“For Perennia!” Gaea shouted.
The Perennian army echoed his cry and charged forward.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Apokalypse gritted her teeth in anger.
She watched the Perennian army destroy the undead creatures leading Oblivia’s charge. The skeletons would start to rise, but the next wave of Perennian soldiers would bring them down again. In no time, the Perennians reached the line of the Jenaians. Apokalypse clicked her tongue. She hoped that the first line of her army would slow down Perennia, but she realized that was not the case.
If only I have my true army, she thought to herself. Apokalypse shook her head and tried to focus on what was happening around her. She knew that Perennia would aim to destroy the towers they built. They would lay their lives down for that one goal.
She was hoping for that.
“Ready the cannons,” Apokalypse said. Several pairs of Jenaians on her right and her left angled the cannons. They loaded metal spheres filled with Lifeblood that they had harvested. The Jenaians aimed it at the first Perennian wave of soldiers.
“Fire!” The Jenaian commander said.
The cannons boomed and the Lifeblood explosives whistled past the Oblivian soldiers straight to Perennia’s first line of defense, the Reets. They exploded on impact and disintegrated the body of several Reets. The explosion stopped the Perennian infantry’s advance. Apokalypse commanded another firing which hit two more Reets that fell down on a group of soldiers behind them.
Behind Perennia’s line, Apokalypse saw the Perennian Lords move forward. She smirked. It was good that she chose this vantage point. “You there,” Apokalypse called out to the Jenaians on her left. “Aim that cannon at the Perenian Lords.”
The Jenaians repositioned the cannon and at Apokalypse’s command, they fired. When the Lifeblood shots were almost near Perennia, they met an invisible shield created by Kosmos and they exploded.
“Again!” Apokalypse said. The Jenaians loaded another Lifeblood shot and fired it at the Perennian Lords. Kosmos’ shield blocked the projectile again. Apokalypse tutted in frustration. She could not take the heads of the Perennian Lords. She scanned the battlefield and saw that a field of bodies was already starting to pile up, and most of them were from their side. This is not good. Most of their attacks were taken by the Reets. Apokalypse relayed a different command, “Aim the cannons at the Perennian army. Not at those walking trees! Thin out the infantry!”
The Jenaians beside her nodded and repositioned their cannons. Once ready, they started firing several rounds of Lifeblood shots and in response, the Perennian soldiers cried in pain. This was music to Apokalypse’s ears. But they were running out of time and resources. Perennia had controlled the majority of the field. If they still had some tricks hidden in their sleeves, Apokalypse knew that Oblivia would not last the day.
“Let me fight!” The man with a scarred face beside Apokalypse said, his voice hoarse.
“No, Phoenix. This is not yet your fight.” Apokalypse turned to Necromancer and said, “We need to the open the Gate.”
Necromancer was about to argue but seemed to understand what Apokalypse was trying to do. He nodded and looked at the ground under him. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply, he summoned two huge humanoid skeletons in front of him. “Stay with Apokalypse and Phoenix,” Necromancer commanded.
It would be their last stand.
“Phoenix, let’s go,” Apokalypse said. She walked to where the towers were. The towers were connected to several Lifeblood pumps created by the Jenaians. Almost half of these pumps were damaged. Considering that one of the towers was severed in half, Apokalypse was doubtful that her plan would work.
“Release the Lifeblood,” Apokalypse commanded the Jenaians manning the machinery. The Jenaians followed without question. Lifeblood started to flow up the towers. As the towers were filled, they illuminated, coming to life. Apokalypse and Phoenix stood by waiting for the device to be fully activated.
After several minutes, the space in front of them cracked. Then from a crack, it widened to the size of a pebble. Inch by inch, the space in front of them grew wider.
“Get ready,” Apokalypse told Phoenix.
Phoenix nodded beside him, his face intent on the opening Gate.
Apokalypse smiled. “This is what you’re made for, child.”
Phoenix again nodded. “I won’t let you down, my lady.”
Apokalypse heard an explosion. She turned around and saw that one of the skeletons guarding them was damaged. The Perennians had seen them. The attack continued until one of the skeletons was pulverized.
Then she saw that it was coming from Guier.
“Gatekeeper!” Apokalypse snarled.
Guier fired again. This time, it went straight to Apokalypse. Apokalypse raised her hand and when the Lifeblood was near her, it disintegrated. Guier continued, but Apokalypse nullified every attack. She raised her hand slowly in front of her and a black sphere of Lifeblood came out from it. It went straight to Guier, absorbing all the Lifeblood that Guier was firing at her. Guier was almost hit by Apokalypse’s sphere but was able to avoid it at the last second. He sent another lance of Lifeblood that hit Apokalypse before she was able to block it. Apokalypse was stunned for a moment.
