War of Drekis
Chapter 8:
Inevitable Storm
----- Tiara jumped from rooftop to rooftop, surveying all of New Xaelis with her keen eyes. It had been over an hour since she had received the assignment, and still she had not located the one she was looking for.
-----There had been no one on the streets acquainted with a hero of the name Tim, and silver hair, although not unheard of on Khazan, was a rarity compared to others. Whoever this man was, he was not a well known hero among the SLJ, and he would be hard to find.
-----There was one last thing that Tiara remembered. The blade the man carried was supposed to shine with a brilliant blue energy. Perhaps that would be the most effective way to locate him. However, for that to happen, Tiara would have to witness him go into battle.
-----Tiara stopped upon the roof of a small downtown restaurant and looked at the expansive city around her. “Silver hair or no, this will still be like looking for a needle in a haystack. There are too many people on the streets now, and to think that they were so empty just a while ago,” she turned her attention to a large amassing force of soldiers and vehicles moving outside of the city grounds. Their destination seemed to be the grassland of Walshin. “So I see. The battle will happen soon then. The Khazan military has mobilized and now they’re going to fight to protect this city. Maybe…yes, he could be among the troops being sent out.”
-----A gust of wind carried her into the air, steadily hurling her towards the advancing Khazan troops that were marching towards war.
---2---
The Chaos Edict
-----Devyn Soyokaze watched from one of the many balconies that adorned the highest levels of the Fallen Tower as the dark, floating island the occupied moved ever slightly over the surface world below.
-----Currently the island hovered over the ocean, several miles north of the nearest land, but soon now they would come to cross over the State-Kingdom of Cretalia, and if all goes well, they would hover directly over Khazan city.
-----The dark dancer still did not know how he should approach his old adversaries. The Fallen’s negotiations could come in the form of demand, or a respectful temporary alliance, for a price. Either way, the Fallen stood to gain something from this conflict, and Devyn wasn’t about to sit idly by and watch it unfold without the Fallen being involved. That was true now more than ever, after what Kaas had told them.
-----Devyn peered through the clouds ahead, perceptive as ever, and noticed the many flying objects circling around the island. The pitiful creatures, they tried to hide themselves from the Fallen, but even those who traverse the air move to a rhythm that is commanded by the secret dance that Soyokaze mastered. He watched their movements clearly, and knew that they belonged to no heroic force, nor the Marauders or the League of the Mentally Unstable. They were sleek, black creatures with a shell exterior and many spines across their crab-like body. They emulated fighter craft from what he could see, but they were obviously performing mere reconnaissance and were no threat to the Fallen now.
-----Zalrafel suddenly entered the balcony and took his place by the dark dancer’s side. His gaze, too, was fixed on the moving creatures. “So, you too felt their presence,” he said.
-----Devyn smiled, “Yes, and I’d say we’re not the only one’s doing the watching.” The creatures had abruptly broken off into different groups and scattered into the clouds. Either they had finished their assignment, or they did not wish to be seen any longer.
-----“So they are mere pawns then,” Zalrafel observed. “No doubt capable of fighting, although they would stand no chance against this Tower. They were scouting the area, observing the tower and the island.”
-----“And you know what that means, don’t you?” Devyn asked slyly.
-----Zalrafel looked down upon the surface of Khazan with disdain. “Drekis has recognized us as a threat. Their appearance here likely means that he plans to attack us well before he arrive at Khazan City.”
-----“Indeed,” Devyn said, “but that is not all. Those creatures surveyed the island specifically, and the outside of the tower. They used more that simple sight, they used a strong magic. The power of the void sensed it. They looked upon every inch of this island, taking note of the Tower’s exterior and every trap and feral creature that populates our floating isle. I would venture to say the enemy fears our territory more than they do us.”
-----“Perhaps,” Zalrafel stated, “but they would be fools to underestimate any member of the Fallen, least of all those who sit in the Council. Their meticulous search only means that, if they do attack, they intend to reach the Tower with as few losses as possible.”
-----“And what kind of attack do you think we will face?” Devyn asked. “An army? One like the SLJ are about to deal with in New Xaelis as we speak?”
-----“No doubt if they intend to crush a force such as the Fallen, they will send an army far greater than any the people of Khazan have witnessed before,” Zalrafel responded. He looked at the Dark Dancer who still had a sly smile on his face, yet in his eyes there was both an unfathomable darkness and a gleam of anticipation. Despite his questions, he knew what Zalrafel knew. “So then, Devyn, do you believe that Drekis himself will make an appearance on our island?”
-----“It is a possibility,” Devyn said. “In fact, I doubt that Drekis would leave something as imperative as the Fallen’s destruction in the hands of one of his subordinates.’
-----‘Let us not forget that the Fallen have been here far longer than Drekis, and the Void claimed Khazan as it’s victim before Chaos ever consumed it! Drekis will have to earn the right to take this world from us. If he seeks to earn respect, be it simple reverence or intimidation, he will have to come before us personally.”
-----“And we, in turn, will make our stand here,” Zalrafel said. “Sadly, Drekis has an advantage in knowing where we are. Had things been different, and we had known where his fortress was located, we could have played the offensive role.”
-----“Yes, it is rare for the Fallen to have such an attack launched on our home territory,” Devyn exclaimed. “Quietus did, after all, engineer this island to stay above the surface for the purpose of preventing such things.”
-----“But that does not make us unreachable Devyn. The fact that those creatures circled our Tower earlier is proof that they are capable of attacking a target in the air. But that does not matter now. We shall deal with this problem as it is. The Fallen have stood strong on this world for decades, and it isn’t about to crumble now.’
-----‘Do you not find it disconcerting, though…what Kaas said to us earlier? It was something we cannot overlook Devyn.”
-----Soyokaze looked up at the midnight stars, his expression becoming stern. “You are referring to the Chaos Edict are you not?”
-----“What else?” Zalrafel replied. “It is, after all, the supposed secret to his immortality.”
-----Devyn thought back to what Kaas had said to them not long ago in the Council chamber. The Chaos Edict was a paradoxical rule associated with the Avatar that governs the principle of Chaos. “Yes, that could prove to be problematic. There are a number of people in this Tower, yourself and me included, that I believe could stand up to Drekis in direct combat, if only in a standstill. However, if Drekis is indeed the Avatar of Chaos, and the Chaos Edict applies to him, then there is no one in this Tower, and maybe no one on this planet who can actually kill him.”
-----“Do you think it is true?” Zalrafel asked. “I am aware that there are many forms of immortality in this universe, and my immortality is a paradox itself. Still, this Edict Kaas spoke of seemed strange.”
-----“We heard it from the mouth of the Avatar of Darkness himself,” Devyn responded. “What reason do we have to doubt his words?”
-----Devyn turned to leave the balcony, “I shall see if I can gather Chronomancer and Dollar to inform them of our discovery. But remember, Zalrafel, if Drekis is truly immortal, than I suppose that only means you and he have something in common. When this battle does happen, you will be instrumental in holding him back. If you can do that, protecting the Tower should be no problem at all. We shall show these fools what happens to those who cross swords with the Fallen.”
-----The Dark Dancer left, but Zalrafel continued to stare at the surface world below. The Chaos Edict Kaas spoke of intrigued him, though in general most forms of immortality did at least command a bit of his interest. What force…what decree could make someone immortal by stating that no one else has the right to kill them? There must be something more to this…a catch to this deal. If only Kaas had known more about it…
---3---
Invitation Accepted
-----Relinqiest quickly stormed down the cleanly carved halls of dark stone that encompassed Drekis’ massive fortress, eager to share his information with his master. With no hesitation, he threw open the doors to Drekis’ chamber and peered into the blinding darkness.
-----Composing himself, Relinqiest calmly entered the chamber, upon which he found himself startled by the sudden burst of light that flickered violently before it’s intensity lessened to dimly light the chamber. Two ghostly flames occupied the air, floating in circles around the room. Drekis sat upon his throne, staring at the wizard who had entered his domain intensely.
-----“What do you have say to me?” Drekis asked, “that should require such haste? You do realize I have a distaste for having my solitude interrupted.”
-----Relinqiest lowered his head and folded his arms in respect. “My apologies lord, but I do have some interesting information. My dark eye, it’s everlasting gaze has pierced the island of the Fallen, and I have amused myself by keeping watch over those that dwell inside. I found the conversation of two such people to be of most importance. Namely, Devyn Soyokaze and Zalrafel, whose names I am sure you know.”
-----“The leaders of the Fallen,” Drekis smiled. “Or at least, some of them. They have been informed not only of my presence, but perhaps of my intention as well, I see. No doubt, only the Avatar of Darkness could ever hope to acquire any real information on me, at least among the denizens of this world. And even then, I doubt there would be much to be disclosed.”
-----“Yes, of course,” Relinqiest replied, “and I, of course, well aware that you were not ignorant of their resources nor their perceptions, will not bore you by reciting that which you already know, lord Drekis, but rather I found interest in a challenge they proposed.”
-----“A challenge?” Drekis said, the green flames flickering ever so slightly in tandem with his interest. “Less than a month since my attacks began, and already the Fallen which to directly conflict with me eh?”
-----“Not necessarily,” Relinqiest continued. “My dark eye picked up the conversation just recently, and they are still indecisive about their plan of action, perhaps because they have not had ample time to converse with Chronomancer and Marc Dollar, the remaining members of the council. Still, there can be no doubt that their current movements would place them over Khazan City within the next few days.’
-----‘In any case, they caught site of the scouts I sent to watch over their floating island, and they have taken it as a sign that we wish to attack. Already they are making preparations to defend themselves, and they are confident that they can repel any movement we make against them….even if you were there yourself, my lord.”
-----Drekis laughed quietly before suddenly disappearing from his throne and appearing next to his chamber window. He looked down upon the chaotic army that was being bred within the endless caves. Already a formidable force was assembled to join the armies of his respective generals, but now, they might have a different purpose. “It would be a worthy challenge, and I would like to prove their confidence to be ill. Direct conflict with the Fallen was not my intention at this time, but so be it. I do not fear them, but their movements towards Khazan City is intolerable. If they are so inclined as to challenge me to attack them on their home turf, then I shall oblige them, and with my generals scattered across the surface of this continent, it is just as well that I go personally.”
-----“Yes, my lord, and it will be invigorating to have your presence on the battlefield,” Relinqiest said. “But my lord, shall your fortress be left unguarded save for the lesser minions? Perhaps I could arrange for the Kaosu-Shintaku to be organized.?”
-----“You need not take such action,” Drekis replied. “I shall take care of that problem.”
-----“Very well then, and, when shall I expect your departure?”
-----“By all means we could leave now,” Drekis exclaimed. “But I intend to hold a full assault against the Fallen island until after I have heard of Avalon and Zekruel’s respective victories. Until then, we should impeded their travel towards the city. Though it is against my initial plans, I believe that there is no doubting our need to deploy more of the bio ships. You shall deploy more than the fighters, this time the larger ships as well. I want Khazan’s sky blackened, a blockade against any means of aerial travel to the main city, as well as a blockade across this entire planet.”
-----“Excellent plan lord Drekis,” Relinqiest said. “After all, it would seem that the presence of that one Seeker girl has led to the unfortunate arrival of GDF forces in this area. But be assured that I will personally see that another ship does not land upon this planet.”
-----“Yes, I too am aware of their arrival. Pitiful fools that they are. Despite their losses during the previous war, their persistence pushes them forward without second thought, much to my indignation. But they are of no concern to me now. Simply keep them away from the planet, and we shall deal with them when I have that which I desire. Now go and carry out my orders, and also see that analysis and assimilation of the technology from the stolen MARS units in completed today!”
-----“I shall,” Relinqiest uttered. With a flash of light he was gone, having teleported from the chamber to carry out his orders.
-----“The time will come, Relinqiest, that you too shall join the other generals once our attack on the center State-Kingdoms takes place,” Drekis said to himself. “Once that happens, then I shall go to the Fallen island. They can officially declare their challenge to be accepted.”
