21 The Second Route

In a field of corpses, he clawed out. His blood and dirt stained face showing a desperate look. Around Nolan were the crumbling walls of the City. The houses burned as the resounding echoes of the citizens resounded throughout the city. He heard despairing shouts of help. He heard the cries of mothers and fathers. He heard the brave shouts of men willing to die for them.

Men in robes grasped for breath as they poured their heart and soul into their spells. Crusaders forced their broken bodies as they defend themselves from the enemies that were charging inside the city. The Shadow Trekkers rushed inside the city with haste. Men clad in cloaks danced around the field. Their phantasmal swords burned brightly, their backs shielded by their comrades in arms.

Nolan forced himself. He stood and summoned the last of his energy to carve flames within his blade. He charged at an enemy, his blade piercing the Shadow Trekker, he pulled his sword back and twisted his body, making use of the momentum for a swift cut. Monsters charged in the walls of Oasis. A giant eyeball with tentacles eyes floated.

A group of robed men gathered the last of their strength to summon a dome of energy. A man in plated armor rushed at the beholder with his sword. He stabbed the enemy right in the eyes, his eyes tearing up as he struggles to kill the enemy. A vine pulled him out of the beholder's eyeball. A green-haired woman fought three monsters.

"Vie!" Without thinking, Nolan wove through the enemies and slew his way to her. Vie blocked an attack. Nolan held his flaming sword with both hands and slew the enemies that were trying to take her from behind.

"Nolan!" shouted Vie. "You are alive!"

"I plan to stay that way!" Nolan dodged an attack. He strikes his sword on the enemy's throat. He pulled his sword back and deflected another claw. His sword chipped, his arms rattled as the blows started to tire him out. His soul was used up. His body was burdened with fatigued as clawing out of the corpse took too much of his energy.

Around Nolan and Vie was a horde of monsters. The Crusaders of Salt passing defended and attacked with fanatical fury. The Talon Knights held their ground with their repeating crossbow. The robed men and women rained down magic missiles upon the enemy. The battlefield was wrought with chaos. The screams, the slicing of flesh, the burning made Nolan ground his teeth.

"CHARGE!" a tall woman used her shoulder to fling a trekker away. A woman with a burned face stroke with her sword, her body stained with blood and wounds. She was breathing heavily but yet she stood her ground.

"She's still alive!" Nolan shouted internally. He gripped his sword tightly. He leaned his back on Vie. The two fought back to back as they parried, blocked, and counter with their chipped swords. Her sword was envenomed while his sword was burning brightly. The battle continued on yet the beholder reaped the lives of many.

It floated above the city. Its giant body crackling as a giant magic circle appeared above its head. The gibberish chanting of the beholder made everyone stop. They looked at the beholder and before they could react, thousands of men dressed in plate armor slump down as if their strings were cut. Those who held their swords shouted in pain.

Nolan and Vie got disarmed. Nolan took his sword and held it tightly despite the blood on his palms. A Shadow Trekker attacked, he was able to parry but yet he could only slide his sword at the enemy's throat. He plunged it deep into the enemy and shouted as his hands pained him. Vie could barely hold her sword as well, her injuries slowed her down.

Todd protected Hannah while she supported him with her spells. They moved towards Nolan their eyes looking at the tired Walkers. There was no time to speak words. He looked at Hannah with begging eyes. She looked at Vie whose hands were shaking badly. She was halfway to fainting. Todd could see this clearly, he eyed Hannah.

"I beg you," Nolan said while tearing up. "Lead them out of here, as long as they survive there will be light!"

"What are you going to do?" She tapped the end of her staff on the ground. "How are you going to defeat that Beholder and destroy the Warden of Awl?"

"I will find a way," Nolan smiled wearily. He looked at the monster pounding the shield of light that Hannah created. He tore his cape and wrapped it around the sword and tied it on his right hand. He bit his lip as pain assaults him. "So lead those who are alive out of here!"

"So that's it?" asked Hannah. "We'll give up this city to these fiends?"

"Someone has to do this." Nolan turned. He looked over shoulder as the shield of light slowly shatters like a mirror. "A Walker walks the Bleak Path. You should know that, my lady."

"Then go fool!" She tapped her staff and the shield of light emitted a beam of sharp light as it struck the enemies. Nolan sprinted out of the protection and bolted to the direction of the beholder and the Warden of Awl. Vie's eyes followed Nolan. She was about to follow him when Todd blocked her way and shook his head. "We must."

Vie tried to open her mouth. She looked at Nolan charging, his cape fluttering as he faces the danger. Hannah chanted a spell and led the way while Todd defended the two with his sword and shield that was enhanced by Hannah's spells. They contacted the group and they told them to follow them out of the city. The Knights of Salt passing formed a shield wall and told them to go. Captain Celesta ordered her sword maidens to go, she didn't allow anyone to refuse, forcing Ciara to lead her sisters of the city.

The robed men and women with pale countenances looked at them. Their expression went fierce as they summons forth a burst of fire that spread towards the Shadow Trekkers. The Talon Knights fired at the enemies while the Crusader of Salt passing held them back. They shouted as they pushed the enemy back with their shields!

