Chapter 18 - Midnas, 12

The assault was more successful than I anticipated, Of course, I left a little present for any that returned. I won't get too far into the details, but I admit, it may have been my best yet. After finishing my art, I returned to the mansion, to report my success.

Approaching the perimeter, I saw telltale signs of combat, it was still happening inside, ten black-robed cultists lay dead on the steps up into the mansion. Three windows on the ground floor were smashed open. Shit, I hope Rina's alright. I jumped through one of the windows, a similar scene outside was inside, the doors hadn't been breached, but someone forgot about the windows. Hastily built barricades were littered around, the most amount of corpses was on the stairs, none of them had anything but black robes. Following the clashing of metal upstairs, I weaved through bodies and turned over tables and wardrobes. In the room, the fighting was in, were seven initiates and two Seers. There were creatures of shadow that attacked our little group of insurgents. Alexander was down, Callum was barely standing, Ryan was slumped over against a wall, Violet had suffered from Muscle Lock, Tyler was barely standing and at the front was Rina, standing in front of Laura, Rina had drawn a Tower Shield and a spear, Tyler was using some sort of flail and Callum was using two short swords. The stench of iron was incredibly strong, and the floorboards creaked and announced my return. The seven initiates snapped around but froze when they saw what I had in a bundle over my shoulder. I tossed it over on the ground, clear to see. The heads of their Vice-Archons and Seers in the group I just killed. I went so far to intimidate that I had wrapped the intestines of a felled initiate outside around my neck as if it were a scarf. It was gross but necessary. The blood leaked from it, as well as what looked like pus. Ever since I was here, I saw a yellow liquid leak from these cultists like blood, they stink as if they rot while they are living. Only recently I discovered it was Pus -or at least I think it is. I watched as their eyes widened in horror, their arms going limp as they realised, the advantage they just had was lost. Dozens of their people died here for nothing. The shadow creatures continued their assault against our group, I raised my index and middle finger, pointing it at one of the Seers, the buildup of Magic made it feel like I had pins and needles in my hand, an incredibly bright and focused arc of lightning. It struck him square in the chest, frying his insides in an instant, his body fell and as it did, so did the shadow creatures under his control. The weight against the group was reduced, some of the seven rushed at me, and I drew my sword. Forcing it up through the jaw and skull of one of the four that rushed at me. One hesitated, breaking through the skull, I brought it against the hesitant Cultist's neck, decapitating her. The three idiots at the back snapped back to reality and rushed towards me, inhale, exhale, take your stance. I moved into my ready stance, my sword felt more like an extension of my arm than usual. Inhale, exhale, wait, then strike. Pushing my Magic Blood to my hands, then into my blade, white electricity sparked across the metal. Four got into my range. Now, strike. With an impossibly swift motion, I pushed my sword, slashing through the air, then through their bodies, with 「Rune Sight」I was able to do more than I usually could, instead of slashing through their abdomen, I cut through their necks. With a lunge, I impaled the last cultist's heart on my blade, with a sidelong glance, I could see the sweat falling down the Seer's face, and a fire began to appear in one of his extended hands as he moved it towards me, half of the creatures he controlled disappearing as he did so,"Incendi-" he began, before a spear flew through his head, killing him. I looked up, Rina stood, with only her Tower Shield in her arms, the spear was hers, she looked as though she would collapse, withdrawing my sword, I stepped forward, catching her before she could hit the floor. "Took you long enough..." she said playfully before she lost consciousness. "Callum, check the fallen. Tyler, you good?" I asked, "Yes, I am fine, just tired. Ryan is he-" Tyler was interrupted before he could continue, "No, he's good. Alexander though..." Tyler looked back at Alexander, sadness in his eyes, we would all mourn his loss, he was a good man, a good fighter. He stuck with us to the end, he didn't run even when he could've... "we rest until tomorrow, then hit back. Hard." I suggested, Callum and Tyler had nothing against it, "Violet, I know you can speak. your thoughts?" I asked, "Do you even know where they are?" her voice was a hoarse whisper, "Because I do." she continued, "Under the Raging Pony, in their basement is their whole base." I nodded. If any civilians survived, they'd be there. Along with the Archon. Tomorrow, the final battle begins. I told them of the ruined hierarchy in the cult, how all of their magic casters should be dead and the only problems we would have to deal with would be the Archon and the masses in black. We shouldn't have too many issues.