285. Interludes – Greenfield Expansion II

285. Interludes – Greenfield Expansion II Peripheral Landas 3

Edna

Edna and team arrived at the next location on the map, only to find it was already an open air cemetery. The bodies of elves torn by the flying demons were everywhere. Blood and the smell of rotting bodies filled the air. The elves probably died no more than a few days ago, because the bodies were only beginning to rot.

Were too late. Edna said.

Ezars shock was brief, because he quickly steeled himself, and nodded. There were things that needed to be done. Lets keep going. We dont want to be late for the next one.

Edna looked at the two rangers and druids. Wait. Too late to save the cities, but there may still be survivors. Lets search underneath all of this. We should help them before we leave. Just in case anyones left.

The knights words made the Valthorn druid regain his composure, and spread out his senses. The ranger used a kind of calming ability on himself, and searched.

Ezar looked at Stella. Lady Stella, send me over to the other locations first. If there are demons, I want to be there.

Stella nodded, and the portal whirled open. As expected, there were demons. Ezar nodded, and he stepped to the other side.

About that time, the druid shouted. Theres a small group of them hidden underneath this rubble. Theyre very weak!

After stating that, roots and vines immediately emerged from the druid and pierced into the rubble, and began to lift the collapsed structure. A set of roots reached for the semi-unconscious elves hidden underneath. They were injured, hungry, and almost dying. Only three. But three was better than none.

Edna got to them, and immediately used a set of potions on them. Their wounds healed, and soon their eyes opened to the sight of Ednas glimmering form.

Are we dead? They asked.

No. Edna said gently. Youre not.

The ranger then shouted. Theres another few hidden here. Theyre in bad shape too.

The druid and the mage immediately went over, while Stella checked on the first group. From his pocket space, they took out more potions. They continued to search and soon found, in total, twenty survivors. Mostly children and their mothers, hidden underneath the rubble.

Many were delirious, but the potions helped with the physical wounds and the shot of food helped with their hunger.

Stella immediately opened a portal, and sent them back to the Fortress of Roskor.

Novorosk was there when the portal opened before his eyes.

Warleader Novorosk. These are the survivors from the nearby city. Take care of them. The ranger guided the survivors through the portal.

Novorosk stared. -what-

Just take care of them. Feed them and house them somewhere. We will come back and check.

Novorosk panicked, but nodded. Once all of them were over, the portal closed.

At that point, Edna then looked back at Stella. Ezars right. If there are other cities, we should go and get to them quickly. The more survivors we can save, the faster we can get this world back on its feet. Aeon needs to send more people over, and to all of the fifteen worlds.

We cant scout that many worlds at the same time. Stella countered. The domain holders must be first to go. The druids roots immediately rescued another few more elves hidden under the buried rubble.

The demons killed indiscriminately. To the demons, the mortals were just obstructions. What the demons wanted was the planets core. Everything else was unnecessary.

Edna looked around. I think we can leave this world to the rest of the Valthorns. Leave Ezar here just in case. We must start moving. We dont know what condition well find in the other fourteen worlds. Each day we waste, is another day for the demons to slaughter more of these folks. Many of them do not have our advantages. We need full mobilization now.

-but.

Us domainholders will need to start hopping. Lets deploy the [node] here, and well use this place as our launchpad. Edna said. We need all the domainholders, in all the peripheral worlds.

Stella pointed to the immediate problem. Theres not enough of us to cover all the worlds.

There were eight domain holders, excluding Aeon, and there were fifteen worlds. There were only four heroes.

Well have to leave node trees there, and use that to support those worlds where we cant. The [heroes] will have to step in. We will need to hop extensively.

Stella nodded. That wasnt ideal, but it was the best plan they could do with their current resources. Fifteen worlds also meant some worlds wouldnt have a [node] tree. Aeon only had nine node tree slots left, after the first one was used on Delvegard.

Kafa will have to leave Delvegard.

Delvegards priority should be lower. Edna countered. Lives are at stake. Lets make haste. We can afford to patch it up as we go.

Stella nodded. Very well. Let me do so.

***

Ezar

The portal led to a horde of demons attacking what was probably a city. It was one, once. There was already crazy fighting when he arrived, the demons have stained the lands with blood and corpses. Flying demons loomed, as arrows zoomed.

The defenders were fighting with their lives on the line. Everyone was fighting. There were children, old elves, all doing their best with sticks and whatever weapons they had.

