by A F Kay
Ruwen had Stone Echo and Survey active, but his Stone Echo at level one only went five hundred feet. Thank you.
Commencing phase four, Ruwen told his groups and Elder Vachyl in Chat, and then waited a few seconds as the information passed to the army.
Ruwen stopped channeling Fresh Air and opened his Void Band to the left, away from his body. The portal expanded to a diameter of five feet, costing twenty-five Energy per second. He used another twenty-five Energy per second to draw air through his band. Quartermaster’s Yell halved both these costs, but he didn’t compensate by adding more Energy.
While Ruwen had over five times the twenty-five Energy being used in Regeneration alone, most of the Workers didn’t. He had volunteered his group to test the theory that a Void Band could remove enough gas to make the air breathable, and he wanted to test his theory with values the other Bands had.
Remember, Ruwen said in Chat. If you get a debuff, use your Scarf of Freshness and then let me know.
The surrounding ground froze, and the temperature dropped by twenty degrees. Fingers of ice crawled up Tremine’s shield. A fear, three roots, and five stuns struck Ruwen. None of them overcame his Resistances, but at least one affected his dad, who went rigid.
Another volley of arrows struck them, and Colyn’s plate armor and shield protected him even though the crowd control remained active. Ruwen’s level twenty Warlord spell Warcry of Freedom could have cleared the crowd control from everyone in his first layer of groups, but he wanted to save it. They weren’t in terrible danger yet, and while the spell also increased Mind Resistance by fifty percent, the cleanse had a five-minute cooldown.
Ruwen jumped forward ten feet, making himself the best target. The rest of the army slowed their advance, giving his team time to test. He felt the ground vibrate and he channeled one hundred Energy into Harden, focusing on the ground.
The soil hardened into a density comparable to diamond. Something smashed into the newly hardened dirt and Ruwen stopped channeling Harden. Without the channeled Energy the ground would slowly decay back to its normal state, but since he’d maxed the Harden spell, that would take weeks.
Five hundred feet away, the enemy Stone Mages, not aware of what blocked their ground attacks, tried a different strike. The area twenty feet in front of Ruwen erupted, and thirty granite spikes shot toward him.
Ruwen channeled ten Energy into Jumbo, increasing his size by ten percent and Strength by five percent. Jumbo’s single spell level increased his height over seven inches and his Strength by four. The air filled with dust as the rock spikes disintegrated against his body. If he maxed this spell, he could grow to nine feet.
Colyn stepped up next to Ruwen, the crowd control having finally disappeared. Ruwen stopped channeling Jumbo and returned to normal. With Stone Echo Ruwen could see his team behind him, and he moved forward quickly.
Ruwen remained out of throwing range, so arrows, bolts, and rock spikes were the only objects hitting him. Tremine’s shield kept them safe from the variety of magic raining down, and every fifteen feet Ruwen sent a pulse of level five Harden into the ground, protecting them from ground attacks.
At four hundred feet from the enemy, Ruwen paused and Analyzed the air, but the concentration of poison gas hadn’t increased much. At three hundred feet, it had reached a deadly concentration. The team huddled behind him and Colyn, as Ruwen used Analyze to determine how large a safe area his Void Band created.
His Void Band along with Gust affected an area less than two hundred feet in diameter. It wasn’t great news as the army’s spacing wouldn’t be ideal, but it would only remain like that until they’d removed enough of the asphyxiant.
Ruwen spoke to all his groups in Chat. Dense spacing. Thirty by three.
The other teams closest to Ruwen were visible on his map and within ten seconds each team had rearranged into three rows of thirty. From their planning he knew the front row and sides contained Fighters, the middle row held the Mages and Priests, and the last row the Observers. The Worker with the Void Band remained in the middle.
The enemy hadn’t attacked during Ruwen’s slow advance, which he’d expected. The Naktos army wanted to draw them deeper into the ambush, not engage them at the border of their trap. Everything had happened just like he’d expected, which made him a little anxious. Things never went this well.
