Chapter 118: Our Flame

(Chapter 118 Our Flame)

"Enemies at the gates!"

The alarmed cry rang out across the city walls, and the clash of metal on metal was almost drowned out by the bellowing roar of the charging Abyss horde.

"Hold the line!"

Shouted Rohan, his voice unwavering despite the chaos. The Fontainian soldiers, clad in their distinguished blue and gold armor, formed a seamless shield wall, their polished flintlocks gleaming under the dim glow of the moon. Their determination was palpable, but so was the weight pressing down on their resolve.

A cacophony of war cries and defiant shouts erupted from the soldiers, echoing across the battlefield as the relentless tide of Abyssal creatures surged forward. Hilichurls, Abyss Mages, Riftwolves, and hulking Mitachurls stormed out of the dark portals, their guttural growls mixing with the battle's din. The once proud gates of the Natlan stronghold were under siege, straining against the tide.

The shield wall held firm, its defenders bracing against each relentless assault. Shields locked in a fortress-like formation, spears thrust forward, and soldiers moved in perfect unison, driving back each creature that lunged at them. But the reality was grim, the Natlan warriors were spent, sweat and blood matting their skin, their breaths ragged. Every swing of their weapons came slower, and every block came at a heavier price.

Tempest's soldiers, fewer in number and rapidly running out of gunpowder, fought valiantly. The crack of musket fire erupted intermittently, but it was becoming less frequent. Ammunition pouches were emptied, and rifles were cast aside for swords and bayonets. The grim understanding passed silently between them: they were on a timer.

"Stay steady!"

Shouted Rohan, his voice hoarse yet commanding.

"We hold until the last man!"

Despite the roaring Abyss horde, a thin, unyielding line of Fontainian soldiers and exhausted Natlan warriors stood unbroken. But as each moment passed, the weight of their mortality pressed harder. The Abyss was numberless, an unstoppable wave and the defenders knew that only one mistake, one breach, would mean the floodgates would open and doom them all.

"With me, Tempest!"

Mavuika shouted, her voice fierce and unwavering as she led the charge. She moved like a storm incarnate, cutting through a swarm of Hilichurls with unmatched ferocity. Her strikes were swift and precise, each swing of her weapon carving a path through the chaos toward the extinguished Sacred Flame.

Tempest kept pace, his eyes scanning the battlefield, always aware of Mavuika's position. Suddenly, a deep, guttural roar pierced the air, and two massive Lawachurls lumbered out from a portal, their red eyes blazing with fury.

"I'll handle them..."

Tempest said, his voice resonant and unyielding. In his Paladin form, he loomed as tall as the monstrous creatures, his armor glistening with an ethereal glow. Without waiting for a reply, he charged forward, meeting the Lawachurls head-on.

The first Lawachurl swung its colossal arm down, aiming to crush him. Tempest caught the blow with a resounding clash, muscles straining as he pushed back. With a deft move, he shifted his weight and locked the creature's arm in a powerful shoulder hold. The beast roared in protest, but Tempest's strength was insurmountable. With a final twist, he dislocated its neck, a sickening snap echoing above the battle's noise.

The second Lawachurl charged, bellowing in rage, but Tempest was ready. He pivoted smoothly, using the momentum of the first beast's failing body to launch himself at the second. Wrapping his armored arms around the creature's massive frame, he heaved it up and brought it down across his knee with a brutal force. The crack of bone reverberated through the air, and the Lawachurl slumped lifelessly to the ground.

Mavuika turned, golden hair aflame and eyes blazing with resolve, momentarily pausing to witness Tempest's sheer power. A smile flickered across her battle-hardened face.

"We move forward, now!"

She shouted.

Tempest nodded, breathing heavily but unwavering.

"Lead the way."

He said, the glow of his Paladin form casting long, defiant shadows against the night as they pushed onward, determined to reach the Sacred Flame and reignite hope for Natlan.

