Chương 32: Omnimancer 27: Lines in the Sand

The life of a guard was little more than glorified punishment. Endless hours of nothing but standing around, wasting the hours away, couched on the million-to-one odds of some day seeing action. It was little wonder two of the others were playing cards, while a third napped. Yas might've been tempted to do the same if he didn't fear the masked terror as much as he did. Which was why he spotted them immediately. Yas had been leaning against the compound's outer wall, watching the alleyway when they appeared.

Two dozen figures moving through the street with a casualness that, despite their nondescript clothing, betrayed the fact that they were anything but. From their hard expressions to the way they fanned out without needing to be ordered, these were fighters through and through. Their acting skills might be shit, but they could only be here for one reason. Luxor's Light, why now? With clenched fists, Yas ran through what he had to work with. Which was precious little, as it were.

Three Common and Uncommon Mancers of the First Tier under his command, all green enough to be genuinely excited about their new chief and their prospects. Then there was him, a Duomancer of the Second Tier with a Rare Gift and schools in Lightning and Land. Against two dozen unknowns. Yas was never very good at math. Even he could tell this math wasn't great.

"Masou," he called over his shoulder.

"Get inside and find Rat. Tell her we've got company." The youngest of his guards, a scrawny Pyromancer kid, took off running. Yas watched the approaching group, trying to gauge their strength. That he felt no Soulfire leaking off of them was of little comfort. First Tiers didn't have enough of it to notice from this distance, but even if there weren't any mancers of the Second Tier among their ranks, they had more than enough in numbers to overwhelm him and his sorry little band. So he looked for the other signs.

All the little details like their stiff movement that indicated armor under their loose-fitting clothes, their hands hovering around where their weapons could be concealed. Hearthguard, maybe. Maybe the Templars, or who knew which other faction with power in the city? Tough to say without any familiar faces, and there were none of those in this lot. Either way, this was clearly a probe. One of Takora's heavyweights had decided to poke them and see what happened.

Too bad Moonfire had yet to send reinforcements, and the one guy who could laugh off a dozen First Tiers just happened to be out right now. Part of their plan? Mere coincidence? Either way, screwed was screwed. Yas stepped forward, giving them his best smile.

"Gentlemen. Welcome to our humble corner of Takora. Can I help you?" The big one in front grinned back. Between his shaved head, the scar running down his cheek, and his squared-off posture, this guy had clearly taken a few beatings. Likely handed out plenty more, too. It made him look older than he likely was.

"Depends," he said with a judging sneer.

"You the Moonfire chump running things around here?"

"Me? Nah. Just security."

"Security." The man's grin widened.

"Heard the Dead Hands got themselves cleaned out. New management and all. Thought we'd come introduce ourselves. Make sure there's no... misunderstandings." Yas kept his hands loose at his sides. Buying time. Rat would've sent the runner by now. The chief would be on his way. At least, he kept telling himself that. By Luxor, what I'd give for a Psychomancer. Pity that none had made the chief's cut.

"Misunderstandings, is it?" Yas said.

"Of what sort?"

"Oh, the sort where you think you can just move into territory without paying respects to the good people who run this fine city," the big man said, spitting on the ground between them.

"Some people don't like that here in Takora. Don't like that at all." Well, that was hardly a surprise. Now that they were close, Yas confirmed they were all of the First Tier. A ragtag group of mercs. But no, this was no street group. Far too organized, and Yas was becoming increasingly certain this timing couldn't have been coincidence, what with the chief gone and all. All that to say, they'd be unlikely to be scared away. Yas let out a low whistle.

"Two dozen Mancers for a social call? Someone's feeling insecure." The surrounding temperature dropped. Literally. They must have at least one Cryomancer among them. Yas hadn't heard any words, but with so many of them, the guys at the back could easily be chanting without him knowing about it.

"Watch your mouth, old man," the leader said, still smiling.

"We're being polite. For now."

"Old man?" Yas laughed, pulling out every time-wasting trick he knew.

"Wayward cub, I was killing people before you were even born. You want to test what a Mancer of the Second Tier can do against a bunch of grunts, be my guest. But don't say I didn't warn you." That got a reaction. Several of them glanced at each other, their bravado suddenly nowhere to be found. Good. If they were Hearthguard, they'd know who he was. Would've known he wasn't bluffing.

"Oh we know all about you, Yas." The leader looked him up and down.

"Lightning's fast, sure, but it's no good against so many."

"Oh yeah? Wouldn't you like to find out?"

"Oh, you'll get one or two of us. Hell, maybe you'll even get me. But two dozen against one is still two dozen against one. So why don't you step aside and let us enter? No harm no foul."

"If you think numbers are all that matter, you've got a lot to learn. Besides, we're only letting in people with permission." Yas grinned.

