Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
All of Walgonia was raging, roaring, screaming toward the rising sun. From every twist and turn, forest and road, alley and corner, footsteps rushed over. Through towns like Guren, Bruge, Barun, others that had been fought for over these past few months. To places like Le-bon, Tenson, Baston, or Astrea found on all sides of the map. Then the towns, Spirit Biomes, villages. The Army of Walgonia had washed over the land from all sides, and it caused its lost army to gather around them like a second wave. The Siege had just begun, and swarms of people, from soldiers to rebels to refugee Athenians, were building to fight back when things were pushed too far.
Walgonia had the advantage of surprise, numbers, intricate knowledge and control over the land. It's secrets, it's paths, even the fact they could use previous strategies to take back their land like they had to in the Demi-human war. And the fact that they could use the Sects greatest strength against them, in a way almost no country in the world could. It was because Walgonia's army had everything. Weapons, magic, humans, Demi-humans, Elves, half-Elves, Dark Elves. People from all across the world, like Lincoln, Gordon, or Ryo. People from the deepest corners, inside pits that may have tried to take or burn Walgonia for themselves, still fighting for their own lives. This time just against a mutual enemy.
"We have to keep moving! Our brothers and sisters across Walgonia, they have their roles and we have ours. SO DO YOUR PART! EVEN IF IT'S JUST RUNNING, SCREAMING, FALLING, DO IT WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!"
The same speeches and words of encouragement flowed from the souls of so many soldiers, almost every leader of any rank. Maybe it was useless. Maybe it was the same words that had led them through everything big or small, the thing that led them to the same War they were in now. Maybe every side would tell their people the same thing. They had to. They had to ignite the fire in everyone, no matter if it was already raging or dwindling away. They had to put fear into the hearts of the Sect. But it was most important for the North. Coming from the Ever-Lagoon, the City of Valor, even the other Greenvale, and so many others yet to be captured by the Sect. Walgonias bastion, their pillar of strength that had held out since this war began. That closed itself off during the Mission to save Athens, that pulled its people together just as the South had. Their Siege wasn't the Capital. It was everything they could reach. From above it looked like a line of ants moving from every notch and cranny of Walgonia, feeding across between throughout and around each other. Shining blue and silver with their armor, with fireworks of magic and raining arrows to follow them. Against the black wave of corruption that was the Sect.
"NOW, EL-IGNUM!"
"EL-IGNIS!"
"EL-IGJEK!
Some villages were put down. With Siege Magic, originating during the Demi-human war. Like Venyet did in Guren, flame guilds across Walgonia paired together. Using up all of their mana, to create a massive magical circle between twenty to fifty people. It unleashed hell, a commit, a falling sun of flames that rushed through the air. In the same ball, a stream, even the head of a dragon, reaches down. Curving downward, plummeting, reaching down, before washing out over whatever was below it like a bomb. Violently roaring down against the Sect, homes, roads. To break them down, to crush them, to erase everything the Sect had taken. Blasting through the streets, filling the alleys, before rising back into the sky as smoke and rushing flames. Even if that was what the Sect wanted. Even if it got people caught in the crossfire. Even if so many members of the Sect were just people trying to survive in Walgonia's darkest period. They'd scream and cry the same tears, bleed the same blood, and turn into the same ash.
The entire country wasn't completely taken by the Siege, not yet. The Sect were just getting signals and messages from so many different places and units, the North still had to push away the Sect that had been fighting to break them in the first place, and the armies across the West and East were still grouping together. Avoiding the largest cities first to clear out the villages and smaller towns, drawing out the Sect while giving them time to prepare, to collect and condense their forces. So in the next few days, they could push forward further and further. Until the Sect were either trapped, or forced to flee, and Walgonia could decide the fate of their lives. But at least by the end of today, the Capital will either be Walgonia's or the Sects. And if it's the Sect, then the rest of Walgonia could only fight until its last breath.
The biggest problem was the Sects greatest weapon. Prometheus, Severus, Lazarus, and Pandora. In the War room meetings since everyone returned to Greenvale, they'd been spoken about endlessly. But just before the Siege began, and before Gray's party had awoken, they had to discuss it one last time. While everyone else was getting ready, Ryo, Lincoln, Gordon, Jong, Leo, and Yui were already discussing it.
Leo: "We faced Pandora in Symbol, and we pushed her back. It's confirmed Rosine is her current vessel, maybe her only vessel. With a glance she can stop your OD, any Mark or mana, even Demi-human abilities. Inside her gaze, she can rip out your greatest sins. She'll make you insane, and if that doesn't work, her sonic scream will burst your ears."
Gordon: "But she is the weakest of them all. As long as we face her, we're strong enough to push her back. Or at least I am, and anybody above me. Prometheus is the deadliest. He can heal, what? Endlessly? Reports are that he's basically invincible, he can control the body and everything inside with a touch, and he may even use Dark Magic."
Ryo: "I fear Lazarus the most. He can resurrect the dead, as long as it's recent or he has their soul. With a single attack we'll fall, with Prometheus we'll at least become pools of blood. With him we have to face our own allies."
