Chapter 430: Leaping into Action


    <strong>430. Leaping into Action</strong>


    The tide was shifting. All throughout the battlefield, powerful figures moved to stop the spreading mes. The dark inferno which had so terribly threatened the gathered armies that had consumed thousands of lives was finally being pushed back.


    Kaitlin Darkhlem, Commander of the Vaun Qieur Empires Swordsguard Forces, led this charge. She leapt straight into the darkness and sheared through the veil. Shed thrown herself into the ocean and she still fought on. She wouldnt let its depraved touch reach Alyras, so she cut it down and hindered its progress.


    But if that was it, it wouldnt have been enough. This was the Grand Skill of a [Jinn]. One that was so powerful it even rivaled an Elite Ranked adventurer in strength before taking on this greater form. Even with Kaitlin Darkhlem alone at the front, the ck mes would rage on. It wouldnt be stymied.


    That was why two other individuals joined in. Or, rather, two individuals and their dozens of clones. Salvos and Orgaf. The Liberator of the gunds and the Thief of the Golden Scale. They charged in after Kaitlin Darkhlem, using their iridescent mes and their shadows to assuage the dark inferno. To help push the [Jinn] back.


    It was working. The ck mes focused only on Kaitlin and Salvos and Orgaf because they posed a real threat to it. Because they didnt simply burn to ashes when its fiery tendril reached down and touched them. No they snuffed out the dark inferno, putting a halt to its expansion, and even shrinking it to a certain degree.


    Now, the gathered armies could press forward. Now they could fight back. The soldiers and guards and adventurers were emboldened. Not just by this performance by the three leading the charge, but by a fourth person.


    A [Hero].


    Daniel Song from Earth A1. He shouted, and the armies outside of Alyras listened. They saw the pure white aura wisping off him they heard the whispers being quickly spread throughout their numbers. A [Hero] was in their midst, and he wielded the Sword of Alexander.


    Each swing of his de lit up the morning sky. Even from afar, it struck the dark inferno. His shes <em>hurt </em>the [Jinn]. And when the weary soldiers and adventurers around the city saw the young man with ck hair and an ornate longsword slicing through the battlefield as a blurred figure quickly moved behind him and shadowed him, they rallied to him.


    It was a sight to see. Truly. And all Edithe Dawnrise could do was just watch as it yed out. The red-haired woman stood with Hadrian as the roaring of battle continued as thousands of figures moved ahead,bining their magic and Skills and strength to assail the dark mes.


    Its like we dont even need to do anything


    Edithe muttered to herself. Hadrian shook his head.


    Do you think theyll be enough to win?


    The redhead hesitated. The answer itself was obvious it was an army with some of the best fighters from the Humannds against a single Demon. The real problem came from the casualties that could be incurred. And that was the main crux of Hadrians question.


    I dont know. But I just know that that [Jinn] has to be defeated soon.


    Right.


    Hadrian nodded.


    If we


    He started, before pausing. The mans eyes narrowed as he cast his gaze ahead of the citys crumbling walls. He leaned forward as Edithe looked at what he saw.


    Is that?


    Hadrian trailed off. And Edithe saw it too. Amidst the fighting amongst the armies charging into battle was a familiar group of adventurers. Ones which Edithe knew very well. She said their name as she turned to meet Hadrians gaze.


    The Valiant Dreamers.


    Herpany. Theirpany. Thepany which Hadrian himself led. He looked at Edithe and they nodded at each other.


    Come on, lets go.


    And they headed out.


    They rushed to join the fighting. Edithe ran past dozens hundreds, even of injured soldiers and adventurers. Those that had been hurt from the fighting. Xyren the Ranger of Zelios stayed back and protected them, loosing arrow after arrow into the distance as hemandeered the defensive forces. He looked up as a st of fire and ice shot out, turning to face the passing redhead.


    <em>[Frostme Vortex]. </em>She pointed with her staff and unleashed her magic. It was a spiraling cone of red and white a massive st that slowly faded away the closer it got to the center of the dark inferno. She gritted her teeth. She knew it wouldnt do much, but still she tried.


    Edithe dashed forward as Xyren gave her an approving nod. Hadrian was close behind her. But the [Warrior] was still injured from earlier. He wasnt as fast as she was. They waded through the hordes of soldiers that were clumped up towards the back the lower-leveled [Warriors] and the [Rogues] who were very much helpless against the [Jinn]s Grand Skill.


    She darted around a woman stumbling back, nearly falling into the redhead. Edithe ran past a man, knelt down and frozen in fear. And as she passed a cluster of [Mages] pooling in their magic to form a barrier that covered dozens of feet like a sheet of ice she bumped into a man scrambling back.


    At first, she didnt recognize him. Edithe staggered back and shook her head and said a quick apology.


    Sorry


    And she paused. For a moment, she stared at Jake. The leader of the True Valiants Company. She halted mid-step, looking at him as he cursed and turned back to face her.


