The Forge of Light: The White Mage Saga #5 (The Chronicles of Lumineia)

by Ben Hale

  Jack cringed as he saw what was happening in the Gulf of Mexico. The blockade had survived nine hours of brutal battle but had suffered tremendous losses. Of the two thousand vessels they had started with, more than half had been sunk.

  "Southern Fleet Command, I have a pod of leviathan's surfacing behind you," he said. "Expect to be hard hit in three minutes."

  A crackling voice answered. "We're already hard hit. I don't know how much longer . . ."

  ***

  ". . . we can hold out!" Admiral Stark had to shout into the radio.

  "Let me know if you need to withdraw." The commander's voice sounded strained.

  "Understood sir!" Stark yelled, but knew he would not do it.

  The Earth Army may have comprised a collection of armies from a hundred countries, but it lacked the manpower to fill a continuous line around the continent. If their armada fell, the legions of Twisted would walk right in through the southern part of the United States.

  "How soon until the deck will be operational!" he yelled.

  "Two minutes!" an ensign shouted back.

  "We need to retreat!" Colonel Allen yelled, his voice rising with hysteria. "We're being slaughtered!"

  "Colonel," Stark snapped. "Get a weapon and join your men on the railing."

  "I can't do that!" the Colonel shrieked. "They're dying by the second!"

  "Sergeant!" Stark shouted. "Put this man in the brig!"

  "Yes, sir!" the man replied, and dragged Allen out of the bridge.

  "All hands, brace for evasive maneuvers!" Captain Donaldson yelled into the shipwide broadcast. "We have another pod inbound from the north."

  Stark gripped the edge of his chair as the aircraft carrier banked to port. Through the forward windows the view shifted. Crippled and damaged boats fought against the oversize foes. Leviathans clung to the warships like parasites, tearing them apart.

  Broken hulls dotted the water like leaves in an autumn pond. Burning fuel and dead sailors surrounded them as they gradually slipped beneath the surface. Smaller leviathans hunted the lifeboats, tearing into them like sharks.

  Planes and helicopters filled the air, firing on the endless swarms of bats. Their horrendous screeches took on a pained whine when they were hit, and their bodies rained down like hail. Even through the thick steel of the Washington, the sound of Twisted striking the deck could be heard.

  "Five blues!" an ensign shouted over the roar of battle. "Coming straight for us!"

  Stark's gaze connected with Captain Donaldson's. They both knew the truth. Early in the battle the leviathans had mostly ignored the larger carriers. Instead they had focused on the numerous gunboats, battleships, and cruisers. With half of those down, the larger creatures had carved a hole in the blockade and were coming for them.

  "Call in air wings seven through nine," Stark ordered. "And have the subs target their torpedoes for the center of the pod."

  Donaldson gave a sharp nod and passed on the orders. "Ensign—"

  The explosion was sudden and massive. A hundred yards off the starboard bow the water went white in the distinct shape of a sub. Erupting upward with a muted boom, the implosion rocked the Washington. Then a leviathan breached the water and roared. Its body bloodied and gouged, it held the conning tower of the USS Albany in its claws. Then it turned to them, and dived underwater.

  "It opened the sub like a tin can," an ensign cried out.

  "Stow it, ensign," the captain barked. "I want depth charges and torpedoes targeting that thing now! And get the C-130s over here!"

  The super carrier rocked violently as the bluish leviathan caught their starboard edge and pulled. Stark grimly held on and issued orders as fast as they could leave his lips. Torpedoes sped through the water while planes bombed the incoming pod, but it was too late. In seconds the other leviathans joined the first.

  Jaws ripped into the hull, deck, and tower from all sides. Like a pride of lions bringing down its prey, the Dark-empowered creatures reduced the super carrier into scrap. Stark drew a pistol and fired into the leviathan's mouth as it closed around the tower. Then the deck cracked and he fell into the maelstrom of twisted metal and teeth.

  ***

  Jack rubbed his skull, fighting to keep his worry in check. By taking out Stark and the Washington, the Dark had eliminated their command ship. By nightfall the entire armada would be annihilated. Signaling Iris, he switched the channel to the secondary command ship, the Teddy Roosevelt.

