The group of red Ardoni marched down the road, the Deathsinger leading the way. The Voltaris will take down the city without the help of the Nether. It is only right, Ingressus thought, that a city built for Ardoni is taken down by Ardoni.
"Sir," Lucidius asked, "How do you know the remaining Prime Songs are at Ataraxia? We have no eyes nor ears in that city. It was established as a sanctuary for worthy Ardoni."
"For once, you are correct, Lucidius." The Deathsinger replied with his eyes still on the road. "I do not expect to find the Primes within the city. It is merely a steppingstone. Given the city's nature, there is bound to be someone who knows where the remaining Primes were hidden, and they will help us find it."
"Or it could be something." Lucidius added. "They must have kidnapped that engineer who was building the machine."
"Yes, very good." Nodded Ingressus approvingly. "You know, after Tygren died foolishly in Meridian, you have greatly filled in his role."
"Thank you, sir." Lucidius bowed in his walk. "Does this mean I will be named as the next…"
"I'll consider it." Ingressus waved him away. There was a light prance in Lucidius's steps as they traveled onwards.
They stopped on the riverbank, whose waters were occupied by the Guardians defending Ataraxia from outsiders. There was no way they are going to pass in peace, and before the Voltaris had a chance to scheme, the creatures popped out of the water.
"Ahh!" One Voltaris screamed as he was taken hold by a beam of light and pulled through the air into the water.
"Should we attack?" Lucidius ventured. "We could clean the river of these demons."
"That would be a waste of time." The Deathsinger replied. "And I was just warming up to you. Wait and see."
A few minutes later, the Voltaris minor came flying out of the river, crashing face first into a small mound of grass.
"The examination process is a simple one." Ingressus explained casually, like being choked by water monsters was nothing more than eating breakfast. "They search your memory, determine who you are, and then decide. But the Guardians are not the only way in and out of Ataraxia."
Ingressus pulled out his staff and closed his eyes. Reaching out with his other hand, he gripped some imaginary object out of thin air. Heaps of rock, dirt, and grass began flying into the river, all surrounded by a greenish aura. As his clan watched in awe, Ingressus ordered calmly,
"What are you all gawking at? Get across!"
The Voltaris each bowed to their leader and sprinted across the bridge. Through the walls on the sides, they could feel the heat from the Guardians' beams as they tried to penetrate the walls of the crossing.
As the last member stepped off the bridge, Ingressus collapsed on the ground, heaving for breath. Standing up, he sprouted golden wings out of his back. With a powerful jump, he leapt into the air and flew across the river, landing gracefully before their clan.
"Was that, the power from…" Lucidius started.
"Your guess is correct." Ingressus answered. "The Primes contain every Song in that order, but it also amplify each individual Song's power. Even better," A wide smile broke across his crimson face, "their power is doubled with every additional Prime."
"So a normal Supporium Song could never have done that?"
"Not in a million years. Now quit yapping. We have a city to lay waste to."
Immediately when she saw the red dots emerging from the river mist, Val took off from Ataraxia's wall. She landed on the balcony of the forge and rushed inside.
"Galleous!" She called, "Galleous, they are here! The Voltaris!"
"Blast!" Galleous hastily lit his forge. "Our walls are built to hold off humans and the Nether, not against Ardoni. How did they get across the river?"
"I think they built some sort of bridge." Val said.
"The Supporium Prime!" Galleous gasped. "Of course!"
"What should we do?" Val put on her arm blades, ready for a fight.
"I will send out our fastest bird to Meridian and inform the Knights." Galleous started grabbing papers and maps from the shelves. "Val, slow the Voltaris if you can, but stay safe. I need you."
"What about you?" Val summoned her wings and prepared for takeoff.
"I will destroy our battle plans." Galleous responded, tossing his handful into the fire. "The Voltaris must not find them. Are the people safe?"
"Yes, the Kaltaris Master is evacuating them."
"Good. Now GO!"
"MERLIN!" Galleous hollered.
The little blue bird hopped into the room. "Voltaris attacking Ataraxia, Meridian, the Knights of Ardonia, now GO!" Galleous shouted.
"Yes, immediately!" Merlin took off, flapping his wings as fast as he can. "I am the fastest messenger bird… I mean, communications emissary!"
"What do you see?" The Deathsinger asked as they approached Ataraxia's defenses.
"It looks like a wall," replied Lucidius, "it appears to be built for physical defenses only."
"Well, then it will be an easy win for us." The Deathsinger turned to his clan. "Tear it down!"
