Book 2 Ch. 25

Amber was nearing the refugee encampment, her speed and dexterity allowing her to keep ahead of the shadows that were hot on her trail. Black needles shot past her as she and Freya twisted, dodged and leapt out of the projectile’s trajectory. She continued running at full speed, the monsters refusing to let up, despite the increasingly large gap between them. Amber twisted, she was now running sideways like a high-speed crab, as she launched an [Enhanced Multishot] towards the shadows.

Thirty-Five fire arrows manifested at the end of her bow, shooting towards the incoming creatures. Two sunk into a [Slosth Squawler], the monster’s needles launched towards her as her arrows did their job, inflating the monster into a balloon before exploding outwards in a torrent of flame. The encampment was coming up fast, so Amber launched a [Flare] high into the air, hoping the nearby defenders would take notice of the rocket-like effect lighting up the night sky.

“AROOO!” Freya joined Amber’s efforts in alerting the defenders by howling. The effect hit the walls of the encampment before the sound did. Amber felt the buffs from the dog activate, all of them having a noticeable effect.

“They hear?” Freya asked while running alongside Amber.

“Unless they’re deaf, then yeah, I’m sure they did. The better question is whether they will understand what it means.”

“They dumb?” Freya asked.

“No, not dumb. Inexperienced. Hopefully with Robert there, they’ll get the jist of it quickly.” Amber thought back, hoping the defenders were busy preparing themselves.

“Yes. Dumb.” Freya replied, sending a mental image of a German Shepherd nodding its head.

“You chased your tail until you were three years old, you don’t get to call them dumb.” Amber scolded while twisting again to launch another [Enhanced Multishot] towards the shadows.

Freya leapt, her powerful hindlegs pushing her forward with incredible force. The dog hit the wall and ran up it parallel as her claws cut into the durable stone. Amber joined her, jumping and then forming an invisible step from mana as she jumped again mid-air before finally landing atop the stone next to three startled guards. Robert was there in an instant, his speed matching Amber’s as his body blurred.

“Situation?” Robert asked seriously, looking Amber and Freya up and down and seeing several minor scrapes and a single black needle sticking out of Amber’s thigh. Amber yanked it out, tossing it over the side of the wall, not even showing a grimace.

“Incoming Monsters. Sensitive to bright light, very stealthy. They’re like shadows, one moment they are flat against the ground and not detectable, blink and they’ve taken on horrific shapes.” Amber answered flatly, before turning towards the field and launching another [Flare]. The spell arced out from the wall, landing on the ground before several shadows in their flattening forms tweaked out. Amber followed up with fire arrows, the creatures exploding in a whirlwind of fire. Robert watched it all with stoic determination.

“TO ARMS!” Robert yelled, his voice echoing throughout the refugee camp.

Amber felt her minor exhaustion be brushed aside, new vigor injecting into her like a triple-shot of espresso without the jitters that normally followed. Her sense sharpened, and her body reacted faster as she sent more of her summoned projectiles into the countryside.

Like a kicked anthill, the encampment came to life. All the human defenders scurrying up the stairs to the walls. Warriors, mages, and rangers, they all joined Robert, each of them looking wide awake and alert, their swords, bows, and staves all held at the ready for the slightest movement. Undead auxiliaries jumped down below, forming a bone-filled moat of murder against any potential invaders.

“Light it up! I want daylight here people!” Robert commanded. The mages went to work, fireballs, motes of bright yellow light, and even lightning appeared. Some of it landed in the countryside, creating fires in the tall dry grass, while others remained solid, casting forth massive beams that acted like floodlights.

Unnumbered masses of ink-black creatures screamed their soundless cries as the lights hit them. Some of the monsters dodged the lights, looking for ways around them. The larger shadows barrelled through the light, uncaring of whatever annoyance or pain their peers felt.

“Slosth.” A nearby Dark Elf spit as he eyed the monsters. Robert turned to him instantly.

“Friend Elf, explain please.” Robert said. It was not a request, and Amber felt Robert’s aura flicker slightly as he focused his attention on one of the allied members of the encampment.

“It’s as the Firebrand said.” The dark one nodded towards Amber. “Living shadows. My people are intimately familiar with these monsters, as we both congregate in similar areas.” Robert motioned for the elf to continue, as he was clearly losing some patience.

“They remain invisible, unseen by all unless illuminated by a spell or they otherwise choose their true forms, like those.” The elf nodded with his head towards the incoming monsters, as the defenders began sending out spells and arrows.

“Spit it out man, are my people in danger? How are they killed, what do they do?” Robert said through the grinding of his teeth. Amber hid a smile with her hand while thinking about the ever patient Robert losing his cool.

“Little danger to your warriors, as long as they can see them. More danger to the weak humans below. Walls will not hold them back, they flow through the shadows, they kidnap people, taking them back to their nests. They’ll target the weak. Anything can kill them if they're in their true forms, if they hide in the shadows, only spells can force them out and cause damage. The ones here should be no higher than mid D Grade, though the nest may have one or two in low C Grade. Do not allow your people to be captured.” The Dark Elf finished, his brow was covered in a small amount of sweat, likely from Robert’s aura.

