"Three groups," Kaleesh said. "If we'd gone a quarter-mile further, they would have flanked us from both sides. It seems these Blightspawn aren't the mindless creatures I'd expected to face."

Arran cast a wary glance at the small group of Blightspawn on the hilltop. "If they aren't mindless monsters, there must be a reason they let themselves be spotted so easily."

"It seems your studies have paid off," Kaleesh said. "They made little effort to hide themselves. And worse, they haven't attacked us yet."

"Worse?" Sassun gave the captain a puzzled look. "How is that worse?"

"It means there's a fourth group," Arran said in a grim tone. "Behind us."

"Just so," Kaleesh confirmed, giving Arran an approving nod. "If the three groups ahead were the only ones, they could not afford to let us retreat. Even if they ran us down, one or two of us might escape and spread word of their presence."

"Then what are they planning?" Sassun asked, frustration written plain across his face. "And what do we do?"

"They intend for us to run," the captain said. "To flee whence we came, only to find our path blocked by more enemies. And as we try to fight our way through, these three groups ahead will attack us from behind."

Despite their predicament, Kaleesh sounded more impressed than concerned, almost as if he was pleasantly surprised by their enemies' strategy.

Arran, however, did not share the captain's appreciation of the carefully laid trap. Instead, he was more concerned with how they could escape it.

The answer came to him after barely a moment of thought. "We'll have to rush the hill."

He'd studied the captain's manuscripts well enough to know it was their best option. To destroy one of the groups before the rest could respond, and to seize a position the mercenaries could defend.

The hilltop offered their best chance at that. It was barely half a mile away — close enough for the mercenaries to reach before the other two groups arrived. And once they took it, they'd have the high ground, which would be no small advantage.

"My thoughts exactly," Kaleesh agreed. "The two of us will lead the charge. Sassun, your task is to hold off the other groups until the first is finished. Do not take any chances."

Sassun gave a small nod, eyes already fixed on the hill to their right as he studied the terrain. A few moments later, he joined the troops and began to give them their orders.

"Make it quick," Kaleesh called out to the commander. "I doubt our enemies will wait forever."

Yet although his voice sounded almost cheerful, when he turned to Arran, his eyes suddenly lacked all trace of his earlier boisterous confidence.

"We'll need to work fast," he said in a low voice. "If these Blightspawn are as strong as Raina said, the troops won't be able to resist them for long. Once the battle starts, every moment we waste puts their lives at risk."

Arran nodded, now understanding that the captain's lack of concern had merely been a facade, intended to bolster the mercenaries' spirits. "You'll take the lead?"

"I will," Kaleesh replied. "I'll do my best to break their ranks, so you can cut them down with that big sword of yours. And if any of the Blightspawn use magic, kill those first."

It was an instruction Arran didn't need. If he Sensed even the slightest bit of magic, he fully intended to slaughter the Blightspawn that used it instantly.

At that moment, Sassun's voice sounded. "We're ready."

Arran took a deep breath, calming his nerves for the battle ahead. Although he was confident of his own chances, he knew the mercenaries would face far greater danger. Whether they survived at all would depend on how fast he and the captain could defeat the Blightspawn.

"It's the burden of responsibility," the captain said, recognizing Arran's troubled expression. "But you can't let it weigh you down — not with battle ahead. Are you ready?"

Arran nodded. "I am."

"Then follow me."

There were no further words from the captain. As soon as he finished speaking, he set off toward the hilltop in the distance, his sword drawn as he ran through the grass at an inhuman speed.

Arran followed as best he could, but even so, Kaleesh pulled ahead almost instantly. Whatever Arran had learned of speed in months of training, it still wasn't nearly enough to match the captain.

The hilltop was half a mile away, but in less than ten seconds, Kaleesh had already covered a third of the distance. And as he drew nearer, his speed only increased further.

By now, the Blightspawn had clearly realized what was happening. More large figures appeared from behind the hilltop — a dozen, two dozen, and then even more. In moments, roughly forty of the creatures had appeared, their misshapen silhouettes standing out against the sky on the hill above.

There was movement below, as well. In the distance, more of the creatures poured forth from the village's gate, forming a group that was at least as large. And even further away, yet another group emerged from the tree line.

Arran cast only a single glance at the latter two groups before turning his attention back to Blightspawn on the hill. The only thing that mattered now was to defeat those, and to do so as quickly as possible.

Just a hundred paces now separated Kaleesh and the large group of Blightspawn, and as the captain charged, the creatures formed loose ranks, weapons drawn as they prepared to cut down the single attacker.

Yet as they awaited the attack, Kaleesh's pace suddenly quickened. His speed had been inhuman even on the approach, but now, there was an abrupt rush of movement so fast it seemed impossible, his body a blur as he charged straight into the ranks of the Blightspawn.

In an instant, a fountain of blood gushed forth from the neck of one of the eight-foot creatures, and it collapsed to the ground a moment later. And even as the first abomination hit the ground, another lost an arm, and a third was pierced through the chest.

