CHAPTER 7: BATTLE OF UNDERHAVEN PART 2
Year 2000 AGS Underhaven Calendar
4:17 Earth. Friday.
"Templars defensive formations!!!" Natasha readied her forces, now using a hoplon shield and a xiphos sword. "Only white flame soldiers are allowed in the front. The rest fight from afar and watch our flanks." Natasha shouted as the conversation between Daniel and Apex was nearing its end. "Be strong, my legion! If we die, we'll all meet in Valhalla. But believe me, we will never lose this battle. For the Makers!" Natasha roared, turned around, and looked at the thousands of Domcreans, including the lesser races, who were preparing to charge behind Apex. CLAK-CLAK-CLAK! Natasha made a rhythmic rattle with her shield and sword. A shield-clash!
CLAK-CLAK-CLAK! All the Templar soldiers, even the other major clans and other minor tribes' orders, present did the same. The sound reverberated throughout the Mantle.
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CLAK-CLAK-CLAK! The sound of the Templars banging their shields reverberated and reached the Neo-Illumina battle lines.
"These templars really know the battlefield." Cipher bent and whispered silently to Catalyst's ear as Apex was talking to Daniel. "Our forces are already trembling in fear with just the sound of that!" Cipher added.
"But they will all die today. None of them has any idea of our hidden strength." Catalyst replied confidently. "I know. But we will all lose spirit if we have yet to attack." Cipher said his voice clear of panic.
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4:25 Earth. Friday.
"Then let's see which one of us falls. All of you attack!" Apex ordered all his forces to attack.
"At last!" Catalyst placed her sword forward. "Domcrean forces. Initiate Volcanic Saturation Barrage!" Catalyst smirked, looked to the templar forces, and quietly said to herself. "Those earlier were amateurs. Now is the real battle."
"Molten Cannoneers initiate bombardment positions!" Neo Illumina deploys two Molten Cannoneers, rare three-element sequential masters who operate as human artillery.
"Barrel formation!" a dom-crean captain ordered. The cannoneers cast Terrum Mana into the earth to mold a reinforced stone "barrel" and draw out a dense rock projectile.
"Gear shift!" The cannoneers shift to Igneus Mana, infusing the chamber with magical heat to create a volatile, contained inferno. "Gear shift and take your positions!" They unleash a burst of Stormut Mana into the barrel. "Fire when ready!" Using concussive wind magic, the cannoneers blast the molten projectiles outward with devastating force.
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"Legion Commander, they are trying to use multi-element specialists to bombard us. Already in phase 2." A white flame soldier informed Natasha. "Defensive formation! Dark mana and martial energy anchors in line!" Natasha looked at the enemies, worried. "Front line, infuse dark martial energy now. Brace for molten projectiles." She told the first line of defense. "Second line, prepare to launch singularity orbs on my signal." She told the second line of defense. "White flame apothecaries! Project White Flame Mana across all units."
"Yes, legion commander!" All of them replied in unison.
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BOOM! BOOM!
"Start mid-air fragmentation. Tempest archers! Fire on the molten projectiles!" As the heavy molten projectiles arc across the battlefield, Tempest Archers step forward to utilize their mastery over Stormut. By eliminating atmospheric friction, through wind martial energy, along the shafts of their physical arrows, these archers fire projectiles at supersonic speeds with terrifying kinetic force. CRACK! The arrow shattered the sound barrier, unleashing a miniature thunderclap. Like a whip, but much louder and heavier.
KABOOM-SHUCK! The initial blast from the molten projectiles in the air sounded. KRA-SHHH! Its erupting pressure sounded. Followed by a …
"Lady Catalyst, there is no sound of the heavy impact of slag!"
"…" Catalyst went silent. "Lady Catalyst, the attack was ineffective," a Domcrean soldier stated. "As I suspected, they already have all the countermeasures for Domcrean tactics." Calm and composed, she nodded her head slightly. "All of you maintain bombardment. This time, the Neo-Illumina enforcers will be the frontlines." She looked at the supervising officer. "Order all Domcrean forces to stand by and get ready for tactical pursuit." Catalyst ordered.
"Enforcers and their Domcrean partners. Maintain phalanx shift formation during the advance!" Catalyst turned around and ordered the enforcers standing ready.
"Soul element users get ready for battle!"
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4:40 Earth. Friday.
"They have given up," Natasha said calmly, full of composure. "Initiate phase 2 defensive tactic! The Cinerary Smokescreen Barricade! The Templars deploy their Soot-Shrouded Inquisitors and Cinerary Apothecaries to cast wide waves of White Flame Mana, aggressively cordoning off the territory. The white fire actively releases dense fields of thick black smoke, which serves a dual purpose: it blinds the approaching enemies, triggers psychological panic, and suffocates the hostile forces trying to push through the line.
