To Moondragonfire, thank you for your support and for fueling our journey with your Powerstone! Your encouragement means a great deal.🫡😀
Vala's team, breathing heavily and showing signs of the struggle, quickly made their way to Usato. Their expressions were a mix of confusion, anticipation, and a hint of worry. 'Why did he call us back?' Wren wondered, his heart pounding in his chest. 'Did we mess up?' Naya kept her gaze low, fiddling with the straps of her wooden shield, while Torvin tried to appear more confident, though a flicker of unease crossed his brow. They looked at Usato, waiting to understand why they were pulled from the intense fight.
Usato saw their expressions, the raw confusion mixing with their exhaustion. "Quickly!" he urged, his voice firm but not harsh, "There's no time to explain! Just trust me!"
Usato's hand moved with practiced swiftness. From seemingly nowhere, three items materialized. They weren't carved wood or hammered metal, but sleek, almost crystalline constructs that shimmered with an internal light. He held them out to the bewildered trio.
"These," Usato began, his voice low but urgent, "are not like anything you've used before. But they are stronger. Much stronger."
He pushed a compact, hexagonal shield and a short, almost too-thin dagger into Naya's hands. The shield hummed faintly against her palm, and the dagger felt surprisingly light yet solid. "Naya, this is an Energy Shield and an Energy Dagger. The shield will absorb impact far better than wood. The dagger is sharp, but its true power is in precise strikes."
Next, he turned to Torvin, offering a collapsed rod that looked like nothing more than a polished stick. "Torvin, this is a Collapsible Energy Spear. It extends with a thought, and its tip is designed to pierce. Focus your intent on it."
Finally, for Wren, Usato presented a slender, dark grey bow that felt unnervingly light. "Wren, this is an Energy Bow. It doesn't use physical arrows. Channel your will, and it will generate energy bolts. Aim for precision, not power, at first."
The three young warriors stared at the strange implements, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Naya hesitantly ran a finger over the smooth surface of the Energy Shield. "Chief… what… what are these?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "They feel… different."
Torvin gripped the Collapsible Energy Spear, his brow furrowing as he tried to comprehend Usato's words. "Extend with a thought? How?"
Wren, usually keen, simply looked at the Energy Bow with a lost expression, accustomed to the familiar weight of wood and string. 'No arrows? How can it be a bow?'
Usato nodded, his gaze sweeping over them, acknowledging their confusion but giving no time for lengthy explanations. "There's no time for full lessons. You will learn to use them, or the ape will teach you a harsher one. These are formed from my unique totem. Think of them as an extension of your own will. They respond to your intent." He gestured towards Gorthok, who was still bravely, if somewhat brutishly, holding the enraged ape at bay. "Gorthok is doing well, but we won't win this by brute force alone, especially if more apes are coming."
He then lowered his voice, drawing them closer. "We need a new plan. A strategic engagement. Kael, you are with me. Vala, Ren, maintain your watch. Syka, prepare your archers. Elara, be ready for any injuries."
Kael, observing the strange glowing weapons, quickly snapped out of his momentary wonder. "A strategic engagement, Chief? How?"
Usato pointed further into the gorge, towards a narrow choke point between two large rock formations. "That narrow pass. It will limit its movement, force it to come at us in a line. Wren, your new Energy Bow will be crucial there for sustained pressure from afar. Torvin, Naya, with your new gear, you'll be the second line, flanking after Gorthok draws its focus."
"Gorthok will hold its attention as it passes the choke point. He will remain just beyond the pass, giving us time to adjust. Torvin, once it's through, you move to the right flank, Naya to the left. Wren, find an elevated position."
He looked at each of them, his eyes firm. "This isn't just about fighting. It's about strategy. Now, let's move!"
Gorthok, bellowing as the ape slammed into his Ironhide Bison totem once more, grunted with effort. The constant barrage was taking its toll, but he held his ground, his sheer tenacity unwavering. The translucent bison behind him pulsed faintly.
