Author's Notes:
As per usual, a specials chapter is release with this one side by side. Two chapters. Most of you are familiar with this trend of mine.
Xing nian quai le (Happy chinese new year) Ma asian brothers and sisters! Who amongst you are born in the year of the Rooster, first one to PM me i will get fulfilled a special request to my best ability.
This chapter was written while listening to Bring me the Horizon - Throne
The witch backed away with inhuman reflexes making the white tiger slashed thin-air. A shadow neared towards her from her left with a cold merciless glint in his eyes, slashing his wooden sword towards her. Within the short time frame before his blades imminent arrival she waved her delicate hand across the floor sending a gust of dirt blowing upwards to form a material sand barrier.
Darshan took out a talisman and threw it towards the barrier, creating a nullified zone within the materialised barrier to allow him unhindered passage towards the one it blocked him from. At the moment the taliman touched the sand and the barrier crumbled a shining edge passed through the falling sand aimed for his heart.
His reflex kicked in and saved him at the last minute as the wooden blades blocked what appeared to be a broken sabre. But it was anything but oridinary. Using the sword as a means to push himself away from her, Darshan jumped back five metres and continued in an orderly withdrawl. While it looked more like an ancient relic, there was something he couldn't quite put on the broken blade. Something primodial and destructive about its aura, like it would destroy everything that stood in its way, good or evil it saw them as equals in its eyes. He looked to find one half of his sword had corroded where it contacted the broken iron, the corrosion continued until the wooden sword turned to ash and shattered. It was a foreign object to these lands, something that had always been in her possession. Months of crafting and inlaying formations disappeared in mere seconds, the sword wasn't normal at all. It had to be from the realm of legends, an astra?
"Bishal, jao!" Darshan ordered the big cat to have another go at her and suppress her while he performed another mode of attack.
Darshan faced her and pressed two finger to his forehead where his Ajna chakra was and drew a talisman with his spare hand while reciting to chant. Bishal continued with its vicious attacks which the cursed witch dodged with relative ease but with great concern. Its ancestor, the sky guardian had carved a deep lingering fear within her to bear for all eternity. Despite its limited immortality, the guardian sacrificed everything to maul her to death. The mortal Kalinag was no threat to her like the sky guardian was, though it had long passed to almost bring her to ruin. Darshan knew of this and used this opportunity to buy him time to prepare. She was obviously aware of his plans but it was getting increasingly difficult as it wasn't just Bishal, the sky guardian's apparent descendant she had to contend with but the talismans that Darshan intentionally scattered about the ground like landmines to limit her movement.
They contained sealing hexes that could severely limit her abilities. She was shocked to say the least, how prepared he was to take her on. Knowing full well she was an immortal demon, but not just any demon. Yet he seemed to have done considerable work to defeat her and he did so in the shortest span of time.
She was facing the prospect on him actually sealing her, or worse. Destroying her body and soul.
After finishing his internal mantra, Darshan pointed his two fingers towards her and said
"Seal!" in a commanding voice.
An invisible lightning flew out from his fingers and struck her, sending a wave of paralysis through her corporeal body. She vomit out blood from her mouth as she tried her best to fight back the complex formations that had entered her body and sent Dharmic rites to suppress her. She struggled to break free and evade his next action.
"You!-…" She glared daggers at him.
But was beginning to feel the full threat of this man's abilities. His abilities were no less than those ten patriarchs of the long dead Demon Banisher Order, perhaps as strong as that girl.
"Seal!" He roared once again and an invisible pressure weighed down on her even harder, crushing the surrounding rocks and pebbles at her feet. Bishal stood watching as it could sense the current attack. This was made possible through the Karmic thread he entwined between them in his concentrated chant and laced it with sealing hexes. But Darshan was not doing this without a price, blood flowed out of his mouth and nose as a backlash for suppressing something as powerful as her for even a mere second was an agonizing task. Yet he did it with little regard for his own wellbeing, he had fully intended to face her with everything. A frightening willpower he possessed. The broken blade clattered to the floor as the stress of the spell he casted was becoming too heavy a burden to deal with.
Bishal closed in and flung its claws across her cloak tearing its ends as she narrowly avoided the strike despite her impairment. But this time she had to deal with not just the White Tiger but Darshan. The second she looked away from him, he'd covered the distance he previously created between them, both hands on his last wooden blade ready to impale her with. This was the opportunity he'd waited so long for, he wouldn't let it go into thin air.
It had been far too long since she'd felt mortal danger as she did now. The last time she met him, he wasn't even a speck worth of attention in dealing with. Now, he became such a powerful demon exorcist that could threaten her existence. There had never been such an individual like him for over millennia, not even the ten patriarchs of the Demon Banishing order were like this.
But most of all, she knew why he was doing all of this. She should have known, that rebellious look he gave moments before his 'death' weren't a trifling matter. She and him had been linked by a significant amount of Karma that their destinies intertwined. But now, he was thoroughly taking it from her to enhance his own, which was to annihilate her from existence and perhaps the one she sought.
As the wooden sword neared its final destination, she stared directly into his voidless eyes. It only said one thing back.
