274 Meanwhile Back At The Battle Line (1/2)

Eriane was sitting in a sniper's nest atop a brand new guard tower at 9KCCC (Nine Kings Central Command Camp) when George climbed up the access ladder to join her.

”How is it?” George asked.

”Hot.” Eriane complained. It was in the middle of the afternoon and the guard tower only had a few bare branches overhead for shelter.

”Sorry. I'll see if I can get people to put more work into the guard towers, but everyone's busy right now.” George winced.

Eriane thought about that for a while, then nudged George. ”How you?”

”Me?” George shook his head. ”I'm fine. Feeling a bit useless, but I'm healthy.”

”Useless?” Eriane's head twisted to one side quizzically.

”Well, because there's not much I can do to help.” George explained. ”We have plenty of experienced and skilled commanders, and even better fighters than me out there. I just approve the receipts and pay for what little I can pay and keep writing letters to ask for help.”

Eriane considered. ”Help is good.”

”It is, but that's something anyone could do. I'm sure others could do that better too.” George mused. ”So, yeah, I'm feeling kinda useless.”

Eriane thought some more, then helpfully offered George her rifle. ”You shoot?”

George barked a laugh. ”Not like you can. I'm afraid I'm not very good with rifles or bows. I'm more of a spear or halberd guy.”

”Then go poke.” Eriane suggested.

”I'm not that good in a battle either. Using my Frame, I can take out a Tier 3, maybe take on a Tier 4 a little, but that's about it. Compared to all the Tier 5 Slayers out there, that's not much. I'm basically just one more soldier in an army. There are thousands of others out here who can do the same.” George stretched. ”Meanwhile, Darrian and Mindy are charging straight into the thick of battle and nobody raises a word in protest. They're tearing into Tier 6 Spectres on their own, not to mention their Comrades. I need a big Comrade.”

”Tim.” Eriane said.

”Tim? For a Comrade?” George blinked.

Eriane shook her head and pointed. ”Tim. Dragon.”

George turned and suddenly saw a massive creature covering the sky in the far horizon. He gulped. ”Tim is sitting on a Tier 8 Great Dragon! Is that… Mal'thor-dras? No wait, Darian said Mal'thor is still sleeping, and Tim was investigating the labyrinth at Fal'Herim. That means… Khar'al-dras?!”

Below them, someone else noticed the incoming creature. ”DRAGON!!!!”

There were shouts and screams erupting almost by instinct, but George yelled, ”It's a friendly! That dragon's on OUR side!”

As if to emphasize his point, Kor'ag-dras raised his head from where he rested and roared.

In response, Khar'al-dras roared back as if in greeting. The two roars shook the air and the guard tower almost fell over.

”We definitely need to fix up the towers better.” George grimaced, sweat dripping from his face as the tower stabilized.

***

With the arrival of Khar'al-dras, the advantage once again swung towards the defending team. Four Tier 8 Emperor-class Wilds stood in the way of the three Tier 8 Spectres and plotted how they might eliminate one or two from the conflict entirely.

On the lower Tier arena, the fortifications and artillery built up around the Nine Kings range were sufficient to hold off everything below Tier 6. For the middle Tier, there were roughly two dozen Kings, a hundred Lords of the Wilds and Lord Challengers massed up to handle the Tier 6 and 7 Spectres.

Now that the high Tier defenders outnumbered the high Tier invaders, things were actually looking up for a change. At least for now.

But of course, there was no telling when a fourth, fifth or more Tier 8 Spectres might show up. Worse, the Rift seemed to be in a state of flux and might very well just yawn open one day and let a Tier 9 through.

If that happened, all hell was going to break loose.