288 Fall of an Emperor (1/2)

[Tim?]

[Yes, Darian?]

[Can you go check on Mindy? I have a bad feeling.]

[She said she's fine.]

[She always says she's fine. Do you always believe her?]

[Usually. She's a tough girl.]

[I know, but…]

[Darian, in case you didn't notice, I can't fly. Without Khar'al-dras, I'm just about useless in a fight of this level. Even if I went over and left Khar'al-dras here, there wouldn't be much I could do.]

[Bring the dragon.]

[And leave the Wind Emperor alone without any correspondent? Are you serious?!]

[Okay, that would be a bad idea. He's liable to comandeer the entire defense line and have them all charging the enemy blindly.]

[You mean, like George is doing right now?]

There was a short, awkward silence.

[I'll bring the dragon.] Tim concluded.

[No, don't. Keep an eye on the Wind Emperor. I'll go see if George can muster up some backup for Mindy.]

***

[Backup?] George repeated in disbelief. [You want me to send backup? To Mindy?!]

[Yes. Is there a problem?]

[Isn't it more likely that she'd be sending backup to me? Where's her fighter swarm?]

[I have no idea, but right now, I have a bad feeling about her fight. There's no Tier 8 out here, I'm just basically swamped with Tier 7's, which means…]

[Mindy's facing two Tier 8's on her side?!] George gulped. [I'll… see what I can rustle up.]

There wasn't much, really. Any airship going out there would be wrecked in moments, even the Sky Fortresses. Big, small, it didn't matter. No, only the Wilds would have any chance of survival. It was agility, not armor, that could keep them alive.

And the most agile forces he had around were…

[Eagle Lord! I need your help! It's not beneath you, I promise!]

***

[Watch out! It's coming!] Chirpy warned.

Mindy dove for the ground, avoiding a sudden, terrifyingly quick charge from the Spectre that had been half-tangled with the Flame Emperor just a moment ago. She turned only to see it spin in place… [Chirpy, watch out! It's coming right back at you!]

Chirpy leapt for the skies as Sharphorn rammed the empty air under her.

That was the scariest part about Sharphorn. This particular Tier 8 Spectre was notoriously hard to pin down. Even tangled up with it, with someone half-caught in its murky semi-tangible substance, this fellow could still suddenly turn and charge in a moment's notice. Whether on land or in the air, it didn't seem to matter; Sharphorn would charge anywhere, anytime, and two seconds of letting down your guard nearby was enough to have you gored to death before you knew what was happening.

”Chirpy!” Mindy aimed her sword, primed her wings…