Ezra spotted Storm approaching in the distance, his goggles still pulled down over his eyes, their faint blue tint catching the light of the early evening. Ezra waved him over, and Storm quickened his pace, a mixture of exhaustion and urgency in his expression.
When Storm reached him, he pushed the goggles up onto his forehead and took a deep breath. "Alright," Storm began, shaking his head as if to clear the images from his mind. "Here's the deal. The first base I scouted—it's clearly one of the stronger ones. They've got tall walls, solid watchtowers, and a decent amount of guards. The leader looked dangerous, but not too insane. Someone with some decent training, for sure."
Ezra crossed his arms, his face serious. "And the second?" he asked.
Storm exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "The second base…" He hesitated for a moment, his usual bravado tempered by what he had seen. "It's practically a military outpost. The walls are fortified, the guard towers are manned, and there are a lot of them. I managed to get a headcount of the men on the walls—probably about thirty just patrolling the perimeter. I didn't want to get too close and risk getting spotted, but..."
He trailed off, then met Ezra's eyes with a grim look. "I also spotted a group of robed figures near the center of the base. Mages, for sure. And not just one or two—it looked like at least five or six. They weren't doing anything yet, but you can tell when someone's packing Aether like that. I wasn't about to stick around long enough for them to notice me."
Ezra frowned, processing the information. "Did you get a look at their leader?"
Storm shook his head. "Not clearly. There was a figure near the main tent that looked like they could be in charge, but I couldn't make out much from where I was. I didn't want to push my luck."
Ezra nodded thoughtfully, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Alright. Sounds like the second base is going to be a problem. It's definitely not the one we start with."
"No kidding," Storm replied, rolling his shoulders as if trying to shake off the tension. "I was hoping my second base would be weaker than the first, but I guess that's not how my luck works."
Korr emerged from the treeline, scanning the area with sharp eyes to confirm there were no hidden ground troops that could ambush them before the assault began. Satisfied the perimeter was clear, he strode up to Ezra and Storm, his posture relaxed but his face serious.
Ezra nodded to him, then turned his attention to both of his companions. His expression was calm, but his tone carried the weight of command. "Alright, here's the plan. We're hitting the first base I scouted. It's got about twelve guards and a leader. There might be a few more we didn't see, but it shouldn't be too difficult to take. Once we clear that, we'll move on to my second base, then Storm's first base, and finally the last base, which we know is the strongest."
Ezra glanced at Storm. "I want you to start the siege on the first base with a round of explosives. Hit them hard and cause as much chaos as possible to rattle their defenses. Once we've breached, focus on taking out any reinforcements before they can regroup."
Storm nodded, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "I can handle that. What about the big one at the end?"
Ezra smirked. "For the last base, I need you to get creative. Lay down patches of ice around their fortifications before the main assault. Make it as slippery as possible to disorient the foot soldiers and disrupt their rhythm. When we launch the siege, fall back to a vantage point and provide support with long-range attacks. Once we clear the top of the walls, we'll need you watching our backs from above."
Storm rubbed his hands together, his grin widening. "Freezing things and blowing them up? Sounds like my kind of plan."
Ezra then turned to Korr. "You'll stick with me for the main assault. Keep the enemy engaged and watch for any surprises they might have up their sleeves. If things start getting messy, we'll need your strength to hold the line."
Korr cracked his knuckles and gave a confident nod. "No problem. Just point me at the biggest threat, and I'll handle it."
Ezra's gaze swept between the two of them, his voice firm. "Remember, the goal is to take them out systematically. If we stay sharp and stick to the plan, we'll crush them one base at a time."
Both Storm and Korr nodded, their confidence bolstered by Ezra's leadership. As they moved out to prepare for the attack, the air buzzed with anticipation. The Abyss cultists wouldn't know what hit them.
The group sprinted through the forest toward the first base, their movements swift and coordinated. When they arrived, they didn't waste time; Ezra led them to the front gate, where two cultist guards immediately noticed them.
"You three, get out of here! This is a restricted are—" one of the guards began to bark, but he never got to finish. Storm had already taken aim, hurling a barrage of explosive charges that detonated with a deafening roar. Fire and smoke erupted, tearing through the wooden walls and obliterating the guards stationed near the gate.
The base shook with the force of the explosions, and the sound echoed briefly before fading into the forest. Fortunately, the bases were spread far enough apart that no reinforcements would hear the commotion.
The remaining cultists rushed toward the source of the destruction, weapons drawn and shouting in disarray. Ezra stepped forward calmly, the scarf on his armor whipping in the wind, his hood casting his face in shadow. A faint glow emanated from beneath the hood as his eyes gleamed with power, and his sword materialized in his hand with a flash of dark aether.
