Hello. Guess what. The next chapter is the halfway point. Crazy hu? This fic has been fun to write, and I do not exaggerate when I say comments are like drugs. GIVE MEH MORE. pls. enjoy! sorry, it took so long!
review response:
temporial king I don't think I'm going to make Malos or anyone else rex's blade... feel as though that would be to force. however, you have given me an idea for later on.
Amalthus's POV
They would crush Mor Ardain right here and right now.
Uraya had declared war on Mor Ardain, so it would be fairly simple to invade with their support.
Uraya was like putty in his hands. The newly crowned king of Uraya was a fool, and he would regret siding with Indol when Mor Ardain and Tantal fell.
The Indoline titian would be saved for now. There was no reason to put their strongest piece at risk so early on in the game.
They could even guse the war under justice for Gormot.
Really there was only the matter of Mor Ardain's military to worry about. But with the towers prepped it shouldn't matter.
"Report sir!" a guard said as they walked in.
He sighed. "Yes, What is it?"
"Sir, Indoline and Urayan troops have reached Alba Cavanich, and begun bombardment of the city."
"Good. all is going according to plan. You are dismissed."
The guard bowed and left the room.
MorArdain would fall. Then Tantal for their treachery.
Then he just had to go to the world tree to make the end he so dreamed a reality. He had to thank Malos for allowing him to realize his desire.
Niall's pov
This was bad. They weren't ready for this attack.
Aegaeon had begun spearheading the defense… but there was only so much they could do.
Indol had hit them hard and fast, and the Urayan army was present to boot. That was depressing but not entirely unexpected.
"Aegaeon?"
Aegaeon looked up from the battle plans. "Yes, majesty?"
He wished Aegaeon wouldn't be so formal but he didn't have time to dwell on that.
"Issue an evacuation order. All civilians must reach Gormot in the event that Mor Ardain falls."
Aegaeon frowned. A rare display of emotion. "Majesty… are you sure it will come to that?"
"No… but it is… likely. We cannot afford to hurt our citizens over the prideful belief that we will win."
"Understood." Aegaeon responded. Then he ran out of the room to notify the war council of the proclamation.
Niall sighed. "Oh what a mess this is…"
Morag's Pov
If she had been Angry before now she was furious.
Nobody touched her home. NOBODY!
As she and Brigid ran for the throne room, they were closely trailed by Nia and Dromarch.
Tora, Rex, and Zeke had gone towards the city to help with the defense effort, as the Indoline began landing. There was only so much they could do with the orbital bombardment happening though.
"He's going tah be fine." Nia said. Morag had her doubts.
He was the perfect target. And Indol had shown that they would not hesitate to kill.
As they approached the throne room she saw the door was open. There was Niall and Aegaeon fighting together against Indoline Troops. How they had gotten into the palace was a mystery.
Niall was clearly having trouble, because he didn't have nearly enough practice driving Aegaeon.
Niall's last guard was slain by an Indoline monk. "Don't… forget… me." were the soldier's last words.
"Morag!" Niall shouted her name as he saw her.
"Hold on Majesty, I'm coming."
Dromarch tackled a solder just before it could hit Niall.
"Just in tha nick o Time. wouldn't cha say Morag?" Nia said
"Thank you." Niall said.
"This isn't over just yet!" Morag said.
Then more Indoline troops came in and all hell broke loose.
Dromarch was constantly healing them, but no matter how many waves of troops came, there was still more.
"I… Don't Know ...how many more... We can take." Nia said, out of breath.
This did not look good.
Jin's pov
They had felt the shaking in the ground first. Then the guards just outside the room had left their posts.
Which could only mean one thing.
"Indol's attacking!" Malos said.
"How can you be sure?" Akhos asked.
"I have my suspicions, but Malos does sound one hundred percent sure." Mik said.
"Simple. You forget who my driver is. I know exactly where he is, when he preps his master driver powers. And right now he is. Probably keeping the Indoline titan prepared for any counterattack."
"We have got to get out of here!" Patroka said.
Jin spoke up then "I agree… but… Mor Ardain… we can't just leave them at the mercy of Indol."
"What did you have in mind? That they would just forgive us or something?" Patroka said. She could be so annoying sometimes.
"No. But they need help, we're here, and we want to fight Indol… at least I do… I… you do want Indol down right?" Jin said. He hadn't thought about if his compatriots… friends would even want this.
