"Are you sure you wish to engage them first?" Ardeunius asked, leaning against a tree trunk, arms crossed over his chest. "They can't detect us at this distance. We could continue observing them for a while longer."
The reinforcements from Dulgaan had arrived yesterday and joined them. Ardeunius ordered his troops to remain hidden for now.
"Yes," Ebonheim replied. "If I need assistance, I'll give you the signal."
She activated her Arboreal Stride, leaping into an oak tree, and vanished, reappearing out of another one further away before jumping again. Within moments she had crossed half a dozen trees and finally came to a stop at a particularly large fir. Perching herself atop a sturdy bough overlooking the ancient ruins, she took a moment to survey the surrounding area.
Bhutava on the ground, Shadaksha in the air. They were all clustered into small groups and scattered all across the vicinity. There wasn't any order to how they mingled with one another—as if each group functioned independently. Perhaps they did.
She began observing their movements and behaviors. She noticed that the demons would generally move in groups of three to five. When they moved between different areas, they kept close to each other. However, when fighting amongst themselves...they separated into smaller groups and fought independently from one another.
This meant they couldn't support each other if needed. They didn't even appear to understand basic tactics. It seemed more like a contest between individuals than an actual battle.
She raised her bow and drew back, manifesting an Enchanted Essence Bolt between her fingertips before letting loose. The arrow sailed through the air towards its target—a particularly large Bhutava Asura standing near a copse of pine trees. It struck true, slamming directly into the demon's head and erupting into a flash of divine light.
[Critical Hit!]
The demon collapsed to its knees, stunned momentarily from the sudden burst. It shook itself off quickly enough and began frantically looking around in all directions, searching for the source of the attack. The other demons nearby also reacted similarly. Some dropped to their hands and knees and sniffed the ground like wild beasts while others flapped their wings furiously as they searched the skies above.
Ebonheim kept firing divine arrows at the Asuras below. Within seconds, dozens of Asuras had gathered around the area where Ebonheim hid, finally spotting her silhouette amongst the branches.
They charged towards her position.
At that same moment, she jumped down from her perch and used her Arboreal Stride to transport herself back into the forest behind the mob. A handful of them spun around and chased after her, but most kept running towards the tree where she'd originally fired her arrows from.
She fired a few more shots from her position before once again using her Stride to leap across several trees further away. The Bhutavas followed suit—howling and roaring in fury as they attempted to chase her down.
While it would have been easier to just fly and rain barrage after barrage of Enchanted Essence Bolts down upon them, she had no means of flight available to her. Divine Arsenal mode was unavailable due to Cephied's dismantled state, and divine magic that allowed her flight was only available for Intermediate-Rank deities and above.
Instead, she made do with what she had—using the terrain to her advantage. She stuck to the forest, weaving in and out between the trees, remaining hidden within the shadows while using her Divine Sight to gauge her enemies' combat abilities.
Their stats appeared similar to those of the Kungwans—all within a range she could deal with.
Her experience fighting the Kungwans allowed her to refine her tactics. She didn't go for flashy moves like before—instead relying on swift attacks to whittle them down.
Ebonheim closed her eyes and concentrated. She raised her hands and clasped them together in front of her face. A soft light glowed between her fingers, illuminating her features.
The forest began to stir as if coming alive. Branches creaked and swayed. Leaves rustled. Roots squirmed beneath the soil.
Four tree sentinels morphed from the surrounding trees and rose up around her. Their gnarled limbs twisted into shape, forming humanoid torsos, arms, and legs. Their wooden trunks solidified into rigid bodies. Eyes and mouths opened upon their bark-like faces. They stared at her expectantly.
She imbued them with the ability to use Tempest of the Grove and bestowed elemental resistance before giving them their orders. "I need you four to create a distraction. Gather as many demons as you can into the clearing over there," she pointed towards an area in front of her. "Once they're all gathered there...let loose."
The sentinels bowed their heads obediently before moving away from her. They began marching through the forest towards the clearing. As soon as they reached the edge of the trees, they split up and headed in different directions.
The demons were alerted to their presence immediately. The creatures turned towards the source of the noise and charged towards them.
The sentinels stood still while the demons surrounded them. Once they were surrounded...the sentinels unleashed their power. A violent gale swept through the area, knocking over several demons and sweeping others into the air.
Meanwhile, the Shadaksha flying above swooped down upon the tree guardians, raining energy blasts upon them. Several bolts struck their targets but did little damage.
Multiple cyclones whirled across the field, buffeting the enemy ranks. The Shadakshas scattered, evading the swirling winds.
Time to strike.
Ebonheim conjured her bow and let loose a volley of Enchanted Essence Bolts imbued with Tempest of the Grove. The combined might of both abilities tore through the flying demons, sending them crashing into the ground.
