They, however, allowed players to use the ono to join in on the battle. If they could soften up the Xelur some, then it was worth it.
The people of Emerilia were good at fighting and they were already trained fighting forces. Their coordination was impressive and they didn’t care about their levels, gear, or loot as long as they won the battle.
That mindset allowed them to become a fighting force that was capable of fighting off the Xelur. Players were too selfish for the most part to work together on grand-scale things. If it was in small groups, they were good but more than twenty and they started to look at their own gains instead of the good of the group.
A group of five Grand Demon Lords stepped out from one of the gates that the Xelur were rushing out of. They looked over the battlefield, observing the flying citadels above that were pounding on their own defenses as well as the forces that had descended from the flying citadels. Their auras surged as Xelur Demon runes appeared on their bodies, directing the soul energy within their bodies and enhancing their own abilities.
“Kill them!” one of the Xelur Grand Demon Lords yelled, raising a massive sword into the sky. The Grand Demon Lords around him let out battle cries as they started to run forward.
Attacks blossomed all around them, striking the soul shield that they had created. They ran in formation, the one with the sword in the lead; the other two on each side, brandishing their weapons.
The ground around them was torn apart under the force of these attacks. Xelur were thrown backward, unable to defend against these powerful attacks.
“Looks like we’ve found our first customers.” Steve slowly pulled his axe from his back.
Malsour let out a growl as he transformed into his dragon form. Induca did the same on the other side of him.
Dwarven artillery cannons swiveled on the citadel, tracking the moving Xelur Grand Demon Lords.
Rounds whistled through the sky, smashing against their soul shield but still it didn’t go down and the Grand Demon Lords showed no sign of slowing down.
“Blades!” the commander on the ground called.
Suddenly, dozens of powerful auras were unleashed across the battlefield.
Hidden among the ground forces and the mounted that had returned to the back of the formation were those wielding Weapons of Power!
Through the dwarven tournament, a good number of people had been given these Weapons of Power. Through training and coming to know these people more, the War Clan council recommended various people to the Dwarven Council of Anvil and Fire to reward remaining Weapons of Power to.
A Weapon of Power, when matched with the right person, could give them a boost of two to three times their overall combat power. Those who wielded the Weapons of Power, if they were not high levels, were people with hidden strengths or fighting ability that exceeded their level. Many of those who gained Weapons of Power were not the types to simply relax once they had these powerful items.
Instead, they trained to their utmost to use all of the power that they gained from these Weapons of Power. Much like how Gurren and Lox worked tirelessly to improve their own combat ability.
They might not be a match for a Grand Demon Lord by themselves, but together, they were much stronger.
“Let’s see if we can’t slow them down,” Deia said. All around her, spell formations appeared as wings of blue flame grew on her back. She raised her bow, already vibrating from the energy contained within it. Around her bow, spell formations appeared. Her fingers flicked the different notches on her bow’s grip.
She pulled back on the bow. All around her, red streams of Fire Mana were drawn in, guided by those spell formations. As she drew back, more appeared around her bow and along the intended path of her arrow. They rotated; their lines looked solid and clear as if made from Fire crystal.
Even the Grand Demon Lords looked up at Deia in shock, a war goddess of Fire. Their eyes went wide as a massive spell formation fell around Party Zero. It was complicated and unfathomable. The power surging through it made them feel fear as they looked to the man in armor. His cloak fluttered behind him as spell formations appeared up his arm and in his hands as he manipulated them.
The black and red dragons pulled back their heads; power surged from their mouths as spell formations gathered in front of them.
The two black armored-looking golems had their runic lines turned from white to gray; turbulent energy came from between their hands that were cupped together.
The metal man’s body glowed with power, spreading into his axe slowly. The condensed power made the air around the axe vibrate.
A woman held her staff up high. Power surged from it as creations spread outward, moving in front of the rest of the party and lining up their attack paths at the Grand Demon Lords. Clearly she looked to be enhancing them all.
