EPISODE 68: BATTLE OF STARGLOW VALLEY 2
— Edryan Queendom, Year: 7291. Season Color Fading.
If you can make God bleed, then people will cease to believe in Him.
— Ivan Vanko, Iron Man 2
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DUUM-DUUM.
Lawruthian paused, his eyes snapped to Garo. “What are you saying? A spell of that tier should have mana fluctuations felt from here!”
Ameri and Alexandria paused as well. Alexandria just spoke at the same moment Garo made his statement, but now her attention quickly snapped to the older mage. With all the involved commanders staring at him, Garo spoke.
“The stars, they’re radiating intense spatial fluctuations…,” he began, then hesitated.
Ameri stepped up, her voice harsh as she questioned. “Speak old man, what is going on?”
“You don’t feel it because of the unique properties of Starglow Valley, but there are intense spatial fluctuations radiating from the battlefield as we speak.”
“For how long have these fluctuations been going on for,” Lawruthian questioned urgently. His voice slightly cold as he asked.
Garo hesitated, and Ameri took a menacing step forward.
“It’s already too late. I will do my best to counter its effects.”
Nearly at the same time, two voices spoke. One was close to the party, whereas the other came from farther, but held much more presence.
“(The King’s Indifference).”
“( Cosmic Disorientation ).”
A wave of magical energy rippled like the shockwave of an explosion. Every star of the valley glowed with power as they radiated and expanded the power of the spell. Dust and debris were lifted from the ground and in a moment of panic, Lawruthian nearly lost control of his golem connections… nearly, but not quite.
“Chirp!”
“Link arms,” he hurriedly shouted as he lunged toward his two generals. Through his Intent, his golem army immediately complied, while the Hero Golems began actions of their own. Sparks of electricity shot from each HG as they began movement yet… they’d never been in such a situation before.
It was too late for all parties as the fundamental law of gravity simply… vanished .
Lawruthian crashed into Alexandria, and together they began to flail around as the force that kept them attached to the ground simply disappeared. Minerva squawked in panic, and a flap of her wings prevented the two from squishing her as the powerful motion tossed them around.
The Keeper of the Codex was now the size of an eagle, and her feathers displayed a beautiful ebony gradient display. They started black at the roots before fading into white at the tips. Just as Lawruthian, her eyes followed a strong red-gold that kept a calculating look within them as they stabilized themselves.
“Relax, stop struggling and focus,” Lawruthian spoke loudly as General Alexandria flailed around. His voice indifferent and his tone was far calmer than what it previously sounded as.
Alexandria began to calm immediately at the sound of it. The flailing general slowed her movement, and the counter flaps from Minerva slowed their tumble drastically.
“Sorry, the old Merchant Republic held extremely prominent tunnelers, they almost managed to capture me during my days as a mercenary under the Federation. The weightlessness brought back… uncomfortable memories.”
As the two recovered, they began to look at their surroundings. The trajectory or Lawruthian’s jump-crash into Alexandria and Minerva stabilization brought them flying slowly above the ground and headed toward the battlefield. It was unfortunate that General Ameri was just outside of Lawruthian’s targeted range.
“I always wanted to be an astronaut…” Lawruthian muttered.
“Chirp!”
Alexandria shot him a questioning look, but the owl helm figure of the prince ignored it. As he stayed silent, she decided to voice her thoughts. “What are you going to do with Garo?”
“Not now, what is the status of the troops,” Lawruthian asked as he attempted to peer around. They were moving at a comfortable upward walking gait, and with their current speed, it’d take upwards of twenty to thirty minutes before they’d arrive at the main battlefield.
“Well,” Alexandria hesitantly gestured toward their haphazardly floating troops. The gesture managed to shoot them a few degrees leftward. “Few managed to act and grab ahold of one another.”
They tumbled in a lazy upward arc that allowed Lawruthian to view his troops every few moments. Half of the Imperius Army was flailing about as they lost complete control of their footing. Others were clumped together in a messy display of flailing armored limbs.
“This is not going into the history books,” Lawruthian muttered once again.
This time his words elicited a chuckle from Alexandria. Once she finished laughing, Lawruthian spoke.
“What’s the plan?”
Alexandria pointed, the two were drifting slowly as they held on to one another around their waist. For Lawruthian, it was more his arm around Alexandria’s shoulders, as they held a decent height difference.
“Your golems, could they toss one another?”
Alexandria’s strawberry-blonde eyes held a startling confidence to them, and the two began discussing. The faraway sounds of men fighting drew nearer as the pair drifted. While this went on, Minerva would chirp every so often. The bird began to flap a wing as she attempted to stabilize the pair.
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DUUM-DUUM.