"Front lines, you are all being buffed by our support units. Be on your guard, perform your roles and all will go well." Natasha proclaimed.
"The frontlines standing within or just behind this barricade benefit from the holy embers of the flames. It closes their physical gashes and restores their fighting spirit." Daniel said confidently to the rest of the forces at the back near him. "This maneuver creates a defensive wall that actively breaks the enemy's momentum while passively healing the defenders." Daniel further informed everyone. "In case some of you are in the dark." Daniel completed what he said.
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"Lady Catalyst, they filled the battlefield with smoke and white flames. The Templars chose to dictate where the areas of frontal assault would be," an enforcer informed Catalyst, looking frightened of the upcoming clash. "Regardless, we will attack from the front. It will even surprise them more when we beat them at their own game. Hahaha," Catalyst smugly told her enforcers. "Hahaha!" All the enforcers laughed in unison, diminishing their fear.
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"Natasha, this is the moment everyone should participate. The white flame mana will assist them." Daniel rushed forward and told Natasha.
Natasha nodded. "Laios, do not leave the flanks. If the defense there falls, all of us will die." She told Laios. "Yes. I will keep the defenses up in the flank. None will be able to attack you from the back." Laios responded, pledging to Natasha his eyes and voice resolute.
"Daniel, command the minor tribe orders and the rest that are not white flame soldiers. You will join me on the front lines." "Understood." Daniel looked at Natasha, seemingly to check if they were on the same page. "I understand. No errors. Am I right?" Natasha replied reassuringly to Daniel.
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5:00 Earth. Friday
"It is difficult to breathe in this thick smoke. Feels like I am going to die!" one enforcer shouted. "This is a bad idea from the start. Why are we doing this!" another enforcer shouted in panic. "I can't see anything." Another enforcer stated.
"Everyone, the smoke might be causing us to suffocate and panic. You're doing fine with your masks." Catalyst looked around in the thick darkness. "All Stormut users gather in the center and blow this damn smoke off!" "Yes, my lady!" The Stormut users rushed to the center of the formation and began casting the wind magic energy.
"It does not work, my lady! The smoke is too thick." One of the Stormut Neo-Illumina stated. "Try ag---" SWISH! Catalyst turned around as if she had heard something unusual. AAARRCH! GAHH! UHH-ACK! The sound of pain. Animalistic shriek, and rattling moan echoed throughout the darkness."
"The Templars are attacking!" "We are all going to die!" "Save yourselves!" One by one the army of enforcers shouted in shock, fear, and dread.
"Shit! The fuckers decided to attack and leave the stronghold!" Catalyst thought in panic. Not expecting the small and outnumbered Templars' ambush. "I thought these smokes were to slow us down!" one of the commanding enforcers shouted. "Activate heat sensors!" Catalyst shouted in panic. "My lady, we can't differentiate friend from foe!" "It is still damn better than dying without a fight. Everyone, kill every Templar on site!"
"None of us expected these fuckers to attack. All templar tactics are well hidden, especially the major clans. None of us has any experience since the wars in which Templars participated were thousands of years ago. Shit!" Catalyst mumbled to herself. "Call for back up. Blow the horns! Signal the retreat!" She ordered immediately. "My lady, the signalers are all dead. We can't find the horns in the thick of the smoke!"
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Everyone, tell everybody who's near you. We are to retreat! NOW!" Catalyst roared for everyone to hear.
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"Legate, they are retreating!" One white flame soldier told Natasha. "Kill every enemy in the smoke. Do not let one escape! Blow the horn for tactical pursuit." BHOOOOM! BHOOOOM! BHOOOOM!... The horn of pursuit was sounded.
"Kill them all!" All the Templars who heard the trumpet shouted for everyone to be on the same page.
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5:20 Earth. Friday.
"Something is wrong! Prepare to order everybody surrounding the mantle to attack on my order!" Apex began to perspire since he felt something was off in the first wave of attack.
COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! Catalyst went out of the smoke. Then slowly the enforcers came out of the smoke one by one. Until less than a hundred remained from thousands of enforcers who entered.
"AAARRGHHHHH!" Apex voice bellowed all throughout the battlefield. "Fire all the mortars, cannoneers, and soul-damaging mortars that we have. Once all are exhausted, except for the puppeteers, everyone is to attack!"
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! Six long distance artillery including the two cannoneers all fired at will.