"Watch me destroy your world as you did mine."
As if she'd let that happen.
Though her carelessness had cost her significantly and suppressed her to the point she couldn't bring other lifesaving boons to change the situation around she had, but one last tool to defend her.
"VEL!"
At that moment, a violet thread whipped out coming dangerously close from above slashing downwards towards Darshan's head. He backed out as if he had eyes on the back of his head, thanks to his incredible senses it had saved him from an instant death.
A second cloaked figure landed in front of him between him and her mistress.
"…"
She didn't give him pause as she flicked her hand which launched attack after attack from her nearly invisible thread that lashed out at him. Sensing great danger if he ever got into contact with them he was forced to back away. The boulders that lay about were sliced diagonally apart from where the thread passed through.
Seeing the change in odds because he missed out this unexpected variable, Darshan grit his teeth and had only one choice. Withdrawl.
Bishal had not been occupied and continued his chase of the cursed witch who made quick strides to avoid it. But without Darshan to aid it in suppressing the witch it was merely a chasing game between them.
"Bishal, aie!" He called for the tiger to return as he jogged out of the cave and tossed a stream of hexing talismans to block their way towards his retreat.
The second figure gave chase as her priority was to destroy him for his attempt on her mistress.
"Ignore him!"
She commanded as she went over to pick up her precious sabre. The cloaked figure stood still facing her for a moment, then nodded and returned.
Had her tool not been there, she would have suffered greatly. Her views upon that man had changed dramatically, he was now the only one with the ability to threaten her future endeavours. And she wouldn't see the last of him.
As for Darshan, he sprinted out of the tunnel towards the light of the forest. But for the first time in a long time, an unslightly expression appeared on his face. He had waited sixteen years, prepped to the point that she had even show signs of losing to him. It was refreshing to see that expression of hers in disbelief but that was all he got out of their exchange. He failed to force her into submission.
That other woman, was more dangerous than her master. It was because her abilities were material and possessed high awareness in controlling those rock slicing violet threads. Where her mistressed invoked the wind and earth to deter him, he could easily nullify magic with a talisman and his hexing seal had worked upon her. Bishal sprinted alongside him as he quietly made his way out.
Next time…..
"Tsk!... There will be no next time, witch!"
Arrows wizzed out of the shadows at them, some struck the concrete walls, while some successfully struck them and sent them flying from the force of the arrows. What surprised them was the piercing power of the arrows that most bullets wouldn't harm them seriously as did these.
"Huh?" As Vasu raised his hand to fire his gun he felt paralysis restricting his arm movements. He forced pass the temporary paralysis and aimed his gun with difficulty.
(Pow) "Argh! Damn the gods!" Bhishma was struck by another arrow from the darkness.
It wasn't just him, they'd all received numerous arrows to their bodies but the insane recovery kicked in after they removed and crushed the arrowheads.
By now, Ajay had more a less confirmed it. There was something terribly wrong with the picture, he gave about four to five arrows each person who blazed away at the general direction he was in. But his enhanced guile with the wilderness training helped him stay stealthy.
-Active camo cloaks were for sissies.-
"Fight us fairly, Badala!"
"Fight you fairly? Stop stealing my lines, you self-righteous prick. Three obviously augmented men against little old me? I pray for some lenience." He mocked them in the dark. It was clear he couldn't engage them directly.
But he was now faced with the problem of how to defeat them. He was all eyes towards their wolverine like-recovery, all they needed were adamantium claws and they'd become the ultimate superweapons.
"You can't kill us, Badala. You should already see this by now. And because you've seen it, we cannot let you live." Vasu taunted.
"Oh? Just because I don't have the means to kill you doesn't mean I can't make life hell for you. Just like now."
"Hell?" Sanjeev bellowed laughter as he snorted at his remark.
"You've been feeling it haven't you, that sting in your joints, the sudden loss of bodily functions. You've been tasting a cocktail of my special recipe laced on my arrowheads."
Their eyes widened. Badala had been poisoning them all this while.
The question was, would their bodies be capable of purging the poison or break it down.
"Batarachotoxin from arrow frogs and would you believe it, Botox? The stuff celebrities use all the time to keep complexions permanent. Layman's term, it's freezes your nervous system at the point of entry."
Faced with Vasu's strength and toughness previously, Ajay planned on how to counter it and he came to a conclusion that he didn't need to hurt to subdue them. He could just disable them, but his mixture had to be strong enough to take down the strongest animal in Kyrat. Hence he chose a combination of nerve attacking poisons to paralyze them, though not sure if they would actually die or be frozen. He gambled. Now their movements had become sluggish and lethargic, pretty soon he could even throw them in an iron box and parade them to the troops to rouse morale. Vasu quickly understood this point and tried to get Badala to talk as much as possible to buy himself and the lads time to recover. Though he was unsure if they could wear off the effects quick enough.
"You-…. You bastard!"
"Doing underhanded tactics when we wanted to challenge you fairly!"
"Don't kid yourself. You wanted an easy victory where I delivered myself to you. To be honest if I had some VX or sarin gas I would have fumigated you in here." Ajay responded playfully but meant every word.
