The Battle of Geffenia
Episode Two
We are One
"Be merciful; no more bloodshed, I beg you. The scar in Yggdrasil tree will never heal itself. Do you really want a second Ragnarok? Stop this….please…..please…"
"I've never seen this number of soldiers in Prontera before..."-said Lenan.
"These soldiers will not be enough"-said the mysterious man. Lenan turned around surprised, but it became obvious-"Did he know about this war?"-he thought.
"My name is LenanKuras"-said courteously.
"You can call me Blood Mist"-said the man. His face was serious but his eyes showed no emotion.
A young lady approached to them; she looked nervous and disoriented. The sun rays covered her brown hair with an unusual glow. She kept her hands behind her red dress while she walked towards them.
"Umm, excuse me gentlemen"-she said in a low tone-"Which gate is the closest to Geffenia?"
"Hmm, I've never been so close to a High Priest other than in one of my latest assassinations."-said Lenan.
"Assassination?"-The girl said-"You are….As…Assassins?"-she said with a wail.
Her eyes became big while she began to back up.
"Do not worry kid, we are not going to kill you"- said Mist trying to calm her down-"Use the Northern gate and head north-west."
"I'm sorry if I scared you, it was not my intention"-Lenan added-"We are heading the same way, you can come with us."
"Oh really? I was a bit scared by the idea of going alone…"-she said.
"What is your name, kid?"- asked Mist.
"Blueberry, sir"-she answered. She began to calm down and revealed her hands from behind her back.
"She is even armed…"-said Lenan looking at her mace. She smiled timidly.
"Let's not waste more time, Geffenia is in need of our help"-said Mist.
Meanwhile…
"Safety Wall!!"-Said Winshley-"I do not want to harm you!!"
Gabriel's jurs released several hits nullifying the protection. He disappeared preparing his next attack. The wind blew with slight strength.
"Where is he?"-Thought Winshley while holding his staff with both hands.
He quickly started to form a flame around himself. Silence dominated the moment. Winshley breathed quietly; his eyes never focused on one point for more than a second. He waited for his invisible opponent to reveal himself. Gabriel moved around him in circles, waiting for the precise second to strike. A gust shifted the High Wizard's attention causing him to turn around. From inside the gust, a blurry image appeared in his Sight range dashing furiously towards him. It was too late to completely dodge the attack…
He got hit, but that did not stop him from counter-attacking.
"Quagmire!!"-said loudly.
The ground below Gabriel's feet started to melt rapidly making him unable to move.
"My arm…"-Said Winshley -"You used the wind's direction to cover your attack…"
Gabriel smiled while trying to get out of the muddy ground.
"Killing you is not my intention, but I've hade enough!"- Said Winshley ignoring his wound-"Beware the power of fire….Fire Bolt!!"
A purple wave pierced the air reflecting the blazing bolt. Gabriel was speechless. Winshley turned his face confused; a black haired Assassin Cross politely introduced himself.
"My name is Mirage"-he said.
"Another assassin….Are you with him?-asked the wizard.
"No."-Said Gabriel-"I don't know him."
"Why did you interrupt my attack?"-asked Winshley.
"I don't want him to die"-said Mirage while looking at Gabriel-"Why did you attacked him?"
"He looked suspicious"-said Gabriel.
"Seriously, you just saved his life."-Replied Mirage-"Soldiers from Peco Squadron 01 have orders to kill every single unidentified person who comes close to the southern gate."
Gabriel and Winshley looked at each other like reincarnated demons with unquenched hunger. He canceled his last spell enabling his pray to move. Gabriel looked back at him with no intention to thank him.
"May I check your wound?"-asked Mirage. Winshley answered affirmatively. Mirage made some kind of magical circle while touching the arm.
"Hmm? You didn't heal it...-affirmed the wizard confused.
"No, assassins do not heal…I used Detoxify."-answered Mirage.
"Detoxify?"-Asked Winshley-"Was that poison?"
"Yes, indeed"-he said.
"Bastard…"-added Gabriel irritated. Mirage looked at both ignoring the insult and began walking.