With their plan validated, only the final phase remained.
Elder Vachyl spoke to Ruwen in Chat. Warlord Starfield, your judgment?
Ruwen still channeled one Energy into Fresh Air, twenty into Scrub, twenty-five to the Void Band, ten for Gust, and Bodyguard consumed ten. But Quartermaster’s Yell halved the cost to thirty-three Energy every second. That left one hundred and four Energy per second of his Regen unused, and he channeled seventy-five of it into pulling air through his Void Band.
The additional Energy funneled to his Band turned the area around him into a tempest. His cloak snapped in the wind and he moved forward.
Ruwen responded to his groups, and Elder Vachyl. Proceed. Phase five is a go.
Shouts rose behind Ruwen as the army received the order to attack.
The Overlord ran at the enemy army.
Chapter 70
The Naktos Fighters along the front line all wore plate. Ruwen wondered if they knew about the trap or if they thought their leaders were insane. His Perception showed him Class levels ranging from twenty to forty, but by far most of them were on the lower end. Even if this was a trap, it seemed strange that the levels skewed so low. The army he led averaged closer to level forty. A small knot of worry formed in his stomach.
Vials flew at Ruwen and he turned on Insect Repellant, adjusting the radius to twenty-five feet. Between Insect Repellant slowing the bottles and Gust making the air around them erratic, none of the vials struck him.
In addition to the arrows and bolts flying at Ruwen, small knives and daggers appeared as well. He forced himself not to dodge them, knowing they’d likely strike someone behind him. Instead, he either knocked them away or let them bounce off his armor.
The Naktos army moved slowly backward, drawing Ruwen and his army deeper into the trap. He finally reached their front line and blocked a long sword with his forearm. A Fighter behind the swordsman lunged forward with a spear. Not bothering to move, the barbed tip struck him in the neck. He leaned forward with a surge, forcing the spear back, and knocking the warrior away.
Now that Ruwen had made it into melee range, he channeled Fallen Heroes and three clones appeared, all with a staff. While Colyn protected the group behind Ruwen, he and his clones moved into the line of Fighters.
Two thousand feet to revival baths, Elder Vachyl said in Chat. All groups in hazard zone. Three percent casualties.
Moving to primary objective, Ruwen responded.
Ruwen could see the distant tents containing the revival baths. Once those were destroyed, the battle, and war, was over.
A blinding light strobed in front of Ruwen, blinding him. Using his Gold Fortified senses and the information from Stone Echo, he never even paused. Knocking swords and spears away, he waded further into the enemy.
Lir spoke to Ruwen. I detect seismic activity under New Eiru.
What?
I detect seismic activity under New Eiru.
Ruwen’s vision returned as a shard of ice the size of his arm struck him in the face. It shattered with a loud boom. The fragments caused his armor to smoke as the splinters caused acid damage.
How far underground?
There are multiple sources of immense vibration, making it impossible to determine with any accuracy.
Ruwen trapped a sword under his arm and slammed a fist into the solar plexus of the attacker, deeply denting the plate armor and leaving a translucent leech hanging from the breastplate. Are you saying the vibrations are separate from the seismic activity?
Yes.
Like the vibrations might mask something?
It is possible.
Send the
Temple Guardians to investigate the seismic activity.
Yes, Architect Starfield.
The knot of worry in Ruwen’s stomach traveled to his chest. Should he turn the army around and head back to the city?
A Fighter in leather stepped in front of Ruwen, a long sword in each hand. From his stance, Ruwen knew the Fighter had at least a little Unarmed Combat training.
Ruwen spoke to Hamma in Chat. Please relay what I’m about to say to the City Council.
You’re too far from the group, Hamma responded. I don’t like it.
I’m fine.
The Fighter didn’t immediately attack, and instead studied Ruwen, further showing advanced training.
Ruwen addressed his Primary Group and the War Council. The Temple has detected a disturbance underground. I’ve sent Temple Guardians to look. Should we retreat?
Hamma responded first. The City Council says to return immediately.
