CHAPTER 135 – NIGHT OF INVASION
GAZELLE LOCKWOOD
The clock struck midnight, unleashing the prophesied onslaught against the Empire's Sanctuary. In the precise moment the digital display blinked to 12:00, a surge of anticipation jolted me awake.
Johnny Wolvesbane stood resolute among the shadows of the Dragon’s Fortress, his presence rallying the dragnoid forces that buzzed with restless energy. The air was thick with the musky scent of dragons, each of the million creatures poised for flight, their scales shimmering under the fortress's dim lights. Confidence surged within me, bolstered by the sea of wings and fire-breathing maws ready to claim victory.
“Centurion,” my voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying the weight of impending doom, “the command is yours. Eradicate all humanity from this planet and meet at my signal to crush the empire.”
Johnny snapped to a salute, his expression steel-hard. “As you command, Supreme Leader.”
I stepped into the summoning circle at the Cathedral Exa’s entrance, its ancient runes etched deeply into the stone floor. Eva had prepared this magical gateway years earlier, its power reserved for a moment as critical as this. The glyphs began to glow, casting eerie lights that flickered like ghostly flames, and then a blinding white enveloped everything.
When the world came back into focus, I stood atop the Human Empire’s castle, a colossal structure floating above a world bifurcated by darkness and light. The silence of the night wrapped around me, thick and oppressive, heightening the sinister thrill that coursed through my veins.
“Welcome to the pinnacle of human folly, Gazelle,” Eva’s voice sliced through the quiet, her grin sharp and promising. Her purple hair whipped around her face, a wild dance in the brisk wind, her crimson eyes piercing mine with fierce determination.
“The final chapter begins tonight, Milady,” I returned her smile with a sly curve of my lips.
Eva’s gloved hand caressed my chin gently. “At last, our fate will be sealed, Milord.”
Our lips met in a desperate, fierce kiss, a mingling of anticipation and passion. As our tongues entwined, the taste of her was like a spark to my senses. This moment of unity was fleeting, savored amidst the backdrop of war and uncertainty that lay before us.
As our kiss broke, Eva’s smile was triumphant. "Just as you predicted, they’ve concentrated their forces on the front lines, utterly blind to an assault at the heart of their empire."
The earlier broadcast and my declaration of attack were merely diversions, the faintest hint of our true intentions. The thought that our plan was unfolding as envisioned brought an involuntary smile to my face.
“And the Oracle?” I queried, shifting my focus.
“She won’t be a concern for now,” Eva replied, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. “I’ve disabled their airship’s Fast Travel Technology here. By the time they can mobilize to this location, it will all be over.”
“Good,” I affirmed. “Let’s begin, then.”
“Right.” Eva nodded, pressing a hand against her chest where a glow of golden light blossomed.
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Mirroring her, I touched my chest, feeling our heartbeats align through the magic coursing between us. With our powers combined, I was certain the Empress stood no chance.
But then, a voice, chillingly familiar, cut through the night. “So this is where you are, Eva.”
We spun around, our moment of anticipation shattered by the arrival of a figure cloaked in the authority of her military dress, her brown hair billowing in the wind like a standard. Marieflorine Corasell stood before us, the Dragon Knight entrusted with Eva’s safety, notorious for her role in crafting the ineffectual Dragonoid Rights Law.
“Madam Corasell!” Eva’s voice was a mixture of surprise and wariness.
Her presence was an unforeseen variable, a ripple in our meticulously laid plans. The night, once solely ours, now thickened with the tension of unfolding confrontation.
Marieflorine's accusation sliced through the air, her voice resolute and edged with betrayal. "I knew something was wrong. Hiraya warned me of your treason, yet I couldn't—wouldn't—believe it. Now, caught red-handed, I have no choice but to stop you." With swift, practiced motions, she unfurled her bladed fans, the weapons catching the faint moonlight in a menacing gleam.
Eva, equally poised with her magical staff aimed squarely at Marieflorine, responded with a mixture of curiosity and defiance. "How? Hiraya was tightly monitored; I cast observer ward spells on her every movement. How did she communicate the betrayal?"
In response, Marieflorine produced a golden card, flipping it to reveal a hastily scribbled warning: "Beware of Eva." She held it out, her expression one of grim revelation.
"This belonged to Lysander, from his days in the Chevalier Unit, but the writing is unmistakably Hiraya's. She handed it to me after their return from Onishira, just after the ambush." Marieflorine's gaze then shifted accusingly towards me, her words laced with venom. "I've been watching since Onishira, even letting you engage in that grotesque display of affection." Her disgust was palpable, her focus intense.
Eva's hands clenched tighter around her staff, her knuckles whitening. The realization that Hiraya had outmaneuvered her from the start was a bitter pill, shaking her pride to its core. It seemed we had been unwitting pawns in the elven Oracle's long game, her foresight plotting our moves up to this very confrontation.
Unfazed, I offered a reassuring smile. "It changes nothing, Eva. We are already here. Our plan remains intact."
Regaining her composure, Eva inhaled sharply, the initial shock morphing back into her characteristic resolve. "Exactly. With the empire's main forces scattered along the frontlines, Marieflorine stands alone between us and the Empress."
The air crackled with magic and malice as we stood on the precipice of battle, the fate of the empire hanging in the balance with only Marieflorine to challenge our ascent to power.
“Eva, Gaz. We stood shoulder to shoulder in the Liberation War, battled side by side during the Ascension of Necross. Why choose this path? Would Amphere and Airelina truly be proud of what you’ve become?” Marieflorine’s words echoed with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief.
Her question struck a nerve. My response was immediate, the Eye of Deus igniting with a fierce, crimson glow that bathed my features in a sinister light. “Silence! Don’t dare invoke their names. You tarnish their legacy by serving the King of Humans.”
“King of Humans?” The confusion in Marieflorine’s voice was palpable, a clear sign of her ignorance.
Eva’s impatience flickered across her face as she shook her head dismissively. “She doesn’t understand, Gaz. There’s no use explaining. Let’s finish this—swiftly, without prolonging her confusion.”
Agreeing with a nod, I closed my eyes, indulging in the darkness behind my lids. “Right. There’s no reason to argue with someone so deluded. Facing her end, yet she clings to her fairy tales. Alone, I could still offer you a merciful exit.”
Marieflorine’s smile then returned, undeterred by our threats. “Alone? Oh, you misunderstand the situation gravely.”
At her signal, the night sky burst into brilliance as eight figures ascended, each adorned with wings of glowing light—a breathtaking yet formidable sight. They hovered with a divine grace, their presence charged with raw magical power.
“These,” Marieflorine announced, her voice steady and proud, “are the Empire’s Erudites Eight. Trained specifically to counter threats like you, even a Dragon Lord isn’t beyond their reach.”
The sudden appearance of these mages, their wings a symbol of their elevated status and power, shifted the dynamics of our confrontation. It was clear that the battle ahead would be far from the straightforward victory Eva and I had anticipated.