Last Stretch

*Just like the title says, this is the last stretch, and we're nearing the end of the Jarilo-VI events - not taking into account the IPC thingie and whatever else there is. Brace yourselves, since it's time I try my best to deliver. Until then, peace out and Deus vult*

The frontline was in shambles, despite the Silvermane Guards' best efforts. The gate through which they came led to a narrow pathway, meaning that the number of soldiers who could act at once was reduced considerably. Mark kept looking around, watching the main group advance towards the Stellaron. In his mind, he tried to come up with a plan. 

"Gepard, gather a few men and come with me, we'll try to shut the gate!" 

The man turned to him in the heat of battle, sparing just a glance before blocking the strike from a floating type of crystalized being, golden in color. They shot some beam-like attacks that struck hard, falling heavy against whatever the soldiers were using. 

"Soldiers, we're following the outsiders! We need to try and close the gate! Push the line and don't falter!" 

At Gepard's words, they all assembled and tried their best to hold the line, pushing back valiantly, their smaller numbers holding well against the mindless masses of monsters. Mark didn't hesitate either. Fueled by both adrenaline and whatever was dormant within him, he plunged right between the enemy, using everything to his advantage. His speed held up nicely, even if it was far from the level of someone like Gepard of Seele, let alone Stelle or Dan Heng. 

For him, however, it was more than enough in that moment. 

The cold metal of the pipe struck hard, falling from above straight into the head of a golden creature, bashing the skull in with a satisfying crack, like hardened glass shattering. Using the momentum, Mark kept swinging left and right, creating some distance between himself and the flaming soldier-like monsters. Their poleaxes fell from both sides, only to ring against the pipe. With one movement, he slid the weapons along, moving to the left, bringing the rear of the pipe straight into the creature's chest, sending it down. 

"I can keep the momentum going! I have to!" 

His steps took him forward, bit by bit, surrounded by the other soldiers. None faltered, despite the wounds that were slowly gathering. Mark had made it a tiny challenge to avoid ruining his shirt, since he genuinely liked it. Alas, he knew deep down that he'd have to get it fixed using some fancy science stuff from Herta. 

"It's Herta, she must have something that does this in some storage room." 

He chuckled through heavy breaths, his breath visible in the cold air. Still, time was of the essence. The main group had slowly made it through, going to face the final boss, Cocolia herself, while Mark was stuck there fighting the monsters. Yes, it was the fate he chose for himself. He wanted Serval to see the Stellaron, to fulfill her dream. 

"Gotta keep pushing then!" he shouted with joy, grinning from ear to ear as he kept striking down foe after foe, ignoring the wounds that began piling up. Bruises from blunt hits, which did mean something since he didn't get them unless the blow packed a punch. Cuts were another story, since most of the blades were somehow straying away thanks to the pipe taking the blunt of them. Mark had no prior training, but neither had the monsters. It was more of a battle against the bit of brains he had and the completely mindless monsters who swarmed in large numbers. 

"Keep pushing! Do not falter! Remember what we're fighting for!" 

His voice rang out again, causing the soldiers to scream in unison, their battle cry loud, roaring over the sound of monsters. Bit by bit, they were nearing the gate, taking out the monsters that came at them. Fatigue piled up, but no one could stand before them. 

One pipe to the side, striking down one of the weird birds, only for Mark to twirl to the side and slam his body against one of the golden creatures, dragging it down to the ground, stomping its skull to dust. He looked to the gates, only to feel his heart pick up even more. 

Three of the larger creatures closed in on them, the type that they had fought back at the orphanage. Mark watched as the floating behemots came in, two of them creating large ice spikes, while the one in the middle was using fire. The thing that made his mind stutter was that they didn't affect one another. The ice seemed to resist well, even as the flames were slowly dancing along. 

"What the fuck!?" 

Gepard took quick charge of things, showing why he's the captain. He had been caught off guard at first, like everyone else, which gave Mark the chance to just order everyone around, but this time it was his turn. 

"Sodiers, fire a volley focused right on their cores!" 

Apparently, he knew of the weakness—the one that Mark had sought back then. Indeed, the bullets all clanked and shattered in their wake, but the large fire creature didn't drop. The other two fell loudly, blocking the path of other monsters, but the burning flames were slowly growing, threatening to eat them alive. 

Mark dashed ahead, right as the soldiers sought to load their weapons. It was a split-second moment, one that would make the difference between wounded soldiers burned to the core, and a resounding victory for them. He leapt over the creatures, bracing for the flames, unphased by the heat, just like the cold didn't bother him. He rose the end of the pipe, holding it with both hands, ready to strike at the core. The creature swung its arm at him, but it fell too late. 

Crack. 

The core shattered, ending its life, not before it could deliver one last blow, throwing Mark into the wall, his back taking the blunt of the hit. It wasn't as powerful as expected, since it lost energy the moment the monster died, but it did hurt like hell. He felt like throwing up, but somehow held it in. The soldiers quickly pushed back the remaining creatures, using the disruption in their ranks caused by the larger ones to close the gates down and replace the lock that held them together. All of them pushed against it while a few were blocking it, barricading with what they had on hand. 

Mark watched, smiling despite the pain flaring in his back bit by bit. Gepard came to his side, worried. It was a complete turnaround from his earlier display where he wanted to arrest them. Mark chuckled, slowly standing up, even if it hurt his back in more places than usual. 

"Heh, going to arrest me now?" 

Gepard shook his head, staring at Mark with a serious expression, trying to read him carefully. 

"No, I'm not. You risked your life, which goes against what someone looking to fulfill their interest would do. Perhaps what you said about Madam Cocolia is right, and she's not in her right mind." 

Mark patted him on the shoulder, nodding, letting go as he reached down for his pipe, nearly tripping over as a sharp pain struck along his core. 

"Took you long enough to figure it out. Yes, she's not in her right mind. Been a long time since this is the case. I'm glad Serval managed to go with them too. Perhaps she'd be able to make Cocolia snap out of it." 

Gepard looked towards the gate, where his sister had gone out with the others. Worry was the sole thing he expressed, and Mark could understand why. He did wonder what his family back home was doing, but those were thoughts for another time. 

"Let's see what else we can do. It seems that the monsters have stopped, for now..." 

Gepard nodded, seeing that Mark was in pretty good shape. Rather than wasting more time, he went ahead and began helping with the barricade, working hand in hand with the rest of the Silvermane Guards to prepare for another wave, should it come. Meanwhile, Mark was left wondering how to make it out and follow them. 

Not even bothering, he sought a higher point, where he could look over the wall. Monsters were piled together, giving him no way of leaving. 

"Tsk... what the hell should I even do?" 

He rubbed his back, wincing slightly in pain. It wasn't every day that he got sent flying into a brick wall back-first. No trace of the group, meaning that they had made good progress. From what his memories showed, their remaining path should be without too much hassle, so he estimated that they'd be fighting Cocolia without him there to witness it. 

"Hell... the way she dies at the end of the battle... it's the one thing I need to stop... but how? Think, Mark, THINK!" 

Of course, no one answered with any ideas. He was speaking to himself, just like usual, hoping to sort out his thoughts. The Fragmentum monsters outside seemed ready to get a piece of him, and time wasn't on his side either. 

"Son of a... do I really have to do this the old way? Really? No smart plan to avoid it? I guess not... welp, God, I need Your hand a little more, since on my own I'll fail before even having a chance to do something." 

Standing on the wall, the monsters below looked like they wanted a taste of him. Gepard noticed him from below, but before he could say something, Mark had jumped in the swarm of creatures.