    You


    He red up at her as he picked himself up. Hadrian paused behind Edithe, blinking.


    Jake.


    The leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company addressed the leader of the True Valiants Company. Jake himself blinked a few times. Then he scowled and pointed usingly at Hadrian.


    You bastards. I knew it! You cowards werent even


    And Edithe pushed Jake aside. He stared at her with wide eyes as she pulled Hadrian forward.


    We have to hurry.


    She spoke quickly. Jake just watched her go.


    What?


    It took him a moment to collect himself. He reached out to grab Edithe and stop her. His fingers touched her shoulder, and she was ready to snap at him. But Hadrian stepped in, pushing Jake aside.


    We dont have time to deal with your bullshit right now. We have more important things to worry about.


    Hadrian nced over at the roaring mes at the dark vortex as it whipped out, barely missing a gold and silver figure zipping around it. Jake worked his jaw before pausing. He stared at the dark inferno, hesitating. And Hadrian shook his head.


    Lets go, Edithe.


    The redhead stared at the leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company for a moment. Then a smile spread across her face as she followed him, along with a sense of relief washing over her.


    Right.


    They left Jake alone. He didnt try to stop them, instead watching as they ran off to join the rest of the Valiant Dreamers Company. They got close to the front lines. Celine, Sophia, Cless, Ismail all of the Valiant Dreamers were fighting at the front of the battlefield, unafraid of the dark inferno. That they could be swept up by the ck fiery tempest and be incinerated in an instant.


    The Northbury Troops led by Noah fought alongside the Valiant Dreamers. As did contingents from Alyras and the Helbir League. Ismail Znd himself led the charge, flying on his Pegasus and drawing dangerously close to the ck mes.


    Dark tendrils shot out, and he sliced through it before they could reach the Valiant Dreamers Company. But one of the tendrils targeted him. It streaked through the air like lightning, avoiding the Salvos clones and the Orgaf shadows. Ismail raised a shield to block it, but the shockwave knocked him off his flying steed.


    Hadrian leapt through the air and caught Ismail before he crashed into the earth. The [Beastmaster] blinked as he stared up at his leader.


    Hadrian?


    <em>Ismail! Hadrian!</em>


    Edithe was a step behind Hadrian. Celine paused as the other members of the Valiant Dreamers turned their heads.


    Edithe? And Hadrian too? So you guys finally decided to join us, huh?


    The burly woman grinned. Edithe nodded and helped Ismail to his feet. Hadrian straightened, drawing his sword.


    Sorry werete. We had something we had to do in the pce of Alyras. But were here now.


    Hadrian spoke for all of hispany to hear. Sophia, Cless, Noah, and the rest of the Valiant Dreamers Company and their allies exchanged a nce as he nodded back at them.


    I know this is a daunting task. Yet, you guys still fought on even by yourself. I do not care what the True Valiants say about us, you guys encapste the principles of what it means to be a dreamer.


    He raised his sword and pointed it at the dark void.


    Now, lets show everyone what the Valiant Dreamers Company is made


    And Edithes eyes grew wide. She dashed forward, watching the ck tendrilsh out. Arge tendril one that incinerated one of Salvos clones in its wake. The redhead raised her staff, pointing at the oing streak of dark fire.


    [Frostme Vortex]


    But her attack was nothingpared to the intensity of ck mes. It burned straight through her spell and struck her, Hadrian, and Ismail. An explosion that knocked all three back.


    <em>Shit </em>


    She cursed. Her [Aura of Greater Protection] flickered and broke from the st. Fortunately, it wasnt enough to kill her. But it <em>hurt. </em>It really did hurt. Shey there in a puddle of blood, coughing and gasping as the rest of the Valiant Dreamers Company cried out.


    Ismail Znds Pegasus rushed to his side, while Hadrian scrambled back to his feet. The leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company escaped with the least damage taken, but he was still bleeding and hurt.


    But before Hadrian could even get a grasp of his surroundings, a second desperate st of ck mes struck out once again. Itnced out for the Valiant Dreamers Company. This time, Edithe couldnt react. She tried to stand up, but her legs failed her. She groaned in pain as the ck fire reached them


    And a st of blue mes impacted the dark fire. For a moment, Edithe just stared. She thought that it was Salvos who arrived just in time once again. It was a blue fire, after all. But then she saw the frost and snow falling from the sky. She felt the sleet forming at the edge of her fingertips the freezing aura exuded by the cool fire.


    She looked up as a ball of colors descended.


    Youre?


    Edithe blinked at the hovering Spirit. At the glowing mes, shing green, then blue, then red. A [Will O Wisp]. One of Salvospanions.


    Willy?


    <em>[Will O Wisp - Lvl. 136]</em>


    He said nothing as he floated there, staring down at the dark inferno raging ahead.