A chilling noise could be heard through the battlefield, as many eyes from the Xelur side were drawn to a wolfkin. In front of her, her blade moved; the notes seemed off time with her movements, sounding as if they wanted to rip apart the very fabric of air.
Jung Lee appeared like a wraith his face emotionless as his sword seemed unstoppable. Jekoni floated above him altering and adjusting his power as well as unleashing his own power, the two of them synergistic in their movements and attacks, reading one another perfectly.
Deia released her arrow. With each spell formation it passed through, its power would compound and increase. The spell formation became miniature as it wrapped around the arrow and it turned into a red streak of light.
Gurren and Lox unleashed their attacks, twin gray spears five meters long. They melded together into one attack, their power increasing by a factor of two.
Induca and Malsour unleashed their Affinity breaths. Black and blue flames cut through the sky, following the other attacks.
Steve, Jung Lee, and Anna unleashed their weapon-based attacks.
Behind them all, Suzy, Jekoni, and Dave refined and increased the power of the spell formations held within those different attacks, increasing their power tenfold. Those six attacks turned into flashes of light, cutting through the air.
Deia’s attack smashed into the Grand Demon Lord’s soul shield. The soul shield was like a shield breaking a wave. The energy released attacked the soul shield crazily. The energy runoff blasted around the shield, tearing up the ground and turning it into burning debris. Xelur that were close by were killed; those within a hundred meters felt the heat of the blast.
Lox and Gurren’s arrow came in behind. The Grand Demon Lords poured more energy into their shield and the one holding it up. The arrow struck; the Grand Demon Lord’s forward momentum stopped just as Malsour and Induca’s attacks landed. Red and black flames hit either side of that shield. It held for a few seconds before breaking, a portion of the energy tossing the Grand Demon Lords aside.
Anna, Steve, and Jung Lee’s attacks hit. Two of the attacks hit; the other missed. Those that were struck had deep cuts on their bodies; the others that had those weapon attacks imbued with the Mana of an Affinity felt as if all the air in their bodies had been forcefully ripped from them as they suffered internal injuries due to the air pressure change that came with those weapons.
Those with Weapons of Power didn’t hesitate as they charged forward. The Grand Demon Lord group was only a few hundred meters from the front lines of the advancing ground units.
“Move in to help!” Deia called out to the rest of Party Zero. All of them followed her downward.
On the ground, those with Weapons of Power matched their speed, cutting through the Xelur that dared to stand in their way as they cut toward the Grand Demon Lords.
Deia was merciless as she unleashed a hail of arrows on the Xelur blocking those with Weapons of Power.
The rest of Party Zero displayed their own powers at a much lower level than before, clearing out a path for those below.
The Xelur fired up at them but Dave, floating behind them and covered in magical formations, moved the ban
ds on his arm constantly as his hands moved and flickered, changing spell formations that lay at his fingertips. The Mana barrier around them moved as if it were a live organism to redirect the incoming attacks. The orbs around Party Zero kept on moving, making it nearly impossible to hit them easily.
From Dave’s hand, a tunnel of spell formations seemed to appear. From his wrist, darts or grenades appeared, turning into gray streaks as they tore through the sky, killing those that targeted his massive Mana barrier and Party Zero inside.
This gave the Grand Demon Lords time to recover from the first attack. Power surged forth once again as they spread out. These were not simple Grand Demon Lords that had only just gained their power. From the way that they moved and looked to one another, they were part of a group and they had trained heavily in fighting.
“Break them apart—don’t allow them to coordinate!” Deia said.
“Looks like we have incoming.” Dave’s voice cut through the party chat. “Players are joining in on the fray!”
Deia was a mix of emotions with having players join in on this fight. If they died, they would come back, but the possibility of them getting in the way was even higher.
“They’re moving to assist with suppressing the Grand Demon Lords,” Dave said.
Guilds that had joined in on the battle had now finally got themselves sorted out and were adding themselves to the battle, supporting the people of Emerilia who were already engaged with the Xelur. They attacked with their normal abandon—their attacks buffs, heals, and blocks all practiced to perfection.