Vasu bit his lip, they were wasting precious time where the men needed them. But instead they were stuck with the most dangerous person in the Royal Army they had boastfully claimed would take out but were having trouble even coming into contact with him. It was unnerving, he was not at all intimidated by their immortal physiques. Instead, it was like a tougher challenge, that was all. And yet they were still in his grasps.
They only thing he was thankful for was that it was them and not their more vulnerable comrades in these labyrinths.
"Judging from your expression you seem relieved to know the rest didn't catch up to you in this deadly situation. I hate to break it to you Major Sen. But I received comms a while ago, your vanguard is all dead. Fifteen hundred made it to the wall ditches, five hundred went to the other labyrinths and got mauled by the tigers and honey badgers, the rest tried to climb the walls and got shredded. Now, Mohan was forced to release the main force to take advantage of the gap in directed firepower. Happened only about a minute ago."
Their mouths wanted to drop. An entire force of five thousand, gone! Just like that, in an engagement that hardly even lasted fifteen minutes. How many times did they outnumber the forces that defended the fortress? All of them, dead. Vasu had the urge to drop to his knees in defeat and regret.
"I-….. I sent them to their deaths…" He murmured.
"Brother.." Sanjeev was under the same emotions.
"Too late to be sorry, Major Sen." Ajay said in the background.
The grip on Vasu's kukri tightened to the point blood flowed from the handle.
"Aye!... Too late to regret, but not from this chance to kill you!" He raised his stiffened hand holding the rifle towards and fired his under-barrel grenade launcher towards the ceiling to widen the small hole.
(BOOM) The roof top rumbled and the hole did widen. Brightening a larger area of the labyrinth which he still could not see but could see anything around his immediate area clearly now. Including a crouching Badala on top of the four metre blocks that made the maze of the labyrinth.
Ajay smiled. He put this into consideration long ago, he was after all the supervisor for the construction of the fortress, every part.
"There!" Vasu pointed as the other two took aim.
Ajay let loose the already strung arrow holding the semtex grenade attached to the tungsten carbide arrowhead.
(Pow)
The arrow impaled flesh and came out from the back of Bhishma's shoulder.
"Arrraaghh!"
Unlike the previous times where the arrows only grazed them or stabbed the skin of their bodies, this one went through the toughness of Bhishma's altered body. Ajay already jumped into the labyrinth and disappeared from sight.
But Vasu and Sanjeev did not have time to be attend to Bhishma or even time to be shocked as the arrow detonated inside of his shoulder.
(BOOM) A wet-gory explosion from inside flesh severed a considerable chunk of Bhishma's arm from his body. Wetness splattered the walls including his brothers. Bhishma himself, collapsed onto the floor with blood pouring from his mouth and his eyes have a vacant look.
"BROTHER!"
It was beyond anything that their bodies could take, he'd lost a majority of his body and lost too much blood. Something that even his exceptional recovery couldn't easily deal with.
Vasu patted his brother up and about but no response came. Sanjeev was too shocked by the scene, had their bodies not been changed they would have died long ago. He witnessed his brother being killed. Fury rose to his watered eyes.
"BADALA!"
"No need to shout, I'm right here." He turned around to see Badala at the end of the labyrinth corridor they were in. His quiver bag was empty of arrows so that was what made him come out, he drew his kukri and unslung his slayer as he walked towards Vasu calmly. Sanjeev still couldn't believe Bhishma was dead so he applied immediate first aid to the worsening injury. And noticed him still breathing but faintly.
So now it was a one on one, between Ajay and Vasu. Deva versus Demon.
"I'm gonna KILL YOU!" Vasu sprinted with his kukri raised.
Behind the mask, Ajay leaked yet another cold smile. This was far from all he had to offer. He learnt from many lessons that the key to victory wasn't to hold something in reserve, but was to go through with it with his utmost the entire way. All out! And Ajay had only one means to force out every bit of his fiber and muscle into a single decisive moment. Now was the perfect time to use it, an isolated area where the Devas were severely weakened. He intended to make the Devas regret in hell they ever crossed him, he wanted to thoroughly humiliate the Golden Path through this. What he wanted was the Golden Path to reach its apex, to burn so brightly it would go out soon after. At the end of this battle, the Golden Path would be no more. He would be the one that snuffed it out. The secret to this was….
Deep within, his rage was forever burning.
From the watchtower in Delta Barracks, Maya and the Commanders of the Battalions in Unit 58 gathered to observe the surroundings. Villagers hurriedly ran to seek refuge in Hubris and Baghadur, which ever seemed safer to them. The garrisoned Tigers built barriers and defences around the stronghold in anticipation of an attack. But Maya planned for the Golden Path not to even reach them.
"If you were a simple farmer, where would you run?" Jeevan commented in regards to the fleeing civilians. They were leaving behind everything to find refuge from the fierce battle about to take place.
