Early the next morning, riders took flight. Their Sky Beasts erupted upwards then forwards, guiding the ground forces towards their destination.
Among these forces was Hazen. Her Sky Beast triumphed through the rapid winds, showing her utter fury after what they've done to Hizentre.
Light Legion forces were up and ready. During the earlier hours of the day, Kas placed many more elites inside the surrounding bases. Hoping their higher standing in authority would be enough.
Something only one member of the Infinus Legion knew about, Demon. During all hours of the night and day, he was watching. Well aware of what was happening.
Clouds shattered into pieces as hundreds of Sky Beasts pierced through them. Each one formed a perfect formation, ready to attack their first base.
As one, every Sky Beast dove. Extreme winds threatened to push off the mounted Variants. Regardless, they continued to fall like angered rain drops.
Hundreds of bowstrings pulled back, waiting to be released. Each archer sat in silence, waiting to hear their orders. That's when one of the elites stationed there ordered them to fire.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of arrows took flight. Rapidly approaching to meet with the incoming attackers.
The first row of riders attempted to dodge each arrow. Wishing for the best with every turn and roll they did. Many failed. Causing them to get struck by arrows if not thrown off.
For the following rows, they deployed their Sky Beasts' training. Several of them stopped, leaned back and flapped their wings in unison. Creating powerful gusts of wind that served as barriers to block the arrows.
With great success, they continued their descent. Now angered by their interaction, Infinus felt even more committed see the end of the conflict through.
Upon reaching their destination. Several riders instructed their Sky Beasts to attempt picks. They would dive to random warriors and pick them up before bringing them high enough for gravity to kill.
To assist the pickers, most other riders danced through the skies. Raining arrows from the safety of their mounts. Forcing Light warriors to look for cover.
Making it easy for the pickers to go for defenseless warriors. White talons opened up, encasing panicking victims, before ending their lives.
A very small amount of riders decided to approach this conflict differently. Hazen wrapped most of the chain around her arm. Making it easier for her to handle the weapon.
When she saw the opportunity, she would come down from above and strike unexpecting warriors. Often her blows were hard enough to break armor plates, sometimes bones.
But rarely resulted in an instant death. This, she left for someone else to finish off. Hazen felt the rage beating through her heart by the second.
Just like they did to her, she was doing the same to them. They left her father dead, but left her alive. To endure the harsh torture of reality. So she would return the pleasure.
It was all she wanted. To injure, not kill. Which also confused her. She would ponder if what she was doing was justified because of their alliance?
If it was, it made sense because they followed orders from those that killed Hizentre. But it sometimes didn't. Just like a confused Zesher, Hazen was unsure if what she was doing was alright.
After all, these warriors didn't directly harm her. Yet they continued to face her punishment, one that she handed out freely without much hesitation about how her victims would react.
During one of her ascends, she noticed a powerful-looking warrior glaring up at her company. Their exaggerated gold gauntlets folded together, giving off the impression they were not surprised.
Unlike those around this one warrior, this one stood still. Careless of the chaos breaking loose around her. Almost like they were waiting for one of the riders to attack.
Hazen found herself giddy at this idea. She wanted to answer that urge, to put one down herself. Without the aid of any other warrior or elite.
So she descended at high speeds. Wind whizzed past her ears as she came down like a lightning strike. Right above the warrior, she tilted the Sky Beast then whipped him.
Only to realize it did nothing. This warrior was an elite. And not a lowly elite. It was higher in influence and authority than many others.
Instead of being phased by the attack, this elite caught the chains. Even tugged it. Causing Hazen to lose grip on her Sky Beast. She tumbled out of the sky, landing right beside the elite.
Who lifted both hands, ready to crush her beneath the heavy gauntlets. In response, Hazen rolled out of the way. The sheer force of impact from the gauntlets striking the ground pulsed through her body.
"Infinus Legion warrior, your kind fights well. No reason to deny that. However, we have heart. Not brawn," the elite commented.
Hazen quickly shot up to her feet. "Do you think we are all muscle, no brain? Foolish! We have hearts birthed from the very center of Metrivious' core. Test me if you think you're so great."
After she let out her invitation, the elite dashed towards her. Catching Hazen on his shoulders, throwing her back after he stopped. She landed on her back before quickly attempting to get back up.
The elite picked her up by the back of her neck before slamming her on the ground. She felt the air being knocked out of her lungs, leaving her breathless.
As a follow up, the elite brought down his other hand right on forehead. Completely stunning her on the spot. Making it difficult for her to recover from the situation.
Strong courage lifted her heart out of shambles, blazing Hazen's completely frozen heart. Bringing the young Thawed back to her native condition: ignited by Metrivious.
Her hand flicked the flail to fall behind her. Something the elite caught wind of. Prompting him to dash again, hoping to keep her down.
Just before he could make contact with Hazen, she drove the flail up into his core. The head struck him in the chest. Making him feel his air being knocked out of his body.
Understanding she had to be relentless, Hazen cocked her flail back then brought it down on the elite's shoulder. Bringing them to their knees.
"If your people have heart," she began to speak. "Then mine have everything yours don't, plus more. Rest easy where the flames burn the hottest."
The elite knew this couldn't be the end of his life. So in a last ditch effort, he jumped up and struck Hazen's face with both gauntlets. Drawing blood from her lips and nose.
As the blood silently dripped down her face, she could feel the disgusting warmth. How agonizing the feeling was, something Hizentre knew in his final living seconds.
Desperation took control of her now. Leading Hazen to push the elite back, then bring the flail's head right on his knee. It came down like a rogue boulder, shattering his leg.
"AGH!" The elite cried out in pain.
Which seemed to motivate Hazen even more. Causing her to break down another strike right on his only good leg. But this elite knew better than to leave it unprotected.
He covered his knee with his left arm. Once the head and limb connected, the elite could feel the unshakable feeling of something being broken inside of him.
But it was no time to sit over this one feeling, especially when there were dozens more going off at the same time. The elite used his right hand and right left leg to launch himself forward.
Bringing the gauntlet right onto her stomach. Throwing Hazen down. As she felt her stamina quickly fade away, she knew she had to make a move. Something that would either buy her enough time or end the conflict.
While she was thinking of what to do next, the elite leapt forward again. Hoping to strike her again. Only to miss and fall to his knee after she stepped back. Realizing this was her opportunity, Hazen struck.
As the elite lifted his body, she brought down the head of her flail right onto his crown. Sending the entire skull of the elite storming into his chest.
Even through all the fighting, Hazen heard the sickening sound of somebody dying a horrific death. One that she played a massive key in.
During that little moment of peace, one of the riders acknowledged her fighting was over. So they dropped down to pick her up. She felt talons encase her shoulders, lifting her away to safety.
"You did a good job down there, girl. What's your name?" The rider asked.
Hazen held on to the Sky Beast's talons. "I'll give you everything you want to know if you place me on the damn ground!"
With a chuckle, the rider ordered her Sky Beast to roll. Causing Hazen to soar above it for a brief period of time. When the beast came back around, she was right behind the rider.
"Hold on tight."