Chapter 90: Inside

Chapter 90: Inside

James stepped inside the veil of fire. He moved slowly, warily, watching the horde of Nem3s before him.

Theyd been milling about, turning their heads blindly from side to side as if questing for an elusive scent, and with Jamess arrival they finally found it.

And so a hundred or so Nem3s turned as one to orient on him.

The rest of Crimson Hydra emerged behind him. Olafs circle of white fire burned brightly around them all, mystical patterns filtering through the dark air.

Oh shit, said Denzel quietly. This is gonna hurt.

Serenity hefted her M2. Lets party.

And she started firing, leaning back, the M2 extending over a yard before her, unleashing a stream of white bullets that never ended, never overheated the barrel, and which strafed across the Nem3 crowd.

DONDONDONDONDONDONDON -

Shit got hairy, fast.

These Nem3s sported auras of their own, black flames licking over their skin, and they exploded into action, all hundred of them immediately shrieking and rushing forward, leaping, surging, sword-blades cleaving through the air.

Fuck fuck fuck! shouted Jason and thrust his palms forward. Tentacles of Iron aura burst forward like the tentacles of a kraken, undulating at a length of some ten yards, whipping up and around and forming a blender of sanctified destruction.

Deadeye! shouted Olaf, and Joanna, Denzel, and Kimmie opened fire beside Serenity, pouring Smite-enhanced lead into the tidal wave coming their way.

Fuck this, barked Yadriel, and his whole form bulged, jerked, and then erupted upward, his clothing tearing, his arms forming into huge blades, his face turning into a bony carapace, his muscles swelling monstrously as he assumed his demonic form. With an inhuman shriek he charged forth between Jasons swirling aura-arms, black energy flowing toward him from all the demons.

But it was like spitting into a hurricane. James knew this was different. The Nem3s were taking far more damage from the Smite-bullets, their burning auras shielding them somehow.

So he raised his Sun Skeggox, activated its illuminating power, and dropped a Heavenly Assault on the avenue before them.

The air above the burning dome brightened but the bolt didnt fall as it always had in the past. What pierced the black fire was skinnier, less forceful, with the veins of Gloria highlighted for the rest of the white fire being so pale. The lightning bolt hit the avenue some twenty yards ahead of them, thick as a sapling, and a concussive wave of white fire blasted outward, washing over the Nem3s.

Who staggered, some falling to their knees, their hides immediately scorching and cracking, but none of them ashed.

Shit, hissed James.

Bone spears flew at them, dozens at a time. Shields flitted from side to side, but Olafs circle immediately flared white as too many attacks got through. A second later it cracked, collapsed, and a spear slammed into Serenitys chest, knocking her off her feet and knocking her back.

Denzel cried out in pain. James saw the spear extrude itself as her wound healed, and then there wasnt time for anything but war.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.

James ran forward, skeggox blazing with sunlight and bronze Smite. The closest Nem3s were vastly slowed down by the wounds dealt by his Heavenly Assault and Jasons aura arms was carving deep gauges in their sides. Yadriel bellowed as he leaped into a mass of them, arms swinging, and James hurled a Sacred Strike after, both healing him and causing his foes to burn.

With a grunt James dropped another Heavenly Assault. Again, the strike was greatly weakened by the burning dome; were it not for the gloria he didnt know if the assault would have done half as much damage. He ducked under a sword swing, tore his burning axe through a Nems thigh, spun and hurled a Sacred Strike up at two demons who were plunging down at him then threw himself into a roll.

Machine gun fire mixed with demon roars. Serenitys Ma Deuce was thundering again, tearing huge holes in the demons, but more were coming.

Out! James tried to roar over the clamor. Get out!

Kimmie raised her gun, eyes wide, and when she spoke her words boomed over the battlefield, not loud but penetrating, spearing straight into Jamess core: Retreat! As a team, retreat!

This was no Inspiration. James felt his being flood with renewed power and energy. His thoughts narrowed to her command which lay in perfect accord with his own desires, and all that mattered was getting himself and his crew out.

He could sense more than tell that his stats had all massively increased. Strength, Speed, Agility, Stamina - all of them had received a massive influx. Weariness fell away. His very wounds began to heal up, the numerous scrapes and cuts and gashes.

James ducked a swipe, slammed his axe through a knee, then raced back to his people. Yadriel was falling back, too.

A Nem3 moved to interpose itself, and James leaped. His Power and Speed combined to give him wings and being close to 50 he soared. Up he flew, his bound momentarily breaking the laws of gravity, up over the slashing arms, right over the Nem3 which looked up as he flew past and slammed his axe into its face, shattering the bone carapace and sending black blood and fire flying.

He landed neatly. Scooped up Joannas body, then used an Aeviternum to drop another Heavenly Assault right atop their group.

Gloria flooded over them. Nem3s fell back in dismay and pain. Jason used his aura to slash at the Nems between them and the hives perimeter, and James unleashed one of his last Sacred Strikes over his crew, bathing them in healing fire.

Shields! shouted Olaf as his circle came back up, the ambient Gloria seeming to give it power. James manifested his shield right behind them and ran, leading the way, Joanna over one shoulder, horrific hot wetness running down his back. As a team they pounded up the avenue, the single-minded goal of getting the fuck out all consuming.

A couple of Nem3s landed before them, turned, hissed, and Yadriel bowled into them, huge and massively swollen, knocking them aside just as the rest of them sprinted past and burst out the wall of up flowing fire.

It was like stepping out of the worlds dankest, mustiest room into clear, fresh air. James heaved a deep breath, his stats dropping as the Holy Zeal eased off, and together they turned, back pedaling, watching the dome of black fire as they retreated.

Nothing emerged to follow them.

Gunfire erupted from the soldiers at the hummers, and James realized they were shooting Yadriel.

Stop! He turned, waved his arms. Cease fire!

Yadriel crouched, snarling, blade-arms crossed before his visage, dozens of Smite-enhanced bullets slamming into his demonic form. But he flashed white, burning Aeviternum, and then sank down to his human form, unhurt.

Fuck you assholes! he screamed at the gaping soldiers. You fucking idiots!

James dropped to his knees and lowered Joannas body to the road.

No, whispered Olaf, falling to his knees beside them. No no no.

Her head was utterly ruined. The skull shattered within the sack of skin and hair. Jamess gorge rose.

Oh fuck, whispered Serenity, hand over her mouth.

Im so sorry. Denzel was shaking his head, looking like he was going to burst into tears. I ran out of Aeviternum. Im so sorry.

His Anima settled down on the road beside the corpse, his every surface covered in black ichor. He scrutinized the corpse then shook his head, answering Jamess question before he could even ask.

Fuck, whispered James. Fuck.