Tides Of Protomis CXXXIII
The Battle for Dominion: Volker vs. Valefor's Territory!
The battle in the enemy capital was to come, when they would see the final results of the actions they'd taken, the struggles they went through. Though the higher ranked members of the order had survived up to this point, could the same be said for those on the lower rung? Some of the more elite members of the rank-and-file served as a roadblock to them. And there had certainly been some casualties. Though, they didn’t exactly expect it to be easy. The highest commanders of the incursion force spearheaded its march through the searing hellscape, which was one of the zones surrounding the capital of Zylsis. The ground and air saturated in volcanic ash, and pools of magma spread throughout. If the whispers going through the crowd were anything to go by, not everyone was happy with the fact that this was the area they were forced to pass through, to no surprise. But it was one that they would trek through regardless.
Volker himself was especially insistent on that, if not for the fact that this route would allow them less time to prepare, and they would already have to slow down a bit when accounting for the amount of troops they had, and the rest they needed, then there was the fact that this demon, Zagan, was apparently the one he thought he’d never be able to find. His thoughts on the situation had always drifted to a single conclusion. Out of all the demons that make their way between worlds, what are the chances he would see the same one twice, or even recognize the demon, considering he didn’t even have a good memory of what it looked like. If that one hadn’t tried to attack him and his troops those days before, then he for sure wouldn’t have known…
“In a way, that attack served us well. Had we not known of this “Zagan”, then we would have had a factor that we would have left unaccounted for. I know not how strong this creature was, but if he is indeed the one who killed my father,who was a Rasherat, he would have to have been at the higher ends of C-class… and that’s not accounting for any growth he may have had.” Beside him, Mazurus put his hand onto his chin in thought.
“That event took place nearly a decade ago, 8 years, right?” Mazurus questioned, getting a nod in response.
“Then could he have made his way up to the level of power that these generals have?” This caused the gazes of all of those there to move to him. It was an interesting enough question, and most likely, one that they would need answered if they were to be successful in their battle. Ayaka parted her lips to speak next.
“That presents an issue… There are Seven Generals, and of them, we, and them, have only encountered Four. And we don’t know the true extent of that one called Zeta’s strength. And that’s not even speaking about the one they call an Emperor.”
“Our strategy will need to depend upon that as well. At the very least, we have support in the form of the other force. If nothing has gone wrong with them, they will be in this Capitol before we get there. If their track record is anything to go by, then we shouldn’t have a problem… But we don’t know that.” What to do from here? These questions came up in Volker’s head, but he’d pushed them aside from now, they still had a few days of travel ahead of them. That was plenty of time to determine their next course of action, and possible plans. Not to mention the reinforcements that would be coming their way. Fresh troops who had been bolstered with the information they’d gained in this realm was nothing short of a gigantic boon to their forces.
While the holy order’s troops continued to move across the volcanic plains, a certain Mashavet watched this take place from afar, his blood boiling in his excitement, and an army of his fellow demons at his back. Would they be able to satisfy this lust for blood he’d always felt? That much remained to be seen.
“The killing of that old weakling Mu, and his equally weak offspring does not mean they will be a challenge. If they are, then all the better. And if they are not, it is simply time for some blood-letting. Let’s show them the demon realm is not friendly to those with no power!” The Tiger Mashavet’s glee was shown with a Vigorous, booming roar to the sky that echoed from miles without. Resulting in a resounding cheer flying outward from his troops. And in a short time, they were already ready to begin their battle, powerful legs propelling the demon forward, as he bent them, and jumped toward the known leader of the force, Volker himself…
The slayer launched himself out of the way, allowing his attempted attack to slam into the ground, rupturing it in an instant. The slayer began to look down to his previous spot, to see the demon who’d attempted to attack him. Who promptly began to speak out.
