Chapter 14: A time for retribution.

"Seer Malzahar! We have a problem."

"A massive arcane distortion?"

"Yes sir. B-But how did yo-"

"I am a mage, I can sense a distortion of that magnitude."

"Uh-"

"Continue."

"A massive force is approaching Uebel. The High Governor seeks your council."

Malzahar sighed. This whole business with Xerath was getting more and more annoying by the minute, and now he had to face off against this force from Belhora.

"Of what magnitude are we talking about?"

"A whole kilometer in radius. It is most likely a Horde." The guard's tone lowered, frightened by the sheer scale of the force despite all his efforts to hide it.

And there it was. Ruining his supposed 'time off'.

It just HAD to be a Horde. The Institute better give me some damn compensation for having to deal with this metric pile of sh*t. Even Champions of the League would have trouble dealing with one simply because of its sheer scale. He had been able to halt one single-handedly, but that had taken half a fortnight for his magic to drain the Horde and that one was far less prepared for him. The massive distortion from null-magic materials showed that they had prepared this time. Uebel was also less heavily guarded than the trade city of Himos.

Significantly less well guarded.

At least it was a fortress, albeit an old and decaying one.

There still was Xerath though.

A trump card? Maybe.

Whatever spells Xerath could use, his energy was massive.

I pray hope that he can work through the null-magic.

Xerath was the best option.

"Sir-"

"Yes. I will provide council. First though, I must find Xerath. And I know where I might find him."

Malzahar rushed up the stairs of the towering spire. After about a minute of climbing, he resorted to his magic to aid him. He floated on upwards on some alien miasma that none could describe accurately without its form rapidly mutating before a decision could be made. As Malzahar reached the last few steps he withdrew his power, calmly returning his feet to the ground. Climbing the few remaining steps, he found Xerath along with his 'disciple'. It looked as if Xerath had been lecturing her. Whatever they had been discussing was enough to distract her simple mind.

"Xerath, I must ask two more things of you."

"What is it you wish of me?"

A hint of resentment? Are you so fond of her to warrant such caution?

"Operational range and energy magnitude."

Xerath seemed to understand what was required.

"My estimations suggest a fall-off of two and a half kilometres and a maximum energy magnitude of logarithm ten Joules. Enough to deal with them."

That was a massive amount of power to wield. Logarithm ten Joule magic was on par with tactical Rune weapons employed by Demacia and Noxus during the infamous Rune Wars. The Institute had informed him that this Xerath did have incredible power, but even this level of power was astonishing.

"But know that I cannot wipe them out. Shurima has already been devastated by my power eons ago. I do not wish to repeat that calamity."

"Fine. Come then, the Governor seeks our council. I guess this operation will require you as artillery support most likely. I will most likely be on the frontlines as a charge-breaker. You are damn lucky to have such range. I've already faced off against a Horde once five years ago. This is no simple battle like the proud fools of Demacia and Noxus would like it. In this battle, anything goes. And I mean anything. Take care, Mage Xerath."

"Let us bring arcane might down upon them like which none have seen!"

"That I will do gladly."

A Horde? That was the same response that she was given when her two eldest siblings had disappeared five years ago. Was Malzahar the same person as the Mind Slayer of Icathia? The tale of the Mind Slayer was common throughout the Inner Desert and rightly so. The Mind Slayer had stricken and annihilated the sanity of a thousand during the siege of Himos. Was the man before her the same man who had snuffed out the lives of Ismel and Kiloi using Xenos magic?

"Disciple of Xerath, I apologize to you. There may have been people close to you who I laid waste to, but know that this is war, not some friendly competition between 'friendly' states."

He was! The Mind Slayer stood before her! Any other Belhorashurian would have most likely taken a dagger at this point and plunged it in his chest. But he would simply blast their mind apart before they could even do that. Even then, that would not return Ismel and Kiloi from the dead.

"Azel."

Azel looked up at Xerath who stood over her in all his might.

"We both know what Belhorashur has done to its undesirables. What I do today will change that forever. Know that I am doing what I believe is right. Your father wanted the same thing from me, to change Shurima for the better. The time for that is now. This shall be their retribution. Come along now, I will need you in the coming battle."

The tiniest of smiles appeared on Azel's face for a moment.

Now is the time of vengeance. For her family and all those under Belhora's tyrannical rule.

"High Seer Malzahar, it is a pleasure you could join us."

"I thank you Governor Vhalitz. What is the current situation?"

"Reconnaissance shows multiple cohorts of Cavalry and Infantry supported by siege weapons and what appears to be multiple Bellua Arcana so there are mages present in the force."

Vhalitz looked over at Xerath, then back to Malzahar.

"I assume Mage Xerath will be supporting us?"

"Correct. He has enough range to deal with the artillery I believe as well as enough power to destroy them swiftly."

"Good." Vhalitz looked over to Xerath. "Xerath, your primary mission is to destroy the artillery before it can do serious damage. Second priority is marked targets or Infantry columns. Know that as soon as either side starts firing, the battle will begin. If you fire before we are ready, then they will charge our lines which considering our weak forces would not bode well for us. But if we are ready, send a signal before you fire. The faster we remove that artillery, the better. Knowing common military strategy, they will most likely soften us up using their artillery followed by a cavalry and Arcane Beast charge to wreak havoc upon us before sending in the infantry to clear out the city. While you focus on the backline, Malzahar will tie up the Beast and cavalry charge with his powers. Reinforcements should arrive in a day's time in the least, so if we can hold this one single day then they have lost the battle. Colonel Pasol will give you the coordinates of the artillery and assist you in pointing out marked targets."

"Governor Vhalitz, if I may, I would like to have my disciple at my side."

"That is fine with me. Get the job done and I have no complaints. Colonel Pasol! Get Mage Xerath up to date with our strategy and the artillery coordinates."

"Yes sir! If you would like to follow me, Mage Xerath."

Colonel Pasol escorted Xerath and Azel out of the makeshift situation room.

"Seer Malzahar, you know what I wish of you."

"Being directly on the frontlines has never been a hobby of mine you realize?"

"Himos more than proved that it might well be something you are adept at. I have also watched some of the battles you partake in the League of Legends. Know that Shurima will always praise you for that action."

"Demacia and Noxus are both very large, with Ionia, Zaun and Piltover coming close to their presence. Shurima though…" Malzahar sighed. "Some of these things you cannot control. Politics included."

"Your League compatriots Ezreal and Sivir might wish to join this battle."

"Sivir is currently in one of the deepest hangover slumbers I have ever witnessed. And Ezreal, I do not wish him to intervene. This is Shuriman business, he is best to provide another witness to the battle ahead and get Institute permission to end these pathetic assaults by Belhorashur once and for all."

"Alright then enough idle chit-chat, we have a superior foe to face. I want you on the frontlines. First priority is stopping that cavalry charge. Second priority is to blast the mind of any Arcane Beast you find without mercy. Follow Major Beil to meet with Guard commander Jinai, I wish you luck in your endeavor."

"I will take any luck I can gather as I know I'm damn well going to need it. Himos was a hard one despite all of its defenses, so this is the gates of hell spilling forth all of its monstrosities. I have been through one hell before, and that was far from pretty."