Through the streets of the dark city the dreamer army had made their march towards the Crimson Spire - all of them held their weapons bared and their armors worn. Echoes too had been summoned and marched with them as well it was natural after all - everyone was on edge preparing for the trials to come.
It was so much so that every time a nightmare creature found its way in front of anyone in the formation died. They were killed so swiftly and left there to rot - their shards left with their corpse as if they were a weed in the walkway
The end of the formation was being controlled by Sienna and Cassia and that echo walked behind them, it's hulking form grotesque - that thing was to be their salvation if they get hurt. There was a few about 30 or 40 people within their group all, they were the weakest combatants that Sunny added to protect those who are being mended as well as some extra safety - especially since his employee was there too, that being Aiko
In front of them Kai was leading a hundred or so archers all with arrows already notched on their bows and lowered for safety until a target was sighted. Within that group Caster was leading the 'speedsters'
I myself had a defensive aspect and a rather powerful memory armor so I was put in charge of 200 it so people... As if I wasn't just running a memory shop a few days ago
Well any way - I had about 200 people give or take. Unfortunately most of them didn't have defensive aspects it was just that their body type and armor enchantments made them adequate for the position
Close in front of them were those who used either their own bodies or short range weapons like daggers or seax's a mass of the people were here roughly 300 or so which made sense since almost everyone in the castle had to hunt for shards to stay there so getting up close and personal was an inevitably when it came to nightmare creatures.
Then there were the close combatants with long range weapons being led by Effie. A large quantity of them were set with her about 250 give or take
And then there was the head of the spear.
Roughly 400 sleepers were gathered with Sunless, Nephis and Eclipse leading the front of the formation.
They left as soon as everyone was ready and made sure to be I mint condition; any injuries they reviewed was patched up by Sunny or Neph. The plans were also relayed to everyone.
Once everything had been taken care of they begun their march and now...
The spire would be theirs especially since now they were in such a close range that the nightmare creatures had already begun their charge
And what better response could there be than to respond with equal ferocity
...
He was cutting down everything...
He and that girl Nephis. Wherever their blades slashed wrought death and that echo of The Star of Darkness. It was killed so many times but it's body mended itself almost instantly and it leapt for another
I don't know what he did but that boy... He definitely used some memory to raise his voice but whatever he did to have that effect was not something a memory could do.
I can hear it ringing in my head even now
The moment that the first nightmare creature charged and leapt towards him. I couldn't see anything through the crowd but the next moment that thing was dead
He turned back barely and he screamed at the army
"They stand in the way of our freedom - Kill them all" - he said
It was such mundane words, such useless words in he face of at least 2 thousand Nightmare creatures all consisting of the awakened and fallen ranks
But I felt it in my bones.
I don't know why but I was inclined to believe him. Even in this impossible situation I couldn't help it.
The front lines took care of most of the nightmare creatures with the few that got past dying by the hands of either the 2nd line or third
And the only time that the abominations managed to wiggle their way through the combatants was when he left the fray.
That battle was going on for so long
I could barely make out what I was seeing. All I knew was to kill. Slash these bastards and get out of this hell hole - or I was going to die trying.
And it wasn't just me that felt that way.
Everyone did
Every time I managed to look to the side mostly whilst blocking an attack or dodging a terrible one I saw them
That girl from the outskirts. Effie threw herself into the most infested sections of the battle, she was drowning in a tide of those beasts and yet she kept slashing. Her spear cutting arcs through everything in front of her while that ant echo of hers used those blade like legs to dismember those in front
There was a particular creature that when she stabbed her spear into it managed to side step the slash and bite the spear tossing it to the side before it lunged at her
That moment when anyone would have died she dismissed her spear and used her hands grabbing the demons Jaws before it could grasp her and spread them apart ripping them clean of before she summoned that spear again
The most frightening part was that she did all of it with that smile on her face
I managed to kill that bastard that lunged at me before stepping back as someone else took my position giving me a few seconds of rest.
