Raven was like a black demon with four black wings, its feathers eliminate a hazy blue light.
Hail of bullets showered the battlefield between a single beast and flying battleships. Especially concentrating its firepower to the Gricks airships.
The starship fixed-in assault rifles rattled as it constantly spouts tongues of fire, each bullet sent was glowing red. Accompanied by beams of light.
Raven was not only made for travel, it also possesses an aspect that humans excel at - armed components of destructive power meant for offense. It has two high caliber machine guns - not the old type that can only spout tons of bullets. But an advanced version with a more accurate aim, superior range and bullet force. all the while, using a smaller ammo for storage efficiency and automatically reload itself.
Additionally, Raven had an installed energy reliant blaster. Its fire rate is slower, but has superior impact damage because its beams are made of highly concentrated energy that melts anything it touches. The blaster can shoot as long as there's electricity, being charged for months underwater. Raven is full, so Zyro had the luxury of using this firearm.
There were other weapons his starship had in store, but Zyro was reluctant to utilize those dangerous things. Besides, these two big guns are enough to deal with the Gricks and his not a maniac who will raze the entire Foggy Ring because of spite.
'Die you mustards!'
Zyro cursed the Gricks inside Raven as he continued aiming for their ships to fall. His expression was even as he focused on firing, but his eyes silently expressed indignation and dark glee.
He loathed the Gricks for many reasons.
Firstly, they imprisoned him in a torturous cage the moment he landed on this planet. Zyro woke up as a criminal and suffered for a crime he didn't know. Then, when he broke free from their shackles. They relentlessly hunt him, forcing Zyro to hide in a burrow like a helpless from hungry eagles.
He was accused of killing their prince... However, he didn't feel inclined to agree with that. Because for some reason, Zyro thought of himself as innocent in that matter without the sense of guilt. As if he was not the murderer of their prince. His indignant to their accusations and tireless pursuit. But Zyro can't do anything about it, for the Gricks judgement is absolute in Foggy Ring.
To be hunted because he yearned for freedom from the crimes he did not intentionally commit was hard. Especially for a human, such as himself.
However, perhaps they deserve his gratitude. Because if not for them, Zyro won't become the monster he is now. Still, there's something he cannot forgive.
That's the fact that their kind killed his dear friend, Pert. The very first friend Zyro has in this world.
He can never find it in his heart to simply forget what they did to him and walk away without doing anything. He wanted to repay their kindness for all these months he endured hiding. To express the rage of the Fallen Knight.
He, who suffered their wrath would return it kindly.
Faced with a hail of beams and gun fires, a large airship hovering in the fleet back was defenseless against speeding fiery projectiles. It landed freely one after another, piercing the woods and wings fabric at a rapid pace. The shipman's that tried to shield it died in vain after receiving a dozen holes, so did many unfortunate warriors. Soon, the battleship lost balance and plunged below.
After one fell, another airship followed. By now, the Gricks probably guessed who the shooter was, but was hopeless to retaliate against the Fallen Knight vengeful storm of darting steels.
How could they? Raven was shooting from a range that should be impossible for any weapons in their era. Its firing rate was not much inferior to theirs despite being alone. While having an accurate aim, allowing most bullets to land on their desired target. More than that, each projectile were enough to kill them.
The proud warriors of Gricks stared above where a black figure of Raven hovered. Showering them with darting steels and beams of azure light. Horror ignited in their eyes as it made another ship fall. Even the fleet command was stumped, unable to come up with a solution as casualties increased dramatically.
"Sir... What do we do now?" His assistant asked in a shaky breath.
He lingered for a while, then let out a heavy sigh.
"Nothing... It's too overwhelming."
He had seen that thing maneuver at insane speed, so retreat won't do any good. Its ranged offensive power is way more superior that theirs, making retaliation useless.
The airship suddenly vibrated, and sounds of rapid crunching of woods was heard along the warriors scream.
Now, it's their airship turn to fall.
Watching his battleship crumble under the hail of glowing projectiles that bite its parts and kill his men's.
The man added.
"I only hope that thing run out of ammunition soon, if not... Then I prayed for the king's health, for he had made the wrong enemy."
With that, the captain roared. Aware that his about to bring disgrace to his kind.
"Signal the horns! Abandoned ship immediately!!"
Loud howls resounded from the main battleship in a rhythmic pattern. Implying a total retreat, to abandon everything and escape with their lives.
Was the captain's final command.
The Gricks had to swallow their pride, because this means the battle was a complete loss for them.
No one can blame the commander for admitting utter defeat. Because they are facing the Fallen Knight above the lake guardian at same time.
The airships began to lose power, soon dropping down like flies as winged figures took flight on their own. The majority flee into the dark forest, but some refuse to let go of their pride and propel upward to the direction of Raven instead of retreating.
However, it was rather foolish than brave.
They may possess mighty wings and marks of power that strengthen themselves. But against speeding bullets sent by explosive force and high compact energy beams. Their body durability falls short. Even if they are enhanced beyond average people, Raven firepower was still too much for them to handle. After all, a single ammunition from a starship big gun is capable of blasting a human body.
The courageous Gricks soared forward to reach the black vessel raining down devastation. Their faces grim, with burning resolved in their hearts. The strategy is simple, really. Long ranged attackers are often vulnerable to close combat, so they plan on overwhelming it with their numbers even if it means many had to be sacrificed to reach their goals. However, they should have listened to their commander instead of dying in vain.
