Inferno a litrpg adventu.., p.28
Inferno: A LitRPG Adventure (Elemental Mastery Book 2), page 28
Luxana Jade laughed joyfully and ran into his arms. He picked her up, spun her around once, then kissed her passionately, the scent of her hair and the softness of her lips against his suffusing his senses. For a few precious moments, all was well with the world. There were no Slave-Masters, no drones, and no Shadowswarm. Only Lux, and the warmth of her presence.
Eventually, he pulled away and looked into her eyes. The Storm Scion had a radiant smile on her face, and she returned his regard unflinchingly.
“Long time no see,” she said, flashing him one of her mischievous winks.
“Well, it’s only been a little bit more than a week...” Zephyr replied, waiting for an expression of mock outrage to creep across her lovely features before he pulled her in and kissed her again.
“I missed you,” he admitted, when they pulled apart once more. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
“Me too,” she replied, almost shyly. “I thought I would never see you again.”
“Lux!” Nella squealed, elbowing Zephyr aside before he could respond and hugging the Storm Scion. “It’s so good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you too, Nella!” Lux laughed and hugged the ranger back. “Hope you haven’t been giving the boys too much of a hard time!”
“They’re still alive, aren’t they?” Nella replied, stepping back.
“Hi, Lux!” Vincent greeted her, as he approached. “I hope you’ve been well!”
“I have, Vincent,” Lux said, hugging the jeweler’s apprentice as well. “How have you been?”
“Vincey’s got a new girlfriend,” Nella said, sniggering. “Frankly, I think he’s a little too short for her.”
“Hey!” Vincent protested. “I’m an inch taller than Rina.”
“Good for you, Vincent!” Lux patted Vincent on the shoulder. “She’d better be treating you well, or she’ll have to answer to all three of us: Zeph, Nella, and me.”
“You’ll like her, I’m sure.” Vincent chuckled. “She’s very smart and knows a lot about glyphs.”
“I’ll be counting on you to introduce us, then.” Lux winked at the jeweler’s apprentice, then turned back to Zephyr. “Zeph…”
“Ahem.” A tall Storm Scion who’d walked up to the trio cleared his throat politely. “Good afternoon, Brother Zephyr, Mister Trefori, and Miss Heartseeker. I’m glad to see that the three of you are well and have made even further inroads into your mastery of Tempest magic, it seems.”
“Hello, Master Gathras,” Zephyr said, bowing to the grizzled mage. The Storm Scion had addressed him as a Wu monk, but Zephyr didn’t feel the need to point out that he wasn’t one, and likely would never be. “It’s good to see you, sir. Are you the leader of the Storm Scion reinforcements?”
“Indeed. I have arrived with seventy of my valiant brothers and sisters,” Gathras said. “I must speak to Archmage Brass immediately.”
“That’s her, I think,” Nella said, pointing past the Storm Scion’s shoulder. Sure enough, Archmage Brass had emerged from the inner citadel, flanked by a small group of Phoenix Knights. “You’d better move along and get settled in, I think. Things are going to get really ugly very soon.”
“I see. But that is why we are here to lend our aid in the first place.” Gathras’s grim features stiffened with resolve. He began barking orders to the other Storm Scions. “Form up on me!”
“I’ll come find you later, Zeph,” Lux said, squeezing Zephyr’s hands and planting a final kiss on his lips.
“See you in a bit,” Zephyr agreed, nodding. Lux waved to the trio, then jogged after Master Gathras and took her place amidst the Storm Scions lined up behind him.
“Well, time for lunch,” Nella declared, turning on her heel and walking away. Vincent followed. A few moments later, they both returned, took Zephyr by the wrists, and dragged him after them.
Chapter 32
The trio soon found out that a dozen of the Storm Scions were to be ensconced in Archmage Brass’s planning room all day, and Lux was among them, so Zephyr resignedly returned to the training grounds after lunch.
Gabriel was already there, but so was Sahhto. The dragon had reassumed his humanoid aspect, and he was talking quietly with the Phoenix Knight as the trio approached.