The dual wielding Fighter faked an attack to the right, but Ruwen could tell by the stance and breathing it was a ruse. Fifteen stuns struck him in a coordinated attack and one of them overcame his Resistances. His Bracer of Freedom cut the duration to a second, but that gave the Fighter an opening to attack.
Ruwen didn’t bother clearing the stun and watched the strike descend. Both blades slammed into his neck, one on each side. The magical blades sliced through his Overseer armor, further damaging it, but didn’t penetrate his skin. The churning air felt cool against his neck.
The stun cleared and Ruwen grabbed the Fighter’s wrists, snapping them. He caught the falling swords and jerked them upward, slicing the Fighter’s arms off. Blood sprayed Ruwen as he stepped forward and decapitated the Swordsman. The Overseer armor absorbed the blood, repairing the damage to itself. The cool air on his neck disappeared as the scale mended. In moments, the armor had maximized its durability.
Ruwen hadn’t trained with swords yet and didn’t know how to determine quality, but he could tell these had excellent balance, and they must be magical to slice through scale. Instead of throwing them away, he dropped them in his Void Band.
Elder Vachyl responded in Chat. We will not get a better chance to destroy those revival baths. The disturbance is unknown. Additional troops may be of no value. Two thousand warriors have exited the temple, and more leave every second. The city is secure and the War Council recommend proceeding.
Ruwen’s level five Fighter ability Peripheral Vision triggered, revealing an assassin wrapped in cloth ten feet away. They carried a dagger in each hand and their steps didn’t register with Stone Echo.
Sift’s foot struck the assassin in the neck. Ruwen had felt that kick before and winced. The blow struck the artery in the neck, forcing a surge of blood to the brain, and causing an instant blackout. The assassin’s neck sacs protected his arteries, however, and the assassin flipped away, tossing two daggers at Sift. Sift caught them both and threw them back, and they landed with a single thud in the center of the assassin’s chest.
“Are you deaf?” Sift asked as he snatched an arrow from the air.
“Thanks,” Ruwen said. “I didn’t hear him.”
Ruwen’s group had caught up with him.
Bliz had created a tower shield with his Void Band, catching anything that neared him, and firing some of it back. Ruwen couldn’t find Lylan but knew she was nearby. Clarysa stood behind Colyn, firing her crossbow. Tremine stood with his hands behind his back, completely relaxed. Hamma’s Light Guardian stood behind her, and she held the Staff of Chimes, ready to fight if anyone came too close. Xavier floated next to Hamma, and sunlight shone through all the arrow holes in his robe.
“You heard the news, any opinions?” Ruwen asked.
No one responded.
Rami? Ruwen asked.
Sorry. I’m not allowed to help. Mom just told me again. As if I’m a child who needs reminding.
Rami sounded upset with her mom, but the fact that Blapy had just spoken to her, specifically making sure she didn’t interfere, terrified Ruwen. It meant as in control as he felt, things were really life and death.
Arrows, bolts, daggers, and vials of poison and acid continued to strike Ruwen. Tremine had approached close enough that his shield protected Ruwen from the magical attacks. He studied the distant tents as the army caught up. He needed to decide right now which path to take.
The disturbance under New Eiru might portend something terrible, or it could be a distraction created by the enemy in front of him. Was the enemy trying to split Ruwen’s forces or get him to retreat completely, a last-ditch effort to distract Ruwen from destroying their revival baths. Without more information, Ruwen felt he only had one choice.
Ruwen responded in Chat. Moving to primary objective.
Confirmed, phase five remains active, Elder Vachyl responded.
“On me,” Ruwen said out loud. “Let’s finish this.”
Ruwen moved forward, no longer giving the enemy time to retreat slowly. If this battle served another purpose, their slow retreat probably benefited them.
The enemy line buckled in front of Ruwen and his group, causing the entire enemy line to shift backward faster as they avoided the risk of being split down the middle.
Ruwen had closed to within a thousand feet of the tents when the enemy line opened in front of them, as if inviting them to move forward. He slowed his pace, studying the surroundings for any changes.
