Chapter 23
First strike
We stepped out the other side into what seemed like a different world. The air was hot and bitter. The landscape was barren, and all the vegetation was brown and dying. There was a persistent wind that blew the dust around in little vortexes. There was a faint smell of something acidic and metallic in the air. The sky was red, and the sun was partially obscured by rust colored clouds. My brothers and I were the first to exit the portal followed a few steps behind by Doran, Paige, and Jasper. Jasper and I spent the next few minutes making a barrier that would conceal our presence and mask any sound that we might make this close to the stronghold of a Pillar. Once all our teams were in place we went over the plan once more.
“Teams 1-4 are going to flank to the left and take out the guards and keep the left flank busy. Teams 5-8 take the right flank and help get any surviving humans out of the combat area. Teams 9 and 10 will come with us straight into the stronghold. We are going to hit Kokoda hard and fast. The Organization will be using their proficiencies to help us in whatever ways they can.” We had used the rest of our Arcanium stock to muster as much ammo for the organization as we could so they would be more effective in the battle.
With everyone on the same page and locked and loaded we set off towards the stronghold that lay in the distance. A large castle like fortification that had been created by salvaged materials from the other buildings that used to be around the main building. It was a gruesome building with shape edges and spikes jutting out of everywhere. The metal of the walls was rusted and covered with skeletons of varying species. The doors had demonic symbols drawn on them in what looked like oxidized blood.
I’m not very knowledgeable of demonic symbols and language but I did recognize two of the symbols “Death” and “Torture”. I looked at my brothers and they nodded knowing what I was thinking. Once we were within a mile of the castle the two different teams split off from us and disappeared into the distance to the right and left of us. The two teams with us took off towards the castle. I found a building that hadn’t been completely demolished and took a shooting position on one of its upper floors.
Before heading off toward the castle as well he put a hand on the wall of the building and used a sizable portion of his energy to fortify it. I pulled out my rifle and two boxes of ammo and I put the bipod on the window ledge and took aim down the sight. I scanned the battlefield and took notice of where each of the teams were placed. I also saw a convoy of about 20 armored personnel carriers staying hidden in the trees. I put a small earpiece into my ear and activated it.
“Allie, do you read me?” I asked into the earpiece. There was a crackle of static then a reply
“We read you 5 by 5.” Allie replied. She also added, “Just so you know this is an open channel so there are more commanders that can use your advice.” When she finished, I got several other communications from other Organization commanders. I gave them the green light and advised them that we were in position to strike. They confirmed and the APCs sped out of their hiding spots to converge on Kokoda’s castle. I also linked a broad range message to the entire attack team.
I moved my rifle to aim at the ramparts of the Castle walls and saw about 30 or 40 sentries of varying demonic races. I linked their locations to the teams, and I let the Organization teams know through the earpiece. I took aim at one of the sentries and fired two shots. The energy infused rounds sped silently across the open field and pierced the shield and hide of the demon. Before it could even fall, I took two more shots at the sentry next to it. This time either the shielding was stronger, or it had stronger armor but only one of the rounds made contact and it didn’t seem to fully take down the demon. Fortunately, my rounds had a secondary ability and a few seconds after the round stuck in the shoulder of the sentry a small burst of energy sprouted large spikes of ice that pierced the demon’s heart and side of its neck. After a few more shots I took a second to look at the field to see where my brothers were.
They were approaching the gate with Doran and the others. When they got about 50 or so feet from the gate a very loud horn sounded from behind the walls. Several little doors opened in the walls and 1000s of ravenger demons came bolting out.
I linked quickly to everyone
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
I left the rifle in that building and headed for my brothers’ position. I pulled out several arrows and held them in my bow holding hand against the front of the bow. I pulled another arrow out and knocked it at the ready. When I got close enough, I sent several arrows flying taking out the demons closest to Shyft’s blind spot.