"Not on my watch!" Val stood atop the fortification, arms raised and ready for battle.
"Ignore her." The Deathsinger ordered. "Start pummeling the wall!"
"Ingressus," Lucidius was quivering slightly as he spoke, "Might it not be quicker if…"
"That I do it myself?" The Deathsinger snapped, "Can't you see I've just spent a lot of energy building that damn bridge?"
Lucidius turned around. "Start pummeling the wall!"
The Voltaris formed up in a line and started raining down red darts, scarlett fireballs, and crimson knives at the wall. It slowly began crumbling, the layers peeling away like dried paint.
"Come on, Val. This is what you trained for." She murmured. Taking a deep breath, she channeled her Song with all her might. A storm of flaming comets showered on the Ardoni below. A soldier ran up and cast a huge blue shield to block them, temporarily halting the assault.
"Lucidius, go take care of that nuisance." The Deathsinger said coldly.
"Yes, sir." He answered, drawing out his sword. "But how am I going to…Woa-oah!" The Deathsinger flung him onto the wall with a huge green hand, landing behind Val.
She whirled around. The Voltaris below instantly started tearing down the wall again. "Well, pretty girl." Lucidius cackled. "Let's have some fun, shall we?" He thrust his sword forward.
"We shall see." Vi lowered her stance and blocked with her right. She had two blades and he only had one. Pushing Lucidius's sword aside, she drew back her left hand and punched. Lucidius grabbed her wrist and guided her blade past him. Turning around, he slammed Val on the wall, now crumbling beneath their feet.
"Is that all you got?" Lucidius snarled, "Is this the best Galleous's students have to offer?"
"Not exactly." Val wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. She took to the air and started blasting comets at Lucidius. He rolled and dodged, letting all her attacks land on the wall.
"Stupid girl." Lucidius mocked as the ground wobbled beneath his feet. "You have only sped up your own demise."
"Really?" Shouted Val. She stopped firing, and sat in midair. Tucking her arms and legs in, she seemed to have gone into a meditation. Lucidius slid down and rejoined the other Voltaris, smirking.
Suddenly, Val's eyes snapped open. She roared, fire almost coming out of her hands and mouth. Then, she conjured seven crimson flaming comets around her. One by one, Val flung them downwards.
"Ah!" The Voltaris soldiers were thrown backwards to the edge of the river. But just as they stood up, the wall collapsed into a rubble of concrete. Val gasped. The Deathsinger smiled.
"We have breached their defenses!" He raised the Voltar high above his head. "Voltaris, ATTACK!"
"Ria, when shall we set off for Ataraxia?" Abbigail walked out of the barn. Luna followed her with a sack strapped to her back, trying to shake it off. In Meridian, the Knights are preparing for their trip back to the Ardoni's sactuary.
"As soon as everyone's ready." Ria said. "I think Senn is still getting a few of Igneous's belongings from Aren."
"Wait, is that…" Abbigail spotted a small blue speck hurtling towards them.
"It looks like a messenger bird, but Merlin doesn't fly like that. His posture is more leisurely." Ria observed.
"Hold on, it is Merlin." The bird almost crash landed before them. "It is unusual for you to be so eager to deliver…" Ria started.
"Galleous…" Merlin gasped. "Voltaris…Ataraxia…" and he fainted.
"Abbigail, WAIT!" Ria called after her as she untied the pack from Luna's back and soared into the sky.
Val sped back to the forge. "The Voltaris, they're coming!" she yelled. "They have taken down our defenses!"
"I need a bit more time, Val." Galleous was still dumping paper after paper into the forge. It was so full now that the parchments were smothering the flames. "There is too much information here that could hurt us. Battle plans, strategies, locations of our hidden bases, and so much more."
"Alright, I'll buy you some more time." She rushed out.
Val landed on the main bridge and held up her arm blades. The Voltaris marching across stopped.
"Fan out!" Ordered the Deathsinger. "They must have evacuated the people already. Look for papers. Anything that reveals information!"
"You again?" Lucidius walked to the front, brandishing his sword.
"Yes, me again." Val tightened his fists. "Annoying, isn't it, like a fly about your head?"
"Well, you know what happens to flies?" Lucidius cracked his neck from left to right. "They get squished."
He leapt onto the bridge and same as before, jabbed his weapon towards her center. This time, Val did not block, but simply let the Voltaris lunge past her and onto the other side.
"Great move, girl." Lucidius turned around. "But now, you have enemies on both sides." Another, younger Voltaris jumped forward, twirling his battle axes.