Lincoln: "I dunno. At least with them you gotta get close. With that snake, he could poison you with a single cut of a hundred arms smashing around. Or use that gaze of his to freeze you and your army. I was able to crush him myself back in the Town of Shells, but it took some effort to not get nicked. Or caught in his eye line. He'll sprout his body like a tree of endless arms, grow em back as fast as you smash em!"
The discussion had funneled in circles like they always did, but they came out of it with a simple overall idea. To hold them as best they could in a single spot to destroy as little as possible. To do their best to push them back, stop, restrain, or survive. Ryo, Lincoln, and maybe Gordon could help put them down. But as a team, even if two of them were together, then that would be trouble. However, Lincoln could face them all at once. So he was their best bet. Without him, they'd have to get around Pandora's sight to take her out of the sky. Avoid Prometheus and Severus touch, Lazarus' scythe, whatever tricks or magic they had under their sleeves. If Lincoln didn't work, then there was Ryo. Then Gordon. But Jong couldn't handle even one of them on his own, let alone anybody else in the army, aside from maybe Leo and Yui. Then in terms of the Pillars strength, the weakest were Pandora at last, Severus, Lazarus, with Prometheus at the top. Whoever faced him would have to remove him from the battlefield immediately, because even if they all had the power to flatten cities, Prometheus could do it without ever moving. As long as people kept giving their lives by getting near him, his reach of blood and bodies could ravage whatever he desired.
Ryo {Okay okay they should be fine, I won't check again for a few minutes! Stay focused! Now, where next!?}
After using his Spirit State to sense Lincoln, Gordon, and Jong's souls and know they were safe for the fifth time in the last hour, he leapt off the ledge he stood upon. Rushing a few stories down to touch his foot on the ground, and vanish. Bursting across an alley like a pinball, knocking out any anarchist in his way before skidding across the dirt street on the other end. The decaying and rotting buildings surrounding the deeper West side loomed around Ryo like a thick hive. Where wooden bridges and scattering held archers and mages he sent flying Spirit slashes toward. Collapsing whatever footing they had to stop them as non lethally as possible. Clearing out street after street, so the screaming swarms of civilians moving toward him could take it for safety. Screaming hordes of people of all ages, races, and classes. People who would never even look at each other reached out a hand, screamed out, or ran side by side to the West.
Anarchist: "That's Ryo Hollis! We can't beat him! We're better off playing dead!"
Anarchist: "If your commander finds out he'll do a lot worse than him! NOW MOVE DAMMIT BEFORE I KILL YOU MYSELF! WE DIE TOGETHER, FOR A NEW WORLD!"
As a few groups headed toward Ryo, with magic, maces, arrows, and every once and a while there was even a Mark of providence. But he was focusing a few blocks over, near the West wall of the Capital. Where so many injured soldiers were heading, and even more were already at. Erline and her healers were rushing person to person, healing better than ever with Luca's Mark of the brave rushing over them. He kicked an anarchist into a few more to instantly stop them while making sure no groups were near Erline, leapt into the sky to slam his sword into the street with a burst of mana while trying to check on Gray's mana signature, constantly distracted. Constantly worried. He could feel From a street over slamming his War hammer into the ground, feel JJ dashing through an alley with a young couple as he led them to Erline, all while he stopped about fifty anarchists.
Ryo {Where next -
Then he felt it. Winding his amber eyes. Piercing red, without a single breath in his lungs. Without a word around him. All he knew was the feeling of death in his heart, the all encompassing, impossibly intense, overwhelming, ever lasting
Fear.
Ryo {...What - WHAT IS THAT!?}
He felt the cry, no, the freezing. His heart sank deeper and deeper as he tried his best to reach the ones fighting their hardest for him to save them. The silence of thousands of voices, the Spirit's voices, slowing. Then he saw his breath, like the entire area had been snowed over.
Ryo {This…this…is Lazarus.}
Unable to stop shaking, thinking, chattering, he lost himself. Stepping forward before stopping, grabbing hold of his blade before reaching toward the other hilt on his side. Jerking his head toward the Castle overlooking the Capital far in the distance, to the North, the East, South. Where all hell was soon to break loose. But they didn't all appear at once. Lincoln was still clearing streets with massive bursts of pressure, Jong used ice spells across the roads, and Gordon was using up his large set of arrows atop the North's tallest tower. But his hawk eyed gaze moved toward the West, with a hint of tension in his veins. Until he was distracted by a bell. Ringing and ringing down below, from a Church of the Great Spirits. Something worshiped across all of Saga, but intensely, by Ravoria.
Gordon {They're coming. THIS IS WHAT WE PREPAIRED FOR!}
Gordon instantly reached for an arrow from his personal set, which he sent far into the sky. Allowing the arrow to whistle toward the clouds, until the seals around it ate the arrow away. To combust like a firework across the sky, taking up the eyes of the North. Along with some from the outskirts of the West and East districts. Even Leo could see it from the Castle, although he was distracted by Arthur at the moment. It was a golden version of the Sects crest. To warn everyone of the Upper Pillars, gold was made to ensure a Sect signal wouldn't be misunderstood.
