The light flashed forward, and the monsters that had been following them flinched. Azaroth saw their eyes shine in the fire of the light he cast.
His team also reacted fast; they swung their lights and saw that the tunnel behind them was filled with stalking monsters. They stared at each other.
"Well, shit," Alex said.
Then everything exploded as the monsters in the lead launched their surprise attack and lurched themselves forward. Azaroth directed his light up and with a full-body forge – that directed his essence to all parts of his body – he went forward to meet the monsters.
His sword flashed forward in a thrust as he used the monster's weight against it. He jerked his sword down sharply and cut down another monster on its head.
It was true what Alex said. The monsters are in their rank, but all their powers are mostly in their claws. Keep that from yourself and you're safe.
