Chapter: 534 – Death and Destruction

Tala waited for Alat’s signal, the alternate interface having coordinated with Master Meridius in the few moments between the first magics flying and the optimal time for her dissolution breath.

It had been decided to take out the middleman and not have Master Clevnis call Tala’s use of that attack.

There were already clashes happening in the air above them, Rane and Master Girt in particular flashing around to obliterate the lesser flying creatures. Though, ‘flashing’ for Master Girt was only to Tala’s threefold sight as the man was entirely invisible, even as he moved through the air, supported by his rocks.

He’s gotten better.

Thankfully, none had come from directly above, so the aerial conflict was more like dealing with the top edge of a rising flood than struggling to support a collapsing dome.

Still, the two men were straining their coordination and skill to keep the lesser battlefront in check by themselves.

On the ground, Mistress Cerna was weaving massive magics of incredible complexity, though not the most complex that Tala had seen the woman work.

Still the ‘thread’ she used was more like rope—which now that Tala considered it, would be made up of threads, so she supposed that it made sense—knotted and woven together.

Each working that she triggered seemed to drain her dry of power even as more streamed in through her gate. The workings even burned up all the material used in their creation, which had to be costly for such massive constructions. Even so, the next was always ready as soon as her body had refilled to the point of activation.

The first sent a lance of hardened air cutting through a thicker knot of incoming magical creatures. It impacted against an oddly powerful, large white rabbit with red eyes. The lance hadn’t hurt the rabbit—it was too advanced and toughened, unfortunately—but the impact had caused the attack to blast apart, shredding the lesser threats around it.

That, in turn, exposed the rabbit, so that one of the Paragons could engage it at a distance.

Apparently, these were Arcane Hunter Paragons, which seemed to put Master Grediv’s assertion about ‘battle-oriented’ Paragons in question, but it was hardly the time for such thoughts. So, Tala put her incredulity aside for the moment.

Mistress Cerna’s second attack had rushed out into the very ground below the oncoming horde, causing the plants to rise up, transforming into razor-thorned vines that tore through the rank and file.

-You’re getting distracted. Three, two…-

Tala reoriented on her target, a large group that had been uncontested as of yet, and which was approaching the human fortified position from almost due east.

She set her feet, gripping the wall and getting an odd look from Meallain. “It looks like you’re about to have a very unpleasant… movement.”

Tala ignored her.

-Now!-

Tala opened her mouth and a portal within it to her artificial lung. The inscriptions and growing natural magics in her throat and mouth caused manifestations in Reality which glowed so brightly that they cast a blue-white brilliance to either side. The iron that lined them allowed them to be far more powerful than un-lined inscriptions could have been, given the other factors at play.

-Did I mention that I was able to get a greater density with the dissolution magic now that we’re Paragon?-

The thin column of invisible—to mundane sight—power lanced outward toward the northeast, the containment magics coming apart at precisely the right place, just before the leading edge of the oncoming threats.

With a concussive roar, a triangle of obliteration grew outward, flame delighting at the edges. She then began to sweep toward the south, immolating everything that was approaching from the east.

Only one creature in the nearest ranks withstood the initial onslaught, and even it hunkered down, heavy armor-plated arms linking up with those on its head and back to grant it greater protection.

Some sort of magical… armadillo? Is that right? It doesn’t look ball-like enough to match the pictures I saw.

-Magic does strange things to a creature? Is now really the time for this contemplation?-

I mean… I’m just breathing out…

-And there’s a whole battle surrounding us to keep an eye on.-

…Right.

Master Limmestare was directing massive blades of glass to scythe through the enemy ranks, also focusing on thinning out the numbers of ‘lesser’ beings.

Tala almost laughed aloud at that. In fact, she probably would have if her mouth weren’t otherwise occupied.

The ‘lesser’ beings were all at least equivalent to the midnight fox she’d encountered on her first caravan trip. Before Refined and Paragons, such creatures were nothing but chaff, but in any other circumstance? Any one of them would have been a walking disaster.

-Oh, the harvests from this are going to be incredible… well, not from in front of you. Your attack leaves no remains and all that.-

Yeah… that’s true. Still, even with three quarters of the creatures, it will be a pain to collect everything of value. If only we had thousands of ready workers, able to lend a hand?

-…I’ll inform Lyn that such would be useful, so that she can be prepared when this concludes.-

Confident, are we?

-Well, either we succeed, or it isn’t our problem?-

Tala did huff a laugh, then, continuing to strafe along the front of the eastern quarter.

Beside her, Meallain’s eyes were… Well? They weren’t any bigger than usual, but they held a look that was between over-awed, shock, and undisguised glee.

She might be a problem when this is over.

-Might?-

…Fair.

Master Clevnis wasn’t engaged in battle, yet, being a mostly close-range fighter, but he was prepared, sword in hand and practically hopping from foot to foot.

The magical creatures had ranged magics as well, but they were being essentially entirely negated by the combined aura and authority of the seven Paragons on their little hill. That and the defenses inherent to the walls upon which they stood were preventing any of the remnants from bothering them.

I really need my walls… She could have used her iron spikes, creating a field in which to anchor her authority, but she wanted to hold that back for when she was sent forth. It wasn’t as if they were struggling without that addition either.

Meallain had initially tried to lend her aid and authority as well, but her soul had immediately spasmed, causing the woman to clutch her chest and stagger slightly before catching herself against the wall. Losing the soulbound protian weapon had truly lacerated her soul. Likely it was only her Hallowed advancement that allowed her to be upright at all after that severing.

On other fronts the various Arcane Hunter Paragons were working their magics to great effect.

Master Meridius wielded magnetic fields as Master Cazor did, but to a far greater degree of finesse and power.

He placed bolts of ferrous metal into any magical creature who survived the culling of the lessers in this initial portion of the attack.

No wonder Master Cazor is walking that path so confidently.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

-You know… they look a bit alike.-

…Oh! Oh, you’re right. They could be related at that.

Even with all the coordination and slaughter, the speed and number of the oncoming response to Meallain’s desecration of reality meant that the creatures that were still a threat were drawing closer by the second.

Even on the eastern side, Tala’s side, there were now a good fifty creatures advanced, armored, or otherwise resistant enough to have weathered her storm of dissolution.

That finally petered out, and she opened a portal on her back—after closing the one in her mouth—to draw in air once again for a potential need later on.

Just for the fun of it, Tala allowed Alat to alter the shape of the intake portal so that it gave off a low, ominous hum.

-Teach our enemies to fear that sound, then in a time of need, we can recharge without giving such an indication.-

Very well.

Meallain was practically hopping in place, her eyes gleaming. “My girl… you are magnificent.”