The Fall of Tonovia
Usto' stood at a distance, his gaze fixed upon the distant battlefield unfolding at the mother lake. The sounds of war echoed through the air, reaching his ears with each explosive clash. Amidst this ongoing turmoil, a new and more ominous threat emerged—a threat that would soon demand their utmost attention.
It was when the 6th high post fell that the gravity of the situation became all too apparent. Only nine of the high post remained operational, their defenses strained to the limit.
Three Rak-ahtan warriors materialized—a stark contrast from the others. These creatures possessed a metallic flesh, exhibiting an incredible physique standing at a towering 15 feet of pure muscle. The jewels embedded in their foreheads and tails, coupled with their bloodshot eyes, rendered them akin to nightmarish entities straight out of the depths of hell.
Without delay, the high posts unleashed their devastating beams, aiming to halt the advance of these three gray demons. However, the speed at which they moved defied comprehension. Even if the 6th and 7th high posts were still functional, it remained uncertain whether they could land a single blow against these monsters.
The confrontation intensified, a battle of epic proportions unfolding before Usto's eyes. But deep within, a sense of urgency stirred. The odds were against them, their defenses crumbling with each passing moment.
As the three Rakh-ahtan warriors skillfully evaded the powerful beams that even they feared, a sudden turn of events took everyone by surprise. A figure, towering at about nine feet tall, teleported right in front of the Rakh-ahtan warrior with a white jewel adorning its forehead. The perplexing sight left Usto' bewildered and alarmed. "What is he doing!? Something doesn't feel right, I need to go wake him now!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern.
Without hesitation, Usto' bolted out of the room and raced towards the hibernation chambers.
(Momens before)
Chaos had erupted within the confines of the 8th post, as infected Tonovians from the 7th high post overran the once secure stronghold. The Great Iron of the 8th High post Guttenson' Losci swiftly evacuated his men, leaving only himself behind.
Calmly he consumed two gray colored glass crystals, empowering himself to single-handedly defend the post against the encroaching horde of infected Tonovians.
Amidst the frantic battle, an infected Tonovian set its sights on the Relic stone. Great Iron Guttenson' took cover, anticipating the imminent destruction of the Relic stone, just as it had befallen the 6th and 7th High posts.
However, to everyone's astonishment, the infected Tonovian chose a different course of action. It teleported directly in front of the Rakh-ahtan warrior with the white jewel in its forehead.
Sensing an opportunity, Great Iron Guttenson swiftly dashed towards the Relic stone. He communicated vital instructions to the stone before teleporting away to safety.
A few seconds later, a towering, fifteen-foot Rakh-ahtan killing machine was teleported to the the 8th post, by another infected Tonovian its intimidating presence casting an eerie silence over the battlefield.
Nearly two kilometers away, atop the 9th high post, a sudden flash of light caught the attention of those present. From within the radiant glow, a figure materialized. "It appears they possess a higher level of sentience than we initially believed," spoke a gray-haired Tonovian, standing at an imposing nine feet tall, it was Guttenson'. The recipient of his words was none other than Sayelle' Urious, the esteemed Great Iron of the 9th high post.
Great Iron Sayelle' nodded attentively, absorbing every word from the greatest Great Iron of the 12 high posts. The situation demanded their unwavering cooperation and adherence to a new strategy. "Understood," Sayelle' responded, his voice firm and resolute. He recognized that following the guidance of the Great Iron from the 8th post was their best chance at survival.
While Great Iron Goeh' had been caught off guard, resulting in the loss of not only his high post but also the lives of his men, Great Iron Guttenson' had displayed exceptional leadership. Despite the overrun of his base, he managed to safeguard the majority of his troops by swiftly relocating them to the 9th post—a testament to his quick thinking and resourcefulness.
Great Iron Guttenson' and Great Iron Sayelle' of the 9th post shared a deep bond, their acquaintance dating back to the days when Guttenson' had trained a young Sayelle'. Each high post spanned approximately a kilometer in length, forming crucial strongholds in their battle against the enemy.
Once they were safely within the confines of the 9th post, Guttenson' proceeded to enlighten Sayelle' about a startling discovery. He recounted the demise of the enemy responsible for the destruction of the 7th post. In its final moments, the enemy had spilled its blood, triggering a violent reaction upon contact with any Tonovian.
Those affected would lose control over their own bodies, succumbing to an unknown force. "Great Iron Sayelle', I implore you and your men to avoid touching any blood at all costs," Guttenson' emphasized, recognizing the dire consequences that awaited them if they faltered.
