[POV - AEDHIRA]
In a moment of panic, Aedhira rushed over to a boulder and hid behind it. It was almost comical seeing an otherworldy suit of armour vainly hide behind a rock. Though only Aedhira knew whether it was out of fright or something else. Perhaps he was merely surprised?
"ARGOS WHAT THE F*BLEEP* WAS THAT!!!!?"
[That sire....]
"WELL????""
[Ah...it seems the Archives do not possess any information on...that creature...if it can even be called as such]
"WHAT!"
[Though it is odd since there haven't been any major entries like that in over 3 millennia, it stands to reason that there shouldn't be any other creature worth entering. Again, to my understanding, there is nothing in the Archive that resembles anything even close to that..]
"Monstrosity?"
[Perhaps that is an understatement Sire]
"Perhaps," he said mentally, as he turned around.....very....slowly....and took a peak at what freaked him out.
To be fair, it would've frightened any mortal who gazed at it, since as there was no better word for it, was a monstrosity.
It was about..9 meters tall give or take, and was more or less the size of a 3-story building. Emphasis on 'more'. It had 10, maybe 11 insectoid legs hinged around the edges, and hundreds more tiny ones sprouting from underneath. Only the larger ones made any contact with the ground though, and when they did, they dug DEEP.
With good reason too. Those legs were burdened with the weight of what one could only assume to be a small yet veritable fortress. A FORTRESS. ON LEGS. And from below it, hundreds of tiny insect-like Fyrraths dropped out onto the ground and scurried off.
On this fortress, were not only many ACTUAL siege-class weapons, but there was also something very hard to miss.
A rail gun mounted a bit further at the back. It encompassed the entire length of the....beast(?) and then some. Maybe it wasn't a rail gun, and just a really large milkshake-maker-thingy(???), but that was wishful thinking on Aedhira's part. Very wishful thinking.
It looked like a railgun, sounded like a railgun, and 'glowed' like a railgun.
It was probably a railgun.
"Wait, glow?" he thought as he looked at the weapon that seemed to grow increasingly brighter. Small arcs of lightning flew off of it as space warped slightly, maybe due to the sheer concentration of mana, and due to the way it was being thrown around. It was about to fire.
It got brighter and brighter, as Aedhira looked on, in bated breath, waiting for the weapon to fire a blast of very hot and very instant death at something or, someone.
He waited.
Then more for a minute.
Then 5 minutes more.
It never came. Yet the arcs of electricity never left it. Like an ominous LED, it just kept glowing. Although the storm became a bit more fierce around him.
Wait a minute.
"You thin-"
[I have come to the same conclusion]
"It's causing the storm, or at the very least, making it worse. Thankfully, for the time being, it hasn't gotten bad enough to cause real damage, but in a day or two..."
[-----Complete----According to calculation, within 143 hours, the storm's magnitude will increase enough that-]
"It'd end up ripping the region to shreds, yeah I figured as much"
[Affirmative]
"Well, I'm not equipped to down something like this, not right now anyway"
[It is advisable to retreat for the time being, regroup and tackle this problem at a later time]
"Yea-WAIT! THE REFUGEES! THEY'RE NOT HERE!"
Indeed, the main character had forgotten the reason he'd rushed out into the barren landscape in the first place, caught by the thrill of flying for the first time....or being frightened shitless.
Aedhira tucked himself behind the rock, hoping the 'thing' hadn't noticed him. But as he did, he felt a mild irritation swelling within him, yet he didn't know for what reason.
"Is someone badmouthing me?" he thought.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Though, why he shook his head to do it was anyone's guess. He knelt down onto one knee, and put his palm against the ground.
Then, he repeated the spectacle that he'd performed in the cave....though, he made sure to keep a bit quiet about it.
"No explosions, no explosions, no explosions, no explosions ,no explos-"
He sent a pulse of mana into the ground, like a drop of water into a pond. And similar to the drop, it caused the pond to ripple. But this time, he sent far more mana, he needed a far bigger ripple to-
"OR, or I could just ask for visuals from the Observer from above"
Aedhira took a deep breath, retracting his hand from the ground. "Argos, can you connect me to the Observer? I need a visual scan of the area—specifically, the location of the refugees."
[Connecting to the Observer now, Sire. One moment.]
Aedhira glanced back at the monstrosity. It continued to stand menacingly in the distance, its railgun glowing with an ominous intensity. The storm, while not yet destructive, was growing fiercer by the minute. He needed to act quickly.
[Connection established. Visuals incoming.]
The HUD in Aedhira's helmet flickered before displaying a top-down view of the landscape. The observer, high above in orbit, provided a bird's-eye perspective. The rocky terrain stretched out in all directions, on what appeared to be a hill area, a sea of monsters rushed a singular outpost.
Ahead of the oupost were three entry points, each being defended, although barely it seemed. 2 parties of five on either sides, and....the one in the middle was being held by a singular man.
