The journey to Fieta didn't even take a day till they arrived. By nightfall, the Black Crow ship loomed over the dark valleys of the solemn territory.
"Hmm, it looks like Velder soldier's have been deployed to protect the shrine." Raven idly said as he look at the screens, each one displaying the layout and personnel activity in the area.
Already, the map is dotted with plenty of enemies. Their last visit must have alerted the Velder Kingdom of their activities. The likelihood of a Red knight or Velder soldier's being deployed is very high.
A bloodthirsty smirk bloomed in his lips.
"Haro! Bombard the defense while the Black Crows disembark. Provide targeted bombardment on key defenses afterwards." Raven ordered as he left the bridge.
"Copy, Captain, Copy!" The machine responded.
Thus the attack on Fieta began.
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Lento watched at the approaching airship hovering over the dark valleys of Fieta.
"So this are the pirates using Nasod technology?" He narrowed his eyes at the piece of ancient technology. It was an impressive ship, to be able to fly the sky and escape the clutches of gravity.
And now, he and his company are about to face such monster.
"Rune knights up front! I want a wall of runes ready to block whatever they throw at us!" He yelled orders, "Man the defensive Scorpions, bring it down with the ballistas we brought!"
Too bad his company didn't receive a cannon upon their deployment.
Knights and soldiers of Velder immediately responded to his orders. Knights took the front, magic runes flaring up to form a shield wall in preparation for the opening act of the attack. Meanwhile, the soldiers of Velder rolled the wooden Scorpions behind the formation, armed with massive ballistas to bring down the monster in the sky.
It was a decent formation.
Unfortunately, they're facing the might of Nasod Kingdom's resurgence.
With a loud whistling sound, artillery shell bombarded the valley. Explosions filled the area, scattering dust and debris in its wake. The loud explosions defeaning and silencing the screams of those caught between.
Lento threw himself on the ground, pulling a soldier with him and bringing up a runic shield to protect himself and the soldier. All around him, he can see explosions. He saw the Scorpions reduced to broken shrapnel as they we're targeted. He can hear the Knight's screams of courage and pain as they took the brunt of the bombardment.
The knight gritted his teeth. The reports never said about weapons on the ship! They weren't expecting heavy artillery fire from the ancient ship at all!
By the time the bombardment was over, more than half of his forces was destroyed. Lento's company is broken in one attack. His knights are weakened and injured from weathering the bombardment. His soldiers almost wiped out to the last man!
It's a grim picture.
"The enem-" A knight roared, pointing at a direction behind the dust kicked up by explosions before they we're silenced by a projectile, dropping them dead.
Lento huffed and stood up, readying his sword. He'll defend the shrine with his life.
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The battle was nothing short of a chaotic brawl between the Black Crows against the Red knights and Velder soldiers defending the shrine.
On the attacker's side, the Black Crows are superior in numbers and technology. They're numbers could overwhelm any force and their Nasod weaponry could by pass most forces.
Yet on the defender's side, the Red knights are no easy targets. These are hardened knights that have mastered both the sword and magic runes. One knight is equivalent to a small army alone. Despite being battered by the initial bombardment, these knights can still fight.
Runic blades rose from the ground, cutting down the mercenaries on their tracks. Multiple gunfire peppered the Knights in their tracks, their armor absorbing the blows. With a swing of a blade, multiple geysers of fire and magma exploded in the battlefield.
Mercenaries fall dead, knights laid low and soldiers died on their last breath.
Through the chaos, Lento is at the forefront. His sword hacked and slashd through armor, biting flesh and rendering men dead beneath his feet. Gunfire fell on him in response but his runic shield rendered such attacks moot. A slash from his sword produced a windblade towards his attackers, cutting them from a distance. His hand snapped into the air, catching a blade from a burly mercenary before plunging his sword to their heart. With a kick, he pulled out the blade in a shower of blood.
"Pretty young for a Red Knight." A voice called out to him beyond the dust kicked up in the battle.
Lento narrowed his eyes before readying his sword at the next opponent.
Then they stepped out of the dust, revealing themselves.
"The Black Crow?" Lento gasped as he recognized the older man. How he could not? Raven was a prominent figure among the Red knights and soldiers of Velder. The man had risen from the lowest soldier to the highest position as commander of the Black Crow regiment.
"So you recognize me?" Raven asked.
"Of course but I fail to see how you have fallen to the ilks of pirates." Lento replied, narrowing his eyes at the veteran soldier. He cursed in his head of how unfortunate this encounter is. His not confident in a fight against this Crow. Raven is far more skilled and experienced than him.
All Lento could do is delay the man from whatever goal they have while his men rally.
"Hmph, you Velder knights should already know that. Afterall, you did this to me." Raven gestured at his arm, a fully Nasod arm.
Lento made the mistake of looking at the thing. From the robotic arm, something flew straight to his face. Lento had only enough time to tilt his head to the side, dodging the thing barely, gaining only a minor cut on his cheek.
