Chapter 1483
“Xin, pull back slowly.” I came down from the tower, greeting Terra, Shao, Celeste, and Miki, who had all given up their posts and returned to my side.
“Will this work?” Miki asked hesitantly.
“We have no choice.” I shook my head. “According to Elaya, the apekin are using strange devices. They live on the Jespain side of Dioshin. It stands to reason they’ve gotten their hands on a lot of tools that give them an edge over the other animalkin. They’re trying to tear their way into the dungeon. If we don’t do something soon, we’ll lose the battle on both fronts.”
“I’m with Master!” Shao declared.
“That was obvious.” Terra nodded.
“Let’s go!” Celeste declared.
“Celeste, keep your eyes on the sky and watch our backs. Terra, Shao, I’m going to depend on you to carve a path. Miki, you might be the most important. You need to take the pressure off of everyone else.”
I was back in my formation, and I immediately began casting support spells to bolster defenses and boost status for everyone. After each girl nodded, we began to move out. We headed straight for the front line where the fighting was hottest, but as we approached it, our speed only increase the pace. Our side split aside to let us pass. Running at full tilt, Terra slammed into those unlucky enough to try to slip into the temporary hole.
As Terra continued to run forward, throwing her arms out to knock animalkin to the side, Shao disappeared, flickering from shadow to shadow. Occasionally, all you’d see is the flash of steel, a scream, and then death. Celeste fluttered overhead. The birdkin had started to take to the air again without her suppressing them, but that was for Xin to figure out. Immediately around us, Celeste created a cushion of safety.
Miki’s job was perhaps the most important and the most abstract. She mentally attacked anyone in range, instilling them with a desire to flee. Although it was just the five of us, their army didn’t swarm us. Those directly in the way were quickly dispatched, but the others either felt a great deal of fear or flat out ignored our presence. Once we shoved through the lair of attacking soldiers, there was much less resistance and we began to speed up once again.
We covered the distance of a now war-torn field. Innumerable pocks and holes made it a bit more difficult to cross than it initially had been. There was no plant life remaining that hadn’t been reduced to ash. We pushed forward, moving as quickly as possible. Time was of the essence, after all.
“They’re about to breakthrough!” Elaya warned.
We ended up in the forest, progressing forward quickly. I spread out my Life Sense while keeping the map open, looking for a large group still hiding in the forest. I let out a breath of relief when I finally saw them. No sooner did they appear than a dozen surrounded us. Dozens of acrobatic forms landed all around us. I held up my hand, keeping my girls from attacking.
A familiar person landed directly in front of me. They immediately met me with a familiar confident swagger.
“Well, Well, Deek Deekson. We meet again.” The lioness queen purred. “Are you so suicidal? There are quicker ways to die…”
“I’d like to speak to King Roth.” I declared. “In person.”