---4---
Preparation
-----“Careful you idiot! You’ll dent the armor plating!” Corporal Arlington yelled. He sighed heavily as he watched the various mechanical arms moving about, some bringing a plethora of welding devices and molecular structure alteration tools to the surface of his mech, while others carried entirely new or replacement pieces in to be attached. “My God, why do I feel like their going to cause more damage to my StormBringer than the Drekis legions did?”
-----A levitating platform descended in front of the young soldier, carrying a single engineer down to ground level. “Quit your complaining Corporal! Everyone’s mech in your division is getting the same treatment. Your mechs are tough, have to be in order to make it through all that fighting in one piece. But give us a break, we have to replace half a dozen delicate parts on most of your machines, and your mech alone required an entirely new set of 60mm guns in the shoulder. Just what hell do you guys do with these things on the battlefield anyway!?”
-----Arlington rolled his eyes. “What do you think we do? It’s easy for you to say that now. But you’re not the one doing the fighting.”
-----The engineer ignored his comment and programmed the levitation platform to carry him back up. The platform gave out a mellow hiss as it raised up to the full height the mechs that were stored against the wall.
-----The entire New Xaelis robotics factory was the most massive complex in the city, often referred to as the spine of New Xaelis since it ran the full scope of the cities northern border. As far as the eye could see there were mechs and vehicles locked into repair centers on the walls, and the entire ceiling was a collection of moving gears, circuits, and mechanized arms that carried out most of the repair work.
-----Though quite impressive, it was a depressing place to be. The scenery was composed entirely of bleak, grey metal on all sides, and the only sound oft heard within the factory walls was the screech of the repair arms working against the hulls of the war machines. It was true that the elaborate set up made repair times fast, and no one could deny that without such a setup there would be no way to get Captain Kitazawa’s Mecha-nized unit ready for the upcoming battle. But fast or not, the process was tedious to the pilots, and symbolized nothing more than a dreary preparation for more mortal combat.
-----Yet, dutiful as always, each pilot stayed within the metal walls of the factory and watched the repairs of their individual mechs almost religiously.
-----Arlington’s Stormbringer was a tall, thing mech, outlined in plain black and silver. It’s face had a cyclopean design with an emerald green visor, and it’s legs were slightly bulkier than the rest of it, since it needed to support the multiple weapon platforms built into it’s shoulders. The Stormbringer was well equipped for direct combat, yet Khazan engineers had designed it to be a more effective scout, equipping it with some of the most advanced sensor and radar equipment of the modern era, as they had done with many of the other Blazer-class mechs of it’s type.
-----The Tristar, piloted by Sgt. Ratilda Cole, was a heavily modified mech that had originally been used only for ground and atmospheric flight. Cole had specifically added a space capable drive system to her mech, and considerably boosted it’s maneuverability. It looked much like the standard mechs of the Khazan military: humanoid and sleek, with overlapping armor plates and soft, whitish colors. The main difference, however, were the four long, pipe-like structures that emerged from it’s back and arched downward. The four shafts looked like the skeletal outline for wings, and in fact were the source of much of the Tristar’s modified maneuvering systems.
-----Pharis’ Blade, piloted by Sgt. Katie Atatsuya, was a Triton-class mech that was modified from a ground-based assault mech to a more all-purpose vehicle. The Sergeant’s love for a variety of weapons compelled her to dress her mech in additional weapons, including remote guided aerial mines. It’s chassis was colored in deep reds, and it’s structure was not only based on a bipedal design, but actually looked more like an actual human than other classes.
-----Sgt. Major Paul Graham’s Senki was the heavy assault mech of the group. Graham took much pride in the might of his machine. It was both large and bulky, and though slow, it was heavily armed. It’s massive mechanical limbs, adorned with cannons and gun emplacements, was an imposing sight, and the entire mech had remained a unimaginative chrome color. Paul had never been well acquainted with design in any case.
-----The Fortune, a somewhat archaic mech, was piloted by 2nd Lt. Carl Dezzman and was the most unique of the mechs in the 478th division simply because of design. Lacking any human resemblance at all, the hunched mech followed a classic “chicken walker” design, with long mechanical legs supporting a long body that resembled the build of an old personal airplane. Two long grappler arms extended from the sides of the body, and four shafts which were it’s main energy cannons protruded from under it. The main body was colored a forest green, with solid black covering the legs.
-----Lt. Cecelia Angelhart’s Derringer was the smallest of the mechs in the division, but also one of the fastest. The small mech was stocky only in it’s legs, and featured extra, orange-painted armor plates over the original chassis that made it seem as if the robot were a giant man dressed in full body armor.
-----The DragonFlare was a mech designed to handle both long ranged and melee combat equally. It’s pilot, Lt. Sara Foster, had engineered it to be capable of immediate bursts of speed rather than a continuous speed enhancement. It had the largest arms of the mechs in the division, save for the Senki, and was painted almost entirely black with only a few clashing streaks of dark purple.
-----Last but not least was Captain Kitazawa’s mech, Gemini. A tall silver mech with navy blue armor plating filling out most of it’s chassis. The Gemini was designed to moderate all aspects of combat, from weapons to sensors to engines. The only additional design Kitazawa implemented was extra shielding, and it had proved to be a valuable addition in the recent battles he had seen.
-----Cecelia casually chewed gum and twirled one of the tail-like strands of her strawberry hair as she patiently awaited the completion of her repairs. “Looks like repairs are almost complete. We should be ready to join the action as soon as it starts.”
-----“Lucky us,” Ratilda muttered. “After what we went through I just want to get some sleep. But I guess that will have to wait until after we survive this.”
-----A loud yawn nearly overtook the sounds of mechanical work as Sgt. Graham approached the two women from behind. “Ah, nothing like a little rest and relaxation in-between battles. Why is everyone looking so serious around here? You do realize this may be your last chance in this life to really have some fun.”
-----“What are you talking about?” Cecelia asked, popping a bubble from her gum and folding her arms behind her head. “We’ll be on the battlefield again in twenty minutes probably.”
-----“Doesn’t matter how much time you have or don’t have,” Graham replied with a smile. With no hesitation he walked behind Cecelia and reached his arms across her slim waist, gripping her figure tightly with his fingers. “You have to take advantage of each moment if you want to suck the marrow out of life.”
-----Cecelia smiled slightly before giving him a soft elbow to the chest. His grip loosened accordingly as he both coughed and laughed at the same time. She turned her head ever so delicately to look back at him and smiled just a little more before walking away.
-----Ratilda frowned upon Graham’s eccentric behavior, but had learned to just barely tolerate him. The man was a complete flirt, and had no concept of personal space. A reputation among the forces placed him as an infamous womanizer, though she had noticed he had enough respect to seize a girl’s waist, but never go above or below.
-----Cecelia was a flirt in her own rights, but more of a whimsical girl who simply liked to get along with people, regardless of whatever differences they may have. It was for these reasons that she apparently tolerated his behavior a little more than the other women. After all, a soft jab was in every way the smallest punishment he could ever receive for his antics. Ratilda, for one, would nearly make him an invalid for such behavior, and she was rather easy-going compared to Atatsuya and Foster. It was no wonder that he usually approached Cecelia since it was best for his health.
-----Carl Dezzman abruptly entered the scene, intensely staring at a clipboard in his hands with eyes of frustration. “This is unbelievable. Look at how much these repairs are going to cost. A good portion of this has to be removed from our salaries now! Could you people at least use a little more restraint during our missions. I’d think our mechs would come out a little better if you did.”
-----Ratilda stepped back and looked upon the papers that Dezzman carried, letting out a negative whistle as she caught the numbers. “Well, the military can’t exactly blame us for the damages. It was all in the line of duty, and the Drekis creatures were the one’s responsible for the wrecks and wear.”
-----Dezzman’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her sternly. “Yes, but because everyone on our team has been so compelled to invest in custom upgrades and additional weaponry, repairs to our mechs have to include those special parts, and they cost extra!”
-----“Sir, with all due respect, there is no problem with the upgrades to our mechs,” Graham said. “Certainly not just because your mech is still the same as the day it was built.”
“The Fortune works just as well as it always did soldier, and you could learn to work with what you get!” he responded. “Ugh! Anyway I’m just blowing off steam, nothing I can do about it right now. Just try to be a little more careful next time. By the way, where is the Captain right now.”
-----“Oh you know him,” Graham answered. “He’s personally helping the engineers repair his mech.”
-----“Fine, I’ll be conversing with the Captain about these repairs if you need me.” Dezzman walked off, his eyes still staring down at the clipboard he carried, as if he were desperately trying to realize that he had misread the numbers.
-----“He certainly worries a lot about the budget, doesn’t he?” Ratilda said.
-----“Yeah, the guy should learn to not be so worried all the time,“ Graham said. “That’s the reason he has no hair on his head you know.”
-----Another voice entered the conversation, “What’s the reason for why who has no hair on their head?”
-----Graham turned around and suddenly saluted. “Oh, Lieutenant Foster. I apologize. It was just casual talk. Have we been put back on duty?”
-----Sara moved strands of her green hair away from her eyes and stared up at the mechs against the wall. “You may be at ease. We are still not officially on duty, but expect to be in the next few minutes.”
-----“Next few minutes?” Ratilda said.
-----“That is correct Sergeant,” Foster replied. “Repairs should be complete in about ten minutes. We will then begin preparations to join the frontline. Scout and Uberman have decided that our division will be among the ones to fight on the fields of Walshin outside the city.”
---6---
Ruin
-----Vincentzo Maiinverno’s private hover-carriage zoomed across the grasslands of the Araelis western lands. He hated to travel with such haste, as he had always deemed the inability to enjoy every second of existence to be against his constitution. However, the situation called for immediate action, and he would have to be there to oversee it.
-----Uberman had made good on his promise, and a strong-willed force of Khazanian soldiers had been dispatched to Araelis. Most of those soldiers had already been sent to the western areas of the State-Kingdom to look for any signs of the Drekis army that had stormed through the city of Rugudelon not long ago.
-----Only a single detachment located the enemy army, and Centzo had lost contact with them shortly after a fight broke out in West Matriarch City. As reliable as the Khazan military was by most standards, it was against Centzo’s better judgement to trust in anyone other than himself. No doubt the soldiers would be no better off than his relatively untrained State-Kingdom Guard divisions, and he already was well aware of their ineptness when void of his direct leadership.
-----A knock came upon his carriage window, and it took a while for Centzo to fall back in shock at the realization that someone was outside the carriage door while the vehicle was speeding across the valley at eighty miles per hour.
-----Tanin flew alongside the hover-craft, his hand on one of the handles on it’s side. The avatar of light seemed to be having the time of his life floating casually while the vehicle pulled him along.
-----Vincentzo lowered the left window, and tried his best to look less surprised and more annoyed. “Tanin, what are you doing holding on to my personal craft?”
-----“My apologies,” Tanin replied. “I’d fly my own path, but it’s not often that I can fly without having to use much of my power! Seriously, though, I wanted to know how much farther it is till we get to West Matriarch City.”
-----“Not familiar with this area are you?” Centzo said. “It’s not very far now, assuming that the city is still there.”
-----“Not looking at this very positively are you,” Tanin retorted.
-----Maiinverno clenched his fist in frustration. “I knew that I should have personally gone out with the forces. These people just can’t do anything right without me. And Woose, what the hell were you thinking leaving the defense of the city to Woose?”
-----“I think you should give your people more credit than that,” Tanin said. “Even the Khazan military itself isn’t that well acquainted with our new enemies at this moment.”
-----“All the more reason for me to worry!”
-----The young wizard suddenly noticed the endless sea of grass around him disappear in exchange for a charred, grizzled wasteland. Where Centzo had remembered hills and rocks he now saw craters and fissures decorating the ground, and where trees had once grown for over a centuries time he saw decayed stumps and burning wood.
-----“What in the name of all the Powers has happened here!?” Centzo yelled. He caught sight of the upcoming city, or rather, what had once been a city. Now, the only remnants of West Matriarch City were a few structures that each constituted half a house at most. Much of the smoke seemed to have been cleared away, and no fires were in sight, but there was enough ash on the ground to create burning rivers.
