Chapter 136: Vihal - Town Defense Simulator (2/2)

“Ring the bells.” she said to the captain next to her who nodded and shouted her command. A moment later the screams of their enemies and sounds of magic were interrupted by the ringing of bells, the noise soon spreading across all of the town.

A sudden pressure hit Claire's mind, her last effort put into the prepared runes before her, a white barrier coming up immediately. Her mind cleared as she checked around herself, glad to find nobody else affected. The mind weaver had targeted her, as expected. Though the sheer force of its attack was quite different to Eve's use of the magic. It would be dangerous to let her guard down for more than two seconds.

“It's here, all ranged attackers take down the mind weaver!” she shouted, spotting the demon mage floating a little above the destroyed gate, demons rushing past him and towards their group. Its face wasn't visible from the distance as arrows and magic were thrown its way. Demons jumped in front of the mage to take the brunt of the force as it slowly retreated.

“No you're not... captain hold the line, I'm going after it. Follow the plans!” Claire shouted as she ran and jumped to the wall on their left, continuing to run towards the gate where the mind weaver wasn't visible anymore. She knew he was there as she blindly ran close to the gate and jumped off.

The pale moon illuminated the flying woman and the horde below, her black armor reflecting the light as she tried to make out her target. She couldn't but it didn't quite change her approach as she channeled mana into her arms and hands, landing on a spot of grass between the monsters as a big wave of fire and kinetic force spread outwards around her, burning and shredding most of the close by beasts.

Turning around, she saw the mind weaver, floating a little higher than its peers as it locked eyes with her, the black abyss like forms staring deep into her as she lifted her left arm, a rune on her bracelet starting to shine and a small white shield forming in front of her. The money gained on the missions wasn't wasted, instead invested in a long term plan to make even more at a later time. Of course all her plans were on ice for the moment but depending on how this situation turned out, maybe it would all be for the better.

The enemy's magic tugged on her mind but it was dull and weak compared to the near shock like state she had been before. Her shield was raised before her as she quickened her step, running past the horde around her. A big number of them blocked her way, Claire using her other bracelet as she channeled mana into her arm and extended her hand, an explosion extending outwards and into the group, shearing a path through them.

She jumped through and threw out four runed stones as she watched the mind weaver slowly retreat, more demons approaching from all around. Suddenly their voices were cut off, Claire standing up as she confidently held up her right arm, the white shield shimmering with power. The runed stones wouldn't last long as they suppied the dome like orange shield around the two of them. Claire wouldn't need a lot of time.

Three quick and powerful steps brought her in front of the enemy who tried desperately to claw at her. A futile atempt as she simply dodged the attack, her right hand grabbing the demon's face before a small localized explosion tore into it. Another set of explosions followed as she slowly pushed the less and less struggling monster downwards and into the dirt. She didn't stop her attacks until the notification of her enemy's death came to her mind.

Claire allowed herself a small smile as the attacks to her dome first stopped and then continued. She waited for the last second where the barrier would collapse and ran off towards the town, jumping past the monsters around her, using explosions to get around bigger groups. Jumping back onto the wall, she was quite happy to find the demons inside breaking into doors and spreading out in complete chaos.

Wincing, she held her side as she looked down. Blood was pooling on her hand, something to be taken care of immediately. Only she didn't have either the time nor resources to do so. So she continued to run, this time trying to avoid the demons that were focused on their imminent surroundings, their controlled destructive power turning into a fizzle of its former glory. Now only wild beasts, trying to find their next meal.

Claire crashed into a wall, the wound on her side worse than she had previously realized. It wasn't far and she made herself move, her legs taking one step at a time as she closed in on the armory in the center of the town. The gates were open, a large group of demons trying to get to the people inside as swords and magic slowly worked through the enemy, the beasts too feral to realize their tactical disadvantage as they slowly funneled into the gates in single or double file, easily taken care of by the people inside who rotated to ensure prepared and fresh warriors were at the front while mages continued to rain fire and ice from the flat top of the building.

Claire smiled as she watched the scene unfold, quite happy everything was going according to plan, one of six plans in place at least. Slowly she sunk to one knee, her eyesight growing more hazy by the second. A chuckle left her, she had taken down the enemy commander and ensured the town's survival and yet she would die, alone and from an attack she hadn't even noticed.

'How unnoble of me...' she thought, chuckling again, this time she coughed, blood coloring the wall before her. Then her vision went black.

Waking with a start, Claire held her hand in front of her face, blinded by the light around her as she winced at the pain in her side.

“Lay down again! The wound has reopened, come help me Anne!” a woman spoke loudly right next to her as she listened and lay down, the warm feeling of healing magic entering her as the pain lessened.

It took a while but a couple minutes later, she was stable.

“How's the situation?” she asked “Where am I?”

“The demons have surrounded this place but it seems they can't get through.” the woman replied with a shaky voice. “Come, let's get you well again so you can help out. And don't go collapsing in a side street again.” the woman said but it was quite obvious she was glad to see Claire alive. Another wave of healing magic flowed through her. In most other situations she would be fine with this already but considering the defenders had the situation at least somewhat under control, it didn't hurt to get more than just an acceptable level of health.

The room had been hastily remodeled to allow a higher amount of people and beds to be placed inside, the usual weapons and armor given to the townspeople to help them defend the city. It was an emergency situation after all. Claire lay down again and closed her eyes as the young healer next to her, a girl of barely eighteen used her magic, beads of sweat forming on her forehead and arms.

She hoped the casualties of this night weren't as high as she feared. Then again she was generally not an optimist and her expectations had already been surpassed with only one enemy mind weaver and the townspeople actually making it into the impromptu shelter.

“I... need. I need to meditate.” the girl next to her said, breathing hard at the mana exhaustion that had already started to set in.

Claire opened her eyes and checked her status. “That's enough. Recover and care for the others. Thank you.” she said, touching the girl's shoulder and getting up a moment later. Her vision went black for a second after getting up but she simply waited it out.

“Alright, let's go finish this one.” she said and walked to the door.