I raised my head as I wiped the sweat, blood and grime of my face and that boy Kai
He was facing those horrifying things, the spire messengers on his own
I watched him duck under one that had charged him possibly he disabled his aspect and allowed gravity to let him fall onto the one below him
That one he landed on however moved and attacked the one above that was still moving due to its momentum. 2 if it's numerous arms as well as it's beak dug into the belly of the beast and ripped
'An echo'
The abominations guts slipped out and it fell lifeless
All while Kai had already leaped of his echo the moment that he landed on it taking flight again
I don't know if it were the bow or the arrow, but he shot down the spire messenger that was the highest in the sky and suddenly its wing went limp as if one of the bones in it just disappeared
The ugly thing plummeted from that height into a group of nightmare creatures below. Its immense weight paired with the velocity it fell at crushing the instantly.
And he didn't stop then. He continued shooting that bow over and over.
Maybe I was too focused on the battle above.
And true it was my own carelessness that caused it but one of the dreadful bastards managed to slash my hand of and whether I screamed or not does not need to be discussed
I was about to crush the things head with my axe but someone got to it before me. And then they pushed my back saying something about
"Go to the back lines"
I begun moving instinctively towards the back and failed to notice another one of the creatures lunging at me with its maw wide open.
But it never got the chance
One of the archers from the back I assume. Their arrow fell above and landed into the middle of the beasts head. It carried towards my direction due to its initial motion but die to it being slowed I managed to get out of its falling range.
It was a slimy thing to
The back lines were a lot fuller than it initially was, but it was emptying out just as fast
Someone there had a stinger lodged in their gut and that girl that came to help me in the memory shop sometimes - even if she did demand a cut, Aiko pulled the stinger out. Simultaneously someone who had been gutted and was holding their intestines in was close by.
Both of their faces contorted, and I saw their flesh and skin meld together like a paste and then it sealed like there was never an injury. That was if one overlooked the scar
I didn't notice it at that time but I too was in range for the echoes effect because the blood and pain that was pouring from the stump that was once my hand had stopped.
Maybe it was the fact that I was already in blinding pain or the adrenaline but I didn't feel it. But I felt it's absence
It looked as if the stump was a mug carved out in clay. Rounded and closed of at the bottom
My armor shifted to fit my new form and it closed around the arm
It was a good thing that the archers had yet to be breached since the back lines were still safe.
But before I moved back into the battle I noticed it in the side of my eye
The echo disappeared
Just as it did that boys friend, the blind one - Cassia
She yelled - "Move towards the spire"
And everyone did. She moved with such ease for a blind person that it was astonishing
But the again - everyone was moving insanely fast
Everyone began avoiding the nightmare creatures and started running towards the spire and it's giant opening.
No matter how prepared we were some still fell. I saw their faces as I ran. Many were familiar faces too
Just as I was halfway towards that Dammed thing I felt the ground rumble under my feet.
From behind the spire in the opposite direction of us I saw it...
"What the fu..."
I didn't get to finish my words because the dark sea started flowing in like it was Being pulled in by some magnetic force.
It crashed into the magnificent tower with such force I thought it was going to flow in our direction but then...
The water was being sucked inside
I didn't even bother to question what my eyes just saw because i continued running
Before those in the front managed to get into the spire the water had already been drawn in and now people were moving in too.
Around me I saw echoes holding back hoards of nightmare creatures each one being destroyed but holding them enough for their owners and others to get even a step further and then the top of the spire started glowing
'shit'
I was too far.
There was just 10s of meters between me and my safety. Me and going back home
'Well... At least I tried as hard as I did. And that greedy little thing - Aiko made it out"
I waited for my soul to be snuffed out by the sun and then I felt a sudden jerk in my body
Maybe I was being torn by a beast that was particularly hungry or maybe that was just my soul leaving my body.
But then...
