Leon was just firing his pair of rifles at the demons before him, smoking a cigar while doing it. Just throwing the rifles at the walls as they became turrets, firing at whatever that was before him. The changes in the battle had taken more or less a quarter of both sides. So combat dynamics had to be shifted. 151 and Cerulean were still here, but not Lopt or Onyx.
The demons were left with their archers, mages mainly. The others were fighting to their fullest, yet something was still off.
Objective Completed!
5 Flags for both sides.
Not bad. You've granted bonuses!
Now onto the next objective.
Role Reversal.
Special figures have appeared in combat.
The Overlord of 7th Hell's servants must rescue humans.
The Avatar of Seasons must capture humans and hold them hostage.
Killing humans is allowed if necessary by the Avatar of Seasons's allies.
The Overlord of 7th Hell's servants must provide assurance to humans.
The Avatar of Seasons must be menacing enough to incite fear.
Humans began to appear in the area. They see a child running in front of them. A teddy bear in hand as 151 drew the blade to reach after the child. Cerulean stopped 151's blade, pushing him back. Left arm carrying the child. The terrified gaze, the tears in the eyes. Cerulean began to sing a lullaby to calm the child down as the other demons fought against 151 and Leon's soldiers. Bringing the child away while Krieg was firing gunshots at Cerulean, trying to force Cerulean into a bad spot. The railguns were inches away from hitting Cerulean who was on the run.
The role reversal was awkward. The demons were used to fighting humans and destroying them were now rescuing them and the humans were trying to capture other humans. Nora had trapped a family of 5 inside a bubble.
"Please! Why are you doing this?! Why are you doing this to us!" Those words were enough to shake her resolve, only to watch Victor 91 burst her sphere, then killing the family of 5 inside. The shock alone was enough to cause Nora to fall down.
"Ho..How could you do that?"
"You were going to let them go. Don't hesitate. The humans here were already long dead. Echoes of what could have been saved. This world is the Avatar of Season's past. Nothing more to it than that." The demons were trying to rescue the humans but they were being pushed back. Yet some of the Venerators and Hunters felt a hesitation of sorts. A hesitation because these people were alive, they weren't something that was out of place. This was where they lived, they were running and panicking at everything. Trying to make reason of the situation as a whole.
Leon understood their hesitation, ordering the capture as did 151 but he left it at the discretion of the others to capture or kill. The familiars of the Avatar of Seasons was feeling this. Feeling the intensity of the echoed voices all around them.
"Linzie! Go!"
"But mom!"
"GO!" The screams as they heard voices of orcs screaming in the background. Cerulean brought the child back to the base, placing the child into the base of safety. As something surged in him, a memory of sorts. One that showed the child's story. She just smiled at him. Watching how she was leading her younger sibling to safety, then as the orcs reached her. She merely smiled. Looking at her little sister cry at the sight of her death.
Cerulean fell on his knees.It was a vivid vision and he was touching his neck to ensure that it has not parted with his body. Just thinking about the massacre that occurred here. He felt as if something within him has changed, an emotion. A pitiful emotion that was directed to the child. Was this what they call, sorrow? A hint of emptiness as Cerulean ignored his surroundings.
The other demon lords that rescued the humans felt something in their veins. The emotion of sorrow lingered in their hearts as they were able to see each human's passing. The way they died. The last thoughts before being welcomed by death. The fear of being eaten, the resolution to dying. The soldiers that kept firing their guns even if it was futile. The paramedics who continued to save lives even to the bitter end. It wasn't something that was just for show but rather something that would tell its own story.
Cerulean could see the demons changing their tune. From reluctant rescuers to devoted heroes. Using their magic to the best of their abilities to rescue the humans. Sacrificing their bodies, tears had fell from their eyes. Faces wrinkled with anger at those who serve the Avatar of Seasons. The Troopers were firing upon humans as they watched a demon lord spread his wings to protect them.
"Get the humans out of here!" The others followed the command, they were fighting defensively. They were now asked to be protectors.
"Thank you!" A child spoke to the demon lord as she was being escorted away, the demon lord gave a nod before turning to the troopers. Leon was watching the change with an open eye. Seeing this change brought a smile to his face.