Gordon {I knew these would come in handy!}
However Gordon rushed to pull back another, strengthening it with the seals of his own bow to blast it across the North district West. Then East. And finally, flaring up his own short mana supply to push the arrow to its limit, he let out the last signal. Sending the arrow rocketing through the sky so fast it should have shred to pieces, or burnt to ash. However, with the thick layer of mana around it, the masterful craftsmen ship, and empowerment by the many enchantments on Gordon's bow, allowed it to slash through the clouds. Over the Castle, and explode just as it curved toward the South. A shot nobody in the world could have made, nobody other than Gordon that is. But Lincoln, Jong, and Ryo all looked toward the sky to see the signal. And move into overdrive.
Lincoln: "EVERYONE CLEAR THE STREETS! DON'T GROUP UP! HELLENA, JOYCE, VENYET, CARLOS! WATCH EVERY SIDE, CALL OUT ANYTHING YOU SEE, AND PICK UP THE DAMN PACE!"
Jong: "LIBERATORS OF WALGONIA, THE UPPER PILLARS ARE UPON US! TAKE YOUR STATIONS, AND TAKE HOLD!"
Ryo {MOVE MOVE MOVE!}
Arthur: "Ooh look, pretty fireworks."
Anarchist: "The hell is that!?"
From the top commanders, anarchists, knights, to the Upper Pillars themselves saw the massive crest fading away into the slowly brightening sky. Maybe they were stepping into a trap, or maybe they had broken their confidence. Either way the Upper Pillars were moving. And that church bell kept ringing, until something else rose louder. Gordon moved with his blow drawn tightly to the church, ready to destroy it in a single blow, but it was far too late. The moment his eyes locked onto the black Egg, his body froze, and his fingers released the arrow. Seeing her from a few blocks away with his inhuman sight, he could only pray his arrow landed. It cracked across the sky with pressure, smashing through the tip of a roof on its way toward the Egg. But a bird-shaped head reached through, and let out a cry strong enough to stop it.
Gordon: "Pandora."
She stepped through the Egg, allowing it to envelop and encase her body in a tight layer of armor, all while her massive open beak unleashed a storm of purple mana. Sound waves distort, zapping, flashing through the sky. It encased, overwhelmed, and ate away at Gordon's arrow to destroy it before it reached her. However it had also blown away a three story metal refinery behind the arrow, as it took all she could to put it down. Instantly setting her sights on him, exactly what he wanted.
Gordon: "I'M RIGHT HERE! I KNOW YOU CAN'T HERE ME! BUT I'LL PUT YOU DOWN! WITHOUT YOU, KIOSHI, MUSASHI WOULD BE HERE! ALL OF WALGONIA WOULD BE SAFE!"
He set everything on her. But in the back of his mind, something felt like they had a victory. As Gray said, the Sects biggest strength was always being a step ahead. Now the Sect were forced to react, they'd done so prematurely. It still depended on where Severus or Prometheus attacked, but Gordon could tell they didn't know who was leading the fight in which district. Prometheus would be the best to attack the South, to use the larger army backing Jong as weaponry. Severus would be best against Lincoln, to at least hold him off long enough for the rest of the Sect to kill the others. Pandora could have stripped Ryo's spirit arts completely, and put him into a prison inside of his own mind. And Lazarus toward the North, as it had the largest population of soldiers, anarchists, and civilians overall. Unlike their battle against Kioshi, they no longer had an outright advantage.
The only thing they had was the fact these vessels were some of the hardest to kill in the entire world. Their Vessels had already shown they could do the impossible, and kill Kioshi, the strongest being to ever exist. Given the perfect circumstance. But whatever their true bodies are, could even surpass Lincoln. The Strongest Man in the World. Only Pandora seemed to be the outlier. An Upper Pillar who hadn't even been heard of until a few months before the original attack on the Castle. And the only Upper Pillar who may not have a true body, with the Cursed Charm acting as her source of power. Similarly to how Azalea was tied to the Cloak completely, instead of using Vessels. Like Azalea, that meant if they stopped her in the Capital, they could destroy the Charm and stop her permanently. It all depended on what Gordon did next, because Pandora's next move was to extend her wings. Flying out of the church with such force the building combust under the pressure, while she flickered across the sky like a pitch black missile.
Gordon {If I lose my arrows I'll be dead in the water!}
With his personal quiver on his back, he dove off the edge of the building. Aiming down toward the nearest tower. The North of Walgonia was dense, industrial, with large office buildings, refineries, smithing factories, guild and noble towers, apartments. All reaching high into the sky inside the dense district, which happened to be where Gordon was fighting. Still Pandora reached him faster than he could fall, leaving him to panic between what she would do. A sonic scream? Slashes with her wings? Dive straight toward -
Gordon {NO!}
He felt it. Again, the silence, the pain of fear. As Gordon had lost all control of his mana, his OD, like it wasn't even there. Before his mind began to burn, to ache louder than anything Pandora could do. He struggled, and failed to react to Pandora. Throwing out two slashes barely slow enough for Gordon to move between, only for Pandora to let out a deafening howl.