That was the opening Raven needed. With his blade in hand, he rushed to the Knight's guard and slashed on his side to bisect him in half. Lento saw the attack and responded in turn. Sword and blade clashed, batting away each other's bite. Undeterred, Raven continued the assault. His attacks were fast and coming from multiple angles, using the knights longer sword against him to add pressure.
Lento knew of this course as he defended himself, using the flat of his sword to deflect and parry the attacks. At the perfect opportunity, he counterattacked, parrying the man's attack and leaving him stumbling for an opening.
Raven grunted at the sudden counter, he always hated that nasty technique of the knights. Lento's sword pointed at him as he stumbled, thrusting towards his heart. With no balance, the sword will simply push through his guard as most knights are trained to overwhelm any defense with strength.
But Raven is not most men.
Before the tip of the sword touch his skin, the Nasod core came back, expanding to create a makeshift shield to protect Raven.
"What?!" Lento gasped in surprised. He was this close yet foiled at the last second. No time for idle though as multiple fireballs were sent to his way, courtesy of Raven.
A runic shield popped up midair, blocking the attack and causing an explosion of smoke. Both men immediately used the cover to charge each other. Sparks flew around as the sound of naked steel met each other, seeking flesh and blood. They clashed over and over beneath the heavy smoke until Lento made his next huge move.
A massive runic blade sprouted upwards, jutting out of the smoke before blooming into more as it spun around, dispersing the heavy smoke. Lento panted, eyes wide and alarmed at losing sight of Raven.
A deep gash appeared on his back as Raven appeared from behind using the shadows, sending the knight to his knees.
"You're not experienced enough." Raven flicked the blood off his blade, staring at the younger knight.
Lento gritted his teeth at the jab despite it's honest truth. With the last of his strength, he summoned a rune midair above Raven's head, summoning a Luna Blade to fall down.
The Crow scoffed before raising his Nasod Arm. A huge fireball erupted from the arm, engulfing the approaching elemental sword and evaporating it in an instant. Lento didn't have enough time to be shock at the display of firepower before Raven plowed into him with a powerful shoulder charge, sending the knight flying off the battlefield with a broken arm.
Raven rolled his shoulders and neck at the decent fight, that takes care of the commander of this defense force for now. Without their leader, the remaining Red knights and soldiers will be in disarray, allowing the rest of the Black Crow mercs to steal the cache of El shards in the shrine.
The El shrine of Fieta is revered by many and site to many pilgrims. That also meant there's plenty of El shards being brought to the shrine as worship to the El Lady.
And today they have successfully looted the religious site.
"Everyone, retreat. We have everything we needed." Raven ordered to the rest of the men after reports of the successful looting came. Better to leave before reinforcements arrived.
So why does he have this bad feeling whenever he gaze at the direction of Velder?
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"Oh thank you for your hospitality, Lord Adel." Rena thanked the fluffy pongo who welcomed the El Search party into their secret village and home.
"It's no problem for me or my ilk, miss elf. Rather, we Pongos welcome your arrival here at this hard times." Adel, the aged Pongo Village chief replied with a gentle smile.
Currently, the El search party has been crashing in the elder Pongo's home since their arrival in the hidden Pongo Village. Fortunately, the fluffy race was rather friendly and welcoming to them despite being strangers.
Currently, they're having dinner.
"We still haven't caught the Black Crow ship yet." Elsword grumbled. He had been on the lookout for days in hopes to see the ship that attacked them on Bethma.
"Patience, friend." Adel said, "My Pongos have sighted the ship leaving towards Bethma a day ago so they wouldn't be back for much later this week. I advice to prepare instead."
Elsword huffs but agreed. He still have a score to settle with that Crow swordsman. He was using Velder techniques, a swordsmanship that Elsword also practice.
"That would be the best case but how would we able to chase after the ship if we're not looking for it." Rena asks, still wondering how could they catch-up to said vessel. If they suggest another bow and rope method, she doubts it will work.
"My Pongos will watch over the skies for the ship's arrival." Adel answered her.
"But that would risk your Pongos. Didn't the Black Crows attempted to capture most of you due to your race's intelligence in Nasod technology?" Aisha pointed out the danger.
"No need to worry." Adel laughs the notion of danger, "We Pongos have hiding underground from the Nasod and the Crow mercs for a long time. We know how to hide well." Adel confidently said.
"We won't try to risk your village, elder chief." Aisha replied.
"You have already helped us enough, risking your people is too much." Rena added.
"I assure you, my friends, my people want to help you. The Crows and the growing Nasod army has been plaguing our people ever since." Adel shook his head, "Your group's arrival is simply the catalyst for our people to act and move against the looming shadows over us. We are the one's should thank you instead."
"And we thank you too, Lord Adel." Rena replied, no need to argue if the Pongos really wanted to help.
"So it's a waiting game then?" Elsword asked.
"Yup." Aisha popped her response.
"Aw man." Elsword deflates, making the elf giggle at the boy
For now, they shall rest and prepare for the big fight.
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A/N
You guys really voted for Male MC, no love for Fem MC.