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5 minutes before the artillery strike.
"Everyone. That is enough. Blow the retreat horn! Fallback this instant!" Natasha shouted in an instant.
BRAAA-UUUMMM! BRAAA-UUUMMM!BRAAA-UUUMMM!... The horn of retreat was sounded.
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"Natasha, Daniel. Good job. That was almost half of their special forces you managed to get there. Those guys wearing unique armors might be the ones who destroyed the 4 entrances." Laios stated, smiling with relief. "Yes, those are their special forces. The aura they emit is different and strange. Do not let them hit you, or even graze you. I'm serious." Natasha informed Laios to be careful. "Your turn will come next, Laios. Most likely they will attack from all directions now. As Natasha said. Do not let their weapons even graze you. Also, tell your men." Daniel added.
"Yes, I understand. I will keep it in mind." Laios answered seriously, then looked at Natasha. "How long will the smokescreen last?"
"As long as it takes. We can hold it. The White Flames clan trains daily to maintain efficient use of mana and martial energy. We can hold it till the battle's over. This battle will end sooner than expected." Natasha answered while looking side to side at something in her armor.
"What is that?" Laios asked. "Nothing, I am just looking at damages," Natasha replied. "Well, you better be. After what you did, I will be surprised if there are none." "Haha. Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself. Whatever happens, don't die." "As long as you and Daniel are here. I won't die." Laios commented lightheartedly.
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5:30 Earth. Friday.
"Damn, the noises keep getting louder out there," Tamael stated interestedly. "I am actually curious how Templars fight wars!" Equirel replied. "I am more curious about knuckleheads who decide to wage war on us!" "Right, have they no idea how strong Templars are? Well, based on what they taught us at home. Domcreans have never won wars against Templars due to our divine elements and saintly bodies."
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!
"Damn, it's so insane. We even met Elder Abaddel!" Tamael detailed. "Don't mind that. Are our families safe out there? I mean my parents and your sister." "As long as Elder Abaddel's there, we need not worry. Out of all the Templars, only Elder Michael and Elder Abaddel have stigmata. Elder Michael's on the back and Elder Abaddel's in his eyes." "Wow! For real? Elder Abaddel is not an Arch Templar. I expected the other one to be Elder Gabriel." "Yeah, for real. They say Elder Michael and Elder Abaddel are actually equal in strength. The only difference is that Elder Michael is an Arch Templar." "I also heard of that. They say they call him the 'lord of the abyss' because when you fight him, there is no escape. I have heard his most famous technique is the blink steps. They say he's like a blur on the battlefield." "Right? You like Elder Michael, but I am amazed by Elder Abaddel. I mean in combat. That is what I want to become." "Boy, I want to come out and see all them defeat those Domcreans," Equirel commented excitedly, not understanding the danger they are in.
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5:40 Earth. Friday.
"This is insane. Our bombardment has no effect." Cipher said in great surprise as he used his scope to watch the opposing side. "I feel we have succeeded earlier because it was all surprises. If not, we would not have been so." He further added.
"We have been holding back, because we want to keep the soul element a secret," Apex told Cipher as he observed the Templars, who were making their bombardments useless. "And they are yet to know about it." He then added.
"Supreme leader, the ammunitions are all spent." Catalyst walked from behind of Apex coming from the artillery line with some of her armor fractured.
"Prepare the army, they have rested enough. We attack after 10 minutes.
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5:45 Earth. Friday.
"We cannot survive another attack if we remain on the defensive. They will adjust to our smokescreen and white flame walls. We will lose if we wait." Daniel stated to everyone in the small command post. "Yes, I propose we make a special unit to directly attack Apex there at his vantage point, where we all see." Natasha gave her idea. "He is so assured that he won't lose," Magna added, mildly irritated as what she views as an insult to Templar might as she looked down at the ground.
"This battle we are in. After this news comes out, it will change the world. And depending on whether we win or lose, it will either go in our favor or be a curse." Laios informed everyone in the room, looking at those present.
"That is why we must make sure we win." Natasha opened a small device that showed a projected map of the battlefield. "Daniel and I, together with some white flame, blue lightning, and prescient eye soldiers, will hide in the smokescreen until Apex's guard is down. Laios, you and Magna will each hold signal flares. When the time comes, we will ambush him. Use those flares when you see fit to signal us, and the special unit will eliminate him.
"Legion Commander, the enemies are starting to move." A white flame soldier informed Natasha.