-----“Damn,” Tanin said. “Well unfortunately it seems that your premonition, bleak as it was, turned out to be true. Doesn’t look like there’s much of a city any more.”
-----“Driver! Don’t hesitate to enter the city!” Maiinverno commanded. “I want to survey the scene personally.”
-----The hover-carriage flew over the fissures of ash and came to a streaking halt at the opening to the ruins. Tanin landed gently next to the carriage as Maiinverno emerged. There were a great deal of corpses that the two had not noticed while watching from afar, and as they looked around every corner of the ruins they found more and more bodies of both Khazanian people and the demonic creatures that made up the Drekis Empire.
-----“I sense no life in any of them,” Centzo said. “What a horrible thing. What kind of sadistic bastards are these fiends! To hear of their barbaric acts is one thing, but to see it first hand! There can be no place for them but the lowest circles of hell.”
-----Tanin knelt down and looked upon the body of a man whose hands were still tightly gripped around his plasma rifle. His face was still, but his eyes conveyed a mixture of both fear and rage. Around his neck and drenched in his own blood was a thin circlet bearing a locket with a picture of his family inside. He sighed heavily and wondered if it were best to take it back to the man’s family or he should leave it with the man, perhaps so that he could take it with him to the next world…a better place than this hopefully.
-----“The people on this planet don’t deserve to live this way,” Centzo said. “People have actually come to this planet in the past simply so that they didn’t have to live this way! How could things like this happen, here where Khazan is supposed to be the Nexus of all Realities. Nexus my ass, how can we have any pride at all knowing that these things still happen here just like anywhere else in the universe!”
-----“War and death are things far too complicated for any mortal effort to overcome, but you‘re right, they didn‘t deserve this.” Tanin said dejectedly. He turned his head and looked upon the ruins behind them as he caught a strange sense in the air. He placed his hand upon the hilt of Chrysillium and stood. “We are not alone Maiinverno!”
-----Maiinverno spread out the fingers of his left hand as a gleaming, emerald flame appeared above his palm. “Just tell me where they are! I’ll eviscerate every last one of them!”
-----A figure enveloped in the clouds of dust that loomed over the ruins landed upon one of the few standing houses. A battle cry sounded as the figure leapt into the air to drop upon them.
-----Centzo met the attack with a uniform battle cry of his own as he raised his hand and prepared to release his attack with all of the fury of his being.
-----“Wait! Maiinverno, No!” Tanin yelled. “Cancel the Spell!”
-----Though usually content to follow his own advice, Centzo heard Tanin’s plea and quickly ceased the spell just as it was released. The initial burst caused a flare, followed by a wave of magic that parted the dust cloud. Mere seconds after the flare began to take shape and fly towards it’s intended target, it dissipated upon Centzo’s command.
-----The young wizard did not know why he had chosen to follow Tanin’s words, but the flare abruptly alluded him to the fact that the figure coming upon them was Woose, the infamous POWAAA-MAN.
-----The Martial artist, too, was made aware of the identity of his assailants, and softly landed next to them with a look of relief on his face. “Centzo, am I glad to see you!”
-----“Woose?” Vincentzo replied. “What the hell is going on around here. What happened to this city? To the people that were defending this city.”
-----“Their forces…the Drekis forces I mean, were much stronger than we anticipated,” Woose answered. “I can’t begin to explain the sheer size of the army we encountered here. It was like the ground was painted black. The Khazan military engaged them with everything they had, but in the end we couldn’t stop all of them from reaching the city.”
-----“What happened by the time the battle had ended?” Tanin inquired. “Though it is obvious you took a beating, I see much evidence that the Drekis hordes must have suffered losses here as well.”
-----“True, though the savages would likely consider them to be more sacrifices than anything else,” Woose said disgustedly. “These fiends have no honor. They charge forth, meeting the strongest of the SLJ and Maniacal heroes we had in combat. They didn’t care about their losses…five rose where one fell, and throughout it all, they never once seemed to experience the horrific aspect of war.’
-----‘Some of our heroes fell, for strong as they were, I’m afraid even the lesser minions in that army were too great for them in such astounding numbers. But the greatest among them were almost single handedly driving them back. I had the honor of fighting side by side with them while the Khazan military behind us provided cover fire. In that moment, it seemed…so easy. We drove them all the way back to the Astra Canyon that lies between here and the Rugudelon bridge. Once there, we committed ourselves to destroying the threat once and for all, but then a new enemy appeared.”
-----“A new enemy?” Vincentzo said. “What did this new enemy look like? Quickly, tell me!”
-----“As forgetful as I sometimes am, I could never forget that guy,” Woose continued. “He looked like a massive man with reptile features, almost like a half-dragon or some demonic salamander-man. His skin was white, in fact it looked like his scales were pearl-white crystals. He came from above, flying with a set of angelic wings that were a despicable contrast to his nature.’
-----‘I had never seen something so horrible before…his murderous rampage. He moved so quickly through our ranks, slashing through us with some kind of blade. We surrounded him, advanced on him, but his weapon kept…changing, again and again to become something new, something more effective for countering whatever we threw at him. There was so much blood there, and it took a while for me to realize that almost all of the heroes who had held the front line were dead. I tell you it may have been an eternity to us, but that slaughter only took the bastard forty seconds.”
-----“I have seen this one you speak of,” Centzo said. “Before my scuffle with a detachment of their regiment, I came across a small army marching across the fields. They were led by such a creature, a white reptile-man, with broad wings and a devilish face. So that one must be the leader.”
-----“Has to be in order to slaughter an entire group of SLJ heroes so quickly,” Tanin said. “I’d wager it’s a General. Or so they call themselves. I fought one at Xaelis a while back. I’ll admit, they seem to be pretty powerful, but I surmise that there aren’t very many of them.”
-----“Well one is all it took,” Woose said. “Once the frontline fell, we retreated back to the city, but were followed by a determined Drekis force. That coward must have stayed behind, because I didn’t see his ugly face again, but his army was twice as effective with most of the heroes gone. We still held our ground firmly, but our size had dwindled to such an extent that we just couldn’t stop them from surrounding the city. We managed to get the people evacuated with the transports, but the city was eventually destroyed. We forced off the remaining legions and established a small base of operations here, or something to that extent. The transports that we sent to Khazan issued a help call to Khazan City, but we never received reinforcements.”
-----“Hmmm,” Tanin said. “Centzo you said you never received communication from the group, didn’t you.”
-----“That’s right,” Centzo replied. “Which could only mean that they destroyed the transports, or possibly blocked their communication systems. That’s a hopeful idea, but that kind of tactic doesn’t seem to fit with their chaotic style.”
-----“About how many people do you have here, and is there still any threat?” Tanin asked Woose.
-----“I couldn’t give you anything other than a ballpark guess, maybe a dozen squads, a couple of mechs. Certainly less than ten heroes between both the SLJ and Maniacal Heroes representation.”
-----Centzo felt like taking his anger out on Woose, blaming all of the events on his incompetence and complete lack of understanding of the situation. But he couldn’t. It was all too clear to him that Woose, who was usually quite laid back about things, was taking this very seriously. He had, without a doubt, done all he could to defend the city.
-----“The Drekis force that remains probably isn’t too large now. I’d say less than a hundred are left, which is a good thing in the long run, though the attrition is almost unbearable.”
-----“The drought in their numbers will be of no concern to them,” Tanin informed him. “They will attack again, hoping to wipe us all out. I suggest we leave and head for the closest city so these soldiers can receive treatment.”
-----“No!” Centzo said.
-----“What did you say?” Tanin asked, having already begun to fly up in search of the encampment Woose spoke of.
-----“I said no!” Centzo repeated. “I will not run from this conflict. I came all the way out here to defend this city, and by the Powers if there’s no longer a city for me to protect then I’ll just have to destroy the ones who brought it to ruin. I will not let them get away with this!”
-----“I’m not saying you have to!” Tanin said. “I understand how you feel, but don’t let your anger blind you! Your soldiers have gone through a lot now. If they fought they’d be in no condition to fight, and they’re outnumbered.”
-----“I didn’t come all this way just to turn around and leave!” Maiinverno yelled. “They won’t have to fight. Less than a hundred, right? Tanin, between you and I, and perhaps even Woose here, we could decimate that force.”
-----“Centzo…” Tanin began, but was cut short by the wizard’s proud sentiments.
-----“Let’s not let these people’s efforts go to waste. Their army could probably regenerate it’s numbers overnight and be upon any city we flee to by the rise of the sun. Let’s finish this now, Tanin, please. You know that we can do this now that their forces number less than a hundred!”
-----Tanin looked towards the Canyon that Woose had spoken of. If they went there, the greatest problem they would face might not be the remaining minions, but the general himself. He thought back to his fight with the one called Jon Avalon. The man was powerful in his own right, but that had not been the only case. Tanin had sensed the aura of Chaos around that one. As if just a little of the Avatar of Chaos breathed inside of that one. It was likely to be the same for this one. Still, he had fought well against that foe. The Generals, whoever they were, were tough, but certainly not unbeatable. “Alright, Centzo, I concede. Woose, tell the soldiers to fall back to another city, we will be going ahead alone.”
---7---
In the Field Stained Red
-----“The day will soon be done,” Uberman said. “They are taking longer than I expected. Funny that I am both relieved and bothered by this.” He surveyed the expanding field of Walshin in front of him, an stretch of hills and grass as far as the eye could see.
-----Khazan was a world that encompassed both traditionalist citizens who preferred to live their lives in a more archaic style, while progressive ones tended to gather into large cities where technology ruled. Yet between both groups, it had been acknowledged that no good would come to the planet of Khazan if it’s vast surface was covered in a never-ending valley of kingdoms and countries. The Valley of Walshin was but one example of large block of land upon Khazan that had been set aside to retain it’s original aspects of nature.
-----The was nothing special about the field. There were few trees, no beautiful lakes or ocean views, and no sign of civilization. But on that area, there was neither kingdom nor city, or even a single house for that matter. It was “untouched” land that would be preserved for eternity, or at least such had been the goal of the established law.
-----And as plain as the field was, it was likely to now be remembered in the annals of history. Uberman knew that his one goal even before victory was to insure that the Drekis forces never moved any farther North. His own defense forces had formed a strong line a little over a mile south of New Xaelis, and he had no intention of moving back one inch until Drekis’ minions moved back a hundred miles.
-----But the day was soon to expire, and he noticed the clouds becoming thick and dark while the sky became a bright orange. Why were they waiting? Cover of darkness? No, for they would know well enough that he had set his defense out here to wait for them. For a moment, reflecting on the oddities of the man, Jon Avalon, that he had met in battle with, he thought that the General’s strange sense of honor might have driven him to postpone the battle until they were ready. But that was a thought he couldn’t stand…to think that he should ever accept a crutch from the likes of him!
-----Tim nervously walked up to the front of the line, where Uberman bravely stood waiting. He swallowed fear and tried to emulate the SLJ leader’s composure as best he could. “Uberman, sir, do you think that they have altered their plan of attack. Perhaps they realized that we received reinforcements and have decided to go around?”
-----Uberman was about to reply when a woman’s voice forced him to pause.
-----“You still haven’t learned anything have you?” Telissa Ravan asserted as she walked towards the two. She looked upon Tim almost with pity in her eyes.
-----“Telissa? What’s that?” Tim said surprisingly. “Don’t treat me like some kid Telissa, I…”
-----“I’m simply saying that by now you should realize what Drekis’ forces are like. His army keeps growing, hour by hour, to such an extent that losses are almost meaningless to them,” Telissa explained. “They’ll fight you even if the odds are against them. Why they aren’t attacking now, I don’t know. It’s hard to anticipate the actions of a chaos empire based on logic. That just doesn’t work. You’d better get used to this kind of thing, Tim, because this won’t be the only fight this planet will see, I guarantee that. For you personally, I’d advise learning how to actually wield that sword of yours if you want to survive this.”
-----“I told you not to treat me like a…”
-----“Telissa Ravan,” Uberman interrupted, “Your knowledge of Drekis and his legions not withstanding, I would appreciate it if you didn’t treat our people so harshly. We may not have been dealing with this threat for generations like the Galaxy Defense Force has, but we are rising to fight against it. Everyone standing here today has shown great courage.”