“Ah, greetings,” Sahhto said. “Gabriel Xost has just informed me of all that has transpired during my absence. You intend to strike the first plant tomorrow, just before the Phoenix Knights begin their attack on Fennea?”
“Yes, sir,” Zephyr replied. “We do.”
“Have you given thought to whom you’ll bring on this venture?” the dragon asked.
“You, of course!” Nella said. “You’re coming with us on every trip we make to the Fennean Empire.”
“I had a feeling you were going to say that,” Sahhto replied, chuckling. “Unfortunately, that might not be the wisest decision.”
“Archmage Brass might need your help when she attacks the approaching drones on her march to Fennea,” Zephyr surmised. “So you might not always be available to help us.”
“Correct.” Sahhto nodded. “If the Phoenix Knights are crushed in battle, our war against the Unliving Emperor is over, no matter how many plants the three of you destroy.”
“After actually seeing a plant for myself, destroying them might not even be possible,” Zephyr said. “Each plant is twice the size of Betrayer’s Bay and filled with ten times as many drones.”
“So should we give up on that plan, then?” Vincent asked.
“No. We need a new plan,” Gabriel said, pointing past the trio and across the training grounds, where Marie Vensk was approaching. “That’s why she’s here.”
“New orders from Archmage Brass,” the vice-captain said without any preamble. “You are to commence your assault within the hour. I have already assembled your accompanying strike force. You will find them waiting for you in front of the main citadel.”
Marie nodded at Sahhto.
“You won’t be part of this venture, Mighty Sahhto,” she said. “Archmage Brass has other plans for you. In fact, she wants to see you now in the planning room.”
“Of course. “I expected as much.” The dragon grinned, flickers of flame dancing across his crimson eyes. He turned to the trio. “Good fortune in battle.”
“You too, sir,” Zephyr replied, bowing to Sahhto. The dragon returned the bow, then strode away.
“Within the hour?” Vincent asked. “That’s quite a bump in the schedule, isn’t it? What’s the reason for that?”
“The Storm Scions are here now, and they can use Wind Walk to ferry supplies and troops around and cast Invocation spells to strip away dark magic barriers. So Archmage Brass wants to move out today as well,” Zephyr guessed. “Maybe she thinks she can take the first group of drones unawares and destroy them.”
“Exactly. The arrival of allies from the northern battlelines means that many of our logistical issues and tactical deficiencies have been resolved,” Marie confirmed. “Also, Slave-Masters, as Zephyr has so readily demonstrated, are still human and prefer to act during daylight hours, Shadowswarm influence notwithstanding. If the Phoenix Knights move out now and march through the night, they will be in position to strike the first group of drones and their commanders three hours before dawn, when the latter least expect it.”
“Destroying the first group will also put the Archmage Brass’s army between the next two ones, which are quite a bit smaller,” Zephyr said, thinking back to Avora’s and Vincent’s codex display maps. “If the Phoenix Knights can split up and take those out of the picture too, things become much easier.”
“A simplistic analysis, Zephyr, but one that’s largely accurate,” Marie said, nodding. “Then again, against a foe like the Slave-Masters and their drones, there is little room for subtle and intricate strategies. Speed and overwhelming concentration of force will be the keys to our victory, especially when we have the three of you and Mighty Sahhto on our side.”
“Who is coming along with us, Marie?” Zephyr asked.
“A hundred and forty djinns, sixty Phoenix Knights, including Gabriel Xost, nine signal corps specialists from my people, and myself as field tactician,” the vice-captain replied.
“Signal… corps?” Vincent scratched the back of his head. “What’s that?”
“They relay orders from the person in charge,” Nella replied, jerking her thumb at Marie. “In this case, that’d be her. The rangers at the Blight Boundary do something like this too, when several cadres need to work together under the command of a huntmaster.”
“Vensk’s worked with us for a long time,” Gabriel said. “She knows how to coordinate Phoenix Knights and figure out the best way to use our spells. The djinns really like her too. We’ll be in good hands out there.”
“We’re not trying to destroy the plants anymore, are we?” Zephyr asked, thinking about those Marie had chosen to accompany the trio. “A djinn is tough and strong, but his destructive power doesn’t even begin to come close to a Phoenix Knight’s, and djinns make up the majority of those coming with us.”
