Chapter 34: The Grassvalley Tribe

Edwyrd: “Father, everyone’s in position.”

Gaelin: “Good wait for my mark.”

The Grassvalley Tribe were master at fighting in the forests, as they were now, no one could tell they were hiding amongst the trees. An ambush had been set for the Gorgon, after coming across their fallen brothers, they viciously chase after the Gorgon. However, they caught up to the creature rather quickly, due to its new form, it could no longer roll across the ground. The Tribe decided to get ahead of it and set up an ambush.

As they waited for the Gorgon to arrive, they begin to set up a spell, a spell would destroy it in on blast. The Gorgon had decimated five of them in no time at all, not one of them were by any means a weak, if they were so easily taken out, that just goes to show how powerful the Gorgon had become.

*Whistle*

That was the signal, everyone ready themselves, the Gorgon was far off. Readying their weapons, they all remained completely still. As if a part of the forest itself, no unnatural motion to be seen.

Then as if materializing, the Gorgon appeared, moving slowly, as in no particular rush. A silent hover as it moved along, its size made smaller by the lack of armor, but not any less intimidating. As the Gorgon was nearly in position, Gaelin got ready to give the orders, but just then the Gorgon suddenly stopped. The sudden stop cause Gaelin to halt, had it noticed them?”

The Gorgon looked around, closely watching the tree lines. Searching for anything amiss, it found nothing, however a familiar scent was noticed, a scent the Gorgon had come to loathe and it was drawing closer.

Its pupil pulsated, Gaelin didn’t understand why the Gorgon was suddenly spoke, there wasn’t any possible way they were notice, but he gave the word and the ambush was launched. A spell was immediately cast over the area, a the same time the Gorgon activated each enchantment. When the two collided, the Gorgon was surprised to find its enchantment had been cancelled out.

From the trees archer took aim and rained arrows down on the Gorgon. The arrows simply bounced off the Gorgons body. By firing the arrows, the Gorgon determined their location. Just as be for an invisible force smash through several trees, forcing them to the ground. As the trees crumbled to the ground, the Gorgon was suddenly attacked from another side.

What was going on, it was sure the rain of arrows was coming from the other side but another volley of arrows begun fire from another direction. The arrows again had no effect, but they did distract the Gorgon long enough for the first volley to retreat, keeping out of the Gorgons line of sight. This was done several more times and the Gorgon was becoming irritated, its eye pulsated once more, it has had enough. Below where it hovered hundreds of arrows littered the forest floor, strangely every head was stuck into the ground and their tails glowed a white light. The Gorgon hadn’t taken notice, still ready its laser to fire, it would reduce the area and everything in it to a pile of debris.

Elven Soldier: “My Lord, everything is ready.”

Gaelin: “Good, capture.”

At his word, several of them began to chant, the arrows below the Gorgon began to glow. The intense glow stole the Gorgons attention, but was much too slow to react. Beams of light shot out from each arrow, forming an arch over the Gorgon, before connecting to an arrow on the opposing side. When all was done, in a cage of light, the Gorgon was trapped once again. It attempted to fire its laser, but found that it couldn’t summon any energy, it was powerless within. Some of the tribesmen, made their presence known, including Gaelin.

Gaelin: “This thing gave the so-called Hero so much trouble, what a farce. Edwyrd have the men get in position, we will wipe this creature, off the face of Leseres.”

Edwyrd did as he was told, the tribe began to chant. As Edwyrd watch the Gorgon for any sudden movements, he looked down at the arrows that littered the ground. Some of the arrows had been snapped in half, looking back to the barrier, if you weren’t looking close enough you wouldn’t have notice. Several of the links had been destroyed.

Edwyrd: “(What?)”

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Nathan: “How can this be, this defies all logic?”

Anais: “Looks like we didn’t have to come back after all.”

Iris: “They did what it took us three days to do in mere minutes.”

Nathan and the girls, sat on a tree watching the battle take place. Even though it took only minutes and it was over. They had managed to trap it and now were preparing a spell to take it out.

Nathan: “I’m not talking about that, I meant the Gorgon. Whoever heard of the first boss having a second form, this defies the “Gamer Logic”. I mean if it had two forms to begin with, but no, this is an evolution. Who does she think she is, the final boss?” The Gamer in me will not stand for this.”

Anais and Iris just allowed him to vent, they honestly didn’t understand what he was talking about.