He looked around, and immediately spotted the demon champion in charge. It was one of those axe champions. A large bulky demon with four giant wings, two large clawed legs, and two arms, each with a large burning battleax.

He fought demons across the worlds, many times and always found them to be emotionless creatures. If anything, he always thought the demons looked afraid. But it was ridiculous. The demons didnt feel fear. So, he didnt believe it either when he thought the demon champion looked smug.

Demons had no feelings. Ezars enchanted gauntlets glowed, as he channeled his domain ability. In an instant, the burst of energy from his fist smashed into the champion, and it splattered to death, unaware what hit him.

The death of the demon champion sent the demon army into a wild frenzy, but that was intentional.

Ezar activated the rings on his fingers, and released its stored ability. They summoned five gigantic beasts. Two lions, and three gray wolves, each about level 80 in power. Go and slay the demons.

The presence of the five giant animals instantly drew the attention of the demons. Without the demon champion, the rest of the flying demons were torn apart by the five powerful magical beasts.

Ezar hopped, and in a single leap he landed right next to the breaking lines. He spoke, his voice carried by the weight of his [domain].

Stand back.

To the defenders fighting for their lives, they did.

Ezars gauntlet glowed, and he punched with such weight that all the demons in front of him were crushed in a single energy punch.

There was no need to use his domain ability here. He watched as his five summoned beasts tore through the demons, and the flying demons fled. Any demon that got close was crushed.

-mommy, are we saved? There was an elven boy, who looked absolutely in awe. He was dirty, covered in blood, but her mother was injured. Her mother, an elf, held a sharp, pointy wooden stick as a weapon.

Her mother looked around. Everyone did. There was a feeling amongst all of the elves.

Disbelief.

Hope.

Relief.

Ezar turned. Is this it? Any more demons?

The elves didnt know what to answer. So no one answered. Ezar realized they probably wasnt in any condition to know.

The place was probably a fortification of some kind, but the walls were already destroyed. The elves were fighting their last stand within the city itself, because they couldnt outrun the flying demons. Not that there was anywhere else to go, anyway.

The elves looked amongst themselves. There were no leaders left, all that was supposed to lead them died during the battle. The five beasts walked closer to Ezar, now that their target have been destroyed, and the elves stared in fear.

Ezar looked back at them. They were creatures tagged to his enchanted summoning ring. One of his many equipments. There was no need to speak the command, high-tier summons are mentally linked to their masters, but Ezar said it to assure the elves. Patrol the perimeter. Roar if there are any demons.

The lions and wolves roared in acknowledgement, and they ran to secure the perimeter. The elves were relieved to see the creatures move.

Argo frowned. There are five ax champions out there. The four of you rushing out there is a death sentence. The demons will get us separately.

The equipment used by the four elves were in pretty bad shape. They were battled and scarred, and some of its old magic lost. Then come with us.

The city is defenseless! We cannot leave the city defenseless! Argo countered.

The shield will hold.

The shield will not. Argo said, frustrated. Its energies are weak, and wont last if the demons attack. Itll need time to recharge.

Then why are we waiting? We must charge out there and defeat them before they overwhelm us. Youre being too careful, Argo. Its time to go out there and defeat them.

Argo paused. Can you give me half a day to think about this?

The other elves looked at each other, they shrugged. Fine. Commander Argo, well charge out there, whether you are coming or not.

Argo frowned. Please- dont do anything stupid.

***

Edna trailed Commander Argo to his own office. There was a small office filled with resources scattered everywhere, and he sat on the only chair in the cramped room.

He was talking to himself then. Its always like this-

Edna then appeared at the door, as she disabled her cloak. Commander Argo.

Argo turned, and his weapon of choice, a kind of dagger, was immediately pointed at Edna. Who are you?

Edna smiled. An ally. Well, a potential ally.

An ally? Argo looked around. Are you alone?

Sort of, yes. But Id like to talk. About your city, and everything.

And what makes you think Ill talk to a stranger. How did you even get here? Argo said, totally unused to the fact that there was a stranger.

Because, Commander Argo, I can help.

You can? You, alone?

Of course not. I am here on behalf of Aeon and the Valtrian Order, and we are here to destroy the demons.

Ive never heard of you.

Youve never heard of anyone outside your city. Edna corrected. Most communication between cities collapsed due to the constant demonic attacks, as cities turned insular.

