Daphne’s POV
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They had waited for as long as they could to make the dash across the open road, but they were out of time. It had gotten late in the evening and moving now was the worse possible choice, but they were completely out of options.
“Boss, I’ve checked the area, now is the best time,” Sandy said.
When they had picked up Sandy their speed and safety had improved greatly. Her ability to scout out an area was one of Daphne's strongest cards.
Their little group was now fifty-four men strong at this point. Any party they come across that had asked to join had been allowed.
Dahpne's sense of justice simply wouldn't let her turn away from good people. That didn't mean it had been easy getting here, but Daphne had tried her very best to keep everyone safe.
“We are close I can feel it,” Ethel said from beside her.
Ethel had been key to the survival of this group. Her bow made her a deadly threat, but it was her intuition that was her strongest weapon. She had weeded out a lot of troublemakers.
“We need to move as soon as Tommis is done,” Daphne said.
“He’s healing as fast as he can, but we may need to move before then,” Ethel said.
Mark had shown Daphne the importance of having a healer around and she wanted to give Tommis a chance, but Ethel was right, they were out of time. The Corrupted would find them any minute now and there were simply too many people for her and her knights to cover.
“Then we’re moving, get everyone ready Sandy,” Daphne said. Her tone left no room for arguments.
Sandy nodded and ran towards the main group.
“We are more than likely going to lose people, you need to be ready for that,” Ethel said.
Daphnes stubbornly set her shoulders, telling Ethel just what she thought of that with her one good eye.
Ethel shrugged.
Their group assembled in less than five minutes and they were waiting at the front entrance.
Daphne's Aura stretched out around her. Blanketing everyone with the feeling of safety and security.
“This is the last stretch people, Prospect Park is right across that gap. We can’t wait any longer. If we can get across we are home free. Non-combatants remain together, My knights and I will carve a path forward for you. Let’s arrive as one force”
No objections arose and as one they exited the building.
The corrupted were slow to react but react they did. Turning to face the large group of tasty humans.
Daphne dashed forward, her gauntlet plunged right through the chest of the nearest Corrupted. Splattering chunks of bone everywhere.
Right away the number of Corrupted started to increase her knights stood their ground in front of the group. Never slowing their hasty march forward.
Their fight was starting to draw a lot of attention but they were still far from their destination.
From the back, Daphne heard Ethel say.
“I can feel him!”
Fighting their way forward a large wall came into view. They were so close.
The Corrupted were starting to collect in droves. Daphne moved like the wind churning a path forward, killing them as fast as she could.
A scream went up from one of her knights, their formation was disrupted. The Bats were starting to collect around them.
Ethel released arrow after arrow at the flyers, she began glowing with green light.
Their speed was slowing down now. There were simply too many, but Daphne never slowed for a second, not allowing doubt to cloud her judgment. They’d make it.
Suddenly Daphne could feel a staggering amount of Aura heading their way. It was decisive and unflinching moving toward them with incredible speed.
***
Mark dashed along the wall after Boe. He pushed himself to the limit healing any tears the skill might create. Dodging around soldiers. As he passed he noticed the frequency of Corrupted was dropping off.
Boe began to slow down stopping at a particular section of the wall, hopping up to stare down into the road below.
Boe started pacing from side to side while whining.
Mark was just arriving and the soldiers whose section it was were not impressed.
They had been looking out at something down below. Mark heard one of them say.
“Radio command a request to provide aid!- What the hell is going on, why is a civi up here!” one of them shouted out.
“What going on out there!” Mark said.
“We’ve got a group incoming, at the edge of our range,” one of the soldiers said.
The soldier in command looked like he wasn't having any of it and started to ask him to leave when Mark felt a gust of wind behind him.
Jonathan stood there carrying Sam.
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“Mark, what the hell is going on? You can't just run off like that!” Sam said.
“At ease sergeant, he works with S.A.G.E. Though not for much longer if he doesn't start explaining what's going on,” Jonathan said.
Boe let out a keening sound and looked back at Mark. He started to glow a vibrant pale green and his form began to grow to that of a large bear.
Mark pupils narrowed to pinpricks. There was only one way he would be able to do that
Then without warning Boe bounded over the ledge and fell straight down to the streets below.
“Jonathan! Ethel is close by! Follow Boe!” Mark said as he started moving toward the ledged to do just that.
To his credit, Jonathan reacted so fast that Mark didn't even see him coming. All he felt was a force grabbing him and the world suddenly became a blur. Then there was no gravity and the sudden lurching of a landing. Mark had enough time to realize Jonathan had taken all three of them straight over the edge.
Mark got his feet under him and they were moving almost as soon as they hit the ground, just keeping pace with Boe.
Mark could see something going on up ahead.
Corrupted were moving from the surrounding area and charging to this point.
Jonathan started to pull ahead leaving Mark and Sam behind. He hit the crowds of Corrupted and cleaved into them with his blade, creating a path forward for the two of them to pass. Mark could feel pressure start to build up in the air originating from Jonathan. Similar to how it had appeared when they first met. Only now it was much more widespread, stretching out across the whole street.
Mark wrapped himself in a powerful [Shape Mana], pulling it in like a suit of armor. Anything that got close to Sam was burned to a crisp by her Mantel. At one point an Ordinator jumped at Mark crashing into his shield. Mark’s momentum never even slowed as he battered the creature out of his way.
