Chapter 63 – Surprise Attack
It would be on record that waiting to start the next wave was generally not a good decision. The day after the 4th wave, the entire city had a sort of open-air festival. Everyone out on the streets, taking the opportunity to relax and let a little of the tension go. There were no formal events, just a lot of people trying to make the best of a stressful situation.
They held a small service for the 2 who died the day before with only a few friends attending along with Franklin, Rohm, and a few of the other key leaders. It was an unfortunate situation but one they had to muddle through none the less. Matt found it odd that there wasn’t more grieving but realized nobody really knew each other for longer than a couple months.
Things began going down hill that afternoon, when clouds formed overhead. Weather was still a regular, if unpredictable, experience. Nobody was really planning on the absolute soaking that poured down. Over 5 hours of heavy rain finally gave way to a steady drizzle the next morning and the sky brightened to show a very soggy city. In a relatively empty section, though no less wet, the pilots were starting to gather for the next wave.
“Haa, I shouldn’t have thought it.” Matt muttered under his breath.
“Thought what?” asked Jess as she ducked under awning set up in the pilot staging area. She was absolutely sodden, much to Matts amazement.
“Oh, after the last wave, when Frank decided to let us wait a day, I thought ‘what harm in waiting’” Matt used a voice that he though made him sound like an idiot. It became immediately apparent that Jess was convinced of his idiocy, since she kicked his shin. Hard.
“You of all people should know better!” She hissed while wringing out her hair.
“Ow, Fuck!” Cursed Matt as he hopped on one foot to get out of kicking range. “How did that hurt through armor?”
Jess would never admit that she was certain the kick had also broken a couple of her toes, thus the reason for her hissing out the words. “Because the System thought you deserved it.” She said before turning her back to him to hide the tears welling in her eyes. Breaking toes hurt, regardless of if they healed in a couple minutes.
Both of their attentions were arrested by the sudden beam of blue that appeared to the west. The signal that the next wave would be starting soon as the previous ones hadn’t lingered after the defeat of the 4th wave.
Matt shoved his helmet on, sealing himself off from the rain. “Well, good luck out there.” he said while limping over to his mech to move to his gate. “If you get in a tight spot, just kick them in the shin.” He said the last part in a joking tone while Jess glared at him.
Van greeted Matt immediately once he climbed in and sat down. “You know she broke something kicking you right?”
“Oh, I am well aware. I even heard the crunch.”
“And you did nothing, not even a comment?” the core rumbled.
“Sometimes, it’s best to let them have the win.” Matt answered in his most sage like voice.
Van was clearly not understanding and radiated confusion through their connection. Matt just ignored it and they set off toward the gate, taking their usual position behind the ‘short’ wall. The classers that had been stationed there were taking down a large tarp that had been set up to keep them dry. They slowly took their places, most covered in some sort of cloak to keep the rain out.
Matt looked away from the sodden soldiers and out toward the blue pillar of light. Or what he expected was a pillar but was only visible as a particularly bright patch of haze as the light filtered through the rain and low clouds.
“Command, 5. Think we need to send a scout out since we can’t actually see beyond a thousand meters?” Matt called over the radio.
“Depends. Are you volunteering?” Rohm replied.
Stopping for a moment, Matt considered. Him and Echo were well suited for the task since the drake was nearly invisible in the best conditions and Matt had his viper hood/ cloak thing. “Sure. I will leave Van at this location and take Echo.”
“Wait! I was just…”
“Too late, already out the door.” Matt said and cut the line.
He had already sent a communication to Echo and knew the drake was lurking nearby. Sure enough, a slightly darker patch of shadow detached itself from behind the gate and stalked forward. “Van, you know what to do.” Matt said as he hopped down to join Echo on the wall.
“Umm, lord Matt?” one of the classers asked as Matt and Echo climbed up the stairs and stepped between the crenelations.
“I’m going on a little snooping mission. Be back soon and don’t shoot me.” With that, both pilot and familiar leapt from the wall and ran at a 45-degree angle from the glowing spot on the horizon. They disappeared into the fog and trees a moment later, on the hunt again.
*****
Well, this is different. Matt thought as he peered through the ever-present rain. He was currently tucked back into the woods, observing from behind one tree while using the brush to break up his silhouette. Echo was off to his right, having stalked to a position further down the hillside.