“Go on,” Marie prompted, smiling.
“The strike force is meant to create a huge distraction while holding their ground. The Phoenix Knights handle the distraction, while the djinns try to protect them,” Zephyr said. “In the meantime, the three of us attack any Slave-Master present and try to capture them.”
“Once we arrive, we won’t be able to leave until every Slave-Master is dead or unconscious and no Phantasmal Fields are active,” Gabriel said. “The three of you already know how dangerous they are and how best to deal with them.”
“Hit them hard and fast. Don’t give them a chance to work their magic,” Nella said.
“That’s right.” The Phoenix Knight and the ranger grinned at each other. “Looks like I finally managed to get something inside you after all.”
“Rephrase that!” Nella demanded, poking Gabriel in the side hard enough to make him jump and yelp.
“We might as well start getting ready to leave,” Zephyr said, turning to his friends. “We haven’t had time to meditate on Avora’s Radiant magic and awaken any new spell variants yet, so why don’t we just use up all the essence orbs we’ve gotten so far on enhancing our overall mastery of Inferno magic?”
“Sure, Zeph,” Vincent replied. “But… is that alright? Don’t you want to go see if you can find Lux before we go? She’s going into battle, isn’t she?”
“Storm Scion Luxana Jade will be among those remaining behind in Blackstone Keep,” Marie Vensk said. “She’s a recent inductee, with barely a fraction of the magical prowess of the other Storm Scions who’re here. That’s why she’ll be serving largely in a logistical capacity, moving reinforcements and supplies and inscribing Tempest talismans.”
The vice-captain grinned at Zephyr.
“Oh yes, I know all about your entanglement with Lady Jade, Zephyr,” Marie said. “So I made sure to keep her from the fighting, as much as feasibly possible, anyway. That means you can focus on your job without worrying about her.”
“Thanks,” Zephyr replied, fighting to keep his expression neutral. “I really appreciate you looking out for her.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong.” Marie’s grin widened. “I don’t care about her at all. You’re the one I’m most interested in. See you in front of the citadel.”
The vice-captain turned and walked away before Zephyr could reply.
“What?” he demanded, noticing the strange looks Vincent and Nella were casting his way. “It’s not what you think! She just wants me as a recruit for her mercenary company when this is all over.”
“Ooh, I definitely want to be there when you explain this to Lux,” Nella said, smirking.
“I don’t.” Vincent shuddered and wiped his brow with the back of his hand, before unfurling a codex display. “Here you go. We got quite a nice haul from Betrayer’s Bay.”
Essence orbs: 1,723
“Alright, I’ll put them all into our Inferno magic like you said, Zeph.” Nella extended her will. The codex display flashed with crimson-orange light.
Magic: Inferno (Mage)
Progress to Master: 2,523/4,000 essence orbs
+4,235% personal Inferno ether reserves
+4,235% Inferno spell casting rate
+4,235% Inferno spell learning rate
+4,235% Inferno spell efficacy
“All our weapons are still in serviceable condition,” Vincent said. “Though I do want to get some work done on Ponderous Inevitability sometime, Zeph. I might be able to add some Inferno glyphs to it.”
“Sure, Vincent. Thank you.” Zeph nodded. “The gauntlets you, Rina, and Taphir put together for me work really well, by the way.”
“Great!” The jeweler’s apprentice smiled. “I thought it’d complement your Dragon Strike spell variants.”
Nella produced the Tyrant Compass from her mage band and grimaced at the device.
“Should we bring this with us or leave it here?” she asked. “I don’t think we’ll have much of an opportunity to interrogate any Slave-Masters we capture out there anyway, especially if the plan is to kill or grab them and run, not level everything within our reach.”
“We should keep it with us at all times,” Zephyr said. “At the end of the day, it contains nightsteel, and I don’t want to leave it unattended.”
“Any of us who notices it acting funny should destroy it right away with an Invocation spell,” Vincent said, frowning at the Tyrant Compass.
“Agreed.” Nella returned the device to her mage band. “Not much of the hour left. Shall we head on over to the citadel?”
