Chapter 54:- Choices
Disclaimer:- all the characters form the game belong to moonton and this is not a commercial story but just the work of a diehard fan.
Claimer:- the other characters which are not in game of mentioned are mine
It was out of very lucky coincidence that Karina was able to escape the clutches of the guards when her captures found out that their latest prisoner the Queen of Apocalypse herself had broken out of her cell.
With them distracted enough with a bigger threat, the night elf assassin wisely used this opportunity to slip past unnoticed by them and left the guards to their own fate with the merciless Blood Demoness.
However, although Karina had regained her freedom, she now faced with a new problem that now lay ahead of her. What would she do now?
Theoretically, she could try and spit past the city defences and meet up once again with the Abyssal forces even though that said feat would most likely be far more difficult than how simple it sounded in her mind. More so, Karina was conflicted whether or not she really wanted to leave. Not when Nana was still in the city.
Truthfully, Karina didn't really care about what happened to the city and its inhabitants along with the refugees. She did however concerned herself with the fact that Nana would most probably share the same fate as well and thus was her dilemma and frankly, she didn't know what she could possibly do to save her new friend at all.
Unfortunately, she wasn't given much time to consider her options because soon enough, the abyssal forces attacked the city without a warning, leaving Karina with no choice but to move forward.
"Please be safe, Nana…"
-X-
The situation was utterly disastrous. The Abyssal forces were flooding into the city like water from a broken dam. The city was not prepared for this and so the outer level of Moniya was quickly overwhelmed by the attacking forces. The Elves had to retreat back towards the inner levels of the city but they knew that this was only a temporary sanctuary. The Abyss was relentless and was constantly trying to claw their way up to the upper levels. Fortunately, the elves were able to form a defensive line and hold the enemies back by shooting them down when the demons tried to climb up.
However, with their King gone, the Elves were having a very hard time coordinating. Without a leader, the Elven forces were in complete disarray. Several high ranking officers with their own loyal contingency of fighters were successful in fending away smaller groups of enemies, but the real hurdle was the larger groups of Abyssal demons which required a coordinated attacks to take down, something that was hard to see through, especially when each Officer refused to follow command from another, all because they both were of in fact of the same rank. This is what happens to an army with many leaders, it has no leader.
Even right now, Irithel, a warrior of high rank herself, was having a heated discussion with the other Elf commanders and it wasn't going well.
"This isn't the time for all these bullshit, Arlon. We need to band together to stop this invasion!" she tried to reason with her fellow officer, but in response, Arlon speaks back defensively, "And what do you suppose we do? Hand over the command of the entire army to you? You are not the King, Irithel and I am not risking the lives of my men in the hands of an unqualified wild-born."
Being insulted about her origin, both irithel and her smilodon, Leo, growled dangerously before pouncing at him, "How dare you call me that!"
More about ten people were required to separate both Irithel from Arlon and both were cursing loudly, swearing to kill each other for what they did.
Things were bad and having enmity brew up within their own ranks was the last thing they needed. But, the worst was yet to come.
And it did when the ground trembled notably and a low rumble resonated throughout the area. This happened so because soon enough, the Abyssal forces had brought out one of their ace in the battle field.
It came in the form of a huge siege engine. It looked like a worm made up of metal and fire that crawled upon its terrible jagged legs and it was moving right towards the inner levels of the city.
Upon seeing this, Irithel could only say lowly, "Moon Goddess help us."
-X-
Miya , Nana and Hanabi were making their way through the smouldering remnants of the once great city with the goal to regroup with the main defensive forces and to lend whatever help they could give.
Their path ahead had been a difficult one, filled with obstacles and enemies but with the combined efforts of all three of them, they came out fairly unharmed from their encounters.
They did halted however when the trio felt the Earth shake beneath their feet.
"What is happening?" Miya questions loudly because the tremors were getting stronger by each passing seconds and it made them all very nervous. But their nervousness turned into full blown horror when the monstrous siege engine of the Abyss came in their sight.
Gasping in horror, Nana exclaims, "How are we going to take that down?"
Neither Miya, nor Hanabi knew that if there was any sort of right answer to that question at all but what they did know was that the machine must be stopped. And judging by the size of the thing, it would have no problems crushing the defences of the Elves and once that happens, Moniya would be doomed. Thus, they had to be quick.