Saria: “HERO?”

They all looked down, Saria and Celes was waving at them from below. Using the wind, Saria guided Celes and herself up into the tree.

Saria: “Why are you all still here?”

Anais: “We wanted to make sure it was dead?”

Iris: “The mana surge earlier, wasn’t too comforting.”

Nathan: “What about you, is it safe to be here?”

Saria: “We understand, however just like you, we won’t to confirm its demise. Many of my sisters are hidden and keeping an eye on the battle.”

Nathan took a quick glance around, he spotted a few nymphs here and there, they were all uneasy and couldn’t just leave, they had to be sure .

Saria: “Well, are surprised to see that everything is fine?”

Iris: “Truly, I didn’t believe they would do so well, their execution of their trap was practically flawless.”

Saria smile proudly, she was happy they thought highly of her guardians. A sudden mana spike drew everyone’s attention. The spell the tribe was preparing was nearing peak strength.

Anais: “What are the chances that spell actually does the job.”

Iris: “To be honest I’m not sure. The amount of man is extraordinary, however, the raw energy I attack with, did nothing to slow it down.

Anais: “And I feel like, if it were to attack them, from inside the cage, it could possibly fail.”

Saria: “Do not worry, the cage prevents any attacks from within, each individual arrow has a dampening effect. When linked together, magic is completely nullified.”

Nathan: “What about physical attacks?”

Saria: “No matter how heavily armed, I do not think it wise to try to physically bust you way out.”

Nathan: “What if it attacked from the outside?”

Girls: “Huh?”

Iris: “I think that possible.”

Nathan: “You say that, but look, weren’t their more beams of light before?”

Anais: “Looks the same to me.”

Nathan: “I’m telling you, there were more.”

The girls stared into the cage, as far as they could see, the cage remained the same. Nathan was sure that the beams were fading, but with so many, it seemed no one else had noticed. Furthermore, there was something moving fast, circling the cage, it wasn’t very big, about the size of a fist. For a while now, every time it did a lap, one or two of the beams of light would fade, it must be what’s causing it.

Nathan: “Hey Saria, could you get a message to whoever’s in charge?”

Saria: “Well, either Lord Gaelin or Lord Edwyrd?”

Nathan: “Send it to both, tell them this.”

Saria listened to the message and then send on the wind.

Anais: “Are you sure about this, they know we’re close by?”

Nathan: “It’s too late now, besides, don’t you think it will be easier to elude them then Gorgon? I want them to win, if that huge group loses in though they have the upper hand, how well do you think the three of us will hold out?”

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Gaelin: “How long before the “Oblivion” is complete?”

Elven Soldier: “My Lord, ten more minutes or so.”

Gaelin: “Good, as soon as we’re done here, I want everyone to search for the Lycanian.”

The soldier bowed and went on his way, as he left Edwyrd came over to his father.

Gaelin: “What is it?”

Edwyrd: “I believe something is wrong, several of the channeling arrows have been destroyed.”

Gaelin: “What?”

Gaelin turned to the cage, as he son said, it’s hardly noticeable, but several of the cages links had been severed.

Gaelin: “How is this possible, it cannot attack while inside the cage.”

Edwyrd: “Yes, something on the outside is attempting to sabotage us.”

Gaelin: “Impossible, nothing could approach, without being noticed.”

Edwyrd: “And yet, links lie broken on the ground.”

Gaelin: “Gather some men, we need to locate it at once, the creature must not be released before the spell is complete.”

As they spoke, a cool breeze blew pass them, both surprised by the voice that followed.

Edwyrd: “This is, Lady Saria?”

Gaelin: “………….Edwyrd, you are one of our best archers, I’m counting on you.”

Edwyrd: “You trust what he says?”

Gaelin: “I trust, he wants this creature dead.”

Gaelin was feeling annoyed, not only did he reveal himself, he even gave them advice. He was without a doubt underestimating them. Edwyrd nodded and climbed to the top of nearby tree, from there he could see the entire area. He began searching the area, watching every movement, every shift, every single motion that was being made. Closely, careful not to miss anything, then he saw it. Moving at an extreme speed, zipping in and out of sight, a sphere, no bigger than a fist. Without being notice, the sphere would zip in and destroy a link before disappearing again.