"Come"-Said Mirage-"I will accompany you to the gate"
Meanwhile, inside Geffenia…
A Paladin commanded a small force allied to Peco Squadron. His muscular body was protected by his achromatic armor; the only shinning light in this dark battle. Ruby was the color of his cape and his hair, which he kept back with a pale bandana.
"Captain Zelgadis"-said one of his subordinates-"Colonel Chass has summoned you."
"Where is he located?"-said the young man.
"Northern wall, Sir"-responded the soldier.
Zel began running towards the northern wall. The closer he moved to the wall the more dead bodies he saw. His green eyes never saw so much death and distress. The invading army was about to break the immense sealed gate; the highest towers in the city were already demolished.
"Colonel"-said Zel while approaching. Chass turned around trying to hide the uncertainty of his face.
"Zel… we need to push them as far as possible from the city"- said Chass-"I need every single man to focus on this side of the city…"
"Understood, Sir"-said Zel while moving recklessly towards the band of monsters that was about to penetrate the defense. He stood in front of the gate which was being firmly held by 30 knights.
"Step away from the gate!"-he said. The soldiers looked at each other confused but they kept holding the enemies from entering.
"I will only repeat it once….Step away from the damn door…and stay back"
The soldiers followed the insane command and stood far behind the madman. He moved closer to the entrance while two solid thuds shook the door. A third one completely dismantled the door; every alive person inside knew this only meant their demise. The red-headed warrior smiled seeing how the enemy's infantry fell for his trap. He raised his Flamberge pointing it to the obsidian sky and yelled:
"Grand…CROSS!!"
A huge cross appeared under his feet annihilating every soul who unluckily got trapped inside. The intense pure light blinded the unharmed and the wounded.
"Peco Squadron 01, Attack!!"-Yelled the Colonel while picking up his Pole Axe-"Let's finish this…Shield Smite!!"
Several enemies died in the first couple of minutes. Bashes liberated heads from their owners. Victory seemed to change sides with the help of Bowling Bashes murderously aimed towards the intruders.
Meanwhile…. Outside of the city…
"Captain Cecil, we are ready for the flank attack."-said a soldier.
"Perfect…Knights, Charge!!"-expressed the captain with an encouraging battle cry.
His Halberd went through the air unstoppable until it perforated an unfortunate Creator. His guild followed him downhill challenging the bloodthirsty zombies. He reached for his spear jammed into the corpse.
"Split into thirds!!"-He said.
He turned to his next target ruthlessly. The eyes of a Miyabi doll never reflected more panic before. Her fragile body was impaled by the captain's Pierce and elevated like a delicate feather. A fierce three-headed dragon got his attention; he jumped off his peco imprisoning his dark blue shield with a firm grip, resembling a clear night full with stars, the shield once used by Gna; and his blood dyed Halberd. The dragon's roar petrified its allies who desperately headed for the gate. The six eyed dragon gazed Cecil with an exquisite desire to exterminate. The young Lord Knight waited for the appropriate moment to strike. His taunting smile made his hunter impatient; and the dragon stormed commencing his attack. Cecil used his weapon to thrust the ground and leap, causing the beast's attack to fail… He aimed his spear towards the golden head while his body began to quickly swirl around in mid-air:
"Spiral….PIERCE!!"-he said detaching the head from the Hydrolancer.
A cry of suffering filled the ears of his fellow guild mates who hastily helped their master finish off the beast. The white head began to heavily bleed from Fatal Blows and Head Crushes. In the verge of death, the brave dragon bowed down to Cecil. A burst of phobia dominated the mythical creature; its blue eyes pleaded the Captain for mercy. The knight's response was generous: Spear Stab.
. . . . .
Many fellow companions from Chass' unit came face to face with a dreadful death. The enemy's numbers never seemed to decrease. A cry of agony made his remaining soldiers doubt about his ability to overcome this nightmare. Despair debilitated his defenses. Sorrow conducted all his attacks. Hatred was his ultimate resource. He got surrounded; his spirit began to fade away. He dropped his spear giving up…
"Sharpshoot!!"-said a voice coming from the top of the wall. Chass turned his head and identified a blond elf.