“You can still spare a few minutes. Come, let’s get a bit more work done. Now, before lunch, we left off with…” Gabriel began, grabbing Nella by the scruff of the neck before she could scurry away.
The trio groaned in unison.
Chapter 33
Zephyr landed in the middle of the drone processing plant, sparks emanating from his form. Nella and Vincent arrived a heartbeat later, along with the rest of the strike force.
All around them, wheeled and mollusk drones going about their labors ground to a halt, as did clusters of war drones and archer drones in the middle of their patrol routes across the complex of vast metallic domes and strange iron columns strewn across hardened tar. Twenty or so feet away, standing in front of a pile of metal barrels, a Slave-Master dropped the scroll in his hands, his jaw falling slack in horrified surprise.
Zephyr didn’t give the Fennean mage any time to react. He hurled a Spark Invocation right into the Slave-Master’s face, singeing away his eyebrows but also knocking him off his feet and sending him tumbling away into limp unconsciousness.
Nella’s sky-wyrm crackled into existence, carrying the ranger into the skies. The lightning beast charged right at a behemoth drone at the far end of the complex. Vincent rose into the air as well, Storm and Flame hammers in his hands. Tendrils of electricity danced from his Storm Hammer to coalesce into spikes of cobalt light around the fists of the djinns. Grunts and roars of appreciation arose from the elemental creatures as they surged outward and began tearing through every drone in their reach. Vincent thrust his Storm Hammer high once more, and lightning arced out from its head again, this time solidifying as bands of cobalt light around the wrists of every Phoenix Knight. Every Inferno magic spell cast by the recipients of Vincent’s lightning armaments would now be infused with a small amount of Tempest ether, enough to temporarily disrupt dark magic barriers.
Standing in the middle of the strike force, Marie Vensk made a chopping gesture. Armed with colored flags, her specialists broke off, each of them leading a contingent of Phoenix Knights into a ring-like formation emanating from the strike force’s landing point. As Zephyr watched, the vice-captain raised a flag of her own and waved it in a twirling pattern. Her specialists immediately began bellowing orders to the Phoenix Knights clustered around them. A heartbeat later, concerted beams of heat flashed from one group of crimson-robed mages to turn an entire row of war drones to molten slag. At the same time, spirals of burning air roiled into existence, intercepting the iron spikes hurtling from a formation of archer drones. Fireballs raced skyward to detonate amongst the clouds of hunter drones hanging above the plant’s gigantic metal domes.
Marie Vensk raised another flag and waved it again. Another wave of shouting rolled from the Vigilant Blades specialists. This time, it was the djinns who responded, bunching up into phalanxes upon which waves of counterattacking war drones crashed.
Zephyr tore his attention from the unfolding battle and turned to where the first Slave-Master had fallen. His body and soul singing with ether-infused internal energy, he cast Lightning Step, flashing to a point five feet above the fallen Fennean mage, before tossing a Storm Ring over his unconscious form, encasing it in a crackling barrier of Tempest ether. Whispering the casting words for his Thunder Clap spell, Zephyr slammed his Illumination Gauntlet against the surface of his Storm Ring. Sparks burst from the impact to wash across the war drones that had formed a protective cordon around their master.
The creatures shuddered as their dark magic barriers fell away. Before they could collapse upon Zephyr, he fell into a handstand upon his Spark Ring, and spun both his legs into twinned executions of Dragon Tail Sweep, sending arcs of flame slicing into the bodies of the war drones. The closest ones fell, hewn apart across their torsos or whatever passed for their heads.
Zephyr dismissed his Storm Ring, picked up the Slave-Master, and tossed the Fennean mage over his shoulder. He cast Soaring Breeze next, ascending above the ring of collapsing drone bodies before more of the metallic creatures could swarm upon him.
Buzzing filled his ears, then. Zephyr turned in midair, quickly spotting the hunter drones hurtling toward him. Streams of lightning-tinged flame flashed over his shoulder, laying ruin to the foremost mosquito-like creatures and sending them tumbling from the skies in molten heaps, but there were many more behind them.
