Jaxon was dressed ready for war. They had decided he, His Majesty and Devlin would attempt to catch them during the first hour. Jaxon glanced around, it looked like most had separated into groups of ten or less. Making his group the smallest.
Leonard sighed, Amin had barely recovered yet instead of resting, he was joining in. Madness. Most of the mercenaries, guards, even servants were geared up to participate. A menagerie of all sorts making a group of over a hundred participants all working together.
Sebastian sighed as his grandchildren made their plans. He was… too old for such frivolities. Not to mention, the snake god did not look pleased with the gathering forces. If their lives were not assured, Sebastian would have forced his grandchildren to stand down. Lord Reece's helpers or not.
Neolani stood facing Alexei, Melia, Kaveri, her three most competent mages, and two warriors. Her plan was simple, hit hard, hit fast, catch them off guard. Plotting was useless in the face of absolute power. She intended to show them, human and beasts alike, she had that level of power.
Alexei wanted to sigh, catching Ashton? Even without spells or enchantments, Ashton was… basically a god wrapped up in flesh. They had a better chance of catching the snake god. At least he was big, enough nets and surely they could bring him down for three seconds.
Alexei didn't let his surprise show when hundreds of rifts opened. Alexei turned, the other side of each rift… was of the immediate area, but there didn't seem to be any pattern.
Neolani narrowed her eyes, "Mark the openings, see where they lead." Some rifts were large enough for Kaveri to jump though, some not even big enough for her hand. She checked the time, roughly twenty minutes until the game started.
Alexei rushed to start testing the rifts. Already half a dozen others were doing the same. Most notably, the foxes were leaping through the rifts, leaving small markings. It would be one thing if they were all ground level, but some were hundreds of feet in the air. Perhaps thousands of feet. He saw a few rings of fire that reached the clouds. A fall through one of those… there wouldn't be enough left of him to put back together.
As if to prove him right, a mercenary who'd jumped through a rift was now falling from the sky. Alexei watched grimly, a dozen men were rushing forward, casting spells to catch the falling man only for their shots to miss. The man was falling too fast.
Neolani held up a hand, stopping her warriors from assisting. When the screaming man was mere feet from hitting the ground he burst into silver flames.
Alexei watched as the man appeared off the side. He was not outside the designated game area. Alexei turned to look at Ashton, he wasn't even paying attention.
Sebastian let out the breath he'd been holding. The mercenaries weren't unskilled, someone had deliberately led their spells astray. "Be wary of everyone." Sebastian reminded. The groups became more cautious as they explored the rifts.
Novak watched gritting his teeth. Damnit, some of the rifts were closing as more opened. There was no way to tell if the rifts would be replaced after being marked.
"The rifts stay open at least five minutes, the larger the ring of fire, the longer they seem to last." Jakub informed as he watched. Bodin had been particularly resistant since their little foray to the lake. He was reacting to one of the birds, but he couldn't tell them apart.
Novak nodded. "Of course, it wouldn't be so easy. Can you see a pattern? Or a link?"
Jakub cycled through mage, mundane, and even soul sights. "If there is a link… I cannot see it. But there are ripples just before a rift opens or closes. I'll share mage sight."
Novak waited for the spell to take hold, then watched. It took three rifts disappearing, after Jakub pointed them out for him to see what he was talking about. The ripple was less noticeable a man breathing through his nose from a distance. Still, it was something.
"If you pair it with static vision, you should be able to see the corresponding rift." Jakub stated as he started enchanting a mana stone. He couldn't dart around like Novak or the other two. All too soon, the game was starting.
Ashton released his domain as he stood on the treetop with a grin. Seven had already failed.
Beloved held out her hand as she looked into Nix's eyes, "Will you still follow where I lead?"
Ashton smiled, "For as long as my heart beats." Ashton took the delicate hand in his own, pressing a light kiss on her palm.
Beloved grinned, "Let the game begin!"
Novak tensed as they leapt through a rift. Perhaps it was part of their game, but the female's song pinpointed their location at all times. "Go." All three stealthed as they darted forward.
Jakub watched, for now he would provide support. They needed more information.
Beloved laughed as they danced, Nix mirroring her song. She heard her big snake's song, he was watching her. She enjoyed how she always held most of his attention.
Kaveri was the first to reach the duo. Catch, no kill. He struck at the male, opening his mouth he knew he was little more than a blur to the human eye.
Ashton lifted Beloved up as he spun them just out of Kaveri's reach. With his back to Kaveri, he tossed Beloved over the passing naga.
Neolani narrowed her eyes, throwing a dagger that would expand into a water cage upon contact.
