Things are about to go from bad to worse.
Chapter 67 – The Rose-Colored River, Part 3 (Lone Moon)
Dorothea did not hear the shouts of Ferdinand's men over the cacophony of battle. She did not look toward the east flank of their forces as Leonie's cavalry rode in to rescue him and his men from the Imperial Wyverns, with one of Leonie's riders rushing to evacuate the wounded heir of House Aegir. She would've been unable to see him from her position in any event, even if she had turned toward the cavalry battle to her left.
Yet it wasn't due to negligence. Her attention was focused on the Demonic Beast that was still attacking Brigitte and her troops. The beast's armor had been broken, revealing its hide beneath and allowing the diva to strike it with a Thunder spell. The monster screeched in pain for a moment before a Seraphim spell from Lysithea struck it, the holy spell burning through the flesh of its neck. With a final howl, the Demonic Beast collapsed and crumbled to dust, with men and women cheering at its death.
"Nice work, Lysithea," said Dorothea.
"This isn't over yet," replied the white-haired mage.
Dorothea was about to channel a healing spell toward Brigitte when she heard the flapping of wings rushing toward her. She spun around just in time to see one of the Empire's Pegasus Knights diving toward her, her lance poised to strike. Dorothea dodged to the side just in time and sent a Thunder spell at the rider as she pulled up. The diva's spell missed, but the Pegasus Knight was then hit in the back by an arrow from Bernadetta.
"You stay away from her, you jerks!" shouted Bernadetta.
Dorothea didn't even get a moment to thank her reclusive friend before another Imperial came barreling toward her, wielding an axe. As the soldier raised his weapon, Dorothea rushed at him and thrust Joyeuse into his chest in four quick stabs. The soldier gurgled from blood in his throat as he collapsed.
The diva then heard another shout of pain from Brigitte and turned to see the opera matron had just blocked a heavy blow from a Fortress Knight with her shield, but the Imperial's axe had partially broken through the shield. Brigitte's left arm was bleeding as she swung her hammer horizontally, smashing the Imperial's head.
"Briggie!" Dorothea said as she readied a Physic spell.
Wincing at the cut in her arm, Brigitte tossed aside her broken shield and said, "Shit, that hurts."
Brigitte looked at her injury just as Dorothea's magic started healing the cut. It wasn't a serious wound and closed quickly from the Physic spell.
"Thanks, Dorothea," said Brigitte.
The two heard another screech as the second Demonic Beast took a pair of ballista bolts to its head. Without its bronze helmet, the bolts pierced its hide, causing it to thrash about wildly. Then, a Mire β spell from Cia struck the monster's right side, causing it to collapse to its left. Soldiers from both the Church and the Empire scrambled to get away as it toppled over. Three unlucky Imperials were crushed by the beast's body, with four Church soldiers narrowly avoiding the same fate.
"Not so tough now, are you?!" Cia boasted as the Demonic Beast crumbled into dust.
"Cia, watch it!" shouted Anna. "You almost hit some of our guys!"
Before Cia could retort, the Church soldiers felt the bridge tremble as three more sets of heavy footsteps came in their direction. The remaining three Demonic Beasts had been released and were now charging toward the Church's position. One of them moved toward the Church's cavalry on the east side, while the other two rushed at the Church's infantry.
"Worry more about them, Anna!" shouted Cia.
"Ignatz, fire on those Demonic Beasts!" shouted Byleth. "Hurry!"
Knowing he had no time to argue, Ignatz shouted to his engineers, "Adjust trajectory! Get those shells ready on the double!"
Despite that they were still under attack from the Empire's Pegasus Knights, the Alliance engineers worked furiously to turn the two Onagers toward the oncoming threat. Two Pegasi and their riders dove toward them, only for arrows from Shamir and her archers to strike them and their mounts. A third rider made her dive as the archers drew fresh arrows, but Byleth saw the woman coming and lashed the Sword of the Creator at her, slashing through the Pegasus's left wing and the rider's arm. The steed and its rider both screamed as they spun out of control and plummeted past the edge of the bridge, disappearing into the mist that covered the Airmid River from view.