"And I must be getting old, because these eyes don't see anyone with permission here." Behind him, he heard movement. His two took up positions behind him. Kuruk, the Geomancer, and Chesmu with Water. Likely out of self-preservation rather than any guardly duty to back him up, but he'd take it.

"Tell you what," Yas said, his voice carrying so even the ones at the back could hear.

"How about you boys head back, tell whoever sent you that the new management appreciates your greeting, and we all save ourselves a lot of trouble. No harm, no foul, as you said. Everyone goes home happy." The leader's smile vanished.

"Last chance, Naksha. Let us speak to the ones who hold your leash, and maybe we forget this conversation happened."

"Can't do that, I'm afraid."

"Then you're crow feed." The first spell came fast. An [Ice Spike] aimed right for his chest. Yas was already chanting, the dirt from his School of Land's Bulwark erupting from beneath the street as he dove behind it. The brittle shard shattered harmlessly against the wall of stone, but more important, the wall stopped the onslaught of spells that followed.

"Inside!" Yas commanded his guards.

"Now!"

"But the chief said we're not supposed to go inside!" Kuruk shouted back.

"I'll deal with the chief! Now, move!" A couple of Mancers had moved around Yas' [Bulwark] and a [Lesser Fireball] came barreling from his left while a [Lesser Water Jet] fired from his right. More raiders were hot on their heels, trying to flank him. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. This was no time to be pulling punches.

"Dra'kan tel navosh, ka'vaan rek'zholen!" Yas slammed his hands on the ground, and the earth answered. A wave of stone and dirt surged forward, resculpting the dirt road into something new and catching three attackers in its wake, slamming them into a nearby wall. They'd been expecting Lightning. They got an earthquake instead. And just like that, three were out of the fight. But Lady Luxor was best not pressed, and so Yas turned and ran. Behind him, spells hammered the street.

Fire and ice scorched bricks and cratered cobblestones. Yas dove through the entrance just as an [Arc] spell lashed out, just barely missing him. The others were already inside, so Yas kept running, blurring past empty rooms and deserted halls.

"Boss?" Chesmu called out from up ahead, looking around wildly with Kuruk and Masou.

"Where's the rest of the crew?" Yas had maintained his composure until now. This wasn't his first tussle, or even his dozenth. But now? Now, he was beginning to sweat. He'd assumed there'd be others here. Maybe not a full ring of Moonfire goons, sure, but some people, at the very least. The place was dead except for the three of them and the sound of rapidly approaching boots. Think fast, Yas… What would the chief say in a situation like this? He couldn't quite say why that thought popped into his head.

Not like he knew the man—if he even was a man—well enough to say. But the point was moot. The chief wouldn't ever be in a situation like this. He'd have annihilated those mercenary mutts before they ever even saw him.

"They're out scouting," he lied, trying to sound confident.

"It's just us."

"Just us?" Kuruk's eyes went wide.

"Against two dozen?"

"Minus three now, and we've got home ground advantage." Yas pointed out.

"Kuruk, take the right corridor. Chesmu, go left with Masou. Wait for them to spread out, then hit them hard from behind. Use every hiding spot you know. I'll take the main approach."

"We're gonna die!" Masou wailed.

"Then we die defending our home. Now move!" They scattered off while Yas found a pillar near the entrance, hiding behind it He didn't have to wait long.

"... bluffing. Can't be more than a handful in there."

"Then why run?"

"To make us think there's more. I'm telling you, it's a skeleton crew." Their footsteps grew closer now, but not nearly as many as before. He'd been right—they'd split up. Yas readied himself, beginning the chant for [Greater Arc]. Power coursed through him with each word incanted, so much stronger than the Land school. And in here? In these cramped corridors? He couldn't have hoped for a better killzone. The group blew past Yas, and he stepped out, perfectly timing the last syllable of his chant.

A brief flash blinded the room. The raider went down instantly, his body crumpling as the deafening thunder echoed down the halls. Yas didn't give them time to react, already halfway through [Bulwark]'s chant, throwing up a wall of stone to protect him.

"It's a trap!" someone shouted. Fire exploded down another corridor while a wave of water sent a cluster of raiders tumbling right in front of Yas. If there was any better pairing of elements, Yas didn't know it.

"Zhek waven, che'navi te'lem!" He smirked as the energy of [Greater Arc] crackled. Not at the enemy, but at the puddle of water they found themselves standing in. Four danced in a series of electric spasms. That made five. Yas dove behind his [Bulwark] as spells hammering the wall. They'd recovered by now. They were focusing their fire. He heard some muttering, then one among them broke off from the group, heading for the entrance. Going to report what they'd seen to their overseers. Yas couldn't let that happen.