Howls of pain and anger sounded from the giant creatures, their ranks collapsing into chaos as they turned around to chase the attacker who had cut through their ranks so easily.

And as their attention was seized by the first attacker, most of the creatures seemed to have forgotten all about the second.

Yet Arran was only moments behind Kaleesh. And while a handful of Blightspawn readied themselves for his attack, the others were still falling over each other as they tried to attack the captain.

As he neared the Blightspawn, Arran had a moment to see that the creatures were every bit as monstrous as Raina had said. Easily eight feet tall, their skin was scarred and burned, stretched thin over grotesque bodies that bulged with unnatural muscle.

And then, he was upon them.

The first two Blightspawn died instantly, as Arran swung his giant sword in a devastating strike that tore through both their bodies and armor with equal ease. And the third fell just as easily, its skull crushed when its crudely forged helmet was hit by Arran's blade.

Yet a fourth Blightspawn came barreling at Arran immediately. He severed the creature's sword arm at the shoulder before it could strike, but its massive body slammed into him an instant later, hitting with such force that he was knocked to the ground.

As he hit the ground, a rough steel weapon came arcing down at his head. He narrowly managed to block it, then cut the attacker's legs off at the knees before jumping to his feet again.

But already, more of the creatures attacked, and he was forced to step back. Yet even as he retreated, the Blightspawn charged at him, attacking as fast as he could cut them down. And even with their bodies torn and rent, they continued to attack, trying to drag him to the ground as their blood gushed to the ground.

It only took Arran a moment to recognize his mistake.

He'd fought the creatures as if they were human opponents — more concerned with protecting their lives than defeating their enemies. But these creatures had no fear. They fought to kill, not to survive.

Once more, Arran attacked. And this time, he tore through them with the fury of an enraged dragon, his blood-soaked weapon ripping through all the creatures that came within its range.

He massacred his way through the group like a whirlwind of blood, leaving only carnage in his wake, the Blightspawn's bodies mutilated beyond recognition where he passed.

Still, they continued to charge him, howling in rage as they threw themselves upon his sword. And as they met their deaths, their blood-red eyes showed not even the slightest trace of fear.

Yet now that Arran knew how the creatures fought, his advantage was too great for them to overcome. Strong though the monsters might be, they lacked skill and insight, their attacks relying only on strength and brutality.

Twice, he Sensed Essence building within the Blightspawn, but each time, he cut the creatures down before they could use whatever magic they had.

The battle was brief but brutal. Less than a minute after the Kaleesh had struck his first blow, the last of the Blightspawn in the group died, its body cleaved from neck to waist by Arran's blade.

There was no time to rejoice. As Arran killed the last creature, he saw that the second group of Blightspawn had already reached the mercenaries.

With a single glance, he saw that the battle was not going well.

The mercenaries had formed a line of spears, impaling any creature that came near. Had their opponents been human, the defense would have been impenetrable.

Yet these creatures did not care for their lives, and they charged the line without hesitation, attacking the mercenaries without concern for the spears that tore through their flesh.

Just in the few seconds it took Arran to reach the fray, two of the mercenaries. One was dragged to the ground by a dying Blightspawn, while the other had his throat torn out by a creature that charged up his spear.

Enraged by the sight, Arran rushed forward, his blade ripping through his enemies as he struggled to get between the monsters and his allies.

Any Blightspawn that came before him died instantly, their bodies ruined as he rained down devastating blows upon them. But even so, he could not stop all of them. And behind him, he heard the screams of his wounded allies.

The sound fed his rage further, and he attacked the creatures with a bloodlust that exceeded their own, his frenzied blows leaving a trail of devastation where he passed.

Yet the Blightspawn were too many to be defeated easily. And although Arran destroyed any of them that attempted to use magic, two managed to get of magic attacks — dense balls of Fire Essence that struck the mercenaries' line with devastating power.

Arran had no time to think of the damage. All he could do was kill the creatures as fast as he could, tearing through their ranks with the fury of a madman.

He did not know how long the battle lasted. But then, suddenly, it was over — the last Blightspawn had been slain, and the only sounds that remained were the cries of the wounded mercenaries.

Arran turned to his allies immediately, and he was filled with shock when he saw the devastation the battle had wrought.

Only half the mercenaries still stood, while the others were either dead or wounded. And even those who remained on their feet bore numerous injuries.

Before he had a chance to fully take in the disastrous outcome of the battle, the captain's voice sounded.

"Leave the dead!" Kaleesh yelled. "Carry the wounded into the village! Now!"

Arran's confusion lasted only a moment. Then, he saw it — the fourth group of Blightspawn, less than two miles in the distance. And even from here, he could tell that there were at least two hundred of the creatures.

There was no time to question the captain's order. At once, Arran carefully picked up a wounded mercenary from the ground, doing his best to ignore the man's groans of pain.

The others followed close behind him as he hurried toward the village's opened gates — the gates that had failed to protect the villagers.