While the tree sentinels kept the other Asuras busy, Ebonheim phased from one tree to another using Aboreal Stride, circling around to flank the demons while firing Essence Bolts at the closest targets. Every so often, she stopped to unleash a volley upon those standing near the center of the clearing before resuming her skirmish tactics.
But soon enough...the Shadaksha saw through her strategy and called for reinforcements. A large group of Bhutava emerged from the forest and charged towards her position. Ebonheim backpedaled, firing arrows at the approaching group.
She conjured a swath of constricting vines, entangling several of them and slowing their approach. Then she darted into the woods once more, slipping between the trees while remaining within view of her enemies. This forced the Bhutavas to follow after her. She continued using her mobility skills to keep her distance as she led them on a chase through the forest—towards the spot where she could give the signal for the Order and the Silverguards to join in the fight.
----------------------------------------
"There's the goddess' signal," Ardeunius muttered to himself. He turned towards his men. "Alright! You know your orders! Charge!"
He raised his banner and pointed towards the direction Ebonheim disappeared into. "Forward! Now!"
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
The Order of the Burning Shield roared and rushed towards the clearing. Behind them, the Silverguard Company readied their weapons and charged after them. The combined force emerged from the trees, joining the tree sentinels and attacking the demons from both sides.
Evelyne and Viviane, piloting their respective Aetherframes, brought up the rearguard. They moved behind the battle lines and began firing upon the Shadaksha with their energy cannons.
Ingrid led a squad of her fellow warriors to join Ebonheim as she harried the Bhutavas. Once they caught up to her, they split into two groups—one group staying close to Ebonheim while the other group moved ahead of her to act as a vanguard. Ingrid stood at the head of the vanguard group and charged into battle. Her charge blade glimmered with fiery runes as she cleaved through the Bhutava ranks.
Ardeunius swung his blazing greatsword in wide arcs, carving swathes of burning demon flesh wherever he struck. He whirled and spun around his enemies, keeping them constantly off balance as he hacked at their bodies. Lorne fought beside him, wielding two swords with deadly efficiency. He cut down any demons foolish enough to get too close. His twin blades flashed through the air, leaving trails of sparks and flames behind them. Together, the two commanders led their forces into battle.
The remaining tree sentinels formed a wall behind them, blocking off the demons' escape route.
"This is the first time I'm fighting side by side with a god," Ardeunius said through gritted teeth as he hacked through the demon's chest. "I must admit, this feels rather invigorating."
Lorne parried a claw swipe and slashed his blade across the demon's neck. "Aye, it is. There's nothing quite like it." He thrust his sword forward and skewered another demon.
"Save some for me!" Serrandyl called out from behind them. She dashed past them and launched herself at the closest demon. Her gauntleted fists blurred as she unleashed a barrage of blows upon the unfortunate creature. She kicked off its body and launched herself into the air. Lightning crackled around her body as she rocketed towards another group of demons.
The sky began to darken as clouds gathered overhead. Dark thunderheads formed above the battlefield. Bolts of lightning streaked across the sky, striking the demons in flight. One after another, Shadaksha plummeted to the ground, convulsing wildly.
As the enemy forces started to dwindle, the demons from the gatehouse joined the fray. The four-armed serpentine demons swept into the battle.
Ebonheim rushed forward to intercept them.
"I'll handle this!" she yelled over her shoulder. "Keep the other demons occupied!"
Ebonheim darted between the trees and charged straight towards the new arrivals.
Ardeunius watched the goddess engage with the larger demons. He could see their long bodies coil and slither about as they moved towards her. They used their four arms to block her arrows. Their muscular frames tensed and flexed as they swung their heavy weapons.
"Let's hope she doesn't overexert herself," he muttered under his breath. He turned his attention back to the fight in front of him and resumed fighting.
----------------------------------------
Ebonheim blocked a claw swipe with her bow. She kicked the demon in the stomach, knocking it back a few steps. Then she jumped into the air and launched herself towards another demon. She fired an Essence Bolt admixed with Frostwind Gust at its face while mid-flight.
The bolt hit the mark perfectly, striking the demon squarely between its six eyes. The blast caused the creature to flinch and stumble backward. It dropped its sword and shield. Ebonheim used the opening to land behind the demon and attack its exposed back. She unleashed several more shots into its torso before leaping away.
Her Divine Sight showed the demon's stats as a bright orange aura.