He sprinted after the raider. Ducking, dodging, and just barely rolling past the myriad of spells flying his way. The scout made it outside and started running without looking back. Biggest mistake he'd ever made. Yas hit him with a [Lesser Arc]. Faster to chant and nearly as effective. The man went down hard and didn't get up. Alive, but Yas could circle back and take care of him later. Behind him, the compound erupted in chaos. His guards were giving them hell, but there were simply too many.

He ran back inside to find Masou and Chesmu fire a Lesser Flame and a [Lesser Water Spray] spell together. Weak spells. Too weak to be useful in a fight. But together? A loud bang made Yas' ears ring as the two spells merged, combusting instantly into superheated steam that took out the Tier I Mancer before he even knew what hit him. Then a blast of wind came from nowhere, catching Masou blind, slamming his head into a wall with a sickening crunch. He collapsed and didn't get back up.

"Masou!" Chesmu cried, breaking cover.

"No, kid, don't!" Yas yelled, but it was too late. A [Lesser Spike] caught him in the leg and the [Lesser Fireball] in his chest. He went down screaming in pain and there was nothing Yas could do. Nothing but chant. Earth shook beneath his feet, and [Lesser Land Wave] rippled down the room, collapsing walls and upheaving the floor. He'd avoided using Geomancy within the base out of respect for the work the Chief was doing to it, but that was a luxury he couldn't afford now.

The wave of destruction crushed bones and crunched bodies, but there were still too many. A blade sliced into his ribs. It was a shallow cut, but then it began spontaneously burning a second later. The damned Mancer had an enchanted weapon spell of the Fire School. Gasping in agony, Yas drove an elbow into the attacker's face, sinking his shortsword into his gut before hurriedly snuffing out the flames that burned his flesh. The whole encounter had taken perhaps five seconds, but even that was far too much.

He'd just finished dealing with the fire when a nother spell hit him from behind. Cold bloomed through his shoulder as the shard embedded itself in his body. He broke it off but the numbness remained, leaving his left arm hanging limp and useless. Keep moving. Keep fighting. He couldn't fall here. Not now. Maka's face flashed before his eyes. The girl who was his everything. Who'd given him a reason to strive for more than a life of a hired thug. This was his second chance. He doubted he'd be given a third.

The compound was a wreck. Walls were cracked and halls were wrecked, with several sections of flooring missing, crushing expensive-looking furniture on the floor below. They'd just finished renovating the damn place too. The chief was going to be pissed. If Yas survived that long. A blast of heat threw him against a wall and he barely managed to keep from collapsing. Even still, he forced himself to move. He was getting slow. Sloppy. That was a good way to die. And he was running low on Lux.

Maybe he had another spell in him, but when a half-dozen Mancers started chanting, there was only one thing he could do.

"Kan'nav tel rekaa, dra'kaan ve'tem!" The [Greater Bulwark] wall came up just barely in time to deflect the barrage of spells that pummeled it. By the time they were done, the wall was all but gone. Yas slumped back, sinking to the floor. The raiders approached slowly this time. Heh. Finally learned, did they?

"Tough old bastard," said their leader. The Cryomancer who'd speared his arm.

"But you're done now."

"Ah, well," Yas said with a grin through his bloody teeth.

"You should've taken the deal," the man said as he began his next chant. The last chant Yas would ever hear, most likely.

"Maybe you should've sent better grunts," Yas replied. The raider's grin widened as he chanted the spell. With each word, ice grew around his arm, forming the Spike that would kill him. Then, just when the spell was about to complete, the Mancer's body went flying, slamming against a wall. The other two raiders spun in panic. They didn't even make it two steps. Twin blasts of force pummeled them into their unfortunate leader one right after another, as if they'd been hurled by Luxor herself.

Yas didn't need to look to know they were out of the fight. Not that he could look at much at all. Despite trying to focus his eyes, he couldn't see straight. Someone was walking toward him and it didn't take a genius to guess who. There was only one force of nature capable of dishing out that sort of devastation. Only one monster that terrifying.

"Sure took your time," Yas managed, coughing up blood. The chief crouched beside him, and despite the bag with the angry face, Yas thought he felt compassion from the terrifying Mancer.

"What the hell happened here?" Yas tried to answer but couldn't find the words. His vision was getting dark at the edges. He looked past the chief toward the entrance, and that's when he saw them. Bodies. A line of them leading from the street to the compound entrance. Raider bodies, and at least a dozen of them. The chief had carved through them like butter. Well, of course he had. Yas felt his eyes closing.

"Tell," he mumbled.

"Tell Maka..."

"Tell her yourself, bud," the chief said.

"You're not dying today. No one is." Yas tried to laugh but couldn't quite manage it. He was on death's door, as sure as the nightswarm itself. Darkness pulled him under, and yet, somehow, despite it all, he thought everything would be alright. That was the thing about monsters. They made for terrifying enemies, but as allies? There truly was nothing better.