Astral watched the cresting sun as today was the day for battle and bloodshed. The sunrise was a ruby red. Tina's soft breaths were the only sound being made as she snuggled into his chest more. Astral looked over their camp as Sanguine was still taking apart her new rifle and putting it back together as the others slept. He looked into the palm of his hand as they had about ten miles to march before battle. He could sleepwalk it while resting. He slowly climbed down the tree and carried Tina down with him.
He whistled once as the camp slowly started to shift. "We have fifteen minutes before we march to the camps outside the capital. Once we arrive, rest for a bit before the battle begins." Astral took off his coat as he dropped it into the pocket dimension with a flash as he started to stretch. The others slowly broke down camp as Sanguine put together her rifle for the last time. Astral guided her as Tina had a better idea. Looking at her spell books to summon them a companion to ride.
The six of them stood in a circle as they waited for Tina to finish her summoning. They had three horses that stood at ten feet tall. Bitsy and Evelin took one of the horses, Sanguine and Errol took a second. Tina had the third for herself as she commanded them to go. Astral stayed behind for a mere moment as he took a breath of relief. 'She does get creative, all I can hope for her is keeping his corruption away. I need to be farther from her.' He took off his necklace and looked into the cyan gem as he slowly started to walk.
"Many foreign memories are visible in this gem. You will unlock a past. But it's not mine, someone else will. Yours is for Angel." He pondered into it as his path was set. He slowly picked up speed as he realized he was more pivotal for what he wanted to do. By the end of the hour they all made it to the camp as Sora was talking to Lilac and Tina on battle plans. Astral opened the tent as he looked directly at him.
"Hello Astral, most of the humans volunteered to help. We will be here on the southeast side to be more of a distraction for what you want to do." Sora bowed as Astral took off his shirt and wrapped his hands in a white cloth. "We will have a separate detachment to protect Tina and allow her to provide support to all forces possible." Astral nodded as he ripped his pants clean off into shreds and put on a pair of shorts.
"Good, that sounds very strong, I suspect the Queens to be doing the same, with much more power. Tina, use basic ones due to the sheer amount. Only upscale once you have the first wave handled, speed first, then strength. Their enchantments won't be like the elves, they also have more and the faster I get to them. The sooner I can break their concentration on it." Tina nodded as Astral looked directly at Sora. His plan was to stall this battle out. Astral knew it and wanted the opposite. "I intend to still follow through with my plan. Taking down the north side alone."
"Be my guest, We will make it through the capital first." Sora smiled as it was fake. Astral turned around as he tapped his rib. It felt wounded, was it from yesterday? Astral gave a small wave as he exited the tent and went to the next camp. James needed his help as the two of them had the same goal.
James was walking among the camp as he saw Astral, all of his scars from his past battle caused him to freeze, this was not the same caliber of man he once knew. Sugar stood behind James as she followed him unconditionally. She bumped her head into him as she looked up with pause. "Are you okay?" Her voice spoke soft as she tugged at his side.
Astral walked closer and opened his arms and embraced James as he stayed frozen. "You did excellent." James melted into his arms as the sight of Astral and his wounds brought back memories. "We need to talk for just a few minutes." James nodded his head to the closest tent as they entered and there was no one.
"All of my men and women are ready for the toughest the crowns have to offer. And I realize it now. I must contain and isolate Angel for us to have any chance." James dropped his shoulders as he realized the amount of disadvantage he was at.
Astral dangled his necklace from his hand as he held it up. "Get this to her at her weakest and she will be reawakened. It isn't quite making my memories come back, no matter how much it tries, but I have a bold feeling that my memory comes back at a much later time." James grabbed the necklace and looked into the jewel as both of them smiled.
"Your craftsmanship and creativity still amazes me, modifying your necklace to help her." James gave a soft laugh as he wrapped it around his right wrist. "Sugar will be able to lead for the most part. But my hope is both sides stalling to watch the two of us. I won't let Angel kill any one of us." His left fist clenched tightly as Sugar bit his forearm lightly. He calmed down as his aura fired to life. He scratched the top of her head lightly with his right.
"I almost forgot about using that before we crushed the elves, and it wasn't me who remembered." A light flicker of cyan engulfed Astral as he tilted his head to his side. "It's time, stay safe, but before I forget." Astral opened his pocket dimension as he grabbed two wooden daggers. "These are for your plus one. They are called Cloak, they can be wielded with one hand despite being full sized katana's." Astral flicked where the metal was as it flicked to life for a second. "Not the best time to learn, but think of them as invisible swords." Astral handed them to Sugar as her tail swung happily from side to side. "They do only activate when they need to be. Makes it easy for storage and the blades know better than you." He winked as he opened the tent door.
"Give those queen bitches hell." James had his hair color slowly turning darker as Astral nodded. He left the camp as he ran full speed to the north side of the city. Over one hundred thousand hybrids of all styles were waiting for him as he sat down for a moment and looked all of them over. Him outside of his armor would be no challenge to them. Then he noticed something from all of them. Most of them had close quarters weapons, they were drooling, anxious to attack him. It clicked. They were cursed to be rabid and to infect him. Astral cracked a smile as his fighting style was ready to be adapted.