Chapter 108. Break the Convoy

The convoy had eighteen minutes to reach the crossing.

Carlos’s party could not reach the far side of the bridge before it arrived. The station, barriers and soldiers stood between them and the wagons.

Kaia studied the road while the timer continued falling.

"The convoy is protected because they know they will be attacked here, and there are only a few ways we can attack them," she said. "But it’s not likely that they will expect anyone from the channel."

She pointed at Garr and the fourth Bearkin.

"You two stay low beside the left wall. Move when Carlos opens the grate. Brann and the shield Guardian remain on the road with me."

Garr looked at the drainage opening. His shoulders were wider than the metal pipes.

"Cannot fit."

"You do not need to. The channel enters the open ground beside the bridge. Carlos and Two will clear the metal pipes from the other side if the route continues."

Carlos understood the plan and grinned. "Then you attack when the wagons are between us."

Kaia nodded.

Nessa and the other Archers climbed into the cuts abandoned by the Skirmishers. They would have a clear view of the bridge approach from there.

Carlos crouched beside the metal pipes and looked at the Slime.

"Two, with me."

Two slipped through the gaps. Carlos pulled the Warden Chain from his arm and wrapped it around two of the iron bars.

He pulled with all his strength in one go.

The metal pipes resisted until Brann placed both hands on them and pulled too. Soon, iron tore free from the stone.

Carlos entered before Brann could decide that meant he was coming too.

The tunnel forced him onto his hands and knees. Cold water passed beneath his palms. Two moved ahead without difficulty, its body giving off enough pale light for Carlos to see the stone.

The tunnel turned twice before a few more metal pipes appeared ahead.

Carlos could hear wheels above him.

--

[Hostile supply convoy arrival: 9 minutes]

--

He used the Chain again. This time, he pulled harder and harder until he felt a tug. The metal pipes opened outward and came free more quietly.

The channel emerged below the road beside the near end of the bridge. A steep bank separated Carlos from the black stones above.

He climbed far enough to see the fortified station from the opening.

The first Road Anchor stood inside a low stone enclosure beside the bridge. It looked like a waist-high black pillar with three iron rings around it. Thin red lines ran from it beneath the road.

--

[Hostile Road Anchor]

[Control link: Active]

[Connected defensive structures: 4]

--

Carlos could reach it, but more than twenty soldiers stood nearby.

The convoy continued toward them from the far road.

He used the new feature that allowed him to contact his conquest members.

--

[Carlos Goldwin] - I found the first Anchor. Wait until the first wagon reaches the bridge.

--

Kaia answered with one word.

--

[Kaia] - Understood.

--

Carlos stayed below the bank.

The first wagon rolled past the far station. Its covered load was bound by black rope. Two more wagons followed, then the fourth.

The soldiers at the station opened the central barrier, and soon the first wagon entered the bridge.

Just when the wagon driver started to rejoice with a crazed laugh, Nessa’s arrow struck it through the neck, and three more arrows fell from the cliff.

Kaia charged from the road with Brann and the shield Guardian in front of her. Enemy crossbows fired from the platforms, but the Bearkin kept moving.

Carlos climbed the bank too.

"Two, wheels."

Two fired into the side of the second wagon. Water struck beneath its front wheel and pushed it sideways. The pressure was much stronger since the Slime’s skill had levelled up.

The wheel dropped from the road into the drainage channel and the wagon stopped across the approach.

The third could not stop in time and crashed into them.

Soldiers shouted from both sides of the bridge in panic. Nothing was going according to plan.

Garr and the fourth Bearkin came from the left wall and struck the convoy from behind. Garr’s hammer broke the rear axle of the final wagon. The other Bearkin dragged its driver down.

Carlos ran toward the Road Anchor as fast as he could without caring about the danger.

Two guards moved to stop him. Kaia met the first with her shield and drove her sword beneath its arm. Carlos blocked the second guard’s short spear, stepped inside its reach and struck its face with the edge of his shield.

The Chain wrapped around the first iron ring of the Anchor, and he pulled it free.

The red lines beneath the road flickered. Brann reached the enclosure and brought his hammer down on the pillar, making pieces of black stone fly as it cracked.

--

[Road Anchor One disabled]

[Hostile reinforcement speed reduced]

[Connected defensive structures weakened]

--

The raised platforms stopped turning toward the road. One of the barriers fell halfway before catching against its own frame.

The convoy guards lost their formation soon after.

Carlos did not chase the ones who escaped across the bridge, and Kaia had to recall Garr before he could follow them.

The four wagons remained on their side of the crossing. Two were damaged, but none had been destroyed.

Carlos touched the nearest covered load.

--

[Blackstone Supply Wagon]

[Stored cargo remains conquest-bound]

[Cargo will be awarded if the supply road is successfully claimed]

[Visible cargo]

[Stone]

[Iron]

[Preserved provisions]

[Sealed supply container]

--

"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! YOU SAY WHAT!?" Carlos couldn’t hold it in. Did that mean they could take this entire supply with them if they succeeded?

Carlos wanted to open the container right away, but the system would not allow him to move the cover, as if it was glitched into place.

Kaia took a black map case from the dead convoy leader.

Inside was a rough drawing of the crossing. Carlos saw three dark circles marking the Road Anchors. One was beside them, and the second stood in the centre of the bridge beneath a defensive platform. The final one was inside the station on the far side.

"We have to cross for the other two," Carlos said.

Suddenly, the road started to move beneath his boots.

Heavy barriers rose from both sides of the bridge. The centre became a narrow passage barely wide enough for two people. On the far platforms, crews pulled thick bolts into two mounted weapons.

--

[Crossing defense activated]

[Road Anchor Two and Road Anchor Three reinforced]

--

One mounted weapon turned toward them.

Kaia saw that the bolt inside it was longer than Carlos’s spear.

Kaia raised her shield within a split second and Carlos did the same.

"Away from the wagons!"

Just as she shouted, the weapons fired at them.