"There they are," Aedhira muttered, spotting the group. They were to the west, hidden among the rocks and ravines. Fortunately, they were far enough from the immediate vicinity of the creature, but the worsening storm posed a serious threat.
"Argos, we need an extraction plan. What's the safest route to reach them without drawing the attention of that... 'thing'?"
[Calculating optimal path. One moment.]
Aedhira kept an eye on the display, tracking the movements of both the refugees and the monstrosity. He couldn't afford any mistakes; the lives of those people depended on his next move.
[Path calculated. The safest route involves skirting the eastern ridge, avoiding direct sight lines of the creature. It's a longer path but minimizes exposure.]
"Good. Let's do this."
Aedhira activated his impulse jets, rising silently from behind the boulder. He moved quickly but cautiously, following the indicated route. The rain pelted his armor, and the wind howled around him, but he pressed on, driven by urgency.
Once he got far enough however, he blasted off like a missile.
As he navigated the rocky terrain, he maintained a low profile, using the natural cover to stay hidden from the creature's view. The path was treacherous, with slippery rocks and sudden drops, but Aedhira's enhanced agility and the Arstra's sensors helped him navigate the obstacles.
"Faster, we need to go faster!"
Aedhira's heart pounded in his chest as he pushed the limits of his impulse jets, streaking through the stormy night. The HUD constantly updated, highlighting the safest paths and potential hazards. The storm's intensity grew with every passing second, the wind shrieking around him like a banshee, rain slashing at his armor.
"Come on, come on," he muttered, willing himself to move faster.
The refugees' outpost came into clearer view through the torrent of rain. The scene was chaotic: two small groups, one on either side of the outpost, were desperately trying to hold back the onslaught of monstrous Fyrraths. In the center, a lone figure fought with remarkable tenacity, his weapon a blur of motion as he cut down the creatures. Despite his skill, the odds were against him, and his movements were becoming slower, more fatigued.
Aedhira's gaze locked onto the lone defender. He was surrounded, and in that moment, Aedhira realized that if he didn't act quickly, the man would be overwhelmed.
"Faster, we need to go faster!" he urged, pouring more energy into his jets.
As Aedhira neared the battlefield, the wind roared in his ears, the storm swirling around him like a living entity. The closer he got, the more intense the situation became. Fyrraths swarmed the outpost, their insectoid legs clattering against the rocky ground, their mandibles snapping hungrily.
Aedhira's muscles tensed as he calculated his descent. He needed to time this perfectly. If he misjudged, the man in the center would be struck down.
A particularly massive Fyrrath reared up, its pincers gleaming wickedly in the storm's lightning flashes, poised to strike the exhausted defender. The man's eyes widened in realization and resignation.
"NO!" Aedhira shouted, engaging his thrusters to their maximum capacity.
And so they roared, lighting him up like one of the stars in the sky.
He streaked down from the sky like a meteor, a trail of light blazing behind him. The air around him heated up, creating a glowing aura as he plunged toward the ground. The scene below seemed to slow down, every second stretching into an eternity.
The Fyrrath's pincer descended.
Aedhira collided with the ground like a falling star, the impact sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Dust and debris exploded outward, creating a brief, blinding cloud. The force of his landing knocked the massive Fyrrath off balance, its deadly strike veering off course and sparing the defender.
{ArmaLOAD---BLADE 01)
A white box carved itself into the space, and he stuck his hand inside, and pulled out a uniform straight sword, a silver blade with a black cross-hilt. It wasn't much, but it was all that he'd need.
Aedhira stood, the sword glinting, reflecting the flashes of lightning above. The blue energy shimmered in the dim light, casting an eerie glow. He was surrounded by a sea of monstrous Fyrraths, but he was undeterred.
The monsters hesitated for a split second, their alien minds processing the sudden intrusion. That moment was all Aedhira needed.
"SWING IT AND CLEAVE!"
He launched himself at the nearest cluster, cutting through their ranks with deadly precision. His blades carved arcs of light through the rain, each strike accompanied by a sharp hiss.
The battlefield was a cacophony of sounds: the clash of metal against chitin, the sizzle of energy blades slicing through the rain, and the guttural screeches of the Fyrraths. Aedhira moved with lethal grace, his sword a blur as it cut through the monstrous swarm. The blue energy of his blades cast an eerie glow on the scene, illuminating the grim determination on his face.
The refugees, momentarily stunned by his dramatic entrance, found new strength in his presence. They rallied, pushing back against the Fyrraths with renewed vigor. Aedhira's appearance had turned the tide, but the fight was far from over.
"Keep pushing!" Aedhira shouted over the storm's roar. "We've got to get everyone out of here!"
He parried a vicious swipe from a Fyrrath, countering with a swift, decapitating strike. The creature collapsed in a heap, its lifeless body trampled by its kin. The lone defender, eyes wide with both awe and relief, stepped up beside Aedhira, breathing heavily but ready to fight on.