-----“Yes, that’s what the people of my planet believed as well,” Telissa sighed. “They’re all dead now.”
-----Tim was startled by her comment, and all at once torn aside as if he somehow felt exactly what she felt. Her heart felt cold, but not dark or uncaring. It was torn and weak, producing fires of passion and life, but the ice was a barrier that was just too cold to melt. What was this he was feeling? He knew nothing of this bounty hunter woman, and yet with a single ambiguous statement about her past, it felt as if he could see, first hand, the world she came from, the lives of her people, and the destruction that was brought upon them.
-----How was it that it could feel so personal? The feelings overtook him, and suddenly he felt faint. Stumbling a little, he forced himself to stay standing and shook his head lightly, eventually regaining his original sense.
-----Telissa had pulled out her Disruptor Rifle and checked the status of the cooling units. “The courage to fight is only the beginning. You have to have more than that.”
-----Uberman looked back at her but said nothing. He recognized something personal in her that made her want to convey this to them, so he saw little point in continuing the subject. His attention instead focused to the sky, where Raea made a timely appearance from the clouds. The jets across her mechanized-bodysuit flickered as she slowly and gracefully landed upon the ground.
-----“Raea, you’re back!” Tim said excitedly.
-----“Yep, and I have news that the last Mecha-nized divisions have arrived and are taking various positions throughout our ranks. The 465th through 478th are the total number of divisions that has been repaired and rejoined the battlefield.”
-----“That’s good, Uberman said. “Any extra help is appreciated.”
-----Raea walked up to Tim and gave him a friendly punch to the shoulder. “Feeling nervous?”
-----“Of course,” Tim said.
-----“Me too,” she replied. “But you remember what I said to you on the way over here, don’t you?”
-----“I couldn’t forget. Don’t worry about me. We’ll go home together, just as we promised.”
-----He unsheathed his sword and examined the broad but elegant blade. Whatever powers that either he or the sword commanded, he hoped that they would be with him on the battlefield.
-----Tim was surprised to see how nervous he really was as his hands began to shake involuntarily. Was he really this scared, even after all the support Raea and Uberman had given him? But then he realized the truth behind the tremor. He was not the one shaking…it was his sword. He struggled to gain hold of the blade, but it burst into a bright blue light that drew the attention of half the defense force before it dimmed to a modest glow. The shaking stopped, but the light persisted.
-----“Tim, your sword! What does it mean?!” Uberman questioned hastily.
-----“I…I…well, in the past it only did this when…”
-----“Brace yourselves!” Telissa yelled for all of the soldiers to hear. She pressed a button on her wrist and a sleek armor formed around the contours of her body, hardening into a armored suit similar to Raea’s.
-----Tim looked back at the horizon and the orange sky. Over the hills could be heard the shrill cries and the sound of a million footsteps proudly storming across the valley. The demonic figures reared their heads above the highest hills in the distance until both armies were in plain sight of one another.
-----“So, they have arrived,” Uberman said. He looked at their frontline ranks and found only common beasts and minions that he had dealt with in the battles around Xaelis. But there was one thing different. A new beast suddenly walked passed the other minions and formed a new frontline, composed entirely of the strange new quadruped. It looked like a wolf with demonic horns and a draconic snout. It’s body was void of hair, but rather composed of the same dark hide that the Deminite Soldiers were composed of.
-----“That looks like something new,” Raea said.
-----“Those are Deminite Wolves,” Telissa explained, “Or so we call them. They are not to be underestimated. They are faster than the regular soldiers, and they can manipulate the hearts of mortals.”
-----“Manipulate the hearts of mortals?” Tim said. “What do you mean?”
-----“Let’s just say that if you are the kind of person that knows no fear, you will come to know fear through fighting those things. When placed into a hoard this large, the Deminite Wolves can shatter the resolve of ten thousand good men innately.”
-----Is this why he waited to attack us? Uberman though to himself. Just to bring this new threat to us? Telissa may know more about them than we do at this point, but it seems clear to me that they’re treating this battle much differently than the one at Old Xaelis. Is there something else here that they want?
-----Just then he finally caught sight of the one he was looking for. The flying creature was all too familiar to him now. The feisty beast roared and flapped it’s wings repeatedly with impatience. On the back of the small dragon was the Drekis General, Jon “DarkenFire” Avalon. Just as had been done before in Xaelis, the man looked down upon the defense forces with a cold expression and formed his florescent green blade in his hand.
-----Seeing the General raise the sword into the sky, Uberman quickly yelled out to his troops, “Soldiers, heroes of Khazan, all who stand here today! Prepare yourselves, the time is now!”
-----Avalon thrust his sword forward, and the entire dark army advanced in a heartbeat, coming down the hills like a stampede of wild animals. As had been described by others, their presence truly turned the ground into a moving mass of darkness.
-----“Go forth!!!” Uberman cried.
-----Various sub-commanders throughout the ranks confirmed the orders with a resounding “CHARGE!!!”
-----And all at once, two forces rushed head first into hell.
---9---
The Battle of Walshin
-----Cecelia took to the air immediately, directing Derringer to take position high above the advancing soldiers and military vehicles that were moments away from colliding with the enemy.
-----Hell broke loose with the sounds of a thousand guns booming, sending a mixture of energy and projectiles into the horde of demonic creatures. The Drekis minions lost none of their ferocity against the tornado of gun fire, as the Deminite Soldiers quickly stood their ground and wildly waved their talons through the air, sending waves of fire streaming through the frontline of the defense forces.
-----Many mechs soon joined Cecelia in the air, and upon the command of their respective squad commanders, the machines began to bombard the enemy with both gun and missiles.
-----“Focus on the frontline!” Captain Takuma yelled. “Try to prevent most of them from actually getting in close to our men!”
-----Having been caught in the fires of battle, Takuma had just now noticed that although the two armies were now within firing range of each other, the Drekis forces were still pouring over the horizon. They came at them like a river, unrelenting and endless.
-----The soldiers of Khazan rallied together and let out premature cries of victory as they watched the intense lights flare across the Drekis hordes from the mech’s assault. But even as dozens of minions burned upon the ground or were thrown lifelessly into the air, hundreds broke through the fires and came straight for the frontline.
-----“Look at how fast those things are moving,” Sgt. Cole commented. “We won’t be able to stop them all now.”
-----“Agreed,” Carl Dezzman replied. “They’ll have to deal with melee combat after all. But don’t worry, they can handle themselves. Captain, I suggest we change our priority to taking down those advancing enemies in the center of their army.”
-----“That looks like the only thing we can do,” Takuma said. “Their frontline is getting too close for us to use our big weapons, or we’ll hit our own people. Alright, let’s all move in closer, and stay high above them, they don’t seem to have any Ptera-Deminites with them!”
-----The mechs advanced in the air, a hundred strong, cutting paths through the enemy army with blasts from above. Occasional flames leapt up from the horde, barely scratching their shields. For a while, the pilots were starting to feel comfortable with the one-sidedness of the combat thus far.
-----But those who were most complacent were the ones that were caught off guard as star-hot bolts streaked through the sky like lightning, blasting straight through several mech’s shields and destroying the machines instantly.
-----The blasts came not one at a time, but in waves of dozens, sending several mechs hurling down to the ground as flaming wrecks with each passing salvo.
-----“Where the hell are those things coming from?” Sgt. Graham said.
-----“Near the center of their army!” Lt. Foster answered. “I can see a small divide between the front half and the back half of their forces. There is a line of creatures firing those blasts”
-----“Take evasive maneuvers,” Takuma ordered. “And return fire…try to take those things out, whatever the hell they are!”
-----“Captain, I’m afraid I have to land,” Graham reported. “The Senki isn’t maneuverable enough to avoid those shots for long, I’m going down to the grou…wait a minute, what the devil is that in the air over there?”
-----Graham’s comment startled everyone and forced them to look back to the horizon, where something else was coming into view. Something that polluted not the ground, but the sky.
-----“Ptera-Deminites?” Sgt. Atatsuya observed. “I’ve never seen so many of them. Damn, they blanket the sky.”
-----Corporal Arlington focused his view screen on the approaching cloud of beasts and gasped at what his eyes saw. “Son of a bitch!”
-----“What is it Corporal?” Dezzman asked.
-----“It’s far worse than that, Sir. Those aren’t all Ptera-Deminites. I recognize those bio-fighters were fought back at the village!”
-----“Not those things again!” Cole yelled. “We’ll have to pull back and land on the ground. Else we’ll get pulled into that swarm.”
-----The Senki landed in an open area of the field with a massive boom, sending grass flying into the air even as soldiers were charging past it to engage with the minions on the ground. “I’m way ahead of you,” Graham said. “Those things are going to be a pain, but at least we know how to handle them now. We should radio the other mech divisions and tell them.”
-----Takuma sighed at their misfortune as he directed the Gemini to land. “We know how to deal with them, yes. But somehow, I think fighting a few hundred of them will be a little more problematic than fighting two of them.”
---10---
Valley of Corpses
-----Tim dropped to the ground as a fireball rushed overhead. He heard screams of pain behind him and glanced back to see a soldier engulfed in the flame that had been intended for him.
-----The people around him attempted to come to his aid, but the fires burned him to ashes in seconds. Many shouted out in anger and rushed forward with guns raised and firing into the enemy.
-----Raea quickly came down from the sky and picked Tim up by the arm. “Keep moving Tim, don’t make yourself a target!” She led the way as they both ran forward, strafing to the right as fireballs flew around them. Raea’s mini-gun attachment extended out of her right arm released a torrent of bullets into the enemy. Her shots seemed random, but there were so many enemies in front of them that even the most blind shot would most likely strike a target.
-----The two were thrown to the ground as a nearby tank exploded from the impact of a Deminite Gunner’s blast. The shockwave tore through all who were nearby, leaving bloody remains across the once green field.
-----Tim looked up in frustration as he held his sword in his hands. The other soldiers were always moving forward, occasionally stopping to take cover under tall grass or the rare stone structures that decorated the otherwise barren field of Walshin. The soldiers raised above their cover and fired several bursts before ducking to avoid a counter attack of deadly flames.
-----Uberman himself was in the frontline of the combat, shooting one Deminite after another with his wrist blasters and never moving an inch. Many heroes and soldiers took position around him, covering him at all angles with gunfire. Above, the Khazan mech’s came down and landed upon the ground to avoid the sudden appearance of Ptera-Deminites and the new, ominous bio-fighters that came upon them relentlessly. Massive Khazanian airships held their position, but were forced to focus their weapons on the new aerial threat.
-----The valley of Walshin had soon become a light show, as forces of virtually ever element came down upon the ground and flew through the air.
-----Many of the Drekis minions were getting closer and closer, moving with such speed that Uberman feared there would be a dangerous melee in mere seconds. He turned his attention to a new threat, however, when he realized that the Deminites were now using pyrokinetic powers. The flames had engulfed the fields to such an extent that the minions were now conjuring a literal wall of fire. Collectively, the Deminite Soldiers amassed their strength and pushed the wall forward, scorching the soil and incinerating any who were too slow to move back.
-----The heroes of the SLJ moved towards the frontline and countered the wall with their best attacks. Water-Mages summoned large spheres of liquid and hurled them at the moving fires, extinguishing the wall one section at a time.
-----“They’re trying to use the wall as a barrier so that they can get closer,” Uberman said. “The wall is collapsing. Don’t let it discourage you! Continue firing before they advance any further!”
-----But his voice, which had been enough to force the entire army to fire at his command at one time, suddenly failed to enact a response.
-----Most of the gunshots fell silent, and several soldiers began to run back towards the city.”
-----“What are you doing!” Uberman yelled. “We have not lost this battle. We have the upper hand! The wall is falling, we can still push them back!”
-----The SLJ leader turned immediately to the closest soldier and noticed him shaking in fear. The man’s finger was pressing against the trigger hesitantly, but seemed as it would never commit itself to completely pulling it. “Soldier, why are you not firing?” he demanded.