"Not all sides." Val winked. She summoned her wings and flew into the air. Breathing in, she summoned her comet and hurled it at the bridge.
The Voltaris with the shield leapt forth and blocked the comet, his knees bucking under the impact. Val flew away.
"Blast her!" Ordered Lucidius. "Blast her out of the sky!"
"That would be a waste of our time." The Deathsinger said calmly. "Do you not see? She is merely stalling. Twice she has fought you, Lucidius, and twice she merely ran away when she had clearly gained the upper hand, the control of the sky. I dare say with her potential, she could easily overpower you."
"You are right, sorry, sir." Lucidius put away his sword and bowed. "Let us proceed."
Val came back to find Galleous poking the fire. He had his hammer in one hand and an iron fork in the other.
"Galleous, is everything gone?" Val shouted. "They are crossing the last bridges! Let's go!"
"Yes, we are done." Galleous stood up and took the green Song he used to make obsidian armor from the shelf. He slid it into his pocket and held the hammer in his right hand, and his fork in the left. Together, they rushed out the backdoor towards the western gate of Ataraxia, away from the attacking Voltaris.
"Bam!" The bridge in front of them collapsed as a giant boulder crashed into it. They turned around and saw the Voltaris approaching, Deathsinger in front. Galleous raised his hammer and fork as he faced them. Val stepped between them, arms raised.
"Val," Galleous put his weapons together and placed his hand on her shoulder. "This is not your fight."
Val stood her ground against the impending scarlet army. "We'll take them together. I never told you this, but you are like a father to me, Galleous."
"We will not defeat the Deathsinger." Galleouss's voice was calm. "Our only hope now resides in finding the Prime Songs and having the Tidesinger wield them against the Voltaris. You must go." He slipped the green Song into her pocket. "Here, take this to Senn. He will know how to use it."
Val turned her eyes toward him. "Galleous… I…"
"My greatest achievements were not the tools I forged, but the students that I taught." Galleous said slowly. "Continue making me proud Val, and let my teachings live on through you."
A tear dripped out of Val's magenta eyes, and she gently wiped it away with her fingers. "Thank you, Galleous. For everything." She took off once again, flying away from her mentor.
"Clap! Clap! Clap!" The Deathsinger walked up slowly. Galleous raised his hammer and fork. "How touching!" The red Ardoni mocked. "But I'm afraid I have to put an end to this. I know your markings." He drew his staff and sword. "I remember them well. You are a brother of Thalleous Sendaris."
"Indeed, I am." The other replied. "My name is Galleous. I am the last surviving member of my family.
"Then you must know where Thalleous hid my Prime Songs." The Deathsinger scraped his staff against his sword, creating a screeching sound sinister to the ear.
"First of all, Thalleous never told anyone where he hid the Primes." Galleous stood his ground. "Secondly, if he did tell me, what make you think I will reveal their location to you?"
"And what of the redstone engineer you kidnapped?" The Deathsinger pursued.
"I know of no such engineer." Galleous denied. "Perhaps you can look into finding a better way to solicit these people's talents, like offering them a reward in gold."
"Enough!" Roared the Deathsinger. He leapt forward and smashed his sword down. Galleous blocked him with the fork, supporting it with his hammer.
"Do you know…" The Deathsinger was seething with rage now. "What your brother did to my people?"
"He was a champion against the Voltaris." Galleous said quietly.
"Champion indeed!" The Deathsinger laughed. "All other Ardoni clans deem the Voltaris cruel, yet it was they that placed such a vainglorious title upon a murderer." He broke the hold and thrust the Voltar forward, forcing Galleous to doge. "He slaughtered my family and nearly brought my clan to extinction. I was there. I was there when he killed the last master." He pulled both his weapons back and crushed them upon the blue Ardoni. "Do you know, what it feels like to have your family die before your eyes?" He stepped back.
An Enderdragon appeared on the horizon. Luna dived, tucking in her wings and retracting her legs. Abbigail hugged her back and made herself as flat as possible.
"And now," The Deathsinger lifted a huge boulder with a giant green hand, "It is only fair that I kill the last of HIS!" He threw the rock at Galleous, sending him flying into the waters below.
"No!" Screamed Abbigail.
"Bam!" Galleous hit the water below with a huge splash. An Ardoni's body, with Galleous's blackened markings, floated on the surface.
The Deathsinger looked over the ledge, then up at Abbigail. Their gazes lock for one moment, and she flew away, leaning on Luna's back. Tear drops trailed behind her in the wind.
"Burn everything to the ground." The Deathsinger ordered. "We are done here."