Chapter 777: Assault (1/2)
Ilea considered asking the Meadow for help with the barrier, the ancient being able to throw a metric fuck ton of stone and wood through her gates and directly onto the defenses. For now however, she deemed it a bad idea. The tree was her hidden ace after all, in case everything else failed. She didn’t feel like revealing the power of her ally to all the Hunters and potentially the One without Form. Not without exhausting all other options first. She twirled the dagger in her hand before she made it vanish, checking to make sure that all the keys were stored in her Legate Guardian necklace.
“We have found a suitable location,” Isalthar said as he approached. “The barrier reaches through an extensive cave system, the other side very likely unoccupied.”
“You don’t think we should try and attack together?” Ilea asked.
“We will. In the same location,” he spoke. “If the barrier is sufficiently damaged to get through with any teleportation, we will do so. And advance upon Iz.”
“We should test my space magic. In case we have to retreat,” Ilea sent.
The old elf looked at her for a few seconds. “I understand your concern, Ilea. However. You have gathered the keys. Our enemy is in Iz, and it is on the defensive. This is our time. The battle we have worked towards. The battle we have waited for. There will be no retreat, not without a revelation that would warrant such. We will fight. Until the last of the Taleen, are destroyed.”
Ilea took in a deep breath. She looked at the many Cerithil Hunters within her dominion. They had one thing in common. Everyone was calm. Ready. They had all fought thousands of the machines before. And now all that stood between them and the capital of their enemy was a golden barrier powered by what she assumed to be a star. That and however many thousands of machines the One without Form had gathered to repel a potential attack.
“Right. But if shit goes south, I’ll try to get people out. I don’t care about your downright zealous dedication,” Ilea said. She understood in a way. A purpose they had taken themselves, one that branded them as Cursed. It wasn’t exaggerated perhaps that for some of them it had become their entire selves. But understanding their background didn’t mean she would just let them die if she could prevent it.
“I admire your courage. Though you know that such actions will lead to hostilities from our kind. It is all I will say. Common purpose has brought us here, but we are no Order of humans. Each shall do as they will. I trust you will do your part,” Isalthar spoke as he floated towards one of the earth mages, the other Hunters readying themselves, gathering, and moving towards the prepared corridor.
Ilea smiled. “I think I pissed off the One without Form a little too much. There’s no turning back.” She gave the elf a nod before she glanced at Kyrian, the two humans moving with the group of elves deep below Karth. “Ready?”
The massive steel form glanced her way, a dulled chuckle resounding from within the confines of his defensive layers. “I haven’t survived the Krahen Isles to be scared of some machines. And I know the same is true for you.”
She grinned in response but didn’t reply. Of course he was right. She had after all just recently fought a bunch of flying abominations far more powerful than anything they were likely to find down in Iz. Other than perhaps the being in control of all the machines.
“Let’s just hope Fey doesn’t do anything reckless,” Kyrian sent.
“Right,” Ilea mused. And with all the other Elves here, they’re probably going to try and one up each other with dangerous maneuvers. Even just their walking and flying figures gave off an air of unnecessary style. Floating coats, shifting armor, glowing weapons, and glittering spells. The latter entirely unnecessary, knowing that most of them likely saw perfectly well in the dim light.
Ilea felt the shifting space on her right shoulder, not reacting in a visible manner when the creature stayed hidden. “Changed your mind?”
Violence
Sneaky
Hidden
“Did you get an item or something? You seem more shrouded than usual. Scared of the elves?” Ilea asked.
Secret
Lilith
Reputation
Violence
Hidden
“Whatever suits you,” Ilea said. “Just stay safe.”
Indestructible
“I know I am,” Ilea said.
The Fae tried to pop her eye, failing to do so.
“Proving my point, little one,” she sent as they entered into an expansive cavern, light glowing from crystal growths on the walls. Water dripped down from hundreds of meters above, small creeks flowing down, either vanishing into the depths or pooling at the barrier. Crevices were visible above, some shrouded in darkness, others illuminated by glowing mushrooms or more crystal. She spotted small critters rushing away at the sound, larger ones glaring down with sets of four deep blue eyes. They did not approach.
The barrier thrummed with incredible power, a near sixty meter section exposed in the open space of the natural cavern. Golden light mixed with the pale illumination of the crystal growths. It was difficult to see through the defensive spell of Iz but Ilea knew it looked different at the very least than the area they had seen before. She could probably get them through here.
Isalthar didn’t speak when everyone had arrived. The Hunters did not take a formation. They each chose a spot and remained there, either standing, flying, or hanging. And still they waited for his signal. The time to show off their powers was over. The Cerithil Hunters had gathered, here at the outskirts of Iz, and they were prepared to fight.
The Val Akuun raised his left arm as magical power gathered, the very air trembling at his will. A spear thrummed to life, ghostly and incorporeal.
Ilea felt like the world was taking in a deep breath. She grinned and cracked her neck, glancing at Kyrian and Feyrair. Then she found Niivalyr and nodded his way, the elf putting on a mask as his magic came to life.
We’re here.
The spear flashed forward, crashing into the bright golden barrier with a shrill sounding impact. And a storm followed with it.
Ilea’s dominion lit up with magic as the gathered elves unleashed a torrent of destruction. Four marks she had battled but she could not fathom a way for many of them to stand against the combined efforts of the Cerithil Hunters. The entire cavern shook as the fires of creation roared to life, arcane beams and waves of sound slashing through each other and into the conjured barrier. The shock waves did not seem to stop as a constant pressure came from the central point Isalthar had aimed for at the start, the residue magic in the air enough for Ilea to recharge a portion of her mana.
She too sent concentrated beams of Embered Heart into the midst of the chaos with her Wyrm eye cannon, adding burning ash into the mix to light up the entirety of the visible barrier. Impacts resounded like the combined artillery efforts of an entire modern army. Ilea felt the hairs on her neck stand up as she spread her wings, watching the central barrier give way, slowly pushed aside by the powerful spells. Hmm. This is shaping up to be quite fun.