Guier reached the towers. The moment he was near enough, he charged his staff and aimed at the towers. But Phoenix intercepted him. At the same time, Apokalypse nullified the Lifeblood gathering in Guier’s staff. Phoenix punched Guier in the face and Guier fell to the ground. Then, Phoenix picked up the Yggdrasil staff and snapped it into two. The staff lost its black color and disintegrated into dust.
“Phoenix,” Apokalypse called out. “Go!”
Phoenix ran towards the Gate but the ground started to shake causing him to stumble. Apokalypse saw Gaea in deep concentration. Cracks were starting to appear in the ground under them.
“Run, Phoenix!” Apokalypse shouted.
Phoenix stood up, trying to maintain his balance. Without looking back, he went through the Gate. The ground webbed with cracks and the towers started to crumble. Then, the towers started to fall giving off a loud rumble. Apokalypse and the Jenaians ran away from the towers to find cover.
The towers fell and crashed to the ground. Apokalypse held her breath and waited. She scanned the area and she smiled.
Phoenix was nowhere to be found.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gaea scanned the battlefield which, in a matter of hours, had turned into a graveyard.
The moment that Phoenix was through the Gate, Apokalypse ordered the Oblivian force to retreat. They fell back without hesitation. The Perennian soldiers wanted to pursue them. But Gaea and the other Perennian Lords stopped them. They would not accomplish anything. Even if they chased Apokalypse and Oblivia until the edge of the world, they would not change the fact that one of them had gotten through the Gate and was already in Terra.
Gaea shook his head and walked to the field of Gulgalta. He commanded the Perennian soldiers to find the wounded and gather the dead. The Perennian soldiers hovered around the mass of bodies like lost souls. Once in a while, they would hear a whimper or a hollow breath. Serem would come to their aid and heal them if she could. The others with minor injuries were taken care of by the healers.
“Sire,” one of the soldiers called out.
Gaea looked at him and saw him standing above one of the fallen bodies. When he looked at the man on the ground, he saw that it was a Jenaian. An arrow was protruding from his chest and two more on his right thigh.
“Call someone to treat his wound,” Gaea commanded. “We’ll take him back to Perennia.”
The Perennian soldier nodded and signaled for a healer. Gaea continued to walk through the field. With every limp body he saw, with every cry of pain he heard, he thought about what they could have done differently. All that came down to one question: what step should they take next too avoid more death, more suffering? Gaea shook his head and walked away from the battlefield
.
When they had gathered all their dead, rescued the wounded, and captured the prisoners, Gaea received their total number of casualties. Roughly a third of their army had been wiped out. Too much loss for nothing, Gaea thought. He ordered the Perennian soldiers to move out and they started the long and silent journey back home.
* * *
The tall towers of Sanctuary were a welcome sight.
With the loss that Perennia felt, Gaea could just hold on to the idea that Perennia may still have a fighting chance. They passed through the Perennian gate and the soldiers in the battlements saluted him with enthusiasm. Gaea nodded and his stern face made the soldiers withdraw their waves and praises. The gates were opened and the Perennian forces went inside. The village was sparsely populated with several citizens waiting for their arrival. Most of them immediately read the soldiers’ expressions — it was not a period for rejoicing.
They reached the Sanctuary and the Perennian Lords returned to the throne room. With their wounds cleaned and bandaged, they gathered around, facing each other. Guier was waiting outside of their circle.
“What do we need to do?” Serem asked.
Kosmos threw up his hands and said, “I'm going after that Oblivian.”
Gaea looked at him. “But we—”
“Don't tell me you're not itching to know who he is and what he can do!”
“We need to determine our next course of action first. We decided to take the fight to them and look what happened,” Gaea said.
“I know that and I'm not asking you to come. I just can't stay still knowing someone is doing something out there.”
The Perennian Lords went silent for a moment.
“Kosmos, I empathize with you,” Serem said. “But Gaea is right. Rushing things will not bring us any good. And besides, we are needed here now of all times. Perennia needs our strength.”
Kosmos looked at her and let out a sigh of resignation. “I’ll get that bastard.”
“In due time,” Gaea said. “For the meantime, we need all the help that we can get. It might be wise for us to call on the Guardians.”
Gaea waited for Serem and Kosmos to answer and they both nodded at him.
“It’s regrettable,” Serem said. “I would have hoped that there would not be a time that they would need to be be called.”
“You're right,” Gaea said. “But now that is our best option.”
“And maybe the only option,” Serem said. She looked at the other Perennian Lords, asking permission to leave. Then, she walked out of their circle. Serem returned after a few minutes holding a wooden box in her hand. When she opened the box, it revealed a necklace. Its stone was a sphere tinted with swirling shades of green, red and blue.
Serem lifted the necklace and beckoned for Guier to come. She held the necklace by the strings and the sphere dangled in front of them.
“This necklace was created with the essence of our lives,” Serem explained. “The Guardians possess our very own Lifeblood, thus an invisible link exists between us. With this, you can find them.”
