290 Forward (1/2)
”Forward!” Max shouted. With Marcus and Gaius injured and recovering in the Medical Tent, tonight it was his shift for command. ”Iron Legion, forward!”
”Ho!” Surrounded by untold numbers of hostiles, even the Iron Legion was flagging. Even as they ran forward, they did so cautiously, and thus, lacked the full might that should have been in their charge.
Like this… mankind's central forces failed to make any headway into the Spectres' army. With a single glance back Max could see George at the end of his wits.
As the battle wore on and the Flame Emperor fell, even more people began to hold back, and withdraw, and skirt the edges. Some squads even fell back.
Max finally raised one hand, clenched into a fist. ”Iron Legion, halt!”
”Ho!” the Legion stopped.
Max gritted his teeth. This could not go on. In that moment of silence, Max grimly held out his shield, and beat the flat of his sword against it.
Clank! The sound was a lonely one in the night.
But again, Max beat his sword against his shield. Clank!
This time it was accompanied by a scattering of others at his back. First a few, then more of the Iron Legion joined Max in timing and rhythm. Clank! Clank! Clank!
***
George was watching, half-tearing his hair out, when the clanking started. ”What is he doing?”
Beside him, Father Kairos narrowed his eyes. ”Based on what I know of the Iron Legion… he's issuing a taunt.”
”A taunt?”
”It's like he's saying 'come get me!', or something like that.” Father Kairos observed.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! The sound of iron upon iron was a wordless challenge to the Spectres.
That seemed to draw their attention. Hundreds of Spectres turned toward them, hissing, snarling.
Still, they went on. Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
”Excelsior!” Max roared as they finished.
”Excelsior!” the Iron Legio roared back, now completely fired up.
George glanced askance at Father Kairos.
”Ever upward.” Kairos translated.
”Excelsior!” Max raised his sword.
”Excelsior!” the Legion responded.
At that, Max marched forward. He didn't issue any commands. Did not make any speeches. He just marched forward, alone.
Then he did something even more puzzling.
Taking up his sheathe in his left hand, Max threw it away.
”Why?” George could only ask Father Kairos.
Father Kairos' face was grim.
”Because… he would need it no longer.”
With a wordless roar, Max charged. The Iron Legion charged. Their sudden ferocity stunned allies and enemies alike. The force of their advance slammed into the front of the Spectres and very nearly let out shockwaves.
”Excelsior!” the Iron Legion roared and rammed into the Spectres' ranks.
They cut into the horde, ripping their way straight toward the very center of the enemy forces. The Spectres absolutely could not ignore them at this point, and powerful figures began to converge on them. Dozens of Tier 6 Spectres equivalent to Lord Challengers began to tear at their flanks, and stood in their way.
”Excelsior!” the roar resounded as the Iron Legion charged onward, bursting past rows of Spectres, bypassing Tier 6s, heedless of the larger Spectres closing in on all sides.
BOOM! A Tier 7 Spectre on the level of King Challengers suddenly leapt in their way. Six monstrous limbs hammered at Max and his troops.
”AWOOOO!!” a wolf howl erupted, and then a flicker of black slammed into the Tier 7.
”Is that… Shadowflash?” George stared.
Kairos narrowed his eyes. ”No, I think that's the Star Wolf King. Shadowflash's dad.”
Right. This wolfcat was bigger, plus he had a white star on his forehead.
All around it, a hundred feral shapes suddenly lunged into the fray, tearing at the Spectres, blasting surges of Psionic energy in a flood. The Spectres fell back.
The Iron Legion advanced.