  "Captain Heron," he said. "I think it's time for you to pull the fleet back."

  "We'll withdraw a hundred miles, sir," the captain answered. "With our losses it's the only way we can tighten our line."

  "Inform me when you need to abandon the Gulf."

  "Negative," Captain Heron replied. "The armada still has the larger artillery. If we abandon ship we leave the door open for them to walk into Texas."

  Jack made to argue, but the words didn't come out. "Godspeed, Captain."

  Jack held his frame rigid, the weight of thousands of sailors settling onto his shoulders. He knew in his gut that the fleet in the gulf would be destroyed. For them to survive this long was a testament to their will. But what could he do? The man was right. The Earth Army lacked the forces to cover all four fronts. When the fleet fell, it would mark the end.

  He let out a slow breath and did his best to set aside the weight of their lives. Right now other teams needed his help, and other soldiers were dying. Recognizing he'd spent too much time focusing on the southern and eastern fronts, he strode to the other side of the map. Out of the corner of his eye he saw red blossoming across at the edges of the map. Jack issued several fast orders and tried not to feel like they were in vain.

  "Oregon command, Chinese battalion 934, the Australian battalion to your south has suffered heavy losses. Dispatch two companies to assist. North California Command, India battalion 378, if you don't get your mortars going again you will be overrun." Then someone else called for him.

  "Jack!" the president shouted. Hearing the urgency in his voice, Jack hurried to his side.

  "What do you make of this?" the president asked, and motioned to the US techno wall.

  Jack peered at the concave screen. The display revealed an object exiting the Dark ten thousand feet off the ground. The object seemed to pulse, and then suddenly it began to fall. Hurtling toward the ground, it continued to pick up speed.

  Jack felt his gut clench, and he turned away to speak to that command. "New York command, United Stated battalion 508, you have an unknown tango headed your way. Stand by for impact . . ."

  ***

  Derek stood beside Brody and worked the bombardment hex. Drawing material from the floor itself, they aimed the tubes at the docks, sending sections of the floor streaking into the ranks of Twisted. Rocketing from the tubes, the spheres of concrete sped almost as fast as the auren bullets, shredding the black forms as they fought to gain an advantage. With the stone brace still around his forearm, Brody had refused to leave the unit.

  For the last several hours the New York Command had withstood countless attempts to take the city. The SEALs and Derek's team had worked in unison after the primates had stormed the subway. Freezer's gaze still carried a chill, but at least the soldier had allowed them to join the combat. Then Freezer lowered his gun.

  "They're retreating," he said.

  Surprised, Derek stood up to see that the Twisted had stopped exiting the Dark. Gunfire across the barricades tapered off as soldiers found themselves without a target. Rather than reassuring, the eerie quiet sent a foreboding charge through the air. Then Freezer touched his radio. His eyebrows pulled together as he listened, and he leaned out the broken window to look into the evening sky.

  "Understood, sir," he said. "I have a visual."

  Derek followed his gaze and spotted a white object plummeting toward them. Shimmering and brightening as it fell, it seemed to be aiming for their front line. Confusion swept through Derek—and then he recalled what he had overheard
from Alice.

  "Captain!" he shouted. "Get down!"

  Following his own advice, he ducked below the window. His tone caused every SEAL and his own team to obey. Guns stopped firing, and magic came to a halt as they pulled their heads down. Then the object impacted the docks and the entire building rocked.

  The shockwave slammed into the neighboring buildings, shattering every single window at once. Glass rained down on the front line soldiers. Those closest to the impact had been thrown ten yards, and their bodies slammed into brick walls. Then the object rose to its feet and brandished a colossal sword.

  Derek peaked over the windowsill. "I don't believe it," he breathed.

  As if carved from pure white stone, the figure stood as tall as a giant. Its white robe undulated with the wind, while a hood obscured the Aspect's features. Glittering wings of light extended from its back, the material translucent yet strong. In its hands, a massive sword emitted a blinding white light, its power pulsing as the Aspect placed the tip on the ground at its feet.