-----“I…I don’t know,” he replied. “I, I want to fire. I really do, but I can’t. I….I…I don’t…know why, I’m…shaking. It’s like…I’m on the verge of death…I”
-----Uberman looked upon the Deminite Wolves who were gathering into clusters and producing a strange, black aura around their bodies. He remembered what Telissa had told him. That those creatures possessed the ability to destroy the resolve of almost any fighter. They were making them feel fear! Fear so incredibly real and powerful that it compelled them to run for their lives.
-----He began to feel the effects of the Deminite wolves as well, but Uberman would not let his courage fall to their machinations. He pulled himself together and attempted to rally the forces together once again, but he found that only two of every five men proved strong enough to resist the emotion manipulation enough to continue fighting.
-----The next wave of attack hit them hard. The creatures used the distraction to their advantage and came in close with a thirst for blood. Hive Guardians suddenly leapt into combat, using their own spells to increase the strength and vitality of the lesser minions. Deminite soldiers released several final volleys of fireballs before closing the distance between the two armies. The barbaric creatures settled for leaping head first into their enemies and tearing them with claw and fang. The Reptillions blocked gunfire with their metallic shields and spit acid into the faces of their enemies before stabbing them with their magic blades. Devonox’s rose up and sent heavy tanks flying through the air with a single swipe of their massive hands.
-----The Tanker beasts, called Deminite Crawlers, moved in on their spider-like legs and spewed forth blue flames from their draconic heads that strafed through the faltering front line of the defense forces. The bulbous sacks upon their backs opened up to reveal entire compartments within the creature that contained more Deminite Soldiers who quickly rushed out into battle.
-----Mech’s took their position back to back and concentrated their fire on the sky, where the bio-fighters broke into pieces but soon regenerated. The pilots struggled to concentrate their fire on a single target, to demolish the fighters beyond rejuvenation, but there were far too many. The mech’s would lock horns with one while five more fired upon them from behind.
-----Meanwhile, as mechs were bursting into flames from the missile bombardments, the other bio-fighters flew circles around the larger but much slower airships. The mollusk-shaped craft succumbed to the continuous fire and came crashing down upon the Khazanian forces. The Ptera-Deminites, free of any aerial competition, swooped down and sent bolts of lightning crashing down upon the confused soldiers.
-----Telissa Ravan pushed Tim to the side as a fireball flew between the two of them. She fired her disruptor rifle and quickly advanced forward even as the Deminite soldiers were coming towards her. “This is where you and that sword are going to come in!” She yelled.
-----Tim called out to the bounty hunter, but she disappeared in the smoke of battle. Raea, too, had been separated from him when the Devonox creatures moved through the center of their formation like mindless zombies, seemingly unaware of the gun shots and missiles that were striking them. The large brutes seemed to feed off of the spell of the Hive Guard as well, and created massive craters in as they shoved their fists into the ground.
-----He caught site of several Deminite soldiers near him, and his sword began to flow even more radiant as they came near. The first Deminite Soldier quickly advanced upon him and cut the throat of a Khazan Ranger who was too slow to react to it’s movements. But Tim suddenly became aware of something, and his entire perception of the battle field changed. The Deminite suddenly appeared to be moving slowly, and as it threw it’s talon forward to pierce his heart, he spun to the side and effortlessly swung his blade down upon the creatures head.
-----The power of the sword nearly destroyed the head of the beast itself, and immediately after it’s fall he moved forward to do battle with two more. They came at him from both sides, but his eyes caught on to the fact that one was moving slightly faster than the other. He took a step towards the faster one first and slashed it’s throat, then parried the claws of the slower one and cut open it’s chest with a quick swipe.
-----Tim became aware of an enemy approaching him from behind and spun around to find the four-legged Deminite Wolve facing him with it’s mouth wide open. A blast was hurled from it’s gaping jaw, and Tim, completely unaware of the creatures abilities, could only instinctively raise his blade in front of him as the blast hit. He felt his body fly backwards, and the burning at his feet as they dug into the ground while he skidded to a halt. But his body felt no pain, and when he opened his eyes he was surprised to see most of the blast dissipate around his blade.
-----A Barrier? Tim thought.
-----Having seen it’s attack be useless, the Wolve moved forward, even faster than the Deminite Soldiers had been. But he still saw it’s movements clearly, and he moved below the creatures lunge and thrust his sword upwards and through the beast. The Wolve let out a blood-curdling yelp as it fell off of his blade and onto the ground.
-----Uberman forced his fist through the chest of a Deminite Soldier while he blasted an advancing Reptillion with his other. Just a few minutes ago, it seemed like the armies each stood on their respective sides and fired upon one another. But now the Drekis forces had successfully surrounded them. They were attacking from all sides now, and the massive airships which were supposed to cover the sky were now falling upon the very people they were supposed to protect.
-----Uberman jumped back to avoid a blast and looked back to see how his own defense force were handling the melee. He caught site of Tim, a warrior who stood out amongst the chaos with his glowing blade. He was moving quickly, so fast in fact, that Uberman had trouble following him. Most peculiar of all, though, was the fact that the Deminite Wolves seemed to have no effect on him. Here he was, a man who had never fought a war before, and he was cutting through one minion after another with unbridled determination.
-----A gust of wind turned the SLJ leader’s attention the sky as an all too familiar dragon descended upon the land. Jon “DarkenFire” Avalon pointed his energy blade at the Khazan Soldiers before him and shot a cutting beam that moved through the weakening line of the defense force, killing over fifty in a second.
-----Uberman ran towards the descending creature and crushed the skull of every Deminite that stood in his way. “Avalon! You fiend!” He fired a concussion blast at the small dragon, knocking it back and forcing a violent roar to escape from the animal.
-----Avalon dropped from Zegrin and bid the creature to return to the air. It followed his orders without hesitation and soon departed from the scene, leaving it’s master on the ground.
-----“So, Uberman, wasn’t it?” Jon said. “It’s been a while since we last met. But why do you approach me so intensely? Surely you cannot hate me that much already.”
-----“Don’t try to sound so innocent!” Uberman yelled. “You’re the one controlling this army…you’re the one who represents Drekis here. You’re just as responsible for each death here as your minions are.”
-----“Drekis is ultimately the only one, as the Avatar of Chaos, who can enact control over an army of Chaos,” Jon explained. “I merely represent his will, and act as a guide for these legions. But you’re right, the blood of these people do indeed fall on my hands. Do you have a problem with that?”
-----“How can you be so at ease about this!?” Uberman demanded. “You kill thousands of people, be it innocent people or the heroes who try to defend them, and you just stand there with no guilt or remorse.”
-----Jon smirked. “Heroes, you call yourself. How abhorrent that your kind refers to themselves as such. If you are truly heroes, then perhaps it is your fault that you fail to protect these people.”
-----“What mind games are you trying to pull Avalon?” Uberman said.
-----“Not mind games at all, merely observations from one who enjoys to play Devil’s Advocate from time to time.”
-----Uberman thrust out his arm and struck a Deminite Soldier in the face with the back of his mechanical hand. The monstrosity fell lifeless behind him. “What happened to your sense of honor, Avalon, attacking an opponent from behind is disgraceful.”
-----“My honor is limited to my own affairs,” Jon replied. “Far be it for me to impose my doctrines on all of these minions. If you wish to fight a true duel, you’ll fight with me.”
-----“That’s fine with me,” Uberman responded.
---11---
Agent
-----Seryko Rheomyr walked down the dark stairway into the labyrinth level of the Fallen Tower. Trusting both his instincts, and his memory from five years of experience with the Fallen, Rheomyr quickly maneuvered through the vast maze with ease.
-----The labyrinth was a dark, dank place, with identical walls and structures as far as the eye could see. It was horribly repetitive and, in Seryko’s opinion, not very creative, but the lack of difference made navigation of the maze frustrating.
-----The exact reason for the existence of the labyrinth was a mystery to Seryko, for in his years with the Fallen, he had scarcely known an intruder to successfully breach the walls of the Fallen Tower. Those who made it to the Island in the first place often failed to deal with the outside security system, or the drones supplied to the Fallen by the Dollarcorp corporation. In fact, he felt that it’s existence was likely due to the Fallen’s natural affinity for such things. To them, it was likely a piece of art in and of itself.
-----At last he came to find what he was looking for, a young man, or at least what looked like a young man, sitting against a labyrinth wall, hiding himself in the darkness. Alexander Shadowcast, whose hair, eyes, and clothing were as dark as the shadows. When one looked into his eyes, they saw death staring back at them, and yet Shadowcast himself remained virtually emotionless. Even amongst the Fallen, there were those who found his company chilling and disturbing. The very air around the man smelled like death, like blood, like a thousand corpses.
-----Seryko, however, was more interested in Shadowcast than he was afraid. And it was not because of the man’s demeanor, or his strange powers, but the fact that he loathed the Fallen Council, perhaps more than any one that Khazan deemed a ’villain.’ Shadowcast was certain that he would go to his grave a follower of Quietus, the original, and in his mind, the only true leader of the Fallen. The Avatar of the Void, who had created the foundations of the entire Fallen group, who had been trapped within the Void in the aftermath of his own war with Khazan. He was the kind of person Shadowcast looked up to, and he had lost his way once he was gone. The Fallen continued to persevere through the leadership of Devyn Soyokaze and the other members of the Fallen, but Shadowcast found them sorely lacking. He criticized the Council often, and for that he was in turn criticized for his boldness.
-----No longer having the trust of the Fallen he had been associated with for so long, and yet not capable of being accepted anywhere else, the dreadful man remained in the Tower, sitting in the labyrinth, likely in this very same place, each day. He did not participate in any of the Fallen’s recent plans, and Seryko often thought that if the Tower itself should crumble and fall, Shadowcast would still be sitting in this same place, thinking and doing nothing.
-----“Why do you come before me, white-haired one?” Alexander bellowed. “What could possibly drive a fellow Fallen to seek me out now? Has Devyn or Zalrafel sent you down here to converse with me yet again?”
-----“No, for I am certain they are aware of the futility of such,” Seryko replied in his own emotionless voice. “I have come before you for my own reasons, that is to say, for my master’s reasons, but all you really need to know is that it doesn’t involve the wishes of the Fallen Council.”
-----Shadowcast’s eyes were fixed on Seryko, but his body was still motionless. “I do nothing for the Fallen anymore, Council or no.”
-----“Tell me, Shadowcast, do you not find it boring to spend your days, which are blessed with Eternity if what I have heard is correct, sitting idly in these chambers? And if you hate the Fallen so, why do you spend your time here, in this building which is a symbol of the ones you hate?”
-----“I hate the Fallen not because of what it stands for, but because of what it has become,” Shadowcast replied. “It is a pale shadow of what it once was under the power of Quietus. And no, I do not find it to be too boring. Even now I am watching something quite interesting, and I remain here because there is no where else for one such as I to go.”
-----“You think so?” Seryko said. “And what is so interesting that you are watching now.”
-----“The death of thousands,” he replied sadistically. “Such a glorious think is happening on the world below. The people of Khazan, rallying together in a hopeless cause to stop the tide of demons from washing away their precious cities and kingdoms!”
-----“So you know of the Drekis legions then?”
-----“I know of many things when it involves death.”
-----“Then you should know that although you do not consider it boring, my Master considers your actions to be a great waste of your talent.”
-----“And just who is this Master of yours who does not represent the Fallen Council?” Shadowcast asked.
-----Seryko smiled slightly. “Drekis.”
-----“You toy with me! Think me a fool you deplorable Fallen dog!” Shadowcast yelled.
-----“Do not fill the labyrinth with our conversation,” Seryko said. “Know that I hold no allegiance to the Fallen, none in honest at least. It is from here that I look upon the Fallen, and report to my Master of their movements.’
-----‘You, Shadowcast, have recently been the subject of my conversations with Drekis himself. For I have told him of your ill-feelings towards the current Fallen, and he believes that your true calling now belongs with us.”
-----Shadowcast moved his face out of the Darkness and looked upon the poker-faced Seryko. No indication of lying was found in his character. “I’m listening.”
