Wood and stone collapsed, with one powerful leap, Risk escaped. He reached down to his waist where two heavy bags of explosives idly hung.
Light warriors hurried away as the building began to crumble. Just as they stampeded towards safety, Risk unleashed a volley of explosions.
Throwing many off balance, while killing just as many after the blast. Armors dropped to the floor before receiving an improper burial under debris.
"GAH HAHA!" Risk celebrated, shrugging off the fall. "I'm here! Who want's a little boom?!?"
Four Thawed approached. Weapons heavy in their hands, matching the weight of determination in their hearts.
One brought down a heavy two-handed hammer where the prideful Risk stood. Crumbled stone shattered upon impact. In response, one well placed explosion went off in front of their eyes.
Shards of metal flew inside the armor. Piercing sensitive skin and tissue. While also sending the Thawed tumbling back. Allowing Risk to slide under them and push them down.
The next Thawed grabbed him, lifting Risk up into the air before bringing him down with full force.
"Augh you..." he grunted.
Just as the Thawed lifted its arms to bring down their sword, Risk lifted his to bring down the kneeling Thawed.
Helmet bit blade, taking the life of the previously attacked Thawed instantly. Giving Risk an opportunity to escape.
"Bite down on this for me, you big effing guy!" Risk announced.
He shot up to land on the engaged attacker. Both legs landed on the hips, giving him enough balance to activate an explosive and drive it into the Thawed's helmet.
Before he could get off, another Thawed grabbed him by the back of his neck. Helpless, Risk watched himself get torn off his victim.
An explosion of gore and metal shards ensued. Driving small splinters into the third Thawed's armor. Risk felt their hand tighten more and more.
The air around them became stiff as he realized his execution was being prepared. Only to get broken out of that trance by their arm breaking off.
Pearl effortlessly drove the executioner's sword through the Thawed's elbow, cutting him free. She spun around and dug the blade deep enough through their neck to get a clean cut.
"Good evening, Mr. Risk. You breathing alright?" Pearl asked, making a witty remark based on his situation.
Ether kicked the corpse of the fourth Thawed off his weapon. Tellendor returned to its vicious red taint, marking it as a tool of war. Not for its actual purpose.
"I'm heading up to the citadel," Ether called out to his allies.
Risk cleared his throat while getting up from the ground. "Firstly, thank you Pearl, for breaking my spine in about six places. Secondly, you go little one."
He turned his attention to Pearl. "Name your future kids Risky, Risk Jr, and Riskier. I can tell that mate of yours loves the same thrill as me!"
Pearl cringed. "Make your own set of cubs." Her helmet turned to face Ether. "I'm coming with you. That place is massive according to Suth."
"It's unfortunate how this could've been our alone time for the day, er... night. Look around us," Ether winked behind his helmet. "The beauty of the thing we built."
Three hundred Infinus warriors landed inside. Each one began taking over small sections of the otherwise large Frosticus stronghold.
Ophus and Encur warriors stormed the shattered walls. War-hungry frames of war tore through whoever stood before them. Beasts and other Variants alike.
Metallic scraping and sharp dings played their music like a well orchestrated theater. Variants struggled to resist against the brutal swings, swipes, hacks, and slashes of various weapons.
Vernair witnessed firsthand just how powerful Infinus could be if their hearts burned brighter than a furnace. Life became an afterthought during the dreadful death dance.
Suth along with a small group of Thawed warriors marched behind Vernair. Her soul twisted in anger and hatred as she caught the man responsible for forcing their hand to destroy what was built so long ago.
A Legion built by the genius and strength of the Frosticus glacier crumbled to memory. For no reason other than they had to.
"To a young Legion girl like me, this overwhelms me," Pearl thought out loud.
Ether grabbed her hand. "We're both young and come from a similar background. Come with me, let's claim Digon for you and the other Thawed."
Risk watched as they rushed towards the grand entrance of the citadel. Its perfectly carved arches that served as a gateway inside welcomed all.
Not knowing what was to come for his leader and ally, Risk turned his attention to those around him. Off across the road he stood on, Valentine and Hizentre helped one another combat defenders.
