The journey from the war camp to the town at the midway point they planned on capturing might have taken Zalia only a few days. That was if she had been by herself, though. The army column moved along like a slow plodding beast, the time required for the earth mages to flatten out the land ahead and the slow trundling carriages to keep up made it almost boring for her. Almost.
Zalia felt like she was crawling, the pace so much slower than her normal. That gave her a lot of time to think though.
Thoughts of her time in prison being tortured, of the implications of their recent discoveries and of what she and the army were heading towards battled to be at the forefront of her mind. The thoughts of Ember, Aylie and Lumin outstripped them all though. She felt both concern and appreciation for them, worried that something would happen to them while the army was out at war and happy that they were somewhere other than going towards that war.
The first conflict happened on the second day of travel, as they were attacked by a group of a few hundred crazed soldiers. Scouts came running, yelling about an attack.
General Faian quickly began calling out orders.
“Vanguard, shields up! Administrative staff back! Earthen unit, Defenses!”
Like a well-oiled machine, the army reacted.
The vanguard, in the face of hundreds of hundreds of crazed soldiers that were foaming at the mouth as they charged, set up a shield wall. They allowed the scouts through, the soldiers still some distance away. Then, the first row dropped low on their knees, the second row standing between with the third holding shields high. This formed a three high wall of shields held by the weight and strength of a powerful unit of people.
The earth mages just behind built stone walls with stairs to their tops on either side of the vanguard as the administrative staff pulled back, led by a unit of lighter armoured soldiers.
“Archer and Area units, take your positions!”
Even as two units from behind the administrative group split to allow them through, they ran up the sides of the column and onto the stone wall. Half the earth mages followed the administrators, building the wall further and further down the column.
General Faian gave the order and hell rained from above.
“Fire!”
The mages and archers on the wall activated various abilities and Zalia activated her flight to get a better view of the fight. The crazed soldiers seemed to be struggling a little bit and she soon realised why. Her aura, now expanding over a massive distance, was hurting them. It wasn’t enough to kill them, or even harm them seriously, but it was enough to put them in pain and slow them a little. She hadn’t considered that by allowing her aura to spread out as far as it could, she might also attract the attention of any corrupt being in that area.
Waves of fire rolled over the enemy soldiers even as they still charged. Arrows rained down, some exploding with various elements or just sheer force. The ground underneath them roiled and rolled, slowing their charge almost to a standstill, even knocking some over. A slick ice formed over the still-shifting ground, further disrupting the enemy’s charge.
As cooldowns were used, and the rain of attacks slowed, the enemy continued their charge. They managed to recover some of their momentum, the sheer rage and mindlessness of the soldiers allowing them to ignore wounds and their dead and dying comrades. In addition, while they didn’t have an inkling of tactics, it wasn’t so easy to kill Bronze and Silver rankers.
A single figure stood out from the vanguard, armour, mace and tower shield at the ready. Zalia watched as Hildebrandt settled her feet and stood her ground. A fiery aura permeated the air around her, slowly spreading across the battlefield. The rest of the vanguard seemed to stand firmer, stronger.
The aura that normally came from Hildebrandt was one of something solid, more… permanent than everything else. The aura that came out of her when she was in battle was something more like a promise. A promise of protection and of retaliation should any harm come to those under that protection.
It reminded Zalia of Ember just a little, though Ember protected through healing, while Hildebrandt protected by being the wall between her enemies and her friends.
As she watched, the slowly expanding fiery aura reached the approaching soldiers and they began to scream in pain. The lower-ranked ones further back disintegrated, anything of Tin or Iron rank lasting no longer than a few moments.
The Bronze ranked enemies managed to push through the pain, the mixture of Hildebrandt and her own auras enough to start injuring them. The Silver rank ones struggled a bit less, though still looking pained in their rage-filled charge.
A huge explosion rocked the battlefield, originating in the centre of a mass of enemy soldiers. What must have been the torn-apart bodies of fifty of the crazed soldiers rained down across the field, spraying blood and gore.
Hildebrandt had done that, the same ability she had used to blow up the wall of the fort Zalia had been kept prisoner in.
Once the few remaining crazed soldiers that didn’t die to the continued onslaught of various spells and arrows got within twenty metres of Hildebrandt, she started swinging her mace. Zalia was confused for only a moment as bolts of fiery energy left the mace and impacted enemy soldiers with explosive force. A Silver ranker was blown away, torn into pieces.
A few of them reached Hildebrandt but she didn’t even bother blocking. The moment they struck, two bolts similar to what her mace swings created flashed out and struck the attackers. They were blown away into a fine mist, their remains burning into smoke.
It wasn’t very long before nothing remained of the enemy other than a few body parts strewn across the battlefield. Many of the soldiers had simply stopped and watched as Hildebrandt single-handedly destroyed the enemy. It was a terrifying sight. If that power were turned on them, there wasn’t much that their organised, orderly and tactically sound army could do. That is why both Ro-ak and Hildebrandt were there.