They might be an unknown but as long as they were under pressure, they were a hellish fighting force, quickly pressuring the Xelur, taking on the larger opponents and bringing down as much destruction as possible.
Once again, the momentum that had been lost with getting into a close combat fight with the Xelur was returned, and the drop forces once again pressed forward.
A cry rose up from the side. A mounted charge rushed through a gap in the line, pushing back the Xelur and tearing through their ranks before quickly peeling away once again. The group of Grand Demon Lords used their weapons, imbuing them with soul energy and cutting through the air with impressive force.
Soul energy stabbed out toward Party Zero and those Weapons of Power users.
Dave’s hands flickered as he held them outward. The attacks landed. Dave grunted as the runic lines across his body shone. The barrier that he was projecting became darker and darker from the damage.
Melee types slashed back. Dave’s barriers paused the attacks long enough for them to counterattack.
With the sound of breaking glass, the weapon lights broke a wave of power, sending out a shock wave as they continued forward.
Deia drew an arrow. The Fire Mana once again circled her and was funneled into her bow and her arrow.
She released it. A Grand Demon Lord blocked it; a dent appeared in his shield as he was nearly forced back a step. Deia unleashed arrow after arrow, not allowing the Grand Demon Lord time to think, let alone find a way to regain his balance. He took a step back and then another. The arrows rang through the battlefield as energy blew past the shield-bearing Grand Demon Lord.
The others started to unleash their ranged attacks. Anna, Induca, and Malsour were also able to push back Grand Demon Lords or at least make their footing unstable with Dave and Suzy’s supporting creations and spells.
Induca and Malsour turned away, raking the Grand Demon Lords but their real aim was the Xelur surrounding them. Their breaths cut through the Xelur, opening up a dead ground around the Grand Demon Lords.
Gurren, Lox, Steve, Jung Lee, and Anna charged forward. Their weapons appeared in their hands as they rushed through the air.
The Grand Demon Lords increased the soul energy that they were channeling into their bodies, their weapons blocking the oncoming attacks.
Deia continued to fire arrows through what seemed like impossible gaps, each of her arrows as strong as a weapon blow and targeted at the Grand Demon Lords’ weaknesses. They were massive and powerful, but with being so big, their vulnerabilities were easier to target and see.
Deia glanced over to Dave. Mana threads of all colors were gathering around his hands. A complex weave of spell formations that Deia couldn’t come to understand appeared in front of his hands as he moved his fingers, the different bands on his arms moving by their own volition.
The spell formations were dense and powerful between his hands as he spread his hands apart slowly. A small pin appeared from the holding item that had been incorporated into the bracer.
The pin shot off in a ray of silver light.
It hit a Grand Demon Lord’s protective soul energy. It exploded, making the Grand Demon Lord cover up from the explosions. Gurren’s sword smashed against the Grand Demon Lord’s side, only to find the soul energy there. It fluctuated with the strength of the pin’s hit and subsequent explosion, followed by Gurren’s impressive blow.
Jung Lee was fighting one of the Grand Demon Lords by himself, with the occasional support from Suzy. Steve was also facing one but Lox was bouncing between Steve and Gurren to support them. Anna was facing off against the rest with Suzy and Deia’s help.
Dave raised his hands toward the unoccupied Grand Demon Lords that were looking to assist their fellows. He unleashed more of the pins, reducing the stress on Deia, Anna, and Suzy.
The pins hit with incredible speed. However, the Grand Demon Lords were getting smart about it and used their soul energy beams to take down the needles.
A war cry erupted behind Party Zero as those with Weapons of Power charged forth. Spells tore through the battlegrounds, smashing the Grand Demon Lords back as mages entered the fray. The melee types rushed ahead of them, their weapons clashing with the Grand Demon Lords. They weren’t able to match the Grand Demon Lords’ height of their full power, but they had numbers on their side.
Deia didn’t need to call out anything. Arrows streaking from her bow—, over shoulders, under arms and into the Grand Demon Lords that were using their soul energy to the limit in order to fight Party Zero and those wielding Weapons of Power.