"I'm in. I've seen what Indol Is Capable of. I don't want to see that again. And you may be the one who made the promise to Haze, but I'm still responsible for it too." Mikhail said.
"Eh, I'm in if You guys are in." Patroka said.
"Oh it certainly beats destroying the world being the main goal… No offense Malos. Although it would take some script adjustment." Akhos smiled.
"You wound me! What the hell, destroying the world can wait. Who knows. I might just get some answers in the process." Malos said.
Jin smiled. He was… truly lucky to have people like them with him. "It's settled then." Jin said.
Then he reached out towards the door and it began to freeze.
"Wait what?" Patroka started. "How's he-?"
"Oh You do know my abilities don't rely on either don't you?"
"Hm. I see. So you could have let us out any time?" Akhos said.
"Hey he did allow them to arrest us. It wouldn't make much sense for him to break out." Malos explained. As usual Malos was on point.
The door was completely frozen over.
Jin had changed into his flesh-eater form. Then he launched a volley of ice at the door. It broke down in an instant. "Alright let's get going." Malos said.
They had work to do.
Rex's Pov
They just kept coming. He didn't know what to do.
"Come on Rex… Ugh, We can get through these dam soldiers!" Zeke shouted.
Poppi and Tora were distracting a sentinel as Zeke struck at its legs with Pandoria, and it fainted.
Rex meanwhile was guarding Mythra while she fired Siren on the Urayan fleet. The titan weapons were well-armored though, so it was taking a while for them to go down.
Indoline stars streaked over their heads. Tora launched a volley of missiles from his gauntlets after Poppi switched modes.
"Tora not know how much more Tora can take."
"Come on, we won't go down here!" Rex shouted.
The Ardainian troops were doing their best, but it was clear that they were just outdone by the Indoline troops. And they had been caught off guard."
Suddenly a Indoline star landed in front of Rex. Mythra was in the middle of firing a shot at a battleship so she didn't notice, and Tora and Zeke were fighting Indoline soldiers.
"Look out Rex!" gramps shouted. Rex was shoved onto the ground, and gramps flew out of his helmet.
His sword got Knocked out of his hand. Mythra gasped as he was pinned down, but her path was blocked by More Indoline soldiers. Zeke and Tora were each fighting a sentinel.
"I can't get a clear shot" Mythra shouted. "Not without hitting you!"
So this is how it would end.
He thought about all the people he had let down. Vandham, gramps, Tora, Zeke, Nia, Morag, Mythra, and Pyra. Aunt Corinne wouldn't take the news well.
He struggled to break free, but it seemed to be in vain. "i'm sorry everyone" rex whispered.
The Indoline star prepared it's finishing blow…
And was interrupted by a punch in the face. Rex shook off the star and grabbed his sword. Then he stabbed the star in the chest. The creature fell to the ground on it's side.
"Sorry to crash the party Boy, I understand we're a bit late!"
"Malos? What in the Blazes are you doing here!" Zeke said while dodging an attack from his sentinel… which had it's legs cut out from under it By Mikhail.
"Thank me later." Mikhail said. Zeke looked at Rex and Rex shrugged.
He noticed Patroka spear the sentinel Tora was fighting in the chest.
"Much thanks, lady!" Poppi said. Tora looked confused but shook his head and kept fighting.
Mythra switched to Pyra. "Malos get out of here, you can't do anything without a weapon." she sounded concerned.
"Heh, You think I always had Sever at my back? I'm more than capable of fighting with my fists!"
Pyra switched back to Mythra who just rolled her eyes and said "Whatever."
A silverish streaked past them suddenly and Indoline began falling, faster than he could count.
"What the heck is that?" Rex asked Malos.
"Jin. This is his true power." Malos stated.
Mythra raised an eyebrow.
"Alright, time to even the odds a little." Mikhail said. Then he ran towards the docs.
Then an explosion rocked the titan. They looked over. It had been a direct hit to the palace from a titan warship.
"Jin!" Malos shouted.
Jin stopped next to them. He was wearing a black outfit and had wingish things coming out of his legs "On it." Jin said
Then he went towards the palace.
Rex had a feeling this would be a looong day.
Morag's Pov
They had just escaped from the palace. Then it had taken a hit from a titan weapon.
