Rain of Death

Chapter 11 – Rain of Death

The scalding rays of the sun landed upon their skins. However, instead of feeling the heat, the soldiers back were drenched in cold sweat.

Some stood rooted on the spot while some limply sat on the ground. Horror and despair filled their eyes as they started at the tall and ancient wall a distance away.

"Commander, this…" Tritus patted Crystal's back.

"I know." Crystal answered. Confusion was evident from her face. She was unsure how to proceed.

"Hmm? Why did it turn dark all of the sudden?" Tritus muttered as he lifted his face. Suddenly, his expression turned grim. He shouted, "SHIELD! COVER!"

Then he started chanting an incantation. Before long, a two layered magic circle appeared above him. With all his mana, he threw the spell above and shouted, "Guardian's Dome!" Instantly, a transparent doom covered the entire army.

By reflex, Crystal also looked up, and as though electrocuted, she let out a horrified shriek, "SHIELD! SHIELD! HURRY! COVER!"

Without hesitation, she herself rushed towards the soldiers and activated her strongest defensive skill. She unsheathed her sword and raised it towards the sky before stabbing the ground. In an instant, a yellowish sphere appeared around her. It started growing until it enveloped all the soldiers.

The other Tier 2 experts also casted their defensive spells, reinforcing the spell Tritus and Crystal casted.

Swish! Swish!

Countless arrows fell from the sky. First, it bombarded Tritus' Guardian's Dome which started forming cracks at a frighteningly fast speed. A second later, the Guardian's Dome broke apart. Then the arrows continued and collided with Crystal's sphere of light.

The barraged of arrows only paused for a moment before continuing. It landed upon the several barriers casted by the Tier 2 experts but alas! The collective spells of the Tier 2 soldiers lasted for only a second or two before completely obliterating.

Kacha!

"NO!" Crystal shouted as she herself dashed towards the sea of projectiles, hoping to block some of it.

Groans and agony filled the place. Blood dyed the land red as hundreds of shields and… humans became porcupine, with arrows sticking outwards.

The scent of blood wafted the air while the fading clouds of dust revealed the miserable bodies impaled on the ground.

With a loud bam, Crystal crashed on a boulder, causing it to shatter into fragments. Shock was evident from her bloodied face. Her mouth was agape, stunned as to what happened to her soldiers. She tried moving her body but the handful of arrows sticking on her skin and armors proved his actions futile.

Tears started falling down her eyes. She lay limply on the boulder, despair and helplessness shrouded her vision. With blood dripping from her mouth, she mumbled, "Is this the end? What about the shelter? Who will provide food from the families of my soldiers? Their children…"

Suddenly, a huge magic circle emitting green light appeared above the soldiers. Then he heard a familiar voice, "Healing Spring!"

A glimmer of hope emerged from Crystal's eyes. She stared at the man waving his staff, wildly using his mana to cast healing spell towards the soldiers. His disheveled robe fluttered in the air, outlining his broad shoulders. Seeing the overly familiar face, Crystal cried out, "Tritus!"

Then she gritted her teeth and started pulling out the arrows stuck on her body. Every time she pulled one out, blood would spurt out from the wound while her face would contort in pain. Even so, Crystal didn't stop, she knew that it was the best decision at the moment.

Instantly, the same healing spell appeared atop her head. Gentle green light started entering her skin as her wounds stopped bleeding. Crystal lifted her face and saw Tritus running towards her direction. "How's the soldiers?" She hurriedly asked.

However, instead of replying to her, his pair of long and masculine hands held her shoulders. With a stern and worried face, Tritus asked her, "Are you okay?"

Seeing the worry on his eyes, Crystal calmed down a little and replied, "Yes! How about the soldiers?"

"I'm not sure." Tritus replied, his voice couldn't hide the sadness within. Due to how fast the event transpired, he was only able to cast a low-level Tier 2 defensive spell which was less complex than those stronger one.

Hearing his words, Crystal forced herself to walk towards the soldiers. Her uneven steps coupled with her pained expression couldn't hide the agony she was feeling. Both physically and emotionally. Fortunately, the effect of Tritus' Tier 2 healing spell greatly alleviated her wounds. Coupled with her Tier 2 regenerative ability, she felt that her wounds would heal up soon.

However, even if she recovered, it still couldn't change their situation. They were in crisis and might face annihilation. The only good thing was that the enemy no longer fired another barrage of arrows.

As she slowly walked, Crystal started formulating an escape plan. With the shrine key on her hand, she could still retreat outside the shrine. However, they must first find the exit gateway where the teleportation portal was located.

"Stand up if you can still walk!" Crystal amplified her voice with magic. Then she hardened her expression and continued, "Those who could no longer walk, raise your hand!"

Instantly, a third of their earlier number stood up while the majority lay limply on the ground with their hands raised. All the soldiers have something in common, they were covered with blood and dirt.

Crystal tried to stop her tears from falling. She realized that the number of those who could walk was too little compares to those who couldn't. And… about a quarter of the thousand-man army had perished.

In the current situation, the most optimal decision to have the slightest bit of survival was to leave those who could no longer walk behind. That way, they would be able to move faster and prevent more casualties.

As their commander, Crystal had to make her decision fast. They were in a critical situation where only the path of retreat could warrant their survival. Although Tritus could heal their wounds, their number were numerous while his mana was already closed to empty.

"Those who could stand! Hurry and carry your injured brothers!" Crystal commanded as she bit her lower lip.

She couldn't bring herself to abandon the owner of those eyes who trusted her. If possible, she wanted to bring the corpses of those who perished. Unfortunately, the situation wouldn't allow such thing.

"Commander…" Crystal suddenly felt a tap from her shoulder. She turned around only to see Tritus with a pale complexion.

"Check the ground." Tritus said. His voice couldn't hide the panic within them.

As though answering Crystal's puzzlement, the huge gate of the wall slowly opened. And in a unified manner, hundreds of figures started marching out from it.