Of course, there was also Larel back with the Morning’s Shade. She was their only other Gold ranker, though not nearly as strong as Hildebrandt was considering she was at the tip of Gold, only a rank or two from reaching Emerald. Zalia wouldn’t be surprised if a few of the woman's abilities were Emerald already.
Now that the fight was done, it didn’t take long before the walls were torn down and they were back on their way. As they moved past the corpses of the fallen, all the remains were buried by the earth mages until there was no sign that the fight had taken place at all. Even the undergrowth was grown back by Zalia’s aura.
She went and found Hildebrandt and Faian after the fight.
“Thank you for your help,” Faian was saying.
Hildebrandt gave a salute.
“Happy to help, we’re here to help the kingdom, aren’t we?”
Given the crispness of the salute, Zalia wondered if the woman had been a soldier once. She could see on Faian’s face that she was thinking the same.
“General, Hildebrandt. I believe my aura was what pulled those crazed soldiers to us. It hurts them, though not enough to properly harm or kill them. Should I retract it to just cover the army?”
Zalia could feel the corrupting aura more and more, its power slowly pushing against her own so that it didn’t reach as far as it might have. She had a feeling that it wouldn’t be long before all she could do was cover the army anyway.
Faian thought for a moment before replying.
“No. Leave it for now. It might not be a bad idea to drag out as many of the enemy as we can before reaching the capital. Having them behind us and near to where the caravan will run could end up being disastrous. Scouts are searching the lands for them as we speak and we’ll take any fight we have to as it is. Might as well let them come to us.”
Zalia only gave a simple nod as confirmation, gesturing to Hildebrandt that she wanted to talk for a moment.
General Faian returned to the constant organisation she had to deal with as the two of them stepped away for a moment.
“That’s the third time I’ve seen you fight now and I have to say, I’m a little awed by your powers.”
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Hildebrandt gave her a wide smile.
“Aw, thanks. Look, both times you’ve seen me fight properly I have been completely in my element. Mindless hordes attacking us? Now that I excel at. All my abilities are based around standing my ground and getting hit.”
Zalia tapped her foot a little, considering. She wanted to ask to see Hildebrandt’s abilities.
“I don’t know if this is something rude to ask, but I want to see what your abilities do. Is that ok? It might help with what we’re going up against to know what your limitations are.”
Hildebrandt hummed in thought.
“Hmm, I have shown General Faian already, which is why I ended up in the vanguard. If it was anyone else I’d tell them no, but I want to see yours as well Zalia. I’m quite intrigued by the uniqueness of your abilities, as well as the fact you have three classes. Willing to trade?”
Zalia nodded, showing her abilities to the woman and receiving a host of information in return.
Class - Warrior - Gold
Linked attributes - Strength, Dexterity
Active skills
Godly Strike (Previously Strike) - Gold
Tin - You can strike your enemy harder.
This now allows you to hit ethereal beings
Iron - In addition to hitting harder, you also hit faster.
This now has significantly increased impact.
Bronze - When this hits an enemy, the damage they take from Backlash is significantly increased.
This now also slows the affected enemy
Silver - You can now strike enemies without being near them. Strikes made with this ability become ranged, out to a distance of ten metres.
This is now increased to twenty metres
Gold - Your strikes are infused with godly power, impacting them with a burning force that ignores most armour.
Stand Your Ground (Previously Speed Maneouvre) - Emerald
Tin - You may now “Stand Your Ground”. When standing your ground, you are less affected by all knockback.
Iron - When standing your ground, allies near you are also less affected by knockback.
Bronze - When standing your ground, you and your allies are no longer affected by knockback at all.
Silver - When standing your ground, Backlash deals significantly more damage.
Gold - When standing your ground, you emit an aura that burns your enemies and protects your allies against damage.
Emerald - When standing your ground, enemies have a significantly harder time moving around you to attack anyone else. You are the wall that stands between them and what stands behind you.
Explosive Force - Emerald
Tin - You may make a single stronger attack with a longer cooldown.
Iron - This attack now creates an explosive force that is extremely strong against structures and elementals.
Bronze - After the explosive force goes off, a concussive wave flows after it.
Silver - The area affected by this attack is greatly increased, as well as no longer needing to be focussed by an attack. You can apply this ability anywhere up to twenty metres from you.
Gold - This range for this ability is now a hundred metres. Additionally, when standing your ground, this ability becomes significantly stronger.
Emerald - The area of this ability is increased. The range increases to one kilometre. Enemies that survive the explosion are affected by one instance of Backlash.
Passive skills
Soldier’s Endurance (Previously Endurance) - Emerald
Tin - You have increased stamina
This now also increases your resilience
Iron - You have increased resistance to the effects of lost sleep and exhaustion.
This now also gives you the Physical resistance passive which is the same level as this ability.
Bronze - You can ignore a great variety of lesser wounds
Silver - You can ignore one major wound and function as normal.
