Book 4 - Chapter 10 - The Battle For Woodland Vale Begins (1/2)
Eckard felt the two streaks of incredible power come his way, neither of which he could deflect and survive. There were scant few in the Elysian lands with that sort of power, and fewer still in the wastelands.
Damnit! They’ve got me pinned.
The way they came at him sealed off any retreat. He had to face these encroaching blasts of power even though they were too much for him – especially without a weapon to defend himself.
The first thing Natessa did was to engage her Windwalker boots and rise into the air. Her whip crackled with stunning energy, and from it was hurled a tempest. The beating winds ripped stony spikes from the ground and flung them back toward their unseen attackers. When it struck the wave of cold energy, the stalagmites froze into icy daggers before shattering in midair.
Natessa’s hurricane and the blast of cold met in the middle of the canyon. They warred against one another for a time, equally fierce.
Amidst the countless shards of rock and ice a brilliant light gleamed. It was a silver spear of unsurpassed beauty that felt fast in the tempestuous air without effort. Power coalesced around it, like a bolt of blue lightning aimed at Natessa.
Her face darkened, and Natessa’s black hair rose of its own accord. Teal light shimmered in her eyes as – light as a feather – she danced through the air and wielded her whip. With a flick of her wrist a tornado was born, and roared toward the glimmering spear.
Crrrack-crack crack! Though composed of pure energy, the whip froze in its path through the air. With every inch the spear advanced, the whip cracked apart. Eventually it failed entirely and the spear streaked right for the center of her forehead.
Eckard appeared in the air, leaping end over end to kick the spear off track. By then the spear’s energy was mostly spent, so the scarred instructor had no problem kicking it back toward its owner. A man, resplendent in snow-white armor, snatched the weapon easily.
In the middle of this exchange, a holy light had descended from above. Its radiance flooded the canyon like the arrival of a divine being, coming to lay waste to evil.
Dumont condensed his mental energy into his arms, preparing to block the radiant strike. All of the stone around him was shattered as the power swept by. Dumont himself was knocked backward, flung to the ground. Rivulets of blood began to appear from the places where the Dawnbreaker armor joined. His chest and arms sporting scorched marks where a sword had impacted.
Such terrifying power! It’d even overpowered Dawnbreaker’s defenses!
A figure bathed in white appeared in Dumont’s hazy vision, like a vision of some immortal beauty.
Two warriors in white. One male, one female. Both were indescribable in looks and talent, but gave completely different impressions. The man’s sharp features and starry eyes were like a glorious mountain top – dignified and cold. His companion was an unparalleled beauty, otherworldly, untouchably sacrosanct.
Frozen Dirge… that was the weapon carried by Frost de Winter, chosen disciple of Arcturus Cloude. It was no surprise that he would be a challenge. The woman, bearing a blade of radiant holy energy, was also unmistakable. No other woman had her gravity of presence, and even though she had been missing for five years it was impossible not to know Selene Cloude immediately.
Selene Cloude, Frost de Winter, Dawn Polaris, and Atlas Umbra. The most brilliant stars of Skycloud’s next generation. How where they all here?
The sound of conflict couldn’t be hidden, so the other combatants stopped to see what had caused it. Wyrmsole on one end, and Squall on the other; neither expected what they saw.
Outmanned and outmaneuvered, Natessa called for a retreat into the ravine. She explained herself to Wyrmsole. “Skycloud’s forces are too powerful. Hell’s Army can’t stop them.”
The red priest scowled at their rapidly deteriorating position. His battle against the Highwaymen had been bad enough, but now they were in danger of being overrun.
Across the field, Ravenous Tiger was speaking with Squall. “Skycloud has sent a lot of big names.”
Three-Eyed Spider had no dealings or knowledge of these Elysians, but he could tell they were strong. Now that Skycloud knew the location of Woodland Vale, they would surely send the bulk of their power to claim it. There was no question this new threat was a dire one. “The Elysians are our shared enemy. We should convince the Conclave to help us fight them!”
Squall idly chewed on a stalk of grass between his lips. His left fist clenched as the tattoos writ on his skin glimmered. He stared in silence, thinking, staring at Wyrmsole from across the battlefield. Eventually he answered. “We’re here, we can’t leave without staking our claim to Woodland Vale. We play it by ear.”
Cloudhawk and Atlas dashed away until they were a couple thousand meters away from the heart of the fighting. Once they were behind the front lines Cloudhawk saw that a whole contingent of Elysian soldiers were pouring into the canyon. Many of them were marked by the insignia of the Talons of God. A small, timid voice called out to him. “Teacher!”
“Hey little one, what are you doing here? It’s dangerous!”
Azura shook her tiny head. “Big sister Claudia and big brother Rio are protecting me.”
Rio approached and snapped to attention. “We’re sorry for the tardy arrival, sir. I will submit to whatever punishments you deem fitting.”
Claudia watched him with conflicting emotion in her gaze. The novice demonhunters of her squad looked at him with a sort of reverence. Although he had a foul name back home, he was obviously among the most talented people they had seen.