'What the hell is this'
I felt something wrapped around my torso and perhaps I was just to ready to die or thought that it came with the experience of dying
I yelled - "Why is my feet of the ground"
That boy, Sunless yelled back with a smile - "Because I want you to work for me Stev"
He had wings on his back. 4 magnificent wings the color of the night sky
In his hands were chains. Several chains and looking around there were so many people that the chains were tied to all of them in the air
Now don't get me wrong I'm not the fattest man in the world but let's just say I don't really want the fattest man in the world to die.
So how was this petite boy dragging at least 50 or more people in the air at such speed? well to be honest I didn't care
He got into the spire seconds before that light reached his heels
And unfortunately, due to the momentum we had built up due to that speed i went crashing down to the ground - but hey, at least I wasn't the only one
When that feeling of death and then the feeling of awe subsided, I couldn't help but notice the bloody walls - or that's what I initially thought because when I looked closer that blood was the coral that was marring the floors of the shore.
I turned my head to the side trying to look away from the walls around me, but I quickly looked back at them despite the fact that they made me feel as if I was in some titan's belly and the reason was rather simple.
When my head turned away and I looked outside my eyes met the sight of the lifeless abominations that just lay there, their eyes dull and their bodies limp on the cold floor that flowed with blood
So rather than the ugly walls and even uglier corpses I turned to look at the people besides me
'There were so many still alive...' - And there truly was, though there were a few faces I didn't see.
That boy Harper who guided me to my shop after Gunlaug appointed me as memory merchant was gone
A few of those assholes who called themselves guards were gone.
Even that boy Caster from Nephis Cohort was gone
'How come he acted so haughty to just go and die'
I looked around making out some familiar faces but a few seconds after I was pulled out of my sight-seeing by the vice leader of our army, though if anything he was co-leading with the Immortal Flame girl
He spoke. More like yelled but hey - I don't really care. The kid saved my hide
"Everyone don't relax now. Rush up the spire and cut down the bastards that get in your way. I'm going to pay that Fallen Terror up there a visit"
He raised his blade and pointed it at the thick roots of coral that were flowing up at... what angle was that, about 40 degrees? - well anyway it was enough to run up thankfully
But just as he pointed his blade something seemed to take that as a challenge and judging by what he said in the morning that would be the Crimson Terror. That bright ray chipped into the coral that layered the walls and cut chunks of it of
"I know that they said the terror can use soul attacks like the sun, but no one mentioned it was that powerful' - though it was on a much lower scale compared to the Sun
And like that everyone complied and their weapons were raised - he had already moved far up taking the brunt of the soul attacks. We made our way up the coral 'bridges' - those Golems that Sunless warned us about decided to make their appearance
And what a hideous appearance it was - they had vague outlines of human figures, but their bodies consisted of mangled flesh and shards of coral
As we rushed up the spire cutting down those ugly golems. The bridge got more and more vertical as we moved up but we made it towards the gate after a whole lot of sweat
Kai had been shooting down the golems that attacked the people from the air and thankfully the beautiful bastard was swift - more than he used to be, because as the climb became more vertical and paired with dodging attacks and slicing enemies many fells of the coral, but he managed to grab them and throw them back on track
As we made our way towards the middle of the spire there was a balcony and on it there was a myriad of broken marble all leading to a circular structure lined with runes and shimmering light - possibly the only place in the spire lacking coral
People began reaching for their salvation all of them moving through the gate and they all had some degree of hesitation - even the legacy girl Seishan looked hesitant but she left after Effie saying something with a laugh - as usual
Kai, Effie, Cassie and Nephis were waiting at the front of the gateway most likely for Sunless to come back - But they were also ensuring that everyone got into the gate without delay.
Before I realized it, I too was in front of the shimmering gate way too and maybe i was feeling the exact same feeling all those others did - after years of suffering I was going home and all it took was one last step
I looked back up towards the top where the vibrations were biggest possibly because of the battle.
"He'll come with us" - Effie saw my hesitation.
After all many had hesitated too and there was no special reason - It was just that, that boy gave us our salvation, our freedom and most of all he gave us hope
"He promised us that he will come back with us" - Kai gave a smile that looked somehow charming through the blood, sweat, dirt and spire messenger feathers
I nodded at him and turned my head forward again
And I took that last step through the shimmering gateway
...
