[Soldier]

The Ghoul let out a hiss as Valan’s blade sank into its flesh, black blood seeping around the blade in congealed globulets. It was a straight blow, and pierced the creature’s heart cleanly. Despite this, the beast still moved forward, literally impaling itself more on the blade until the weapon caught on a dried, brittle rib. Without a second thought, an Undead fist snapped down on the metal, snapping the blade in two. Two dried, cold hands then closed around Valan’s neck. Cold seeped from the hands, seeming to suck the life from Valan’s very veins. His legs wobbled, threatening to collapse under him. Slimy spittle dripped from bloody, razor-sharp fangs as the foul creature brought its mouth down to bite the young man in the throat.

Before the Ghoul could bite, however, the hands left Valan’s throat and the creature was flying backwards with a shrill scream, to crash into the wall. It had been cut in two, the top half and bottom half landing several feet apart As soon as the Ghoul’s hands let him go, Valan’s strength returned and his vision cleared, to show Brenden standing over him, his powerful Claymore gripped in both hands. “That’s not fer stoppin’ it, I’m fer knowin’!” came Brenden’s thick accent. “Ye got to hit ‘em in the brain or set ‘em on fire, ta be sure th’ foul things are gone!” And, sure enough, the Ghoul was dragging itself forward with its hands towards Valan, its ebony eyes burning with a hatred only the dead could have.

Kevin, meanwhile, was battling the third beast. He was holding his own, but behind him, Valan saw the first Ghoul slowly rise and pull Kevin’s crossbow bolt from its mangled face. It then turned toward the Barbarian and started to shamble forward, long, filthy claws reaching out.