Chapter 46: Escaping the Storm
The upkeep of the magical walls of the west is arguably the most expensive thing within the Empire. As it is a wall that spans what seems like endless miles and must be always kept in pristine condition. Along with the golems crafted in the likeness of our greatest heroes of the Empire. If we could redirect the resources and cost of upkeeping the wall of the west, it's said the Empire would have long since surpassed the other races in magical technology prowess. Our buying power and ability to manufacture would enter a new age and humans would be the top hegemons of the continent of Nia. One thing stops us from achieving that level of greatness.
Orcs.
Most of the citizens of the Empire have never seen a live orc and it is all the better that they only know of them from the descriptions of our ancestors and those who serve on the wall. For the shortest of orcs is only 8ft while the largest approach is 12ft if not higher. Small raids are constantly occurring against the wall of the west. From our observations, we’ve deemed it to have become some rite of passage in the greenskin culture for them to raid and retreat from the wall with their lives intact and if they can retrieve a trophy of some sort then their status would be elevated within their tribe.
* Snippet from the Department of Commerce report. Year 1222.
The winds outside raged, howling in anger and the essence and mana within the air were chaotic. Moving erratically as I used mana sight to view the energies in their raw form. Their normal pattern is disrupted as the glaring Eye of Yacsuun lets its presence be known. Was it alive? As the rain pattered against my helmet, I asked myself as the air grew colder. In one moment, there was rain and within a blink, those droplets turned into snow even the ones in front of my very eyes. Suddenly my Crimson Army and the Unified Forces found themselves within a blizzard. I saw the change in both forces instantly.
“We need to move faster before the magic becomes worse.”
Princess Moriah shouted towards me, and I looked back to my troops who were slightly rested from our small break. Not that they had much of a reason to be tired as they hadn’t been in battle. The men and women belonging to the Unified Forces were another matter. A majority were only tier one and could do so much. Tier ones were peak humans, and it wasn’t until you reached tier two/three that you were considered someone noticeable. The same reason the Empire classified you as a knight at tier three and a grand knight at tier six.
With the freezing rain turning into a blizzard, I knew that many within the Unified Forces would begin to die. Before I could utter a word, giant fireballs were summoned and began to hover over both armies. The stronger mages within both forces acted simultaneously. Preventing many from flash freezing from the sudden weather change. Something me nor my cousin needed to worry about. Not even my forces could survive in the blizzard of such harsh conditions without a change in armor. As they were equipped with the standard armor that was enchanted to protect against stabs and blunt force. You had to be either from a rich family or a knight to get special treatment.
“We need to head west before the Eye of Yacsuun releases its might. This is our warning shot. The next will begin to alter our people or worse.”
Amaya glared up at the sky and the Crimson Army followed in our wake. Taking off at a fast jog. Setting the pace for the Unified Forces to follow. The fortunate thing about the front lines was most of the hilly and natural rise and fall in the terrain had been miniated if not outright destroyed in the war over the centuries.
The snow fell quickly, unnaturally the magic would not settle and as I viewed it once again with my mana sight, I noticed it building to a crescendo. My eyes widen in horror as I turned my gaze to look at where all the essence and mana were being pulled. The Eye of Yacsuun gazed back. It seemed almost haughtily if not contempt. The outside of the storm was black as the abyss while in the center was a red-hot eye and my steps faltered for a brief moment. As a new realization and understanding came to me.
The eye was alive and a representation of something greater. Perhaps a representation of the planet itself as the Eye of Yacsunn gazed at the Crimson Army in what I could only describe as hatred. We were the invaders. I saw no malice directed towards the Unified Forces. The eye didn’t seem to have noticed them.
“We need to leave NOW,” I said as I turned to Amaya panicked.
“The Eye of Yacsuun is gathering energy to strike at us. If we do not speed up we will die.”
My cousin took my words very seriously and immediately called for the Crimson Army to speed up. It was fortunate that the mages were stationed on the hover platforms. Similar to the ones I saw people using to get around the massive city of Redcoomshi. The troops who practiced Path of the Body immediately shifted gears as a command was shouted and the fast jog we held became an immediate sprint, then faster and faster our steps in unison and my aura billowing out to help properly guide the army. Some of my men may become injured by my actions but their life and surviving the situation was deemed more important to me.
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When my aura touched the ten great families and Princess Moriah, they didn’t hesitate to join adding their strength to the formation and we quickly took off ahead of the Unified Forces. I sensed no fear from them but the same could not be said to the soldiers following us. Amaya only paused to send a quick message to the leaders of the force. Alerting them that the Eye of Yacsuun was targeting us.
