140 Battle of the Wild Mountains : Part 8 (1/2)
TCHIK
The path of the sharp sword was deviated at the last moment by a metallic arrow, pushing it away from the head of the succubus. However, as strong as the strength behind the projectile was, it was still not enough to completely save the female demon. As she was weakly holding her two daggers in front of her, they offered no resistance when the weapon of the Hero hit them, making them fly away from the hands of Meridiana. As her right arm did.
She could not see clearly, but she was still capable of feeling the intense joy that the human in front of her was feeling. Frantically using her last remaining arm to help her escape, she felt the grip of death coming from behind. Fortunately, Kardel had decided to save her and was constantly firing at the Hero, giving her a way to escape. However, she was still not safe, and some humans were on her path.
Not caring anymore about the weapons that were either destroying slowly her armor or even pierce her skin, she just violently pushed everyone. The fire inside her was now completely extinguished, everything she had gone. Contrarily to Kardel or even Davion, she was the one that received the least amount of energy, and she began to regret not eating more humans while she was in Archet. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been reduced to this state, with a missing limb.
Mindlessly, she stumbled upon another warrior, pushing him away before he hurt her even more. Knocking the enemy down with her shoulder, she only noticed how cold he was afterward. Purple blood was tainting her former beautiful silver armor, and half of her body had been exposed by now. Looking at the trace of blood on the bones in front of her, she realized she had made it. Relieved by that, she fell unconscious in the lifeless arms of that undead.
Even if she was now safe, it was not the case for the one that first tried to save her. Moving his shield to dispel the blue flames that were covering him, Davion looked at his surrounding and the fallen hand that was easily visible. Like Kardel had done it previously, the magus of the humans had focused all their efforts on him, preventing him from reaching Meridiana before the Hero. Fortunately, the duvodiad stalled for the few seconds he needed, allowing him to catch up before the death of the succubus.
Disengaging quickly before Davion could be at arm range, Ferrod picked up his trophy that was laying on the ground. Raising it, he looked at the dark armor that was targetted by the magicians supporting him. ”THE HAND OF A DARK GOD! THEY ARE NOT INVINCIBLE!” Even as he was saying this, countless soldiers were losing their lives to just deal with undead. The skeleton archers seemed to have an infinite amount of ammunition, and each time they pulled their string, another life was claimed.
Easily deflecting the incoming metallic arrows that were coming at him, Ferrod was smiling even more. If before, he received three or four of those in a matter of seconds. Now, it was only one in the same period. He was no stranger to the fact that nothing in this word was permanent, and from what he could see, those deadly projectiles were clearly not meant to be wasted. Approaching the tall foe surrounded by magic, he was ready to attack when he noticed something unusual.
”Stop.” The voice resonated in the head of every living being, but was also followed by the undead. The latter froze and then began to slightly retreat and reorganize the lines, ready for the following battle. Dumbfounded, a few humans that were on the ground shouted in joy when they saw the blades that were next to them silently withdrawing. No one that was fighting attacked the immobile skeleton, not daring to seal their fate by doing something stupid.
Floating in the middle of the room, a blackened lich was haughtily starring at the Hero from above. His dark hands finishing in claws were something they had never seen, even when the rest of the body clearly looked like a lich, except for the head. Not relaxing the slightest, Ferrod and the disciples of the Archmage were ready for anything. Finally able to stand up correctly, Davion was also starring at Malakov.
”Return the hand to us.” Extending his hand, the Envoy of Leilade looked at his target that was hanging on the waist of that human. Meridiana had succeeded at perturbing the reinforcements, but the equipment of the Hero was clearly beyond their expectations. Also, Kardel had confirmed he did try to shoot the energy rifle, but it didn't even produce an explosion. It was still time to save the missing limb of the succubus and Davion from unnecessary injuries.
”What if I don't? You're going to kill me?” Patting the bloodied object, projecting even more purple blood on his armor, Ferrod was not backing down. Whatever was that new monster, its presence only meant that they were winning. But contrary to what he expected, the lich only levitated the severed limb toward him, not caring about what he said. Angered by this, the Hero drew his sword and began to jump toward the floating undead.
”Know your place worm!” Lifting his hand, Malakov projected the human directly to the ceiling, nearly knocking him down. Seeing Ferrod plummet to the ground after that, the disciples of the Archmage only protected him with magic shields, not daring to face this new foe directly. Seeing the prince of Massalia having a hard time standing on his legs, they began to order the retreat.
Only when the last humans were out of sight did Davion sighed, a bit tired from his fighting. In a single day, he had met two different Heroes, and even if he could suppress Avirus, he was on the losing side against that new human. Grabbing a body that hadn't been burned, he began to methodically cut his head open. Looking at the lich that was just staring at him, he waited patiently what will follow.
”The Empress is beginning to feel that your last line of defenses won't be enough to defeat that army, with the arrival of this new Hero. If you have anything left, I suggest you begin to use it.” Hearing a human that was having a hard time breathing nearby, Malakov signaled a nearby undead to grab it for the succubus. All around them, every corpse was beginning to be carried away, to serve as nourishment.
”There is still one room left after this one, but I can assure you that it was better than having all our forces in one place. Also, it will be time for them to walk through that part. Pull everyone out of this, the skeletons are not enough to hold any longer.” With the battle earlier this day and the intense offensive later, the ranks of the undead had been almost decimated. Only the liches were still unscathed, but without anything to be between them and their targets, it would be futile to let them die.