"We need to destroy it. I don't know how, but we need to destroy It." stated Miya firmly and even if they didn't have any idea how to accomplish such a feat, they knew they had a goal.
Readying her weapon in her hand, Hanabi gave her chakram a twirl and speaks, "Welp, What are we waiting for? Let's do this, girls."
All three agreed and moved towards the direction of the engine with determination in their heart.
-X-
With the invasion on full swing, Karina was having lots of trouble travelling through the city. She had to avoid both the ELven and the Abyssal forces, something that was very hard to accomplish seeing that the entire city was engulfed in a large scale conflict.
What was her plan here?
Maybe find Nana and help her out of the city.
After that? She had no clue.
Shaking her head, she focused at the task at hand, deciding to cross that bridge when she would come across it.
Now the real question was, where was Nana?
Moniya was a big city and finding a little girl in such a huge place in the middle of a war sounded like madness. But she would have to try.
Her best bet would most probably be the safe houses where the civilians would be held up in, so she was thinking of making her way just there.
However she had to stop abruptly when she heard an all familiar sound of a machine. Her eyes widened in horror upon seeing the Siege machine. She had seen its destructive power before and it only made her more desperate.
"I need to get her out of here quick!"
Suddenly in a distance, Karina saw a few distinctly pink explosions and had a very good idea who it could have been. But the bombardments had been awfully close to the siege engine's position and this caused the night elf to pale in fear.
She bolted towards the direction Nana and her friends were headed, praying that she would not be too late.
-X-
Her head throbbed painfully when consciousness came back to her. Saya stirred awake and tried to get up slowly. Her body had healed, thanks to the combined efforts of both Hanabi and Alice, so she was now able to move and breathe properly without damaging her body further.
Relieved that her condition was now stable, Saya looked around her surrounding and the first thing she noticed was that she was laying on a bed in some sort of safe house that housed several other refugees.
The second thing she noticed was the constant rumbling of the Earth and the muffled sounds of battle that had most probably been raging on for quite a while now, causing Saya to groan.
It was exactly what Alice had warned about and what they had failed to escape from. But, what's done is done and cannot be undone, she will now have to improvise and think of a new plan, one that would ensure the survival of her flock.
Speaking of her flock, Alice, who had been there all the while, finally noticed the Sai'ore had awakened and moved closer to check on her.
"Are you alright?" The Demoness asked in concern, which seemed so out of character for her.
Hissing a bit and cracking her sore back that had recently healed, Saya speaks out affirmatively, "I'll live."
The two shared a small laugh at this for a while until the two now stood with an awkward silence between them. Slowly Saya drew closer and pulled Alice into a hug, causing the cold hearted Demon to blush brightly with her heart pounding wildly.
"Thank you." Says the Sai'ore in gratitude, making Alice's heart skip a beat.
The scene would have been a heart warming one if the rest of the refugees had not been looking at them in absolute shock and disgust and the fact that a war was raging on just outside.
Saya got pulled back to reality when she realized what the situation was currently outside and ended their warm embrace abruptly, much to Alice's annoyance.
Looking out of the window and towards the burning city, Saya asks solemnly, "Now what?"
Alice ponders on Saya's question and answers, "We wait here. The Abyss will not harm anyone in this building. Just let me do the talking when they arrive, Alright?"
Honestly, Saya didn't mind Alice's idea as long as on one she cared about isn't hurt. Thus, Saya sat back down. Then like a brick to her face, she noticed the severe lack of a certain masked ninja girl.
"Where is Hanabi?"
Alice seemed to visibly cringe as if she tasted something bitter upon hearing that question. Her reaction didn't go un-noticed by the Ex-empress thus Saya questions more pressingly, "Alice, where is Hanabi?"
The Queen had to answer eventually.
-X-
Their way towards the engine had been long and perilous, filled with enemies and other dangers but still the trio pushed on. The Elven forces were trying their very best to hold off the advancing demonic forces yet the Abyss seemed unending.
But still they didn't give up, they fought on courageously and carved their way further into the enemy lines.