The enemy this time was humanoids. They were all around the same height as Franklin with several being a head above that. The big difference was the second set of arms. Matt was able to see a smaller set of arms that came out from under the ones attached in the usual place and were typically pulled in close to the body. Matt hadn’t seen them being used much other than to brush things away or other small movements.
The army was all wearing a flat grey sort of uniform, only the heads and hands exposing the orange skin of the beings. Matt watched what he estimated to be a force of a couple thousand unpacking supplies from crates and assembling some sort of cannons. A quick scan using identify showed what they were fighting.
Tikshir Gunner. Level 45
Tikshir Lieutenant. Level 47
Tikshir Soldier. Level 43
Their equipment was also rather interesting. Each of the soldier types wore a set of webbing with hard sided containers attached, rather than the more traditional soft side pouches. Their rifles appeared to be small bore, bolt actions with decent sized magazines sticking out below the wooden stocks. He didn’t see any optics, or any other accessories attached to any of them so assumed that they hadn’t bothered developing those for general infantry.
“Command, 5.” Matt called over the radio, having seen enough.
“Go ahead, 5.” Rohm answered immediately.
Matt explained the situation as best he could, giving current status and disposition of the invading troops. Then he made his recommendations. “Rohm, send the commandos, have them approach from the south and delay just inside the hills, then push infantry supported by constructs directly from the city and arrange them ad a screen action.”
“Roger, moving. Commandos will be on site in…” he paused, probably looking at the map and talking to Jess. “15 minutes.”
Matt had already called up Van and the core was making his way along the north side of the valley toward his location. He settled in to observe the army, watching for any surprises. They were moving along at a decent speed, having already all come through the portal. The crates were all opened and thought he could make out a couple dozen cannons being assembled.
The short, barreled devices were being placed onto tracked carriages which he assumed were self-propelled judging by the design. The cannons were mounted on a rotating base, but it left the crew completely exposed as only one was atop the platform and the rest seemed to be setting up behind.
Through his spying, Matt noticed that the weapons were being assembled by groups of around 50 with what was clearly an officer directing each unit. Echo then sent him an image and Matt started making a plan. The Drake had stalked right to the edge of the woods and was able to see one of the beings that didn’t dress like the others. He was wearing a sort of great coat and had a wide brimmed campaign hat to keep the rain off.
Tikshir Commander. Level 51
Matts musings and schemes were interrupted by the radio crackling and Jess’s voice. “Matt, Recon is in position.”
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“I am in position as well. Holding 500 Meters to your north-west.” Van added a moment later.
Matt kept his eyes on the army that was slowly marshaling and almost ready to move as he responded. “Here is the plan. Van, push and engage first, they have some arty so be ready with the shield. Focus on staying mobile and keeping their attention.” Pausing for some mental math he continued with Jess’ orders.
“Jess, when Van kicks the party off, I want your teams to form a gun line and advance over the hill. Take out the guns first then focus on troops in the open. If they begin to counter assault, fall back and draw them toward the cordon between here and the city. There is a commander that Echo and I will be trying to take out while this is going on.” He paused after that, tying to think if he needed to add anything else. “Van, if the commandos pull agro, join up with me and Echo but feel free to have some fun on the way.”
*****
Less than a minute later, Matt was in position, looking through his rifle scope at the grass just behind the commander. He didn’t look directly at him, unsure if he also had the human sixth sense of when one is being watched. The troops arranged into 2 columns, broken into segments of 50 troops and their artillery piece.
“Commando, ready.”
“Van, ready.”
“Go.” One word and Matt tried his best to not watch the absolute chaos that broke over the column of troops that had just started moving. Still, he risked a glance, knowing Echo would keep eyes on the commander.
Van delivered in spades with causing chaos and drawing attention. The Mech had sprinted up to the top of a rise at the edge of the woods, silhouette himself on the skyline. The troops all froze and stared, wide eyed, at the titan of metal and violence. Then van swung the cannon, lining up with the first platoon and their artillery.