To their astonishment, the Rakh-ahtan warrior that had been teleported to the 8th high post refrained from teleporting towards them. Instead, it zeroed in on another Rakh-ahtan warrior with a red jewel who was cunningly evading the destructive beams unleashed by the high posts. In a swift display of teleportation, the Rakh-ahtan brought the red-jeweled warrior into the fray. Only one other Rakh-ahtan warrior remained, distinguished by a blue jewel.
However, the odds quickly turned against the remaining Rakh-ahtan as the nine high posts concentrated their firepower on this solitary target. In a matter of seconds, the apocalyptic creature suffered a devastating blow, its left leg obliterated in a violent explosion.
Just as it seemed on the brink of annihilation, the white-jeweled Rakh-ahtan, teleporting with incredible speed, intervened to save its counterpart from being torn apart.
With three relentless Rakh-ahtan warriors having breached the defenses of the twelve high posts, Guttenson maintained a calm demeanor as he assessed the situation. "I set my Relic stone to implode, in the meantime tell your men to evacuate and gather the remaining Great Irons immediately," he instructed Sayelle'. The loss of any more Tonovians was simply untenable.
Responding without hesitation, Great Iron Sayelle' swiftly utilized his high post's Relic stone to establish communication with the other posts.
The 8th Relic stone, a source of immense power, imploded with a cataclysmic force. The resulting explosion reverberated through the air, its shockwaves reaching even the distant 9th post. Before it had imploded, the three Rakh-ahtan warriors found themselves in close proximity to the Relic stone.
Of the trio, the blue-jeweled warrior, already missing its left leg, had been utilizing the Relic stone to regenerate its body. Yet, in a startling turn of events, the implosion occurred with such violence and speed that the creature's lower body condensed to a mere needle point. Within a small radius of the Relic stone, destruction was absolute, as if everything within that space was inexorably fused. The ensuing explosion unleashed a devastating force, its shockwaves rippling all the way to the 9th post.
What remained in the wake of the cataclysm was a blazing sea of fire, where the 8th high post once stood. Amidst the conflagration, a conspicuous crater, about ten meters wide, marked the epicenter of the explosion. Strangely, this particular crater burned with a more fervent intensity than the surrounding flames. Upon closer examination, one would discern an eerie phenomenon—an entity voraciously consuming the blazing flames, as if savoring their fiery essence.
As the Great Irons from the other high posts teleported to the 9th, Guttenson' muttered under his breath, frustration etched on his face. "Damn it!" On the other hand, Great Iron Sayelle' stood in complete shock. Near the epicenter of the aftermath, a hellish spectacle unfolded as one of the Rakh-ahtan warriors devoured the very flames themselves. Once it had had mostly cleared the inferno, the surviving two warriors approached their fallen comrade.
Amidst the remnants, the Rakh-ahtan with the white jewel picked up a cracked blue jewel from the ashes of its brethren and consumed it.
Confusion gripped the Great Iron of the 3rd high post. "They just vanished. Where did they go?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with bewilderment. Guttenson', his composure unshaken, calmly responded, "They didn't vanish. They are sprinting towards us at full speed." With resolute determination, he ingested two more of his gray glass crystals, fortifying himself for the impending battle.
Addressing the gathering, Guttenson' rallied his fellow Great Irons. "Alright, gentlemen, you all carry the title of Great Irons. It's time to prove it. Great Irons of high posts 2-5, you will engage the Rakh-ahtan with the red gemstone. The rest of us will confront the one with the white gemstone. Great Iron Sayelle' of the 9th high post, you will remain hidden on the sidelines, ready to deliver a fatal blow. Once you strike, we will swiftly neutralize that target and then join forces to eliminate the remaining enemy.
Everyone nodded, their nerves tinged with anticipation as they prepared to face the formidable adversaries.
Each Great Iron carried a bag filled with their own personal crystals imbued with ancestral essence. They took no more than three, except for the Great Iron of the 3rd post, who opted for two, reasoning, "There are two of them and nine of us. Although they are formidable, we possess the strength in numbers. Two crystals should suffice. I'd rather conserve my ancestral essence."
With their preparations complete, the tension in the air mounted as they braced themselves for the imminent clash with these monstrous foes.