"Who are you?" the defender gasped, his voice barely audible over the storm. He looked to be a man in his mid forties, but well built. He was a fighter, but he'd been fighting too long. His voice, his body, his eyes, they screamed exhaustion.
"Aedhira," he replied, not taking his eyes off the advancing Fyrraths. "Let's get through this first, then we'll talk."
Together, they formed a bulwark against the encroaching tide of creatures. Aedhira's Arstra and 'better-than-average' physicality allowed him to take the brunt of the assault, his sword cleaving through the Fyrraths with deadly efficiency. The defender, emboldened by Aedhira's prowess, fought with renewed determination, his blade a flash of steel in the rain.
The battle raged on, the storm growing fiercer. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating the chaotic scene in stark relief. The Fyrraths seemed endless, their numbers swelling as more poured out from the fortress-like monstrosity in the distance. Yet, for every creature they felled, another took its place.
"Argos, any word on extraction?" Aedhira said mentally, cutting down another Fyrrath. He'd sent out a request, but hadn't held out any hope considering the state he'd the Fort had been in when he left.
[Extraction vessels are en route, Sire. Estimated time of arrival: ten minutes.]
"Ten minutes? We need to hold out until then," Aedhira said, more to himself than anyone else.
He glanced around, assessing the situation. The defenders were holding their own, but they were tiring. The three chokepoints were no longer being held, each set of defenders having been pushed back into an opening closer to the outpost. A party being led by a young, black haired man on the left, and a blonde haired woman on the right.
The refugees huddled together, fear etched on their faces as they watched the battle unfold. Aedhira knew they couldn't last much longer under these conditions.
"Fall back to the ridge!" he ordered, slicing through another Fyrrath. "We'll make our stand there until the transports arrive!"
The defenders and refugees began to retreat, moving towards the relative safety of the ridge. Aedhira, the blonde woman, the young and the older man, covered their retreat, cutting down any Fyrraths that tried to follow. The rain intensified, turning the ground into a muddy quagmire, but they pressed on, driven by sheer survival instinct.
Aedhira, the older and younger man, held the frontline while the blonde slung bolts of elements at anything that got past them.
Finally, they reached the ridge, a natural barrier that offered some protection from the relentless swarm. Aedhira and the defenders formed a defensive line, their backs to the rock face, and prepared for the next wave.
The Fyrraths surged forward, undeterred by the rain and the lightning. Aedhira's muscles strained with exertion, like a rusty metal hinge creaking as it moves, but he refused to yield. Each strike was delivered with precision and purpose, his blades humming with energy.
"Hold the line!" he shouted, his voice a rallying cry in the storm. "The transports are almost here!"
As if on cue, the roar of engines cut through the tempest. Aedhira glanced up to see the extraction vessels descending from the stormy sky, their lights piercing the darkness. Relief surged through him, but he knew the fight wasn't over yet.
"Get the refugees aboard!" he ordered. "We'll cover you!"
The defenders moved quickly, ushering the refugees towards the waiting transports. Aedhira and the lone defender stood their ground, fighting off the relentless Fyrraths with every ounce of strength they had left. The creatures seemed to sense their impending defeat, their attacks growing more desperate and frenzied.
One of the extraction vessels landed nearby, its doors sliding open to reveal 3 armed automatons. 3 trooper-class Aes soldiers. He silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ah, Mother, it seems I won't fall today" he thought
. They poured out, guns blazing, and joined the fray, providing much-needed support. The tide began to turn once more, the combined firepower pushing the Fyrraths back.
"Get aboard, now!" Aedhira shouted, gesturing for the lone defender to move.
"What about you?" the man asked, eyes wide with concern.
"I'll be right behind you," Aedhira assured him, slicing through another Fyrrath. "Go!"
The defender nodded and sprinted towards the transport. Aedhira followed, his movements fluid and precise despite his exhaustion. As he reached the transport, he glanced back at the battlefield. The Fyrraths refused to stop but they were being held back, by the soldiers' relentless assault. A bodies began to pile, forming a make shift wall. Seeing an opportunity, he acted. He faced the soldiers and grabbed their heads and chucked them into the vessel.
"Argos, take it off THE GROUND NOW" he yelled
The vessel's engines roared as it rose above. He continued to hack at the waves until it got high enough. Then with a thought, his Impulse jets gunned with purpose, blasting him off the ground, above the encroaching wave of fyrraths.
Aedhira stepped aboard the transport, the doors closing behind him. He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily as the vessel lifted off. The storm raged outside, but inside, there was a momentary sense of peace.
"We made it," he muttered, relief washing over him.
[Indeed, Sire. The refugees are safe, for now.]
Aedhira nodded, his mind already turning to the next challenge. The monstrosity with the railgun was still out there, and the storm it was causing would only get worse. But for now, they had survived. And that was enough.
At least he'd hoped it would be.