Literal hell spat from the front of the cannon with flame, concussion and smoke erupting from the muzzle. Van kept the bursts short, 5 rounds into each formation, focusing on the strange, tracked vehicles. The explosive rounds cared little if they met ground, steel or flesh as they exploded amongst the lightly armored enemy. Van swept over the assembled troops, knocking out 8 of the 20 gun carriages.
Matt refocused back on the commander, barely a few seconds having passed since the attack began. He found the man once again, fancy hat discarded as he began shouting in a strange melodic voice. As he yelled, Matt saw a strange blue shimmer ripple out from him and wash over his troops, causing them to suddenly start acting instead of panicking, returning small arms fire at Van. Oh this just wont do Matt thought as he lined up a shot.
Bang. Ting-fwiz. The round hit a sort of shield that shimmered into life just over the commander’s skin. Matt had expected something like that and had already fired 2 more shots which impacted the shield, powdering on impact but then the shield broke. He saw the commander start swatting at his chest and finally dropped his coat and threw a medallion looking device to the muddy ground where is began smoking.
Matt was about to fire a 4th round when the commander activated a skill and suddenly shot off toward the wood line like he was being pulled by a rope. Unfortunately for him, that stretch of wood line was exactly where Echo had been lurking. Not half a second after disappearing into the brush, he sprinted back out, firing a pistol behind him.
Matt had moved up, closer to the edge of the woods but not so close that he was fully exposed. He fired another 3 rounds but only one hit, glancing off the shining metal chest armor that was now exposed. The commander then shuddered, stood bolt upright and turned to look directly at Matt, before smiling and then doing…something. His vision suddenly blurred; he got a mental image from Echo that was impossible to understand overtop of Vans shout of warning before the sound of a bell, tolled a single time. Then all was black.
You have been challenged by: Icon of conquest (Possessed Tikshir Commander)
You can not deny this challenge. The only way to escape this challenge is by either one or both parties dying. Due to this being a war challenge, you do not have challenged rights.
Arena: Barricades, Flat.
Weapons: Melee
Participants: 1 v 1
Entering challenge domain in 10 seconds… 9 seconds…
Matt barely was able to read the text through his swimming vision and suspected that he wouldn’t have been able to if it wasn’t projected directly into his mind. He was floating in that strange void like when the System first abdu – Initiated, him, not a thing to see other than the message. He only gained full cognitive function once the countdown started and quickly read through the first message a second time.
A moment later, the countdown ended and there was another flash of golden light. When the light faded, he was standing on a platform, still unable to move. He was in the grassy plain that the army was originally in, but it wasn’t quite the same. There was an opaque barrier completely surrounding an area nearly a kilometer in diameter by his first estimate. The strangest part was that there was a series of earthen barriers rising out of the ground, creating a series of obstacles.
Only a hundred meters away, opposite the newly spouted barricades, was a very orange person with a very punchable smile of his face. Matt felt his wrath beginning to build in his mind, bringing an internal fire to rage within him. Matt didn’t need any more information than what he had and was just wondering how they would begin when a new System window popped up.
The challenge is stated as melee weapons only by the challenger. If you do not have a melee weapon, one will be provided. Non-melee weapons will be stored until challenge is resolved.
Suitable melee weapon detected. Removing ranged weaponry. Removing explosive weaponry.
Armor is compatible.
Challenge beginning in 5 seconds.
Matt tensed, his rifle, grenades, and the cannister that created rockets all dissolved in motes of golden light. He sighed heavily and drew his tomahawk. The situation was far from ideal. He was no duelist and far from experienced in the use of melee weapons other than the messy nature of a knife fight while grappling. Looking across, Matt could see the commander draw a straight basket hilted saber, still smiling and keeping eye contact. Creepy fuck.
The countdown hit 0 and the pressure that was restricting Matt vanished. He immediately jumped backward and to the right. He primarily wanted to break line of sight but had a sneaking suspicion that the movement skill he saw would come around again.
Sure enough, the commander rocketed toward where he had been a moment ago and slashed the air where Matt had been a moment ago. Now that he was close, Matt could tell the man was big, easily half a meter taller than himself. This would be a problem since he had the advantage in terms of reach along with his more appropriate weapon.
As the commander landed, Matt stepped back in from the side, swinging his weapon in an upward slash aimed at the commanders left primary arm that had been extended to the side. The weapon made contact but barely cut deeper than the skin. Matt then twisted, rotating behind and away from the giant.
