The streets thronged with a cacophony of voices, a bustling tapestry woven from the threads of humanity. Shoulder to shoulder, the masses surged forward, the air writhing with an undercurrent of panic and hope. Among them, a kaleidoscope of characters emerged: soldiers marched with measured determination; priests offered solace amidst the chaos; mothers clutched their children close, while teams of men and women tried to organize them all.
The four nearest available buildings were packed to the extreme with non-combatants. Doors were left open so that even the threshold could be used for space. Shouts and pleas went up constantly, but there was nowhere left to run. Hordes of Corrupted surrounded them from every direction and if it weren’t for high-level individuals holding the ring right now, then there would be nothing left but to give one final cornered strike before they too were consumed.
Making their way back home had not been pleasant or fast but in the end, they had made it. Mark was taken aback by how many different people and factions he saw crammed into the space now. In certain areas, one could not move without bumping into four other people. Mark, Ethel, Sam, and Jonathan left the team to integrate with the defensive line.
Major Liam would act as the head for his platoons and would take up a portion of the blockage. They were not in a situation where they could turn down any help.
Rising up the length of their main tower they stopped on the penthouse's main floor but remained floating outside to stare out at the clouds of creatures.
Mark held Boe's panting body in his arm and turned around to see Karter standing near the window staring out at them. A quick link was all it took to bring him into the loop.
‘They’ve been circling for the last hour. I have teams on the top of the five main buildings and anyone that can even fire a gun has been positioned near a window.’
Mark sent understanding down the link.
The man had already organized a response to this too, luckily they seemed to be waiting for something.
Turning back to the dark clouds of leathery flesh, illuminated by spotlights hanging off the side of the building. Mark bit the inside of his cheek thoughtfully.
In the surrounding skies above, was possibly the largest swarm of Levithans and Ghasts, Mark had ever seen. They were gathering here from all over the city as though called by a higher power. For now, they simply crested in a donut formation above their territory, but it was only a matter of time.
Right now, as he was, Mark might be able to protect one tower for a time, but there were just too many people, and they’d had to expand to other buildings to accommodate everyone.
Karters ‘voice’ came through once more.
“I sent out a small scouting team earlier but they have not checked in in two hours. I can’t but feel we are being corraled. Nas can’t seem to get through either.”
Jonathan chimed in from beside Mark. He held Ethel in his arms as he stood on a blade in the middle of the turbulent sky.
‘Let's focus on what we can do, anyone got any good ideas?’
Mark couldn’t feel it from up here, but he heard the tremors made by the approaching creature. It was still a ways off but it was coming.
‘Actually yes…’ Karter sent a warm reassuring glow down the link.
‘A little while ago, some of our people reported home. Gibby was at the lead, and he came up with a plan that may help.’
Mark's eyes widened, and he was not the only one now to turn and look at Karter through the glass.
Relief and excitement churned through the link, and Mark let it. This was the first piece of good news they had gotten in hours.
“Calm. Their numbers were a third of what you went in with, but they’re still here. A good many of them have been patched up and joined the defensive line, or Gibbys crazy plan.”
Mark found himself urging the major on.
“Well… he wants to use the Ghast’s inherent nature against them. The idea is the cut the lights on all but one of the buildings to create a focal point. If we are lucky the Ghasts should swarm to destroy the source.”
Mark’s mind cast back to when he’d first encountered these umbrellas with barbs, and he couldn’t help but agree.
‘It could work, but what about the strays.’
Mark could see Karter nod from where he hovered.
‘That's why you three will be on top of this tower with a small team and the rest of our forces have already been spread to the other locations. The moment they attack Jude and Metayo are set to kill the lights.’
Mark looked at their HQ, it was the tallest building nearby and an obvious choice if they were going to wave a dinner flag above it, but…
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
‘Then Karter we need to get you-’
A firm sense of pride burst through the connection from Karter.
‘I’ll be staying right here, no but’s or if’s. When they arrive, I shall fight too, every hand can hold a weapon.’
Sam turned to look at Ethel. They exchanged a look and Ethel nodded. Jonathan did not look happy but he floated closer to the balcony and let Ethel down. Following suit Mark lowered Boe into Ethel's waiting arms, making sure to give his long coat one more loving scratch.
Using her words Ethel smiled up at the three of them.
“Be safe, and don’t worry, the old man will see tomorrow, I promise you that.”
Even though she’d spoken instead of using the link, Karter was still frowning from his window like he knew she said something he didn’t like.
Jonathan waved, and the three of them rose to crest the top of the building.
The place had once more undergone a makeover. Gone were the comfy pillows and table, and in their place, crates of ammunition and a dazzling array of torches and lamps.
