Ignoring Helena's warning growls, a wide grin plastered itself over Gavin's face as he turned to see who spoke behind him. "Damn it, AJ. I would ask what in the seven hells you are doing here," another explosion slammed into the other side of the wall. Gavin flinched and slid back from the entry way. "But, obviously we don't have the time."
"Admit it wolf, you're just glad to see me." AJ grinned at him in response as she lifted her hands and placed them on Gavin's shoulders. The soft white glow from her palms spread into his body, soothing the fatigue and minor scrapes and bruises.
Gavin closed his eyes for a moment, as the Valkyrie's healing magic washed over Gavin, accelerating his own Were-Wolf healing skill. "Yes, I am. Maybe we actually have a chance to survive this damn battle after all." He rolled his shoulders as AJ removed her hand.
"AJ?!" Erza asked stunned as she ducked behind Helena, hugging the wall.
AJ flashed her a grin. "Heya Red. You need to do a better job of keeping the wolf outa trouble ya know?"
Erza rolled her eyes as the building trembled from another explosion, evidence from battles continued elsewhere and more dust floated down from above. "Please. Astrid could barely keep his mouth in check."
Gavin's jaw clenched. "Demi creatures, can we please focus our collective ADHD for five minutes before we die to the scumbags that apparently want to kill everything not human?" A vein twitched along Gavin's forehead at their constant ribbing of him, like he wasn't even there.
"Well, you're the one in charge. It seemed like you had some kinda plan when you wanted me down from the rafters." Erza commented.
Gavin nodded. "Yeah, I do. Now that AJ is here, we have a strong chance of pushing through them. Now, don't get me wrong. I'd love to slaughter them all, but our priority needs to be protecting the students behind us. If they get past us, its over for them and it'll be a blood bath."
All of their faces were grim as each one nodded in understanding. This was going to be a battle of attrition.
"We have to hold the line here, at this entry point and pray to the gods that they don't find a way behind us." Gavin instructed as he poked his head around the corner and immediately ducked back as a rain of gunfire came at him. The bullets slammed into the stone, the loud impact echoing around them.
Gavin pursed his lips in thought. A wide grin appeared on his face.
Time to bet the farm.
"In a moment, I'm going to create a distraction. Then I need each of you to take out the magic light crystals around us. We create enough darkness to cause confusion and hesitation for them. I doubt every single person has equipment for a night mission on them." Gavin said.
Erza nodded as she looked around and noticed the dozen or so crystals floating, suspended in the air. "Should be easy enough to take most if not all of them. But then what?"
Gavin's grin returned. "Then, we hunt. I'll use a darkness spell to cloak the area, it'll be easier in low light. Take out as many as we can, as fast as we can without-" Gavin's words were cut off by another explosive impact that blasted apart the entryway where he had his back to.
The force of the explosion sent him flying back, tumbling on the ground with the rubble around him. Gavin's ears rang and the air was knocked out of his lungs. He saw trace bits of the arena spinning end over end as the edges of his vision started to go black before he slammed down to a stop on something heavy. Everything was muffled, and he coughed repeatedly as he tried to gulp down fresh air and force his body to cooperate.
"Gavin!" Erza cried out in fury, her mana exploding around them in hues of warm amber. Before she could respond, AJ, the powerful Valkyrie Sister grabbed Erza and shoved her back along the wall.
AJ's eyes snapped with fury as she thrust her palm out towards the entrance. A vein throbbed in AJ's temple as her mana exploded out around her. "All creation comes from light, and in all destruction all returns to light. Against the light, nothing may pass that the goddess does not will. Her will be done." Soon as her incantation was complete, a thrumming, shimmering veil blocked the entire entry way, separating the two groups from conflict for the moment.
Erza's mouth dropped. "You never told us you could use Envoker level magic!" She glanced between Gavin still on the ground, then back to the shimmering wall behind them. He coughed up blood and groaned as he struggled to his knees.
"That's gonna stay our little secret, got it?" AJ asked with a wink and she hurried over to where Gavin landed on the ground.
Soft, warm glowing hands were gently placed upon his back. He shook his head which only made the nausea and vertigo worse and his breakfast threatened to come back up. His ears flat against his skull as blood tricked out of his ears and his mouth.
Alert. Health has dropped to one hundred ninety five out of three hundred ninety. That hit was almost a direct impact. You got lucky, Master Gavin.
Yeah, Veronica? Well, now I'm pissed. Gavin rose shakily to his feet. AJ was behind him, hands on his back, her healing touch was quickly working wonders. Once Gavin's senses fully returned he turned and noticed Helena on all fours, panting from mana exhaustion. Erza frowned but stayed silent as he rose to his feet and wiped blood from his mouth.
