Roy had worked tirelessly, a small grin sneaking across his lips. "So this is what it's like," Roy thought, "to help people without raining artillery or spooking them half to death."
Then came a shrill blast of alarm bells, rudely yanking him from his brief reverie. The ground shook beneath pounding footsteps, and Roy felt his stomach flip. A thunderous roar rumbled over the rooftops.
"Well that feeling was short lived," Roy groaned.
"Three Titanocyclops!" the branch master yelled as he spotted them in the distance. "Each one's no less than two hundred feet tall. Bows and and magic might as well be spit against them. They're marching straight at the city!"
Eryndra's cloak swirled in the sudden gust, matching Roy's hammering pulse. "Titanocyclops? Seriously?" Roy muttered. "As if giant one-eyed monsters were top of my to-do list today." He glanced at Lutrian, who just frowned like he half-thought Roy was kidding.
"These monsters are typical found in the Seriat Desert Lake region, they don't normally wander this far away," Lutrian murmured. "Could it be...?"
The branch master spat. "We figure it's 'cause that ancient sea serpent mysteriously died off near the coast not long ago. Now these big uglies think the turf's open for business." His glare swung toward Roy. "This might be the worst threat we've had in ages."
Roy groaned, planting a hand on his face. "I blow up one stupid serpent, and the rest of the giant beasts file a formal complaint. Great." He let out a short breath. "So, you're gonna fight them?" he asked the guild master.
The old man straightened his back which unleashed a symphony of pops. "We have to. If the guild doesn't hold 'em off, the city's toast."
Roy's breath hitched, nerves rattling. He let it all simmer for a moment, then set his jaw. This was no time to back away. Turning to Eryndra and the Presidroids, he said, "Stay cool. I'll handle it."
She lifted an eyebrow. "All three? Alone?"
The branch master's eyes bulged. "My Lord, these Titanocyclops aren't exactly pushovers, and the S-classers are still mentally fried from your meeting!"
Roy stepped forward, cloak whipping dramatically. "Not a 'Lord,' and normal methods never were my style." He nodded at the branch master. "Just keep everyone safe. Don't let anybody get stomped or get in my way."
Eryndra looked like she was about to protest, but Roy raised a hand. "Relax. If I can nuke a giant sea worm, I can definitely blow these three up, too."
She exhaled, a hint of relief crossing her face. "Oh, good. For a second there, I thought you planned to go punch them in the ankles."
A tense hush fell over the town. Townsfolk and guild members hovered between awe and pure terror. Roy took a breath, checking his twin pistols under his cloak, while Teddy and Lincoln stayed close. Far off, the three towering silhouettes roared again, making the windows rattle. Roy's stomach fluttered, but resolve burned deeper.
Roy surveyed the city walls, late-afternoon air biting at his cheeks. The three Titanocyclops trudged closer like mountains that decided to walk over for a chat. Sirens rang out, and citizens scrambled for cover as they came within view over the wall.
"We need higher ground," Roy said, swallowing a lump in his throat. "Eryndra—help me get up that watchtower."
She gave a nod and wrapped an arm around his waist. With one graceful bound, she perched on a ledge, Roy in tow. Her cloak streamed behind her like a dramatic superhero cape. Below, Teddy took the scenic route via the steep staircase, less flashy, but it got him there. Lincoln stayed at street level, orchestrating triage with local volunteers.
Atop the tower, Roy steadied himself against the stone. The three Titanocyclops were clearer now—each had one huge, glaring eye and monstrous horns or ridges, their every step shaking the city. Down below, the branch master barked orders to man the ballistae, though that might be like throwing pebbles at a tank.
Roy's heart hammered. "This is bad," he muttered. "The Nightshatter should make quick work of this...I hope."
"You're thinking about shelling them from ten miles out?" Eryndra asked.
"Bingo." Roy pulled out his phone, screen flickering to life. He angled it so whoever was on the other end could see the towering nightmares. "Serenity, we got a situation, you read me?"
A crackle. Then a familiar voice: "Loud and clear, Captain Roy Gunn. I'm receiving the feed now."
"Open fire with the main guns," Roy ordered, ignoring the spike of adrenaline that buzzed through him. "They're well within range, right?"
"Confirmed," Serenity replied calmly, like she was noting the day's weather. "Standing by."
Roy felt a faint tingle in his chest, almost like he could sense the battleship's gun turrets pivoting. "Commence firing."
Far away, a muffled boom rolled across the horizon. A few moments later, Roy heard shells whistling overhead. Explosions battered the Titanocyclops, flinging up geysers of dirt and debris. One staggered with a pained roar; the other two kept on trucking like it was just a minor inconvenience.
From the tower, Roy watched shell after shell burst against thick hides. The beasts slowed a bit but didn't drop. Eryndra leaned forward. "They hurt?"
Roy squinted through the dust. "They're bleeding, but they're still coming. Serenity, keep 'em coming!"
"Understood," Serenity said. Another volley of rounds whooshed across the sky. The city defenders gawked at the unreal spectacle of artillery hitting. The blasts quaked the stone under Roy's boots.