They masterfully played their death game with powerful strikes and chain whips. Blood rushed out of veins, into the open snow where Valentine converted it into a physical improvement for his body.
Allowing him to hit harder, think faster, regenerate from injuries, and feel better overall. Hizentre threw his flail around.
Spiked head dug into armor and damaged victims. Chains wrapped around limbs and tightened, sometimes even struck someone to sleep.
Risk ran up to them. He leapt up onto a fallen roof. Wood groaned under his weight as he marched above the home. Once he reached the top, he unleashed a barrage of explosives.
Catching many unsuspecting warriors off guard. Each blast savagely massacred them. Sending many tumbling down, metal shards into skin, and even gently melting armor.
Hizentre took advantage of this and whipping his flail around. It struck multiple Variants at a time with each swing. Strike after strike, more blood oozed out of their mangled bodies.
Further feeding Valentine's rampage. Fully matured Thawed became toys to him. He lifted them up without hesitation and tore them apart on the spot.
Just like Suth was tearing Vernair apart inside her mind. She drafted up a collection of different methods she could use. From being cut to bits by the blade of her axe to being eaten alive by Stram.
"Tainted one!" She cried. "Your people have done nothing but ruin the efforts of my lineage's past. This was my fortress. Ruled by none other than Quill and Suth, the Young Chosen."
Vernair turned to face the enraged Prophet. "Then you must be the Prophet that led these ruins. Tell me, what future do you see?"
"A bright future without your kind," Suth retorted.
She marched her way through the chaos, warriors followed her steps. Each place her foot landed, order was revived. Digon was gifted to her and her sibling by chance, it needed to return to its owner.
Further up the mountain, footsteps emulated hers. Their unrelenting strength and unity with one another caused their bond to become tighter.
Pearl and Ether fought their way through the hallways. Banners from previous Legions hung high above the ground. Waving at the Infinus forces that arrived to reclaim it.
Tellendor silently hummed a melody to Pearl's weapon. Between slashes, the weapon slowly transformed into a near-exact replica of Tellendor.
It was multiplying while no one was watching. Not because Tellendor feared its downfall, but because it knew what its next step was.
Ether delivered a powerful kick to the back of a warrior's neck. Paralyzing them on the spot. He brought Tellendor down on their head and swiftly ended the poor soul.
"He's in here. I know it," Ether said to himself.
Pearl executed a grappled warrior, one an Infinus had managed to lock in place. "Who are you looking for?"
"This entire battle would have been over a long time ago. If we knew where Struto was. But right now, all I know is he is somewhere inside the citadel," he quickly replied.
Ether directed one hand down the hallway opposite to them. Ordering a group of warriors to run in there and search for any hiding Light.
He began marching to the next door. It swung open with a simple push, revealing a room full of luxurious trophies. Such as skulls of rare or forgotten beasts, former belongings to long dead elites, and even Thawed books.
Pearl stumbled inside. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at the room around them. Something about being inside filled her mind with euphoria.
It was the feeling of connecting to roots she always dreamed of. Feeling what it meant to become a Thawed birthed from a mountain.
"T - this is beautiful... so, beautiful. Have you ever been in here?" Pearl tried to make conversation.
Ether placed his hands on the next set of doors. "This is the first time I walked down these halls. It's beautiful, yes. But that sense of awe after staring at something beautiful has been taken away because of you."
Pearl sheathed her weapon. She folded her hands while silently admiring the room and lingering on the compliment.
With a creak, the doors swung open. Instead of a large room, these doors exposed a stairway leading higher into the citadel.
"He's up there. I can tell. Something keeps telling me, he is up there. Pearl," Ether turned around to face her. "Stay down here. And no matter what you feel or hear, I am okay."
She blankly stared at him, concerned for what those words meant. "No. If I hear you're struggling, I will go up there and help you. That's why we're together."
"This entire conflict is because of me. I don't want you to get hurt in the process. So please," he paused. "W - when we return, I'll do the thing you like."
Pearl tilted her head. "You mean..?"
"Yeah, I'll lay on your back while gently rumbling. But for now, this is the reality I must face," Ether concluded.
He ran up the stairs, disappearing from sight.