What was the point of this war? What was the reason behind this battle? Was all this truly sorrowful and not something worth mentioning or making light of. This particular objective wasn't straight forward. It must have an effect on both sides, the Hunters and Venerators that continued their hesitation to capture the humans. Yet, when they captured them. They understood the thoughts of the orcs that had invaded Mulligan in the past. They were here to wreak havoc. The idea of sharing the memory of a beast that killed humans. Something unheard off nor was it pleasant. Some of them began to vomit from the experience. They could taste human flesh in their mouths. Some were slowly feeling the rationality of the orcs seep into their minds. 'Kill humans. Feast upon them. Pillage them. Murder them.'
Those words kicked in faster as they began to go on a frenzy. Akin to the orcs that were drunk with blood lust.
"151. Restrain the ones who had succumbed to the blood lust." 151 gave the order as the Orions leaped onto the Venerators and Hunters that have fallen to the blood lust.
"This whole place. It was a means of reliving the Joshua's thoughts. He must have been through hell. Let's not continue this particular objective any longer." Leon's words echoed to the others who pulled back. Cerulean gave the same order.
Completed.
Bonus objective achieved.
You saw through my trickery.
Allow me to grant you another objective.
Restoring the buildings to Pre-Spire Settings...
The buildings had returned to their glory age. Detailed restoration of the buildings. Right down to the washed down colours of paint, the rust on certain parts of the buildings. Humans had returned, where they see the Lord of Thorns before he was the Lord of Thorns. The orcs had begun their invasion. Now supplemented by trolls, orc giants, orc titans and many creatures of the goblin,orc and troll lineages.
Special Scenario has been created.
You are all to make a decision.
To rescue the humans, to protect them or to destroy them.
There is no bonuses granted to the Overlord of 7th Hells or to the Avatar of Seasons. Their fight is now intensifying.
"We're reliving the memory of when he was Joshua Gates. The things he wished he could change." Leon said as he readied his rifle.
"We're protecting the humans! All of you attack the enemies!" Leon shouted as he watched Chairwoman Maya and Chairman Hargrave leaped to the front, the Elementalist of Demise flicked his wrist at the orcs in front of him. Enveloping them in a black flame that swallowed them whole. Chairwoman Maya went out with her conjoined claymores. Swinging it to slash through the orc's armors and bodies.
"We'll take care of this, Leon. You need to find him right?"
"Yeah." Leon headed with his best men, rushing into the hospital building. As a Servant of Thorns, Leon along with those who were linked to the Avatar of Seasons was able to find the past incarnation as Joshua Gates. Fighting their way through the corridors that had been overwhelmed by the orcs.
"Where is he General?"
"He's in a hospital room. With a few other people.Contact 12!" their guns ripped the orcs to shreds as they quickly reloaded. Leon snuffed out his cigar as he made his way to the other side. They formed a fire squad of 6 with three at the front and three watching their back. Leon kept moving forward as he reached the location where Joshua was. Seeing Joshua's parents, Bruce and Natalie fighting against the orcs.
"Focus fire on the target! Watch your aim! Civilians down range!" Leon roared as the orcs turned their attention to him. Throwing his rifle to the wall where it became a turret as he pulled out his 1911. Bruce had a cut to his shoulder, while Natalie's left arm was broken.
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"You three escort them out of here! Vizel, Weiss! Head to hospital entrance now! I'll hold them off here! Go!" Leon said as he threw another rifle to the wall, where it began to act as turrets while the others got the rest out of harm's way.
Vizel and Weiss stood in front of the hospital where they see Barton, Rayland, Cassie and Joshua with them.
"Who are you?"
"We're..." Vizel was at a lost on what to say.
"We're Venerators. Come on!" Weiss was smart in this regard. A goblin leaped to Rayland only to be cut down by Vizel.
"You dare stand in our way!?" Vizel activated Tempting Violence as the orcs, goblins and trolls began to focus on him.
"Weiss, get them out of here!" Weiss led Rayland and the others through, using his roses to cast magic of ice to freeze the enemies around them. Imbuing his mana into the roses, he threw them at the four they were rescuing. They were stunned for a moment as they watched Vizel clean up the enemies before their eyes. Eyes that were streaking blue and full of anger.
"What did you throw at us?" Barton asked as he watched something form over his hand.
