The gaps between Pathway skills, while large, were not as important as levels. The two men were similar in overall power, if not technique. However, the wind mage was still incredibly nervous. With him, almost a side note, was a group of three thousand low to mid Tier 3 fighters. Edgar knew that if they succeeded in repelling the invaders, the true interest of Slothari would be piqued, a death sentence unless Jonathan returned with vastly increased power.
Judging by the reports coming in from the outer reaches of the Waste Warrens, and from Edgar’s own experience with traversing them, the army would arrive in a little under a day. He had little time to prepare, so he spent that time making sure that he was up to par for the challenge. He was highly leveled, and his various titles ensured that the points from his Legendary class carried over far further than normal. He had created a few Mythical skills during his time in Mire, and was closing in on an Ancient one. All he needed was an appropriate catalyst, which would hopefully come in the form of the battle to come.
He cultivated his element for the next few hours, ignoring the bustle of fighters outside preparing for battle. War machines were being armed and trenches dug into the ground around the fortress. Fortunately for Edgar, the coming army was too small to target all of the fortresses at once, which meant that they would be coming his way first.
Eventually, he opened his eyes, drawn to awareness by a shout of alarm from the battlements above. He rose to his feet, and took a deep breath. It was time. With quick, hurried steps he made his way out of the room and out into the open air. Then he flew the rest of the way to the walls, and alighted on the battlements, gazing down upon the small force arrayed before the walls.
Three or four thousand fighters, all clad in ornate heavy armor, or in the case of the mages, light armor that looked just as expensive, stood before him. At their head was a tall and rangy elven man, holding a bow made out of bone and sinew. On his back was a quiver filled with the most brutal looking arrows that Edgar had ever seen. They were made from interlocking bones, fused together by magic. Their tips were made from heavily compressed osseous material, and judging by the slight warp in reality around them, the arrows were heavily enchanted.
“People of the Waste Warrens!” The elf bellowed, his voice carrying across the land with ease. “Lady Slothari has learned of your rebellion. This is your last chance to cease and return to your forts before I must raze you from the face of the realm.”
“We will never bow before that creature again!” Kendal roared from beside Edgar, pumping his fist. The elderly mage looked more alive than he had in years.
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“DEATH TO SLOTHARI!” Came a thunderous roar from the massed ranks of defenders.
Georgios pursed his already thin lips, and drew an arrow from his quiver. The length of bone and magic started to glow as he nocked it. Then he pulled back on his sinewy bowstring.
Edgar snapped his fingers, and twin bolts of wind rushed in from both sides, trying to knock the arrow off the string. The hands of a few nearby mages lit up, and the wind bolts were deflected, but not without cracking though a good portion of the defenses. Georgios grinned and let go, the arrow streaking through the air like a comet. As it went, it began to draw in ambient elemental energy, the dearth of Life attuned power within the weapon creating a void of elemental energy just waiting to be filled. It was an ingenious design, but one that Edgar had no wish to be on the receiving end of.
Dozens of shields were thrown up by the resident mages, but Georgios had already nocked and released another arrow. The only thing stopping him from releasing a storm upon the defenders was the limited amount of ammunition stored within his quiver.
As the first arrow struck the shield, it ripped through them without a pause. Shards of energy fell to the ground as the arrow passed on, barely impeded. It was only at the last moment, when it impacted Edgar’s far more powerful shield, that it began to slow. Even then, it continued to push forwards, struggling against Edgar’s mastery.
Before he could do anything more, the second arrow slammed home, into the base of the first. There was a crack, and the shield shattered. Both arrows impacted the walls like meteors. With blossoming explosions of pure might, they cracked apart the walls like they were made of eggshells, sending rock cascading down onto the plain below.
With another thin lipped smile, Georgios strode forwards, followed by his army. Another arrow was already on his bowstring, but he refrained from shooting.
Edgar sighed, and turned to face his own army. “The forces of Slothari have come to our gates, seeking to kill us all before we can ever truly fight back! Do we accept that?”
“NO!” Came the immediate response.
Edgar turned around and loosed a deafening warcry, empowered by his elemental energy. Then he leaped from the battlements, and into the fray. Georgios nocked another arrow, loosing it at Edgar as he fell. It flew in a perfectly straight line, seemingly uninhibited by gravity. So great was the skill of Georgios that the arrow seemed to flicker through space, every gust of wind only serving to deliver it closer and closer to its mark. With a quick application of his Domain, Edgar realized that his opponent was using his own to adjust his arrow mid flight.
He thrust out one hand, and sent his Domain surging outwards, interfering with that of his enemy. The Master Ranked archer was far more skilled and powerful in that field, but its effect was spread out for hundreds of meters in every direction from its wielder. In contrast, Edgar only had to seize control of the energy for a short distance around himself.