...

Nolan continued weaving through the enemy. His sword burned brightly but yet his body was slowly giving up on him. He felt tired his limbs were slowly losing all strength it could muster. Nolan bit his lip as he pushed on while fending off the enemy. An enemy was about to pounce at his back, a man in plated armor stopped the enemy and brought his sword at the enemy's throat.

Nolan stared at the man who he questioned for his bravery. Zachariah was soaked with blood, his plated armor was scratched, and the shining armor that was he proud of was gone. The two didn't speak to each other and just nodded as they turned towards the common enemy. The beholder was fighting the wizards and was being pushed back. But the Warden of Awl was protecting the monster.

The two gripped the hilt of their swords tightly. They threaded through the fallen and launched an attack at the Warden of Awl. The Warden of Awl saw their charge. He turned his attention to them and drew his great sword that reeked of death. He easily parried Zachariah's attack and blocked Nolan's overhead swing. Nolan twisted his body, his right leg hitting the helmet of Lord Awl.

"Fools!" the deathly voice pushed the two away. "You dare to fight this Wardenl!"

Nolan rolled on his back. He started to his feet and thrust with his sword. Zachariah pulled his sword back and slash in a horizontal motion towards the Warden. The Warden put his sword in front, blocking Zachariah's swing, while Nolan's sword cut the side of the Warden of Awl. His black armor was rusty, and there was a gap in his defense. But the Warden of Awl was an experienced fighter, he punched Zachariah with the hilt of his sword, he launched a kick on Nolan's stomach.

The two got pushed back. Zachariah grounded his teeth. Nolan wiped the blood off his mouth as he spits on the face of the Warden. The Warden squeezed his eyes tight. Nolan and Zachariah aimed for the Warden's neck but they were pushed by a shockwave. The beholder's giant eyeball turned towards them, it emitted a purple light as it targets both of them.

Yet the wizards took the chance to rain down lightning on the beholder. The beholder created an eerie sound as it was hurt. The rest of the wizards used the last of their spells to blind the enemy and silenced it. The Warden's fury grew as he slammed his great sword and took Zachariah's left arm. Zachariah shouted in pain, but instead of letting the enemy do what he wants with him. He tacked the Warden as he used his right arm to cling to the enemy. The Warden stabbed his gauntlet at defenseless part of his armor. Zachariah screamed as he held on tightly. Nolan attacked the Warden and buried the guard of his sword inside the Warden's eyes. He pulled his sword back and stabbed it in the Warden's throat.

The Warden didn't utter a sound. But despite the Warden's death, the enemies didn't stop their attacks. They continued their craze fight and attacked the defenders of the City. Nolan leaned his elbow and knees on the ground. He breathed in heavily as he forces himself up and drags Zachariah out of battle. The others that were alive grouped together while retreating.

Nolan's hand was shaking. Zachariah was breathing heavily while trying to grasp for breath. "H-hey..." He called out to Nolan. Nolan kneeled on one knee and placed his right ear near Zachariah's mouth. "I am quite a brave person right?" He said.

"Yes, you are." Nolan nodded his head.

Zachariah smiled. His mouth bled. "Take this," he pushed the sword he was holding towards Nolan. "Your sword won't do...my sword can handle it, it is tough and reliable, and I think you are going to need it more than I do..."

The light in Zachariah's eyes faded. Nolan took Zachariah's sword and looked at the City of Oasis. They were able to defeat the leader but yet the City that they were supposed to protect was ruined. There were still many enemies around that Noland had to forcefully move his body to survive. He slowly lost himself in battle and his actions became mechanical as he relied heavily on adrenaline and willpower to escape the city along with the survivors.

They were chased by the enemy. They fought them like cornered animals and slaughter their way to desert. A storm arrived, and this allowed the survivors to lie down. Nolan observed the storm, he continued on as he struggles his way out. He heard the sound of something burrowing. He looked behind him and saw the survivors get eaten by the sandworms of the desert.

Nolan was limping but he trudged on with his body shaking. He lost control of his legs. He crawled with elbows as he then clings on to a rock. He laid his back on the sand as he stares at the dust storm that covered the whole sky. He did everything he could to give the city a chance. But, all he did was for naught and instead his actions led to the Beholder appearing and the Warlord Warden of Awl to invade the City personally because of the presence of the Wizards.

They defended the city but the beholder summoned a rain of corpses and brought down the curtain walls of Oasis City. Nolan knew that there were still many that could possibly be alive inside the City of Oasis. But, how could he do anything when his condition was grave? He could barely move his limbs. There was little energy left inside him. Even if he wants to his body didn't let him. Nolan felt like he lost feeling in his limbs. All he could do was stare at the dust-covered sky in lament.

"At least she's alive," he thought. But as he continues to trek on he was able to spot a familiar figure whose legs were bloodied. She was breathing roughly and the way her legs were bent made it clear that she was going to walk no more for the rest of her life.

"Ciara?" he mouthed fearfully.

Ciara who was suffering turned to look at Nolan's battered figure. She had many things to say but all she could do was mutter for help. Nolan's being shuddered as he spots her sorry figure. The feeling of helplessness turned into despair.