Thats not true. There was a period of peace after the hero Junmark defeated the demon king 59 years ago-

Is it? But how many demon kings since then? Edna asked. Every hero that came after is weaker, and fighting against tougher odds as the demons established stronger footholds. Every hero weakened, since they couldnt level quickly with the loss of the low level habitats commonly used for farming.

Heroes could spar to gain levels, but given their situation, he wondered whether the kingdoms would just immediately force the heroes out to the battlefield.

Argo looked at Edna like she was an alien. So, what do you want?

Tell me the history of Nunarnusk in an hour, and tell me everything. I assure you, I will deal with your demon siege once this is over. You can even watch.

Argo had never seen a stranger, but Ednas presence overwhelmed him. His eyes looked at the knight, and thought she was mad. Confident, but mad. -very well.

***

The demons came in huge waves every ten years. The past few decades, the hero was able to defeat the demon king, but they did so at great cost. The last attack left the previous hero without one of his arms, and cursed by a dark magic that no one in the entire world could break.

Thanks to the curse, the hero couldnt go on and destroy the remaining demons. Instead, he was like a weakened, semi-dying man wishing he could die, but the [hero] class was too strong.

Even severely weakened, no one could kill him. His soul and blessings were still too strong. So, the hero rested in a city of the Night Elves called Chursky. That was the last communication Nunarnusk received from Chursky about six years ago.

For Nunarnusk, the demons never really stopped. The great deserts, of which there were seven great deserts, each turned into demonlands and continued to spit out demons by the hundreds and thousands, and so travel between cities became a matter of great risk.

Only cities that were really close together could still communicate regularly.

There were no gigantic oceans in Landas. Instead, there were six great lakes, and at the center of those great lakes were the few bastions of the old elven empires. Nunarnusk lost touch with those old bastions a few years ago.

***

Edna listened, and laughed. Very well, call your men. Call them all to the walls. I, on behalf of Aeon, would like to demonstrate our intentions.

Commander Argo thought it was rather embarrassing, but when he left his office, the six other level 80s were waiting for him. He looked back at Edna, and then towards the walls. To the walls.

The four that supported the push outwards looked surprised. Lets go.

The seven gathered up on the walls, and Edna followed quietly behind. The rest of them didnt notice her, they were busy preparing for the charge out. The four immediately called their own supporters to prepare for the charge.

Once they were at the walls, Argo looked at Edna. So, what is it that you want to demonstrate?

It was at this moment that everyone noticed Ednas presence. Edna nodded, her cloak vanished to reveal her in shining armor. Two anti-demon swords appeared magically, and there and then, her domain flooded the city.

Everyone felt it, Argo as well.

[Regenerating Guardians].

Five glowing magical knights appeared, and they flew. They were ephemeral objects, and they shared Ednas toughness. They zoomed across the skies, creatures of magic.

Creatures made from Ednas [Domain].

Edna looked around. There are demons on the other side, as well?

Argo nodded, his white hair seemed whiter, his fair face a slightly greenish pale.

Ednas energies wobbled outwards, as more magical knights appeared. Ednas lesser magical summons swarmed outwards, a hundred magical knights now took the field.

It was a short battle, because none of the demons could even harm Ednas guardians.

The seven leading defenders of Nunarnusk looked at Edna, with both a mix of awe and fear. Well, Commander Argo of Nunarnusk, I am Edna of the Valtrian Order, and we are here to recruit allies. If you agree to join us, you will have our protection, but in turn, we will require you to support our war against the demons.

Argo nodded. There was no other word to say.

***

Okay. Nunarnusk is secure, weve added it to the fold. Has Aeon approved the node trees placement? Edna said as the elves of Nunarnusk breathed a rare moment of relief.

Stella responded. Yes. Node deployment approved. But we need to decide on a location.

Ezar, also on the same discussion, added. Just pick a location and start sending Valthorns over. Is there a hero in this world?

Yes. Want to arrange a visit? Edna countered.

Ezar laughed. Lets bet. A hundred gold that its under siege.

Edna chuckled. Thats a stupid bet. The hero is there, the demons must be drawn to him like moths to a flame. Also, the hero seems to be cursed.

Stella frowned. If thats the case, the decisions made for us. Lets place the node tree where the hero is. Send the hero back to Treehome, let Aeon work on him, and send him back here to fight.

Edna had a feeling what happened on Landas would be a tale similar across all the worlds.