In the chaos of battle, between the seemingly endless horde of dragons, and the first class adventurers, a lone streak of blonde, cloaked in a furious black bounced along.
"Bokhoir, Who's that girl?" Shakti asked, shouting over the sounds of roars, and searing flames.
"I'm not sure-" Bokhoir replied, pummeling a few dragons into dust with his afterglow hammer.
The exhaustion was starting to settle in, everyone could feel it. His hammer-axe felt heavy, for the first time in a long time.
"She might be that girl Shurry told me about. From Loki familia." He managed to recall a brief conversation… And then went right back to fighting, this time, he stared down the level 8 dragons with a grim, and serious expression. These level 5s are good, but everyone is starting to run dry, there's little energy left to continue fighting.
Some of the fighters were so exhausted they really did need to retreat. But Bokhoir knew there was nothing to do but continue pushing… And then he heard it… Everyone did, it was far closer to them than anyone else.
A man with a half mangled arm and numerous gashes all over, recognized that location. "CAPTAIN! THE DIS SISTERS ARE ATTACKING THE FAMILIA!"
"WHAT!"
"Hashana, Kodala, Abali[1], Go quick!"
Shakti was still a novice when dealing with beasts like these dragons. The moment she gave her order, and the three turned to carry out their new mission, the three level 8 dragons finally stirred.
Bokhoir reacted with everything he had left, hitting one of them head first into another one, managing to keep two of the three from moving. On the other hand…
The third dragon took off to follow the three escapees, opening its giant maw, swallowing up the stones of the very street.
"What the hell? How is it so damn fast?"
"Shit, we aren't gonna make it!"
"DUCK!"
The three men ducked, just in time for a powerful beam of magical energy released right into the dragon's maw, searing its insides, and pushing it right back outside of the city.
"Take care of whatever's going on back home! This beautiful fairy is onwards to slay a dragon!" Nernatti said, dashing right by them with a seemingly impossible speed.
"Holy shit, Hathor familia really is just built differently."
"Think it's because of Shurry?"
"Who cares, we have to get back to the familia right now!"
The three continued back to their familia, killing cultists like the varying sizes of ants they were as they closed the distance.
…
From the other side, the Astraea familia was on their way to the Ganesha familia home, facing a similar horde of cultists.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Neze was caught up in slaying the annoyances that just kept on coming.
"Neze, we're here-"
"They all have the bomb things! Be careful!"
"Right! Sisters, let's push through."
With the Astraea familia as a whole on one side, and the three level 5s from the other side, the horde of cultists was quickly thinning out. There was no time to worry about who they were underneath, any hesitation would mean their own death, and those around them anyway.
Explosions went off on occasion, each blocked by a well timed barrier, though, despite this, the wounds continued stacking up… Until, finally, both groups could see each other.
"I am Hashana, executive of Ganesha familia"
"The Hard Fist Fighter! I am Alise, captain of Astraea familia!"
"The Scarlet Harnel! Let's wipe these Evilus bastards out."
"Working on it. Are you in need of healing?"
"We're injured, but fine enough to deal with the rabble."
While they fought, the sounds of battle inside the familia were similarly intense, and the eerily cheery laughter from two feminine voices was clear as day.
…
Following Nernatti's arrival to the dragon battle front, the situation changed for the better, but again, as if they had an endless supply, more dragons appeared, this time, Nernatti saw where they were coming from, as well as what was behind them. Yeah, I'm going to ignore that for now. No way we can deal with that, is this supposed to be impossible?
"Glad you're finally here, now I can get a little recovery." Bokhoir chuckled, pouring sweat from every pore.
"Heh, I guess you've done enough to earn it." Nernatti giggled. She began chanting, albeit slightly annoyed she had to use this thing here. And when she finally reached the end… "... Let those who tread upon her blessed domain feel the tremors, the terror, and the pain deserved of invaders, the barbaric might of the many pales in comparison to her splendor. Oh mother of the sky, grant this humble child your warm, affectionate, and healing embrace. A Mother's love!"
A wave of pressure changed the atmosphere, all Nernatti had deemed as targets began glowing different colors. And soon, everyone watched as their wounds healed in near instant fashion. As dragons were struck with lightning, burned, and their wings damaged to the point of falling to the ground. After this spell, Nernatti was understandably exhausted…
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that spell. It's so exhausting, and feels so good!"
With renewed strength, and feeling slightly stronger than before, the first class adventurers had turned the tables, and went on the unilateral assault. Bokhoir charged in to deal with the 3 dragons each equally ticked off right now.
"Hurry it up, I'll be holding them back. You can deal with the rest, right?"
Shakti, torn through a dragon's body, opening a hole for a level 5 to destroy the crystal. "Yeah, we got it from here, stay safe… Stay strong."
…
"Hathor! That spell your child just used, did you give her that?"
"Nope, she earned it all on her own. Shurry seems to have that effect on people."
"You mean it's something in his falna?"
"No, it's something else." She looked in the general direction of a place filled with statues.
"You're serious?"
"Who really knows?" She teased.
…
The Hostess of Fertility, there was an intense battle going on outside with the proprietress delivering a shovel to the bodies of all the cultists.
"You're digging your graves. You sick pieces of shit."
"Woo hoo! You go get em Mama-mia!"
"Those explosions earlier, and that spell just now… It seems there are some who have taken their training seriously. Maxim, and Empress would be proud." If I had known the full extent of their meaning, I would have trained everyone so much harder.
"Mama-mia, I don't think anyone could survive any harsher training."
"Anya, get back to work-"
"I wonder where the Origin Wolf is?"
"Wherever he is, I'd bet the battle there is even fiercer. He's not the type to just let things continue."
…
[1] Two names I came up with on the fly just to fill a spot. I'll probably never mention them again...