CHAPTER 161: Last One Laughing

Looking at the tip of the blade about to pierce him, Lucas didn’t feel fear. He didn’t cringe away from it or look back on past decisions trying to find something that could have changed things. This had been a small battle in a bigger war.

In both combat and boxing, some fights you had a chance to win and some you didn’t. Sometimes you could dig deep to find an extra something to move you to victory. Other times you got thoroughly whooped. This was the latter.

So many times, they talked about the disadvantages the humans had in this war. They lacked resources, knowledge, experience, and even advanced classes. Winning everything had been a long shot. Just because you wanted to save the world didn’t mean it was possible. The fact that their enemies could buy access to stronger soldiers and weapons, while the people of Earth couldn’t, set the stage for a lopsided victory.

Lucas had more than resigned that he wouldn’t see the outcome of this war. He had known since they defeated the goblins, though he wanted to drag it out as far as he could. He was no quitter. His death was probably for the best. He would rather be killed than see his friends and people subjugated by these invaders. It had always been victory or death, and death had been the card drawn in this fight.

Without moving his head, just shifting his eyes, he saw Joseph stumbling about from blood loss, tightly clenching his arm. Randall had backed up to Tom’s unconscious body, looking around unsure of what to do. If he had been a decisive person he never would have ended up in Lucas’s crew, or even at odds with his family. Right now, he seemed lost. He could run, carrying Tom away. He could try to get Joseph away. He could even attack, though he had no reasonable weapons left to use.

Oh well. There was nothing Lucas could do for them. Those massive talons were piercing his skin and trying to break his sternum and rib cage. They hurt, but so many things had since the [System] came. This was no worse than with the Testudinates, only this time there would be no Adam to rescue them.

Adam. He had been the equalizer. Not only was he strong enough to compete until now, but he had lifted up those around him. An entire city had worked together, built itself up to fight. Lucas felt pride that he had been a part of that. Adam had done so much without even intending to.

Former invaders worked with them, enemy bases conquered, knowledge found, and resources claimed. Adam had driven them all, even when people baulked. Putting everything he had into this fight had forced other people to as well.

It would have been easier for Adam to take a solo route. By himself or with a small group he could have moved in the shadows to do his damage. That might not have saved humanity, but it would have saved some of them. Yet, that wasn’t who Adam was. As warped as he had been under the [System], as angry and hate filled, he was still driven by his desire to save. He didn’t conquer for himself, but for humanity.

Lucas believed in Adam. He enjoyed his unexpected friend. Even more importantly, Lucas respected Adam as deeply as anyone. Lucas’s only regret at his own death was that he wouldn’t be able to help Adam, to bring him out of wherever the invaders were holding him. Unfortunately, the Scyrric in front of him was too much. As much as Lucas had wanted to save Adam, Tom had been right. They hadn’t been strong enough, and it wasn’t what Adam would want.

There were no words of defiance. No hateful glaring at the enemy that Lucas now knew he couldn’t overcome. His eyes flicked from the Scyrric’s, to the blade, and back.

Sgolkr’s lips peels back in a grin, showing off his teeth, each the size of Lucas’s fingers. His eyes sparkled with glee. Green blood and a few tooth shards were still on the lizard man’s face and armor. There was no request for last words. No monologue to explain his superiority. Between the human and reptile, the blade said enough.

The tip went into Lucas’s neck, the skin offering no resistance to the point of the blade even with his high vitality. It pierced the skin, sank into the muscle, and was about to enter his trachea.

A roar filled the air, and everyone stopped.

Surprise filled Sgolkr’s face. The blade was violently pulled from Lucas’s neck as the Scyrric spun to face the origin of the roar. During the spin he let go of Lucas, who hit the ground hard and slid, though other than the bleeding punctures from his chest and neck, he was still physically fine.

Lucas looked up while on his back. His eyes opened wide. In front of Sgolkr was a man, a human. His skin was tinted red. The air around his body rippled from the heat radiating out. His eyes lacked intelligence, instead filled with bestial fury, a rage that wanted to burn the world. In his hands was a large club, made from bone.

“You dare to challenge me? ME?!” shouted Sgolkr, also heating up as his anger and strength increased. “A level 24 Blood Berserker thinks they can beat a vanguard of the glorious Scyrric?!”

In answer, Gregor swung the club.

Sgolkr easily blocked it with his oddly shaped Scyrric sword.

“We should get out of here,” said a soft voice as he placed a hand under Lucas’s shoulder. Chad helped him get to his feet.

“Thanks, but I’m ok,” Lucas responded. He finished standing. “Randall, for goodness’ sake, stop hopping around and grab Tom. We’re retreating.”

Then Lucas ran over to Joseph and, not worrying about the blood or complaining, tossed his friend onto his shoulder and ran. It was a straight path, no enemies or allies in his way. He only looked back to make sure Randall was coming with Tom. They dashed along, keeping below their top speed so Chad could keep up with them.

“Will Gregor be alright?” Lucas asked Chad. “I don’t think he is close to as strong as that Scyrric.”

Chad let out a big sigh as he ran, showing that the months hadn’t reduce his physical fitness.