-----“You have said that you enjoy what is happening on the surface. Indeed, it must seem like the days of Quietus when the Fallen were at the height of their power. Here, the Fallen Council has twisted that great dream into something else. They are, as you said, a pale shadow of what they once were. But in the Drekis empire, you will find that which you seek. You will once again be a part of that chaos, and for your obedience to Drekis, you will receive even more power than you do now. And Shadowcast, you will once again belong somewhere. No longer would you be forced to waste your talents in this monotonous labyrinth.”
-----“You say I would have even more power?” Shadowcast said.
-----“Indeed, more than you can imagine,” Seryko replied. “But let us not continue with the specifics, for someone else approaches.”
-----“You place much faith in someone who has not agreed to your statements,” Alexander retorted.
-----“I think that you do not hold the current Fallen in enough high regard to mention this to anyone else.”
-----Another figure appeared in the darkness, brining with him a cold chill that filled the room.
-----“So Tundra,” Seryko said, “You see it fit to follow me for around for some reason. Or is the Fallen Tower much smaller than I originally thought?”
-----Tundra moved out of the shadows and looked upon Seryko distastefully. “The others have inquired about your location, Seryko. Understand that I couldn’t care less what you do with your free time, but now is a special time. The Council has big plans for the events that are currently transpiring on Khazan. It is during these times that roguish behavior is not appreciated.” He looked down at Shadowcast as he finished his comment.
-----Shadowcast brushed off his words and pulled his face back into the darkness and closed his eyes.
-----“In any case,” Tundra continued, “What are you doing down here in the Labyrinth? Why are you talking with this one, and what of?”
-----“I do not believe that to be your concern,” Seryko responded. “I merely intended to take a thoughtful walk through the labyrinth when I happened to come across this one. That’s all. I will return to the upper levels now.”
-----Seryko walked passed the icy Fallen without once meeting his stare. Tundra turned his head and eyed Shadowcast suspiciously before following Seryko up the stairway.
---12---
Astra Canyon
-----Vincentzo and Woose emerged from the hover-carriage and surveyed the canyon pass just as Tanin floated down from above. They stood at the entrance of what was the base of the small canyon, a walled off pass, essentially. The rock walls stood a mere twenty meters tall, and the pass itself was only half a mile, but it proved to be the most effective path from the Rugudelon Bridge to central Araelis.
-----They walked into the canyon pass and found bodies of both Drekis minions and Khazanian people. The smell of death was less recent than what was in the ruins, but the sight was just as horrifying.
-----“A depressing repeat of what we saw at the ruins,” Tanin exclaimed. “I can still sense living entities here. What remains of the Drekis force is heading towards us, probably attempting to make a final attack on the ruins.”
-----“So you were right Centzo,” Woose commented. “I would have thought them cowards who would run now that their numbers are so low, but I see attrition means nothing to them.”
-----“Well then I’ll teach them what it means!” Centzo said. “Let them come, for they will not find me so easy as the others!”
-----“Calm yourself and keep your focus,” Tanin said. He looked upon a massive circle, around which was no color but red. “Many heroes that I have seen among the ranks of the SLJ are there, as are some freelancers I had met on a single occasion or two.”
-----“That circle is the work of that devil,” Woose revealed. “That was his personal slaughter.”
-----“I see,” Tanin said. “Hmmm…they’re upon us!”
-----The Avatar of Light drew Chrysillium from it’s sheath just as Drekis minions suddenly appeared in front of them and closed the distance quickly. Tanin swung his sword upward and caught a Deminite Soldier in mid-leap, slicing it cleanly in half.
-----“Those demons! I’ll slay every last one of them!” Vincentzo screamed as a bolt of lightning escaped his fingertips and drove itself through the body of a Deminite. The electricity jumped to another, and another until a dozen victims were burnt by a single release of his magic.
-----A Hunter-Killer emerged behind the ranks of the lesser minions and scowled at them with contempt. The humanoid monstrosity lifted his large gun and launched a small missile from the secondary firing chamber.
-----Woose jumped in front of the others and put his palms together, summoning his inner-energy into his hands and releasing it out as a chi-blast that struck the missile and prematurely detonated it.
-----Centzo took the opportunity to slay the Hunter-Killer with an energy shot of his own before it could fire another shot.
-----The ground behind them rumbled and was suddenly split apart as a massive wyrm emerged. It’s jaw opened wide, and drops of it’s saliva fell to the earth and burned small holes into the soil.
-----“One of those things!” Tanin Yelled. “Get back!”
-----The creature turned it’s attention to Tanin and rushed forward like a snake, brining it’s jaws to bear on the Avatar of Light. Tanin disappeared as the wyrm’s face crushed through his after-image and smashed into the ground. He appeared next to the monster to slash at the base of it’s head, but the creature sensed his movements and sent a sharp, insect-like leg towards him. Tanin lifted his body into the air, rising above the approaching claw and cut it apart with his sword.
-----The wyrm barely flinched upon the severing of it’s limb, and rather than strike out at him once more, the creature revealed numerous openings in it’s body that spewed forth an entire swarm of smaller creatures.
-----Tanin watched the ground carefully as most of the small spawns approached him. They were only a foot or so length, and bared resemblance to a spider, though they clearly had only four legs. They attempted to encircle him, but the warrior kept well above the ground and outside of their reach.
-----The small spawns turned their attention to the much more accessible targets, Woose and Vincentzo, and moved towards them even as Tanin began slicing his blade through their swarms.
-----“There’s too many for me to kill all at once,” Tanin explained. “Centzo, try blasting them all away.”
-----“I will as soon as this larger one stops bothering me,” Centzo replied. He lunged to the side as the creature snapped it’s snake-like body forward to bite him.
-----As the creature lifted it’s head back up, Woose jumped up to meet it’s gaze and gave it as swift kick to the side of it’s face. The might of the kick smashed in a piece of the wyrm’s exoskeleton, but it was otherwise unharmed by his effort. It responded to his aggression by raising it’s head even higher as it’s long body continued to extend out of the ground. It’s mouth opened, and a string of webbings spewed forth, landing upon the martial artist and trapping him in an orb of silk.
-----Woose struggled to throw off the material, but found the webbing to actually be composed of something other than silk. Something even stronger. The many smaller creatures that had been born from the larger wyrm moved towards him, looking as if they had no other purpose in life other than to sink their fangs into his flesh.
-----“Woose!” Centzo yelled as he threw off another Deminite Soldier. He extended his hand outward and unleashed a gust of green flame that spiraled around until it had formed a tornado of magical fires. Maiinverno guided the burning winds across the canyon floor, burning all of the arachnis creatures away.
-----“Woose, why must I always rescue you from these things?” Vincentzo said. “Now hold still.”
-----“What? I was the one who kicked that monster while he attacked you,” Woose reminded him as small flames danced around him, barely scrapping against the web shell that imprisoned him. Woose felt the exterior of the webbing burn away, and summoned all of his strength to break free of the remaining constraints. “Centzo, watch out for the Queen creature!”
-----Though it’s children were now but ashes on the ground, the mighty wyrm had used them to achieve a different purpose, and rushed towards the mage while he had been preoccupied. Centzo barely managed to move his hands in front of the creature and form a ball of lightning, but he feared that the evocation would not be complete before the creatures jaws fell around him.
-----Tanin then appeared out of thin air, standing in front of the wizard and wielding Chrysillium in both hands. He brought the sword back and swung it in a large arc, digging the blade through the center of the Wyrm’s mouth. Holding his own ground firmly, the Avatar of Light used the creature’s own momentum against it as it pushed itself through the blade until most of it’s body fell to the ground in half.
-----Spurts of blood fell from the sky upon the three warriors, but just as they began to catch their breath from the recent trial, the thundering footsteps of a barbaric Devonox turned their attention back to the approaching remnants.
-----“I have had enough of these cretins!” Vincentzo said, raising both of his hands above his head. “Powers of destruction, I call upon thee, Disintegrate this fool!”
-----A beam as blinding as sunlight shot forth from his hands, and the Devonox held both of it’s arms out to block the assault. The entire behemoth’s body seemed to glow radiantly as the beam pushed it back.
-----“Such amazing resilience,” Centzo admitted. “But that won’t save you.” He intensified the power of the beam, and as he did, Woose stood next to him and released a chi-blast from both of his palms, striking the creature in same location as Centzo’s beam.
-----As both lights faded and the dust settled, the brute staggered forth, with both arms completely destroyed. Ignoring it’s injuries, the beast ran forth, determined to kill his enemies, perhaps by using the full weight of it’s body.
-----Tanin quickly beamed in front of the creature, and the Devonox, without it’s arms, could only watch as he cut the creature apart at the Torso. The behemoth’s remains fell to the ground hard, but the other minions lost none of their tenacity.
-----“Looks like there are still a good fifty or so,” Woose exclaimed. “We’ve still got some work to do.”
-----“Spare me,” Centzo said, taking a few breaths to regain his full strength. “I’ll finish all of them for what they have done, and I won’t go easy on them like I have on these ones we’ve been fighting.”
-----Magical energy swirled around Centzo’s body, spinning faster and faster until his very body became enveloped in the arcane light. He let out an enormous battle cry, and the power that surged through his very essence flared in proportion to his rage. The ground below him cracked and rocks were thrown into the air as both fire and lightning gathered simultaneously into his hands. “Here! This is for all of my people!” He extended his hands out towards the advancing enemies, and with a loud roar, the entire canyon pass was illuminated.
---13---
Aigonis Zekruel
-----At the edge of the Rugudelon bridge, the Drekis General Aigonis Zekruel sat on the ground with his feathered wings outstretched. His lizard-like face looked towards the sky above the Astra Canyon as a bright light emerged. He sniffed the air and snarled at the scent. “Magic.”
-----The Deminite Soldiers around him stirred as a Phantom Sorcerer appeared before the general. Aigonis looked upon the sorcerer and stood to his full height, lifting a large halberd up with him and shoving the end of it’s shaft firmly into the ground.
-----“Well, you come to tell me of what’s happening in the Canyon pass, do you not?” Aigonis spat impatiently. “Then tell me quickly, for I already smell the magic in the air.”
-----“Three warriors have appeared in the pass my lord,” the sorcerer said. “They stand before the remnants of our forces there, and they are winning.”
-----“Only three?” Aigonis said. “So, the so called heroes of this planet decide to oppose me. But still, only three. They must be powerful even among the other heroes of this world if they stand before an entire army.”
-----“The other sorcerers have told me,” the phantom continued, “that the magic user there is the official ruler of this State-Kingdom.”
-----“I see, so he thought my army was weak enough now that he could handle it personally did he?” Aigonis said. “Little does he know that that was only a small taste of my army. The rest still remain in Rugudelon.”
-----“Shall I have the forces advance towards the canyon my lord?” the sorcerer asked.
-----“No, have them cross the bridge but take position here. I will go myself to deal with them.”
-----“But my lord, we could simply…”
-----“Do not speak out against me!” Aigonis roared. “You think I should send an entire army when my enemies dare to throw just three individuals at us. I think not. I will teach them the consequences of their audacity.” His wings spread out and he took to the air, flapping his wings slowly at first and then suddenly blurring from sight.
---14---
Shattered Confidence
-----Tim held his blade out in front of him to block the incoming swipe from a Devonox. His light of his sword became a little brighter as the talon neared, and the mysterious barrier once again appeared, as he had expected. But he overestimated the strength of the barrier, and at once was thrown into the air by the sheer force of the blow.
-----He came crashing down to the burned fields and rolled across the ground before coming upon a mound of corpses and came to an abrupt halt. Tim shook off the dizzy feeling and attempted to stand once more, but noticed in doing so that simply rolling on the ground had stained his clothing in blood. In the excitement of battle, he had had no time to look around the valley around him, to see the sea of bodies. He held his sword out in front of him and focused once more on the Devonox, but a sudden boom filled the air, and subsequently the Devonox’s head was removed.
-----He wondered at which vehicle had dealt the final blow to the brute when he suddenly felt the presence of another Deminite Soldier which came upon him with great speed. He felt a cut come across his left arm as it’s claw extended out, snatching him even as he stepped to the side and thrust the tip of his blade into the Deminite’s forehead.