"…"
Though it was against her better judgement, Ajay made her bring Jeevan along. To experience the battlefield and the cruelty that could be invoked in a single skirmish. This battle was the best opportunity to understand the whims of war and who better to learn then from the best. Maya had been tasked to lead the entire brigade on her own, while her rank did not allow her to hold that appointment, no one was going to question Queen Min's protégé or the suggestion of Badala. She had already undergone training from four different places during her military career. One was Yuma personally culturing her ethics, the Royal Guard Academy where she learnt the art of war from both the aged training officers and of the Canton families' private military advisors in the academy, she'd been trained in the hunter's way by the chief shaman huntress whom also trained Darshan in the way long ago and have spent time abroad in a girl's convent school learning English and accountancy.
Most of the officers knew her as the woman that stood beside Badala on the earliest and the most astounding of campaigns victories in Kyrat. The Battle of Ratu Gadhi, The Meh Teh Offensive, The Crimson Forest. They knew that none of the members in the Duke's retinue were ordinary, therefore so was she. But that kid-
"Um- I'd like to say a few words." To her surprise and theirs, Jeevan voiced out to the whole group of officers.
They turned their heads towards the young man, the words 'Future Commander of Unit 58' still rung clear in their heads from Samson's mouth despite it being months ago.
The lad whom many speculated was Badala's student. But his complexion said anything other than a warrior so they had their doubts about his credibility as a competent fighter.
"Thank you. My name is Jeevan, most of you might know me as that kid with His grace. And you might be right. I've spent nearly half of my youth in a cage reading only the theory of fighting, it was by his Grace- my teacher's grace that I'm even here. I know that it isn't a trivial matter that's happening, even now I'm trembling at the thought of being involved in battle despite the numerous lessons I had with the Italians, Hurk and Captain Kadayat here. I don't know what his grace was thinking, putting me in charge over veterans of many battles in the future. What he even sees in a person like me He's never answered that question." He walked over to the table where they were discussing the distribution of the soldiers to.
"My father urged me to return, my sister begged me not to go. I'm scared, this is all so new to me. But what I'm more afraid of is turning my back to fate, I've learnt the hard way very early in my life. And I do not want to repeat that mistake. You may not trust me in what I have to say even now, and I acknowledge and respect it."
"I don't know you, and you don't know me. But I hope that in the tempering of battle I'll get to know each and everyone of you. From foot soldier to commander. You might not think me qualified to lead you, that makes two of us. But I have a promise to my sister, a goal in life, a reputation as Lord Badala's apprentice to be obligated to. If I don't die early, I will be the strongest commander under My teacher!" Jeevan pumped his fist in the air.
"Even if my hands bleed, my body collapsing, my life on the verge of being snuffed out. I will do everything to make it a reality." He said with a gleam of determination in his eyes. The officers were temporarily astounded.
It was something that only their liege seems to emacuate move than once.
"So eager to do battle, I like it! I say, let the kid have a go!" Er Hu laughed heartily and came over to slap the kid on the back. But Jeevan and Maya could see that he was trying to shorten the gap between his fellow commanders and Jeevan.
Some visibly nodded while others still have a silver of doubt as they would have to leave it up to today to find out.
"If you're all done, I will distribute the battle proceedings."
"""Yes, ma'am!""" The shouted in unison, Jeevan included.
"Tiger and Leopard shall maintain Delta Barracks fortifications."
""Aye, ma'am!"" The Tiger Field Commander and Captain Sandesh nodded.
"Badger will perform reconnaissance and report fire missions for the 4th Fusiliers Battery. Do not call in danger close under any circumstance." She warned them not to call in fire support to close to their troop positions. This wasn't mortar fire they were calling but heavy field artillery designed to level a base or field battalion with a single barrage.
"We'll try our best, what are our Rules of engagement?"
"Do not reveal your location to the enemy under any circumstance. If fired upon, then withdrawl. Don't let yourself be cornered."
"Yes, ma'am." Loken saluted before dashing off to command Badger Battalion, comprised mostly of his 13th scouting group comrades but also an assortment of other units' men.
"Bear will remain in reserve in case the Golden Path expeditionary force tries anything funny."
"Understood." Responded the Army Major.
Maya turned to Chief Yang last.
"Do what Huns do best." She said with a smile.
Er Hu grinned ferociously and cackled cruelly.
"Jeevan, you will follow me to link up with Hurk to find the Command element of the fractional force."
"Alright."
Maya picked up her rifle and walked towards the exit to link with the Hussars, Dragoon battalions, the Condotierri and Hurk, Jeevan followed suit. But before she left.
"May the king's light shine upon you. That if you perish your spirit will forever be remembered and revered. And if you survive, your descendants would forever chant your glories." She said with a meaningful smile.
"Good luck, kid!" Er Hu patted him meaningfully as he passed him. The other commanders nodded to give their compliments.
She then raised her fist in a ball and shouted. "Courage!" Not only the officers but the men down at the field preparing their munitions and equipment heard her shout and put down their things. In that instant, a regimental response they had recited since the conception of the unit filled their heads.
"""HONOUR!""" They chanted in response.
"Loyalty!" She called back and they answered with-
"""ETERNAL!"""