“Warriors, keep lights by the refugees! The monsters hide in the shadows and kidnap…” Robert began calling out orders to the standing melee fighters as more arrows and magic flew through the night towards the horde of monsters.

“Why do they want the people?” Amber asked while launching more flares and arrows away from the wall.

“Slosth feed on them. Meat, terror, pain, all of which are sustenance to them. They purposely torture other beings to cause fear and pain, then harvest those emotions to grow and multiply. The meat that’s left after expiration is used to grow more of the monsters.`` The Dark Elf grimaced before shaking his head. The ally’s focus turned back towards the monsters, lifted his hands and dozens of ice shards formed, moisture pulled from the air and chilling the area around him as his spell grew. The shards shot forward, and Amber followed their path with her eyes.

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An ice shard pierced a formed shadow, frost quickly creeping its way around the monster’s body as it continued to move forward at a much reduced pace. Soon the monster stopped moving, two of its four feet held aloft in mid-step. The ice was too much for it, and Amber watched as three black orbs that could have been unblinking eyes, were coated with ice. Another shadow bumped into the frozen monster as it made its way to the wall, the light bump toppled the frozen monster, and as it hit the ground, it cracked and burst into shards as if someone had dropped an ice cube on a hard floor.

Terrified screams cut through the night from behind their defenses, Amber turned her head and saw a young girl in a pink floofy skirt get pulled away from her mother, the child was dragged up the wall, a dark claw coming out of a patch of darkness held her foot, dragging her vertically. A fire arrow struck the wall, and the dark claw holding the child let go, the little girl screaming as she fell.

“MAMIII!” The child cried, her tiny head about to hit the ground from a twenty-foot drop.

In the blink of an eye, Freya had grabbed the child from mid-fall, lightly holding her in her jaws as she brought the crying girl back to her mother. The little girl leapt into her mother’s arms, and the terrified adult grabbed her as she cautiously viewed the giant black German Shepherd who was wagging her tail.

“But… I did good, right?” Freya sent Amber as the mother backed away from the dog, scrambling closer to the nearby fire and other refugees.

“Yes sweetie, you did so good!” Amber replied, proud of Freya for helping the child.

“Why scared? Why no pets?” The shepherd asked, a whimper coming across the mental connection.

“They’ve probably been through alot, and now with the attacking monsters and her daughter almost getting snatched by one that snuck in… don’t take it personally. You did a very good job and I’m very proud of you.” Amber said, trying to reassure Freya. Amber continued loosing arrows and casting spells into the tides beyond the wall.

“Proud? Of me?” The question came.

“Of course, I’m always proud of you. You’re the best girl any mother could hope for.”

Hours passed, and the first signs of daybreak had crested the horizon. Amber wasn’t sure if the soon arriving sunlight had pushed the monsters too far, but they’d entered a frenzy. Their already aggressive behavior had been pushed to the extreme as even the smaller and weaker creatures ceased caring about incoming spells or light as they scrambled and fought to climb the walls of the encampment.

Every minute that passed brought the creatures closer to cresting the top. The spells and lights prevented them from flowing over in their flattened forms, so they climbed, their claws digging deep into the stone walls as they sought to overwhelm the defenders. The undead minions were long gone, they’d held on for hours, but the sheer volume of Slosth had pulled them apart, bone by bone. The humans were exhausted, as most of them were in E Grade or low D Grade, the constant fighting of monsters much stronger than them had strained them too far. Buffs and fear were the only thing keeping the people going. Especially after arriving five hours earlier than expected to the encampment, and having to run non-stop at top speed to get there.

Amber was impressed with the Sanctuary citizens. Even Robert had been surprised by their determination and speed. They had trained hard since being rescued from the old town, and were firm in their desire to help defend the refugees. They were running on empty, their spirits remained high, their determination clear upon their faces, but their slowing movements and attacks said they’d collapse soon.

More Dark Elves and even groups of Goblin allies had arrived throughout the night, and were the only reason the encampment hadn’t been overrun yet. Each of them in low to mid D Grade, they came prepared and arrived fresh and full of energy. Though lower in number than the human defenders, they made up for it with their tenacity and the strength of their attacks. Outside of the undead minions, only three had fallen. Two humans, both of which had been pulled off the walls when losing focus, and a single Goblin, who had blown himself up after mixing two flasks of liquids together, which left a slight cherry smell wafting through the air.

Ice and light magic cut through the air and into the monster’s ranks, arrows rained down from the sky, and thunderous booms cracked through the sounds of battle as Goblins launched explosive grenades from the walls. The green-skinned allies even had guns, or “Boomsticks” as they called them, it didn’t take long to understand the name as they launched a scattershot of explosives the size of copper pennies that blew apart once embedded in a monster.

More and more, claws began to reach over the tops of the walls, only to be cut down by the defenders. Amber watched out of the corner of her eye as Robert took stock of the situation, his focus on the greater battlefield as well as individual fights that sprung up. He nodded to himself, rushing to the aid of a mage about to be pulled over the side, his large hammer swinging out and bashing in the head of the monster as it let go of the mage.

