The Grand Battle S2G1! [Round Six: Eddelin City]

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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With the aid of his gauntlets, Reinhardt was stronger than Arkal. But the smith had gravity on his side. It would ultimately be a question of who tired out first - unless, of course, there was an outside intervention.

Smith and Cedric arrived quietly; they didn't want to alert the strange blacksmith to their presence.

"Well, that does seem to be just as Girnham described it," Smith commented to his partner. "I suppose we should aim to capture him alive; after all, that elf is the entire reason we came here in the first place. She might have enraged him, in which case we'd only be losing a powerful ally."

Cedric nodded. "I'll distract him. You free Lord Reinhardt, if neccessary. I'm sure you can think of something."

Smith smirked, and ran off as Cedric advanced upon the scene, making as much noise as he could.

"Foul knave!" he shouted. "Release Lord Reinhardt at once, or taste the blade of Sir Cedric!"

Arkal cursed under his breath. He was making progress, however slight; Reinhardt's strength was starting to give way. He didn't need this interruption.

"I will not speak again, cur! Step away from his Lordship, or your life will be... AAAGH! Put me down, monster!"

Behind him, Arkal heard a loud buzzing, and the sound of a sword clattering against the ground.

"Pay no attention to this imbecile," said a new voice, somewhere in the air by the sounds of it. "He's got a friend lurking around, but I'll take care of him. Keep Reinhardt pinned."

"Let go of me!" Cedric shouted. "AAGH! The pain!"

Smith was amused. He rose from his hiding spot.

"Cole Aran!" he said with a smirk. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting yet. I look forward to delivering the news of your demise."

Cole said nothing, instead flying higher up. Smith pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Arkal.

"If you don't come down, Aran, I'll shoot this stranger and you'll lose your chance at Reinhardt. I'm sure you don't want to waste..."

"AAAAGH!"

Surprised by the noise, Smith looked up to see Cedric falling towards him. He prepared to get out of the way -

- and then, a moment later, discovered that someone else had done it for him.

"We'll handle this," said the someone else, before disappearing and reappearing beside Arkal. Smith had no idea who he was.

Or who his friends were. More people suddenly appeared; one was holding a very frightened and upside-down Cedric. Three had joined Smith's helper in attempting to aid Reinhardt with the anvil. Another had retreived Cedric's sword, and moments later was by the knight's side, helping him to his feet.

Arkal knew he wouldn't be able to take Reinhardt out with the added influx of people. Who were they, anyway? Mysteriously appearing out of nowhere...

Just like the Ovoid.

Arkal relented, and lifted the anvil himself. Better than his opponents using it against him. The probably-Ovoid-related men were lifted up with it; lacking the strength of Reinhardt or Arkal, they had to grip the anvil more tightly.

But this was a minor issue for them. Space warped around them, and they reappeared on the ground.

Reinhardt stood up. Slowly, Girnham did as well.

Unfortunately, the marine didn't have much chance to enjoy his newfound mobility, as a humanoid shape covered in insects flew down and tackled him. Already worn out from holding up Reinhardt's heavy armor, Girnham passed out from exhaustion.

The insect-covered creature stood up. His body appeared to be made of rotting meat, save for the wings on his back and the eyes and mandibles on his face. Arkal suspected this was the "Cole Aran" who had been addressed before.

"That's one down," he said. An Ovoid-person tried to tackle him, then screamed in pain as an electric shock struck his body.

He vanished, but did not reappear.

Cole's mandibles would have formed a grin if they could have.

"I don't know who you newcomers are, but if that was any indication, it seems you can't harm me."

"Well, perhaps not," said an Ovoid-man. "But they can."

Cedric and Smith turned their attention to the insect-man, as Reinhardt charged towards Arkal, backed up by the strangers.

Cole's body changed in response to the two-pronged; the shell of a stag beetle covered him, and his hands became scorpion claws. Cedric's sword and John's bullets couldn't piece it.

As for Arkal, he had no time to put away his anvil or take out a weapon. The Ovoid-people were quick to react to his strikes, though they landed few of their own, and Reinhardt could hardly be ignored; he was exhausted from the earlier ordeal, and it showed, but Arkal was barely in better shape.

Then a four-armed robot flew down and grabbed him, then flew away.

"About time," Cole mutted, shoving Cedric away just as Girnham regained consciousness and started to stagger to his feet. The insect-man grabbed the still-groggy marine, and flew off after Envoy.