He turned quickly and then looked over at me and said, “It’s about time you showed up.” Grinning he went back to fighting the ravengers. I sent a shot at a large cluster of the demons and just before my arrow hit I gathered my energy and made the arrow shatter in a million little razor sharp pieces of ice. The ravengers were shredded and fell in a pile of body parts. I ventured a look around I could see the right flack teams fighting with the wall guards that I couldn’t get shots on earlier. The left flank was battling with a large band of the ravengers. Once the ravenger hoard around us was getting thinned out I sent a link to the two teams that had followed us for the forward attack.
A loud screeching sound pierced the air. I looked up to see the front gate swinging open. Two massive abominations squeezed through the open gateway. They both had multiple limbs and massive gapping maws. Hundreds of misshapen razor-sharp teeth lined their jaws. They both had runes circles and spell scrolling covering their bodies and they had a very strong magic aura which was very odd.
I looked at my brothers and said, “These are not the same as the other abominations we have faced.”
Shyft shook his head. “How could they have magic I thought they were just reanimated pieced together bodies, mutated and twisted to be deadlier.”
I shrugged and said, “I don’t know brother but, we don’t have time to figure it out we have to get passed them to finish this.” The abominations came lumbering across the field toward us. The abomination to the left started to gather a sickly green energy that also had a metallic sheen in its enormous hands. Just the feel of the energy was stomach turning. The abomination launched three large disks of this grotesque energy. Baker threw up a large thick wall of his energy and Doran helped shore it up with several large earthen pillars behind the wall. One of the disks changed direction to circumvent the wall and the other two hit the wall directly. There was an audible sizzling sound as the disks splashed across the wall and several small droplets hit my arm and started to burn through immediately.
“Fuck this is some sort of acidic energy don’t let it touch you. Link the other teams tell them I need a few different healers plea…….” I tried to finish my sentence but doubled over in pain. I sent a few waves of my energy through my body. It wasn’t just acidic; the energy was infectious. The pain was intense, and I could feel it moving through my system trying to shut down my organs.
I reached up and motioned Baker down close. “Can…you…...call shade for me.” I coughed. Baker nodded and whistled almost soundlessly using energy to increase the frequency of the pitch. Shade came through a portal on the ground almost immediately.
“Wingless what happened?” Shade asked concerned
Baker put a hand on my chest to keep me quiet. “He got hit by a blast of acidic energy and it seems to be causing more damage than just acid. He needs you to go get the best healers and get them to the abandoned building so they can help him.” Baker explained to the phoenix. Shade didn’t even wait he immediately created a portal underneath my body and transported me to the building I had used as a sniper nest earlier. I closed my eyes and coughed from a spasm of pain and when I opened my eyes there were 4 Sanctuary healers gathered around me talking to me.
“Sir can you tell us what is going on?”
I shook my head to clear my vision. “It’s an acidic energy that also has infectious effects when it touches skin. It is a very quick acting infection, and it seems to be going for major organs first. I can’t purge it because I’m using my energy to block it from getting to my organs. I don’t think I can hold it much longer because the pain is increasing exponentially, and I fear I might black out soon.” The healers went to work immediately. I could feel the energy from them spreading through my body seeking the invading infection. When the energy contacted the infection, extreme pain spread throughout my body. I let out a yell and the healers withdrew their energy immediately.
“Don’t stop its probably just a defense mechanism in the energy to dissuade energetic healing. I have had these effects before, and I know the best way to get back in the battle quickly is to take the pain. Just do it fast.” The healers reinserted their energy into me and quickly attacked the infection. Several long excruciating minutes later I could feel the infection starting to diminish.
Another half hour of constant attendance by the healers completely removed the infection and neutralized the acid on my arm. I regained my composure and energy quickly. I got to my feet, thanked the healers, and linked my brothers.
“All shielders and defenders put everything in to protecting the people around you. Employ all of your energy to your defenses.” Baker said through the full link. We received several responses at once that made my head spin. “Copy that, Master.” The feeling of several people talking in your own head at one time was disorienting.