Chapter 33 - Retreat
Draconic roars echoed in the Rocky Wyrm. The ranged onslaught continued, while other draconics jumped from the cliffs starting ravaging the distressed legionaries.
With the formation now broken, the demons couldn’t hold against the mighty enemy. Additionally to the geographical disadvantage, the number of the hostiles was really great- The demon commander didn’t expect these many warriors to leave their citadel to launch an ambush, the draconics truly took a gamble this time.
Although the veterans managed a slow retreat, moving in little formations of ten legionaries guided by their captains, the other demons were being ravaged by the enemy assault.
The last legionaries of the columns could secure a safe path, whilst the advanced section of the long column was a bloodbath.
“Void Eating Dragon!” the demon commander channeled huge amounts of chi wielding his lance. Demon chi vigorously revolved around him, cracking the ground and tearing the space.
At the back of the commander the Wyrm Pass he had hoped to cross, ahead of him a river of warriors and blood. On the right the veterans were orderly retreating, facing off the attacks from above and the enemies emerging from the caves. Although many were suffering injuries and the casualties were significant, the veteran captains were still in control of the situation.
The rest of the army was in chaos, without the support of the formation the legionaries were dying at dozens. The most advanced ones lost any hope to retreat, they decided to resist as long as possible, taking draconic lives in their last desperate stand.
SWOOOOOOOOOOP
The commander violently thrusted the long dark lance, powerful chi currents revolved around the shaft creating a devastating force. A chi lance projection was propelled forward, a terrifying dragon who could devour the spatial structure of the world, tearing the void apart.
The mighty attack caused the void to break and spatial cracks to emerge along its rush. Many draconics lost their lives, many more lost their limbs and several more were pushed aside by the dangerous void cracks.
Even though it lasted for only some seconds, the path created by this attack provided the commander and many demons with a chance of survival.
The fierceness of the demon commander shocked everyone. He was the strongest demon expert on the battlefield, his combat expertise was vast and his cultivation extremely high, but this feat would last through history.
The Wyrm Pass was an extremely peculiar place, as the mountains which surrounded the draconic citadel. An archaic power restrained the experts who would enter it, suppressing their cultivation and arts. That was the reason why regardless the the cultivation stage, no expert would be able to fly there. Legends told that true dragon blood and bones were inside the mountain range, suppressing all living beings.
Additionally, because the draconic world had very solid laws, it was usually harder for experts to break the void and move through space in these lands.
Given all these factors it was astonishing that the demon commander could cause the void to break with his move, exploiting the sharp space cracks to boost his attack and inflict heavy damage to the draconic army.
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Void cracks were terrifically sharp, they could easily rip off even the most resistant races.
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Inside a cave on a cliff, a youth was trembling, tears falling on his face “Dad…”. Beside him, his sister was dead pale. She forced herself to calm down and silently embrace his brother.
The wet eyes of the draconic youth, which had remained unfocused since his father’s death, got glimpses of the enemy’s retreat.
He suddenly stood up, scrolling his sister from his shoulders “They all deserve to die, we’re gonna revenge our father!”.
“Brother stay, I understand what you feel but we cannot go. They’re already fleeing, no need to risk your life” “Shut up you coward! I have enough of your lazy attitude, you’re a disgrace! You prefer hiding as a turtle while our father’s murderer escapes under your eyes!” he angrily shouted, before hastily departing.
“Stop!” Quivers of fear spread all over the sister’s body. She also left the cave chasing her brother.
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“Keep the pace, don’t stop”.
The quick march of the legionaries found its way through caves and rocky peaks. Besides the demons furthest from the centre of the ambush, who could safely escape, the others couldn’t quickly secure a way out. A portion of the cliffs collapsed and the path was blocked. The legionaries exploited the opportunity their commander provided and flew in different directions. Small demon contingents were all over the mountains, hiding and running through the caves and the rocky passes.
“Burio can you keep going?” a firm voice asked. The demon answered to the legionary “Worry not, these injuries are not enough to stop a legionary of the VIII”.
Burio was copiously bleeding, when the formation broke and the draconics started the onslaught he got seriously injured to his right leg and hip. Defending against the many attacks, he retreated with his brothers in arms until they could find a way to the high side of the mountain.
This was a contingent of 8 legionaries, many were gravely injured and distressed, no veteran. Their combat potential was at the bottom, their only survival path was escaping.
The firm voice clearly stated “I have just finished the reconnaissance, some hostiles are approaching from behind. I am the highest in command here, if they get to us I’ll stall them. Don’t be heroes, none of you is in the condition to fight, let me handle them. You… escape. Get your priorities straight, it’s no time for seeking honour. Survival will be our victory… and our enemies’ demise!”.
Burio stared at his companion. Davult was a strong legionary, his cultivation stage was the highest among the presents. When Burio first joined the VIII it was Davult who welcomed him and became his guide, acting as an older brother. Invisible tears were tearing apart Burio’s heart, but they were demon legionaries, trained to thrive in the difficulties of war, groomed to put aside their emotions.
Despite the loss of energies and the bleeding, the eight legionaries kept marching at a very quick pace. Their lives depended from that.
BOOOOOM
A huge stone above their heads exploded, five draconics appeared as ghosts. Their empowered bodies exuded fierceness, their fiery eyes called for blood.
“RUN!” Davult shouted, while channeling his chi and activating his demon art.
Although his heart ached, Burio followed the orders. They flew as quickly as possible, leveraging the ground to make the enemies lose their tracks.
The furious attacks of the enemies took down three of them, before being stopped by the raging Davult who charged straight against all five draconics.
BOOOM SLAAASH CRUUSH
The four demons continued running, the battle sounds got further and further. They forced themselves to ignore their companion’s last standing, urging their hearts to forget their honour as legionaries.
Burio’s thoughts went to his son and daughter, to his wife who had accepted a life far away from his husband. He couldn’t die before…
“DDDIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!”
A deafening scream preceded the nightmare. A beast enveloped in raging lightnings appeared from nowhere, his eyes were dark abyss full of hatred.
Before the demons could react a head exploded, a thunderous punch had ended a life in one hit. The savage didn’t stop. Another thunderous punch. Skin and bones were pierced.
The draconic arm pierced through the chest of a legionary and found his way out from the back, a red blue earth was being grasped in the claws. The grip tightened and the earth exploded.
The draconic was soaked in blood, demon blood. He was death itself, a furious beast born to kill.
Burio deeply stared at those eyes clouded by hatred and bloodlust. He calmed himself, slowed the breathing and prepared for his last battle.
“Bring it on”