(Chapter 63 Shifting Sands)
"Is that really you, Tempest?"
Faruzan asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as she followed behind the towering figure. The man before her, now as tall as a Ruin Guard, seemed almost unrecognizable in his golden armor.
"It's me, be not afraid, it's still me."
Tempest reassured her, his deep voice resonating through the golden helm. Each step he took echoed in the narrow corridor.
"Hmm... Didn't the Proudmoores lose their power a long time ago? Something about their connection to Ra being severed after Egeria died..."
Faruzan asked, her curiosity evident as she walked alongside Tempest.
"Hm, it's a long story, but you could say, nothing last forever."
Tempest replied. After a short walk, they finally reached the exit of the chamber. Beyond the doorway, they found themselves on the lowest floor of the Citadel. The sight was both eerie and desolate, ancient books were scattered across the floor, half-buried in mountains of sand that had seeped in over the years, creating a stark contrast between knowledge and decay.
*Thud!*
"Faruzan?"
Tempest turned around to see Faruzan lying unconscious on the floor, her face pressed against the cold, dusty ground. The moment they exited the chamber that had suspended time itself, the overwhelming wave of fatigue, hunger, and thirst from eighty-eight years of confinement hit her all at once. The strain of the long confinement, coupled with the abrupt return to reality, had taken its toll, and she collapsed immediately, unable to bear the sudden flood of sensations.
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving you in here, you've already endured so much."
Tempest said gently as he reached out to lift Faruzan. Just as he was about to grab her, a bright light suddenly emanated from the air beside them. The light coalesced into a glowing Anemo Vision, its brilliance illuminating the dim surroundings and casting a soft glow on Tempest's helmet.
"Hm, an Anemo Vision? I believe this belongs to you."
Tempest said, observing the glowing Vision with curiosity. As if responding to his words, the Vision began to move of its own accord, drifting gently through the air before positioning itself to clip onto the back of Faruzan's dress. The Vision's light dimmed slightly, settling into its place with a sense of purpose, as though acknowledging its rightful bearer.
"Hm, it fits you well, for it represents freedom, and you have achieved it."
With a gentle touch, he carefully lifted Faruzan, cradling her in one arm as if she were a child. The weight of her long years of confinement seemed to transfer into a burden he was willing to bear, a silent promise to protect and guide her as they made their way out.
"Tsk."
Tempest clicked his tongue, and as he could see an eye glowing with a mechanical sound in a dark corner, a Ruin Guard, slowly rose up from its feet.
"Come at me, then."
Tempest declared with resolve as the Ruin Guard advanced toward him. The massive construct swung a powerful punch, but Tempest swiftly blocked the blow with his free hand. Seizing the opportunity, he delivered a fierce headbutt directly to the Ruin Guard's eye-core. The impact caused the construct to stagger, its metal frame shuddering as it stepped back, momentarily disoriented.
"Should've stayed asleep..."
Tempest muttered under his breath as he approached the stunned Ruin Guard, preparing to end their brief confrontation with a decisive punch. As he extended his free hand, a sudden force struck him from the side, another Ruin Guard had tackled him with relentless aggression.
"Mmpf!"
The impact sent Tempest crashing to the side. As he tumbled, he cast a swift glance at Faruzan, whom he had shielded when he was tackled. Thankfully, she appeared to be unharmed. Meanwhile, the stunned Ruin Guard was beginning to rise to its feet. Tempest knew he needed to finish this battle quickly while ensuring Faruzan's safety. With a grim determination, he prepared to fight with only one hand, ready to confront the renewed threat.
"Come at me then!"
Tempest roared in fury as he charged at the Ruin Guard. He deftly dodged its swinging arms, moving agilely behind its back. With a powerful twist, he wrenched one of its arms cleanly off, demonstrating his sheer strength and resolve in the heat of battle.
He turned his head slightly to see the Ruin Guard that had been stunned earlier. It was now turning its back, preparing to launch its missiles.
"Mmpff! Rah!"
Tempest roared as he lifted the Ruin Guard he was battling high into the air. With his free hand, he used it as a makeshift shield, blocking the incoming missiles from the other Ruin Guard. The impact of the missiles against the lifted Ruin Guard created a shower of sparks and debris, but Tempest held his ground, determined to protect Faruzan and end the battle.
"Mmpf!"
Tempest hurled the remains of the Ruin Guard at the one that had fired the missiles, causing it to stagger briefly. Seizing the opportunity, Tempest leaped onto the stunned Ruin Guard, using his free hand to deliver a series of powerful punches. Each blow landed with precision, and he relentlessly smashed the Ruin Guard's head into shattered fragments, ensuring the threat was neutralized.
"Good riddance..."
Tempest muttered as he stepped back, surveying the remains of the defeated Ruin Guards. He then glanced at Faruzan, who was still unconscious but otherwise unharmed in his other arm. A sigh of relief escaped him, despite the fierce battle, she was safe.
"Time to regroup..."
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"Teacher! Let's go!"
Cyno shouted urgently at his Teacher, Cyrus, who was preoccupied with hastily stuffing books into his bag. His frantic efforts were a stark contrast to the calm, collected demeanor he usually maintained, a sign of the dire situation at hand.
