Chapter 42 - The Second Gate (4)

Constance laid against the shadow of a boulder, gathering her holy power together, her magic was the one which had cast a simple barrier. 

The clash between Murphy and Awick was ongoing, and the destruction caused by the energies was enough to lift boulders, and tear people and beasts apart from the G forces.

They'd ran a decent distance, and hid away, she wanted to use her holy power, but, to use it in a state were magic and aura were everywhere, and holy power was nowhere to be seen, would instantly reveal them.

The next stage was coming fast. 

She glanced up at Argo, as she said her prayers, trying to recover as much as possible.

His suggestion was madness, but, seeing the little spirit stuck to his shoulder like an extra limb, made her feel like they could do it.

But… it would not be simple.

Lunston and the Root Guards of Avancia had opened the Second Gate, and were coming, but it was a long way to come, even at top speed, they thought it would be ten minutes, but, it was taking longer than expected.

And that was more than enough time for the battle between Murphy and Awick which had been going on for the better part of a half hour, to be decided fully.

She could not deduce what kind of magics Murphy was using, and it was hard to even look at the weave without the risk of falling into it and losing her mind.

"They're getting closer," Constance turned her head towards the Third Gate, a great dust up of malice and bloodthirst were reflected in her vision, "They're going to get here before they do." 

The plan required every side to be set.

Awick needed to hold until Lunston arrived to aid.

Murphy had to keep his trump hidden until then.

The Nightmares coming, needed to arrive at the same time as Lunston.

And the Spirits needed to still be in the area.

It was originally her task, to make friends with the spirits and keep an infant with her, for it to progress well, but, Murphy had arrived too quickly.

The Spirits gave her a blessing, but didn't form a tie with her. 

She grit her teeth.

Her back hurt badly. 

Without holy power, and not able to put down the magic barrier, she could only endure the pain diligently.

"...For what reason were you all here to begin with?" Argo spoke calmly.

The Third Gate was far. Very far. Too far for the Nightmares to have come from there, within the time that Argo and the rebels had arrived. 

Lucian looked up from his attempts at stitching back together some magic, to gather strength. 

It was both unexpected, and expected that he would ask, he simply didn't think it was a question for right now, but regardless, he responded.

"There is a flower down here that is said to be very old. It's poison can fell even Masters. We came to investigate and retrieve it, to use against the Empress." 

A flower. 

Argo knew exactly, of the myth that he was referring too. 

It had appeared in his dream. That ragged dream.

"Who told you?" 

Argo saw a shadow moving amidst the coming Nightmares. Something was lurking quietly, but it was strong enough that while controlling such a massive horde, it couldn't completely hide.

It was not a Tryant, of that, he was reasonably sure, since unlike the Defiled Tyrant, the control over the Nightmares were rough, and some fights were breaking out between them.

Argo slightly turned his head to look at the oncoming shockwave.

Lucian's whole body shook from the blast wave of the clash!

His insides felt worked up. He could feel them pulsing violently. But it was manageable. They had not exploded. 

Argo's eyes narrowed… Just the shock wave from their clash was so strong? 

He glanced down at the girl, who was behind him. She looked up at him, she seemed fine.

"...Spider. Spider told us. They told us that there was an Ancient Flower here that had poison capable of killing Masters." 

"They wanted to revenge for what happened in Loch, so they gave that information away." Constance frowned tightly, as she grit her teeth.

It was because of her, that they were here, searching for that flower and it's poison.

"But how did you get down here?" Constance raised her head, at the sudden thought.

How had they gotten here? 

There was no separate entrance, other than the main one, that was guarded by the people of Avancia and two masters.

"The Spider connected us with an informant inside of Avancia, who sold us information on a vent that lead down to the First Gate. We had been preparing to conquer these roads, when you arrived and the plan changed." 

A vent… "Where?" Argo interjected.

If there was a vent, then, it may be possible to climb back out.