"Are you certain you can reignite the Sacred Flame? Don't make my efforts be in vain…"

Tempest's voice rumbled, deep and resonant, as he stood guard, his eyes scanning the dark battlefield for any sign of a new onslaught.

Mavuika met his gaze, a flicker of determination burning within her golden eyes.

"I can. Trust me, Tempest. Just hold them off while I do this."

She said, gripping her weapon tighter and turning to face the towering dais where the Sacred Flame once burned bright.

Tempest's eyes narrowed, the intensity behind them betraying the tension coiled in his frame.

"We'll have much to discuss when this is over, Mavuika…"

His tone hinted at more than just the battle, a promise to be repaid.

For a split second, Mavuika's confident expression faltered, replaced by a fleeting shadow of disappointment. She quickly masked it with a smirk, shifting her focus back to the task at hand.

"I know, Tempest. But let's finish this first, shall we? It's rather convenient, isn't it? That the Abyss chose now to launch an invasion? I'd think someone like you would see this as a golden opportunity."

A faint, humorless smile crossed Tempest's lips.

"Should I leave, then?"

He asked, his voice carrying a hint of irony as he shifted his stance, readying himself for the incoming wave of enemies that poured from the dark, churning portals.

"No."

Mavuika turned back to him, a steely glint in her eyes.

"Stay and fight with me. Whatever comes after, we face it together."

Tempest took a steadying breath, the weight of duty and choice pressing on him like an iron gauntlet.

"Then hurry, Mavuika. The night isn't getting any kinder."

The battlefield crackled with the ominous sounds of the Abyss, the clash of steel, and the cries of warriors fighting for survival. Behind them, the Sacred Flame awaited its rekindling, the last hope of a city on the brink.

Arriving at the top of the Sacred Flame, there was a creature with four arms that wielded Cryo, Pyro, and Electro with him, were two Abyss Heralds.

As they reached the summit of the dais, Tempest and Mavuika faced a formidable sight: a towering creature with four arms, each brandishing elements of Cryo, Pyro, and Electro, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. Flanking the beast were four Abyss Heralds, their menacing visages illuminated by the dim light of the extinguished Sacred Flame.

"Ah, if it isn't our benefactor."

The Iniquitous Baptist proclaimed, a sinister smile twisting its grotesque features.

"I suppose you're quite grateful for the outcome, no?"

Mavuika's brow furrowed in confusion, and he turned to Tempest, seeking clarity.

"Benefactor? You…"

"I don't know what in seven hells you're talking about, creature."

Tempest snapped, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

"All I know is that you will meet your end here."

With a swift, decisive motion, Tempest summoned the Ashbringer, a brilliant sword materializing in his hand, its blade shimmering with a fierce, ethereal light.

"Prepare yourself."

"Ah, I shouldn't have said that…"

The Iniquitous Baptist mused, feigning regret as it stepped back, the confidence in its voice undeterred. "Well then, my time here is over. Kill them, if you can, my minions."

With a flourish, the creature conjured a swirling portal behind it, dark and ominous, ready to swallow it whole. In a blink, the Iniquitous Baptist vanished into the shadows, leaving only a lingering aura of dread in its wake.

The Abyss Heralds, now deprived of their master's command, hesitated for a fraction of a moment. Tempest seized the opportunity, his grip tightening on the Ashbringer, the air around him charged with resolve. Mavuika steadied herself at his side, determination etched on her face.

"You'll have some things to explain to me, Tempest..."

Mavuika said, casting him a sidelong glance, suspicion flickering in her golden eyes. She couldn't shake the feeling that Tempest had some connection to this Abyss attack, and the thought gnawed at her.

"You think this is the time for a chat?"

Tempest replied, his tone sharp as he steadied himself for the imminent confrontation.

Mavuika squared her shoulders, determination flooding her voice.

"Let's deal with them first."

