Chapter 1230 (2/2)
The thinner blasts of heat scythed behind them, ripping away the ground and sending the duo sprawling. As Theodora regained her balance, she saw that only two of her guard detail were now staggering groggily to their feet. A deep trench of fire had been burned into the location that they were previously standing. Another portion of that terrible white light had been deflected into the surrounding houses and transformed them into squat torches.
“My leg!” Douglas squealed, looking down at the blackened bone of his ankle that was sticking out from the charred and oozing burns around his knee. “My-”
“Now is not the time, Douglas,” Theodora slapped him across the face, shocking him into silence. Her hand tingled from the sensation of hitting him as her heart pounded in yr chest. “As long as you are alive, it can regrow. Now let’s move. I don’t care if it hurts, I’m not carrying you.”
Above them, Alana raised her spear and threw a javelin of golden fire toward the bloodbeast before it could change its aim and charge up another blast. To Theodora’s disappointment, the golden fire was almost immediately extinguished as it crashed into the bloodbeast’s shoulder, although the monster dig stagger backward and roar.
Despite the fact she knew it was a mistake, Theodora couldn’t help but slow as she tried to understand the fight. The bloodbeast’s eyes began to darken ominously as the bloodbeast’s focus switched to the gliding figure of Alana. “Do not interfere. The Red Revival cannot be stopped. Why do you fools wish to save this sick world…?”
Immediately, Theodora’s ears sharpened. Despite the fact that Douglas was tugging nervously on her arm, she ceased jogging toward the edges of the Orchard and focused on the words rumbling above them. Red Revival? Where have I heard this term before…?
However, Alana didn’t respond to the bloodbeast’s words. True to her reputation as a no-nonsense warrior, Alana simply summoned more golden fire around her body. The wings on her helmet seemed to grow longer and more resplendent as the Dragon Broodmother carried her forward toward the bloodbeast.
“Madam President! We cannot delay!” Douglas screamed and Theodora could only grit her teeth and turn away from the battle. The remaining four individuals avoided the growing flames around the stage and followed her West. It galled Theodora to no end that she was supposed to be the most politically powerful individual on New Earth yet she was completely powerless and confused by the confrontation.
Yet she could only lower her head as the whole neighborhood to her left began to go up in flames. Certainly, not an auspicious arrival in the Orchard.
A oft-imagined emerald-eyed silhouette appeared in Theodora’s mind’s eye as they finally escape from the green and made it to the sidestreets. Envy swirled poisonously in her heart, whispering words of weakness. What other secrets have you hidden from us, Randidly Ghosthound? If you would just work with me-
“No! Wait!” Douglas’ voice once more dragged Theodora’s attention back to the task at hand. The duo were sprinting along a cobblestone road toward one of the Orchard’s outer security checkpoints. Already, the smell of smoke had become so heavy in the air that the fire’s from the bloodbeast’s attack must have already spread to this point.
Perhaps that was why the Orchard’s security personal were activating its enormous defensive array right in front of them. Most of Zone 1’s scientists were completely mystified by the array; it was invented by one of the youngsters that Senator Firefly had recruited with his Lottery. So as the President and her party rushed forward, hexagonal scales of energy were slowly forming down through the air, accelerating like a garage door about to fall shut.
Quickly predicting the outcome, Theodora Greyman slowed; they would not make it in time. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and considered the individuals activating the ritual circle for the array here. After all, they must have seen their party coming.
Three women and three men stood in a small circle with their heads down, all their concentration going into the activation for the array. But the captain was a grey-haired woman that clearly say President Greyman coming and recognizing who she was. The weakness of the array was that it was incredibly resource-intensive to maintain and took a good ten seconds to activate.
Seemingly without a care for the prestige of a member of the presidential entourage, Douglas hobbled forward using the exposed bone of his ankle and pounded his fist against the Orchard’s defensive array that settled into place in front of him. “Quick! Open up! Your foolishness had left Madam President in grave danger! Open up the array immediately.”
The grey-haired captain looked at Theodora and then pressed her eyes shut. “I have my orders, ma’am. I apologize-”
“Who would dare order the door to be shut on me? You should have had time to see me coming.” Theodora Greyman said coldly. But as the captain continued to look toward the ground, Theodora certainly didn’t expect someone else to answer.
“Me. And I reckon’ from your attitude that it was the right decision.”
President Greyman tried to keep her expression neutral as she spared a sidelong look for a man leaning casually in the shadow of a building nearby. When he saw her gaze, he tipped her hat to her. The growing fire made his shadow dance strangely on the wall behind him. Despite the situation, his expression as he scrutinized her was completely calm
Recognizing the man, Theodora felt a headache brewing. Seemed like some of the conspicuous low-key individuals from the past few years were now crawling out of the woodwork and making themselves known. “...Hank Howard. I hadn’t realized-”
But the rest of Theodora’s words were drowned out as a blast of white light smashed into the hexagonal barrier above them and liquid fire seemed to rain down over the group.