50

The Eye of the Storm

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Fires were blazing. Light fought the darkness of the night. The moonlit sky was painted with a faint colour of red and marked by the echoes of gunshots.

That place was their destination, their final hope, but they hadn’t arrived yet. The presence of this fight was their guide through a maze of collapsed buildings.

And heading closer were six individuals treading through mud. Each movement was harder than the one before as their clothes chained them down. Water had carried coarse sand inside. Coarse sand that scratched their skin with each movement. But even with this discomfort, their speed continued to increase.

They had no choice.

Ise, as their vanguard, led the way while carrying Hati. Yet disappointment faced them each time as either a collapsed building held them back, or the small pup warned them to retreat.

The streets were cluttered with rubble. Buildings were either devoured by the swamp or destroyed by the lizardmen’s assault. Scratches, impacts of tails, not a single place went untouched.

But Ise continued to navigate them through this maze. She knew this area like the back of her hand. She had studied here for three years before she returned home. Not to mention, there was someone else who helped her out.

They had no time to wait. They needed to keep up their pace. And each setback delayed their progress as the hissing noise crept ever closer. And two women continued to find the most optimal path through the blocked streets and alleys.

And finally - for the first time since they had crossed the street - an optimistic voice rang out. “We’re almost there.”

Ahead of them, a large building reigned over the ruins of the city. A newly built university had withstood the changes in its surroundings. Not even the assault of the lizardmen had taken this modern structure down.

Ise nodded at the woman and continued, “Get ready, we’ll enter from the back.”

“We’ll make it quick,” Alduin added, “We need to get to the opposite side of the campus. That should bring us to the square the army can be heard from.”

Even now, intermittent gunshots still echoed out. But their frequency was plummeting. Either the army was moving or they were on the precipice of defeat.

But for them, it didn’t matter how many soldiers survived. By now the situation had deteriorated to the point where they couldn’t escape on their own anymore.

They had long lost track of the number of lizardmen they had evaded just getting to this place. Let alone fighting their way out with high-lizardmen on their tail.

“I’ll lead the way,” Ise said, “Hilda, you’re next.”

Shock flashed over the woman’s face. Yet she didn’t dare complain. The last twenty minutes had been nothing but a nightmare to her.

“What?” Ise looked at her with eyes that could kill. “You said you also studied on that campus? It has been several years for me so you will be leading the way inside as well.”

"F-fine," the woman replied with reluctance.

Seeing the submissive expression painted on Hilda’s face, Ise continued, “Alduin, you’re-“

“I understand, I’m part of the vanguard this time,” Alduin interrupted her, there was no time for an explanation. “Let’s get going.”

Their formation was already clear. Alduin followed Ise and Hilda - the woman that joined them - as the vanguard. Leon had put Veleda down by now as they would form the center. And lastly, Bertrand - a shield bearer - finished their formation.

Six individuals stared ahead.

“Right,” Ise replied, “Keep up.” Ise nodded as she pushed her through a narrow crack. A single gap was the sole passage they found. A place where the wall and debris were just wide enough to not touch their back and chest at the same time.

Their goal was a wider road beyond this place before they could finally enter the back side of the university.

Alduin watched Ise disappear and Hilda follow.

His heart continued to pound. His ears were assaulted by its rhythm. Heat rose from the hearth of his navel, almost burning his nerves. The intuition that pushed him warned him continuously, yet he had no choice.

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The trembling water and hissing surrounded them. Alduin knew they would already have died if it wasn't for the cold. His grip tightened on his two spears. This was the only thing keeping his sanity in check.

“Leon.” Alduin stared back.

“I understand,” Leon replied with a heavy voice.

“Thank you.” Alduin nodded. “Veleda, follow me closely.”

A final look stared back. Leon would follow Veleda, and lastly, Bertrand finished their formation.

‘He’s regaining his colour,’ Alduin thought before he pushed himself through the gap. ‘Don’t disappoint me.’

The gray-haired man, the tallest of their group, never said a word after he saved him. But from the flush in his face, and the dried-up blood, he seemed to have regained some energy. This man pushed through three consecutive activations with sheer stamina. Something Alduin wasn’t even capable of.

Yet, all that was hidden, would someday be found. Each silence would always be broken. And their advance was no exception.

Alduin hadn’t even passed the passage before a spike of energy erupted in front of him.

“- DEVOURING SHADOW!”

The cold voice he was familiar with shouted out in rage. A woman yelled out in fear. And an impact exploded on the street they had arrived on.

And finally, Alduin saw the result of this event. His body pushed through the cracks and his vision widened.

