Chapter 2

chapter two "It's Thrull's skeleton army!" Quint cries out from atop a rope bridge. "Be back, Globs," I say, and then I'm leaping from the bus and speeding across the course.

When I finally reach my friends, the skeletons are swarming toward them. "They're armed!" June shouts. "Wearing some pretty wicked armor, too," Dirk says, sounding half impressed. "I mean, not as cool as ours. But still... cool." The skeletons' weapons and armor are built from bone. They swing Dozer spike swords and they wave war hammers sharp with Wormungulous teeth and they twirl daggers of twisted Wretch talon. Some wear helmets carved from Carapace horns. Others carry shields of sliced monster scales. "They're fast!" Quint notes. "On the plus side, we don't need to fear their bite." "You sure about that?" Dirk asks. "Of course! These aren't zombies, they're skeleton soldiers!" Quint says. "Like old-school Ray Harryhausen–style warriors." "I don't know what Ron Henry-Homer old- school warriors are," Dirk says, spinning his gladiator jousting pole. "But I know I'm gonna bash these boneheads like old-school-style Universal Warriors!"

We assume our most intimidating action poses. Biggun assumes an even more intimidating action pose— SPITBALLS OF FURY Biggun's meaty paw smacks aside four skeletons. Globlet peppers skeleton soldiers

with a Blow Dart Blaster she nabbed from a Rifter. "Guys, I actually think we got this," I say, happily surprised. "These dudes are weak!" "They are only bone," Quint agrees. "We can just smash them!" Dirk yells. "Come on!" June orders as they charge into the horde. I'm about to follow my buds, when— SMACK! Rover knocks me right on my butt as he eagerly hurls himself into a wall of skeletons. "Go, buddy!" I shout, sitting up.

DIRT, SMASH. JUNE BASH, QUINT. STAFF attack Thrull's skeletons burst apart like Legos. I watch my buddies dismantle a squad of skeleton soldiers in mere seconds. I'm feelin' good. We've destroyed gigantic beasts, fought the undead, and taken down villainous overlords. But these skeletons? One hard hit and they crumble! I could beat these dudes in my sleep....

Suddenly, one skeleton comes screaming toward me. Finally, I think. I was getting jealous watching my buddies have all the fun. The skeleton leaps onto the hood of a car. Its bony feet sprint up the windshield, then across the roof—TAK-TAK-TAK-TAK. It launches off the car, sailing toward me like a big ol' meatball. I swing the Slicer hard—like I'm trying to whack a wiffle ball to the moon. There's a loud