Madria gasped in shock as she received the latest news. Her thoughts whirled as she attempted to see if there was anything she could do. Right now, both armies were under the effect of a mythical grade spell. Although she and the rest of the supporting troops were in the valley, the range of the spell halted before it reached them. Her thoughts hesitated on (Party) and the teleportation function underneath the skill.
She sighed. “There’s no point, I’d only end up stranded with Lawruthian. At least, this way, he can escape the danger at any point.”
Her class change was a secret to all but three, maybe five people. Those in the know, excluding her, were Amaya, her mother, and Lawruthian. This battle was to be the opportunity Lawruthian’s heroic (Party) needed to show off its newest member to the greater Edryan society.
Madria left the large medical tent and rushed to the cliffs edge that gave her an overview of the battlefield. Her gaze settled on the drifting Imperius Army.
“ The mind is the place of Self, the origin of Intent. Let my mind gaze into the realm. Let my eyes view like that of a bird (Aerial Scry).”
Madria's standpoint shifted as she no longer saw from in front of her, but now she saw the view above the drifting army. It took her a few moments of searching, but after she watched, slightly confused, golems throwing themselves did she spot the wayward prince.
He’d managed to get himself split from the Imperius Army as he alongside his lead general slowly floated towards the battlefield. Madria watched as several golems were tossed toward the ground like an anchor descending a ship. The first few impacted the ground, accelerated by a skill in their last few moments before impact. They punched into the ground, their arms sunk deep as they held on firmly. Various of these ‘anchors’ were tossed until the Golem Corps held a firm grasp onto the land. Together, they began to climb these ‘anchors.’ Madria watched in a slightly horrified, slightly fascinated view as these golems silently crawled on top of one another. Once they reach the ground, they firmly anchor themselves in place.
The corps collected themselves before half split. A portion crawled/floated toward the prince and his commander, while the rest made their way toward the Imperius Army.
“Incredible,” Madria said, impressed.
She wasn’t new to the golems of the queendom and her family even held a few corps of their own, but it was clear Lawruthian and NARC held back in terms of their greatest. These golems were startling. Not in their efficiency, although that was present, it was their movements. They were far less automaton and more human . That, Madria realized, is what made them far more creepy.
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(Vanguard’s Howl)
00:07:00
“So, how in the fuck … did the Convocation manage to cast a grand spell, and none of us felt it BEFOREHAND ,” Laura snarled through her bond into the army.
Her face went through several colorations, and the wolf-like woman’s body vibrated with red rage. The West Gate Army stayed quiet as they drifted apart. They were in the midst of their charge when the spell activated, far outside their scope of preparation. This caused them to shoot into the air as their footsteps stamp off the ground. They’d managed to begin to arc themselves at an upward trajectory over the Convocations forces. At their current speed, they’d arrive above the Convocation's army in thirty seconds. Now, as their momentum shot them in a nearly scattered formation, Laura Lance laid into them.
DUUM-DUUM.
“Who can tell me the functions of this spell,” there was still anger in Laura’s voice, but it was far calmer, compressing… condensing . Her body was angled to see the upward marching Convocation army. They’d manage to march in perfect formation as they traveled through the weightlessness. However, unlike the West Gate Army, the Convocation’s forces were much more cautious in their approach.
“This is (Cosmic Disorientation), its functions are…”
The voice of one of her lieutenants quickly spoke as Laura’s eyes locked on Councilman Jahman and other powerful council members of the Spatial Convocation. Councilman Jahman, Genru, Cabal, and Councilwoman Laia, Vega, and others of importance held themselves above the army. The fat mage sneered as their eyes met. Laura’s was colored red with rage. A rage that slowly condensed, whereas Jahman’s held contempt.
The Convocation's army moved through the weightlessness like a fish in water. It was eerie the way they produced no noise as they marched into formation. Instead of swiftly moving to finish them off as Laura would have done, Thane marched his forces slowly and steadily as they rose to meet the West Gate Army.
(Vanguard’s Howl)
00:06:30
“(Spatial Bolt).”
The cast was nearly instant as the two armies perfectly synced in trajectory, and Laura’s eyes widened. Even now, Thane was still being careful. Army-wide skills required a certain cohesiveness, and Thane was completely using that to his advantage. Laura hoped he’d get closer, as her men held a significant advantage in levels over the Convocations army. Instead, like a coward, he’d pick at them from afar.
Men roared in pain as the first volley of magic bolts penetrated their scattered ranks. Laura felt her rage condensing even further as this happened. It was up to the individual soldier to cast a spell for defense or shield themselves.
“ Vermin…, vultures, you sully the honor of magi ,” Laura provoked. With each word, her rage condensed further, and she grew less angry. This was her attempt to lure Thane in.
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“Does the [Dimension Shaper] have no honor? Did the blade of the [Solaris Edge] lose that edge? What famed titles, what a coward’s battle. What powerful Magi… What of Promise ? What of Land ?”