-----A nearby explosion sent a tremor through the ground, nearly sending him to the ground. Instinctively he felt several bodies fly overhead in conjunction with gun fire that passed his by, and he knew that more and more people were losing their lives as the fight continued. A moved forward and cut a Hunter-Killer in the back of the neck, determined to do his part to turn the tide of battle. He did not want to go home thinking that his efforts here were in vain! In fact, he would rather not go home at all if that were the case. But his will to live was strong, and his sword gleamed in proportion to his newfound courage.
-----Tim swiftly turned around to block the blade of a Reptillion, but as he motioned forward to slay the minion, he felt the presence of a second one, approaching him from behind quickly. He made the first strike successfully, bringing down the first one with a shrill cry. But the second was already above him and brining it’s sword down upon his head. Tim resolved himself to moving back to avoid the attack, but a new weapon appeared out of the corner of his eye. But somehow his thoughts were at ease about the new presence, and he felt no intuitive indication that he should fear for his life.
-----A massive club moved well over Tim’s head and smashed the Reptillion’s head in, sending the corpse airborne. The club belonged to a mighty barbarian, a Khazanian man of incredible build and stature whose body was adorned with many battle scars, some old, some new. In his other hand he wielded a large hammer, and with but a small warning for Tim to be on his guard, the man continued on his path, striking at one minion after the other.
-----Tim’s confidence only grew at the sight of his fellow Khazanians putting up such a fight. He rushed forward again, this time taking in the actions of every hero and soldier. A steadfast group to his right attacked a Tanker beast and it’s surrounding minions. A mage clad in red robes raised his hand to the sky and with the mighty call of his deep voice the ground beneath the Crawler erupted like a volcano, carrying the burning creature high in the air and dropping it’s body elsewhere. A cyborg grabbed a Deminite Soldier and forcibly smashed it’s head into the ground, then opened compartments in his mechanical arm and fired plasma blasts at the others. But even as a group, they were outnumbered, and as they collectively killed dozens of Drekis minions, a hundred more encircled them, approaching like frenzied sharks and covering them from head to two, biting and slashing at their victims until they moved no more. A few broke free of the assault and ran for their lives momentarily, shooting casting spells as they took off. Others, however, were not so lucky, and their bodies soon joined their comrades on the blood-stained grassland.
-----Everywhere he looked, Tim saw dauntless courage, but no reward but death. He tried to focus on the battles ahead, but ultimately he found that his true fear lied not within his own safety, but of Raea. He had still not found her, and hoped that wherever she was, she was still all right.
-----He quickly looked around the chaotic battlefield, intending to find her but instead he noticed Telissa Ravan running back towards the city, firing her guns back at her enemies as she fell back.
-----“Telissa!” Tim called out to her. “What are you doing!?”
-----“Open your eyes!” she shouted back. “The frontline is falling, and their minions are still pouring over the horizon. We’d be better off falling back to the city line!”
-----“But Uberman hasn’t given that order!” Tim yelled, but she continued to run. He thought her actions to be cowardly, but also intelligent in some respects. Remaining in the valley now seemed like suicide. The bio-fighters that circled above had almost taken down every airship, and soon they would begin bombarding the soldiers below. Yet he felt compelled to stay and fight. He felt that he could succeed…that he could live through this as long as the sword continued to give him this power. He wanted to be viewed as someone that was dependable to the SLJ, and that meant staying until Uberman himself gave the order to go back.
-----He moved forward, slicing through any enemy that go in his way. In his perception, their movements were slow, and their weaknesses were immediately known to him. It was as if he was born to fight them, as if the knowledge to destroy them was kept inside his brain, or perhaps inside the sword.
-----An interesting sight caught his attention as he ran through the Drekis minions. An open circle, where neither Khazanian nor Drekis minion stood but one of each. There, he saw Uberman standing tall, looking into the eyes of a man who could only be the one he had described prior to the battle. The Drekis general, Jon Avalon!
-----Jon waved his sword in the air and feigned disinterest. “I tire of waiting. Is this what the SLJ leader is best known for? Stalling? Will you fight me, or stand and do nothing while your men die around you?”
-----“You have no right to place any guilt on my shoulders!” Uberman shouted. The jets on the feet of his mechanical body flared, leaving the ground below him charred as he took off. He hovered across the ground and sped straight for the general, releasing his right fist towards his face. As the fist approached, he activated the concussive blasters in his wrist, intending to put as much force into the impact as possible.
-----Jon crouched slightly and swung his sword down. The tip of the energy blade struck against Uberman’s fist, and at once they were at a stalemate. The area around them lit up with crackling energies as the power both released was brushing off the other, being splashed off in all directions.
-----Uberman watched as Jon’s sword began to waver against the force of his punch, but at the same time he felt the armor of his mechanical hand beginning to crack and break. Seeing no option other than to end the stalemate, Uberman arched his arm and instead pushed his fist downward, knocking the sword back.
-----Uberman prepared to connect with his other fist, but Jon proved to be much faster than he had anticipated. He regained his composure from the stalemate and swung the energy blade at the SLJ leader. The edge of the sword just barely met with Uberman’s torso as he placed his legs up and used his jets to fly back. The flare of the jets sent dust flying into Jon’s face, and Uberman quickly took advantage of the situation and fired a concussion blast through the cloud.
-----Avalon was knocked back, his chest seemingly crushed inward. But the general kneeled for only a second before he stood to his full height and swung his sword through the air. A piece of the sword’s energy seemed to detach itself from the main body, and was sent hurling towards the SLJ leader. The blast struck Uberman and sent him flying backwards until his entire body tore through an Devonox.
-----“Uberman!” Tim said, and ran into the circle that no one else dared to enter. “You bastard! How dare you!”
-----Avalon watched his new opponent approach him with great haste. “What folly is this?” He raised his blade with one hand and parried Tim’s strike with ease. “This is a duel, boy, your interference is neither appreciated nor allowed.”
-----“I don’t care about your duel, I’ll fight with you however I want!” His blade’s light intensified, yet he did not find the strength he needed to push him back. Instead, he found himself giving up ground, and the general was using only one hand!
-----“That sword you have?” Avalon said interestingly.
-----“Yeah, what of it!” Tim shouted as he struggled to hold his ground against him.
-----“Interesting,” Avalon said. “I will test you!” He broke the parry and swung his sword upwards, the blades connected, and Tim felt the excess energy from Avalon’s attack swirl around him as he was thrown back. He landed upon his feet, but felt as if his entire body had been struck all at once.
-----“I’ll get you!” Tim cried. “This time, you’ll see.” He ran towards Avalon, this time with far greater speed and determination. Behind the general he could see the various minions seemingly moving in slow motion. He searched for a weakness in the man’s defense, but suddenly Avalon was gone, with nothing but a gust and a few obscure streaks left behind for him to observe before the general was right in front of him.
-----“Too slow…” Jon whispered. His blade struck low, at the warriors feet, but Tim almost instinctively moved his own blade to counter. He prayed that the blade would hold, but his enemies strength was too much. He felt himself being thrown back once again, but this time Jon took an extra step forward and made a second clean swipe that knocked the sword from his hands.
-----Tim landed upon the ground and the wind was expelled from his lungs upon contact. The sword fell to the ground beside him and it’s brilliant light dimmed.
-----“How disappointing,” Jon said. “Pick up your sword, boy!”
-----“What?” Tim said, confused at his enemy’s request.
-----“Pick up your sword!” the general repeated. “I won’t kill you while unarmed, especially since you probably aren’t even worth my time to kill at all.”
-----“And if I refuse?” Tim asked, hoping to catch his breath.
-----“Then your death will come from the lesser minions around us. Why are you so confident and hopeful boy? Do you not see the horizon beyond us. My army still comes into this land. As strong as you are, the facts are that you are hopelessly outnumbered, and thus overpowered.”
-----Disgusted with Avalon’s statements, Tim picked his sword up and stood once more. “Fine, I’ll fight you, to the bitter end!”
-----“A good sentiment,” Avalon commented. “This little round will be your last.”
---15---
Wind Blaze
-----Tiara contemplated bringing Neva, an extension of her own being into the battle, but as she flew overhead, she realized that the battlefield had become much too intense for the ice dragon to enter now. Most of the valley had become a hellish pit, and she felt that it would be safer to go in alone.
-----Careful to avoid the bio-fighters and Ptera-Deminites that flew around her, Tiara quickly glanced over every inch of the battlefield. She was surprised to find that it did not take long to spot the man she was looking for. His blade was glowing brightly, and his hair was definitely silver. That man had to be him. She was relieved to see him still alive, though as she looked upon his opponent, he wondered how long that would still be true.
-----Tim once again charged Avalon with great haste, and the Drekis general extended out his right foot and readied his blade to attack. Before the two could meet once again, a small tornado came between them, forcing both to separate even further. Tiara landed in front of Tim, waves of wind circling around her.
-----“What?” Tim said. “Who…who are you.”
-----“You must be Tim, correct?” Tiara asked.
-----“Yes, but how…”
-----“Never mind, let me deal with him. You run back to the city, hurry!”
-----She walked towards Avalon, ignoring Tim’s shouts.
-----Tim almost followed through on the woman’s request, but he found himself watching, almost with great interest, as she began her own assault against Jon.
-----Tiara waved her hand and the air around her became a swirling blizzard. The freezing winds rushed towards Avalon, striking him with pure force and embellishing the ground beneath him with crystal snow.
-----Jon slashed through the winds with his blade and came at her. Tim blinked repeatedly as he was again unable to follow Avalon’s movements. But Tiara predicted the move, and the wind beneath her feet carried her into the air just in time to avoid the slash. Jon wasted no time in changing his approach, and launched an energy bolt from his sword towards the airborne woman.
-----Tiara waved her hand again and the wind around her suddenly became more dense, and the blast was dissipated as it struck against the currents.
-----“What an amusing show,” Jon said. “Do you really expect to beat me with weather tricks?” A dark aura began to emanate from Avalon’s figure. Energy crackled around him, and the wind began to pick up speed and force.
-----Tiara looked at the air around him in shock. She could see a glowing vortex of swirling energies moving around him rapidly. The vortex was growing, both in size and strength. What is this? The wind…the very air around his being is being twisted and contorted into something else?
-----“You greatly underestimate me!” Tiara said at last. She gathered both wind, ice, and storm around her and sent a gale force towards him that commanded the attention of every living being throughout the valley.
-----Jon smiled as the blast struck his vortex and became entangled in it. The storm and wind mingled with his aura, and began to swirl around him in tow with his own energies.
-----What? Tiara thought. That aura of his. It didn’t just contort the air around him, it transformed my own wind into his energy? What manner of power is this?
-----“Such a powerful Weather-Mage,” Jon commented. “Pity that that won’t be enough to kill me.” Part of his vortex began to gather into a spiral at the top of the aura, and with but a thought it was released and came crashing down upon Tiara, appearing virtually identical to the gale blast she had created.
-----Tiara motioned her hands towards it, but it did not obey her commands. So, it truly has been tainted. It is similar to wind, but I cannot control it any longer! Tiara flipped backwards high in the air as the wind blast struck the ground with such force that entire chunks of the ground were ripped from the surface and carried into the small tornado. Tiara landed softly on the ground as Jon’s wind dissipated. Small bits of earth fell from the sky, and the vortex around the Drekis general decreased in size until it had become a mere sheath around the man’s body.
-----But Tiara was not one to be fooled by appearances. The vortex had lost none of it’s potency despite it’s change in size.
-----A blast abruptly ended the face off, hitting Jon’s aura from the side and sending pieces of the vortex in all directions. Avalon’s energies were scattered, and for a brief moment a small gap opened within the sheath, but that problem was soon amended. Jon looked to his side and saw Uberman, standing with both hands extended, his wrist cannons still glowing from the recent release.
-----“Well, I didn’t think you would go down that easily,” Jon said. “But you had me worried, staying down after that blast. Did you know that not one, but two of your annoying comrades have interfered since you failed to return to our duel?”
