BXBX NOVEL 187 Chapter 187
"Ian! Stellar!" - Solar
"Welcome back my lord." - Gewari
"We are back." - Ian
Walking through the dark forest with Stellar, Luna, and her wolves, we eventually reach back at HavenFall. Greeted by Solar and Gewari as well as the team of archers and assassin positioned at the front wall, we proceed on in, to get treated by Lucina. I didn't sustain any injuries during that fight with the Bone Wyvern, however, the rest were still beaten up from the fight. Losing 3 wolves during the fight was a little disheartening, but I'm glad Stellar and Luna were still alive.
"Stellar, let's move you and the wolves to Lucina. She will help heal any wounds." - Solar
"Alright, Solar. Thank you." - Stellar
"What has happened here since I was gone?" - Ian
"Howard, Gobi and Noah are still fighting on different fronts. Lynn also went to the front lines to help when skeletons broke through the first wall. We had to retreat towards the kilns and the watermill. Lynn is currently attacking with water magic and using Bubble to save some shield bearers. Razor and the other wolves went over to help out as well since Noah was about to hold his side relatively well with just the archers." - Solar
"Is it still an endless wave of skeletons?" - Ian
"Yes… There seems to be no end to them and while no one is showing it, they all seem to be disheartened." - Solar
"Don't worry, I'm coming now. Stellar, get packed up, and join me once you are healed up. Gewari, bring your team with me, we are going down to help out. " - Ian
Running from the gate, we move towards Lucina's hospital. The building next to the farm had been converted into a hospital, in case anyone gets injured during the event. Looking inside, there were more casualties than I had thought. However, most injuries were fixable with some healing potions and healing salve. Luckily for us, there weren't any major injuries just yet.
"Ian! You're back. I need you to join them down in the canyon as soon as possible. More people are coming back bruised and cut up." - Lucina
"I know. I'm going down now. Help Stellar and Luna and get them back on their feet as soon as possible. The rest of us, let's go." - Ian
"Yes, my Lord."
"Wait! Take this pouch, it has 4 potions in it. Give one to Howard and Gobi when you get down there." - Lucina
"Got it." - Ian
Heading out of the hospital, I rush down to the canyon following the yells of my units as they battle against the ocean of bones. Robin and her team of archers were constantly shooting arrows, sending volley after volley. Rushing past me was Rex, as he deposits bundles of quivers next to the archers before running back up. He gives me a quick nod as he leaves, his eyes full of determination.
"Ian! Get to the front, Gobi is having trouble." - Robin
Looking away from Robin, I look at the situation on the front line. Compared to when I was last here, the situation looks much worse. Howard had scratches all over his face and parts of his chest plate were dented or cracked. Others were in a similar position with shields that were either cracked or dented.
Gobi had it worse though, with blood dripping down the side of his face. Gripping his club tightly he swings like a mad man, defending against attacks on his sides, protecting his fellow shield bearers.
"Gewari, head towards Howard, support his side. I'm going to Gobi to help him right now!" - Ian
"Yes my lord. The rest of you follow me! CHARGE!" - Gewari
Activating Charge and Enhanced Agility, I dash toward Gobi's side immediately, activating Cleave as I reach him, eliminating the surrounding skeletons.
"Gobi! Get back!" - Ian
"My lord, it is okay. I can still fight!" - Gobi
"Then take this, but go back the moment you feel danger." - Ian
Passing him a potion, I leap into the ocean of bones, stabbing skulls with my spider legs and creating explosions with each attack of my trident. I slowly move toward Howard, as I see them pushing the skeleton wave backward after Gewari joins in the fight. Gyumi starts to create lightning bolts, zapping through lines of skeletons, with Lynn helping her attack with water balls.
The combination of water magic and lightning spells sends a wave of destruction through the skeletons on Howard's side, allowing me time to rush over and give him a potion as well. Returning to Gobi's side, I help clear a portion of the skeletons, allowing him and the troops around him time to recover. Looking around me, a never-ending sea of blue flames and skulls but still, I fight and fight.
Howls, screams, explosions, and yelling echoed in the canyon over and over as the night went on until finally the sun kisses the horizon and a gentle orange blanket spread across the sky. Black smoke seeps out of the remaining skeletons and I see the ones in the back were retreating, while the ones in the front slowly fade into dust as the sun's rays of light become brighter.
A night-long battle ends in our victory with the skeletons running with their tails between their legs, but it was only the beginning. I stood in the middle of the river, watching the skeletons fade into dust around me. Bone fragments litter the ground and the river, covering the red canyon ground in yellowish-white snow. Each step felt like stepping on a bag of chips as I walk back to everyone else.
Their exhausted expressions told a million tales. Gobi slumps down against the wall, closing his eyes immediately as Howard collapses to the ground. Gewari, Gyumi and Lynn rest their hands against one another while I see the rest lying on the ground, using their arms as pillows. Solar, who had helped out with some attacks, walks over to me with Stellar and Lucina.
"We have to do that again tomorrow night, don't we?" - Stellar
"I'm afraid so." - Ian
"This is too much on us. Looking at everyone here, we are all injured in some sort of way. Healing everyone will take some time, even with the potions and we don't know if this is going to happen only at night." - Lucina
"Lucina is right, while it may have started at night the pillars of light are still active even though the sun has risen. Which might mean that there will be a different sort of attack coming during the day." - Solar
"If your theory is correct, Solar, then we need to prepare for battles every second of the day and night." - Ian
"Anything can happen since we don't know what the pillars of light are or mean." - Stellar
"Any suggestions then?" - Ian
"I think we dismiss the idea of something happening in the daytime for now since we just went through a big battle and focus on recovering." - Lucina
"I suggest we head towards the cave before the sun set. We know that they are coming from that direction, and we can set up a barrier right at the cave entrance." - Stellar
"I agree with both suggestions. No one right now is capable of fighting, long term for another night." - Solar
"Alright, we will do what both of you have proposed. Have Luna and some other wolves head towards the cave to keep watch. Noah and his team didn't sustain as much damage or mental toll so have them clean up the area. All the bone fragments are to be stored in pots near old man Hus's workshop. Also, get someone to check on them. Tell them to take a break, as the fighting is finally over." - Ian
"How about the loot that isn't bone fragments?" - Stellar
"Bring them to me. I'll sort them out. For now, I'm going to head back to my house and rest up as well. Wake up everyone if they haven't woken up by midday." - Ian
"Yes, my lord." - Stellar
"Do you need any healing potions, Ian?" - Lucina
"No, I'm fine. Thank you, Lucina. Rest up as well, all of you." - Ian
"Yes, of course." - Solar
I wander back to my house, using my trident as a walking stick. The whole night was long and hard, with constant fighting on too many fronts. Starting with fighting at the canyon to running to save Stellar, only to come back and help fight again at the canyon. It was too much, and I was only one person. Which meant, it was worse for everyone else.
Kingston and the Krepost would have had it worse than us. Judging by the pillars of light there were at least 3 that would have spawned monsters that went towards the Krepost. Evan and Rebecca were both wandering around without a base, judging by the sheer number of skeletons, I don't even know how they would have survived. It would have been hard, a path full of thorns. I can only wait until I get out of the game to talk to them about it.