"What's the 21st expedition guild doing around these lands?"
"Didn't they disband?"
"Do they know about Bil Sok?"
"They're late, it's already been three years!"
All of Polaris' platoon questioned each other as Polaris and his army waited for the guild to get to their position. Some rejoiced, and some were weary. The guild had disbanded four years prior to their time, keeping Karn's guard up high. As the cavalry got closer, and closer to their position, Polaris and Karn could see their apparel clearer, and clearer until they halted 3 yards in front of them. The leader of the horses then broke from his chain, expressing a wavy gesture as if he were inviting Polaris to come over.
"My Lord, let me come with you. This could be dangerous for our plans." Karn sternly said to Polaris, expressing his worry and fear.
"It would be unwise for a meteor to collied within the crash of two suns." Polaris insisted, which kept Karn at bay. Minutes passed as Polaris finally decided to initiate on his steed, and started riding towards the figure. The closer he got, the more details he saw. The tarps were tainted red, their helmets riddled with cracks, each one mangled and leaking of black spores. The closer he got, the tougher the winds got, and the stronger the aura was around the area.
"State your name and reason, soldier." Polaris demanded, but was met with no answer.
"I said state your name, soldier." Still no answer.
Polaris stood on his horse there with the reigns of his steed in hand. He stood there patiently for ten minutes, until his patience ran dry. After this, he sat back down and was ready to leave the area, until two figures from the chain of ominous horses rose up from the ranks and held their arms straight. Polaris was left in shock, but was then put in dismay after hearing them yell one single word.
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"CHAINS!"
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After this chant, Polaris' horse tripped as Polaris himself lunged off at the last minute and faced his new adversaries. The spell had chained the horses legs onto the ground, immobilizing it temporarily.
"Icarus!" Polaris yelled as he summoned his Karden and pulled his blade out of its reality.
"What do you want from us!?"
"Four people. Bil Sok, Sen, Evon Sin, and Jin-Kan. Return the adventurers to us immediately." The leader of the chain demanded to Polaris.
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"You're late. I am the one reigning this area. The adventurers you're demanding for lost their lives fighting for their homeland. And I am here to ensure that their deaths were not in vain." Polaris responded.
"Very well then. Arm your men." the figure shot back, as he sent a large gust of wind, pushing Polaris and his horse slowly all the way back to his own army. Slowly, they saw the chain of horses slowly advancing towards their position. Polaris realized the little time they had left and formulated a strategy.
"All of you, form an arrow, and make sure the carriages holding all our goods stay within the formation for we cannot settle here and dwindle when we haven't even made it halfway!"
Five minutes later and the straight chain of hoses, started galloping straight towards their arrowhead formation. Polaris had no doubt that they could outrun their adversaries by piercing through their straight formation by concentrating their force through a single point. As the sides got closer and closer, Polaris decided to make a straight opening to help them get through.
"Karden!" Polaris shouted as he reached in to summon his indigos. Once he got ahold of them, he spotted the two figures that bound his steed. Without hesitation, he fired his indigos, causing for both figures to end up beheaded.
"Hmph, weak." Polaris exclaimed with his pride as they rode through the plane, ready to strike through the formation of the other army. It was 120 against what seemed to be 300, but with their God on their side, the Canisians felt no worry.
But in a sudden twist of fate, a black ooze-like life force started seeping out of the carcasses of the dead figures, grabbing their heads, and putting them back on. Polaris was in shock after seeing this. This was no longer the adventurer's guild they now.
"EVERYONE! PLACE YOUR BLADES IN HAND, THESE ARE NO LONGER THE HEROES YOU KNEW!! THEY ARE NOW SPIRIT SHADERS!" Polaris figured that someone had defeated the remaining members of the guild as they were out to find Bil Sok, and had puppeteered their dying bodies into their play toys.
"THOSE ON THE CARRIAGES, PICK UP SOME BOWS OR CROSSBOWS, WE'LL NEED TO CUT THEM OFF BEFORE THEY EVE NSTRIKE, THEN GO THROUGH THE BREACH WE HAVE MADE! MY INDIGO SHALL ASSIST US ALL AS WELL!" Polaris commanded to everyone.
"You heard our God! These beings cannot die easily! Take up arms!" Karn said as he emphasized Polaris' command.
Soon, both sides were only 60 yards away from each other, as crossbow bolts and arrows flew through the sky, immobilizing many of the spirits, only for them to reanimate. Polaris' made sure on taking out their mages so that they would no longer nuisance his platoon. Soon, 60 yards became 50, then 40, then 20, and suddenly, their forces were bound to collide. The opening was large enough to get their formidable force through the enemy formations, until they subtly heard a yell from the distance.
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BAGON VON KARNUM!
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Suddenly, an energy barrier appeared close in front of their army, almost stalling them, but Polaris had another trick held up high. He had discovered it shortly before their preparations, and he was ready to utilize it.
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"PURE CHI: BURN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO'VE LOST, SHATTER CORES THROUGH A COST!"
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Suddenly, a beam of light emerged from Polaris' chest, destroying the barrier in an instant. Their regiments clashed as some men from both sides were trampled, and some were victorious. By the time that they slipped through the enemy formations, their numbers had fallen from 120 to 111. As they slipped through Polaris noticed the chain of horses turning back, and continuing to chase after them.
"Archers! Steady fire!" Polaris still roared. When the spirits were still hot on their tail, they had to pull their final resort.
"To those in the carriages, there's a lever that will open a hatch to dynamite stripped under the hull. These were meant to make sure no bandits could get their spoils if we were ever defeated. But above the dynamite lies strings. Cut them off and that should dismount the TNT, causing for the explosives to roll over to the spirits, buying us time to escape!"Karn said to the troops before adding "To those behind the carriages, form a V shape to ensure that none of you get injured!" And that they did.
The explosives rolled on the ground, exploding at the perfect times, pushing the spirits away, until they covered enough distance for them to disappear off away from the plains.
"Keep your guards up, they may be waiting for us when we return." Polaris said to his army as they saw the woodlands close by.
Part 4 of Canis arc