I turned my mana sight back on and pool barely decreasing but decreasing nonetheless as the chaotic energy within the air wouldn’t replenish me. Whipped up to a frenzy as the eye gathered it together. What I saw terrified me even more. Within my mana sight was a giant body feminine in nature using the entire eye as a headpiece. Her body was arched slightly back like an Olympic athlete getting ready to throw something. An outline of a lightning bolt was grasped in her hand, and it was filling quickly.
We were weeks into the front-line territory and perhaps we were out of the directly affected area of the magic cast earlier, but it was clear the eye was getting ready to throw an attack. Now I knew the purpose behind the Eye of Yacsuun pumping out those storms earlier. The Nox were not the only ones to trap us.
If we could not escape, then we would defend and fight. The days of being cornered and alone while I descended the Catacombs came back to me. My life was in constant peril while having to complete my mission. This was only another trial in my path to becoming the next duke of the west and learning more about the upper society of the Empire my family implied but kept hidden.
I pulled the formation to a halt.
“Aegis,”
“Young Lord,”
Many figures spoke up, but I just pointed in the direction of our foe.
The figure and shape I saw were not as visible without mana sight but the clouds themselves were forming a rough outline, yet the shape of the lightning bolt was clear.
“A shield of the empire…,” I said quietly as my cousin began calling orders out to turn the army around. Putting our mages in the back and soldiers in the front. I took the lead position and summoned my ax and shield out of the spatial area equipped to my items.
The Eye of Yacsuun roared in a challenge I smiled. Excitement built up within me. No Kan had ever fallen from a strike in the back, and I would not be the first. Ever since this world was shifted and I saw two Prima’s merge into one I knew my path here would not be easy. Would not be pleasant but I wouldn’t allow myself to fall without a fight.
“I can see all weakness before me, and all shall provide to my insight.”
“I am the Fortress, and the Fortress shall move, gritting itself through all damage it may take.”
My cousin pulled herself from her position within the army and stood next to me while a few of the scions from the great houses floated in the air or were in key positions to support our forces.
“This is not the commander’s station.” I sent a side glance towards Amaya who was still glaring at the Eye of Yacsuun like it owe her something. She scowled at me.
“This world was supposed to be so simple and now look at where we are.”
She continued before I could interrupt. “We were supposed to arrive unknown and undetected. Using that to our advantage to cause chaos within an area and destabilize it before taking it over. Then we’d use the people to wage war on the rest who didn’t submit. Instead, we’re here fighting against another invading force and now a magical storm. A rank one beast hunting us afterward.”
“I’m sorry, but this is not where we fall and certainly not you.”
My cousin rolled her eyes before lifting her staff and pointing it towards the sky.
“We will return proud victors to our parents or not at all. I am just as much at fault for deciding against leaving. I just didn’t want to disappoint mother or aunty.”
“Oh boohoo if you too are done be soppy. We have a magical storm to fend off,” Aisha Loft said pointing at the lightning bolt that was almost filled. Apparently, she drifted over from her station, but I didn’t mind as it brought our attention back to the storm that was about to unleash its magic. Before I could come up with a retort the girl was gone. Her flight was seemingly unaffected as the blizzard tore around us. Winds strong enough to lift men and houses away yet the Crimson Army remained steady. Perks were now activated and interlocking themselves together. Before the storm hit, I decided to activate one more perk.
“When it is dark enough, even you can see the Stars, yet be wary of the illusions they cast.”
My decision to use them was to open up any chances we could have at survival. So, I activated Adventurer’s Insight. I activated Adventurer’s Grit to take less damage knowing I could avoid all damage directly, yet I wouldn’t. The ability to dodge all incoming damage once a month for a period of five minutes was still available to me. Yet the men and women around me didn’t have that perk. My cousins didn’t have that perk and it wasn’t in my nature to allow them to face this challenge alone. People I truly cared about.
The moment I activated Starlit Eyes I no longer needed to pump mana into my eyes to see the figure of Yacsuun. The clouds covering it could not hide the figure from me. Nor could the blizzard. The snow would have been up to our thighs if it wasn’t for the fireballs melting the area around us.
Behind me, the soldiers shifted now fully feeling the might of what was to come. The energy radiating from the lightning bolt had me tightly gripping onto my ax and shield. In the far distance, I could just make out the Unified Forces who were still moving in our direction. Yet I didn’t count on any help from them. Their strength was not up to par for what was to come.
The lightning bolt crackled with power and roars from thunder were constantly being projected now. The bolt flashed blue, then purple, and black before repeating the process. With my enhanced senses, I heard prayers to various gods and loud swallows as the Eye of Yacsuun fully drew its arm back preparing to strike. The roars turned into a slow charging sound that picked up in crescendo as the seconds passed.
“Today is a good day to die,” I began turning to my cousin and the Crimson Army.
“But not for me, nor you,” Amaya responded her staff held more like a spear as she crouched prepared to strike.
The Eye of Yacsuun fully extended. The sky flashed blue, then purple before everything went black.
(Yack-Soooon)