Gold - While your body is still intact, you can ignore the effects of most wounds. Age ceases to affect you.
Emerald - As long as your soul holds, you can ignore any damage done to your body. This also gives you the Mental Resistance passive at the same level of this ability.
Recovery - Gold
Tin - You recover stamina and mana quicker.
Iron - You recover health slowly over time, closing wounds and eliminating disease.
Bronze - All recovery is increased significantly.
Silver - When you trigger Backlash, the effects of this ability are increased. Additionally, your armour and shield are affected by this ability.
Gold - Allies protected by Stand Your Ground are affected by the Tin, Iron and Bronze rank effects of this ability.
Specialisation - Defender - Emerald
Linked attributes - Vitality, Resilience
Active skills
Defend the Kingdom (Previously Protective Shield) - Emerald
Tin - You can summon a small floating shield. This shield can be directed to block attacks.
This now allows you to create a second one to defend an ally
Iron - Strikes blocked by this shield trigger Backlash
This now triggers twice if the shield is defending an ally
Bronze - You may now create a small short-lived dome instead. All instances of this ability are also stronger.
This now allows you to make a bigger dome as long as it is used to defend allies or buildings under your protection
Silver - You may make a long wall with this ability.
Gold - On an extremely long cooldown, this ability can now be used to cover a large area in a dome. This dome lasts for a day and does not allow anything or anyone in or out.
Emerald - When using the large area dome, it now allows allies to enter and leave as they wish. Additionally, this ability becomes virtually indestructible.
Backlash - Emerald
Tin - When you block an attack, the source of the attack is struck as if you hit them
Iron - This retaliatory damage is now empowered as if by Godly Strike (previously Strike).
Bronze - Enemies affected by Backlash are thrown backwards. Additionally, they are slowed.
Silver - When Backlash triggers, nearby enemies are hit with a much weaker version of this ability.
Gold - Backlash no longer only triggers if an attack is blocked, but if an attack hits at all.
Emerald - Backlash now triggers twice.
Passive skills
Enduring Aura - Emerald
Tin - You and allies in your aura have increased Resilience.
Iron - This now increases stamina.
Bronze - When Backlash triggers, Resilience and stamina are now further increased for a short time.
Silver - Magical constructs created by you and your allies have an increased lifespan and durability.
Gold - Your soul is now as resilient as your body. Allies have a slight increase to the strength of their own souls.
Emerald - You give off a sense of permanence, seeming more solid than everything else around you. Allies are strengthened by your presence, able to ignore minor wounds and mental strain. Additionally, you can ignore a variety of effects that are targeted at the body. This includes any physical or mental traumas.
“Wow, that is a lot. I guess it really starts to add up at your rank.”
Hildebrandt nodded, still reading.
“You’re going to have it worse than most. Not only do you have three classes but from the looks of it they’re all quite complex. Mine are simple for the most part, easy to use and with very distinct use cases. What you have here is… yeah.”
“Tell me about it. Healing Presence alone has a ridiculously long description.”
Zalia read over Soldier’s Endurance again.
“Sorry, age ceases to affect you?”
Hildebrandt shushed her.
“Don’t say it out loud like that, but yes. Most people get abilities that affect how they age at about Gold rank. At least, the few Gold rankers I know have. Matthias has one, as does Larel.”
Zalia thought about how that Gold rank brewer, Harrick, had a special brew that slowed age.
“Will I get one too?”
Hildebrandt chuckled.
“Well, if you reach Gold, yes. I’d say Survivalist is the one most likely to have it, out of them all.”
Reading through Hildebrandt’s abilities once more, Zalia kind of understood what she had said. Her abilities were all focused around being hit, with most of them having effects that changed, triggered or were triggered off of Backlash. The other major theme was protecting allies while standing her ground. Walls, shields, an ability literally called Stand Your Ground.
“Well, I’m glad to have you with us. I have a feeling we are going to be fighting a lot of mindless hordes. In fact, I know we will.”
Hildebrandt grimaced.
“Yeah, I heard. I’m not looking forward to being the one to have to destroy the majority of them. They were the kingdom’s people, once.”
Zalia mimicked her expression realising fully what that meant. They would have to destroy the undead bodies of the entire capital city’s population. Her own Healing Presence would play a large part in that as well.
“I know what you mean. It’s going to be traumatic to say the least.”
It would be for Zalia at least. She hadn’t missed the part of Hildebrandt’s abilities where she was immune to physical and mental trauma, as well as pretty much every wound possible. It looked like the only way to actually kill her was to destroy her soul, however that was possible. It might explain why she was one of, if not the only person in the kingdom to be close to reaching Emerald rank.
Her thoughts turned again to the Astar and their involvement. She felt bad for Matthias. It wasn’t a sure thing that they were the ones to have taken him and even possibly killed him, yet it was likely. He hadn’t deserved that, however cold he had been as a person.
Those thoughts haunted her as they continued marching towards a city filled with the undead. It would be a long, long time before Endaria recovered from this war.