9
-I can't believe the General made such a miss match. I mean, wouldn't it be better to make proper troops? Everyone should have learned from the attack their mistake to break formation.- Nicole asked as their little group stood before the border.
-Yes, they did learn. They learned with whom their attacks worked better and who provided the best cover and support. It's not possible to make soldiers from guild mages in a day. Besides, we do have a sort of formation, troops, if I may say.-Teb answered, his gaze firmly fixed towards the horizon.
-You've grown and you gotten smarter. To evade another chaos on the field, the General placed the mages, who worked best together. Everyone is going to be more comfortable this way and that means there will be less mistakes, less mistakes means more efficiency, more efficiency means less casualties and a higher rate for victory.-Amelia responded making Nicole frown and murmur something that sounded close to "stupid smart older sisters". Laxus groaned. She really reminded him of Natsu.
Everyone straightened when the General of the forces strode in front of the line and turned to face them.
-As the horn sounds, we will enter enemy territory! There will be no way back the moment you will step over this border and everyone, who will retreat during battle will be considered a coward and traitor to his allies! Of course, it will not mean that you will be punished but I assure you, that the people, who will continue to push forward, will remember your actions! Thus, I am asking you, if anyone wishes to retreat now, do so! If you do it now, we will not judge you! War is a terrifying thing and we all are scared!-
A few minutes in silence passed, as the troops glanced around to see if anyone will retreat, but not even one soldier, not even one mage moved. Even the ones shaking and shedding silent tears of fear, forced their determination through it and stood between the allied forces. They all knew that this wasn't a power battle, nor was it for fortune. It was to destroy a long established underground world, which had been bathing itself in sorrow, sadness and blood for too long and it was now the time put it out of it's misery and save those, who could be saved. It was because of the reason they had assembled there, that everyone stood there, before the grinning General, who lifted his battle horn to his lips and continued to blow it until all the thousands of mages and soldiers had passed him. The battle was about to begin.
The several hundreds of criminals, bandits and those forced to fight, were facing the border side, loading cannons with explosive lacrima and pushing the slaves to the front lines as meat shields.
-Let's see how they will feel after killing our cattle?- one criminal asked as a round of laughter sounded around him. While they had lost the surprise attack, no one was really bothered by it. That had been merely an operation of simple bandits and low-lifes to measure the power of their enemy.
-The only problem is the fire mage, but we have that covered now!-another one said, glancing towards an extremely large man. This man was named Gunt, an SS class criminal from Bosco. His wanted posters were everywhere and the White Sea guild of Bosco had been hunting him forever, once almost capturing him. That time, Gunt had come face to face with Bosco's spy master and youngest of the Pradesh family, Vander. The criminal quickly realized that the young man was an actual treat and had Gunt didn't wait to see exactly what Vander could do with his voids. The two had clashed all the way to Pregrandes border, the Bosco mage not giving up, when Gunt managed to slip over the border and disappear. Currently, the huge man was sporting several long scars across his torso and face, all from the shadow mage of Bosco.
-Hihi, let's see how she fairs against that one!-
-Speaking of, they are coming!- one said, when somewhere afar a fire arrow was shot towards the sky. coloring it instantly orange.
-Here it comes!- someone shouted as the sky started raining fire. Suddenly, the entire are was covered by a black, heavy mist and the fire droplets turned to steam, when they touched it.
-They stopped it?- Nicole asked shocked. No one ever has been able to stop this attack.
-Black fog? What kind of magic is that?-Evergreen asked equally confused.
-They have a God Slayer. I can feel his magic.- Laxus said, lightning crackling around him. With a huge intake of air, the Lightning slayer send a massive roar towards the sky and watched in satisfaction, when the enemy forces were suddenly hit by a series of lightning bolts. Screams of agony filled the air and they watched as the black mist disappeared.
-Better to attack now, the hot air won't hold the moisture long. I can use this attack a second time only if the God Slayer makes another one of those.- Laxus said loud enough for the General to hear.
-Our people will be there.-
-That's why I will need to get that guy out of there.- the blond said and disappeared in a flash, when the General nodded. Gunt barely stopped the cramps from the lighting attack, when he was grabbed by the face and felt himself flying. He didn't have time to register what was happening when his body crashed into hard cliffs, knocking the air out of him. He gritted his teeth as his body was jolted by another lightning attack. No one had warned him that there was such a mage in the enemy forces. Gunt pushed the rock aside and crawled out of the hole, panting hard.
-O. don't you look scary?- someone mocked him and Gunt snarled at the blond in front of him. This wasn't going to be easy.
Meanwhile, the allied forces hit the ranks of Desierto and quickly gained the upper hand. Most were weakened by Laxus attack and couldn't even get to their feet. Support mages had already secured all the slaves with no casualties and were now watching how their forces broke the first line of Desiertos defense.