"Tha can't be good!" Nia said.
"Run!" Brighid shouted.
They began to run at full speed away from the palace, Indoline hot on their tail.
Anyone Indoline got in her way was cut down.
Then a sentinel stopped in their path.
These things were annoying. They were being dropped onto the titan, from Indoline dropships.
"Shall we turn around?" Niall asked.
"Too late for that!" Dromarch said as Indoline troops surrounded them.
"Brighid!" Morag shouted, and threw her a sword.
"Right!" Brighid nodded as she caught it.
They prepared to defend themselves as the Indoline closed in.
"This doesn't look good. Ya bastards want some? Come an get it!" Nia said.
Aegaeon scowled and growled.
A streak of silver flew past. All the soldiers were cut down.
"What?" Aegaeon said
Then the streak stopped moving…
"Jin?" Brighid said confused.
"You look like you could use a hand." he said.
"Oi what's with ta getup?" Nia said.
"Not sure about that myself. It appears when I use my more powerful abilities" Jin responded.
"you're supposed to be in a cell…" Morag said.
"And you're supposed to be preparing for a coming invasion. Maybe I don't want to see you fail so easily."
Morag clenched her fist. She was about to retort when Aegaeon spoke up "Fight now, fight each other later."
"Well put Aegaeon." Niall said.
Jin nodded and pointed his sword at the sentinel.
"Fine. but we will talk about this." she said.
Mikhail's pov.
He had made a fairly clear shot to the Monoceros.
As he walked into the control room he smiled.
"Hey baby. Sorry, Daddy left you unaccompanied. Let's get you started."
He began firing the engines.
"Starting up blade bots!"
They didn't have many on the Monoceros, most were on the Marsanes, but they could take out lots of stars with what they had. Not all of them, but a lot of them.
Launching 6. Placing the other 6 on standby.
He heard Malos through the comms "Hey Mik, we're gonna need a pickup."
"On it." so Indol would take Mor Ardain… that inquisitor was going to be a pain, he could see it now. Something told him someone was going to have to knock her out if she refused to leave.
"Ah well, that's Jin's problem."
Malos's Pov
"Come on! let's get going!" Malos shouted. He could see blade bots flying over their heads and fighting the stars. That would buy them time.
"Are we really going to leave Mor Ardain to Indol?" Mythra shouted at him.
"You got any better ideas, Miss Siren?" Malos said sarcastically.
"Hey you know what would happen if I did that!"
"It's going to sink sooner or later. Best not to have Indol have it!" honestly what did she think would happen.
Rex spoke up. "Wait… are you saying you want to kill the titan?"
"It would save us time later." Akhos said.
"And what about the people who can't evacuate?" Zeke shouted.
Malos paused. Jin wouldn't like it.
"Fine. but don't say I didn't warn you when Amalthus uses this against us!"
Mythra rolled her eyes.
They were almost to the dock. it was a bloodbath. Ardainans and Indoline alike mangled on the side of the road. And they were still fighting.
"All this because of Amalthus. That man… how could he do something like this?" Zeke said
Malos laughed. "So you believed his act then? Amalthus has always been like this. He never changes." he said.
"Maybe so but neither do you." Mythra said.
"What am I doing here then?"
"Poppi think Mal-Mal make good point!"
Malos raised an eyebrow at Mal-Mal then shrugged it off.
Mythra scoffed. "Kids."
He laughed.
"Hey If you two are done arguing, we have a titan to get away from. Like as In NOW!" Patroka said.
"Yeah, thanks captain obvious." Akhos said.
They turned a corner and Mythra tripped.
"Mythra!" Rex shouted.
He saw her raise her head. A star had gotten through and was diving towards her.
"Hey look out You idiot!" He shoved her out of the way, and was grabbed by the star. It took off, holding him in the air.
he struggled to break free from It's claws. And then it started to dive towards the ground. It put him in the way at the last second and dragged him across the ground. "AHHHHH!"
Oh holy Morytha that was painful! The star went up and then started back down for another ramming, going straight down.
Suddenly the sky above him glowed.
Siren.
The beam hit the star. He was given a slight burn. That wasn't the problem though.
He was falling. Mythra had good aim. That was for sure.
A blade bot grabbed him. It sure was a good thing they had ordered those. It lowered him back down to the ground.
Poppi looked at it curiously as it took back off.