The forward bastion where Ajay had initially defended was now run directly by Amita who stood in for him. She did what she did best, diverting unnecessary supplying areas to the more critical locations like the one she was in. The morale held pretty well, whatever Badala had told them made them completely eager to see the end of this fight. The Golden Path main force had decided to mobilize while the fortress was gathering its strength from completely crushing their vanguard. The dispatch reported Ajay duelling with the three Devas personally, as much as it was a sight everyone wanted to see they had more pressing matters.
"Short controlled burst!" The sergeants reminded the men to conserve ammunition as they fired their weapons only at the effective ranges. Currently, the mortars, howitzers, autocannons, recoilless rifles and General Purpose Machine Guns were firing non-stop at the converging Golden Path main force approximately twenty-five thousand strong a mile away. While they had taken minimal casualties on their end, they couldn't afford to be worn down by the Golden Path. The 25,000 men divided into three groups to storm the three different Bastions as manned by the Royal Army. Yuma's Royal Guard were kept in reserve at King's Bridge to support whomever needed it.
Amita observed through her binoculars on the commander's observation post the fighters a mile away getting shredded by firepower that would have annihilated any force smaller. But they never stopped nor did they quit, the rushed towards the safety of the anti-vehicle trench and the wall trench. When one died, ten took his place. It was a resurgence of the Korean War, where a million Chinese soldiers rushed to batter the US and UN forces for crossing Yalu River. Dropping like flies and in the thousands, forced the allies to retreat and men who fought had recurring nightmares.
(BOOM)(BOOM)(BOOM)(BOOM)
An eruption of earth from where the 155mm shells of the howitzers burst over head onto the thousands of troops, but soon they were entering the danger close area which was too near to the fortress itself and could potentially harm the defenders instead.
"Amita, dispatch from Colonel Raja!" The lieutenant reported.
"Send it."
"He wishes to reduce the munitions replenishment by half."
"What?! Why?"
"He wants to create an exit for the Royal Guards to outflank their main force but right now the chances of them breaking through the siege is the lowest. He wants to quickly reduce the enemy concentration at Bastion 3 to the West so they have a window."
Amita thought about the bigger picture, it was difficult to say no in this kind of situation where every round counted. And they were depleting their reserves faster than anticipated, because they had contested with the Vanguard initially.
"Fine, have it his way then. I'll deal with what I have, but remind him. That if this front breaks, we'll have ourselves more than a problem of deterring them. Wait for my signal to commence their breakthrough." The lieutenant nodded and ran towards the Command centre in the central keep. These high-profile messages couldn't be sent on the air wave for security precaution in cased they might be listened in on by a hacker.
They had already reached the minefields.
"Engineers! Prepare the demolition charges!"
The engineering team that was with them went about collecting the respective detonating plungers and clacker detonating devices.
When they returned with the det cords attached them and reported their green light condition.
"Just hold on."
The Golden Path forces funnelled in through the narrow breach made by the vanguard which was limiting their push up ahead. But more engineers on their side began to use the bangalore devices in their possession to detonate the mines. Soon, five similar breaches appeared in the minefield of the Golden Path to safely cross, the flow of warriors entering increased.
Now the bulk of their forces had reached the anti-vehicle trenches, it was the line for the surprise the Royal army had prepared especially for the main force and withheld it when the vanguard crossed.
"Hold." Amita told them as she held her hand up.
Over three thousand gathered into the trenches.
"Hold. Forward elements, ceasefire and take cover." She sent her orders to the defensive line in the forward most part of the wall. And they obeyed and took cover. Allowing the Golden Path to randomly fired over their heads.
Eight thousand gathered.
"Hold. If you ruin it, I'll kill you myself!" She shouted to the eager engineers, it was too serious a sequence to mess up and meant the difference between major loss and victory. They had set up the surprise a few days in advance before the Golden Path even arrived.
Fifteen thousand gathered and were already preparing to go the final three hundred metres across the barbwire and moat.
"Amita!" The Chief Engineer shouted anxiously that they would miss the maximum cut.
"Hold! That's not enough!" She insisted.
Eighteen thousand came through the minefield and gathered but the trenches, since nobody was firing at them from where they were, they got comfortable gathering warriors there while the rest looked to cross the final obstacles.
"Amita!"
"Shut up and do as I say!" She was getting pisssed. She knew they spent days of hard effort laying their works right under the anti-vehicle trenches but it simply wasn't the max they could go.
"Amita!" A different person called out.
"What!"
"Enemy Commander Mohan Ghale sighted at grid A3." She reached for her binoculars and looked at the furthest mark approximately a mile and a half away in the treeline of the forest. There he was, standing proudly, watching the battle from his binoculars. Until his eyes met with hers. Though it was a brief period, she spotted the most disturbing sight which was him smiling back at her. As much as she wanted to have a special team go out and hunt him she had to stay where she was.
"Call for priority barrage on grid A3! Subject is enemy Leader, Ghale! And have it in a creeping barrage toward the forest in fifty metre increments."
"But that's outside the engag-."
"Don't let that bastard escape!" She reminded the observer that it was too important to miss.