In a flash, swift as lightning, the Great Irons witnessed two glimmering lights, one red and one white, before the chaotic symphony of shouts and screams reverberated through the air like thunderclaps. The meticulous formation Guttenson' had orchestrated was rendered futile against the relentless onslaught of the unholy warriors. With astonishing agility, they dashed through the two formations as if they weren't even there.
Amidst the chaos, the Rakh-ahtan bearing the red gemstone struck an eerie pose, clutching a severed head in its right hand. The Great Irons, engrossed in the chaos, hadn't even realized that a headless body stood beside them. It belonged to the valiant Great Iron of the 3rd post, whose mortal coil, seemingly unaware of his final breath, took a few unsteady steps before collapsing to the ground.
Meanwhile, the white gemstone-adorned Rakh-ahtan was holding only an arm in its grasp. The arm belonged to the Great Iron of the 11th post. Reacting swiftly, he staunched the bleeding and consumed three more gems.
Gradually, his eyes emitted a deep, greenish glow, and he knelt down, placing his hand upon the ground. Roots emerged slowly, breaking through the earth, and coiled around his body like serpents, slithering towards his missing limb. In seconds he now possessed a wooden arm, serving as a prosthetic.
Guttenson' acted swiftly, the first to initiate a countermove. With unwavering determination, he denied the two beasts any opportunity to launch another devastating assault. Tossing ten small metal spheres into the air, they splashed like water drops when they made contact with him, transforming into a liquid-like metallic substance that enveloped Guttenson's body. The liquid metal flowed around him, behaving like a fluid. All the while, Guttenson' executed the plan he had formulated in his mind, focused on a single objective—creating an opening for Great Iron Sayelle'.
Seizing the moment, Guttenson' charged forward, the rest of the Great Irons following closely behind. The Rakh-ahtan with the white gemstone, seemingly unfazed by the approaching attack, began to breathe heavily, as if mocking Guttenson's offensive maneuver.
Standing resolute, it extended its left hand, conjuring a metal staff from its own metallic flesh. Gripping the staff firmly, the creature swung it back with a powerful motion. A faint white glow emanated from the gem embedded in its forehead.
The swing summoned winds reminiscent of an apocalyptic tempest. Caught by the front of the vortex, the group of Great Irons were forcefully propelled hundreds of feet into the air, tossed about like insignificant playthings. Only Guttenson' and the 1st high post Great Iron managed to maintain their footing, defying the ferocity of the winds.
Guttenson', the most seasoned among the twelve, relied on his extensive experience and mastery of ancestral essence. Just as the winds bore down upon him, he clasped his hands together in a split second. The metallic liquid surrounding him transformed into a sharp spear-like form, effortlessly piercing through the onslaught of wind. Simultaneously, the liquid metal beneath his left foot rapidly extended, propelling him forward like a launched arrow, bypassing the turbulent tempest unscathed.
Regrettably, the first high post Great Iron, lacking such foresight and precautions, fell victim to the full force of the winds. His skin was brutally ripped from his body, the violent gusts tearing him apart, culminating in instantaneous death.
With astonishing speed, Guttenson' broke through the wind, catching the beasts off guard. In a matter of moments, he had landed dozens of meters behind them. A massive hole tore through the chest of the Rakh-ahtan warrior who had confidently wielded his staff mere seconds ago. The 15-ft demon crumpled to the ground, defeated by the lone Great Iron.
Guttenson' turned his attention to his next adversary, who remained unperturbed by the demise of its comrade. Like its companion, it raised both hands, performing peculiar gestures that conjured a plain, yet colossal, broadsword from its own flesh.
Both combatants charged at each other, Guttenson' launching himself forward in a similar manner as before. With complete mastery over the liquid metal, it assumed a more streamlined shape, aiding Guttenson' in his attack.
However, the Rakh-ahtan charged at him with raw strength activating its red gem, just before reaching the metal spike that Guttenson' had transformed into. In a swift motion, the creature swung its sword upwards, igniting a small flame with the slash. Within moments, the flame engulfed the air and the land of the 9th post, casting scorching flames in every direction.
Between the slash and the ensuing inferno, Guttenson's metallic suit ejected him out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding being cleaved in half. Despite his lightning-quick reflexes, Guttenson' lost his right arm in the process.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Guttenson' swiftly consumed two more gray glass crystals, however no sign of ancestral flooding appeared. Now, with a mere thought, he commanded his liquid metal to rapidly travel from meters away, reforming itself into a replacement metallic right arm, seamlessly integrating with his body stopping the bleeding.