ALL NOVEL [Book II Chapter 76] Filia: Assaulting the control room
[Book II Chapter 76] Filia: Assaulting the control room
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The corridors of building 1 were deserted save for a few crystalids. This made everyone anxious.
“Why aren’t there Righteous Sun guards?” Silver pressed Allan.
“They most likely retreated to set up defenses elsewhere.” The man answered “The more they delay us the more reinforcements they can produce.”
Silver frowned. “So they’re abandoning their prisoners?”
“The Righteous Sun’s whole purpose here was to ‘save’ people. Their captives are patients who are being ‘cured’ and are due for eventual released. They were never in immediate danger.”
“That’s why I wanted to rush the summon generator.” Allen added reproachfully.
“Perhaps you were right,” Silver sighed, “but it’s too late now.”
Filia grimaced at the exchange. The Righteous Sun had been in Lomistan fanning hatred in the months leading up to the massacre. So they’re fine participating in genocide and warping the souls of unwilling subjects, but they’re above taking hostages? The logic of religious fanatics disgusted her. Roughing them up while putting them down would be therapeutic.
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“Where are they being held?” Silver asked.
“Most are in the rec room,” Allen explained. “But new arrivals are locked up individually on the floors below.”
As they made way up, Sana rushed ahead and opening every door. Each time her disappointment was plain. They led those they’d free to the top of the building, which was one big promenade interspersed with plant-filled islands. Hundreds of makeshift beds were crammed together along the edges, and most of the room’s occupants were gathered around the tables at the center. They regarded them with suspicion.
Silver raised his hands to show they meant no harm. “We’re here to——”
“Margaret! Are you here?” Sana cried out, rushing forwards.
“I am.” A brunette with freckles stood up. Sana lunged at the woman, grabbing her in a hug.
“Found you.” Sana declared, clinging tightly.
While appearing initially off-put, Margaret quickly patted Sana’s heads. “That you did.” This interaction did more to reassure everyone than anything Silver could’ve said.
“I hate to break up the touching reunion,” Allen cut in. “But we aren’t out of the woods.” He quickly summarized the situation.
“We’ll remain here until it’s safe.” Margaret declared. “Besides me, there are a couple who can fight. You don’t need to worry about us.”
“Then I’m staying too.” Sana announced.
Before they could object, Margaret pushed Sana away. “Go with them. They could use your help.” Sana hesitated, reluctant to heed the instruction.
“Please,” She added softly, gesturing to the frightened faces around them. “As long as the generator is operational, everyone here is in danger.”
This proved convincing, and Sana nodded in determination. “I’ll be back as soon as it’s dealt with.”
They took the second floor passageway to the giant multi-level room which served as the facility’s docks and ran straight into an ambush. Not only were crystalids everywhere, The hangar doors were opened and two dozen gemstone porcupines had gathered on the ground, immediately opening fire upon spotting them. At the same time, groups of Righteous Sun zealots stationed strategically on different floors sent waves of fire their way.
Silver grabbed Allan, and they slid behind the crates which littered the space. Crystalids lunged after them, swinging their raptorial claws. They struggled to repel them without getting singed by the flames.
This certainly is different from the usual adventuring, Filia thought to herself. Dungeons were designed to be challenging, but not impossible. Real world situations had no similar compulsion about fairness.
While individually nothing special, the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming. They were pinned down from multiple directions. Meanwhile a crowd of crystal mantises surrounded them, several leaping forwards at a time. Filia noticed more pouring out of the passage to building 3 as two Righteous Sun members carted crystals in the other directions.
“We may need to fallback and regroup.” Silver said, glancing at Allan huddling terrified between the crates.
Retreat? Wouldn’t that just give them time to summon more? The notion sounded like a losing strategy, and Filia hated it.
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Filia froze in shock. <
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She took a peek at the righteous sun members crouching behind cover on the other side. Deciding a good location, she yelled. “Electo Displacement.” The yellow fur covering her body crackled as a charge built up. Then zap, she dropped down behind the zealots and took them out before they could react. She then slid into their hiding spot to dodge fireballs and gemstone spikes.
Blitzer’s teleport ability wasn’t always practical due to the two second delay, but sometimes was a godsent. Filia zapped around the hangar and soon all the Righteous Sun members were dealt with.