As the two Abyss Heraldsm one radiating the chilling aura of Cryo, the other embodying the swirling depths of Hydro, advanced toward them, Tempest and Mavuika exchanged a quick nod of understanding. With the Sacred Flame extinguished, their surroundings felt heavy with a sense of dread, but they were undeterred.

The Heralds unleashed a barrage of elemental attacks, icy shards, and torrents of water hurling through the air. Tempest swiftly raised the Ashbringer, its radiant blade absorbing the incoming assault. He deflected the Cryo shards effortlessly, sending them crashing into the stone walls of the stadium, while Mavuika leaped into action, summoning her own elemental power to counter the Hydro Herald.

With a fluid grace, she maneuvered around the torrent of water, her movements like a dance as she slashed through the cascading waves. The moment she closed the distance, she delivered a series of quick, powerful strikes, each imbued with her radiant energy. The Hydro Herald faltered, caught off guard by her ferocity.

Simultaneously, Tempest charged toward the Cryo Herald, his sword gleaming with a fierce light. As the Herald raised its arms to unleash another flurry of ice, Tempest was faster. He dove low, sliding beneath the onslaught, and with a powerful upward swing of the Ashbringer, he cleaved through the ice and into the Herald's defenses.

With a swift flick of his wrist, he unleashed a shockwave of energy, sending the Cryo Herald sprawling backward. Seizing the moment, Mavuika joined him, their powers intertwining as they advanced. Together, they were an unstoppable force, cutting through the Abyss forces like a hot knife through butter.

In mere moments, the two Abyss Heralds lay vanquished at their feet, the remnants of their elemental powers dissipating into the air.

Breathing heavily but with exhilaration coursing through her veins, Mavuika stood at the edge of the platform, glancing down at the chaotic battle unfolding below. Her warriors were struggling against the relentless tide of Hilichurls and corrupted creatures pouring from the portals, but she could see Tempest's forces cutting through the horde, a beacon of hope in the darkening chaos.

"Were you responsible for this?"

Mavuika asked Tempest, her gaze unwavering as she surveyed the battlefield below, a storm of emotions brewing in her chest.

"The Abyss is playing tricks on us to try and turn us against each other. No, I did not do any of this."

Tempest replied, his voice steady, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes.

Mavuika turned abruptly, her fist igniting with swirling flames of Pyro, the heat radiating from her hand creating a palpable tension in the air. It was as if she was ready to deliver a devastating blow aimed squarely at Tempest's heart. But before she could strike, Tempest reacted with lightning speed, catching her fist in his palm.

The moment his armor-encased hand met her fiery assault, there was a crackle of energy, and the armor on his arm cracked slightly, a rare occurrence that shocked him. For the first time, someone had managed to penetrate through his Paladin armor, and Tempest found himself struggling to contain the force of her power. The heat from her flames warmed his skin, but the intensity of the moment had nothing to do with temperature.

"You're not lying to me, are you? You're not just supporting me because you still want those resources and land, are you?"

Mavuika demanded, her voice low and fierce, searching his eyes for any hint of deceit.

Tempest held her gaze, unwavering despite the tension between them.

"No time for this, Mavuika. Go and do your job already."

"Right..."

Mavuika replied, the fire in her fist extinguishing as she turned away, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. She knew the stakes were too high for personal disputes, but the uncertainty lingered like smoke in the air.

With resolute steps, she moved toward the extinguished Sacred Flame, the heart of Natlan's strength and spirit. She retrieved her Pyro Gnosis, the gleaming artifact glowing with an inner fire, and began the sacred procedure to reignite the flame.

'Strong... So strong...'

Tempest thought to himself as he glanced at his arm, where Mavuika's fist had impacted. The armor was cracked, revealing a faint light glowing from within.

Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the sky as a massive portal tore open, unleashing a gigantic golden Riftwolf. The creature's immense form loomed above them, its fur glimmering like molten gold in the moonlight.

"Don't get distracted, I'll handle it."

Tempest said firmly to Mavuika, who instinctively glanced up, her expression a mix of awe and concern.

"I trust you to hold it back."