Blooming Beautifully

Perina swirled a glass of wine, "Pity, it seems like some noticed. It doesn't matter now, they fell for the bait. Now they're trapped, forced to be crushed by my army."

A small yawn escaped her lips, "How boring. Grimwald!"

"Yes Miss."

"Have you spotted the main cause of all this?"

"Nimin has been spotted along with several others."

"I assume it's those friends of his from Dusted Bright?"

"Yes, along with some others."

"Others?"

"The two you came across during your previous step."

"The half-eaten one dares to return?"

"Yes."

"That's a new one. Well I have a surprise for when they come here. Inform that individual for me will you?"

"Right away."

~ ~ ~

Yielya had no time. Using her War Sight she traveled down immediately. She quickly searched among the players until she found who she was looking for, "Jarvis!"

Jarvis' attention was momentarily averted, "What?"

"We're being surrounded. I need the walls covered. I need time to think."

Jarvis flipped through his book until he found the page he was searching for. Colors began to flow and a massive alligator appeared. Kneeling next to it Jarvis asked, "Can you do that?"

The alligator made an audible snort and thumped its tail against the ground. The gates suddenly had their entrances blocked by stone, and the broken wall was temporarily repaired.

Yielya thanked him and ran off. She needed a plan as soon as possible.

"Get to the walls! We have to defend the city or else we'll be wiped!"

"We haven't captured the castle yet! Why are we defending the city now?!"

Yielya heard her orders being questioned by a random player. Suppressing her urge to send them to the stratosphere she answered, "Because we need to buy time for Nimin to kill Perina! That's the reason why we're doing all of this! If we're surrounded now then we won't have that chance!"

Someone else shouted, "They're right! We can hold the walls brothers! Let the others take the castle!"

The outer forces surrounding the castle split off and ran towards the walls. Yielya was well aware that this wasn't going by to be enough to hold off the incoming army. She just hoped it could delay their approach long enough.

Archers and Sorcerers began to rain attacks at the incoming army. Most of the attacks were intercepted by the enemy Sorcerers, as they used their own spells to clash against the incoming ones.

It was an intimidating sight. Hundreds of soldiers marching their way towards the wall, unrelenting. Like a train with no brakes. If anyone would be able to fight against such a force without fear, it would be those who were semi-immortal. Many close combat players jumped off the wall to clash against the soldiers.

It was pointless, like throwing a bottle of water onto a raging wildfire. However Yielya wasn't around to give orders to these individuals. Even if she was they mostly likely wouldn't listen anyways.

A player rapidly shot arrows while cursing, "This isn't possible! We're barely putting a dent into their numbers!"

"We have to hold this wall! If we fall here then this whole raid would fail!"

"We're weaker than their weakest soldier! How are we supposed to fight against them?!"

"We just have to! Don't back down!"

"Sorcerers, reinforce the gates!"

"Summoners, we need some more backup! Send the stronger ones to the front lines!"

Perhaps under the dire circumstances the players cooperated, although just slightly. Golems of various sizes rose from the ground and intercepted the soldiers. Along with other various creatures the players had in stock.

Having reached an optimal distance the army began their assault on those guarding the walls. Arrows and spells bombarded them, forcing their retreat.

Someone shouted, "Use their abandoned War Weapons! The cannons ought to do a lot of damage!"

This idea was incredibly popular. Proven by the rumbling sounds of cannons firing that was heard shortly after. The hurled cannon balls caused the army to be disoriented, allowing the ground forces to push back.

"Yes! Push them back!"

The disorientation lasted only a few moments. Rapidly, the army began to recover. The summons and ground forces were being dispatched at a rapid pace.

The players were helpless as they watched the army start tearing down the earthen walls at the gate. Chipping away at it like some sort of stone sculpture.

Suddenly a few players spotted some commotion happening at the other end of the army. Thousands of players were causing disruption among the ranks. Relieving a lot of the pressure the defending forces were dealing with.

A player laughed, "Haha! I knew they wouldn't let something like this pass!"

"What? Who is it?"

"It's the Guilds! So many of them! It's like they teamed up solely for this event! I can't even spot them all!"

Indeed it was! The doubt Wrock spread across the one Guild reached its roots to others. Soon more Guilds began to have thoughts of revolting. The event was the final push that moved them into action!

Many cheered at the sudden reinforcements. Some taunting from behind the walls.

"Yeah! How does it feel to taste your own medicine Perina!"

"We players are unstoppable!"

"Get them!!"

A few players approached the defending forces on top of flying mounts. They then delivered a message that was swiftly delivered among them.

"Leave the outside forces to us, you handle the inside."

Unbelievably, the Guilds were sacrificing themselves! It was widely believed they acted purely for their own benefit, yet they were willingly putting themselves in harm's way for the rogue players?!

A sense of comradeship bloomed in their hearts. Truly in their time of need the Guilds would act. Perhaps they were judged too harshly.

"We must give this news to the others! We have time!"

When this situation reached the ears of Yielya, she couldn't help but smile. There was hope yet.

~ ~ ~

"How goes the decoding Kan'na?"

"Well if you keep interrupting me it's going to take much longer!"

Currently the "Perina Annihilation" squad was in a somewhat secluded area. Perina's Castle had a barrier that prevented any attacks from coming into, or out of, it. This barrier only covered the majority of the castle itself, and not the walls surrounding it. Allowing for the soldiers to fight the players while having a safe place to retreat to if injured.

This barrier was the sole thing that was holding the players back. Once it was down the enemy forces would dwindle fast, and allow them to push their way into the castle.

Kan'na was in the middle of attempting to decode the barrier, allowing her to disable it. Much of her attempts were thwarted sadly, for the East Continent focused more on Formations than magic circles. She would have to be at the location the Formation was drawn at in order to successfully decode it.

Clicking her tongue she began to form several magic circles. These were intertwined and spread across the barrier like a web. Once the barrier was completely surrounded Kan'na snapped her fingers, "That should do it."

Hundred frowned as he watched the barrier tremble, "What exactly did you do?"

"I'm funneling out the energy maintaining the barrier while simultaneously damaging it. The constant energy flow should disable it in a minute or two."

"Every second someone dies."

"If you can do this better you're welcome to try!"

". . ."

Nimin shook his head, "Focus everyone. Once that barrier is down we're heading directly to Perina's throne room. We'll crash directly through the massive windows at that wall."

He pointed a pair of incredibly large windows. The stained glass reflected the light off the multiple fires spreading across the city.

Akiol crouched next to him, "You ready for this?"

"As I'll ever be."

Nimin gripped Glint, his heart palpitated. This would decide everything. His future, his Guild's future, the players' future, the game's future. He could not fail here. He must not.

His eyes gleamed with a determination not found in many, "It's time to end this."