Book 3 Chapter 39

Tirr walked over the still settling rubble that marked where the underground fortress’s entry once stood. Pieces of wood and stone lay scattered over the ground, mixed with both heated and frozen metal. remains of the steel door that had once guarded the way… Now reduced to scrap metal and slag.

All around the young god, people from both Raife’s allies and the confederation looked from atop the walls in a mixture of awe and fear. The fighting stopped as both sides watched the god walk into the fortress. There more of the confederation’s forces, a mixture of mercenaries and assassins stood, yet even they had not expected the god to make such an entrance.

The first to react was Torvus… Looking down at Tirr, he pulled his dagger from the man in front of him, ignoring the body that dropped to the ground and he appreciated his master’s work. “Boss sure doesn’t do half-measures huh…” He muttered to himself with a whistle, “Let’s not get left behind!” He called out to the others next to him.

They let out a roar, surging through the men from the confederation that remained on the walls. As those on the walls fell like wheat beneath a scythe, those inside awoke from their stupor. More of the deadly crossbows were fired with deadly precision as their poisonous bolts flew towards Tirr.

Tirr simply took a deep breath, recovering slightly after that enormous display of force. As the bolts flew towards him, he reacted quickly. The glowing white wings that marked his Aspect of Life appeared in a flash of light and the bolts once more broke uselessly against the barrier it summoned.

“Scum…” Tirr started as he looked down at the people around him… Even the wings shimmered, waving almost tauntingly. The air crackled around him as he worked to resummon his other aspects.

The crossbowmen continued to fire ceaselessly as the others charged, weapons at the ready as they ran at the young god. The Confederation’s assassins flickered, their speed unmatched as they reached him in a moment.

Their blades flashed, striking at the barrier as they searched for a weakness. Each time they were repelled easily. However, they pressed on, swarming around him as they flickered this way and that.

Behind them, the mercenaries arrived as well with their bigger and heavier weapons. They slammed their two-handed swords and axes against the barrier, each impact rang out as the brutal assault tried to breakthrough.

Tirr clicked his tongue, the continuous attacks were wearing through his faith quickly. However, he wasn’t worried… Beside him appeared the small, winged salamander and the little rain cloud, happy to have been summoned once again. Tirr looked at the lizard, nodding for him to go forward…

The Aspect of fire flipped in the air happily, smirking at the little raincloud who did its best to hide it jealously. The lizard flew forward before spinning happily in a circle… Around Tirr, just outside of his barrier a thin red line circled.

At first, the attacking confederation people didn’t notice it. But as it sparked, flames slowly rising, they tried to retreat… It was too late though, even for those with the time shard… As they flickered back the ring exploded outward. Any caught within 30 feet of the young god were blown away, their bodies burned to ash in the super-heated flames.

The remaining crossbowmen stopped in shock, looking at the burning ash that was once their comrades. Tirr didn’t pause though, he looked to the little cloud next, who shivered happily at being able to show off as well.

The little rain cloud didn’t waste any time, several balls of water appeared around it as it danced, each shooting out towards the clusters of crossbowmen. As the balls of water slowly approached, the crossbowmen watched them in confusion. They moved too slowly to cause any harm and weren’t even on target, simply flying around the attackers instead of directly at them.

However, as the balls reached them, the little cloud shook once more… A crack rang through the air as each of the balls suddenly distorted, freezing in an instant as large spikes stabbed out like an urchin.

The crossbowmen found themselves impaled before their minds could recognize what had happened. Shards of ice pierced their bodies in too many spots to count as blood slowly leaked onto the ground.

Tirr started to walk again, passing the bodies without a second thought as he went deeper into the fortress, On the wall Raife’s forces were close to victory, the confederation’s remaining men down to their last. Torvus’s blade cut another throat as he yelled down sarcastically, “Yeah, go on ahead boss! I’m sure I’ll be right down!”

Tirr paid him no attention, remembering the details Raife had given about the Fortress. In the center of the first level was a large hall, secure and spacious enough to hold multiple people comfortably. It was where Raife had guessed the rest of the council was… Target in mind, Tirr continued onwards, barrier up and aspects at the ready…