Chapter 252: Day 535 – An Army Without End

Chapter 252: Day 535 – An Army Without End

I stepped forward, waving at the soldiers to stay put. He had his hands open and out to the side of his body, clearly indicating he was no threat. But that didn’t mean anything.

“Hello Astrologer. I don’t think I have seen you around before. Quite an odd time and place to show up,” I said. The man let out a long sigh. I couldn’t get a read on his Body stat.

“The Ritualist is a grave threat to the stability of the region. I was content to mind my own business. But he seems determined to make a mess of things,” the Astrologer said.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

“And why do you care? What city are you from I asked?” If he wanted to discuss things than I needed information first before I made a decision on how to respond to this man who had just showed up in the night when we were on our way to attack the Ritualist. I hadn’t forgotten the fake Ajani.

“My city was destroyed, and my hope is that Purgatory will grow and be my new home. So, you could say that I am homeless currently. I have no hostile intentions towards you. I am here as a courtesy, to let you know that when you attack, I will be striking directly at the Ritualist with the intent to kill him,” the Astrologer said.

“Really. That seems like a stretch with all the monsters and hybrids he has,” I said. Even I wasn’t delusional enough to think I could do something like that. Still, as long as this man kept his distance, I wouldn’t say no to some more help. Even if it was suspicious as hell. This Astrologer felt like some old cultivator crawling out of his grave to cause trouble for his amusement and benefit.

Still, I couldn’t afford a fight right now. Even more so when I was strapped with lots of primed bombs. “I can tell you are suspicious of me and that is fine. I welcome your scrutiny. After the Ritualist is dead, I was hoping we could have a peaceful and friendly chat,” the Astrologer said.

“No demands? No requests for favors?” I asked, trying to understand his angle.

“There is a favor I would ask for, but not demand.” The figure shook his hooded head. “I believe in making friends, not enemies. And there are greater threats than the Ritualist that deserve our attention. As for me striking the Ritualist down, summoning like he does, outside the boundaries of the system has critical weaknesses that can be exploited.”

“What kind of weaknesses?” I asked.

“Hmmm, well I don’t want to give away all my tricks. Let me just say the tethers he has can be severed. I plan to sever them all at once in the chaos you are causing. His army will implode as the hybrids devolve to their base instincts,” the Astrologer replied.

“Keep away from us. And if you succeed, we can talk then,” I replied.

“I appreciate and thank you for your understanding. So many people just resort to attacks and violence as their first response,” the Astrologer said. Yeah, he was super shady and I still didn’t understand where he had come from or for what purpose. “The Ritualist is just half a mile or about a kilometer ahead. I will take my leave now.” The Astrologer just floated up into the sky.

Okay, he was flexing with that move, but it was impressive as hell. To just slowly float away. I wanted that ability. Finally, things were going my way. A hidden grandfather had come out to help me. Even if he was suspicious, talking would be a nice change of pace compared the unrelenting brutality of the Ritualist.

I detonated them. A kaleidoscope of effects burst out. I didn’t hesitate and immediately pulled and through the single combination bomb the good doctor had given me at the worm as well. It exploded and several hybrids on the worm were killed or wounded, but the great pulsating red worm was barely damaged. The clumped-up nature of them made they easy targets.

Another two worms moved in my direction, more ranged attacks were fired at me from the hybrids on top of them and I was forced to run. I kept my speed as fast as I could go with the occasional Air Burst to gain some ground.

I noted that the soldiers had moved off of the straight line to Purgatory. Even if they were stranded outside the city, they could survive for a while and circle around to another gate. But unlike before where a long siege was in the Ritualist’s favor, it was better for him to break through as quickly as possible.

I outpaced the Ritualist and reached the East gate of Purgatory. I entered the city and it was slammed closed behind me. “My people?” General Smith was there and asked me.

“Alive and circling around. Let’s go to the top of the wall,” I said. General Smith nodded at me and lead the way. A soldier handed me a cup of water to drink which I quickly downed and then left to the side of the staircase of the tower once I had finished it.

We reached the top of the wall. The full extent of the Ritualist’s army finally became visible since I had height and it was spreading out in front of the East gate in a half arc formation. I noted the super large worm in back with a structure on its back I had missed before. That was where the Ritualist was.

“General, there are no tethers,” one of the soldiers said and I listened in.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean there are no tethers. None of the sensors can spot them,” the soldier repeated. I frowned at that. The Astrologer had talked a big game but had not made any kind of move I had seen yet.

“Target the large worm in back with Radiant Beam,” I ordered. The General looked at me for a moment.

“I have a plan in place. Allow me to conduct the battle,” General Smith said. Someone had put on their big boy pants today.

“Very well, I trust you can handle things on your end,” I replied. That was when a lone werewolf advanced out of the horde with a white piece of cloth on a stick. So the Ritualist wanted to talk.

“Can you leave the gate open for a retreat?” I asked.

“I will arrange it personally,” the General said. I nodded at him. Time to flex on the Ritualist and inspire the troops. I leapt off the four-story wall. I landed with a superhero pose, one knee and fist on the ground.

I then stood up and walked to the werewolf to have a conversation with my arch nemesis.