Pandora: "YOU PRIDEFUL CREATURE! WRATHFUL! UGH! I CAN SENSE SO, SO, SO, SO MUCH SO MUCH, SIIIN!"
It was only a burst, a burst strong enough to force Gordon back into the tower he leapt off. Through the window and down the hall he went, and Pandora burst through the wall to follow. And then, nothing.
Pandora: "...WHAT!?...He really is from Oni-mas."
He'd vanished without a trace, leaving Pandora to wrap her wings tightly around her body. Using Rosine's spirit connection to feel for Gordon, but he made sure she didn't have to wait long. With her sights off him, he'd been able to fire off an arrow with all his might. Sending it through the floor beneath her feet, and driving it straight into her shoulder.
Rosine {IF THIS LANDS MY ARM WILL BE -
Screaming from beneath the armor, from beneath Pandora, Rosine almost broke open. However Pandora held still, and took away the mana surrounding the arrow. Taking its speed, its power, and its trajectory. Slashing right across Pandora's left wing, causing the arrows' latent seals to erupt in a flash of flames.
Pandora {What!? How many kinds of arrows does he have!?}
The flames sunk into the armor, so no matter how quickly she flew around the halls of the tower it wouldn't fade. Causing her screams to burst around the walls, shaking the very foundation of the eighteen story building. And all the anarchists were still inside, before she forced her armor to heal with all she could. Forcing the flames away, fixing her wing, and standing once again distracted for more arrows to come flying. This time she took off to dodge them, not wanting to take any chances, but instead of landing into the wall they followed her. Faster and faster, through each sharp curve, each anarchist Pandora flew through, until she turned around to scream. Choking on the pressure of her own voice, and still she roared to force them away, before landing right in Gordon's path.
Gordon: "JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT LINCOLN OR RYO DOESN'T MEAN I'M WEAK!"
She spun rapidly, throwing out two instant slashes while taking Gordon's mana away. Returning the intense headache, shaking his footing, his soul. But he still kicked off the floor toward the wall to dodge the slashes, then back around Pandora. Landing a sharp fist filled with mana, ducking out of her sight line. It cracked her chest armor, and then again toward her back.
Pandora: "YOU'RE FILTHY! A TRAITOR TO YOUR OWN PEOPLE! A DICTATOR OF A BREEDING CAMP!"
Curving around her, kicking her in the back of the leg before spinning to use his elbow. Flipping to kick her, or flip her instead.
Pandora: "BEING THE LEADER OF THE LEVITHAN ARMY IS THE WORST TITLE IN ALL OF WALGONIA!"
Not giving her a chance to fight back, to lock direct eyes, and when she tried to scream he aimed for her throat. Using a hidden blade, he'd managed to cut through the side of it, and it seemed to finally push Pandora to the brink.
Pandora: "YOU REPRESENT THE WORST PART OF SAGA! THIS NEED FOR WRATH! WHERE THE GREEDY, THE LUSTFUL, THE GLUTINOUS, EVEN THE SLOTHFUL CAN REIN SUPREME!"
From all around her a pulse went out, taking Gordon's mana in a flash. And instead of his mind warping, burning, it began to sink. To freeze. For the world to flash from the chaos, the peaceful black and white. Gray, the reality of it all, and then something he could hope for. A calm morning, over Walgonia. With the breeze, tea, Erline or Ryo by his side. Soldiers working hard. It was -
Gordon {....fake…IT'S FAKE!}
His Hawk-eyed glare had fallen for just a few moments. In Pandora's dream. But he forced himself away just in time to find her roaring. With such an intense wave of pressure he couldn't hold his ground, and flung backward against a thick stone wall. Digging deeply into it while his ears cried out for help. Bleeding down, throwing everything off, almost like he was drunk. Then he saw her gaze once again. Her dream was over, and the nightmare had begun. The sin everyone had, was going to be ripped out by force.
Pandora: "WHAT MAKES YOUR WORLD!? MARKS!? WORLD ORDERS!? BATTLE AURAS!? TRANSFORMATIONS!? WEALTH AND FAMILY NAMES!? AFFINITIES!? EVEN CURSES, CORRUPTION, DISEASES!? THOSE MEAN NOTHING!"
Gordon could hardly hear anymore. His vision was shifting, burning. But it wasn't painful. It felt like a need. He had to scream out. He had to look at Pandora with all the hatred, all the torture, the sorrow in his heart. Whether he was slothful, greedy, lustful. It didn't matter, against his Wrath. Causing his heart to rush, his veins and muscles to tighten, his mouth to drip with saliva, while Pandora's sonic wave shattered the ceiling. The walls. Climbing up toward the highest floors, and digging down toward the lowest. Yet Gordon, crushing deeper and deeper into the stone could at least hold his arms up. Waiting for the moment the wall broke.
Pandora: "EVERYTHING YOU WORSHIP! THEY MAKE YOU NOTHING! THEY MAKE YOU PAWNS YOU ALL PLAY WITH! SEND OUT TO KILL US, MAKE THEM WORSHIP YOUR LAWS AND BOARDERS! YOUR MILITARY! THE DAMN HELSINGS OR LEVITHANS LIKE THEY'RE GODS! INSTEAD OF WEAPONS, TOOLS OF WAR, MONSTERS WHO BRUTALIZE ANYTHING THAT ISN'T WALGONIAN! AND FOR CENTERIES, ANYTHING THAT ISN'T HUMAN!"