“Human! I am one of Maleggan’s newly ascended generals, and the one who will destroy your force, Prepare to meet your end!” The commander’s eyes began to move across the battlefield, and the rapidly summoned holy arms began to fire upon the mass of incoming demons. Mazurus fired Ogun into the enemy’s ranks, tearing whatever creature was unlucky enough apart within moments. Saka very much took the same action, a mass of light arrows piercing, and causing them to disintegrate upon contact. The front line troops engaged in a deadly dance, the clang of blades against armored skin, the crack of gauss rifles being fired. A larger demon, one with a body of stone, found himself surrounded on all sides with slayers. As one jabbed deep into his skin with her holy arm, a lance, another came to bring a warhammer down upon him from above, aiming to shatter him. But the attack was ill-fated, as a stream of ice threw the slayer away, and skewered him. The source of the ice, an avian demon, attempted to send another wave outward, but another one of those fighting didn't intend to let this pass. Goda Ayaka’s hand moved to the holy arm on her hip.
The demon itself kept its attention on the swordswoman. Perhaps noting the higher level of power contained within her. But before it had much time to move forward, its vision split in too, a direct result of the Iaido slash, which rended through its body. And shortly, it was already disintegrating.
“Another attack attempt, and this soon? Troublesome… But I trust Volker enough to handle that self-proclaimed new general… Though that statement alone raises a lot of questions…”
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The mentioned leader flashed across the magma-laden battlefield around them, quick action taken to elude the swipe of Valefor’s claws. All the while, returning the attempted attacks with a flourish of strikes from Astaroth. But alas, it seemed his opponent was quick as well, able to make his way around the strikes, and close the distance undamaged. The closeness of the battle was noted by the invasion force’s commander.
“I need to end this, and quickly… I can’t allow for any delays.”
“Switch!” In a short time, the edges of the Tiger Mashavet’s visio began to warp, something that was noted, but ultimately ignored. That was until, the technique took effect, which resulted in the human disappearing from his sight, and himself, seemingly having drawn closer to where he initially was. He didn't have much time to think about what just took place, before Volker’s Astaroth carved into his back, creating a gash which spouted a green liquid. Though a tinge of surprise made it onto the demon’s expression, ultimately, he was nonplussed… Especially with what he had up his sleeve… A crimson bubble of demonic energy began to surround them, something which made Volker glance around, observing the changes in his surroundings.
“You may be confused, human… But this is something I call my territory… You won’t have such an easy time, not against me.” “Territory”? What exactly did that entail? Volker did not respond, only preparing to launch out another strike. But before he did so,.. He felt something, a higher concentration of demonic energy, right behind his head. He ducked down, just in time to avoid the pulse of crimson light, which very lightly grazed his skin. In short time, what looked to be one, was joined by a second, a third, and a fourth. A deadly lightshow began to take place, and forced him into an acrobatic airdance, flipping around one beam, and backing off from another, ascending to keep one from hitting, and quickly ducking down before the next. It seemed that the situation was only going to become worse, as the creator of the bubble around him, Valefor. Four deep cuts created across his face, as the demon passed by, drawing his sharpened claws across it And before long, slammed a fist into the Slayer’s stomach… This, along with the beams careening toward him, didn’t bode well. He’d need to do something, and quickly.
“Switch!” Yet, despite Volker invoking the name of his technique, Nothing took place, neither the warping in space, nor the change in position… Was this some unique effect of this “Territory”, as the demon called it? He doubted he was going to answer that question. Instead, he’d moved in favor of flying toward the human once more, and beginning to batter and slice him all the same…
The strikes continued to shake his body, the loss of blood only expedited by the cuts created across it. The bone-crushing concussive force of the beams, doing no shortage of damage to him as well.. Just what was this demon? How could he win this battle? He couldn’t expect the others to jump in and help, they were likely busy with their own battles… Could he let it end here? So close to his goal, stopping the invasion, returning to earth Victorious? No… That would not do… He needed to win… Unaware of the internal dialogue his opponent was going through, Valefor continued making his strikes all the while.
