32 War Mage 2 (2/2)
”It's fine Nikolai. We've spent long enough here as it is. Those clouds concern me.”
He muttered but retracted his hand, mumbling about punishments, vengeance and searching for her missing tooth of all things!
”Focus!” she chided, poking his cheek to make him pay attention.
Blinking at the contact, he grinned a little but led the way to follow her forces advance.
With a War Mage to assist her forces, they were able to make quick progress. If a building was filled with enemy soldiers, he'd chant some spells and in a few minutes it would collapse. The almost indestructible creatures, which Nikolai called Corrupted, fell apart once they were injured now that he followed up with powerful magical pulses of light. In short order they stood before the headquarters, her reinforced troops morale boosted by the powerful War Mage. Whatever few Dragon Lords arrived, arrayed themselves around Nikolai like bodyguards.
Craters littered the street, a black armoured figure standing dejected to one side, observing the headquarters. The fighting was dying out as the gang members retreated into the building. Corrupted still manifested from the black clouds, almost unlimited in number, continuously shambling into her troops and being destroyed. Nikolai stood off to one side trying to find a 'way through the clouds without vaporizing half the city.'
His words.
Elya strode along the line of makeshift soldiers, joining combat whenever necessary to keep the Corrupted from overwhelming them. Flickers of dark fire swirled through the clouds and Elya raised her sword when she sensed danger, catching a stream of flame on the enchanted blade deflecting the surprise attack into the air. A horrendous screech issued from within the clouds, setting her teeth on edge and a swirling vortex of power slid out to face her. It seethed with rage and frustration spinning at angles Elya found impossible, her mind unable to process the things existence. Its emotions spilled out in waves that were almost tangible and she gripped her weapon tightly in the face of such an unknown creature.
It issued a string of words in a language she couldn't understand but she felt her mind drifting, confusion spreading as she tried to maintain her grip on reality. It spoke once more and Elya almost sat down on the ground, waves of fatigue rocking her body. Guards and Knights surrounding her collapsed unable to withstand the pressure of the creatures words.
A gentle hand rested on her shoulder and calm words in a language very similar to the creatures sprung from Nikolai's lips, warmth and clarity returning to her mind. Her surroundings swayed slightly once she was back in control but sensed danger emanating from the headquarters.
”I'll deal with this one. It's not my style to stand so close to my enemies but a warp-lich isn't something to take lightly.” Nikolai declared, and the creature released a series of screaming hisses in defiance. He spun his staff sending waves of air in every direction, flaring to life with light and magic, so bright it was blinding. ”You handle the snake.”
”What snake?” Elya called, sliding away from her fiancée by his magic.
Rumbles echoed throughout the street and a sense that something was trapped beneath her feet overwhelmed Elya. The town convulsed, and she stumbled, kneeling with a hand pressed against the cobblestone to maintain her balance. Soldiers around her sprawled to the ground, unable to withstand the force. Nikolai stood at ease, unaffected by the surrounding destruction, bright eyes locked on the swirling vortex he called a warp-lich hovering before them. She'd never heard of the term but liches were supposed to be powerful undead Mages. Dangerous ones. Adding warp as a prefix only made the situation more ominous.
Screams resounded from the headquarters and Elya whipped her head to stare in fear as the building exploded. The dark clouds swirling around the structure burst and a coiling mottled black snake rampaged out of the rubble, flinging stone, glass and wood in every direction as it heaved itself from its residence.
”That snake.” Nikolai shouted, crouching a little in a strange stance that Elya didn't recognise. Chanting and waving Nezgrom at his enemy, Nikolai sent dazzling blasts of lightning arcing towards the creature. It managed to defend with a shimmering black shield, deflecting the attacks into the road, tearing scorch marks across the already wrecked street. With a flicker the area erupted in waves of powerful magic, walls of flame and sheets of ice slashing in from every direction.
Elya's heart froze at the sight, fear for Nikolai's well-being gripping her. He seemed so delicate all the time, and she worried this close combat could hurt him badly. Unfortunately the forces being unleashed made any attempt by her worthless. Closing her eyes for a moment she drew a deep shuddering breath, striving to calm her mind.
He'd entrusted her with a task.
The snake towered before Elya, multi-faceted eyes staring down at her forces, a glimmer of inhuman intelligence shimmering deep within. Elya rubbed her scar as she furiously considered her options. She might be able to cause damage to the beast but she was drained from the constant combat.
She needed a helper.
A flash of light caught her attention, and she focused on the black armoured Captain Chen laboriously swinging his lance around.
Thunder Lancers were formed to defeat these sorts of nightmarish horrors.
Perfect.
Breaking into a run she gathered all the crossbowmen on her path to Chen.
They weren't even married yet, and he had her fighting beastly snakes and Demonic horrors. At least her married life would be interesting. Elya grinned at the thought, breathing heavily and pondered the massive snake as it curled around another building, tongue flickering and tail darting out to send anyone nearby flying. Maybe they could use its head as a centrepiece for the wedding. Aunt Natalia and her mother would find the idea abhorrent but having a creature she killed with her husband headlining the party seemed sort of appropriate.
It was a wedding between a Mage and Dragonslayer after all.