"Hold on! Just a lit- Mmpf!"
"Let's move!"
Rohan shouted, grabbing Cyrus with a firm grip despite his resistance. Without waiting for a response, he dragged Cyrus along. Cyno, following closely behind, joined the rush with the knights as Primal Constructs emerged from every direction.
The group sprinted to the rendezvous point, where the other knights had hastily constructed a makeshift barricade The knights utilized muskets to cover Rohan and his team as they pressed forward. The Primal Constructs surged relentlessly, but the coordinated firepower created a crucial defensive line, buying precious time for the team to regroup and fortify their position.
"Rohan! Where's my brother?!"
Penance shouted as she took cover behind the barricade. Hatsume was at her side, unleashing bursts of Electro from her Sparky cannon, targeting the advancing Primal Constructs with precision.
"He didn't come with us! Lady Penance! Wasn't he with you?!"
Rohan shouted, his voice strained as he tried to be heard over the din of musket fire and beams fired by the Primal Constructs. The chaotic environment made it nearly impossible to communicate clearly.
"Commander! We need to leave now! There's too many of them!"
A knight shouted urgently, his voice barely cutting through the cacophony of battle.
"Belay that order! We're not leaving until the Duke is back!"
His command was resolute, even as the situation grew increasingly dire.
As the chaos raged around them, Cyrus attempted to slip away, hoping to salvage more books before the place was once again buried in the sand. However, his student was quick to react. With a decisive swing, Cyno struck Cyrus in the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious.
"Stay down, Teacher..."
Cyno murmured, their voice tinged with a mix of concern and frustration as he looked around at the unfolding battle.
"Uh, guys, we've got something strange approaching!"
Hatsume shouted, her voice rising above the din of battle. She pointed to a peculiar Primal Construct advancing towards them, its face adorned with a sundial. It was the very same Primal Construct that had imprisoned
Tempest and Faruzan.
"Huh?!"
Hatsume's eyes widened in shock as she noticed that half of the knights who had been firing their muskets suddenly stopped. They were frozen in place, as if time itself had been halted. Her gaze shot back to the Primal Construct with the sundial, which was emitting a beam of light that seemed to be the cause of the time freeze. Without hesitation, she aimed Sparky at the Primal Construct, unleashing a powerful blast that briefly stunned it. The knights, once again freed from the temporal stasis, resumed their firing as if nothing had happened.
"-... . -... ..- .-. .. . -.. .. -. - .... . ... .- -. -.. ... --- ..-. - .. -- . .-.-.-"
The Primal Construct with the sundial began to speak in a language that the knights couldn't understand. As if on command, all the Primal Constructs simultaneously redirected their lasers toward the top of the Citadel. Gradually, the Citadel started to sink back into the sands.
"Go go! Up the ladder, now!"
Rohan shouted urgently. The knights scrambled to obey, climbing the ladder with haste as the Citadel continued to sink into the sands.
"I'm not leaving until my brother comes back!"
Penance shouted defiantly.
"Lady Penance, you must go! Don't worry, I'm not leaving unti-"
Before Rohan could finish his plea, a giant figure leaped from below and landed beside him and Penance with a thunderous impact. Tempest had arrived just in time, his formidable presence commanding attention. In his other arm, he carried Faruzan, still unconscious but safe. The ground shook as he landed, a stark contrast to the crumbling citadel around them.
"Chief!"
"Brother!"
"Your Grace!"
Rohan, Hatsume, and Penance exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with relief and urgency.
"Rohan, take her with you, I'm right behind you all."
Tempest carefully transferred the unconscious Faruzan into Rohan's arms, ensuring she was secure before nodding to him.
"Go! I'll buy you all some time!"
Tempest shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos as the Citadel sank ever faster into the sands. He braced himself, using both arms to slow the collapse and buy the others precious moments to escape.
"Brother..."
"Penance, trust in me, trust in your brother, now go!"
Tempest shouted with a fierce determination. Penance, her eyes filled with resolve, nodded in response. She quickly joined Rohan and Hatsume, scrambling up the ladder as Tempest continued to hold back the collapse of the Citadel.
The three managed to escape through a window at the very tip of the Citadel, their movements frantic yet precise. The knights stationed outside swiftly supported them, helping them to safety as the Citadel continued its rapid descent into the sands below.
In a matter of moments, the tip of the Citadel was entirely swallowed by the encroaching sands. With Tempest remaining inside...
"Brother!"
Penance cried out desperately, her voice filled with panic. She frantically began to dig through the shifting sands with her bare hands, her movements frantic and determined as she desperately searched for any sign of Tempest.
"Shovels now! Quickly!"
Rohan commanded urgently. The knights sprang into action, grabbing shovels and beginning to dig with all their might. However, their efforts proved unnecessary, as suddenly a hand emerged from beneath the sand, reaching out towards the surface.
"Brother!"
Penance cried out, grabbing the hand with all her strength. She pulled with everything she had, and the knights quickly joined her, lending their support as they worked together to free Tempest from the sand.
Tempest was finally freed, his normal form emerging from the sand, breathing heavily and raspily. As soon as he was out, Penance rushed to him and enveloped him in a tight embrace, her relief and worry evident in the way she clung to him.
"I'm starting to regret coming here..."