From the direction of the tents, a small group rapidly approached, moving across the ground on a sled of rock. Ruwen recognized one member, and once again gave thanks that the Overlord felt no fear. His Perception gave him the awful news on the other four as well.
Name: Dust Reverend of Retribution
Deity: Naktos
Class Type: Priest
Level: 100
Health: 1,783
Mana: 3,429
Energy: 389
Spirit: 0
Armor Class: 399
Name: Quake Summoner of Retribution
Deity: Naktos
Class Type: Mage
Level: 85
Health: 1,062
Mana: 2,537
Energy: 308
Spirit: 0
Armor Class: 341
Name: Crag Defender of Retribution
Deity: Naktos
Class Type: Fighter
Level: 80
Health: 2,455
Mana: 475
Energy: 2,106
Spirit: 0
Armor Class: 1,542
Name: Echo Blade of Retribution
Deity: Naktos
Class Type: Fighter
Level: 86
Health: 2,096
Mana: 522
Energy: 2,471
Spirit: 0
Armor Class: 870
Name: Rift Ghost of Retribution
Deity: Naktos
Class Type: Observer
Level: 91
Health: 1,529
Mana: 607
Energy: 2,753
Spirit: 0
Armor Class: 628
All of their names ended with Retribution, and Ruwen guessed they were a special squad, like the chickens in the Black Pyramid. It meant they likely trained together, making them even more dangerous.
Ruwen had wondered where all the high-level warriors were, and five had appeared. Tremine, at level ninety, was the only person near the Retribution group’s levels. Bliz at level fifty-one, his parents in the low thirties, and everyone else in their twenties or lower, were outclassed.
Even though the levels were vastly different, it didn’t mean Ruwen and his team couldn’t win. While the enemy’s added attribute points mattered, what really gave them an advantage was access to more spells and abilities, most of which would be maxed. Their Resistances and gear would be much better as well.
Ruwen’s army had a handful of high-level individuals, but they were distributed throughout the troops, since they’d expected the same from the enemy. They hadn’t planned on a way to redistrib
ute them quickly, so Ruwen and his group needed to manage on their own.
The rock sled stopped twenty feet away.
“We meet again,” the Dust Reverend said. “You die today, and your country will follow. The Children of Uru will soon be no more.”
Chapter 71
Ruwen triggered Last Breath, speeding his thoughts and slowing the passage of time.
Ruwen spoke to Elder Vachyl with Chat. My team has encountered an elite squad. Inform the other Commanders to push forward around us and collapse on the revival baths.
Understood, Elder Vachyl responded. Any word on the disturbance here?
Not yet, Ruwen said, and then focused on his current problem. Use your scarves, he told his team in Chat and then closed his Void Band to prepare for serious fighting.
Still using Chat, Ruwen spoke to his dad and Xavier. Guard the Healer. He didn’t bother to say his mom or Lylan since the two had likely already used their skills to hide themselves from view. He focused on Tremine. Do your best to nullify their spells. Next, he spoke to Bliz. Stay back and do what you can. Lastly, he spoke to Sift. Promise me you’ll retreat if this goes sideways.
Sift stepped up next to Ruwen and answered out loud. “You die like you live.”
Ruwen nodded. Stopping Sift from doing something dumb was pointless. In that unfortunate fact, they behaved the same.
The elite group hadn’t moved, showing no hurry to fight. Ruwen wondered if their true aim centered on keeping Ruwen pinned here in the depression. He hoped the Temple Guardians reported good news soon.
The Crag Defender stood at the front, covered in plate, and carrying a tower shield and long sword. The Echo Blade wore banded armor and stood to the right. She carried two rapiers, one red and the other blue. The Rift Ghost stood on the other side and wore soft hide armor. Throwing daggers covered her chest and her hands appeared empty. She had black hair with white streaks and stood perfectly still. The Dust Reverend and Quake Summoner wore padded cloth armor and stood behind the Fighters. They looked relaxed and maybe a little bored.