"Yes, Amita!" The forward observer rung the artillery battery directly. It was a priority fire mission they couldn't miss.
She looked through the binoculars again, but this time he was no longer there. Amita, pursed her lips, she didn't know if he knew and would escape fast enough.
"Cancel the last order, don't waste an unnecessary barrage on a probability." Amita frowned, they were this close to potentially killing the leadership but she had other things to handle now.
"Amita, they've passed the barbwire!"
She looked back to the current battlefield and towards the anti-vehicle trenches. The limit had been reached, twenty thousand had passed.
She looked back at the engineers.
"Do it!"
The Chief engineer nodded and turned north, south, east and west shouting. "Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole!"
"Hit the deck!" The officers ordered their men to get down.
"Hit it!"
(Click)(Click)(Click)(Click) The engineers depressed their plungers and electric ignitions.
What followed was a land wide tremor and a bright light emminating from the ground where at least twenty thousand gathered.
(BOOOOOOOOOOOM)
The entire trench line erupted in hundred-metre high flames where a mixture of high heat napalm and thermobaric explosives were buried and instantly vaporised and killed around twelve thousand warriors with the intense heat and powerful shockwave. The rest were knocked off their feet and unconscious from the massive concussive force.
The defenders from the three bastions roared in success of their plan all along before their respective commandants gather the order.
"KILL!"
Amita had intentionally delayed the explosives detonation until a certain amount came through, this was so they could isolate a certain manageable amount from the rest of the force that had yet to pass through the trenches on the other side of the massive firewall where the the trench was. The bodies added to the fuel and kept the flames going.
The field commanders who had come to realised the dilemma they had fallen into, a horrible trap.
The defenders bellowed with joy as they lay down a thick layer of firepower at the trapped fighters that were on their side of the firewall.
The sudden attack had stripped some of the warriors of comprehension as they walked around like zombies, refusing to accept the reality of the situation. Of course, they didn't last long with the amount of firepower that was being carried across they would get killed by stray shots. The rest trembled as they were unsure of what to do it this situation. Trapped between advancing with insufficient numbers or risking the flames to run away. The Field Commanders did their best to maintain order in the field of complete chaos. The rear guard sent barrages of smokescreen to cover the trapped element from gunfire and visibility as much as they could, but from there they could do nothing else.
The element which was on the other side of the firewall near the forest and the rear were helpless to save their comrades on the other side. All they could to was either wait for the flames to die down, look for another passage through, or simply abandon ten thousand warriors to their fate.
Somewhere in the forest line, Mohan stared shocked but then grit his teeth with an expression of fury. That face of the women commander, he would remember it where ever he went.
Amita was oblivious towards Mohan's sensitive feelings as she was dispatching her orders to directing fire towards the ten thousand men that chose to converge on the fortress as they had no other choice. But the difference between the two thousand that reached the barbwire and ten thousand that were three hundred metres away from they were two different stories.
"Amita, we're running dry on ammo! The reserve's been depleted!"
"What of the resupplying?"
"Not a word from command nor supplies."
"Damn it, Raja!" She cursed. They could potentially lose the front bastion to the Golden Path if this persisted. With the fighters' current desperation it was looking to be a sure possibility. The ten thousand weren't spreading their forces any longer, they were all converging on the bastion where Amita was, in the hopes of turning it into an urban fight where they stood a better chance of survival.
"Prepare bayonets." She ordered with little choice.
"Mount bayonets!"
"Bayonets!" The officers and NCOs passed the message to the thousand soldiers on the walls.
One hundred metres.
They had done the same thing as the Vanguard in concern with the barbwire, they had an unlimited supply of willing volunteers. Something Amita couldn't help but admire but also feel disappointment for.
-You waste your life over nothing.-
"Do not let them approach the wall!" The forward Captain shouted to the men as they took precise shots at the charging fighters. But everytime they sniped someone dead, a few more came running from the front. Now, the Golden Path were so tightly packed someone would definitely take a stray shot fired by the defending soldiers. But that didn't stop them in their tracks.
The Golden Path were supplied by Pakistan Ordnance Factory via the CIA, so their foot soldiers were as well equipped as a professional army. Battle rifles and full body armor which reduced the casualty rate of the entire thirty thousand that attacked the fortress. The Golden Path were also fuelled by one single desire which was to kill the enemy in the fortress. Although from the strategic standing point, they had taken so much loses in the battle of attrition that they would not have sufficient forces to invade the North safely after this. But they would have the fortress to guard against the North instead, that's if they could take control of it.
In truth, they were barely even passed the first inner wall defence and only at the outer most layer. After this, was a second high-wall that was vertical instead of reclined like the first. The wall did not have any flat areas to assail by ladder too. Then, there was another moat that isolated the central Keep where the Arsenal, Comms centre and Command centre were. Only by an internal drawbridge could they enter.
But right now all of the defenders were at the first wall layer, to retreat would incur heavy casualties and they wouldn't necessarily hold out for long. The fortress wasn't sufficiently manned as the Royal guard were held in reserve as part of the major plan. The reason they hard difficulty with ammo was also because of the same plan.