Ignatz scowled as a crossbow bolt hit one of his engineers, prompting another to drag his comrade away and call for a healer. Taking the engineer's place, Ignatz grabbed onto the left-side winch of the Onager and grunted as he tried to turn it, fighting against the torque of the weapon. Within seconds, Raphael rushed to his best friend's side and grabbed onto the winch.
"Just a bit further!" said Ignatz. Then, as the winch reached a certain point, he said, "There!"
Raphael and Ignatz released their grip on the winch, allowing the latter to continue ordering his men. Raphael, meanwhile, whirled around as an Imperial swordsman came rushing toward them in the chaos. The Beast of Leicester moved forward and swung his steel gauntlet at the man's sword, deflecting it before delivering a punch to the Imperial's jaw. He followed up with another blow that sent the Imperial to the ground, the claws of his gauntlet stabbing the man's chest during the second blow.
"Sorry it's gotta be like this," Raphael said to his dying opponent.
"Light them!" Ignatz shouted as his men ignited the wicks on two more explosive shells. "And… fire!"
Again, the Onagers released their deadly payloads, which soared over the heads of the infantry and hurtled toward the Demonic Beasts. The first shell exploded prematurely in midair, sending bits of shrapnel that struck Imperial and Church soldiers alike, though mostly the former. The second shell hit one of the Demonic Beasts near the snout of its bronze helmet and fell to the ground, the monster barely realizing it was there. Just as the Demonic Beast's right foot was coming down on the shell, it exploded, ripping apart the monster's foot. The Demonic Beast screeched as it toppled over, crashing into the second beast and sending the two to the ground in a massive heap.
As the men cheered, Annette said to Ignatz, "Wow, that was lucky."
"Can't just count on luck," said Ignatz. "Reload!"
"Watch the east side! They're getting through!" shouted a soldier, prompting the others to look to the east flank.
Fourteen Imperial and House Gloucester cavaliers, as well as three Wyvern Riders, had broken past the Church's cavalry and now rushed toward the engineers and mages. Leading them was a face that made Ignatz's and Raphael's hearts sink.
"Lorenz…!" Raphael said in dismay.
"Seize the moment! Strike now!" shouted Lorenz as he readied his lance, having infused it with magical frost.
Raphael immediately rushed to intercept Lorenz as he rode swiftly at Lana, who yelped as she raised a ward. But Lorenz arrived too quickly and swung his lance, striking the ward and releasing a blast of ice. Lana shrieked as her ward shattered and she was knocked off her feet, striking her head on the cold stone of the bridge. Lana let out a moan of pain as she lost consciousness.
"LANA!" Dorothea screamed as she rushed to help her unconscious friend.
Raphael, now angry with what his former classmate had done, roared as he rushed at Lorenz. Seeing the oncoming attack, Lorenz spurred his horse away from Raphael and sent a firebolt at him. Raphael blocked the firebolt with his left gauntlet and yelped as the flames quickly caused the metal to glow red hot. Raphael quickly tossed aside the gauntlet and then dodged back when a Gloucester cavalier swung his sword at him.
With Raphael occupied, Lorenz stabbed his lance at a Church archer, wounding the woman before slashing another.
He was about to strike a third when he heard a familiar voice shout, "LORENZ!"
Lorenz turned to see Leonie riding toward him, mad as a hornet and her bow at the ready. Breaking off his attack, Lorenz whipped his horse's reins and galloped away from the Church as Leonie chased him. She released an arrow at him, narrowly missing his right ear as he spun around, readying his lance.
Having just used her last arrow, Leonie threw her bow aside and drew her lance as she charged at Lorenz. The two struck at each other as they passed, yet their skill was such that neither sustained injury.
Whirling around, Leonie snarled, "Should've known you'd take the Empire's side. Just like you to pick whichever team is the most advantageous, isn't it?"
"Think what you will of me, but were you in my position, you likely would have done the same as I, Leonie," said Lorenz. "To oppose the Empire at a time like this would be entirely too reckless."
"Don't give me that bullshit! I'd never take the Empire's side!"
"Then it appears we are at an impasse. Please, do not think ill of me for my choice."
"Like hell I will!"
Leonie charged Lorenz at this moment, prompting the Gloucester heir to gallop away from her, hoping to lose her in the chaos of battle. One Imperial cavalier rushed at Leonie, but the Sauin mercenary slashed him down with her lance and continued her pursuit.