A sword followed not a moment later in a downward stroke. Seeing that Matt had vacated the area, the commander twisted his wrist and attempted to make a horizontal cut. He had some success as the very tip of the blade glanced off of Matts pauldron. In a shower of sparks, they both disengaged, taking a couple steps each to create some distance. Matt was focused intently on the commander, watching for any twitch that would signify movement when the damn thing spoke.
“Well met, heh, prime, heh heh. I look forward to stealing your power for my own. Heh.” The voice was deep, rasping, with a sort of gurgle to it. “All will be mine, as conquest grants the victor. Heh.”
It was at this point Matt noticed that the smile didn’t reach its eyes. That led him to seeing some of the other oddities. The commanders’ limbs seemed to hang slack, only moving when in use. Even the second set of arms which had always been pulled into the chest were dangling limply. The voice too sounded like he needed to clear his throat but hadn’t any experience in that sort of function.
“What are you?” Matt asked.
“What am I, heh?” the commander gurgled back. “I am an icon of conquest, the natural state of being for the strong. Heh. Where there is life, conquest must occur. Heh. The strong shall always take from the weak.”
“That’s what I thought. You possessed that commander, somehow.”
“Possessed? Heh. I conquered his mind and seized his body.” The icon, as Matt now knew it, turned his head as if listening to something. “Heh. Even now he begs, begs for absolution. Heh. But he is just a vessel, a part of the prize that is seized in conquest.”
Matt didn’t need to hear more. He frankly didn’t want to hear more, very much disgusted by the creature and wondering how this happened in a System event. Instead, he focused, calling his wrath to the fore of his mind and summoned his nascent domain. Around Matt, steam rose from the grass as it dried then shriveled before igniting.
The icon looked confused for a moment, then its confusion turned to abject fear as it realized it picked a fight with the wrong species. Its tricks wouldn’t work on the veiled, those masters of aura whose souls were inviable, incorruptible and to the likes of the icon, invincible. But it calmed slightly, remembering the flesh is still weak. A sentiment it would likely come to regret withing the next few minutes.
*****
Tori was furious. She and the others were watching the fight and nearly one-sided slaughter when suddenly they witnessed an icon being channeled. Well, a fragment of an icon. The fragment then used the commanders challenge skill to lock down Matt and drag him into a dueling arena. The rest of the Tikshir fell quickly without the commander but then the defenders noticed the bubble. A bubble they could see into but couldn’t breach.
“What in the actual fuck.” She swore and turned to the others only to find them not moving, frozen in time. Tori instantly knew what was happening and turned around once more, seeing a being of golden light sitting in the seat to her left. “So, you decided to change the parameters.” She stated, not even questioning what happened.
“I did. Matt has become something of a fascination. I have limited chances to actually influence him in this way and seized the opportunity.” The System avatar spoke in a soft, clear voice. “It is good to expend the excess energy. Your prime certainly has a way of converting it. His performance is beyond standard even for the gifted.”
“Blame her.” Tori said and hiked a thumb over her shoulder at the veiled queen. “You had better compensate him for this. I know it is within your right to alter these engagements, but this is a little much for an E grade.”
“His compensation will be immense if he succeeds. Dare I say it will be ‘Iconic’.” The avatar said with a slight emphasis on the last word.
Tori’s stunned gaze flickered between the viewing screen and the avatar. “You cant be serious. At E grade? A level 50 icon?”
“He is a nearly unique existence. His soul has the capacity to absorb and convert the energy of the icon. If he survives. Which I think he will.” The avatar nodded at the screen, bidding Tori to focus on the challenge.
Tori huffed in annoyance as she turned to watch. “Since when did you start making puns?”
“What do you mean puns? And why is Matt in a challenge with an icon!” Lyrenthea nearly shouted as she saw what was happening on the screen. The System had clearly unfrozen time once more.
Tori sighed and began to explain what was going on to the others in the booth with her. Shortly after catching them up, she got a System message.
You aren’t the only one who has been enjoying the contents of Tobias’s tablet.
Tori snorted, reminded once again that the System wasn’t nearly as cold and heartless as people thought. One just had to stand out and they would get that personal attention, for better or worse.