The wall wouldn't budge, he couldn't be saved. He couldn't think. He couldn't do anything at all, other than grit his teeth with everything he had. Before he finally took in a deep breath, still stuck inside her eyes, and kicked against the floor with anything he could.
Pandora: " SO I'LL SAVE THEM! I'LL SAVE THEM ALL FROM YOU DAMN CREATURES! YOU, YOU RAATTSS!"
And broke free, to save himself, before plummeting down through the sky. Leaving Pandora to collapse to her knees, with her cracked and shriveled wings holding her closely. Shaking, couching and choking, unable to heal all of the dents and cracks across her armor. Pandora knew she needed to survive. She knew she had a transporter to escape. She knew that even if Walgonia won, the Upper Pillars could survive the next few centuries and simply try again. That only works though if she lived to see the day.
Rosine: "...The job isn't finished…"
But her vessel had more control than Pandora though. She couldn't move, she couldn't take off the armor, or even remove the charm. But her soul, her intense desire, her world mission was a part of Pandora's. And until the moment everything was lost, she had to fight for just a little longer. So, looking at all of the anarchists rushing down the stairs around her, she moved toward the hole in the wall Gordon fell through. Gordon soared down through the sky, reaching up toward the raining debris with his bow gripped tightly. Slowly moving toward the wall with all he could, to begin sliding down. Using mana tightly around his body to break deeply into the stone. Skidding down floor by floor, shattering the glass under his feet, before facing a gargoyle overlooking the street. Forcing him to put up his arms, and smash right through it, before grabbing hold of a clothes-line dangling over the street to swing over them. Covered in bruises, small cuts, dust and grim, he moved with as much focus as possible. Yet the line broke half-way through the swing, to leave him flipping onto his feet.
Gordon {Now, you face Walgonia, you damn bird.}
The anarchist rushed toward him the second they saw him, but his attention was far up in the distance. Where Pandora stood in the hole he'd fallen from, and once again extended her wings. Only now, she would be flying into a sea of her own people. Of Walgonia's soldiers. And a few familiar faces heading toward the signal Gordon had fired.
Dershia: "I SEE YOU FOUND SOME TROUBLE!"
Lanner: "DON'T MIND IF WE PLAY TOO DO YAH!?"
Boid: "IF YOU DO IT'S OKAY, I'LL RUN DON'T WORRY!"
Gordon: "Ugh! Focus! RIGHT NOW! And take this seriously! And cover your neck, one mistake and your blood will coat the street. Don't look into her eyes no matter what!"
Pointing toward the waves of soldiers and rebels, Gordon's voices boomed even louder.
Gordon: "Keep the anarchists at bay! Get the civilians out of here, and keep yourselves safe! Wall us in if you can! BUT THIS IS OUR JOB!"
And then he looked back toward the small group behind him. His eyes dead set on his victory.
Gordon: "THE SOIDLERS, THEY HOLD THE LINE! BUT IF THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR JOBS, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO OURS! OURS JUST HAPPENS TO BE HOLDING OFF MONSTERS! WE HAVE OUR STRENGTH TO TAKE THEM ON! OUR AFFINITIES, OUR WILL, OUR LUCK! WITH OUR POWER, WE'RE MORE THAN RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY SINGLE SOILDER FIGHTING WITH US!"
Walgonia, and the Sect of Anarchy, two sides of the same coin. With their Pillars of might to lead and command the thousands below them. Fighting for the world they saw fight. No matter how many would die, no matter how much pain or effort it took, no matter how long it took. However, the only thing that truly set it apart was the people inside. Blessed without the hardships or pain of most of the anarchists. But without that horror in their lives, they could focus and fight to make everything else better instead of burning it. Along with those who had experienced hell, and stood up stronger to face it instead of drowning. The nobles, the laws, borders. Walgonia's body was as corrupted as every inch of this world. But its soul, the millions of souls that lived inside, was what set it apart from the darkness.
Across the rotting and broken streets of the West, the tall towers of the North, the large homes and buildings across the rich East, and the thick shopping districts of the South, where most of Walgonia's middle class lived. The walls and roofs moved with the Sect, slithering into action. While the soldiers and rebels of Walgonia stood their ground like walls for the streams of screaming civilians. To face the storm of the Sect. Maybe they fought the Sect out of hatred, maybe they joined the knights for revenge or a need for power. Maybe they did it for the exact same reasons the anarchist joined the Sect. But when the Sect used magic, it was to kill. To burn, break, freeze, or crush buildings and homes. While the soldiers did it to protect their home, their people. To rebuild, to save, to make a land where they could breathe peacefully. Instead of working to burn all of Saga to the ground, for a multiple century long dream of something brighter under the surface.
