Chapter 11 - Destruction (1/2)
Roland was making his way to the east garden a breeze following close behind him. Without question he knew that the breeze was his lord. Cloaked in slyphir he was almost undetectable. Smiling Roland doubted that the attack would succeed as the one guarding this land was the hero of the previous rebellion war Helmlock Huwen, and the tigress of the battlefield, Weliese Wreden, although due to her marriage her last name is now Huwen. These two powerful people would not be taken down so easily.
As they made their way around the house at the north garden multiple maids and servants had already been killed. Their bodies scattered in the grass. Roland stopped to examine the bodies but couldn't find how they had been killed. A glint of light flashed in the corner of his eye. He moved to dodge it but the blade followed him, piercing his shoulder. Wary, Roland crouched behind the water fountain, opposite of where the blade came from.
”Roland, how's your injury?” Helmlock had been by Roland's side, cloaked in slyphir, waiting for the opponent to attack again and take them out.
”Ha. If this did me in then that would make me the weakest guard ever. Don't worry, the blade isn't too big and it's not deep.” He gave a thumbs up to the left.
”I'm at your right.”
”Heh, detection wasn't my strong suit.” Roland's eyes widened, he raised his great sword to shield his right side. Knives bounced off his sword. Without a word Helmlock began his pursuit, disappearing from Roland's side. Roland continued to block the blades, moving forward slowly. When he was in the middle of the north garden the dead bodies of the maids and servants suddenly sprang up and attacked Roland. Without much time to dodge two knives found their way into his left leg. Kicking away the bodies Roland stopped defending and began attacking the servant's bodies. As they pummeled Roland with attacks from knives to swords and fists he saw that they weren't their servants but the enemy in disguise. He gritted his teeth and swung his blade. The sight of killing people he once worked with was unsettling, even though he knew that they were not who they looked like. Helmlock was finishing off the longer ranged attackers. The enemy weren't prepared for an attack from behind so once he killed four their formation failed and caused them to become unorganized. Panicking and disorganized it was easy for Helmlock to finish them off.
Fighting in the open Roland was having difficulty dodging and attacking as he was at a disadvantage. He had the advantage over melee fighters as his great sword had a longer reach and length but he was still to slow to dodge all the projectiles. A new rain of blades headed for his right. Dashing away from them he kept his guard up and continued to counter attack. Another three enemies appeared where he was headed and lashed out with their swords in unison. Straining his body Roland turned in mid-air, using his sword as a weight, he brought it back around in a circle slash and managed to cut through their weapons and sever their arms in one swing. Panting heavily Roland was attacked once again from all sides.
”Geez, should've taken that brats advice about stretching and agility.” Grunting he pushed off his attackers and brought his sword down in front of him. Shattering the stone path and creating a dust smokescreen. The nearby attackers began coughing and trying to wave away the dust. Roland crouched low to the floor, his sword barely off the ground. Inhaling sharply he stretched his arm out and swung it in a circle around him, keeping the blade low to the floor. Pained cries sounded off in the dust. Impatient a conduit in a maid's outfit spread her arms out and the dust blew away, along with two other people. The screen under the dust was horrid. Enemies dressed as maids or servants were curled up and rolling on the floor. Each gripping their legs. Scattered on the floor were severed feet. Some standing while others were on their side. Blood pooled around the feet. Spraying Roland with blood one of the enemies tried to crawl away but had his chest pierced by Roland's great sword. Their body twitching like a bug.
”S**T! What happened?!” Gnawing on her finger the maid lifted her other hand and flicked her wrist. ”Second wave, go in. Zu, attack any time there's an opening but don't reveal yourself.” A soft static voice replied.
”Roger.” Which was followed by a series of gruffer 'okays' and 'rogers'. More enemies flooded Roland. They came out and attacked him in an organized way, not giving him time to rest or fight back. He was stuck on the defensive. A man in silver broke the pattern and attacked Roland with a fury of quick strikes. Unbeknownst to Roland multiple thin hair like needles were piercing his skin and letting poison enter his body. Roland kept defending with the occasional counter. Two melee attackers battered down on his great sword, another melee combatant joined in and in a single palm strike the three of them unleashed a wave and torrent of strength towards Roland. Blood gushed in his mouth but Roland gritted his teeth, letting a slight amount fall out. Flexing his arm he pushed off his attackers, getting a brief moment of pause. Wary of Roland the attackers didn't go in recklessly. Noticing movement in the corner of his eyes he saw his lord envelope himself in slyphir and rush towards the maid chewing on her finger. Roland looked at the maid and an evil grin covered her face. A whip-like crack hit his left shoulder and he fell backwards. The deep gash oozed blood. Losing feeling in his remaining arm Roland looked down at his body and saw hundreds of tiny needles embedded into his skin.
”Fu-” Before he could finish speaking his eyes closed and he fell over, landing in his own blood. The remaining enemies looked at him warily. The man in silver went over to Roland and stabbed his neck through with a dagger. Twisting the blade the man in silver worked his blade in between Roland's vertebrae, using jagged movements to remove Roland's head. Satisfied the man in silver tore Roland's head off and held it up. Looking over to the maid gnawing on her finger the man in silver froze. Before a warning could reach the maid her head was already sent flying. Showing no mercy Helmlock didn't' stop there. Taking the long black blade from his back he minced the flying head into chunks.
”You bastard!” The man in silver dropped Roland's head and rushed to Helmlock. Disappearing once again Helmlock enveloped himself in slyphir. The man in silver tried to stop Helmlock, throwing swords and knives but none worked. Helmlock disappeared. Frustrated the man in silver screamed in anguish. He picked up the headless body of the enemy dressed as a maid. A new rain of blood poured from the severed neck, covering the man's arms and drenching his knees. Tears rolled down his cheeks, teeth clenched, he took a small red token from her chest and placed it on his chest.
”Recognizing old leader as dead, new leader shall be assigned. Recognizing current holder as Zuru Moon. Leadership transferred. New leader is Zuru Moon.” A robotic voice emitted from the red token. It hummed to life and embedded itself into the silver man's chest.
”Don't worry Val, revenge will come.” The man in silver rose up and, showing the red token in his chest, faced the crowd. ”Comrades! By this red token I hereby announce that I'm now the new acting leader of the 17th attack squad. Any rejections will lead to a duel but, that would not be the wisest decision in enemy territory.” No one uttered a word. Nodding his head the man in silver pressed the side of his helmet. ”All scout squads come in.” There was nothing except the slight sound of white noise. ”Scout squads! Come in!” More white noise. Just as he was about to cut the connection with the scout squads one of the comms buzzed.
”This is Green. We are good to go.”