Fifty metres.
They attempted to cross the moat stream of water as quickly as possible.
"Throw molotols!"
If the Golden Path that crossed the moat previously and just crossed it could smell that petrol smell, they would have known it was another trap.
The molotol petrol bombs flew in the air towards the moat and struck some warriors cracking the bottle and releasing the fire while some fell into the water and extinguished. It didn't matter, as it only took one spark to turn the moat into a river of flame that lit up those currently within. The advance was halted as some survivors came out screaming to put out the flames, all their comrades could do was offer mercy kills or they would be set on fire themselves.
(BOOOOM)
Amita looked into the distance to see and explosion where the sea of flame where the anti-vehicle trench and first trap was being blown at a certain point. The flames in that area died down. Amita knew what they did. They used explosives to burn out the immediate oxygen to kill the fire in that area. The rest of the Golden Path who had been isolated from the trapped fighters poured in to join them. Amita grit her teeth, this wasn't expected. The enemy commander had figured out a way around this problem quicker than expected.
The previously trapped ten thousand gave a jubilant roar as their morale restored with their faith in the cause. First to come through that breach was the great leader himself, leading the charge. The roars became louder till it deafened the ears.
The Golden Path whilst still taking heavy casualties, threw their grenade reserves into the river moat to do the same as what their main force did.
"Shit!" Amita realised the seriousness of the situation taking a turn for the worst.
"All units, fall back to the second level!" No one was deaf to her command, they anticipated her giving it in light of the changes in odds. They got up immediately from cover and made an orderly retreat into the high wall. The other bastions weren't taking such a significant beating as the golden Path was solely focused on Bastion One were Amita was. However because of the nature of the fortress design, they could lend their firepower to direct it at the exposed flanks of the Golden Path advance. They were in fact taking the heaviest casualties from those attacks. But the situation wasn't improving, where were the Royal Guard?
-Colonel Raja was withholding them for too long!- Amita cursed internally as was still staying behind to lead the last of the forces to the second level.
But then, a white flag popped out of the chaos. The Golden Path halted the advance as soon as their commanders told them to hold.
"Ceasefire!" Amita waved to the signaller.
"Ceasefire! I repeat! All Bastions, ceasefire!" The signaller sounded off on the radio.
The firing died down on their end as well. The Defenders in the company of Amita returned to the walls in shock of what could possibly warrant a ceasefire at a time like this.
To honour their agreement to a ceasefire, the Golden Path withdrew to the trenches. All of them.
The Soldiers wondered what would happen next, and that was when he came out.
"Sunnova-.."
"It's Mohan!"
"Fucking traitor!"
The soldiers cursed. Amita walked forward to the edge of the inclined wall.
"What is the meaning of this Mohan Ghale? Do all Golden Path leaders love to get smug even before their assumed victory?" She referred to Sabal in all his empty showiness.
"That wit, you must be Amita. The woman I've heard so much about."
"What do you want?" She snapped coldly.
"What do I want? That would be a question I ask you, you saw the flag and didn't dissuade it but agreed to ceasefire."
"We will accept your surrender." She responded, to which the Golden Path collectively laughed.
"You seem to be mistaken, I didn't come out to request a ceasefire with the Royal Army. I came requesting it from you."
"Me?..." She frowned.
"I've heard about how you and your company had been poorly treated by Sabal and the old guard alike. And it was truly their responsibility which they will pay in full for forcing you and your companions to be betrayed by them."
"No use crying over spilt milk."
"Indeed. So here are my terms, you and Baghadur join us. You lead Golden Path at my side and we will rid the North of Pagan's foreign presence. When this civil war ends, you will have the position of prime minister and ten percent of the land for yourself to cultivate whatever you desire." Mohan offered generously. Even his own warriors were shocked, why did Mohan want her so bad?
The soldiers looked at Mohan with fury in their eyes. He dared to ask an ally to turncoat against them in the midst of the battle. Some were inclined to shot him where he stood, but Colonel Raja, the acting-commandant of the fortress gave the order to ceasefire over the comms to all forces as did Amita.
Amita closed her eyes and sighed. Mohan had deeply analysed her history and found her desires and hoped to fulfil them. It was an offer that few could refuse, to lead the country in the future and own a part of it as her own. With the Golden Path and Tigers combine strength it didn't seem impossible, provided they take the fortress.
Mohan's expression turned to a smile as he assumed it was going well.
Amita opened her eyes and stared at Mohan deeply. Mohan thought he had won a new ally.
"Are you retarded?" She mocked him as she let out a smirk.
The Golden Path were shocked by her refusal, knowing her, she should have agreed to it. And yet-
"""HAhahahahaha!""" The bastion forces laughed their hearts out.
For a brief moment, Mohan's expression distorted from his usual calm smile to show displeasure before returing to a blank one. Then he sighed.
"I see, you and your comrades have already been corrupted by Badala's influence." He said loudly for all to hear, he was justifying the Golden Paths destruction of the tigers under the pretense of corruption.
