### 238

Your Kai Mastery charges you with a superhuman response to this deadly situation. Suddenly the spinning arrows are approaching with exaggerated slowness, and every detail becomes crystal clear as they spiral lazily towards your heart. You raise your sword and strike the leading shaft, hacking it clean in two. Your backstroke shears through the underside of the second arrow, splintering it to useless matchwood. The archers stare in disbelief, their mouths agape. The sergeant and his men hesitate, frozen in awe of what they have just witnessed. Seconds slip away before they come to their senses and draw their swords.

‘Take him!’ yells the sergeant, and together they surge towards you. You cannot evade this combat, and because the corridor is narrow you must fight the guards two at a time.

Sergeant and Guard: COMBAT SKILL 20 ENDURANCE 32

Tower Guards 3 and 4: COMBAT SKILL 18 ENDURANCE 32

Tower Guards 5 and 6: COMBAT SKILL 17 ENDURANCE 29

Your display of Kai Mastery has made a big impression on Sogh, who fights by your side: add 2 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of the fight.

If you win, turn to 177.