They knew exactly why their mission was so important, the fate of the kingdom may very well be resting on their shoulders and thus they really couldn't afford to fail.
And so they fought on, tirelessly to get closer to the horrid machine. Shutting it down or destroying it would turn the tide of the battle, something that they desperately needed as the Moniyan forces were being mowed down like crops on harvest day.
Slashing through the enemies, Hanabi looked forward towards her goal, "Almost there…"
But it seems like she just jinxed them because soon after that, a group of huge Abyssal demons blocked their path, much to their annoyance.
"You had to speak, didn't you." Growled Miya distastefully while Hanabi muttered a coy, "Sorry."
The Demons then parted away to give way for the ones who stood behind them. Upon stepping forward, it was revealed to be a few Abyssal generals along with Balmond of the Blood Orcs.
However that was not even the greatest threat.
No, that title would most likely go to the Abyssal Witch who now stood before the three of them with eyes filled with hunger.
"What have we here?"
-X-
"What do you mean she is gone?" Saya roared. As expected, she really didn't take the answer well.
"I tried to stop her, but the stubborn human wouldn't listen! Is this what I get for my generosity?" hissed Alice angrily, thinking about the ungrateful human girl.
And while the Demoness was busy in her angry rant, Saya however was now having a panic attack.
The thought of Hanabi running alone into a war was very terrifying for Saya. She feared what the human might do, she could get hurt or worse and this was eating Saya away.
Knowing that she will not be able to stand idly by while her human was out there and in possible danger, Saya immediately made her way towards the door. She had to look for her Hanabi before it's too late. She had to be there to protect her or else…
"Where do you think you're going?" Alice questioned standing before Saya with narrowed eyes.
With panic and worry clear as crystal on her face, Saya exclaims, "Meha Hana is out there, we need to save her before she gets hurt!"
Alice knew not why was it that seeing such affection and concern in the eyes of Saya but for someone else other then herself really infuriated her. Not being able to hold it any longer, Alice blurts out, "Why do you care? She left you here when you were down and I was the one who took care of you! I chose to be on your side while she chose to leave you for this filthy city! Why are you going after her now when she left you?"
Her emotions were getting the better of her as her breaths quicken and her body shook with barely controlled rage. Seeing this shocks Saya. She tries to reason with her beloved, "Meha kari, Please understand. I have to…"
But talking to Alice right now was like trying to calm a raging hurricane. The Demoness was not ready to hear anything she had to say.
"You must choose now, either me or her!" spat Alice, making Saya gasp in astonishment.
She couldn't believe it. Never would have Saya thought that she would be asked to make such a decision. Slowly she walks towards Alice and looked her in the eyes. Her purple eyes that held not just anger and rage, but frustration and sorrow as well. Alice had never dealt with so many emotions before and it was really messing up her judgement, but her words struck deep within Saya's heart because her deep sorrowful eyes now held tears that threatened to fall.
Tentatively Saya cups Alice's face and says softly, "Why must you do this to me, Meha kari? Why must you pull my heart apart? I cannot choose…. Please don't make me choose…."
Her broken voice pierced Alice's heart like nothing she had ever experienced. The terrible sensation of guilt and the pain that came with it was something Alice was never ready for and it was unbearable. She wanted to drop this question, embrace Saya all over and ask forgiveness. Anything to make it up for the pain that she had caused for the only person she ever cared for. Yet her pride and greed won over, she wanted Saya all for herself thus she pressed on.
Holding Saya's arms firmly, Alice says boldly, "No, you must choose. Now."
Her words broke the Empress's heart and she looked down in shame. Alice was confident, she was very much confident that even if Saya would be sad, she will not leave her. She would never leave her side.
However, imagine her shock when Saya came closer and kissed her forehead softly. She held her face once more and says solemnly, "You are precious to me, Meha kari. But I cannot leave her. Please don't hate me…." With that Saya gave her one last kiss and bolted out of the house with trails of tears behind her, leaving Alice mortified.
She couldn't believe what happened. Her entire world seemed to shatter before her at that very instant when she sees Saya's figure disappearing into the smokes of battle. And even if Saya had confessed to her, Alice forgot it in her despair. The only words that rung inside her head were these, "She left me… She left me…"…