There were people up here too and amongst their hurried preparation Mark spotted Gibby at the center of it.
He looked as strong as ever, probably able to bounce back due to both outside and internal spells.
The other faces, though no less exciting to see, held more tiredness in their eyes.
Moving around Gibby, were Isabel, Sofia, Franklin, Terry, and Andy.
When they landed Jonathan grabbed Gibby’s arm and shook it, while Sam drew Isabel and Sofia into a large hug.
Mark nodded to Franklin and went to see how Andy was doing. By the look of the bandage, his leg was heavily injured.
“Bruv, no cap? I thought you were a gonna”
Mark just grinned and clapped the guy on his shoulders.
“Is the girl alright? How’s the baby?”
Mark sent Prana into the guy even as he spoke, undoing the torn ligaments from overuse. Mark was relieved to hear Andy, his baby, and the team were okay. At the same time, Mark looked around the area.
Sofia looked like she was still recovering from a neck injury and Franklin’s arm was strapped to his side.
Moving through them, Mark healed them but paused when got to Terry.
Terry watched them all but his eyes did not carry his usual light nature. Pain and aggression flickered behind his eyes, vying for attention.
Mark swallowed involuntarily because he knew that look and the reason for it, the emotions Terry was swallowing down.
Mark himself was trying to hold everything in check until he could get even a moment to himself.
Walking forward he stood within arms reach of the guy, but stopped himself from hugging the guy. Instead, he did nothing, said nothing. What could possibly make someone feel better in this situation, or even just less? Mark wanted to know so he could use it himself.
Terry was the first to speak and the shadows that moved behind his eyes came out in his voice.
“I’m going to help you because that's what she’d have wanted, and I promised I'd live, but if I’m unfortunate enough to survive this, I want nothing to do with any of you. You failed me… You failed her, I can’t…”
Terry looked away, as though he was incapable of looking at Mark.
Mark searched Terry's eyes, all he could see was guilt and the desire to put these feelings somewhere.
“Sure, when all of this is over, and you survive this, we never have to talk again if you don’t want to. Though that's not what I want.”
Mark couldn’t say he felt good about it, but he’d done everything he could and the knowledge of that had to be enough.
Mark looked around at the rest of the people here, they were all connected the the expedition in some way and he knew they were the strongest their Faction had to offer. Making his way through them, Mark healed everyone and then went into [Meditation] near the center. Change continued to take place around him, but he kept funneling as much power as he could manage into his [Animalted Mind].
Around him he could feel the shape of the building being altered as Isabel, Sofia, and Sam added more stone around the place, flaring out the top of the structure, similar to a canopy. They also added a small hut for the casters, and as they were putting the finishing touches on the edges, a change happened in the swarm. They were coming.
The creature below was nearing their territory boundary, but before they could even begin to deal with that, they had to survive this storm of teeth.
Mark hit himself with a [Bestowal] aimed at raising his mental processing speed.
At the same time, Sam came to sit down opposite Mark, and he began to build the strongest [Engrave Mana] he could manage right now. Sam matched her will to his and sent her own Mana into the spell, freely giving as much as Mark needed. Pulling everything he could into himself, Mark imbued it with the ‘absorb’ modifier. Because of his familiarity with the type of spell he was using, and the fact that he had ample time and resources at his disposal. Mark decided to try overlaying a second modifier.
At first, he expected his mind to protest the extra load, but strangely it felt almost as comfortable as the first. Mark wanted something loud and powerful, something that drew the attention of those around him and returned their hope.
So he chose the word ‘Refract’, and tied it into the threads. Power poured from Mark until he couldn’t hold onto the spell any longer.
It built up into their surroundings first and then rushed to the edges, bulging and warping like a soap bubble. Then, when it could grow no further, it burst off the edges of the tower and began to fall like a curtain. Sweeping down the sides like swaths of violet material emblazoned by the cloudy light.
Stirred by the modifier Mark had added, the purple hue from within seemed to bounce out in all directions, lengthening the countless lights coming from its faceted surface. Down it fell, and as it reached the halfway point, the whole area plunged into darkness simultaneously.
All around the twinkling lights of humanity flickered out, save for one structure. Its internal glow remained to call out into the night, sent great distances by its falling purple veil.
Further, it fell, two-thirds and then three-quarters, finally stalling out at that point. As if to help complete its journey, dozens of human bodies, –lit by the glare of the building– threw up their arms. In response, the earth rose like growing sugar crystals, sticking out at all angles to meet the straining panes.
When the process was complete the area fell into silence, movement could be seen from within. Every shift of the light magnified and warped as though cast through a lighthouse lens, never staying in one place. The building glowed with the last of the people's hope, and it reflected that, as the swarms descended to snuff it out.