"You would need to…" A shock wave rocked the area, knocking the air out of Lucian for a moment, he took a second, and continued, "...You would need to climb up one of the walls, which is impossible. There are holes all over them with Nightmares inside ready to pour out. We dropped down and used Levitation magic to soften the fall." 

"Then how did you all plan to get out with the poison?" Constance's brow furrowed. 

Her holy power had stunted.

She was full on it, but, her magic wasn't returning.

The whole area was being sucked dry by Murphy's weave, and she could wrestle non away. Her own mana was even resonating with that far stronger pull.

"For the information to get out, that meant someone else had escaped after getting it. So I assume there is a way out at the end of the road. Master never told us." 

The battle was progressing quickly.

Awick would not last.

Argo could vaguely tell, from the aura that he was sensing, as it was growing more restrained. Awick was being cornered inside of Murphy's magic.

He simply had to trust that he had what it takes and so he turned to look back at the Nightmares.

Lucian leaned back.

"So what can I do to help?" 

Constance observed this person closely. She had not taken the time to check him.

An older man, likely in his thirties, old enough to have seen the Dumbaran War first hand, and what had happened back then.

But, he had chosen to come here. 

She didn't know why he made the choices he had to end up here, but his intentions appeared pure.

His sight was resolute.

…But she had seen misplaced resolution before, that had led to terrible things, before, in the form of Awick allowing Marce. 

Or in the form of the Lady of Durleigh, allowing the corruption in her city, so that they could have access to more work and resources. 

Though she saw his resolution, she didn't place her trust in what it may end up bringing, and so, she chose not to reveal anything about their plan, or how he could fit into it.

Argo merely glanced back for a moment, "Awick spoke of a creature that had brought the knights and warriors into a blissful dream, trapping them there. Did it have an armor coat of scales?"

There was a nightmare, that wasn't running. It was moving slow. Watching the situation with a refined intellect, carefully calculating. If one wasn't looking for it, they wouldn't find it.

It's gaze was affixed on the Master's fighting in the center of the furious storm of Magic and Aura.

"They were the kind of dark you'd see staring into a forest at night," Constance looked at the horde, she had picked up what he was thinking, "It's eyes had a white center and a black exterior, like a lonely moon." 

Argo's expression remained even. He understood quickly, exactly what it wanted. 

Lucian, while gathering his magic together, listened silently, he had started to understand as well.

"...That will be impossible. If this Awick you speak of is the Chieftan of Avancia, the Master of the Hold, and he could not kill it, then, it is suicide to approach it." 

"They need to arrive at the same time. Or else if one side is completely destroyed before the other arrives, then Murphy will not lose." 

As much as Argo wanted to believe that Murphy had been counting on getting to the end, to escape, he chose not to believe it for a second.

His aura was coming back.

It wasn't at it's peak, but he wasn't injured physically or mentally. 

It didn't appear to be a Tyrant, based off the clumsy nature of the swarm charging.

It was a Nightmare that specialized in the mind. And it's target were the souls of the fighting Masters, it was confident that it could snare them in it's blissful dream, if it waited for the right moment, and feed on their souls.

But… if it was that confident, to entrap something such a vast strength above it, then, he chose to make the bet that it was specialized in dragging people and monsters into that dream to feed, which meant it's physical body was likely to be weak.

It was intelligent, and waiting for it's moment to harvest the highest number of souls. Those warriors and knights stuck in the dream, had likely already lost theirs. 

Even if it was not commanding the swarm, it's mere presence was enough to spur them forward. If it was stopped, or weakened, the Nightmares advance would slow significantly.

A thought occurred to him.

The little spirit on his shoulder, looked ahead as well, extremely excited, to the point that he could feel it blazing without looking at it.

"Have you had your first battle yet?"

He raised his palm, and the little spirit curiously stepped on and looked at him excitedly. 

Argo smiled, but his eyes were steady. 

This could work.