By now, everyone could tell that the trap was being sabotage, yet Oblivion was not yet ready. Edwyrd took out is bow and filling his arrow with mana he lined his shot, if it were allowed to destroy any more links, the entire cage would be destroyed. He waited, the moment it came back into sight he would have it. Seconds went by, minutes, Edwyrd concentrated, nothing would distract him, then like a ghost the sphere appeared and made a beeline for the final link.

Edwyrd, like a bolt of lightning, the arrow ripped through the air , piercing the sphere and shattering it. The suddenly impact sent all eyes in its direction, Gaelin smiling at the sight, knowing his son had done his job. Edwyrd up in the tree breathe a sigh of relief, he had successfully stop the Gorgon from freeing itself. Gaelin was about to give his men the order, for them to reestablish the links that were broken, but as he did, several of his men preparing the spell, collapsed in a pool of blood.

Elven Soldier: “My Lord we’re under attack.”

Gaelin: “What!?”

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Anais: “Nice shot.”

Saria: “You see, you should not underestimate them, they were chosen to protect us for a reason.”

Iris: “Master, what’s wrong, aren’t you happy.”

Nathan: “WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING?”

Nathan sudden outburst scared everyone around.

Saria: “Hero, what’s wrong, they destroyed the sphere like you said.”

Nathan: “What, Saria I think you misheard me. I didn’t say sphere, I said spheres, there were four of those things flying around.

Just as he finished talking, the sound of people screaming in pain, made it to their ears. The cage had been destroyed and the Gorgon went on the offensive, firing a laser that scatter in several directions. The laser fire was random and some shots went unimpeded.

Nathan: “IRIS!”

Iris: “RIGHT!”

Iris surrounded all of them with a barrier, protecting them from the random fire of the laser.

Nathan: “SARIA, TAKE YOUR SISTERS AND MOVE BACK!”

Saria: “Right.”

Saria took her sisters and moved to safer area further away, whilst Nathan group relocated, things weren’t looking good, they might have to jump in at any time now.

When the lasers finished firing, several elves were injured or dead. Others began to heal them, while they did, the ones who avoided being injured, begin trying to re-establish the cage.

However the Gorgon was having no more of that, systematically attacking or disarming anyone taking a shot. But, it couldn’t look in every direction at once, the three spheres circled the battlefield, taking out anyone, the Gorgon was currently attempting to mow down.

*Fsshhh**Boom*

Another sphere was destroyed, Edwyrd had taken out another one and was aiming to take out the third. The Gorgon stop firing, upon its destruction. Using this as in opportunity, Gaelin commanded his men to counter fire. Several of his men fired spells, though they weren’t effective, the distraction bought the others some time.

Their efficiency was amazing, right to preparing another cage, even with such a tragedy, the Grassvalley tribe regroup and were ready to retaliate. Arrows rained down on the Gorgon once again. The Gorgon fired its scatter laser once more, this time aiming for the arrows, destroying several, it would not be caged again. What the Gorgon didn’t know was, hidden within in the barrage of arrows were several mana infused arrows, these shots were fired directly into its eye.

The shots made contact, and the Gorgon winced in pain. For the first time, the Grassvalley was able to hurt it. Gaelin figured pure mana shots would work, seeing Edwyrd destroying them with the same Tactics. Gaelin pointed to the creature.

Gaelin: “Know this beast if you believe us to be weak or disheartened, you will pay the price. We will see you fall.”

The Gorgon was angry, turning to the man who address it, a smirk on his face.

*shcrack*

Gaelin’s hand had been ripped from him. For a moment, he hadn’t even noticed, until the pain set in.

Edwyrd: “FATHER!?

He dropped to one knee, several of his men ran to his aid, leaving them open for attack. Edwyrd dropped what he was doing and was also moving to aid his father.

Gaelin: “STAY FOCUS.”

From his shout his man stopped in their tracks. Blood flowing from his arm, Gaelin rose to his feet.

Gaelin: “DO NOT FALTER, THIS IS A BATTLE, WE MAY BE STRUCK DOWN, BUT OUR MISSION STAY THE SAME.

The warriors of the Grassvalley Tribe, realizing their mistakes, quickly got back in to position, their Lord was not one to fall to such an injury. Edwyrd moved back into the trees, he would not let his father injury again. Gaelin turned to the Gorgon.

Gaelin: “MARK MY WORDS BEAST, WE SHALL SEE YOU FALL.”