Mark felt another Aura raise to meet Joanthans. They gave off different feels entirely, but Mark's inexperience with Aura made it difficult to tell what it ment.
Boe charged ahead breaking through the horde like a steam engine. Arriving in front of a large group of survivors.
As Mark and Sam got closer they could see a thin defensive line protecting a decent-sized group of people. The group behind was made up of injured, old, young, and even a pregnant woman.
The frontline looked exhausted and yet they still kept moving.
All of them were focused on the back of one woman as she fought her way through, leading the group like a spearhead.
Daphne stood in front, Aura emanating from her. She looked like a Valkyrie wearing thick bronze armor. She gave off a stronger more confident air. Mark noticed she had a bandage covering her left eye
Boe barked at someone in the defensive line and Mark spotted Ethel shooting a bow at breakneck speed. Suddenly as if he was content Boe turned on the approaching Corrupted and began flinging them about with savagery.
Jonathan and Sam began killing anything in the area without holding back. Giving the group space to approach.
When their group got to Mark’s small party Daphne caught sight of them.
For a moment Mark and Daphne locked eyes and he could see relief and determination there.
Their reunion would have to wait.
Mark expanded his construct like a wave, covering the approaching group and surrounding them in seconds.
People screamed as it washed over them. Mark felt more than fifty souls here. Prana surged forward from Mark charging the frontline of fighters. He couldn't heal them all there were too many small wounds but he could get every one of them back into fighting condition. He charged the air with [Invigorate] bringing their stamina back up as well.
Excited yelps went up from the crowd.
Jonathan shouted over the sounds of him slashing through the horde.
“This way people, you are almost safe!”
Mark could see their spirits lifting almost as much as when he had healed them.
Mark pulled in his construct and wrapped it around himself panting, falling in line with Sam. He had already been low after being on the wall, now he was running on fumes.
Daphne’s fists had not stopped through all of that. Jonathan fell in step with her.
The three of them joined the spearhead.
The relatively low number of Corrupted here were cleared out by them. Anything that got past them was dealt with by the frontline.
Mark and Sam acted as the joining point between the two groups. Sam poured out ice and fire. Mark sent [Force bolts] and small bands of force wherever was needed.
When they got close enough to the wall supporting fire began raining down on the distant Corrupted, clearing the path.
After that, they got to the wall with little problem. The surrounding rock opened up and the injured people went in first. No one said anything until everyone retreated, the rock closing up behind them.
For a moment no one said anything, but after a short pause, cheers of celebration and laughter went up from the crowd.
Jonathan disappeared into the crowd looking for Ethel and Sam was speaking to one of the nearby soldiers.
Mark looked towards Daphne happy she was safe.
Daphne stared at Mark an angry look coming over her face and one of her fists clenched like she wanted to hit him. Knowing her she definitely did.
Mark gave her a knowing smile and said.
“Glad you got here in one piece”
She looked at him for a moment and with a sigh the tension left her body.
A slow exasperated smile came over her face.
“Good to see you too Mark. I had so much to say to you the next time we met, but I’m exhausted and I have people to deal with, it will have to wait”
As if to punctuate this several people came over to Daphne with happy faces. A tall lithe woman happily said.
“Boss! We made it! There’s army guys wanting to talk to you. Who’s this?”
Mark nodded to Daphne indicating he understood and glanced over at the others.
“Nice to meet you I’m Mark,” he said.
When he said that a few of the people surrounding her whipped their heads around and stared at him with interest.
“Oh, damn, you're that Mark, aren't you? I'm Sandy, I've heard so much about you from the boss.” Sandy said sticking out her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Sandy,” Mark said while shaking her hand.
Daphne was suddenly blushing beet red.
“Oi, you lot, let's get going we have to find a place to sleep tonight,” Daphne said ushering the lot of them towards the soldiers.
Before she left Mark said.
“Daph, pop into the medical tent tomorrow so I can take a look at that eye,” Mark said while pointing to his own eye to show what he meant.
“I’ve got a healer thank you very much,” she said quickly.
“Oh, okay,” Mark said scratching the back of his head.
“Boss I told you, I can’t-” one of the men started to say.
She shushed him and their group moved towards the growing group of soldiers. They would probably have to go through intake.
Mark heard his name and turned to see Jonathan, Ethel, and Boe standing there.
Mark moved towards them with a smile.
“Ethel, it's great to see you. There are so many people here you guys did amazingly” he said grinning.
“Once more I’m going to have to thank you for your assistance at the end there. For bringing the cavalry too.” Ethel grinned from ear to ear while petting Boe.
“You are welcome, but I should be the one thanking you, without Boe, I never would have seen half the things coming that I did,” Mark said.
“Well let's just agree that we are both thankful and call it a day then” Ethel snickered
“Well Boe, your momma is home,” Mark said while smiling fondly at him.
Mark knelt down and ruffled Boes coat, grabbing a Raw Beef Marrow Bone from the Marketplace for 1.8 Sp.
He then hugged Boe activating [Draw corruption] at the same time, siphoning off 5.06% and held out the bone as a reward. Boe took the treat and padded over to Ethel.
Jonathan told him they would chat tomorrow and then they went towards the intake tents.
Mark whispered to himself.
“Bye, Boe”