Dave and the suppressing shells made it so that they couldn’t gain back any energy.
Dave used his darts while Suzy’s creations acted as distractions, pulling at the Grand Demon Lords’ feet and their arms, and creating blinding flashes in their faces.
Induca and Malsour landed on the ground, using the Affinity breaths to kill any Xelur near the fight.
The Xelur in the citadels started to target them, making them have to shoot off into the sky and come back in at random angles to avoid the powerful energy beams that were hunting them across the sky.
The first of the Demon Lords went under Jung Lee’s blade. As soon as their protecting soul energy collapsed, Jung Lee called upon his Affinity spirits. All of them rushed through the Grand Demon Lord, forcefully ripping energy from them as Jung Lee shot forth, his blade moving in a shimmering arc. The Grand Demon Lord looked around for a moment, seemingly disoriented before its eyes went glossy and it collapsed, not understanding that it was dead already. Jung Lee used their falling body to charge forth.
Steve’s axe clashed with a Grand Demon Lord’s sword. Steve’s body started to glow brighter, a look of determination on his face. He swung his axe, every hit punctuated by a word.
“Stop. Being. Such. A. Pain. In. My. Metal. ASS!” Steve bellowed. Each of his hits pushed the Xelur Grand Demon back, a look of shock in their eyes. Steve opened up their defense the hit making them both stumble backwards. “Jung Lee!” Steve yelled out.
Jung Lee came in like a dart under the raised shield as the Grand Demon Lord flailed slightly to regain their balance. Jung Lee’s sword was almost ethereal as it cut through the Grand Demon Lord’s protective energy and into the side of the Grand Demon Lord.
The Grand Demon Lord let out an enraged roar. With Jung Lee’s attack the Grand Demon Lord’s soul energy was thrown into chaos, quickly b
eing converted into Mana. The Grand Demon Lord’s cries of anger turned into ones of pain as its soul energy surged forth.
“Who needs soul energy when you have Mana!” Jekoni’s voice came from within the Grand Demon Lord as all of its soul energy was converted in bare seconds.
Jekoni took control of the soul energy within the Grand Demon Lord, killing their mind and taking possession of its body.
The runes on the Grand Demon Lord changed as the aura of soul energy was changed to that of Mana. The Grand Demon Lord’s lifeless eyes recovered as it blinked and looked at its body and hands. “Been awhile since I had a flesh body.” Jekoni’s voice came from the Grand Demon Lord as it turned toward the other battles.
“Jekoni, what did you do?” Deia asked.
“Oh, possession—just took over this big ole bag of meat. Now all of his energy and his strength is at my disposal. I’m not so good in the melee part of things but I can use this guy to cast spells,” Jekoni said.
Jekoni, in the Grand Demon Lord’s body, dropped his weapons and started to move his hands; spell formations appeared around him. Lances of ice appeared in the air and shot forth. The Grand Demon Lords tried to escape but the spears followed, forcing them to fight them off as Jekoni was using the full strength of the Grand Demon Lord under his control. Their power combined with his knowledge made him an extremely powerful mage on the battlefield.
The Grand Demon Lords had too many threats to deal with. Lox’s sword took out one’s knee; Gurren bashed away their shield as Deia’s arrow penetrated their soul energy and their body. The flames that made up her arrows burned through the soul energy, making the Grand Demon Lord howl in pain as they were destroyed from the inside, their energy like gasoline to Deia’s flames.
A player with an Axe of power separated the Grand Demon Lord’s head from its body.
The last opponent was killed with a Weapon of Power in the form of a spear.
The Grand Demon Lord looked stunned as it tried to hold its neck as blood spurted downward. Even with its regeneration abilities, it wasn’t able to heal the wound. Several other Weapons of Power users quickly stabbed at the Xelur Grand Demon Lord’s weaknesses so that it wouldn’t be able to recover.
Of Myths and Legends (Emerilia Book 9) Page 36