“Great job!” Silver called out. “I’ll take care of the rest.” There was a flash from a magic circle activating, and an almost three story tall earth titan appeared on the ground floor, causing the building to tremble. The rocky figure crouched down, spread its arms, and powered forwards, bulldozing all the gemstone porcupines outside. Kate ran and hit the controls to slam the hanger door behind them.
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<> Filia retorted tersely. <
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After clearing up the rest of the hanger, they began battling towards building 3 through a horde of crystalids.
“The control room is directly ahead, and the summons generator is below on the first floor.” Allen reported from behind them. “The crystal converter and harnesser are above.”
When they neared the end, a large man in golden armor appeared at a doorway, looking towards them with cold eyes. Filia’s instinct told her he was dangerous.
“That’s Jared, their leader.” Allen cried out.
“Allen, you betrayed us.” The man stated. “Die for your sin.” He raised his hand and released a blast of pure energy at blinding speed. Silver intercepted the projectile, but the impact sent him tumbling back a dozen feet. He lay on the floor grunting in pain.
Crap… While Silver didn’t appear badly injured, Allen wouldn’t survive that attack, and they were still in the connecting passageway, with nowhere to hide. Without waiting, the golden knight sent another blast which Kate blocked. She was similarly thrown back and knocked senseless.
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<> “Frozen mist” She shouted. The temperature plunged as pure white filled the space around them, dropping visibility to zero. She didn’t resort to this ability often as it robbed her allies of sight too, reserving it only for emergencies.
Filia ducked hearing an energy bolt and felt the broken shards of a crystalid pepper her. She swiftly fused with cici and used the galebat’s echolocation. The Rigteous Sun’s leader was readying another shot. She leaped and glided over forty confused crystalid flailing blindly.
“Wing slice.” From the leader’s left, she let loose a concussive blast which smashed him against the wall, shattering his armor. Several crystalids jumped at her from the sound, but she slipped through the doorway. I might as well deal with his underlings too.
Once the fog lifted and the remaining summons were dispatched, the others entered the control room. Allen stepped over the zealots on floor and sat before a display showing data about the facility.
“The Righteous Sun restricted my authority over the summons generator, but I can shut it down by cutting the power… There we go.” Allan reported. “Please turn off the jammer so I can access the cameras.”
A bunch of screens popped into into view, and Allan cycled through them. “There’s a Righteous Sun squad above us feeding crystals to the converter. If you could take care of them and destroy the harnesser while you’re at it, that’d about wrap things up.”
Hunting down the stragglers was a comparative cakewalk. They left the honor of demolishing the harnesser to Sana, who went to town with her morning star. Once the equipment was thoroughly crushed, she then raced back down to the control room.
“That’s everything, right?” Sana burst out, tail wagging. “I can go see Margaret?”
“About that…” Allen turned with a sorrowful expression. “It’d be better if you didn’t.”
Sana’s wolf ears flattened apprehensively. “What do you mean?”
“Margaret underwent the procedure. Since you two were close, the sight of you will bring up thoughts which trigger revulsion. If she experiences enough of this, she’ll come to hate you despite herself, and these negative feelings will remain even after the conversion wears off. So for the next few months, you shouldn’t be around her.”
Sana hesitated, backing away. “I don’t believe you…”
“I thought this might happen.” Allan taped the controls and Margaret appeared on a screen.
Sana perked up and moved forward, pointing at Allan. “He says I can’t see you.”
“He isn’t lying.” Margaret said. “When you held me earlier, I almost threw up. It’s… it’s not something I can help. Even right now… Sorry.” The call abruptly ended.
Sana stood rigid, absorbing the news. “What am I going to do?” She asked nobody in particular, staring distantly.
“It’s too soon to be worrying about that.” Allan said. “I uncovered a report showing King Kyle on his way with an eta of two hours. The Righteous Sun were hoping to hold out until his arrival.”
Aw no… “Are we going to have to fight?” Filia asked.
“I’d say yes.” Allan responded. “There isn’t enough time to get people to safety through the inverted forest. He has those two ninjas who are expert trackers. If Finley is with him too, that makes four saints. It’d be a nightmare fending them off while protecting everyone.”
“In my opinion, it’s best to wait and face him at Frieden’s docks. As a bonus, we can use his airship for the evacuation If we win.”