"Gorthok!" Kael yelled, stepping forward. "Fall back slowly! Engage it at the narrow pass! We're reinforcing your position!"
Gorthok, hearing Kael's command, let out a final, defiant roar, then began to slowly give ground, drawing the furious Iron-Backed Ape after him. The ape, its eyes red with unbridled rage, saw Gorthok retreating and pressed its advantage, eager to crush the stubborn warrior who had dared to stand against it.
As Gorthok slowly pulled back, the Evergreen Tribe began to reposition. Vala and Ren remained vigilant, scanning the horizon for any further threats. Syka's archers silently nocked arrows, ready to provide covering fire or support the coordinated attack. Usato, Kael, and the newly equipped youngsters moved swiftly, finding their designated positions around the narrow pass, the strange glow of their new weapons barely visible in the shadowed gorge. The air crackled with anticipation, a silent promise of the impending engagement.
Gorthok roared, a sound that echoed defiantly off the rock walls of the gorge as he slowly retreated, the massive Iron-Backed Ape lumbering after him with relentless fury. Each step Gorthok took backwards was a test of his strength and will, the ape's enraged bellows spurring him on despite the exhaustion creeping into his muscles. The narrow pass loomed ahead, a natural bottleneck in the landscape, promising a chance for his comrades to implement their strategy.
Wren, clutching the unfamiliar Energy Bow, scrambled to find a suitable perch. Spotting a jagged outcrop of rock overlooking the narrowest section of the pass, he nimbly climbed, his movements surprisingly agile despite his initial nervousness. Reaching the top, he looked down at the unfolding scene. Gorthok was just entering the bottleneck, the ape hot on his heels. Taking a deep breath, Wren focused his will as Usato had instructed. A faint blue light flickered at the center of the Energy Bow, coalescing into a bolt of pure energy. It felt strange, drawing power from within rather than relying on a physical arrow. With a hesitant aim, he released the energy, and the bolt shot downwards, striking the ape's thick fur on its shoulder. It wasn't a deep wound, but the sudden sting caused the ape to momentarily falter in its pursuit of Gorthok, buying the larger warrior a precious second.
Below, as the ape entered the narrow confines of the pass, its movements became restricted, its wide swings less effective. Gorthok, using his agility, managed to sidestep one of its clumsy swipes, the ape's massive fist scraping against the rock wall. This was the signal. Torvin, gripping his Collapsible Energy Spear, moved swiftly to the right, the polished rod extending into a gleaming spear with a sharp, crystalline tip with a flick of his wrist. He darted towards the ape's flank, aiming for the exposed skin beneath its powerful arm. Naya, with the Energy Shield held firmly before her and the Energy Dagger in her other hand, moved to the left. The hexagonal shield pulsed with a soft light as she used it to deflect a glancing blow from the ape's massive arm, the impact surprisingly gentle. She moved with a newfound confidence, the shield providing a sense of security she hadn't felt with the wooden one. Seeing an opening as the ape turned its attention towards Gorthok, she lunged forward, the Energy Dagger flashing as she made a quick, precise strike at the ape's leg. The blade, though thin, sliced through the tough hide, drawing a bellow of pain from the beast.
The narrow pass became a whirlwind of motion and sound. Gorthok continued to taunt and evade, drawing the ape's attention. Wren peppered the beast with energy bolts from above, each strike causing a flicker of irritation. Torvin probed its sides with his energy spear, finding gaps in its defenses and drawing blood. Naya, emboldened by the effectiveness of the Energy Shield and Dagger, moved with surprising agility, making quick, stinging strikes at the ape's limbs. The controlled chaos within the narrow passage was working, Usato's strategy beginning to bear fruit. The Iron-Backed Ape, though still powerful and enraged, was finding it difficult to focus its attacks and was starting to sustain noticeable injuries.