Gavin cursed as fragments of the stone splintered off. One piece sliced open his cheek and blood coated his black fur. "Damn it! Where did that come from?" He snarled in rage as he brushed his thumb over a trickle of blood.
He rolled, his back rubbing against broken pieces of stone and metal, and then jumped behind one of the stone pillars as several more cracks echoed. Small explosions impacted in the arena floor moments after he hid behind cover. Gavin swore and jumped forward running at full speed.
The enemy forces in front of him already numbering several dozen, were armed with mana rifles and conventional weapons. Gunfire and magical blasts rained down, forcing Gavin to abandon his charge. The unknown sniper from the back of the group kept Gavin pinned down as large chunks of the stone pillar blew away with every crack and pull of the trigger. Erza rained down fireballs from above in an attempt to break up the rank and file of the soldiers that were surging into the arena.
Veronica, how much mana is left? Gavin asked as he threw his hand out and sent a slice of wind magic towards the enemy forces.
You have one hundred and fifty points of mana left Gavin, plenty to do some damage if you are smart about the way you use it. Veronica's response made Gavin smile.
He could work with that, but first he had to thin out their numbers to something more manageable without taking damage.
Easier said than done.
Before Gavin could react, a silver blur jumped out from the hole in the ground that led to the shelter. The first thing Gavin realized was the wave of jagged earth spikes that moved like an ocean current towards the enemy forces.
To Gavin, it appeared as if the very floor of the arena pushed and pulled as the spikes rose and fell upon the enemy forces. The trained soldiers screamed in fear as they tried to avoid impalement, and many were unable to do so. The silver form, huffing from the mana exertion stepped back behind a nearby stone pillar.
Gavin's jaw dropped.
It was another Were-Wolf Shape Shifter.
Covered in beautiful silver fur, they peeked around the pillar to check on the enemy forces. "Damn, I really hoped that move would have taken more of them out than that." The feminine voice, distorted through the shift, was still familiar enough for Gavin to almost recognize.
"No way. Helena?!" Gavin called out as he threw another fire blast over to the retreating enemy soldiers.
The silver wolf grinned sheepishly as she faced him. "Yep, that's me. We can talk about this later, if we survive this mess. I'll run defensive spells alright." she called out, voice slightly strained from the large spell she already displayed. "That big one kinda took a lot out of me already."
Gavin nodded, impressed by the creativity. "I imagine so. That was impressive," he responded as he glanced at the remnants of her spell. The arena floor was a haphazard mess of rolling dips and jagged stone spikes.
Gavin glanced up to the rafters and spotted Erza. She nodded down at him and with a hand signal, he crept out from behind the stone pillar and surveyed the rest of the arena. He let out a shrill whistle as he appreciated the size and scope of Helena's spell.
Gavin quickly closed the distance to the far side of the arena where the enemy forces were coming from. As he passed the fallen soldiers he bit back the bile that threatened to come up and swiped with his razor sharp claws against the enemy's throats, ensuring nobody would become a threat as he moved on.
Helena winced at the brutal actions but remained silent as she stayed closed to Gavin, watching him move through the injured and the dying. Her eyes narrowed and she bit her bottom lip, her canines protruding from her muzzle as she kept silent.
"I've got no clue on how many are here, or what their objective is," Gavin began as he hugged the entry wall. He kept his voice low and strained to hear for any movement coming their way.
"All I do know, is the staff that were protecting the shelter are believed to be dead, we've got a bunch of first year shifters behind us, an unknown amount of hostile enemy forces in front of us. No idea on reinforcements or timeline for survival goals." Gavin listed off their current problems.
Helena huffed. "No shit. Jackson is down with the rest in the shelter, and I'd rather keep them all together and safe. But, the question is, how the hell do we survive and walk out of this?" She crossed her arms over her chest and glared up at him.
Gavin shrugged and shook his head. "At the moment, I don't have a clue. I'm just trying to keep the panic shelter and everyone here safe and alive."
Another explosion rocked the arena and the light crystals faded in and out, casting long shadows along the walls. Gavin's glowing red eyes illuminated the entryway and Helena's face before he looked up towards the ceiling again to check on Erza. "Perhaps we need to go on the offensive, take the fight to them, find their leaders and put an end to this damn senseless slaughter before anyone else gets hurt." Gavin mused.
Helena grinned and slammed her right fist into her left open palm. "Now you're talking my language wolf."
Gavin looked back at Erza and gestured a few hand signs to her. Judging from the glare he received, she didn't approve of his plan but, otherwise she didn't reply immediately. Before Gavin could leave the safety of the arena and begin his planned hunt for the leaders of this senseless attack on his academy, several explosions slammed into the entryway, just on the opposite side of the wall from where he stood.
Gavin winced as the impact sent shockwaves through the secondary arena where all the first year students resided in the panic shelter.
"Come out. Come out, little doggies. Before we skin you and wear you like a new winter coat!" A voice taunted from beyond the entry way.
Gavin's eyes narrowed and his canine ears twitched as he picked up on the distinct sound of magazines hitting the stone floor and fresh ones being slammed into the receivers.
"We only want you disgusting little shifters. Step forward now, or I promise you, I will kill ever single student in the shelter behind you, human or shifter." The same voice continued as the enemy forces got into position around the battered entryway.
Gavin looked around behind him. The bodies of the fallen already littered the floor and made for treacherous footing. Blood soaked the ground, painting the brown hues of the wood a deep red.
Helena stood opposite of Gavin, ducked low behind the other side of the entry way. Her chest heaved from the exertion of the large spell she used and the previous fighting.
Gavin looked up and Erza appeared to not be seriously injured, but from their distance, he couldn't tell for sure. He used hand gestures and confirmed she still had enough energy to fight for now.
Damn, we are outnumbered and out gunned. Even my mana won't last forever at this rate. What do we do? What is the path for victory? Gavin mused. There was no doubt he could eliminate a great number of the grunts, but that would run the risk of being over extended should someone stronger appear.
I think Astrid would be proud of you. You're using your head for once, Master Gavin. Veronica's response brought a smile to Gavin's lips.
I have an idea, but it's not a good idea. Gavin chuckled and licked his canines as he kept an ear out for the enemies movements.
Is it ever, coming from you? Veronica's dry humor never failed to amuse Gavin and get on his nerves at the same time.
Just be ready when I need you. Gavin grinned as he looked up at Erza and gestured for her to fall back for the moment. She looked confused but quickly ran back down the ceiling rafters.
Before Gavin could make his move, Helena growled low and her eyes widened as she looked past Gavin's shoulder.
"Boy, can you stay out of trouble for more than five god damn minutes? I mean seriously. How many times am I going to have to save your skin wolf?"