"Leonie, wait! Get back here!" shouted Yuri, but his call went unheeded as Leonie chased Lorenz toward the Empire's lines.
Seeing Leonie's pursuit, Byleth was about to reach for the Divine Pulse, intending to stop her from chasing Lorenz. But just before she did, she heard a loud cry from Caspar.
Byleth whirled around to see Caspar had been fatally stabbed from behind by a Pegasus Knight she did not recognize. The girl couldn't even have been fifteen years old.
"That's for my brother, you murderer!" shouted Fleche as she dug her lance into Caspar's back.
At that instant, time ground to a halt.
As she wound back the sands of time, Byleth realized who the girl had to be. She had to be Fleche von Bergliez, General Randolph's little sister. A child like her had no place on the battlefield, but here she was, seeking to avenge the death of her brother.
Yet it was something she could not allow.
Fleche's lance exited Caspar's back as her Pegasus flew backwards. Byleth's sword slashed another soldier in reverse while she watched Petra cut down another with her tribal knife. Dorothea moved away from Lana, who still lay unconscious on the ground.
Part of Byleth wanted to rewind all the way back to the start of Lorenz's attack, perhaps to stop him from knocking Lana out. But she knew that would push the Divine Pulse to its limit. If she did so, she would have no margin for error left. It would take far too long to regain the power. She couldn't afford to take such a risk.
Ten seconds had been turned back, and so the flow of time resumed its normal flow.
Byleth quickly slashed through another Imperial soldier and turned toward Leonie. "Leonie, do not pursue! Leonie!"
But to Byleth's dismay, Leonie did not listen to the order. She continued to charge after Lorenz as he rode back toward the south end of the bridge.
Knowing she could do nothing for Leonie, Byleth whirled around toward Caspar. She knew she had mere seconds to save his life.
She saw Fleche diving toward him. Caspar was completely unaware of her approach, as he was already fighting another Imperial soldier.
"SHAMIR!" Byleth shouted as she pointed toward Fleche.
Shamir swung around and immediately saw Fleche diving toward Caspar. The sniper swiftly drew an arrow and fired just as Fleche was about to stab Caspar from behind.
Caspar, having just killed another Imperial, heard the young girl's scream as Shamir's arrow knocked her off her mount, having pierced the girl's chest. He whirled around just as Fleche hit the ground, his eyes widening in horror at seeing his distant relative.
"Fleche…!" Caspar said in disbelief.
Despite the pain of the arrow sticking out of her chest, Fleche struggled to grab her lance and get to her feet. She couldn't let Caspar live, not when she was so close to avenging Randolph!
"N-No… I still… have to avenge you… brother…!" Fleche sobbed in pain.
In shock, Caspar said, "Fleche, what are you…"
"Y-You took… my brother… from me… Caspar! You… I'll kill you… I'll kill you!"
"Fleche, stop! Randolph wouldn't want this!"
As Caspar spoke, Fleche's eyes suddenly started glowing red as her blood began to stain the amulet that Odesse had given to her. It too released a crimson glow.
"I hate you! I HATE YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
As though reacting to her hatred, Fleche's amulet released a surge of dark magic that sent Caspar stumbling back, as well as everyone within a few meters of the fourteen-year-old girl.
Byleth spun around and watched in horror as black ooze suddenly began to emerge from beneath the young girl's breastplate.
Pain enveloped Fleche's body, finally prompting her to look down and see the black ooze that was consuming her. Her hatred gave way to terror as she began screaming in panic.
"No! NO! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!"
The ooze began to engulf Fleche's head as she let out a final scream of terror, one that could be heard for miles.
…
From afar, Odesse watched through his enhanced Agarthan eyes as Fleche von Bergliez was consumed, and a large cocoon began to form around where she had once stood.
He smirked at the sight. The Chimeric Crest Stone was working as planned. Now all he had to do was record the result of the battle.
He knew that one detail in particular would be of great interest to the Agastya.
Poor Fleche, right? Never take unknown stuff from strangers, people.
There's a lot that'll be going on once this battle ends, but we're not quite there yet. There's still some hard fighting to do.
I'll try to have a new chapter out by Monday, but Genshin Impact is just so damn fun. If I don't make the Monday deadline, that'll probably be why.