  Ensign Tack sucked in his breath. "Is that an angel?"

  Derek jerked his head. "It's the Aspect of Justice. Six thousand years ago it and the Aspect of Peace laid waste to entire armies. They were called war enders."

  "What's it doing here?" Freezer asked.

  "It's one of Alice's generals," Mike said.

  Freezer thumbed his radio. "Command? I have confirmation on enemy general. He's in a stationary position just north of my coordinates. Recommend priority one tactical assault."

  "Negative, Captain," the reply was loud enough for Derek to hear. "Command has re-tasked the Halo of Dawn and will be firing in nine seconds."

  Derek frowned as he heard the answer. "It's not going to work."

  "Why do you say that?" Freezer asked.

  "Because the Aspect has not moved," Derek said. "It's practically begging us to hit it with our best shot."

  "That doesn't mean it won't kill the thing," Freezer growled.

  The halo exploded into view high above, and a massive fireball erupted from it. It emitted a shrieking whine as it fell, growing louder by the second. Derek shielded his eyes but forced himself to watch.

  The Halo struck the Aspect dead on, and the impact shook the building under Derek's feet. For the second time a shockwave rippled outward, washing over them in a wave of heat. Concrete and metal adjacent to the epicenter melted while the ocean water burst into steam. The blinding light gradually faded to reveal raging fires up and down the docks—and the Aspect standing tall.

  Untouched and flawless, the figure withstood the two thousand degree heat without flinching. In the midst of the smoke and charred cinders, it remained free of ash or soot, as if the dirt itself feared to touch the Aspect's form. Its point proven, the Aspect lifted off the ground and glided toward the barricade.

  The soldiers opened fire, but their bullets bounced away. Undeterred, the Aspect reached the line of cars that the soldiers had been using as cover. As a missile exploded across its wing, it grabbed a car and tossed it away. Then the slaughter began.

  It swung its sword with blinding speed, cutting the soldiers before they could take a step to retreat. A nearby plant mage cast a treewalker spell, and an oak tree tore itself from the ground. It took two steps before the Aspect cleaved it in two.

  The fire intensified from the building next to Derek, with rockets, grenades, and lead pouring onto the Aspect. The enemy general lifted its head to them, but the attacks did no more than a spring rain. Then it leapt into the air and swung at the corner of the building.

  The blade brightened as it sliced deep—impossibly deep. Somehow the sword elongated to a hundred feet, and cut through concrete, steel, and brick. Sheered from the lower floors, the entire structure began to lean. As if the very building had been slain, it groaned . . . and then slid off its base. The men inside screamed as they were carried with it. Caught by the pull of gravity, the building struck the neighboring structure and crumpled.

  Concrete and brick burst into powder from the sheering forces, and metal was snapped like candy. Soldiers on the barrier sprinted out of the way as it fell toward them. Vehicles, weapons, and those too slow were crushed as the enormous structure slammed into them. A cloud of dust blossomed skyward, marking the Aspect's victory. Then the Aspect turned toward Derek's building and raised its sword again. Freezer bellowed a warning just before it struck.

  "Move!"

  Chapter 22: Beachhead

  The building quivered as the blade cut through the lower levels—and then the floor began to lean. Derek saw fear in the eyes of his friends and anger in the eyes of the SEALs. He gritted his teeth as the building tipped faster.

  "Get close to me! Brody, bubble charm! Flyers, cushion charm!"

  His words tumbled from his mouth as he lost his footing. Desks, office chairs, and equipment slid down the floor and struck the wall ahead of him. He braced himself as he called on his magic.

  The concrete beneath the carpet rolled up as Derek and Brody shaped it into a large sphere. Rolling and sliding, the rest of the team slammed into each other as the ball sealed around them. Then the flyers cast cushion charms that lifted them off the interior of the ball and kept them hovering in the middle. Derek frantically sought to thicken the sphere before the entire building crushed his attempt. It fused above him, the concrete knitting together . . .