Amita was slightly astounded by the way he dictated facts so quickly, but she didn't regret her decision on behalf of the Tigers at all. They had gone through thick and thin with the Royal Army and Badala who defended them from ruthless raids and attacks by Sabal and the Golden Path for months. They supplied them with necessities they desperately needed, they gave them arms to protect themselves and lent troops to call for aid, they recognised their struggle for equality for men and women of common birth. To turn their back to this kindness was showing how hopeless they were to adversity and how poor their moral was to not see who was right and wrong.
Mohan had made a poor judgement of her character, based on her old personality that the Golden Path and Sabal painted her in. But it was also partly Badala's fault for changing some of her usual quirks.
"Whatever, just go back to your rearguard so you can be protected." Amita said coldly to him with a look of disdain for him. It was that look that triggered something in Mohan, bringing out a fury he hid deep within which he nearly lost control of when she looked at him that way. He responded with a hateful glare which made her veer back slightly.
Mohan returned to the centre of congregation of the warriors and drew out his kukri in a symbolic charge.
"All units, prepare to charge!"
The Golden Path clattered with their guns and knives in a war cry for a final charge.
"For the people! For Kyra and for-(BOOM)" An explosion ruptured from the tunnel which was previously sealed to trap the Devas.
"What?!"
But it was no explosives that cleared the rubble, but brute force which sent the human head sized boulders flying in the direction of the Golden Path and wounded some.
Flying out of the tunnel were two shadows that belonged to Vasu and Sanjeev, who landed on their feet perfectly despite their grievious injuries but stared with their wits about them at the clouded figure from the dust blown up from the forceful removal of the blockage. The figure somersaulted in a backflip and landed on the wall just next to Amita. Amita stared in shock as did the rest of the defenders who saw it.
When the dust cloud disappeared, the Golden Path and Mohan were host to a sight of disbelief. Some started to shiver, while others glared at the figure.
The figure being Badala.
But it wasn't just his appearance that made them shock.
"Let go of my brother!"
Held up with one hand was the wounded Bhishma, now conscious and frightened by the things he'd seen.
"Ah-….ahhhh…" He wailed in fear. To see the fright in a Devas eyes was a disturbing sight for the rest of the Golden Path fighters.
But it wasn't just Ajay standing on the wall with Bhishma raised in his hand from his back, it was as the demon.
A tremor ran through Mohan as he sensed something emaculating strongly from the demon.
"BADALA! Let him-."
The demon smiled and held Bhishma's leg with the free hand.
"Stop- what are you-." Vasu was starting to get nervous.
"Ah-…brother-."
The demon's hands tightened around his leg and neck and pulled in the opposite direction.
"STOOOPP!"
"Brothe- aaaarrrrrrgghhhhh!" Bhishma screamed as the demon tore his body in two. Even despite his bodily hardness, the insane recovery. It was all useless before the demon's strength.
(RIIIIIIPPPP) All were witness to the scene and sound of Bhishma's body being ripped in half from the waist. Blood sprayed everywhere, and his spine tore out from the lower body part as it stayed with the top. The demon threw the lower body towards the remaining Devas. Bhishma's expression was locked in utter and endless agony, from the torturous death he received. The scene was especially shocking to Mohan, who knew the actual strength of the exalted Devas. His teeth trembled at the sight.
The demon didn't stop there in its campaign to complete scare the Golden Path. It raised the upper half it kept and held it over its head and let the flowing blood drench its face. The rich blood poured into its mouth, sating its hungered appetite.
Then-
"EERRRRAAAAAAAAHHH!" Its roar echoed throughout the mountain, villagers near Shanath who had heard a similar roar months ago wondered where it came from and what creature could unleash such a bloodcurling roar.
Only the defending soldiers knew, only the eighteen thousand shivering Golden Path soldiers knew.
(Thump) Vasu's knees slammed onto the dirt in front of him, his eyes overflowed with tears.
The second half was thrown towards the lifeless Vasu and utterly shocked Sanjeev and fighters near by.
To kill a Deva, one that stood above a thousand warriors alone. His promise to the soldiers had come true. To the Golden Path, it was a nightmare they simply couldn't accept that instance. But now they had a different crisis, the demon turned towards the sea of fighters and released a bloodcurling smile.
Sanjeev regretted everything they did to lead up to this point, everything that was said to him, everything they did. To unleash, such a dreadful demon. The claims by the scarred survivors were not a single bit false at all. The demon was real. But things were far from over as it was. It's next words chilled to the core, whomever was nearby to hear it.
"More."
Author's thoughts:
(Ajay Banner) "That's my secret. I'm always angry." (Turns humongously red)
(Ajay Hulk devastates the Devas)
(Vasu Loki) "ENOUGH!"
(Ajay Hulk stops)
(Vasu Loki) "You are what're you beneath me. I am a Deva you foul creature! And I will not be bullied by- Arrhh!
(grabbed by the leg and pummelled around the ground)
(Vasu Loki) "….ah….."
(Ajay Hulk) "Puny Deva." (Walks away in style)
(Vasu Loki) "(whines miserably in shock and pain)"