Kaveri had barely corrected course before he used his tail to divert the dagger. "Not water, earth." He hissed as he continued to go after the male.
Ashton fell into a rift just in time to catch his Beloved landing on the other side of Kaveri. He spun to disperse the momentum before taking them closer to his ember.
Alexei wanted to curse, that would have been useful information before the game started. Half their precast spells were water based. Now Kaveri had to account for a cage dragging his tail down.
Jakub watched, the Inago warriors were strong. Stronger than Novak in terms of brute force. But… they weren't as quick to adapt.
Novak lunged with a short sword, on each of their dulled weapons was a paralysis enchantment. It may hurt to be struck, but none should pierce the skin. He wasn't pulling any punches as he aimed for the female's back.
Alexei saw the assassin a split second too late. Bringing his spear down to deflect the blade. Only before he could make contact a second cloaked figure crashed into him. Alexei was sent sprawling as one of the assassins threw a dagger at Beloved.
Ashton lightly stepped on the blade, white flames coating his otherwise bare foot.
If Novak wasn't watching his blade, he would have missed the brief contact the youth's foot made. Holding the female by the waist as he simply leapt over them. Her laughter briefly interrupting the song's rhythm.
Melia was ready, the second Ashton was in the air, she sent three javelins of earth. She just needed to separate them.
Neolani ignored the assassins as she readied another cage. This time one of earth. Only, Ashton didn't let Beloved go, he used the javelins as steps.
Beloved took the lead, stepping on the girl's face as she leapt past them. Now she was running while holding Nix's hand.
Ashton just laughed as he tucked his legs so he didn't kick Melia as they passed.
Novak shifted so he dodged Alexei's oncoming spear. He didn't want to bother with the Inago, he wanted that wish. Despite his distaste for the imperials, he didn't want the empire to fall.
Tania came pouncing at Lady Beloved the second they landed on the ground. Instead of using a cage, the four of them were all enchanted with a tiger's strength. What tiger ever let go of their prey?
Beloved slid beneath the oncoming claws as she let go of Nix's hand. She watched as he leapt over.
Jakub watched as the duo simply evaded all the tiger royals, the spells, even the underground traps. More than a dozen mercenaries had joined the four tiger's melee, trying to box the birds in. Only to be caught up in an earth spell. Four mercenaries had burst into silver flames, now sitting with the seven who'd died from testing the rifts.
Sebastian made his way to the necromancer's side. "They… do not appear inconvenienced by numbers." Sebastian remarked as Lady Beloved stepped on another face.
Jakub didn't look away, they were fast. More than fast, they were aware of everything. As if they had eyes all over their bodies. "But numbers will drain their stamina."
Sebastian wasn't so sure of that. With each passing moment, more men were getting tangled in traps. More than half a dozen men were being trampled as their bodies were unable to move.
Jakub watched as a few mercenaries started to target Novak. They should be working together, more people in the team, more wishes. No matter how the duo moved, they never directly struck out at anyone. They could use that to their advantage.
Sebastian saw the first assassin burst into silver light. The cloaked figure hadn't been dealt a fatal blow… had he?
Novak cursed as he signaled for his remaining companion to disengage. They regrouped beside Jakub's side. Novak was sweating, "What happened?"
Jakub replayed the image in his head, "He would have dealt if not a fatal blow, a crippling one."
Novak cursed.
"The man was already injured," Sebastian stated eyeing the man in question. A moment later he also burst into silver flames.
Novak eyed the duke, "Do you have an idea your Grace?"
Sebastian gave a wry smile as he leaned on his cane. He had no intention of letting on just how well he felt. "Unfortunately Master Novak, I believe this game is not something us mere mortals can win."
Jakub clenched a mana stone, "No, there has to be a way." The young beast was sure he could win, but he was too proud to make it an impossible feat. They had to be missing something.
Novak watched as one of the birdmen entered the fray with Prince Zane. Now a towering warrior, acting on the Prince's bellowed commands.
"Earth Dome!" Zane ordered as they encircled everyone within ten feet of the duo. Almost before he even finished the earth rose trapping all the men. Unfortunately, Lord Nix leapt out before the dome could close. It all happened in less than a breath's time.
"Vine whip!" Rommel bellowed as he gave chase. A vine struck at Lord Nix's leg. They were both in the air! They couldn't avoid it this time!
Beloved grinned as she changed into a bird, grabbing Nix's hand in her claws she spiraled.
Ashton laughed as he let go, the momentum sent him into another rift. He landed directly over Haven's coiled body. Hopping from coil to coil until he reached the snake's head, he leapt off the giant snake's nose into another rift.