Without hesitation, Ezra poured his aether into the blade, channeling its shadowy essence. He swung his sword in a wide arc, and a massive blade of shadow-infused aether, as tall and sharp as a tree, burst forth. It sliced through the advancing guards like paper, cutting them down in an instant.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment, save for the crackling of dying flames. Storm stood frozen in place, his mouth slightly agape as he processed what he'd just witnessed.
"What the hell…?" he muttered, awestruck.
Korr, on the other hand, barely batted an eye. "Yeah, yeah, flashy as always," he grumbled as he charged forward into the base, his gauntlets teeming with power, treating the spectacle like a routine occurrence.
Ezra lowered his sword, letting it fade back into the void as he glanced at Storm. "Keep moving. We're not done yet."
Snapping out of his stupor, Storm nodded and followed the others into the ruined base. The cultists hadn't been prepared for such an overwhelming attack, and their defenses were crumbling. The first step of their mission was a resounding success.
The remaining guards were no match for Korr, who tore through them like a hurricane. His gauntlets crushed shields, shattered weapons, and left nothing standing in his path. Splinters and dust filled the air as he finished off the last of them, leaving the area eerily quiet.
Suddenly, the base's leader emerged from the shadows of the central building. He was a tall, lean man with a cold expression, holding a spear that gleamed ominously. Strange runes were etched along its shaft and tip, glowing faintly in the dim light.
"You three are impressive," the man admitted, his voice calm and steady. "But I was given strict orders to protect this place. That means your journey ends here."
Ezra stepped forward, his sharp gaze locking onto the leader. Before he could respond, the runes on the spear's tip flared to life, emitting an eerie black glow. Tendrils of black lightning crackled and danced around the weapon, creating an oppressive aura that radiated danger.
Ezra's eyes narrowed as he studied the spear. The leader wasn't an Aether user; Ezra could sense no inherent energy flowing from the man himself. And yet, the weapon pulsed with a power that rivaled even a seasoned rune-level Aether wielder.
Interesting, Ezra thought, drawing his sword in a slow, deliberate motion. The dark blade materialized in his hand with a soft hum, shadowy energy curling around its edge like smoke.
"You're not an Aether user," Ezra remarked, his tone neutral. "But that spear… it's something else. Let's see how well you use it."
The leader smirked, shifting into a combat stance. "Come and find out."
The air grew tense as the two warriors faced each other, weapons crackling with power. Storm and Korr stepped back, giving Ezra room as he prepared to face an opponent who clearly wasn't as ordinary as he first seemed.
Ezra surged forward, his speed enhanced by his Aether, blurring like a shadow in motion. The cult leader's eyes widened as he barely managed to raise his spear in time to parry the first strike. Sparks erupted as the blades clashed, the force of the impact forcing the man to take a step back. Ezra pressed the advantage, his sword weaving through the air like a phantom, and with a calculated swing, he slashed across the man's chest.
The blow tore through the armor with a shrill screech, sending the leader staggering backward. Blood seeped from the wound as he gritted his teeth, realizing the overwhelming gap in their abilities. Despite his injury, the man raised his spear defiantly, black lightning crackling once more as he thrust it forward in desperation.
Ezra shifted to parry the strike, but before he could react, a sharp crack echoed through the air. A blast of icy Aether streaked past him, striking the leader's hand. Frost spread instantly, encasing the man's arm in ice. He screamed in agony, the spear clattering to the ground as his fingers froze solid.
Ezra didn't hesitate. In a swift, decisive motion, he swung his blade, severing the man's head cleanly. The body fell to the ground with a dull thud, and silence filled the clearing once more.
Ezra turned, his sharp gaze falling on Storm, who stood a few paces away, lowering his rifle with a smirk. "Not bad," Ezra admitted, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "I had it handled, but that was a damn good shot."
Storm nodded, brushing dust off his coat. "Yeah, I wasn't gonna let you have all the fun."
Korr, who had been standing watch nearby, sniffed the air and frowned. "That was impressive, but I don't smell anything." He turned to Storm with a curious expression. "My brother told me the first time he saw a rifle fired, it left a strong smell—burnt powder or something. I don't smell that with yours."
Storm's smirk widened. "That's because I don't use regular bullets. It's a goblin technique. We can materialize Aether into solid projectiles. That's why his hand froze—I shot him with an Aether bullet."
Ezra raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, no ammo? Just your Aether?"
Storm nodded. "Exactly. Most goblins craft Aether arrows, but since I have a rifle, I just make tiny orbs. It's way more efficient. Aether bullets are faster and hit harder than regular ones, so they're less likely to get deflected. If I focus enough, I can even punch through Isloria steel."
Korr whistled in admiration. "That's something else."
Ezra sheathed his sword, glancing back at the fallen leader. "We'll need to check that spear. It's infused with something unusual, probably a magic artifact. Could give us some insight into how these cultists are operating."
Storm slung his rifle over his shoulder, his expression shifting to one of determination. "Let's take what we need and move. We've got three more bases to hit, and something tells me it's only going to get tougher from here."