[Race] Asura (Elite)
[Subtype] Bovikara
[Health] 296/350
[Combat Stats] Melee Attack 32, Ranged Attack 27, Arcane Defense 25, Physical Defense 25; Damage 28-32 Kinetic (Claw), 35 Kinetic (Sword); Block 29; Evasion 28
[Special Abilities] Damage Reduction 20 (Kinetic, Fire, Electric); Regenerate 60 Health every hour; Constriction; Acid Spit; Strength & Agility boost for three minutes; Basic Fire Manipulation.
As she suspected, they possessed higher combat stats than the other Asuras.
The Bovikara demon spun around and hissed at her angrily. Its eyes glowed bright red as its muscles bulged underneath its thick hide. A massive sword was gripped in each hand as it swung them wildly. The air whistled with every swipe.
Ebonheim parried one of its swings with her bow and landed a kick into its midsection. She followed through with another shot to its face.
Two more Bovikras joined the fight, only to be intercepted by Ebonheim's tree sentinels, crashing into them and swinging their limbs wildly. She took advantage of the distraction to fire several more shots at the first demon. It staggered backwards under the assault, but managed to stay upright. Its orange aura dimmed slightly as it suffered more damage.
But Ebonheim didn't let up. She continued firing bolts after bolts at the demon.
Meanwhile, the other two Bovikra engaged with the tree sentinels. One of them used its claws to tear chunks out of the wooden bodies. Another swung its swords with such force that they sliced clean through the tree sentinels' trunks. The tops of their bodies crashed to the ground, leaving only stumps behind.
Occasionally, Ebonheim glanced across the clearing to check on the battle there. While she fought with the gatehouse guards, the Order and the Silverguards were engaged in a fierce skirmish with the remaining Asuras. Dozens of demons had already fallen under their blades. She hoped the group could hold out until she finished dealing with these demons.
As long as she kept them busy and prevented them from helping the other demons, her plan would succeed. All she needed to do was stay focused and keep firing.
She checked her Essence reserves—she hadn't expended too much so far. Still plenty left to deal with the rest of the demons after these ones. And if she needed to...she could always convert her health into Essence, and heal herself back up.
The Shadaksha flying above let out an angry screech as they continued bombarding her tree sentinels with their Eldritch Blasts. The trees erupted into flames whenever a bolt struck them.
As the last of her sentinels fell, she used Forest's Call to awaken several more nearby Elms and oaks. She gave them a single command: defend me. After sending out more cyclones towards the flying demons from their use of Tempest of the Grove, they dashed through the battlefield with reckless abandon, striking out at any Asuras that dared come near her.
She continued firing bolts at the Bovikras until she managed to slay the first one. Its body crumpled to the ground, its orange aura flickering and fading away. But she couldn't celebrate her victory—she still had two more opponents left to deal with.
----------------------------------------
Evelyne focused her Aetherframe's energy cannon on the Shadakshas swirling above and began blasting them out of the sky. Though the Aetherframe she was piloting wasn't Léandre, it was still well-made. And its arcane rune infusion granted it a formidable arsenal of magitech weaponry.
"Vivi, I need you to give me some cover fire!" Evelyne shouted through her communicator. "Keep those demons away from my flank!"
Viviane's Aetherframe gave her a thumbs up. "On it!" She rushed towards the edge of the treeline and began firing energy blasts at the Shadakshas approaching Evelyne. Her attacks struck several demons, knocking them out of the sky. The rest scattered in response.
Evelyne swiveled the turret around and fired at the Bhutava Asuras advancing on the Order. But before she could get off another shot, a group of Shadakshas dived at her position. She activated her Aetherframe's barrier and braced herself as they slammed into her shield.
"Vivi! Some help here!" Evelyne called out over the communicator.
"Coming!" Viviane answered. She dashed towards Evelyne's side and began firing blasts at the attacking demons. Her shots managed to knock several of them back. But a few still managed to get past her defenses and crash into Evelyne's Aetherframe.
Her control alcove shook violently as the Shadakshas grappled with her machine. She held onto the controls tightly, trying to keep her balance.
"Damn it! Get off me!" she growled angrily. She grabbed hold of her controls and pressed a button. A powerful shockwave rippled outwards from her Aetherframe, knocking the demons back. "Hah! That should do it!"
Unfortunately for her, the shockwave also disrupted her Aetherframe's barrier—allowing a few Shadakshas to land their eldritch blasts. Her control alcove shook again as she struggled to keep her balance.
"Evelyne! You okay?" Viviane shouted over the communicator.
"I'm fine! Just focus on shooting those damn things!" Evelyne answered. She activated her barrier again and resumed firing at the Bhutava Asuras surrounding them.
Viviane nodded and continued shooting at the Shadakshas hovering above them. "If we keep this up, we'll win this battle," she said optimistically.
Evelyne smirked. "Don't get cocky yet," she warned. "We've still got a long way to go."