The lead cyclops let out a feral cry, chest peppered with craters but still hideously intact. "This is ridiculous," Roy snarled. "We're hitting them with hard, but they won't go down."
Eryndra flicked a glance at his phone. "What about the railgun?"
Roy tightened his grip on the parapet. "You savage... Serenity, prime the railgun. Target the one in the middle. Let it rip."
A beat passed. Then: "Charging railgun. Stand by. Firing… now."
Time seemed to freeze, like the world held its breath. Roy glimpsed a streak of light in the distance, then the center Titanocyclops torso burst in a grisly explosion of gore and smoke. A monstrous crack shattered the air louder than thunder on steroids. "One down."
Cheers rose from the watchers, though the two remaining beasts roared, stepping around their fallen buddy. One nursed a heavily shelled arm but barreled forward anyway.
Teddy reached the tower's top, suit whipping in the wind. "Captain, your sandwich!"
Roy nodded and snatched the sandwich. "Serenity, same plan. Railgun the left one next."
"Charging," Serenity said.
Below, archers and ballista crews fired to no effect. The left cyclops hefted a giant slab of rock, arm cocked to throw. Roy's gut clenched. "Don't waste your ammo!" he ordered. They couldn't hear over the wind.
The left Titanocyclops threw a boulder on his hip at one of the ballista crews, halfway through its swing Roy heard the arm crack the sound barrier and the boulder. Eryndra launched in its path and shattered it with a single punch. As she landed she jumped back to Roy.
"You scare me sometimes," Roy said softly as she landed.
A second railgun blast ripped through the sky, splitting the left Titanocyclops in half. Its upper body vanished in a gross hail of flesh. The last one bellowed rage, picking up speed and closing the gap fast.
Roy felt his heart skip. "Serenity, we need another shot, like, now."
"Railgun reloading and recharging," came the composed reply. "Fifteen seconds to go."
Fifteen seconds might as well be a century. The cyclops was maybe four hundred yards out. Ballista bolts bounced off its hide like toothpicks, and it roared again, hurling a boulder that smashed an empty watchpost to rubble.
Eryndra tensed. "If it breaks through the walls, hundreds will die."
"I know," Roy rasped. His mind spun. "Just hold on a second." He raised his infinite-ammo pistols, peppering the thing with rapid shots—probably pinpricks, but maybe enough of a distraction.
"...eight...seven..." Serenity's cool voice counted down.
The cyclops slammed into the outer ramparts, sending cracks spiderwebbing through the stone. Eryndra looked ready to leap and fight it if Roy said the word. Roy's stomach churned. She was strong, but was she that strong?
"...five...four...three..."
The cyclops yanked up another chunk of debris, ready to pitch it. Roy's pulse hammered, and he let out a shout, half adrenaline, half desperation. He yelled "VANISH BEFORE MY... IRON... THUNDER!"
Eryndra let out a tiny snort of laughter. The cyclops paused, glaring down at him, raising his singular eyebrow as if he was saying "Really? That's what you went with?" just as the railgun fired. A blazing projectile carved through its chest, vaporizing the upper half and leaving only legs. The remains thundered to the ground, shaking the city with a quake of dust and gore.
Silence clung to the air for a beat. Then cheers erupted from every corner. Roy stood there, guns still aimed at a corpse that no longer existed. His mouth felt dry, and his ears rang with the final echo of the shot. Eryndra lowered her arms, cloak rustling in the settling wind. Teddy stayed close, posture stiff.
Holy crap, Roy thought. We actually did it. Eryndra caught his eye and gave a subtle nod. Roy exhaled a shaky laugh, dropping his pistols back under his cloak.
"You okay?" Eryndra asked quietly, stepping nearer.
Roy let out a breath. "Peachy, better than those lumps, anyway." He tried to smother a grin. She snorted softly, and Teddy turned to survey the giant remains out on the plain.
The phone crackled, Serenity's voice returning. "Target neutralized. Shall I prepare another volley for fun, Captain Gunn?"
Roy fiddled for the phone, hands still a bit unsteady. "No need, Serenity. That's plenty. Thanks." That odd tingle rippled through him again, like the Nightshatter was a massive extension of his own will. He brushed it off as adrenaline.
Down below, the crowd erupted in a roar of awe and relief, mingled with raw disbelief. Eryndra crossed her arms under her cloak. "Well, that's another day saved, 'Iron Thunder.' Nice line, by the way, very edgy."
Roy groaned, shoulders sagging. "I panicked and said the first thing that popped into my head. Let's get back down before they tack on more goofy titles."
Teddy inclined his head. "Captain, Lincoln probably needs an extra hand with the wounded, and the branch master will want answers."
Roy rolled his eyes. "Lucky me. Still, beats watching these giant creeps flatten the city."
They cast one more glance at the carnage before heading down the tower's steps, Eryndra close enough that her cloak brushed his in a quiet show of support. Behind them, the city's cheers rang on, hailing the reluctant "Thunder Rider" who just sent three towering nightmares straight to hell.