“No…” His eyes trembled. His heart pounded. The grip on his spear tightened as his feet moved on instinct.

“Midgard - Thunderclap!”

The second activation had occurred.

Bolts of lightning erupted from his hands. A spear he held was thrown forward. The heat that was gathering in his navel was finally unleashed.

He had no experience throwing spears, but that didn’t matter. The target was only several meters in front of him.

“Midgard - Prison of Water”

One more high-lizardman, another prison of water.

But this time, the high-lizardman was launched backward - albeit not far - before their eyes met.

Pure golden eyes stared at bright blue eyes.

Their attribute shone through their pupils.

“Hilda!” Alduin roared as his steps brought him forth. “Grab Ise and run!”

Their destination was right in front of them.

Hissing laughter rang out. From mud-filled crevices, between collapsed buildings, reptilian creatures showed themselves. From the distance behind them, hissing and shrieking erupted. The layer of water that trembled now lost the final calm as small waves flowed through the swamp-filled streets.

Veleda exited. Her eyes widened. Ise had been pushed under the mud. The leather armor that protected her stomach had a large gash. Blood mixed with mud and groans escaped her. The coat of darkness that covered her almost faded right after it appeared, and the daggers in her hand had both shattered.

“Alduin!” Veleda ran forward as Leon finally exited.

“Run!” Alduin roared. His steps arrived in front of the steaming lizardman. His attribute hadn’t faded yet, currents of light still covered his hands. The second spear he held shot forth.

Hilda was frozen in shock. But the approach of Veleda shook her awake. Two women pulled Ise from her crouching position.

“Get up Ise,” Veleda persuaded, “We need your help!”

Ise finally regained her senses. Mud coated her hair and face. Her eyes were covered with a glaze of frost. But from this coat of dirt, a piercing gaze of death mixed with her lingering attribute.

“We can’t pass it,” she said, all emotion had disappeared from her voice. The moment she exited the mud, she had already taken in the entire situation.

Countless lizardmen appeared from both sides of the street. Even from the exit they planned the enter, a creature appeared.

“What!” Hilda erupted, “Don’t kid me!”

Leon and Bertrand had exited.

Ise watched Alduin dodge a tail swipe of the high-lizardman before she decided. “Leon, you take charge.”

Both she and Alduin were completely covered with mud after a single clash.

“Midgard - Devouring Shadow!”

Before Leon could answer, Ise had disappeared. Much like the Goblin Ruler, the shadows devoured her presence completely.

Not even five minutes had passed for three attribute manifestations to be used up. The darkness reunited with lighting. The sound of thunder devoured by the void.

A shriek, a roar, and a silent predator fought for the final lifeline remaining.

“Get going!” Leon didn’t wait, he understood his purpose. His role was as support. Pulling Veleda with his empty hand, Leon’s eyes landed on the lesser-lizardman blocking the entrance of the university.

“Hilda, Bertrand, take care of her!”

Heavy steps were taken. The mud robbed him of his stability. A thick tail headed for Leon.

‘Focus,’ Leon thought, ‘They’re counting on me!’ His breathing was stable. The energy coursed through his circuit with controlled strength. His left arm was tied with a small round shield and his right arm held a sword - sharper than it had ever been.

Leon’s eyes tightened. He had stepped up. A giant tail aimed at him. And the impact resounded through the descending chaos.

Yet this time, nothing was launched into the distance. Only a shriek - louder than any that could be heard - trumped the symphony of disaster.

The man with the shield had taken his second step forward.

The tail that aimed to cut their lifeline was warded up with all his strength. The perfect defense was accompanied by the perfect offense. The gleaming sword cut the root of the tail. A flexible place where countless nerves converged.

And with a stable motion, the thick tail was separated from the lesser-lizardman. The motion of its movement caused its own demise.

Thick blood sprayed the blond-haired man that led their charge. The entrance was free. Pushing the dying lizardman to the side, Leon shouted, “We’re entering, follow closely!”

Four survivors and a small wolf were the first to grab this lifeline. The last building - the final hurdle between them and their destination - was finally entered. The halls of a modern university, untouched by a swamp, formed the finish line.

Alduin couldn’t help but pay attention to Leon’s accomplishment. His bated breath was released. His eyes focused once more on the creature in front of them.

“The wall that held us back,” Alduin said, “has failed its purpose.” His body trembled with unbridled hatred. Excitement and fear - a cocktail of emotions - pushed him forward.

But one thing was for sure, the lifeline that seemed to break, had been grabbed tightly. The muddy water had no way to hold them back.

Darkness and Light mixed to devour the swamp.