-----“Enough of your talk,” Uberman answered.
-----“Ready to fight are we?” Jon asked. “Your blast could not become part of my vortex, and as such managed to break through part of my aura. I am impressed, for few have proven themselves capable of doing so. Bring out all of your strength, Uberman, and this will be quite fun!”
-----“Enough fun for today I’m afraid,” Uberman said sarcastically. “Tim! We’re falling back to the city. Spread the word and get moving, now!”
-----“Yes sir,” Tim responded, taking off immediately. The young blue-haired woman followed close behind.
-----“So, letting go of that heroic pride for a change?” Jon said.
-----“I do not consent defeat here today Avalon,” Uberman replied. “But stopping you from getting to the city isn’t possibly anymore. But we will still fight you. Mark my words, this battle isn’t over yet.” He took to the sky and flew well above the Drekis general, who made no real attempt to stop him.
-----“It matters not where the battle is fought,” Jon said. “New Xaelis will be mine no matter what.”
---16---
Death
-----Captain Takuma struggled to move the Gemini around in time to smash his particle staff into the neck of a Devonox beast. The last of his shield energies rippled as lightning blasts came across him, and both beam and rail cannons flailing, he mowed through entire squadrons of Ptera-Deminites.
-----Lt. Dezzman’s cockpit shook violently from a nearby explosion, and overhead he noticed several groups of bio-fighters falling into formations and swooping down towards them. “Sir, we have incoming, everyone take positions!”
-----“I’ve got them in my sights!” Sgt. Graham said. The Senki’s massive cannons rumbled, and moments later several of the bio-fighters were split apart.
-----“Don’t stop there, destroy every last piece of them!” Dezzman yelled. The beam cannon shaft on the Fortune, only three of which remained, motioned towards the sky and began to fire rapidly.
-----The bio-fighters that attempted to repair themselves were ripped apart by the barrage, but those that avoided the beams performed their sweep and blasted the mechs with their own arcane weapons.
-----“All of that repair work, and this is what happens!” Dezzman said. “I guess I shouldn’t have expected any less.”
-----Lt. Angelhart nearly fell out of her cockpit seat as the Derringer skidded back from a Devonox’s arm strike. Multiple mechs focused their firepower on the monster, bringing it down before it could do anything else. Cecelia brought out both 60mm EA guns and began shooting into the dense masses of Deminite soldiers, quickly darting to the side as fireballs were flung at her. The flames amassed into larger spheres, and the Derringer’s shields fell as a fireball hit the mech’s shoulder and burned through most of the armored plating. “If this continues we’re all going to die just from being worn down!”
-----“Captain!” Corporal Arlington shouted over the comm. System. “Are you reading this broadcast? It says that we’ve been given the official order to fall back towards New Xaelis.”
-----“I see that,” the Captain replied. “So it’s come to this then. Fine then, everyone ready your best weapons, we’ll need to provide some cover fire for the people that are on foot while they fall back!”
-----The mechs took position and fired repeatedly, even blindly into the ranks of Deminites and other minions. Various vehicles and people scurried passed the mechs, hoping to reach the city before the enemy caught up.
-----“It looks like only about eight of the mech divisions survived,” Takuma observed. “All, right, let’s start to fall back, Dezzman, you and I will provide the last cover for the rest of the team.”
-----“Yes sir, Captain sir!” Dezzman answered. He stood his ground and spun the upper body of the Fortune from side to side, shooting at any large group of Drekis minions.
-----Captain Kitazawa moved his mech back to avoid laser fire, and noticed a lone bio-fighter come down from the skies above. It launched two ghostly missiles from it’s spiked body and then took off in a new direction, leaving it’s weapons to deal with him. Takuma took aim and shot down a missile with his particle beam rifle, but just as he was about to do the same to the other, it changed course without direction.
-----“What, do the missiles have a mind of their own?” Takuma wondered. He watched the missile turn away from him and head straight for the Fortune. “Dezzman, behind you!”
-----The Fortune quickly darted to the side and turned it’s body, but the missile locked on and followed the mech’s movements. Before any weapon could come to bear on it, the missile hit it’s mark between the main body and it’s legs. The explosion released no flames, but instead seemed like a bright light illuminating the battlefield. But when that light disappeared, a crater remained with no trace of the Fortune.
-----“Dezzman!” Takuma shouted out, but no reply was heard. He looked to aim his guns on the bio-fighter, but found that it had masked it’s presence among countless other identical creatures. As blasts continued to fly around him, Takuma turned and flew off towards the city, swearing at their misfortune. “You were a good man, Dezzman. You deserved more than that. I’ll see these demons rot in hell for this, you’ll see.”
---17---
Prelude
-----Vincentzo rested on the ground, sweat dripping for his face. He had known himself more than capable of releasing such a great amount of magical energy, but rarely had he ever done it. He breathed steadily, and relaxed his tension, hoping to relax now that the canyon was empty of all enemies.
-----“Wow, Centzo,” Woose said, looking upon the remains of the Drekis forces in front of them, of which there was little to actually speak of. “I didn’t know you could cut loose like that. But it certainly did the trick.”
-----“I told you I would destroy them all,” Maiinverno smiled. “And I always keep my promises. It’s a pity we couldn’t stop them from destroying one of my cities, but at least now they won’t get any further.”
-----“They aren’t gone yet!” Tanin interrupted. His face was serious, and his grip around Chrysillium was still tight.
-----“What, you mean there’s more?” Woose said.
-----“How many more?” Maiinverno asked.
-----“Just one,” Tanin answered, looking up towards the top of the Astra Canyon.
-----The white reptile landed on the canyon’s top and looked down into the pass. His eyes were closed, but his face sought them out immediately.
-----“Ah,” he said. “The smell of magic still shrouds you.”
-----“Aigonis!” Woose said.
-----“Oh, a familiar scent,” Aigonis said. “A survivor from the previous battle. I don’t know what provoked you into doing this. Perhaps you thought the three of you was enough to take on my army, but I’m afraid I have many more minions waiting to cross the Rugudelon bridge.”
-----“Damn, I knew it could never be that easy,” Tanin exclaimed.
-----“In any case,” Aigonis continued, “I think it’s time you understand the drastic nature of your error here. With this StarBlade, you shall join your comrades in the soil you stand upon!”
---18---
Swarm
-----Tim could feel the heat of the fires behind him almost scorching his back even through his armor. The explosions were intensifying, for it seemed that the minions were not content to let their foes leave. The Khazan forces were pulling back to avoid more death, but the Drekis army, they craved it…they yearned for more destruction even if it meant losing their own.
-----A familiar voice called out to him, and Tim’s heart jumped at the sight of Raea, who came upon him and grabbed him around the shoulders without hesitation.
-----“I’m so glad you’re all right,” she said. “I was so worried about you after we got separated.”
-----“I was worried about you too,” Tim said. “See, we’re both going to make it through this thing.”
-----The young woman who had jumped into the fight with the Drekis general landed between them and grabbed both around the waist and carried them both into the sky with her. “I’m afraid you should postpone your reunion for after we make it back to the city.”
-----“Who are you?” Tim asked. “How did you know my name and why are you specifically helping me?”
-----“We can discuss that later,” the woman answered.
-----“Would you mind releasing me?” Raea said. “I can fly on my own.”
-----“Very well then,” Tiara said, letting go of the red head and allowing her to fly side by side with them.
-----The group quickly flew over the now empty highways that entered the city and followed it to the main compound where Uberman had gone. The woman descended as abruptly as she had taken off, but slowed to a crawl as she neared the city streets and placed him on his feet.
-----“Thank you for the assistance,” Tim said as Raea landed next to him. “I still don’t know why…”
“-----Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything to you later. I promise,” the woman replied. “We need to worry about getting out of here now.”
-----“What do you mean get out of here?” Raea said. “We can’t just abandon the city.”
-----The woman sighed. “It may come to that anyways, but even if we stay here it is not safe from this vantage point. I think your leader knows that well enough.” She pointed towards Uberman, who was conversing with Scout.
-----“There are too many of them for us to halt with ranged weaponry,” Uberman explained. “No matter what we do, we are forced into a melee, and their numbers are just too great. We need some kind of barricade, a wall to stop them, buy us some time.”
-----“But this city doesn’t have city walls like the old Xaelis did,” Scout said. “As things are, this city will get burned to the ground in the midst of the battle.”
-----“I had no choice,” Uberman said. “My forces were weakening, and we were better off meeting up with your city forces here and making a stand than staying out there.’
-----‘Now I know the city doesn’t have exterior walls, but there is one wall we can use. When this city was first built, I understand that it was only half as large as it is now. The northern half of the city was built first, and it’s south border had a single wall to protect it from Fallen attacks from the south. If I remember correctly, that wall still stands, even after the southern half of the city has been constructed.”
-----“You’re talking about Mid-Gate?” Scout replied. “So you’re saying that all of our forces should move to the upper half of the city, behind Mid-Gate and make our stand there?”
-----“You can see the alternative for yourself,” Uberman said, directing everyone’s attention to the south border of the city. The Drekis minions made their approach…a blight across the land moving like a swarm of insects. Beasts of all kind scaled house and building, leaping from structure to structure, until enough of them had gathered that it seemed as if they had painted the city a bleak color.
-----The millions of minions continued to advance through the streets, tearing apart everything as they went. The approach was like a tidal wave, ominous and unstoppable. Even from where they stood now, the great mass cast it’s shadow upon them.
-----“All units move back to Mid-Gate!” Scout ordered. “We’ll take up position there. I want a level ten defensive operation set up at that wall!”
-----Uberman helped direct everyone to their new destination, and it didn’t take long for those that laid eyes upon the swarm to immediately heed their orders. Whether by flight, foot, or wheel, every last soldier and hero crossed the Mid-Gate, a wall that would prove to be the location of their last stand. The fate of New Xaelis rested on their ability to defend the upper half of the city.
-----The SLJ leader took position at the top of the Mid-Gate wall and looked back at the approaching wave. Part of the masses had split off, and some seemed to slow in their advance while others quickened. Perhaps they were not intending to throw their entire weight on them just yet. He saw the woman who had helped him fight Jon Avalon land on top of the wall with young Tim Shinestar with her, and Raea, too, followed.
-----“Good, it looks like everyone who made it back to the city managed to make it behind the wall,” Uberman said. But he had apparently spoken too soon. He heard the screams of a girl, and looked down to see not a hero or soldier, but a civilian running through the streets, pursued by a group of Deminite Soldiers. She was an extremely young girl, and her leg was bleeding while her body looked beaten and dirty. He couldn’t believe that they had overlooked a civilian during the evacuation!
-----“I’ll be right back, I have to go help her.” Uberman took off and swooped down in a massive arc, pummeling one of the Deminite Soldiers as soon as he closed in. The woman fell to the ground and screamed with her hands over her head, her eyes not willing to watch her fate.
-----But Uberman stood over her and fired his concussion blasters, killing the remaining Deminites. Uberman took in a deep breath and quietly walked over to the young girl. “That was a close one. It’s all right, you’re safe now. Look up at me, it’s alright.”
-----As the girl cautiously looked up at him, Uberman realized that the girl was actually a young woman, but her body was extremely delicate, and the injuries she had received seemed to have weakened her considerably. “You…you saved me. I…my God…I…my brother, and my mother! We were trying to leave the city, but they…they killed them. I was so scared, I didn’t want to come out of hiding…I”
-----“Calm down, you’ve been through a lot,” Uberman said. “Quickly, let me get you over the Mid-Gate and we can get you some treatment for your wounds. Don’t worry, I give you my word that you’re safe now.”
-----He lifter her arm over his shoulder and gently flew into the air, carrying the woman with him to the top of the wall.
-----“Thank you, for rescuing me, I mean…” she said.
-----“Think nothing of it, right now we have to get you some medical attention,” Uberman replied as he brought them both to the top of the wall. “By the way, miss, what is your name?”
-----“My name?” The woman said weakly. “It’s Maria… Maria Halesinger.”
End
Next:
War of Drekis
Chapter 9
The Power that is Yet to Be