"Laios, you will now command the front line, and Magna, you will command the flank. I will say it again, do not let their weapons even graze you, or it is all over." Natasha told Laios and Magna her eyes were bright, full of confidence, and showed a hint of sadness as she looked away. "The front forces will stage an attack, and there we will pretend to be leading it. Then we will hide in the smokescreen until you, Laios and Magna, give us a signal. One signal if it is clear, and two consecutive flares if it will be dangerous and difficult. Are we understood?"
"Yes, Natasha," Laios replied. "Yes, legion commander," Magna replied.
"Be strong, my brother…" Natasha placed her right hand on Laios' shoulder. "And sister…" She placed her left hand on Magna's shoulder. "Do not die on me." Natasha then smiled brightly while some tears fell down the side of her cheeks, unnoticed.
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5:53 Earth. Friday.
"All front-line forces strike. If they defend, we will delay the attack on their flank. If they launch a sortie, attack the flank together with the frontline." Apex ordered.
"Yes, supreme leader." Catalyst bowed her head and turned back to command the front-line troops. "Yes, supreme leader." Cipher did the same, as he would be the one to command the flanking troops.
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5:55 Earth. Friday.
"This is the moment we have been waiting for. It is time we finish this campaign and show Bastion that Templars can be beaten. Especially in their own soil. You have trained for decades for this. This is the time we show the might of Neo-Illumina. Hail Neo-Illumina!" Catalyst shouted.
"Hail Neo-Illumina. Hail Apex." All the Neo-Illumina forces shouted in unison.
"Attack with full force! YAAAAH!"
A wave of voices bellowed, thundered, and crept across the plains. Enough to frighten an ordinary man. Their unified shout rent, shattered, and battered the morning air.
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5:55 Earth. Friday.
"They attack us with numbers, thinking that they can beat us with that. We will not crumble under pressure. Show them the true Templar might. Glory to Underhaven! Glory to the Makers! To battle!" Laios's shout thundered all throughout the templar camp. He then made the first strike. Launching lightning strikes in the enemy ranks.
CRACK! BOOM! He kept hitting the Neo Illumina ranks on the left, the opposite side of where Apex is. As their formation got shattered, the enemy's right ranks adjusted and covered the missing formation on the left. Reducing the number of soldiers on the right side.
"Glory to Underhaven! Glory to the Makers! Kruhay!" All templars in the front line sortied out of their camp and against the enemy encirclement.
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6:10 Water. Friday.
"I tell you, those are thunder strikes. Elder Michael's signature move." Equirel told Tamael. "I know, but that does not mean we are safe to go there. On the contrary, we are not even sure those are Elder Michael's lightning strikes." Tamael replied. "Who would it be? The mantle is under attack. The main entrance to Underhaven. How can it not be Elder Michael?" "Point taken. But my first point still stands. It is not safe there." "C'mon, we can climb a tree and hide in its leaves while watching the whole fight. It is good right?" "Well, you are not wrong. We still have saintly bodies. We can run and never tire when we need to." "Right?" "Okay, okay. But only when the explosions sound softer."
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6:17 Water. Friday.
"I feel like we're being stupid," Tamael stated. "Nah…" Equirel walked silently as he scanned the environment. "I've seen a good one. Tall and bushy. A canopied one. We hide there."
They walked to the canopied tree. Climbed up and watched the entire battle.
"I feel we're 100 meters away. This is good enough." Tamael stated. "Right? It is exciting this way, and they won't notice"---
"They won't notice who?" Suddenly, a voice behind the two children was heard. "A…" The two boys almost shouted in surprise and panice, but they closed their mouths with their hands cause they instinctively know it was dangerous to shout.
"I have thought of this place as a hiding spot as well. Since it is too tall, I thought it might have been too visible. But since you boys can keep me company, I might as well choose this spot. Unlike the house with runes for protection, this tree is much cooler, right?" Elder Abaddel sarcastically told the two children of their stupid decision to leave the safe house.
"Elder Abaddel, you are here, right. And Elder Michael as well, so we are safe." Equirel added.
"Who told you Michael was here. He's not. And you are putting yourselves in great danger. Those thunder sounds you heard were from his Legion Commander." "Ah, Uncle Laios. Can he do that as well? I see." Equirel replied rhetorically. "Now be good boys and keep quiet as I inscribe some runes here so that all of us won't get detected."
"You can do that as well, Elder?" Tamael asked. "This is called runes. They are more complicated than sigils. In general, Sealing technology." "Wow. So how can it hide our presence here?" "I simply write letters in this tree so that it will use dark energy to hide us here. This rune will actively absorbs ambient light and sound making us hard to detect. Now shut up before you get yourselves killed."
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End of Chapter 7