---
Clang!
The first clash rang like a bell of death.
Shhk!
A kobol lunged, snapping its jaws at a guard's throat. The guard twisted and stabbed downward, spear piercing the kobol's chest.
Shhk!
The kobol screamed and fell, but two more replaced it instantly, climbing over the corpse like it was a stepping stone.
TapTap!
A guard's sword cut one down.
Shhk!
Another kobol slammed into the guard's side, claws raking armor.
Scrrrk!
The guard grunted, staggered, but held position.
Sekhmet moved.
He did not wait.
He stepped into the swarm with blood sword flashing, cutting low and fast to remove legs, to break momentum, to create space.
Shhk! Shhk!
Two kobols fell in seconds, blood spraying.
The smell hit Sekhmet's senses like a hammer.
Warm blood.
Fresh blood.
The hunger surged again, delighted by the sudden feast.
Sekhmet clenched his jaw and forced it down.
Not now.
He could not lose himself now.
Bat Bat burst out of Sekhmet's coat pocket, wings spreading wide.
