Caius gave a savage grin as Mishi's attention snapped to her Pretty Birdie. "Oh, what a wonderful gift! Aiya, Pretty Birdie, how will I ever show my gratitude?" Caius asked deliberately using a tail to caress her Pretty Birdie. Mishi's look of disgust was more than enough to ensure they had his full attention.
Randal stared at the beasts behind Mishi, he'd heard of the sin beast of Wrath. Only a little over 200 years old, but he'd been busy. Every time he made an appearance, tales of mutilated corpses were never far behind. His cruelty was second only to Smyrna. Leaving victims alive just long enough for loved ones to return. Survivors were often so crippled that death was a mercy.
Randal was already in his armor. The wee ones had been anxious so all of them had dawned their armor and prepared for battle. It would seem they weren't overly prepared either, most of the other beasts were at least lord class. If he wasn't mistaken, two of the six mermen were guardian class.
The mage sidled up to Randy, "They be in armor almost as fine as ye own. I donna ken if anyone else be able ta fend em off." The mage begrudgingly glanced over the emperor and battle mage. "Except ah course he majesty an court mage."
Randal gave a subtle nod. Clearly, Mishi planned a blood bath. The question was… who was his intended target? Randal glanced over the clearing… if any of the delegations so much as lost a hair it could cause all out war. Smyrna could not afford a war right now.
Adar would no doubt be forced to answer for the attack as well. Unless… Randal turned his attention back to the three beasts of sin.
Mishi only needed one to die, it didn't really matter who. So long as it was someone Nix was protecting. Having confirmed all those who'd accepted his temporary mark, Mishi decided to ignore the twittering duo. With a snarl he leapt.
"I'm taken so lightly, my words lesser than rain, have I been so kind… intruders forget monarch's domain?" Nix asked with a sigh. With a snap of his fingers a dome of fire surrounded the hunting palace, the uprooted forest, the remaining mountains, even a few clouds were caged in.
Randal leapt back as the earth split. Pools of liquid fire creating rivers all around them. Randal had just enough spacial awareness to realize Mishi was forced to retreat… away from the Adarian delegation.
Neolani was already fending off two of the mermen. Thanks to Ashton's mana she could instant cast, blocking their attacks before her mages were eviscerated.
"Channel Ashton's mana! Now! Groups of five! Warriors protect the mages! Mages lock them down!" She roared as her spear forced the second merman back. The first had leapt out of the way of her lightning arrow. She had 150 hundred battle hardened warriors and a hundred mages. They would not go down without a fight.
Alexei was the first to call on Ash's mana. His flame mark glowing as he felt the mana strengthened his physical attributes.
Nix rolled his neck, "Well that was unwelcome, your reasons suspect, daring to attack, lives I'm sworn to protect." Nix glanced over the delegations, most staring in horror at the failed attack. "I do like battle, but your goal not me, so I will support my chosen three."
Randal knew better than to be distracted but Nix was… he didn't even have the words. As the human body went up in flames to reveal a bird so magnificent it should have been a capital offense to do anything but stare in awe.
The bird put every peacock to shame in terms of beauty. His feathers flashing as he landed on Caius's shoulder. Nix may not be as large, but his presence overpowered the fox and panther. Opening his wings all the beasts accompanying Mishi flinched back.
Randal rolled his shoulders as the temperature rapidly rose. The fires coalescing into spirals throughout the domain.
If the sight weren't so beautiful… he may have thought he'd fallen into the deepest fires of hell. Perhaps… this was hell… and it was the most enticing deception.
Nix shook out his feathers, "My gift to you fox, my fire and might, your only concern, where your claws will now strike."
Caius gave a toothy grin. She could feel her Pretty Birdie's mana saturating her fur, but not penetrating. "What a delightful gift Pretty Birdie. Mishi, it hurts my feelings that you've ignored me thus far. Am I not enough to hold your attentions?"
Mishi snarled as he dodged the spirals of fire from above and below. He was forced back to his initial position. He'd been less than a claws distance from taking the Adarian prince's head.
Zane belatedly fell, staring up at Lord Mishi… Lord Mishi had tried to kill him.
