19 A night of terror. 1 (1/2)
”The intensity of the storm is at it's peak, chief. Most of the men are already on their knees.” Yamato, the investigation squad's captain said as he fell to his knees himself.
”We have held our position for 4 long hours, we can hold out for two more hours,Yamato...We have to hold out...we have no choice.” Zeyner panted heavily as he said. He was the only one who held the barrier from the starting. Hisashi, Isao and the other captains who started with Zeyner fell after they held their position for three and a half hours. The other normal protectors started to fall after an average of 2 hours after they started. The standby protectors took the place of the fallen protectors and sprung into action.
”Sir, the pressure on each protector is increasing drastically with each falling protector and you can't go on any long, chief.” Nariko, who just joined the support team stated as she felt the pressure increasing.
”Tell the fallen protectors to immediately...” Zeyner stopped himself from talking as he witnessed the storm's end, all of a sudden.
All the protectors fell as they saw that the storm had passed them. A few protectors passed out from over exhaustion. Zeyner almost fell to his knees but was immediately caught by Nariko who stood him up.
”Sir, you said the storm would last for 6 hours, but it's only been 4 hours. Your assumptions are generally not wrong. How did this happen?” Nariko asked Zeyner with a troubled face.
”I sensed the speed of the approaching storm and the amount of dark energy. I calculated how much time the storm would last with the data I sensed. I am sure that the amount of dark energy that passed us isn't equal to the one I sensed. The dark energy escaped somewhere else for sure. I don't have a good feeling about this, Nariko.” Zeyner stated as he supported himself against Nariko.
”Did you sense the dark energy shifting it's course or...getting nullified as it hit the pure energy in the air...Sir.” A panting Hisashi asked as he dragged himself towards Zeyner.
”I only focussed my attention towards holding the barrier and spent all my energy to compensate the falling protectors. I didn't have any stamina to sense anything. I don't have enough energy to spend trying to sense anything now.” Zeyner said as he dragged himself to find a seat for him to sit down.
”Sir, your orders?” nariko asked Zeyner as she witnessed how tired the protectors were.
”A good night rest...Nariko...order them to have a good night rest.” A gasping Zeyner ordered as he tried to catch his breath.
”Understood sir.” Nariko assumed command and took over the responsibility of dismissing everyone.
All the protectors dragged themselves slowly back to their home. They were completely exhausted of energy and had barely any energy to walk. None of the citizens knew of the fact that the protectors saved them from a great disaster as they slept peacefully.
Shin was still in a deep meditation state at the cliff as he was contemplating all the things that happened in his past before coming to Areon as he calculated the storm would last for 6 hours as well.
The healer's squad who weren't depleted of their energy were ordered to guard the gates for the night, they were split into the same four groups they were before and were sent to guard the four gates of the city. The healer's squad wasn't trained for sensing darkness or for actual combat but were highly skilled in healing and were only equipped with basic fighting abilities.