"It's a barrier. Now come on! My friend will hold them off. We need to go!" Weiss said as they continued on their path, other humans were in harm's way.
"Fire!" 151's command was heard as guns were being fired upon them.
"We're doing rescue work today, men! Focus on protecting the humans! We must protect as many of them as we can!" They see demon lords joining the fight against the Orcs. BJ's Cascade was firing off the rail gun to blast through the orc titans with his weapon while Ronin went on slashing down the large trolls with his blade.
"Get to safety! All of you!" Cerulean shouted as 151 turned to him.
"Why are you assisting us?"
"I wish to understand what makes your master so powerful. If this journey is a story of his. Then I'd like to see it to fruition. Then let us see what this unfolds." The humans were being rescued, and even though they were powerless. The will to fight, the resolution to protect those who were within their reach. Cerulean watched as Vizel and Weiss led the others to safety, the other demon lords were aiding them. Nora was using her magic to bind the orcs and trolls by the legs. Stopping them from moving as Margen snapped his fingers as blades of the elements spawned from the ground to pierce their bodies. Loren used his power of faith to keep the morale up, focusing on helping the others through this endeavor.
There hostile orcs and their lineages were all reduced to nothing, and they all stood to look at Joshua who just smiled at them.
"Thank you!" Those words were uttered as everything faded away like a dream. Now, their minds were seeing everything. How Joshua lost his family, the deaths of his siblings right before his eyes. The fact that he was left alone to live. The part where Sheena and Todd had to kill each other. How he feasted on his own friend's to survive. The awakening of the Seedling. His years of survival, his time spent alone in a world for 3 years. The deaths he had suffered, the way he helped Bayran. The meeting with Asim, Barakas and Cinder. Joshua's graduation to becoming a Lord of Thorns. The 13th Lord of Thorns..
Chairwoman Maya Lee was present to watch herself before him. Seeing how she had fought against him in that moment, brought a tear to her eye.
"Even when he was that new you couldn't resist could you?" Chairman Hargrave remarked.
"Yes, he was strong. Black Spires are what you Hunters call as your S-Rank Dungeons. It was difficult but our SSS-Rank was where Joshua was at during his reign." Then seeing how Joshua made his acquaintance with Lugasa.
"Lugasa." Guren called.
"The first time I have ever fought against him. It surprised me that he could take my blow without much worry. He's stronger than anyone I've ever met. I was an anomaly." Lugasa spoke as they watched how Joshua fought during the waves with Lugasa by his side. Then shifting to the time as a Hero in Guren's home. Where he had earned Donovan and Iacus to call to his side. How a mere mortal fought against the odds before him, odds stacked at the time. They watched how Donovan used his sword breaker to pave the way to the Lord of Thorns to push through this fight. Iacus used his daggers to kill mages. They were all experiencing this as a whole. Watching how the Lord of Thorns had protected people. He did not discriminate between any of the races, merely fighting for what is right for all. A paragon whose nature was slowly building up.
Then when he found the victims of a Venerator who had killed many people, holding a trial by having Iacus act as prosecutor.
"That was still a shit show, Iacus." Donovan said.
"I was still amazed that they accepted me to act as a prosecutor in that case. But at least we could put them to rest." They then watched how the Lord of Thorns worked with the Avatar of War, Avatar of Destruction and Avatar of Fall to rid the world of a demon. Rescuing Krieg, Alec and Mitchell. Desperation as he fired a shot at the demon that would not fall.
Soon, they reached the Azteris Suicide Division's tale. Where the Lord of Thorns was acquainted by the many before him. Vizel was chuckling as he saw himself stab the Lord of Thorns. Then meeting with 151 to retrieve the Redemption Kai Odachi.
"I had blamed the Lord of Thorns for everything."Cerulean looked at 151 who had taken off his mask.
"The Lord of Thorns forgave us. Granted us the right to fight off a demon lord by his side." They watched how 151 lost his arms in that fight, asking a soldier to remove his mask and grab a blade to fight through to the end. The Lord of Thorns then gave them a choice. To serve him at their own volition. Not to force them, but to allow them the chance to rest. Returning the war torn world of Azteris into a beautiful world of nature. Powers granted by the Avatars of the four Seasons, and granted to him as the Lord of Thorns to return the world which will be guarded by the many creatures.