“I hope so. I haven’t seen him fight much in this state, but from what I’ve heard he’ll just keep attacking. He might not have the intelligence to retreat, but he won’t lose quickly. I hope we can work out a plan before he goes too far.”

Lucas nodded and then looked back towards the wall. People were shouting at them and waving, frantically gesticulating for them to get up the wall. Two ropes were dropped. Lucas grabbed one with a single hand, the one still covered by the glove. His grip easily held even as he carried a complaining Joseph. The people up top pulled them up.

Randall didn’t grab the rope or wait. He used [Flash Foot] repeatedly to leap up the wall with Tom on his shoulder, easily beating Lucas to the top.

Chad held the second rope as it pulled him up. Lucas noted that there was suddenly a draft of strong wind from below them helping them ascend higher.

When he arrived at the top, he was pulled over the parapet. Brittney helped haul them over, an easy task with her strength. Abbey rushed forward and grabbed Joseph’s severed arm. Then she turned to Chad.

“Can you use your wind to clean this blood and wound off?” she asked of him.

Chad nodded. He held out his hand and there was a red flash. Then a gust of wind began. It quickly narrowed and swirled, adjusting as Chad twisted and moved his fingers. The wind wrapped the cut part of both the severed arm and the part of Joseph it has been cut from.

Stolen story; please report.

Joseph woozily swayed, almost falling over until Lucas grabbed his shoulder and held him there. Joseph was very pale and looked ready to vomit. The lack of complaints showed just how out of it he was.

“Thank you, Chad,” said Abbey. Then she began giving orders. “Jordan, please direct Ed to come here. We need his cleansing abilities. Until then I’ll do the best I can.”

She took the arm and turned it before trying to place it back on Joseph. His shoulder couldn’t hold steady, so she nodded to Lucas who held it up for her. Once the arm was lined up, she cast [Mend Wounds] on it. There was a sickening slurp sound as the arm fitted back onto his body and the clean sever reattached.

Lucas had seen a lot of gross things, both as a boxer before the [System] and in all the fights since. The moment of reattachment felt like it was towards the top of the list, though still below Adam’s neck getting blown open, or Adam's condition after entering the Testudinate Rift, and the Rift video of the goblins ripping off his fingers...maybe this wasn't so near the top.

Abbey wasn’t finished though. She used [Pain Management] on Joseph next, causing his expression to soften as his eyes began closing. Then she cast [Circle of Life]. A visible soothing green energy formed on the ground around them. It flowed into Lucas, Randall, Tom, and Joseph.

Lucas’s wounds on his neck and chest sealed up and he began wiping off the blood that he could reach. The metal of his chest armor had opened and then hardened from the Scyrric's skill, like cement that was displaced when it was almost dry. The leather was still there and exposed, even if it had the talon puncture marks.

“[Get Up!],” Abbey cast on Tom with a smirk. “[Walk it Off].”

Tom’s unconscious body stood and moved in a circle as Tom’s eyes opened.

“Hey, hey,” he said, strength coming back into his voice. “A little gentler for the infirmed.”

“Don’t be a baby,” she said.

“I guess we lost then,” he asked quietly, looking askance at Lucas.

“Yeah. We were beat the hell up,” responded Lucas.

“No boss to save us?”

“Gregor came to let us get away,” answered Lucas.

“Damn,” muttered Tom, his eyes down cast.

“It didn’t come for free, either,” said a new voice.

Commander Rexus came walking across the wall towards them. He spoke with confidence, pride, and amusement. A half smirk was on his lips. At his side was General Carmichael, looking as unamused as a person can. The two were followed by officers, soldiers, and the seven from Rexus’s Tier 3 unit.

“What do you mean?” demanded Brittney.

“Gregor helped your people escape, but the work is just starting,” explained Rexus. Carmichael nodded his head authoritatively, as though Rexus was just a mouthpiece for him. “Your wall won’t last much longer, and your forces don’t look up to the task.”

With a wave of his arm, Rexus gestured along the wall. Lucas walked over and looked. On the inside of the wall were most of the melee forces. Colonel Davian, Lucas’s dad, and a few other unit leaders were shouting order. They were keeping people in position and defending against a couple of ranged attacks that entered through the breaks in the wall.

Then Lucas walked to the other side of the wall and observed the Scyrric. They weren’t just swarming about aimlessly. They were efficiently working to create an opening wide enough for them to invade through.

In two places where the Kukiolis had attacked, the wall had crumbled and could be passed through. One was about five feet wide while the other was ten. In the two other areas where the wall had collapsed, more than opening an entrance, the Scyrric were clearing the way. The stronger classes would go in and carry out chucks of the obsidian.

As the Scyrric worked, spells fell upon them from those on the wall. Occasionally a few would be picked off by Lamar or Andrea, but the rest of the spells ended up useless as defenders blocked them or barriers would disperse them. Once again Lucas had to admit that even though the levels were comparable, there was still a big difference between the Tier 2 armies.

At the back of the hosts of Scyrric troops, Lucas could see more powerful lizard men. They were the Tier 3s. Orders came from them and only when a large attack looked like it might threaten some of the soldiers would they interfere.