Nephis was looking up towards the battle her instincts telling her to join him, but she had given him her word to leave
She looked back at the rest of the cohort and back up
She was going back for him after all why would she go back if her person was not going with her
"I'm going to help Sunny" - She took a step forward not even checking if anyone was following her. She would go alone if she had to and she was the best choice due to her little soul attack resistance due to the dream blade
"Sorry princess he made us promise but don't worry we made him swear he will come home with us today"
She heard Effie speak but before she could question her, she felt Effie's muscular hand grab her arm - And with a powerful swing Nephis was thrust through the gate way not even able to protest
"You think he was telling the truth?" - Effie questioned already scared about what Nephis was going to do to her once they met up again. Hopefully her being in a wheelchair would help
"Sunny gave me his word" - Cassie spoke next Patting Effie's shoulder through straining to die to her height
"He was telling the truth" - Kai assured them.
"You think he dealt with Caster" - Effie let out a crazy grin
"I mean he did try to kill Nephis"
Cassie joined in to with a smile - "how'd you think he did it? You think he used Eclipse while everyone was fighting?"
"Who the hell is Eclipse?" - both Kai and Effie asked simultaneously while Effie continued
"Well you can tell us over a cup of coffee and some sweets"
"Sure"
And like that the 3 of the stepped into the gate laughing.
It was just rather unfortunate all their guesses involving Caster were wrong.
...
Sunny looked down at the fallen figure of the Terror, his gaze was sad almost full with pity
"For them to imprison you here to suffer forever just for their own safety... And it failed in the end too'
He watched at the fusion of flesh and coral shards fell. All those faces covered in horror - all those faces frozen in their soundless scream, just lay there
[You have slain a Fallen Terror: Nameless Sun]
"Find peace within me"
He sighed as he summoned his Runes and saw the [Soul Conduit] appear once more like all those years ago.
Sunny leisurely walked down the spire making his way to the floor where the gate way was
As he walked, he couldn't help but think how much he changed and how much would be changed because of him
Maybe in the end the vast weave of fate would still be torn to shreds similar to what happened in his past as a consequence of a fated being losing its fate
"We'll all in all it was all good wouldn't you say"
Sunny looked down at the kneeling Caster as Saint kept him in position
"Ah I did ask her to gag you but it's fine any way you don't need to speak. I already know everything you're going to say. Call me a Mongrel, say I'm doomed any way blah blah sovereigns will win blah blah blah"
Sunny mocked
"Ah and the reason you're going to die is because you tried to kill Nephis. No other special reason"
Sunny dismissed Saint but made sure that he bound him with Chains.
Sunny let out another sigh - "A shame it had to come to this, but you know too much unfortunately so you have to die anyway"
He watched Caster shift and shake, struggling to get out of the situation Sunny had turned into a shadow on the ground as Caster blinked so to him it seemed Sunny left or was planning to let the final blow hit - Just then his voice was heard
"Behind you"
Caster felt that the powerful echo had not been pressing him down and had been dismissed as Sunny was going to end him himself
He used all his ability making use of his aspect and turning around with an impossible speed only to see a - "A Rock"
Sunny formed back in the back of him - "That's not just a rock. That's the extraordinary rock"
He knocked Caster out with a blow to the head and his body lay there.
"Hey at least I told saint not to let you know the gate way is close and I gave you the view of all those dead nightmare creatures and I'm not leaving you to rot here"
Which was a bit ironic because he also told Saint to bring him close to the gateway but not face him towards it
"... Well, you're Nightmare is over I guess you bastard"
Sunny let out a little smile as he stepped through the gateway
The darkness he had holding the stones had been dismissed already and just as he moved through it crushed Caster killing him instantly.
The fool didn't even get the decency of last words.
Sunny again found himself in the lining of the spell, the numerous strings and stars shining
[You have slain a dormant human: Name unknown]