[Solaris Edge] was a title given to Thane as he became famed during the rise of the Iron-Blooded Queen. It was this edge of flame and steel that directly defended the Convocation led caravans that traveled through Edryan. It was this edge of flame and steel that challenged noble houses and bandits alike that attempted to gain in Edryans time of distress. Laura knew of her opponent and his history. Understanding your opponent's mindset and how to manipulate it was one of the first rules of war. Laura is the Vanguard of Her Majesty Titiana’s forces for a reason. She’d be the first to break down any of her majesties enemies. She’d built a reputation of mercilessness and ruthlessness on a path of endless bodies. She’d been the dog that slayed the noble houses and grew her army to such an astonishing level. She’d follow her orders to the letter, slaying men, woman, and children of any house that chose to battle against the Queen. She’d seen the Convocation as another of those houses to be slayed.
They’d seen her too.
“(Spatial Bolt),” Laura watched as Jahman aimed directly at her. The Convocation anchored themselves below the rising vanguards. From their vantage point, they were easily able to fire upon any portion of the army.
‘ I will release it now ,” Laura sent a message through her connection with the West Gate Army.
‘ Hold my love. Condense it further ,” the voice of her second husband spoke.
Lock Lance was a large man who seldom spoke much. He’d been that way since the two grew together in the Lance family compound. A silent and steadying hand that always held her back. Steam came from Laura’s nose, and she quickly activated a spell to protect herself.
“(Magma Barrier).”
THUUMP.
The blow was hard and it sent Laura tumbling backwards. She barely felt her innate shield hold, although her affinity for Magma held true and boosted all related abilities by a percentage. The core skill of her second class provided her with a defensive barrier that boosted her base defense by 200%. It’d give nearly two thousand defense before her affinity with Magma activated and boosted that number by 100%. Jahman nearly broke it. Her rage condensed further.
“Soon,” she said through gritted teeth. The molten barrier colored her surroundings in black and red. The smell of sulfur and other gaseous components mixed themselves into the air. Laura’s Intent spread through her army. Through her lieutenants, she issued commands, and the situations of her soldiers were relayed. They’d only be able to survive two, maybe three more volleys. Without a certain closeness, Laura was unable to activate certain army wide skills that could change the course they were headed toward.
Her mana was quickly decreasing as she kept her barrier active. Tens of MP gone in a matter of seconds.
HP: 3,263/3,263 (+960)
SP: 2,520/2,520 (+2380)
MP: 2,656/2,700 (+0)
(Vanguard’s Howl)
00:06:10
THUUUMP.
Another bolt impacted into the barrier, draining her mana further and flinging her backwards from the momentum. Laura grinned as she tumbled into a group of her men and she released her barrier. The initial momentum when (Cosmic Disorientation) activated sent them ways apart from one another. Now, with this small group, she’d be able to get something done. Another few thousand (Spatial Bolts) fired into the West Gate Army. Laura shuddered as she felt the first lives of her army disappear as a concentration of bolts were sent her way the moment her shield dropped. It’d been too fast for the commander to react properly, and she turned to see half a helmed head just… gone . The smell of blood entered her nose as brain matter and other components of the head drifted past her eyes. Several of the men she’d finally run into died immediately from the concentration of (Spatial Bolts). Death was not uncommon to Laura Lance. She killed her first man when she was only seventeen. Since then, thousands died by her hands. Woman, men, and children those of her army could not slay were killed directly by the general. In front of those very men who lacked the Intent to do so themselves. Yet, it’d been some time since she’d seen a man slaughter like a dog… Let alone her men.
What seemed to be a red crystalized seed emerged from her chest, and she reached a hand forward and closed the eye of the man before her. Death came swift and instant as they were reminded of their mortality.
“Carmine Jedda, may your Promised Land fulfilled. Your daughter will be taken care of.”
“Ten thousand souls belonged to the West Gate Army, the Vanguard of the Queen. Nine thousand, eight hundred and twenty-three are left.”
Her voice was soft, but it seemed to resonate in the minds of every member of the West Gate Army and further beyond. Her voice traveled through the Convocation’s army like insidious whispers caressing their ears.
DUUM-DUUM.
“ You will die here today, Laura Lance ,” Thane’s voice emerged as a counter to prevent any wayward effects from such high leveled Intent affecting his men.
Laura sat crossed legged. A much easier thing to do as they floated hundreds of feet above the ground. Her armor provided little impediment, and her large battle-ax was held in a single arm that extended away from her. Floating above her palm was a red crystal that emerged from her chest. A physical condensation of her rage.
“ Scatter ,” Thane said as he activated the second function of (Cosmic Disorientation) and he further pulled the West Gate Army apart.
“( Domain Expansion: Rage ).”