Rommel snatched Zane up by the arm, half shaking his nephew to get his attention. "Sword! Don't you roll over and take it Zane!" He roared as three of the guardian grade beasts recovered enough to try their luck.
"Group up! Don't leave your backs exposed! Mages! Lightning and ice!" Rommel roared pulling Lucera and Jantje behind their soldiers. Judging from the shared looks of the beasts… all of them were fair game.
Neolani thought about ignoring the delegations and imperials, but knew the beasts were up to something. Not to mention, Ashton's oath… Nix's oath. "Surround the delegations!" Neolani ordered leading the charge. If these wretched beasts thought they could only defend, they had a thing or two to learn.
The palace guards had taken up arms, what little good it would do against these beasts. They wouldn't even be considered meat shields, only getting in the way as they panicked.
Jaxon was barking his orders as he kept the imperial children together. Mishi's followers had already blown half the hunting palace to smithereens. Jaxon didn't know if it was deliberate, or pure happenstance no one had been injured. Lucian had darted in half a dozen times to toss trapped guards, maids, and anyone he found outside.
Monroe shivered despite rivers of fire surrounding them. The temperature had risen yes, but not uncomfortably so. He wasn't ashamed to admit he was glad the Inago had quickly surrounded them. He was carrying princess Samara's basket while concubine Ofelia dawned light armor and her bow.
Concubine Ofelia hugged her daughter before handing her to Duke Carlos. "Your Grace… please protect my daughter." If the young beast would make a move for any of them, it would for someone of the Carlos Duchy. She couldn't be sentimental; survival had to be her priority.
Sebastian nodded tucking the silent babe into his coat. The fire resistance would hopefully keep her safe.
Ofelia turned to face the oncoming threat. She was only a second tier mage, not even a pest to these beasts, but she could at least be a distraction. She could only hope there were enough of them to keep them at bay while Lord Reece fought Mishi.
Jaxon nodded as Lucian joined him. Caius was a beast of sin, but he wasn't known for his battle prowess, lord Mishi was only known for his savagery.
Lucian accessed the field. "Mages, fire." He ordered pointing his sword toward one of the weaker mermen. Not only were they on land, they were using legs. Lucian had the home field advantage, not to mention all this… fire.
Devlin cast a basic fireball. It was almost twice as strong as usual. "The fire is augmenting fire based spells!" He quickly cast a water ball, it took almost three times the effort, "Water is less effective." He called out as the water quickly evaporated.
The mages all quickly tested their spells, fire and wind spells were bolstered but the rest were weakened to varying degrees.
Randal gripped his hammer as he stood between the watching beasts and the Adarian delegation. Neolani was strong, but not strong enough to fend off a dozen lord class beasts. She was only one person.
Alexei was engaging one of the weakest beasts. It was a lord class sea goat. If he wasn't strengthened by Ashton's mana the goat would have torn through him with ease. For now, Kaveri and he were able to separate it from the pack.
Most of their warriors were surrounding the hydra. Thankfully it only had three heads, but… that could change if they weren't careful. Its spray of boiling water was nothing to sneeze at.
Alexei took a deep breath, four lord class mermen, a sea goat, two sirens, two water wyrms, a hydra… and two guardian class mermen. Not to mention the legendary beast of sin Mishi.
Alexei refocused on the sea goat. It was only the size of a horse, but if he didn't know better, he'd think he was trying to fend off a falling mountain. For now, he was using his shield to redirect it away from anyone. Kaveri had bitten it twice, but it shook the venom off.
Kaveri had several broken bones already; the goat's horns had torn through him like paper. The female's feather was rapidly healing his injuries, but he wasn't sure how many times he could use it.
Randal glanced over the hydra, the Inago warriors were keeping it locked down with spears instead of swords. Neolani was attempting to get past two of the weaker mermen, but the sirens were dive bombing her.
Lucian was about to step forward when Randal held his hand up to stop him. "Majesty, ye should help Neolani. I ken keep the guardians busy til the others are taken care of. Mage Devlin, this be ye chance to earn some goodwill. Donna fuck it up."
Lucian eyed Randal, then watched as Neolani struggled to hold her ground. "Fine."