“And I was led to believe this would be a challenge… No matter, it’s time to-” The demon’s words were cut off by a fist slamming into his jaw, sending him flying away from his opponent. Something which caused him to look on in surprise. The body which at first seemed to be going limp, was now active once more. With an intense burning in its eyes. And a second wind, given the power which radiated from him. Wings of light, and a halo were forged around his head and back… As Volker found that the pain from his wounds had decreased to a staggering extent, he began to look across his body.
“So this must be it… The famed Holy Drive… A state which only the members of our council, the first slayers, have been able to achieve… It’s potent, no doubt, but I can feel my power draining by the second, I need to end this quickly!” The radiated energy began to pour out, as Astaroth appeared in his hand once more, and began to change its shape, extending to a longer length, the blades themselves growing broader. The slayer shot through the sky, appearing in front of the general within a mere moment. And cutting a gash across his torso. Before launching him away with a kick to his side.
“What the hell?!” The slayer’s approach was coming quickly, and the demon acted immediately to stop it, beams began careening upon him from all directions, and yet, he seemed nonplussed, parting his lips, and yelling out a single word.
“Switch!” The demon soon found himself in the path of his own beams, where he’d previously seen the human. He acted quickly enough to stop from being damaged by his own attacks. But his mind was on something else… His domain could stop demons equal or below him from using their techniques, making killing such opponents an even easier task than it already was… If this human was able to use that switch thing, despite being in his domain, then…
“Dammit… It's time to leav-'' But before he went anywhere, as if knowing quite well what the demon was planning, Volker appeared in front of him. Jabbing his holy arm into the demon’s stomach, silencing him. But he did not stop there, beginning to spin the blade in his hands, leaving cuts across the body as he ran around it. The demon himself looked on, as more and more of his blood began to leave his body. The rapidly gained injuries only made worse by the Numerous strikes planted into his flesh. While there is only a single thought in Volker’s head… Win, Win now, win later, there was too much at stake if they failed. They had with them some of the order’s strongest slayers, and as far as he knew, on the other side, some of the world’s strongest proto-humans. Who knew if whoever was left was enough to defend earth from another incursion…
“You will die, here and now! Earth belongs to humanity, and Humanity alone! You will not take it!”
His declaration was punctuated by a downward slash which cut the demon in half. Shortly followed by the red bubble that was his domain, beginning to fall. In the deep of combat, one of many demons looked up to the sky, and took note of the change, with an expression of fear making it to his face.
“...What?!” One of the demon’s comrades came to his side, an eyebrow raised, Until he looked above and noted it as well. The falling domain, and the splitting halves of their General’s body, which parted to give way, to the expression of a now-winged slayer, Volker. Apparently. This did not go unnoticed. As the combatants, slayer and human alike, began to look upon this sight. Saka Ademola lowered his bow, as he began to speak.
“That’s… Holy Drive… Someone else actually managed to unlock it?” Saka questioned… It didn’t take long for Volker to take action once more, reeling his arm back, and holding Astaroth as if it was a Javelin, before launching it forward, directly into the thick of battle. With practiced ease,exerting his control over it, and making the blade begin revolving, cutting through, and eviscerating any demon in its path. Leaving nearly no survivors in its wake… The leaders of the invasion force began to regroup, as did the many soldiers. Though, this course of action changed when the wings and halo disappeared, and the second-wind he experienced was over. The slayer’s body careened into the ground, slamming against it unconscious, but bearing no further injuries. Goda ayaka’s holy arm disappeared, and she kneeled, hoisting the unconscious commander’s body into her arms.
“Another victory… But it seems it was not without cost.”Ayaka stated.
Joining her were Mazurus, and Bui. Who glanced at each other, and back toward their old friend.
“It seems he’ll need healing, but we can continue nonetheless… But to think he unlocked that form. That’s Volker for you, eh?” Orders for a continued march were shouted, as the Holy order prepared to continue on their march, thankfully, most of their troops had remained undamaged. But could the same be guaranteed for the oncoming battle? Only time would be able to tell.
つづく
To Be Continued