Lucas looked back out to where Gregor was fighting Sgolkr. If it was just the Sentinel Army versus the Scyrric Tier 2 soldiers, then the Sentinels would win. They would take severe losses, but due to sheer numbers they would be able to whittle away the invading army. There were still a lot more combat ready humans than just those on the wall. Although even with a victory the losses would be unacceptably high. It would also leave them susceptible to further invader armies since replenishment and leveling wouldn’t be easy.

Most of the Tier 3s could probably be managed by his group, since their Rift capture titles had increased their stats more than even epic classes would have. That would reduce a lot of the advantages the invaders had with higher levels. Lucas was even sure that other than Rexus and Gregor, their group could take on Carmichael’s group.

Watching the fight between the two berserkers, Lucas was sure none of them had a place in it. Sgolkr was smacking Gregor around, while a feral Gregor wouldn’t be stopped. There were cuts and bruises, but the Scyrric’s armor also looked dented. Both fighters would flash with skill use, easily viewable at this distance. Sgolkr’s blade stabbed at the big man before Gregor could react, only clipping Gregor’s arm due to his momentum dashing forward. Then Gregor used a skill and was able to rip some of the armor off Sgolkr’s extended arm.

It was clear that Gregor wouldn’t win this fight, although he wouldn’t go down in the next few minutes. Maybe Rexus and Gregor really could defeat that high level invader. Maybe Carmichael could be a good leader once he stopped coveting the Rift. Too many maybes, but there was one definite…without Adam they wouldn’t beat Sgolkr. The base was doomed without a different approach.

“What are your terms?” Lucas asked, still watching the fight.

“Full control of the base,” said Carmichael. “I will be the sole authority, followed by my people. I have no issue including your people in the chain of command after you prove yourself to be free of alien interference and capable of a post.”

“Those terms aren’t possible,” said Lucas. He turned and met Carmichael’s eyes. “Adam has ownership of the Rift, and we can’t change the permissions until he gets back.”

“Bah! That alien lover already ditched you,” taunted Fleming. “I haven’t seen him or heard of him being around since after we got here. He saw the writing on the wall and ditched you.”

Lucas could tell his friends were rising to the bait, so he held out his arm to stop them from drawing weapons. Carmichael noted it and nodded.

“What is your counter proposal?” the military man asked.

“We can’t give you full control since the operators have already been set. There is no way around that you’ll have to work through them. But I can give you command. I will personally make sure everyone else falls in line…as long as it doesn’t directly endanger them or the people.”

“What about differences of opinion?” asked the General.

“You will be in charge. We’ll follow the orders though I do recommend you accept our input before giving them. Creating animosity, like Fleming there likes to do, won’t benefit anyone. My father was a soldier, I understand the chain of command.”

“One finally thing,” said Carmichael. “We can’t trust any of the aliens. Your rabbit people will have to go.”

Everyone watched Lucas intensely as he thought it over. After a few moments he nodded. “We will relocate them and bar them from Jackson. You won’t see them again.”

There were gasps all around. His friends were shocked by Lucas’s agreement.

“You can’t do that!” exclaimed Brittney.

“Putting this guy in charge will ruin things!” spat Randall.

Abbey had her hands on her hips and glared disapprovingly at Lucas.

“Listen,” said Lucas calmed, getting their attention. “Adam was respected and followed due to his power. My crew followed him because he wiped the alley with us and then the goblins. You girls followed him because you were curious at how he got so strong. The police and army followed him because of the intel he had due to his strength, and his demonstrations of power. Right now, we aren’t enough to protect Jackson. If Carmichael’s…”

Someone cleared their throat, interrupting Lucas.

“…General Carmichael’s group has the power to do what Adam did, then does it matter? In the end Adam always preached that in this new world the strong would lead.”

“Tom, can you believe this?” demanded Randall, speaking with disgust. “This guy is selling us out!”

Tom had been uncharacteristically quiet, watching all the parties with a sharp eye.

“Lucas is right, Randall,” said Tom, skipping nicknames. “We can’t win without something changing. We’ll give these guys a shot, since right now it’s the best of what’s available. Besides, if we don’t have to worry about protecting the base, we’ll have more time to focus on what the boss wants, to clear out the invaders.”

“Then it’s a deal,” said Carmichael, reaching out his thick hand towards Lucas. Lucas didn’t move or even uncross his arms.

“Only IF you can kill that Scyrric,” he insisted. “Once we see that, then we’ll agree.”

Both Lucas and Carmichael stared at each other for a moment, neither blinking nor turning away. Finally, Carmichael nodded in agreement.

“You’d better keep your word, soldier. Rexus, get your men and deploy. You have an invader to kill.”

The mood among the Sentinel Army and Adams friends was gloomy. They all looked depressed at the agreement. Commander Rexus and a few of his men laughed as they walked to the wall.

As the special forces unit readied to jump from the wall, Tom spoke up. This time his voice had all its usual mirth and disrespect.

“Besides Randy, WHEN the boss returns, if he doesn't like what they've done then he’ll wipe the floor with them.”

As Rexus and his men froze, suddenly silent, Tom was the last one laughing.