"And here I thought you wanted me dead." he thought to Mythra.
Her eyes widened.
He heard Pyra think, "wait how did you… what?"
"Thanks." he said, smirking.
"So you can do that. We will have words later." Mythra thought.
"Don't mention it." she said.
"I don't doubt it." he thought.
The Monoceros pulled up next to them, and a hatch opened.
"What are you people standing around for, get in!" Mik shouted through the ship's speakers.
Right. Boarding.
"Come on!"
As they stepped in the ship, Mik spoke up over the intercom. "That everyone?"
"No, We're still waiting on Jin, the emperor, the inquisitor, and Nia. as well as their blades of course"
The noppon was ogling at every part of the ship. Made sense when you considered the kid had made Poppi.
Malos made his way to the cockpit ignoring the look he was receiving from
"Hey Mik?" Jin spoke up over the intercom.
"We read you Jin." Mik said. Malos walked into the cockpit. Mik was at the controls.
"What do you need Jin?" Malos asked.
"We need a-" Jin was cut off.
"EY ARSEHOLES GET YER ARSES DOWN HERE, NOW!" Nia shouted through Jin's Com.
"Oh joy we're picking her back up." Akhos said walking in behind them.
"Sounds like they have a situation." Malos said.
"Routing the Monoceros towards their location." Mik said.
Jin sure drew trouble wherever they went. Though all of them did sooo.
"Heh that's nothing new for him. Same old Jin." annnd he had never closed the connection with Mythra. Eh. best not to make her mad. So he'd leave it open for now.
"Heard that!"
He was surprised at the lack of animosity in her inner voice.
Jin's Pov
Jin had a headache. He would have to rest later.
Even moving at the speed of light there was only so much he could do against the Indoline.
There were just too many of them. And he was beginning to tire.
The Monoceros was nearby, but it wasn't close enough for them to make a break for it yet.
He saw an Indoline monk running toward him and prepared to strike. He reached his blade up to block the spear and flattered. He doubled back in pain.
Not again.
"Look out!" he heard the emperor shout. The boy leaped in front of him and Aegaeon's eyes widened.
The spear sunk into the boy's chest.
"MAJESTY!" the inquisitor shouted.
"What's this?" said the Indoline shocked. The Indoline was then cut down by Aegaeon, who then
yanked out the spear.
"You… saved me."
"I did. Please… help my people. Save… them." Hugo would have been proud.
The boy fell to the ground. His eyes closed
The inquisitor approached "majesty." she whispered deathly calm.
"I have… failed you." Aegaeon let out one final breath and receded to his core.
Jin looked at Nia. He knew she could save the boy, but he did not know if she would. She was preoccupied with Indoline at the moment.
"MAJESTY, NO!"
Brighid pocketed Aegaeon's core sadly, and stood next to Morag who collapsed to the ground.
She held the boy in her arms and shouted "NIALLLLL!" the boy's name. The fact that she was referring to him by name showed just how much she cared, considering her usual formalities.
Jin forced himself up. It didn't matter how much pain he was in. the boy had asked him to save his people. And that included the boy himself. He leaned on his sword.
"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" Morag shouted.
He saw her seething with rage blue fire rolling straight off Brighid's swords. She stabbed one in the chest, decapitated another. She was screaming in rage.
Jin walked towards Nia, who was fighting one last Indoline. Morag had slaughtered most of the rest, and was in the process of killing the last few.
"Nia. I can handle this." Jin said.
"Like ell ya can!" she dodged the spear and he knocked the spear out of the Indoline's hand. She continued. "Don't think I aven't noticed you stumbli'n"
"You're the only one that can help him Nia."
The Indoline tried to punch Jin, and he stabbed him in the chest.
"You know… you know... I can't… I just..." Nia stopped talking, deep in thought. She was looking at the ground sadly.
Dromarch spoke "My lady, you cannot."
She looked up.
"You… you're right Jin. I have to do something. cover me."
Jin nodded. He saw the Monoceros approaching them.
Nia began to glow as she ran towards the boy.
Niall's pov
Darkness… it was so… peaceful.
A glow appeared behind him.
"Hello. You're Niall right?" he heard a familiar voice, and turned around.
It was Fan La Norne. That could only mean...
"Am I dead?" Niall asked. He couldn't leave Morag to deal with everything herself.