-Purgo!-Amelia called and several dozen mages found themselves in chains, coming from the ground. They screamed as black smoke started to erupt from their ears, nose, and mouth. Black tears run down their faces and soon their entire body were giving off the black smoke, which slowly turned white and the chains vanished, leaving the man on the ground unmoving.
-That's a purification? Looked like something outta a horror movie!- Bickslow said shuddering at the amount of darkness she had pulled from their souls.
-Normally it's not that bad, but these man are rotten to the core. I've never seen so many people so close to turning into a Gol.- the soul mage answered with concern.
-Burn, dammit!- Nicole shouted as fire snakes shot from her hands, setting on fire several enemies. She didn't hesitate to use her fists on those, who stood frozen by the fierce attack.
-Kid's as messy as ever! Doesn't think at all, just blasts 'em in next week.-Marco said shaking his head and cutting down another enemy. He had been mostly using his sword in the battle, trying to avoid spending his magic for any surprises. Yet, no surprises came and within a hour they held victory with few casualties and around a dozen injured. Laxus had arrived a little later, dropping a beat up Gunt by the General's feet and walking off after a court nod. The Water God Slayer was cuffed in magic concealing cuffs and taken to the main camp. He would be traveling to Bosco for trial after the battle was done.
The forces camped near the battle field and with first rays of sun were on their way to the center of Desiero, the capital Isa, where the joined forces of Pergrande, Bosco and Bellum were waiting for them.
As days went by, they didn't meet any enemies and it was clear that they would be facing a massive military force at the end of this journey. White Sea had sent news that they had pushed back a wave of deserters on the borders of Joya and Iceberg, trying to run like rats from a sinking ship.
After four days, they reached the city of Isa and were met by a grand army of thousands and thousand of enemies.
-You've gotta be kidding me! How many are there?- someone asked and the air was filled with nervous whispers. Even the General looked uneasy and unsure of what to do.
-Should I?- Nicole asked and Amelia shook her head.
-No one is ready yet. Provoking them will only make it worse.-
-What do we do than?- the fire mage asked and took a step back, when her sister grinned.
-Please, not like the army in Giltena!- Nicole begged but it was too late. The Allied forces were covered in a strange warm gust of gentle wind, taking away their worries, calming their fear, boosting their determination, making them remember why they were here, what they were fighting for.
-I hate this! i always feel like I'm drunk!- Bickslow groaned but grinned at the same time. The enchanters were already casting their spells and healers were preparing for support. With a tremendous roar, the allied forces surged forward and so did the enemy forces. The far range mages from both sides attacked simultaneously and most of the magics clashed mid rage, creating a large cloud of dust, covering the moment both forces met. The King of Pergrande watched in absolute terror, when the much smaller army dealt with half of their forces in under thirty minutes.
-What kind of mages are they? Release them! NOW!- he yelled in absolute madness, his soul wrapping in deeper darkness, deforming and reforming. The man in the room watched with confusion as the King scarped the wall with his nails so hard it tore his fingers. They took a few steps back, when his eyes covered in a bloody haze and started to look more like a feral animal.
-Make the sand red! Color the sky red! Red rivers! Red, red rivers!- he laughed. The man had long since run, realizing with horror, that their King had turned into a Gol, a being he had been trying to create for the past few years with only little success.
-Watch out!- Evergreen pushed Marco out of harms way as an arrow impaled the ground just where he had been seconds ago.
-Looks like I'll owe the pretty lil' Lady!- the old knight smirked as he choked several enemies around them with his wind magic.
-Just cross one of the four times, you've saved me.- the Fairy mage responded, turning a dozen man into statues.
-Is it only me or is it extra hot here today? Barion formation!- the Seith mage laughed as Ever gave him a dirty look.
-Don't get distracted!- Teb said passing through a very confused man and knocking him out.
-Goes for all of you!- Nicole grinned as her knee connected to a mans shin with a weird noise. The man around winced and Freed actually felt pity for the enemy. A loud explosion rocked the ground, followed by a cliff being shattered with lightning and collapsing on the enemies.
-Looks like Laxus is having fun!-Bickslow grinned.
-Amelia's with him there.- Nicole said as another explosion shook the ground.
-Damn monsters.- Teb whistled.
-Hmm, she's pulled out it.- Nicole added after sensing a change in the air.
-It?- Freed asked confused.
-Her soul weapon. This is going to be messy.- Marco said frowning. for some reason he had a feeling that something far more serious was approaching, something to trow them all off. He wasn't wrong, when just a moment later, something crashed in the middle of the battle field. It was releasing a menacing aura and both mages from both sides stepped away, when the people closer to the creature, started falling over, gasping for air, their bodies turning to purple ash.
-What the hell is that?- Laxus asked shocked as the creature started giggling.
-Not sure, who it used to be but currently it's a Gol.- Amelia responded in a grave voice. It seemed the day she had to use the forbidden side of her magic had finally come.