Four Horsemen Book 5 - Old Histories: Chapter 3

Petor moved with the jungle, not having to look at his feet as he knew the terrain, flitting forward, his spear back out and his sling loaded and on his hip, his cloak billowed behind him fluttering without a noise.

Sounds of distant fighting continued to ring out.

Moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting strange shadows across Valter's dimantium armor. The thermal enchantments on his blade created subtle distortions in the air around him, like heat waves rising from sun-baked stone. His four empty suits moved with an uncanny grace, their weapons held at the ready.

Desari brough up the rear, her left handholding her bow with her thumb pressed on her sword hilt, ever vigilant as she scanned. Each step was carefully placed, her movements fluid and predatory.

Mya was in the lead, soul-fire eyes cast an ethereal glow as she swept her rifle across their path, checking angles and potential ambush points. Her finger rested just outside the trigger guard of the Drowned Captain's Requiem, the weapon's necrotic enchantments should have caused the plants around them to wither, instead they seemed to be rejuvenated.

Island of necromantic trader captians.

A distant explosion echoed across the island, followed by the distinctive crack of cannon fire. The sounds of battle grew louder as they pressed forward, but their immediate area remained clear.

"Batteries at the inlet opening, they must have spotted the fleets," Mya said.

Different cannons got into the fight. "Looks like the cliffside batteries are coming to bear as well," Mya said.

Valter's armors maintained their silent advance, leading them deeper into the darkness.

Petor tensed as he heard fighting ahead, felt the eddies in the mana of a battle. He breathed in deeply, the dirt, the humidity, the smell of ash fire and blood.

"The Ritual entrance is compromised the stone doors have been blasted open. Mardun defenders are firing at the champions at the entrance."

His voice grew tense. "Eight champions pushing the entrance hard. Another dozen have gone around the entrance and are clearing out the jungles above the ritual chamber."

A deep rumbling spread through the ground and the air. "They're using magical devices to try and crack the ritual site's roof."

Mya's eyes narrowed as she processed the tactical situation. "Valter, Desari, clear those charges. Petor, lock down that entrance with your plants, give our people breathing room." She checked her rifle's action with practiced efficiency. "I'll handle the champions at the door. Move!"

Desari and Valter peeled away and Petor picked up his speed, storing his spear to draw out his sling and change the seeds loaded within.

Everburning will spread the fastest and cover the terrain, though its pretty weak to attacks. Have to keep it juiced up and growing so that it grows faster than its broken.

Petor loaded his sling with everburning bramble. Through his connection to the land, he sensed the positions of the champions. He moved to the side whirled his sling and released the seeds in a wide arc through the trees.

The seeds scattered around the entrance into the ritual site and exploded into brambles, moving to cover the entrance.

Petor's mana start dropping at a rapid rate. Not going to let some brambles get in your way huh?

Above, Mya sprang from tree to tree, her movements fluid and precise. She reached the crown of a towering palm, the thick fronds providing cover as she shouldered her rifle.

Petor traced the root network beneath his feet, feeling for the right connection. He triggered [Root Road], stepping through the earth to emerge at the ritual site's flank.

Champions were attacking the brambles with different attacks, tearing it up.

Mya's rifle took the life of one champion, then another.

"Take cover! There's one in the jungle!" One champion yelled. "Bring the hill down on their heads!"

Petor stored his sling, drew his spear and, moved through the roots to  above the entrance, waving his hand over it, seeds fell from his storage device.

"Above the entrance!" Another yelled.

Petor deflected the mana-blade attack and used root road once more.

Petor's spear flashed through the moonlight as he emerged from the root network. Three illusions split from him, each wielding identical spears, charging from different angles at the champion leader. The man's eyes widened as he tried to track the real threat.

"Left flank! They're using-" The leader's words cut short as he deflected Petor's actual strike from behind, the spear tip grazing his armor.

"Got to focus a bit more there mister leader," Petor grinned.

The man's face filled with fury as he roared, as he tried to bash Petor's spear away and slash at him.

Petor disappeared from his spot and a half dozen versions of him appeared throughout the champion formation.

They fought to deal with the threat infront of them as Mya's rifle cracked injuring three.

"Think you can come to my island!" She roared.

Spells tore through the jungle as Petor dashed in, targeting the three that were injured.

Petor's spear plunged through the first injured champion's chest and he feasted upon the power of his body and core, draining it all as the man fell to dust.

The power flowed through his core, through his body, threatening to overcome him, he spread it through his connection with his fellow horsemen.

Mya dropped another champion near Petor, wounding without killing.

You want me to clean them up.

Petor flashed across the battlefield. His spear found the wounded champion's throat before they could recover, drawing more power into their shared connection.

"Shit this might be better than beer!" Mya's voice rang out across the battlefield.

Petor's laugh echoed through his illusions as he danced between reality and root. The champion leader's eyes narrowed, finally spotting the real Petor among his duplicates. The man's sword whistled through the air, forcing Petor to twist away.

His sword was fast and his shield were brutal  but Petor had reach.

Petor's spear tore through the man's bracer, his eyes widening in shock as he moved to bash Petor with his shield.

He staggered as Petor consumed his power and shifted. Illusions appeared around the champion's leader. The others trying to fight Mya as the forest fought them and intercepted them.

Petor moved between one illusion to another seamlessly, the leader could read which one was him, but it took him a second. With his shorter spear and shield he was able to deflect many attacks, his barrier saving his life multiple times.

Petor's attacks bled the champion's leader, making him slower and slower.

Petor stabbed at the man and he wrapped up Petor's spear, blood across his face as he grinned.

Petor used the root road to move away and drew out his old spear.

The champion leader coughed as he looked around him, a look of victory.

Petor appeared behind him, the man releasing Petor's spear and started to turn.

Petor drove his spear into the mans' side and through him, jumped, grabbing his Spear of the Mirage Mariner and jumped through the fight, ending those that Mya had wounded, and spreading the energy they released to the other horsemen.

Another detonation shook the area.

Petor used Root Road to move atop a nearby tree, seeing over the stone mound that the ritual site was under.

Valter and his armors were reaping a terrible harvest as Desari's arrows dropped three champions, a dozen sticking out of the gaps in their armor.

The air shimmered around Valter's blade as he unleashed a wave of ice that smashed into two men. An Arbalest went through one's helmet as the other was cut down between two sets of scarred armor.

Petor crouched on the thick branch, his hand pressed against the trunk as he surveyed the island. Smoke rose from multiple locations, creating dark columns against the star-filled sky. The harbor and cliff batteries continued their thunderous exchange with unseen ships, muzzle flashes illuminating the pre-morning darkness.

From his vantage point, he could see the temple district a battlefield of magical attacks crossing back and forth, tearing up its manicured gardens. Mardun defenders held the temple steps, their position reinforced by undead.

Near the cliffs, more fighting centered around the northernmost lighthouse and its adjacent signal tower.

Fires were spreading through the jungle in several positions.

An explosion went off in the direction of one of the other ritual sites.

Petor shivered as the visceral sense of wrong that passed through him as the ritual was broken.

The other horsemen got within earshot of him.

"Temple, the northern light house and the ritual sites are under attack! Batteries are firing," Petor yelled.

"Where to?" Desari asked.

"We head to the main ritual site. If we can keep that then we can keep control of most of the defenses," Mya said.