"An elf…"-said the Colonel while the blood in his veins started to boil.
"Do not stay there frozen; use your shield!!"-Said the elf while aiming his arrows to the sky-"Arrow Shower!!"
Chass held his shield tightly covering his chest and screamed:
"Defender!!"- Duplications of his shield appeared to the sides, back and above his head boxing him up.
The fiery arrows rapidly descended upon the targeted area killing every single soul. Suddenly, all the monsters began to sink into the ground. Chass distinguished Cecil's guild emerging from the multitude. Only carcasses remained in the field. Silence regained power.
"I am the only survivor….Peco Squadron 01…completely erased…like bunch of flies…"-said Chass.
"Hi, I am Aqua; I'm a sniper from Payon."-said the elf.
Chass turned around pointing at the sniper with his lance.
"You still exist because you saved my life moments ago. But do not challenge me because I will take it from you as a candy from a kid."
Aqua's smile died slowly. Suddenly, 4 black flames appeared many yards away from Chass. Three of the flames quickly transformed into human-shaped shadows; the last flame turned red-yellow also gaining a human appearance. The shadows wore 4 silver masks.
"They are here…here…Prepare to d…"
"I've had enough already!! Shut up if you are not going to help."-said angrily.
"A fReSh SoUl... WhAt A dElIgHt"-said the fiends in a distorted voice. The shadows pointed their claws to the Colonel.
"YoU aRe FiRsT…"-they said in unison.
The shadows always stayed together staring at Chass. He glared back with the same hate.
"Let's do this"-He said-"Spear Quicken!!"
He looked at Aqua and said:
"Do not… interfere"
"Oh, I will not, brave Paladin; or shall I say mad Paladin?"-he responded.
He ignored the elf's sarcastic comment while the shadows dashed towards him. Without hesitation, he responded with a quick dash positioning him in the middle of the four opponents. He pierced the first's head; and pushed the second one with his shield sending him flying. The third shadow scratched his right eye leaving him blind. Chass continued fighting as if a demon was controlling him; his Shield Smite once again sent the third one into the air. The last one desperately attacked him leaving himself vulnerable to a thrust. Chass quickly looked at the second and third fiends, still in the air, and sent his next two attacks.
"Holy Cross!!... Shield Boomerang!!"-he yelled.
The four monsters immediately reappeared after being defeated. He began running in order to retrieve his shield.
"Behind you… now…"
He caught it and began spinning, powering up his next throw. The brainless shadows kept charging forward into another defeat. Claws and fangs threatened the Colonel's life.
"DiE yOu FiLtHy AnImAl!!"
"Shield BOOMERANG!!"- The shield showed no mercy to its victims once again.
The battle became endless; the shadows reappeared every single time. Holy crosses, and shield smites, more holy crosses. Chass kept fighting as it was his first move.
"Together…they shall die…"-hinted the voice.
Chass stood still as the hungry shadows jumped on him lifting dust with the impact. The dust cloud began to dissipate itself showing only the Strong Shield on the ground.
"WhErE iS hE? dEsTrOy!!"
Suddenly, from above, a familiar figure appeared with a burning spear. The spear pierced the ground right between the fiends. They quickly turned around; they realized what was going to happen and tried to flee.
"It is too late."- Said Chass holding firmly his Pole Axe- "MAGNUM BREAK!!"
A high-pitched cry dominated the moment, the moment where darkness grew stronger. A dark orb began to materialize in the middle of the battlefield. Particles started to form a huge, black sword which floated in the air. A tall warrior grabbed the sword with a single hand. Two skulls stood at the shoulders of his skeletal armor. His dark blue hair was stiff; his yellow eyes were penetrating. From his back, a crimson cape touched his feet. From all the enemies around the world, Chass never imagined he just defied death himself. He was mesmerized.
"I am Sorrow, Despair, Agony, and Hatred… My Beginning is your End… I am the Phantom… the Memory… and the Recollection… I am … Thanatos."