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Thane frowned heavily. His eyes were on the incoming West Gate Army as they floated above his forces. They’d arrive in nearly thirty seconds, and he commanded the army to rise. He’d have met them in a frontal charge… as that was the most glorious way a magi could fight. It was unfortunate, his uncle and other members of the Council of Elders thought otherwise.
They were the ones who devised the plan to attack the forces of the West Gate Army this way. Now, it would serve as a stain on his honor, and it was a stain all would know about as the scrying and divination incursions from around the country grew to an alarming rate.
He couldn’t feel the scrying, but he could feel them. That innate sense when eyes were upon you from a distance. The strange feeling alerted Thane that eyes outside of Starglow Valley were upon him.
“Let’s hope uncle hurries and captures the brat.”
Thane gritted his teeth, most of his mental capacity held on to controlling (Cosmic Disorientation). The spell was powerful . Not in just its might, but all components, and there were certain entities that immediately felt the breach in the Mortal Realm. Entities that were kept at bay by a race’s God or Gods. Thane remembered when he first learned why there was a Faith tab on his system page and why it was important to have something there.
‘ Let go! ’
‘ Allow us in, Child. ’
Thane banished these whispers from the midst of his thoughts and focused on the battle. His army quickly approached the West Gate Army. Today, he’d have to counter the [Mad Dogg] in hopes his uncle enacted fast enough.
“(Spatial Bolt).”
At once, his army fired together. The cast was shot the moment they aligned with the West Gate Army. They hadn’t managed to bring along the small collation that joined the Convocation in support out of fear of a leak of the plan. Thane glanced up at Laia, who gave him a reassured nod. Now, he’d have to contend with the [Mad Dogg] until the plan succeeded, and the prince was captured.
The roars of pain and outrage emerged from the unprotected ranks of magi-humans.
‘ Child of that … Magi, we offer you power. ’
“A dog's death for a dog,” Councilman Jahman’s spoke. The Council of Elders chatted casually as they fired off bolts of spatial attacks with the army.
“ Vermin…, vultures, you sully the honor of magi ,” Laura’s voice resounded through the battlefield in provocation.
Thane’s frown grew deeper. He hadn’t earned his more famous title of [Solaris Edge] by shooting (Spatial Bolts) from the rear. The longsword sheathe to his left sang to be unleashed. Thane kept his left hand on it's near plain pommel. Only a single gem, that held countless years of wear from Thanes constant rubbing, showed any indication that the sword was special. It was a soft yellow-orange, reminiscent of a rising sun.
“Does the [Dimension Shaper] have no honor? Did the blade of the [Solaris Edge] lose that edge? What famed titles, what a coward’s battle. What powerful Magi… What of Promise ? What of Land ?”
Thane looked away. This was not how he, how [Solaris Edge], fought. His gaze traveled to his men and he immediately activated a skill to boost their mind from any wayward persuasion.
“ You will die here today, Laura Lance ,” the tension in his army eased.
This was not how the magi fought. At least, not against each other. A certain respect was given to those who also wield magic, who follow the Goddess. This was not a battle She would be proud of.
“(Spatial Bolt).”
Thane watched as his army fired once again. Ten thousand bolts of magic impacted into the small force against them, and for the first time, Thane watched as bodies grew limp. He’d watch as Councilman Jahman aimed viciously at Laura in an attempt to kill the high-level general. She’d immediately fell into using the skills of her second class, something Thane knew would be similar to his own: a magical knight class and an extension of the Spell-Sword branch.
Thane approved of his targeting, as the general held mythical armor that would nearly double or triple her base defense, not including all the other perks it gave her.
“(Spatial Volley),” the voice of Jahman spoke with extreme viciousness as he targeted Laura. It was here that Thane realized this was a mistake. Many of the men Laura fell into were struck by Jahman’s vicious attack and the concentrated attacks coming specifically from the council. Bodies grew limp as they were reminded of their mortality. Critical hits consumed their life as the Prime Plane ensured their death.
Thane confirmed his mistake the moment Laura Lance sat cross-legged and a red crystal by passed her armor as it emerged from her chest. The forces of the West Gate Army were pulled apart as Thane pointed to four spots and Singularity Control, the second function of (Cosmic Disorientation) was created.
The crystal floated above Laura’s hand and all eyes stared at it. Some confused, others who knew what it was, greed. Some in fear, but a majority of the members of the Convocation’s army held no reaction. It was only those about level 200 that held any sort of reaction to the crystal.
“(Inspect),” Thane activated.
Touch of Rage
Type: Divinity Fragment
Tier: Common
Percentage: 10%
Standing: Bonded to Laura Lance
Description:
A fragment of the Rage domain.
He sighed, but a strange smile covered his face, and Thane once again rubbed the pommel of his blade. Starlight glittered throughout the valley.
DUUM-DUUM.