"Well… not exactly… you see your life hasn't fully faded yet. It seems someone is trying to pull you back from the brink."
"So… where are we then?"
"A place where the recently deceased go to. I came here to talk, because I know you're with Jin."
"Yes. I jumped into the way of a spear. That was how I… is it… death?"
"Seeing as how someone is bringing you back I would say no. you'll probably awaken soon."
"I see." what could bring the dead back to life…
"I need you to pass a message along."
"Yes, of course. what is it?"
"Tell Rex… to go to Tantal."
"What's in Tantal?"
"Something they will need to reach Elysium. And they must reach it. For Amalthus is also trying to get there. He cannot succeed."
"I understand." why could Amalthus want to go there
"Thank you… oh before I forget, tell Mythra and Jin nobody blames them for what happened inTorna."
He nodded. Light began to surround him. She waved goodbye.
His vision went white.
As his vision began clear he opened his eyes. He wasn't sure when had closed them. He could hear the sounds of fighting.
There was either surrounding him. He saw a pair of hands and turned his head. Then gasped.
"You're…" a flesh-eater went unspoken. The girl Nia was a flesh-eater?
"You're gonna be just fine." Nia said calmly.
Wait where was Morag.
Then he saw her. Brighid's swords were each in the chest of an Indoline monk… both were burning.
She saw him and gasped then ran over. She stopped only for a moment when she saw Nia then kept going.
"It's a miracle." Brighid said.
"How?" Morag asked.
"It's the one good thing that came out of… this." Nia said and pointed to her core. Then she changed back to the form she normally was as light rolled over her.
Morag hugged him. It was rare for her to show emotion, it made him happy, and sad to see how much his close encounter with death had affected her.
"Thank you Nia… I can never repay you." Morag said.
"Ey don't mention it. Let's just say ya owe me one."
Jin walked up to them. "I hate to cut this short but… we have to go. Now."
Morag let go of him and nodded.
"Ere you get on dromarch." Nia said to him.
"Are you sure?" Niall asked. He didn't want to violate the blade's privacy.
"I would be honored to carry you sir." Dromarch said, then he laid down on the ground so Niall could get on. Nia got on behind him.
"I'll clear a path ahead." Jin said. Then he raced off in front of them.
"I suppose Brighid and I should guard our flank." Morag said. Dromarch began running after Jin.
Morag and Brighid each had a sword in their hand and knocked down anyone behind them. They could see Jin moving anything in their way and taking down Indoline soldiers. It seemed the stars had completely destroyed the city. There were fires everywhere.
"So this is how the empire dies. I have failed my people." he whispered.
"You haven't failed yet. Chin up now, we'll get out of this." Nia said,
"I hope you're right."
They were approaching the ship.
"Almost there!" Morag shouted, running beside them.
A ramp lowered to the ground. Malos was in the doorway. "Come on you people we don't have all day!" he shouted.
Siren was still firing on Urayan ships, but Indoline backup had arrived. The titan, as much as he hated to even think it was lost.
Jin was the first up the ramp, and was soon followed by Dromarch carrying him and Nia, Morag and Brighid were last.
Jin collapsed as soon as he got in the doorway, and change back into his normal form.
"He needs to get to the med bay." Malos said.
Niall took one last look at MorArdain. Morag did the same. The city was burning to the ground. Ardainian, Indoline, and a few Urayan soldiers were dead all through the city, as were a few civilians who weren't so lucky. The palace was completely deserted. Morag squeezed his hand.
And he cried.
HOLY HELL THAT TOOK WAY LONGER TO WRITE THEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TOO. I'm so so sorry for the lack of updates.
So to recap. Mor Ardain's titan has been lost. Most of the citizens have evacuated to Gormot, but the army has been decimated, meaning only a handful of soldiers survived. Nia's true form has been seen by Morag, Brighid and Niall. I tried to put Nia healing in Niall because he was just kinda there. Sorry if it felt too forced. I also had the idea that maybe Niall could talk to haze if on the verge of death.
That's a wrap for this chapter. Next chapter we go to Tantal (and I get to copy and paste Zeke's dad's name because there's no way I'm spelling that out.)
Random fact: Russia invented the space station, the satellite, put the first man in space, and put the first man-made object on another planet (Venus) the united states only made it to the moon first. I'd say russia won the first space race.