Seeing the Gricks abandoned their airships and fled into the woods. Zyro gave up on the battleships, and instead, fired at the approaching airborne warriors.
"Switch to scattered shots"
After saying the command, the starship firing style turns from straight line to a squander storm. Earlier, it's like a long range sniper rifle, sending hails from above. Now, it became a rapid fire shotgun.
The approaching Gricks were advancing in a scattered formation, but was meet with scattered shots as well.
Bullets and beams either grazed or hit them hard, each strike lucky strike caused them loss flight or die midair. Some skilled gliders were able to see the bullets and evade. However, the closer get to the starship, the more concentrated that attacks are. In the end, Zyro targeted them. Causing all exceptional approachers die, too.
Their mortal bodies were simply powerless against a steel, war craft.
Eventually, the countless Gricks had dropped on the dark forest like dead birds who went against a deadly hunter. Their airships were sprawled there, as well. Those who survived hid under the woods as they fled dejectedly, ashamed of themselves for suffering a complete defeat.
Although, Zyro might be able to harm them with the use of [Utter Vile] for them to hear. He was reluctant to do so. Sure, his not a good person. But he won't kill an defeated soldier unless they desire more harm.
They retreated. The battle is over. Against the Gricks, that is.
Zyro maneuver his starship to see the battlefield below. Under the night sky, the peaceful forest was turned into shambles by the bloody battle. Topple and uprooted trees and wrecked airships crashed on the ground. Some were burning. While winged corpses of dead warriors can be seen here and there.
In this unpleasant scenery, the dreadful guardian stood out. It's white, monstrous body towered above the forest as its tentacles snaked to grab some Gricks warriors remains, and bringing it into its maw hidden beneath the head. The leviathan milky white skin was stained by black blood of its own, its movements are weakened due to the Gricks heavy assault.
No, it's more than weakened...
'It's dying.'
Raven observation lens can identify a creature pulse by sensing sound waves. It's also capable of monitoring temperature and so on.
Right in front of him, the holographic frames displayed the guardian descending vital signs. It had lost too much blood and suffered too many wounds under the fleet merciless assault on its massive body. It may appear resilient moments ago, but now that the Gricks were gone. The guardian's tough facade crumbled.
His gaze was locked on that harrowing guardian as its condition continues to decline.
It seemed to sense his gaze as it turned to face him with its multiple, tiny black eyes. Zyro expected to see some humbleness in the beast's eyes like a vicious looking animal, but hid fellowship within. However, he had the feeling there's nothing in that beast mind but hunger and rage. Twisted desire devoid of humanity. Even in death, it resumes devouring its prey.
Zyro sighed.
The lake guardian would have been a great source of electricity. Sadly, his incapable of saving it.
'What a waste.'
He then pulled the trigger.
The execution took longer than expected. Raven unleashed a direct storm of fiery bullets and energy beams towards the bloody guardian. The shots travelled in a straight line, each leaving luminous after images like a parade of blazing spears. All heading to the guardian.
It produces a deafening shriek before attempting to uproot some timbers with its clawed tentacles. Perhaps it was too weak by now, that it failed to throw even once. Not like it matter, because the distance between them are too great for Raven to receive it's throws.
The guardian tentacles tried protecting its round head, but were butchered down by piercing bullets. The constant barrage bit on its skin, littering it with uncountable holes.
Zyro was amazed at the creature's toughness. Raven gun fires despite having enough power to pierce through steels can't easily penetrate the sea creature hive. But in the end, the guardian dies after spending countless ammunition to dig a gruesome hole on its head. Probably more than a thousand bullets were sent into its brain before finally falling. It's wiggling tentacles slowly lose life, while its desperate shrieks died down.
Zyro landed Raven atop the creature corpse, then looked at the chaos he made in a daze. The tranquil lake containing harmful electricity beneath its soothing disguised was burning. Its waters dyed black and flames dances on its surface.
The nearby wilderness weren't looking good either. misplaced trees, wreckage of burning airships, numerous dead warriors and a
bloody carcass of the dead guardian laying face up. A repulsive hole was drilled into its head by thousands of bullets.
The Gricks had fled while the guardian fell, leaving a sole knight standing above the creature he slayed. Zyro was emotionless, not happy nor sad about being the final victor of this battle. It is a complicated mixture of joy to win and a bitter taste of killing. Still, a sense of triumph gratified him within. Because these victory means he got the freedom he dreamed of.
Satisfied, Zyro grins evenly as he goes back to his starship. That's when he caught a glimpse of a lightning spark in the corner of his eyes.
He frowned, hesitated for a bit before tracing where that spark originated. Zyro walked on the sticky skin soaked by inky blood of the dead guardian for a while. Eventually leading him to stand on the edge of the gruesome hole he made. Burned marks and numerous bullets buried in flesh can be seen, but Zyro's attention was frozen on the orb at the bottom of the deep wound. .
"Isn't that. A soul core?"
The object below was spherical, with translucent surface that showed sparking blue thunders inside. As if the ball of glass caged thunderbolts within, snaking vigorously around the orb to express it's desire to be free.
Zyro was not mistaken. It was indeed, a soul core of the guardian.