Shouts of frustrations could be heard from the other side of the shimmering veil followed repeatedly by explosions that rippled across the veil. Gavin lifted his head, shaking loose dirt and dust from his matted fur. "Thanks, always full of surprises aren't you?" He spat a glob of blood onto the ground and grimaced.
"Did you forget, you're not the only ones that trained with them?" AJ responded, then turned and faced the protective veil. "Though, even an Envoker level spell won't be able to stay up under that much fire. Astrid would kick my ass for taking the the risk to use it in the middle of this fight."
"What do we do now?" Helena asked, ignoring the unfamiliar names as she rose unsteadily to her feet. She glanced cautiously to the seemingly powerful new person to join their ranks, her silver tail swishing low back and forth.
Gavin noticed her reaction. "Helena, this is our old friend AJ. AJ, this is Helena. Now. I have no idea what to do, short of bombing the bastards and letting the gods sort it out."
Gavin let out a yelp as Erza slapped the back of his head. "Not funny." She snapped irritably at him.
"Impressive display for a bunch of filthy animals!" The leader's voice called out, and Gavin could make out a tall blonde man with strange scar on his face through the distortion of the veil. The scar was a distinctive three lines that ran from his left temple above his eye, to below his chin.
"All that talk, and you still can't even get to a group of first year students. Some big, bad killers now, aren't ya? Honestly? I'm disappointed. I've heard stories! Rumors! About how terrifying it is, about a group that goes around, in white coats with an anarchy symbol emblazoned on the backs. Yet, three students are kicking your asses!" Gavin taunted back.
He coughed, clearing his lungs from the fresh smoke and spat some of the dust out from his mouth.
Erza grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the entry way. She hissed in his face. "Do you have a damn screw loose? What in the hell are you doing?"
"Finishing this fight. One way or another before more lives are lost." Gavin responded, his eyes burning through to her.
AJ nodded in agreement. "My shield won't last indefinitely, and I can't let anyone here witness it and blow my cover."
She noticed the confused look on Gavin's face. "I'll explain later," she hurriedly said.
"Right. So the rest of the campus is presumed under assault. Shepard and the rest of the staff are occupied dealing with other forces. The majority of the weak are here in the shelter behind us, and at least one leader is in front of us." Gavin ticked off as he considered his options.
"I say, we move forward, under the believe that jerk with the scar is the DE-facto leader of the entire group. We take him out, and the rest should scatter like ants." AJ said casting a glare in the enemies directions as more explosions landed against the wall.
"On the plus side, your shield is taking out a lot of their ammo and manna." Gavin snickered in satisfaction.
This really isn't the time for jokes, Master Gavin. Veronica chided him.
If I don't, Veronica, I'll likely lose my mind. This entire mess is pure madness. I mean, who attacks a freaking school like this. These are trained soldiers taking out a bunch of students for crying out loud. Like why and for what purpose? Gavin responded, the pain in his heart of the loss leaking through their bond and connection.
There's really nothing I can say to make this better, Master Gavin. Just focus on making sure your group survives. Veronica responded after a moments silence.
AJ nodded as she looked around all the corpses on the ground. "You guys sure took plenty of them out already."
Gavin grimaced, blood still dripping from his claws. "Unfortunately. Though, you can tell it's not enough." He walked up to the shimmering veil, brows furrowed.
AJ walked up beside him, sword sheath tucked into the belt at her waist. "You know, this is going to get bloody, right?"
Gavin snorted. "That's gonna be any different compared to the start of this how?"
Erza stood to Gavin's left, blue orbs of fire twinkling to life in her white paws, anger twisting her features. She glanced back at the bodies of the staff that fell, trying to protect them from the onslaught and back at the remaining enemy forces on the other side of the wall. "Let them come." Her words were a hiss of controlled fury.
AJ's wings unfurled from her back and her armor manifested over her clothing. Shinning with a metallic emerald light, she stood there, radiant and powerful as she prepared to end the spell that stopped the enemy. "There won't be another chance to use this spell once it comes undone. You sure you ready for this?"
Gavin glanced to Helena and Erza. Helena had managed to catch her breath and stood tall, eyes fierce with determination. Erza held a burning hatred in her eyes as she locked gazes with Gavin.
It was then, that Gavin knew, nothing would stop them. Too many lives across this campus had been snuffed out today. This fight wasn't just about about protecting the students behind them, it was about avenging everyone that had already died. This was as much for the dead as it was for the living.
"Go all out from the start. Remember what Astrid said. Keep emotions in check, be cold, calculating and lethal in your strikes. Above all else, watch each other's backs." AJ reminded them before she raised her hand.