  —their building smashed into the neighboring structure, throwing them sideways. The protective sphere bounced brutally off a now exposed I-beam and then smashed through a sheetrock wall. Picking up speed, it accelerated down the sinking slope, blasting through walls as it went. Derek struggled to keep his senses. Without Katsuo, Mike, and Laura, they would have been knocked senseless. As it was he could barely stay conscious.

  The ball slowed as it struck something hard, and Derek slammed into the wall of the sphere. Filtered through the gaps in the ball, he caught glimpses of floor, wall, desk, and ceiling as they accelerated down the sinking floor. Then they hit the exterior wall. In a tinkling of glass they shattered through an office window—and then they were plummeting toward the street.

  "Brace yourself!" Freezer roared.

  Gravity pressed against Derek's skin as the flyers fought to expand the gravity cushion. His heart in his throat, he closed his eyes. Then they smashed into the street like a boulder falling off a mountain. Every person in the sphere slammed downward at once, and he was on the bottom. He cried out when his forearm snapped. Nearly unconscious, he sensed the massive building falling toward them and forced himself to roll their sphere to the side.

  Cradling his arm, he poured his magic into the concrete ball, but it had sunk into the street a few inches, and refused to budge. Grinding his teeth together, he bumped the earth beneath them and lifted them out. Grunts of pain filtered through the ball, but were overridden by the rising groan as the building collapsed on top of them.

  With all his might, Derek got them rolling. Inch by inch they picked up speed. Deep in his magesight, he saw the walls and windows of the building they had just occupied. The falling structure grew large in his vision, and he cringed from the impact . . .

  The building collapsed into the street—inches behind them. Thousands of tons of concrete and steel crumpled into an unrecognizable lump in less than a second. The force slapped them away, and they careened through trucks, Humvees, and other buildings. After several blocks they spun to a stop next to a streetlamp.

  Dizzy and crushed between Freezer and Mike, Derek cracked the sphere down the middle. The entire group fell into a pile on the ground. Derek wasn't the only one to cry out in pain, but at least they were free—and alive. One by one they got to their feet.

  Freezer caught the streetlamp for support and looked back toward the docks. They'd rolled four blocks, and in that time two more buildings had been cut down. Like a farmer in a giant field of wheat, the Aspect of Justice was systematically carving a hole in their defenses. Freezer caught at his radio, and when he found it broken,
turned to Mara.

  "Inform Command that the enemy has a beachhead. If the entire line doesn't evacuate now we will lose the battalion."

  The rage in Freezer's voice caused Derek to shudder. He'd never heard such cold fury from anyone. As Mara passed on the message he reached down and caught up a length of the sphere that had broken off. Gingerly he wrapped it around his arm to form a makeshift splint. When it had solidified he stepped to Freezer's side.

  "What now?"

  "We retreat," Freezer said, "and fast. Now that the general has made a hole you can bet the troops will take advantage of it. We've got several hundred miles to the secondary line."

  "How?" Tack asked as he wrapped a stretch of cloth over a wound on his knee. "It's not like we have a vehicle."

  Like a tide of flesh, the Twisted appeared over the rubble. Primates bounded down alongside human Twisted, while a pair of greater creatures thundered into a tank. It's huge gun belched fire for the last time before the Twisted tore at the metal. The driver must have realized he was surrounded, because he tried to retreat. He made it thirty feet before the Aspect caught up to him.

  With a single blow it sliced the tank from track to track, spilling fuel and oil onto the street. Twisted were quick to pry the gap apart and pour in, ending the lives of the soldiers. The triumphant Aspect rose into the air and hovered, its wings barely flapping. Still pristine white after the devastation it had wrought, it turned and departed. As the horde of Twisted poured into the streets, Freezer turned to Derek.

  "You saved us from that," he jerked his thumb at the demolished buildings. "Can you get us out of here?"

  Derek looked to the approaching horde and guessed they had less than a minute. There was no way he could do a slideways charm large enough, and the flyers could not lift so many. Then his eye fell on an abandoned car nearby.

  "Brody?" he called. "Are you up to building a roller?" His face drawn, Brody managed to grin.