicornitrax twisted violently.
Its massive body struck K-10 and threw him several meters across the grass.
He rolled once and came back to his feet.
Seralyth was already moving.
She fired another light-infused arrow into the exposed portion of its neck.
The Bicornitrax roared and turned toward her.
K-10 intercepted it.
The beast charged again.
He planted his feet and met it head-on.
The impact shook the ground.
Its horns struck his armor, but the Lunarium plating held. K-10 was driven backward several meters, his boots cutting trenches through the earth.
Seralyth fired again.
The arrow struck the same vulnerable area.
The Bicornitrax turned toward her, but K-10 attacked from the opposite side.
Seralyth moved with him.
They no longer needed to call out their intentions. When K-10 drew the creature’s attention, Seralyth attacked its exposed areas. When her arrows forced it to turn, K-10 closed the distance and struck from another angle.
Their movements had become complementary, each fighter exploiting the opening created by the other.
The Bicornitrax charged repeatedly.
Each attack was powerful enough to kill a normal warrior. Its horns struck K-10’s armor. Its armored body slammed into him and sent him across the ground. It threw him against the earth and continued charging.
The Lunarium Tactical Armor absorbed the punishment.
Seralyth’s armor endured the creature’s attacks as well. She was forced to retreat several times, but the protective plating held against glancing impacts and flying debris.
The battle spread across the hillside.
Grass was torn from the earth, dirt and stone filled the air, and the merchants below could do little more than watch as the fight moved away from the caravan.
The Bicornitrax began to slow.
Its movements became heavier. Its charges grew shorter, and its breathing became increasingly labored.
K-10 remained standing.
His movements had not changed.
He had no fatigue to overcome.
The creature charged again.
K-10 stepped aside at the last moment.
The Bicornitrax passed him.
He struck the exposed section of its neck.
The creature stumbled.
Seralyth fired.
The light-arrow struck the same weakness.
The Bicornitrax stopped.
For several seconds, it stood motionless.
Then it slowly turned toward K-10.
The two stared at one another.
K-10 remained still.
The Bicornitrax gave a low snort.
It turned away from him and began walking down the hill.
Neither K-10 nor Seralyth pursued it.
The creature continued across the grasslands, gradually disappearing into the tall vegetation of the plains.
K-10 watched until it was several hundred meters away.
Behind him, Seralyth dropped to the ground.
She landed on her back and stared at the sky, breathing heavily.
“Please,” she said between breaths, “let us never encounter one of those again.”
K-10 looked toward the plains.
“Agreed.”