And right now, across the South, the difference was obvious. The South was filled with homes, shops, restaurants of all sizes. From the towers in the thicker district in the center, to the smaller homes and stores built against each other. A small stream moving from around the tower down toward the center, a few parks around its corners, even a few larger museums, courthouses, and more to fill its dense streets. Not as spread out, wide, or even expensive as the East. Not as small or broken as the West. And not as industrialized, tall, or business focused North. All of it rushed and screamed with civilians from every corner. Moving through those flaming parks, slipping, tripping and swimming through the water, diving and hiding out in the shadowy alleys. While the Sect attempted to stop them from resisting by holding them down or threatening them, kept them screaming and sprinting as their arrows and magic fired out around them, or even attempted to hold them hostage for any chance at survival against Walgonia.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
And then came Walgonia. Maybe they were considered rash, hard headed, an act first and talk later mind-set. But when they saw a young girl with a knife against their throat, not a single one hesitated. They didn't hesitate to run head first toward a large Anarchist near a group of teenagers. To jump and push them out of the way of falling debris, even if it cost them their life. Using magic to create bursts of flames, ice and earth walls, or simply empower their fist with what little mana they had to crack a skull or break a jaw. The rebels moved just as fast, as any Walgonian did, to do all the same. Moving through the alleys to block them off so the civilians could run, guiding them through those parks and streams, even making bridges of ice across rooftops to skip the scuffles. To get them to rebel bases, or funnel them out toward the West. Or even right out of the Capital from the massive Southern Gate.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
"Move it move it!"
"Outta my way!"
"Mommy!? Where's my mommy!?"
An ocean of humans and Demi-humans, skin tones, sizes and ages, all rushing through the gate. Across corners and through streets. And The Knights Commander stood to confront the anarchists. He charged head first toward the center of the South with his Guandao glowing a bright deep blue.
Jong: "Wiggo!"
A dense, thin, incredibly sharp shard of ice shot from his blade's tip as quickly as it formed. Whistling through the air while the water mana condensed, froze, and shined against the glimmering sun. Before stabbing right through an eight foot anarchist, and landed in a small crowd of cultists behind them. So the thirty people behind him could all scatter to safety, and leave him to turn around listening in for anything he had to do.
Jong {That signal meant the Upper Pillars are here! But I don't hear or see anything that looks like Vessel activity! Maybe it was a false alarm!? Or only Gordons got problems!? Ugh no matter, Upper Pillar or not we've gotta keep moving people outta here!}
Whether or not he was capable, strong, confident, it wasn't a question. He stood there mostly confident, surrounded by quaking earth. Smoke, debris, a cold blue tint across the screaming battlefield. Where he could lean on his weapon while his fading silver hair and cloak could move in the chilling morning winds. But his wrinkled, scared face was sweating. Bruised. While the rest of him was beginning to tremble.
Jong {Tim and Sherly should still be leading them across the South West, I can feel Walter wrecking hell near the South Gate shakin the damn streets, and that bastard Gerald's probably fightin in some alley. Just breathe, Jong…while you have the chance.}
With the average person being born with only a spark of mana, when being compared to Gray Kyojin's amount, could be considered only one to five percent. With an Elf like Soku, a race with a naturally high amount of mana, on top of her having even more mana than that with her affinity, she only had about sixty percent. But even as a human, Jong was holding strong with forty. Now, out of his prime, it was closer to about thirty five if he wasn't pushing it. With the skill and experience, aided by the enchantment on his Guandao, to still continuously cast low-tier spells , some mid-tier ones, and even a high-tier spell or two if he needed. But this battle had already been dragging him out a bit. Standing on the front lines, unleashing all he could to protect his people, was already draining a lot out of his old body.
Walter: "RAAAAAAAAHGGH!"
Only a decade younger, Walter couldn't be more different. A Demi-human, and an incredibly strong one at that, with a Spirit connection to a ScaleGater. A Mid-Tier Spiritbeast, an alligator known for being incredibly large, with even thicker scales across his body. But a rather mild-temperament, and a hunger for Spirit Fauna instead of meat. Even Walter was a Vegetarian, but when it came to the Sect, he'd bite right through them. Swallow not so much, as he wasn't a cannibal or anything, he just couldn't really control himself when he was in battle. He could listen, pull himself back if needed, but for the most part he didn't want to. Eyes white with absolute rage, trauma, and bloodlust toward the Sect, a massive jaw wide open to crush any anarchist in his path, and a body built like a Siege weapon. He was able to run on all fours through barrages of arrows, low level magic, before slamming his arms down over and over again like a raging monster. Or do the same with his tail on all ends to send out numerous waves of pressure. Taking out Sect Strong holds, their groups, even barricades. The only problem was all of the destruction, debris, and quakes kept putting so many Soldiers, rebels, and civilians in danger.
Tim: "CHILL OUT! NEXT TIME YOU ALMOST CRUSH SOMEBODY I'LL KILL YOU BEFORE THE SECT DO!"