"So your devotion. Was always about gratitude not by servitude."
"He freed my world of your kind. He forgave us and granted us redemption. There can be no greater honour than to fight for him till the bitter end." They watched as the Lord of Thorns journey continued. His fight against the Noir Dancer, granting his blade of Brilliant Ash and its blade shift, Ashen Sirius. Then meeting with Bellwitch, and fighting against the Avatar of Destruction. Made an oath to become the wielder of Ashen Phoenix.
Entering the Black Spire to rescue people. Despite their best efforts, the many lives had been taken. Jordan watched how the Lord of Thorns began to cry, trying to keep Jordan alive but failed. The damage that he suffered at the Outsiders that invaded, his lost of reason. The paragon from earlier had shifted into nothing but a mass murderer. Brutalizing everything before his eyes, when he turned to face the Outsiders. He turned them into plants and began to eat the flowers off their bodies.
The Lions of Priderock and the HDF saw the devastation he had done alone. Bearing the weight of their worlds on his shoulders, freeing the AI that the Lions of Priderock had hidden away and absolving the HDF of their loss to their Lord of Thorns. Vizel had killed his predecessor that betrayed humanity, earning the gratitude of Lopt, Bileygr and Vingthor. The evolution of his Familiars. The Council of Entente pledging their best towards him. Meeting Seijuro or as he was known as Ronin prior to his revelation of the true name.
The evolution of the Crimson Reapers, the Rouge of Valor, the Daemon Punishers and Void Dancers. They continued to watch everything until the bitter end. Seeing how the Grieving Thorn was made. The one thing that was used as against the God who dared to bring chaos to the world. In that moment, the perspective shifted to first person. Where they see the Lord of Thorns looking back at them.
"I am a Lord of Thorns. I don't beg, I don't pray. I just do." The two voices echoed as the others could see it. The loneliness of the Lord of Thorns, the grief and sorrow he dealt with. The fact that Joshua Gates, the original Lord of Thorns had grown tired of it all. Taking a step back before leaving it to the current form of the Lord of Thorns. The now Avatar of Seasons.
The vision had ended, all of them could see the things that made the Avatar of Seasons this powerful. It wasn't purely by coincidence, but rather. A resolve to never be weak ever again, and his familiars that had become his family. The friendships he had attained. The actions he took, the sacrifices he had made. The loss of everything he loved. Silence filled the air as the Familiars began to cry for their Avatar of Seasons.
Jordan was crying, as he thought about how lucky he was to be given an opportunity to return back to life as a result of what had happened. The lives that Joshua Gates had saved and the lives that were lost. The parting of the past Lord of Thorns to the new Avatar of Seasons who was granted the wish to enjoy his rest in a new world. To live with power, to become a legend of his own.
You've witnessed the lives and power of the Avatar of Seasons.
The rise and the fall.
The joy and sorrow.
The loss he had beared.
The pain he had taken.
All of that, accumulated into the blade known as Grieving Thorn and the newly formed personality as the Avatar of Seasons.
Meanwhile, Silas and Mizerka were standing before each other. They had exhausted everything at their disposal. A few roses appeared by Silas's side, where he threw one to Mizerka.
"What's this?"
"We're both losing our energy due to fatigue and mana exhaustion. I want to fight you at your best, even if you kill me. I'm learning a lot just from our fights." Mizerka laughed as he chewed on the flowers.
"Your battle skill has surpassed me. Your control over the elements other than ice have reached its peak. I can see why Kaglar enjoyed having your as his master. Only you could bring about the finest battles. Gods who are watching, are we permitted to continue?"
The Gods are amused by this fight.
Most of them are already throwing money to the screens.
It's currently entering into both of your pockets.
Some are bestowing gifts.
Some are just itching to see the battle continue on.
They both had recovered their energies as they watched their allies make their way towards them. The barren land that had been turned into nothing but ash. No buildings in sight. Terraformed by the attacks by the two who had been fighting here the entire time. Seijuro had returned with the rest of them, their armors were all damaged far beyond recognition.
Shall we begin the final round?
"Yes!" Silas and Mizerka chorused as their armies got ready.
"For the Avatar of Seasons! Charge!"
"For the Overlord of 7th Hells! Charge!" Another chaotic battle was to begin.