Chapter 356 (1/2)
Book 3, Chapter 92 – Nirvana, Annihilation
The three giants of hell's Valley: Natessa Windham, Dumont Cenhelm, Eckard Cutter
Each of them came from politically connected families! Skycloud nobility!
Their backgrounds, education and records of service were spotless – their loyalty had never once been in doubt This ithout saying Otherwise, how could they be given command of the secret bastion in hell's Valley? More importantly, there was a lot of bad blood between the valley and the Dark Ato froo and the events that followed
Three years ago, after the attack, hell's Are Razed to the ground, in order to root out any influence from the Dark Atoroups, who none would believe would ever collude toward any end, orking in concert now
Wolfblade was saved More than that, the giants of hell's Valley had actually betrayed their elysian brothers and murdered fellow officers in cold blood Tere dead, one was gravely injured It didn't matter what reasons they had, or tohat end they did it – attacking your own people was the direst of sins, fro back
Brontes and the soldiers of his vanguard stared in utter disbelief Yet another was even h the eneeneral, just in time to see him die
Three years It'd only been a fewexperience Never in his wildest dreained… they were supposed to be the necessary evil! The darkness that defends the faith!
How had they succumbed to evil?
Natessa brought the whip back to her side Her eyes were cold, heartless It was the sa the order to cut down innocent civilians She looked out a theeneral newly arrived at the scene For a moment, she and Drake just looked at one another
No explanation was given None was needed – wasn't this the way of hell's Ars they did, and their victims were always left confused and left without answers All that was ever said was 'it is necessary'
Thud!
General Aegir's head struck the ground
His body, encased in golden ar the re ties of his neck, signaling the departure of his life and heroic soul
Eckard, failing to kill Roc in the opening attack, brandished his sword and prepared for a second pass
Rage filled Drake's eyes Charging at thee
“Heh Don't forget I taught you most of what you know, kid” Eckard easily deflected Drake's attack With an aleneral back “You think you can challenge your drillmaster with the little you know?”
“Traitor!” Drake scrambled back onto his feet The skin between the thuht hand was split, wounded when he was disarmed Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth “How could you defect to the Dark Atom?!”
“Wrong We have not defected We arethis opportunity to declare our independence from Skycloud” Natessa had always been a wo only when necessarily This appeared to be one of those times “From now on, we three and our hell's Arer be subject to the orders of a distant tyrant”
“Why?!”
“Why do you think!” Eckard's scarred face twisted into a hideous sneer,him look even more sinister “Dumont has been in the valley for twenty years Ten years of ht for Natessa The things we've done, others ht not understand… but you should”
The giants of hell's Valley were capable people – not just on the field of battle, but in iven leadershi+p positions, they would excel If they were given a standard co them on missions, they would undoubtedly be successful But they weren't Instead they were cast out into the valley, where they did the dark deeds Skycloud couldn't do Nothey served, they were cut off froht Mission after n of appreciation or acknowledgment of their contributions Anyone would question their faith under these conditions
But no one had really considered this No one kne a life like that could change a person
“I've wasted ten years in hell's Valley I'm done! I will not tolerate any more, will not pretend anymore!” Eckard was like a different man He'd always been wild, but now he shown naked lust and ambition “What did he expect? Throw row roots I won't listen to another word that motherfucker says”
Perhaps the only person ould understand the sentiment was Cloudhawk How could someone like Drake, fros of Skycloud, grasp what they were saying?
“First, letthe past remain in the past,” Wolfblade said to the three former instructors “Second, let rinned, and then slowly pushed the button in his hands “Now it's time to end this!”
No sooner had his finger moved than the volcanic mountains around the sound rose above the din of battle
It was a signal, the final warning that Nucleus' Nirvana defense was about to activate Agents of the Dark Atom all over the battlefield blanched and scra was closest
“Tio!”
The giants of the valley wasted no ti the warriors of hell's Arhts of Splendor were abandoning their assault as well, seeing their enemies scatter