Something needs to change, or we’re going to be overrun soon, and I refuse to allow any of these people to be taken by the monsters. I guess there’s no choice…

Amber reached down, unclasping a small four-inch metal tube held in her belt. She held it in one hand, and her bow in the other. Gathering her mana, she snapped the metal tube in half, watching as motes of energy joined the mana within her body.

“Flames of creation, ash of the mother, she who is reborn anew, heed my call. We who were born of dust call for your aid, let our enemies return from whence they came. Everlasting Flame!” Amber cried as she aimed her bow. Time slowed as her mana drained, the battlefield crawling by. She launched her arrow high into the sky, the wooden rocket lit bright as it hit an invisible barrier unseen by all.

A spark, one which was caused by the fire arrow’s impact upon the barrier, a small ember grew, and a torrent blastwave of flame spread through the sky, seen for miles around. Just as the entire horizon seemed to combust, the flames pulled back together, snapping into a form. Wings of flame, eyes white hot, their aid had come. Fire flares licked across the being’s surface, and its head cocked to the side.

“Child, why have you called me here?” The thought shook Amber’s mind, rattling around, her ears bled, and her eyes wept. The voice was calm, but she felt the burning emotion behind it, she felt it in her very core.

“Monsters of shadow, pain and fear threaten these helpless refugees.” Amber sent back, her arms shaking, as she fell to her knees. The pressure from the focus of the being above her was too much for her body to take, the all-encompassing aura was too powerful for her fragile mind, but Amber held strong, determined to save these refugees and defenders.

“We will be overrun soon, and the sun is taking too long to rise. These people… they need help. I will not stand idle when something can be done, when life may yet be preserved.” Amber sent to the winged being, falling to her hands, hunched over on top of the wall.

“I understand. I will take care of the spawn.” The pressure on her mind vanished, the weight on her body now gone, she collapsed, only to be grabbed by Robert, who slung her arm around his neck as he hoisted her up, quickly grabbing her bow as well.

“What did you do, what is that creature?” Robert asked, pulling the sweat-drenched Amber towards the back of the wall where other warriors were resting and being healed. Amber tried to answer Robert, but her throat was too dry, she only managed to cough as he set her down against the back wall.

“Th…The Mother… primordial of …creation.” A nearby Dark Elf managed to croak out, his head tilted to the sky, peering at the entity of flame above.

“Speak plainly man!” Robert yelled, wiping his own brow of sweat, the heat from the creature above causing the local temperature to flare up.

“...she who brings life… ash and fire… Avatar of… Everlasting …Flame…” The Dark Elf collapsed unconscious. Robert just sighed and tilted his head to look at the bird-like being above. The shadows halted, all frozen in place, countless claws held frozen over the edges of the wall.

“Shadow does not belong on the plains of creation. Begone.” The thought brushed into the minds of everyone present, many people gripping their heads and temples as they watched the being in the sky.

The hovering being flapped both wings once, and Amber felt the backlash of heat as everything beyond the wall was set ablaze. The Slosth she could see, fell apart, crumbling as ash, the hot winds pushed from the avatar’s winds pushed the ash far into the countryside. Guards and allies alike watched, as the army of living shadow dissipated, their forms torn to particles of gray flakes that flew in the breeze. For as far as the eye could see, the land was covered in gray.

“You did well to call me this day, but beware the spawn’s nest yet remains. Although weakened, action must be taken soon.” The avatar sent to Amber, who was barely hanging onto consciousness, her entire body feeling drained and exhausted.

“I… understand. Thank… you.” Amber barely managed to reply, her eyes heavy, and her body aching.

“Rest now, Child of Flame.”

Amber finally slipped into a deep sleep. The Phoenix of Everlasting Flame shrunk to the size of a pebble, before the flame finally winked out of existence.

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“Interesting, she actually used the skill.” The Baleful Lady said, tapping her chin with her finger.

“I told you she would.” Hades grinned from the other end of the couch as they finished watching the battle on the flatscreen.

“I’m just surprised it worked, you know how picky she is. Now Earth has the attention of three of us. Three primordials, all very much aware of a single planet. I can’t remember the last time something of that scale had happened.” The Lady said as she reached down to her mug, scowling when she found it empty, only one skull marshmallow left at the bottom. She pierced the fluffy delight with a fingernail and popped it in her mouth, chewing it slowly.

“Well, it all worked out.” Hades shrugged.

“True. I would have stepped in if she hadn’t come, and that would have been a pain in the ass.” The Lady chuckled, having finished her marshmallow.

“Speaking of three primordials, where did your sister run off to? I’ve been getting requests for information regarding her whereabouts for days now.” Hades mentioned, somewhat irritated, that his own job kept getting interrupted by the constant bombardment of deities reaching out to him.

“Oh, I think she’s in Seattle, is that the name? Yes, I think so. She’s setting up her religion there I’m sure.” The Lady grimaced slightly at the thought of it.

“She’s such a heartbreaker, I wonder how many she’s bedded already.” Hades chuckled at The Lady’s discomfort.

“Probably every single one of them.” The Lady sneered.

“Those poor bastards.” Hades just shook his head.