Walter: "RAHHHHHHH - Sorry! - RAAAAAAAAAAAAA -
In his years he'd learned to mostly control that temper, but still the Sect were the Sect, and his heart would beat so hard it felt like it was gonna burst. It let him brush off his burning and broken scales, his trembling legs or bleeding tail, even the disgusting Sect blood drooling from his body. So he could leap, smash, roar, and crush the Sect at every turn. Even if they didn't have Lincoln's might, Ryo's Spirit Arts, Gordon's archery, they were pushing back the Sect just as hard. If not harder. Leaving bodies broken, burst, frozen, or in many other ways across the streets. Jong's Water Magic, Walter's strength, Tim's flame and Earth magic, Shirley's blades, Gerald's axe, and a few thousand soldiers all swarmed the streets. Mostly all with more experience, training, and power than the average anarchist. With more soldiers than the Sect, and arguably more willpower to not just win, but survive and move on after. Lincoln, Gordon, and Roy's forces had been eliminating the Sect from all of their districts as well. Leaving the Sect truly on the backfoot, with only their Upper Pillars strong enough to turn the tide now.
Gerald: "GIMME ALL YOU GOT!"
Then, inside of a tight alley, Gerald swung his blazing Axe of Agony filled with a raging madness. He could only face a few members at a time with ease, so he could roll past a fire ball and sink his axe deeply into the shoulder of a screaming anarchist.
Gerald: "MORE! MORE!"
As a cutlet rushed like a black shadow behind him, drawing twin daggers forward, he simply slammed the other anarchist down into them. Before ripping his axe out of the anarchist, and chopped again. Again. To leave the two in a pool of pieces and blood, while the few other anarchists quivered under his smile. Still, he wasn't invincible. With the brick wall behind him smashing open for a bulldozing anarchist, all he could do was brace, before getting thrown through a wall of his own. Where he could land in a small scuffle of soldiers, rebels, and anarchists inside of a bar. To face the eight foot Demi-human with a smile on his face, wiping away the drooling blood, clenching his aching ribs, and using his pain to light his axe even brighter.
Gerald: "Alright boys! Watch how a real Knight fights!"
Ex Knight or not, he wore his old armor. He used his axe. And he fought just as hard. Charging head first toward the anarchist, before smashing his axe down into the stone floor. Sending out a short burst of bright red flames. They didn't just burn, they pulled out your own agony. Your stamina. Draining you, and leaving you looking burnt anyway. So it seeped over the anarchist, eating and digging into his thick skin like a wild animal. Until his leg was taken out from under him by Gerald, and he landed right in his axe.
Gerald: "Nice and warm, I hope."
That flaming axe seeped deeper into the massive man, causing his skin to shrink and wrinkle. Bursting open, pulling back, decaying away. Yet he died either way, as the axe tore out of his stomach. To leave the man in his organs, while he stood on his body to get a look at the anarchists around. Taking in the magic, arrows, screams, and roars of will like fresh air, before leaping back into the fray. And immediately getting jabbed across the face by a quick anarchist. Surrounding him were soldiers, slashing anarchists and roaring just as loud as Gerald. Where Gerald moved around them to swing his axe, while they leapt over him with their own blades. He wasn't strong enough to hold the line like Jong, Ryo, Lincoln, or Gordon. He wasn't a Commander, he wasn't even very well known. He was just a man, a Knight like they were, a rebel at heart. And when his knights got blown back with flames, stabbed in the back, lifted by a flying anarchist, he struggled just as much. As no matter how large his flame of agony was, no matter how much more powerful it got with all of his building pounds, he still got punched in his gut. Got kicked across the face, and even had his leg almost taken out from beneath him by a downward kick, until he stomped the floor to regulate himself.
Gerald: "GET OFF ME!"
And crushed the anarchist face into the floor, although he was slashed in his leg right after. Almost hit with a stray fire ball. Grabbed by a web, shot at with burning acid, leaped at from the sky, forced to block thrown daggers. Swinging and swinging through it all. With every wound he fought harder, his axe glowed brighter, and anarchist fell faster faster faster -
Gerald: "MORE! MORE! COME ON DAMMIT! ISN'T THIS YOUR HOME!? YOUR NEW WORLD!? WHERE'S YOUR HEART! WHERE'S YOUR BLOOD!?
Punched in the side, so he could swing his axe like a baseball bat into their skull. Grabbed around the neck from behind, so he could flip them forward to the floor and stomp their face in over and over. Forced to stop by a fist covered in dense earth by magic, forced to scream out in a raging pain after getting slashed in the back by claws, and finally snagged by a tightly bound web around his arms.
Gerald: "WHO SAID YOU COULD TOUCH ME! FILTHY DEMI-BEAST!"
It twisted round and round from the wrists of the Demi-human, before they used their four arms to yank Gerald with all their might. Stomping on the thick web to pull him even more, and end up sending Gerald right through the bars window. Left to roll across the street, and stare out into the deep blue sky. While it was passing dawn, it seemed Walgonia's skies were deep with sorrow. Almost gray to the war beneath it. Where chill spring winds would brush over Gerald's wounds, sway his flames, and blow the cloaks of the anarchists quickly approaching.
Gerald: "...come onnn…."