Serem handed the necklace to Guier.
“I’ll set out in a few days,” Guier said. “But my staff…”
“Of course,” Serem said. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Then I best prepare,” Guier said and made his leave.
Kosmos also started to go out of the Throne room. “I’ll…” He shook his head and walked away.
Serem and Gaea watched Kosmos as he left.
“He’s angry,” Serem said.
“Then it will be his fuel,” Gaea said. “You can trust that he won’t hold back on our next encounter.”
“I’ll work on Guier’s staff,” Serem said. She went to the Yggdrasil and raised her hand towards the tree’s trunk. A chunk of the tree snaked to her hand and fell off the tree. Before leaving the room, she looked once more at Gaea and said, “Rest now.”
Gaea nodded and watched her leave. Then he allowed his body to slide in one of the chairs. He watched as the day made way to the night, a single tear escaping his eye.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Most of Perennia was still asleep. The sun was just starting to peek over the far mountain ridges when Guier left for the Sanctuary. His new staff would be ready by now.
On his way, Guier was seen by some Perennian villagers who were already starting with their day, opening their shops or getting ready to go the field. Guier nodded to them as he passed by. A pair of Perennian soldiers greeted him at the Sanctuary’s entrance and directed him straight to the courtyard. When he arrived, the Perennian Lords were already waiting for him.
“Guier,” Gaea greeted him.
Serem walked to him with his new staff. Guier received it, testing its weight and giving it a spin. He wielded it as if it was his old staff.
“Thank you,” Guier said. Serem smiled back at him.
Kosmos walked away from them and raised his hand. He looked backed at Guier and said, “Are you ready?”
Of course, Guier wasn’t ready. He didn’t know what to expect. He wasn’t sure how long would it take him to find the Guardians. There was also the question of whether they would join their cause, but he answered, “Yes, I am.”
“We’ll try to find a way to communicate with you,” Gaea said.
Guier nodded. Then he asked, “Would they know about their powers?” Guier asked.
“I believe so,” Kosmos said. “They should have discovered it by now. Let’s just hope that they will be willing to come to our aid.”
“They will,” Gaea said. “This time, it’s not only Oblivia against us — it’s Oblivia against the rest of the world, both Terra and Anarri. ”
Guier nodded and felt that nothing more needed to be said. He looked at Kosmos and at his signal, Kosmos opened a Gate.
“May the Spirits of Life protect you, Guier,” Serem said.
Guier nodded and walked towards the Gate. He took a last look at the Perennian Lords and went through the portal that Kosmos created. A few moments later, the Gate closed. Guier reached the other side, with the fate of Terra and Anarri in his hands.
Read the Wrath of the Phoenix
Pre-order the the next book, Guardians of Lakya: Wrath of the Phoenix. Get it from this link: http://richmondcamero.com/wrath-of-the-phoenix.
Synopsis
The surge of Lifeblood grows stronger. With each passing minute it threatens the lives of the people not only in Anarri, but also in our world. Guier and the Perennian Lords have felt the source of Lifeblood in Lakaya but Perennia does not have enough strength to find the source. Now, the fate of the world lies in the hands of three ordinary people.
A soon-to-be priest searches for a purpose for his gift.
An ambitious business tycoon finds proof that the ability users exists.
A humble fish seller faces the monsters of the past that haunt him.
Three unlikely heroes called for one mission: to save Lakaya.
But one question remains – will they answer the call?
Or will they be consumed by the Wrath of the Phoenix?
Share Your Thoughts and Help an Artist Out
Thank you for taking the time to read this book. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
As you know, reviews greatly help independent writers and artists in general. They help us reach more audience, leading to more sales, and therefore, allowing us the capability to create more art. More importantly, reviews validate what we are creating. So if you liked what you read, please leave an honest review wherever you bought this book! Your feedback is invaluable.
You can also help me by doing any of the following:
Share this book or your thoughts about this book in your favorite social media. Don’t forget to tag @ichimond if you’re on Twitter.
Tell your friends about this book.
Blog about this book.
Again, thank you very much!
Be a Guardian
Get the exclusive Guardi
ans of Lakaya story, Footprints, by being a Guardian. Sign up to this link to get the book for FREE: http://richmondcamero.com/be-a-guardian/ .
About the Author
Richmond Camero is the author of the Guardians of Lakaya series. He tells stories from the fantasy and science fiction genre. He builds worlds inspired by anime, video games, books, and his experiences in Philippines and Japan. He molds characters from different ethnic backgrounds with diverse traits and larger-than-life goals.
Richmond is working as a software programmer since 2010 and does his writing during the wee hours of the morning, late at night, or during the weekends. He likes to read fiction and self-help books. He lives in the quiet town of Bulacan, Philippines.
Website: http://richmondcamero.com/
Twitter: @ichimond
Guardians of Lakaya: The Catalyst Page 7