Walter's attacks shook the streets, Jong's water magic lit the sky, even Tim and Sherly were making their leading large groups of civilians. But there Jong was, against a never ending stream of anarchists, with only the strength he spent his entire life forging. The will to push past the curse eating at his agony.
Gerald: "COOMMMEEE ONNN!!"
Knights, rebels, civilians all ran across the intertwined streets. The buildings around him ranged from small to a few stories, with towers in the distance where Jong was. Small, broken, lit a flame or smashed open across the street. With anarchists flying and sprinting throughout. Cutting down knights, racing toward fleeing people, and circling Gerald while he struggled to stand.
Gerald: "...SHOW ME….WHY YOU WERE ABLE TO TAKE WALGONIA!"
He stood using his axe, gripping it so tightly the wounds across his hands drooled blood across the handle. Yet the flame grew past the blade, stretching toward his hand. Where his veins could begin burning, glowing red through the curse. It may have been painful, but the wave of power Gerald felt through his body was enough to lose all mind. And start swinging.
Tim: "THIS WAY!"
Standing on a building corner while screaming down to a large wave of people below, Tim was trying her best to do her part. Sweating, jotting her eyes between the rooftops for what anarchist she needed to worry about next, before looking back to the clouds of dust and debris from Walter. However, something closer drew her eye. A tower in the distance, overlooking the smaller shops and homes, had its walls completely blown open.
Tim: "Oh….oh my god."
Like Lazarus in the West, Pandora in the East, they had found their Upper Pillar. Watching ten, twenty, fifty arms emerge from the four sides of the building. Before it began to crack all the way down its center, and let out what had to be a hundred from all throughout the tower.
Jong: "EVERYONE! EVACUATE NOOWWW!"
Dense, ragged, twisting and surging with bright green veins. Covered in armor like scales. Connecting like branches, all the way toward the core. Walking slowly out of the tower laughing and laughing, while venom dripped from his lips. Facing Jong head on, while his arms began to slam into the ground on all sides. Pushing through the ground, the air, until they went through the homes. The shops. Tearing through the stone and brick with ease, and even if the arm broke under the pressure, it would reform with two more to follow. Rising toward the clouded sun, and deep into the earth to break back out through the streets. Reaching toward soldiers, rebels. To twist and constrict their bodies, until they burst open. Or simply slashing them open, armor, thick hide, mana or not to leave a bright green acid looking substance deep in their wound.
"SHIT SHIT SHIT!"
"FUCK WHAT IS THIS!?"
"HELP!? I NEED A HEALER!"
"SOMEBODY CUT THIS DAMN THING OFF! MY BLADES TO DULL!"
Some ran, some begged, some cried their hearts out, and others even began to chop at their friends arms and legs. Before that venom could rush deeply into their veins, to their heart, and begin burning their skin from the inside. To melt their muscles, to turn their bones to ash, while they seized and surged across the floor. Mouths foaming, mana raging out of their body, and their eyes leaking blood across the ground. Pushing in random directions through the streets, the air, except for Jong. The monster's messy white hair covered his face, but it was deeply wrinkled. A light green, with harsh thick scales as hard as iron in patches, and black eyes. However, those eyes had massive slitted pupils, oozing the same blinding green as his venom.
Severus: "My soul….MY SOUL!!! -
Jong tightened his face. Clenching his fear, his wounds, his old scars, while his soldiers stood ready at his side. Walter was soon to come bulldozing through, Tim and Sherly were frozen under the sight, and Gerald was too distracted to even notice. But, as the Commander of the Knights, as a man representing the Country that Never Falls, he began to take in a large breath. Pulling in water Spirit mana into his body to ease his wounds, while also building into a bright and dense blue mana. Creating a layer of ice across his Elite gear, along with his weapon.
Severus: "ITS ACHES IT ACHES IT ACHES! - BUT FLATTENING THE CAPITAL!? IT'LL NUMB THE MADNESS FOR THE TIME BEING! AND IT'LL BE SO MUCH FUUUNN!!!"
Jong: "Before Walgonia falls, you'll have to take my head."
Severus couldn't help but pull back, twisting around with what looked like pure ecstasy, before slamming his claws into the ground in an intense rage. Roaring while his arms finally began to rain down toward Jong.
Servers: "TAKE THE PAIN TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT! MAKE IT STOP ACHING MAKE IT STOP -
And with Severus in the South, that left one Upper Pillar, one district, and one man to lead the battle.
Lincoln: "Where the hell is this guy!?"
In the middle of punching so hard an entire street of anarchists were sent flying, broke open, or were crushed by all of the debris thrown around him he tried screaming out to his scattered team. They had no idea who the other district was facing. Who was on the way. What was going down inside of the Castle. And none of them were safe. Where it is Lazarus near Ryo, the monster who brought down Musashi in a single slash, inside the Heart of the Rebellion. Where all of the survivors are, where their biggest group of healers are. While Gordon needed to take what could be their only change to kill Pandora. As Jong and everyone in the South had to endure Severus, and his attempts to begin destroying as much as he could. And Lincoln, left to hold of the very head of the Sect, the man who killed Kioshi in one touch. And their true schemes hadn't even come to be.
Lincoln: "Eh, maybe he chickened out."