Ascenders Rift

Chapter 218: The Battle in the City, Vernisa's Stand

Much like the battle between Joe, Evan, Layla, Rick, and Breya against the Calamity Blood Mosquito, the scene within the City of Hope was a chaotic one, one that even had a trace of desolateness as the war between the human faction and the mosquito horde was nearing its peak.

Many corpses of giant mosquitos fell from the sky as they were annihilated by attacks from energy weapons that had yet to lose their functions. A few others were also killed by the joint effort of elite Evolvers, who fought alongside Leo's party.

As more and more corpses fell on the ruined earth, the thick stench of blood filled the air, stirring the mood of all active combatants who fought this deadly battle.

One man fought against a group of mosquitoes single-handled, chopping a beam-like sword into their flash as he managed to cut apart a few of their wings, but as if that wasn't enough those very same mosquitoes impaled him from all sides before exploding.

The resulting force destroyed a few other Evolvers who were battling in the immediate range, forcing the stronger amongst them back with light injures.

A few other similar scenarios played out as most of these occurred right within the barrier that was being bombarded with constant attacks. If it was affected, the barrier began to show signs of weakness as it rippled ever so slightly.

"Darn, it won't take much more of this, how far is the evacuation process?" Vernisa asked as she looked at the scenario from the control room.

One official who had gathered the details replied with a worried expression, "Madame Briggs, we still haven't secured everyone, less than half are in the process of leaving."

Vernisa had an ugly look on her face; she knew that if things were to keep up, the situation wouldn't turn out so well.

Suddenly, her mind fell back to a few old memories; there she saw the image of a sturdy-looking man with handsome features, he stood before a horde of monsters and gazed at her leaving behind a few words, "Fight to live, and live to see a new future..."

As Vernisa thought to her, a few tears came from her eyes as she gripped her fist and returned to normal, her expression now seeming different as if she made a decision.

"Everyone, hurry and increase the evacuation process, leave everything else to me!" Vernisa said in a commanding tone.

The remaining officials looked at her in shock, they were about to say something, but Vernisa gazed at this sharply and spoke, "Get out and get to work now!"

A few of them bit their lips and sighed as they knew what she was about to do, they gave her a deep look as they saluted and spoke, "We wish the Madame a good fight to the very end..."

As they finished their words, they hurried out of the room towards the evacuation sector, there the process was sped up drastically due to their arrival.

Vernisa stood at the edge of the room, gazing at the weakening barrier that was rippling due to the constant rain of attacks. When she stared outside, she noticed that many different famous and talented Evolvers were struggling in a fierce battle, each with blood in their eyes as their bodies were wounded.

Now and then one would succumb to their injuries and end their lives by performing mutual destruction with their foes, as others were overpowered by the sheer numbers of the mosquito horde.

Vernisa sighed as she could sense the dismal air across the battlefield, not bother to look at it further her eyes hardened as she walked into a different room, one which had a danger sign and caution sign placed in a variety of areas.

At this time, the Mosquito General who floated in the sky glanced down. He stared at the Hall of Governance with a smirk on his face as he saw the barrier rippling.

He watched at the countless mosquitos flew downwards as others that flew at his level rained down red-ray attacks in a constant bombardment.

"Hahaha, that's it, attack, keeping attacking! The barrier won't last forever; we must bring glory to our mother!" The Mosquito General said with glee in his eyes, his voice sounding across the entire area.

Following those words, the mosquitos that rained down attacks grew ever fiercer as they began to attack even more wildly.

Currently, Leo, Julie, Irene, Razel, and Oron were fighting against the horde's central cluster. Leo continually trucked out his fist, sending blazing flames across the sky, burning anything in his line of sight.

Julie continued to use psychic attacks while Irene used multiple magic beams, Razel figures multiple explosive bullets that destroyed many in his range. Still, Oron fought upfront as none of the mosquitoes could even pierce his skin.

When Leo and the others heard the Mosquito General's words, their faces sunk as they noticed that the barrier for the Hall of Governance was weakening at an even more rapid pace, they knew that if they did nothing, things would end up in a disaster.

"Shit, they haven't finished the evacuations yet, if this keeps up, no one will survive!" Leo said in anger as he didn't like the situation, his body erupted in even more bright flames as pressure the horde.

"We cannot let this continue!" Razel said as he fired his gun in a frenzy as the others similarly attack in a berserk manner, but sadly, this wasn't enough as they knew they couldn't do anything to stop it.

The Mosquito General sneered at this, it was about to say a cheeky one-up line, but as if it was distracted by something, it showed a strange look as it gazed at the summits of the Hall of Governance.

'Hmm, what's going on here? Where is this energy coming from?' The Mosquito General thought in confusion, but its questions were soon answered.

Suddenly, a hatch opened from the summits of the building as a series of giant guns rose from the building, each of which was of a sleek design.

The moment they appeared; a bright light shone around the guns as it began to show signs of charging up at a rapid rate.

When the Evolvers who fought with their life on the line saw this, their faces showed traces of shocks as they knew that those primary weapons were currently out of power. The only way to invoke them was the channel all of the backup power from the barrier to them, but who would be so foolish to do such a thing?

However, their shock was for another reason, one which was even more foolish due to its desperate methods.

Leo and the others from his party looked at this in shock. As Julie even trembled with worry in her eyes, Razel felt a bad feeling. He hurriedly used the communication devices and spoke, "Who's using the External Power Module of the cannons? Hurry and tell me!"

An official hesitated for a while before he sighed and replied, "It... it's Madame Briggs..."

"What?" Leo and the others said in alarm, as Razel seemed to have fallen in a daze, a mosquito seemed to notice this as it charged towards him with a cruel look.

"Razel, watch out!" Leo shouted as he hurriedly attacked using his Flaming Palm; the attack smashed into the mosquito before sending it towards a distant area where it was burnt to dust.

Leo then hurried over to Razzle and slapped his hand as he spoke, "Wake up, this isn't the time to be distracted! We have to hurry and move out!"

Razel, who had an unwilling look, gritted his teeth as he replied with tears running down his cheek, "F... Fine..."

Leo knew his pain, but this wasn't the time for counseling, they had to hurry and escape this area as the attack wasn't going to be a pretty sight.

Instantly, the party rapidly fled from this area as did many of the Evolvers, who knew what was going on, Razel stared back at the base his eyes flowing with tears as gripped his fists while thinking, 'Mother... why... why did you do this...?'

His mood falling worse as he grew more distant, but no matter how much he pondered, he would bever get the answer.

Currently, the Mosquito General had regained its senses; it stared at the charging lights with a hint of solemnness in its eyes as he spoke in alarm, "How could this be? How can they power another of those weapons that have been disrupted?"

While the Mosquito General was puzzled about the situation, the muzzle of the cannons began to glow in bright lights, filling him with a surge of dread, unlike the cannons on the airships, these were far more dangerous.

"I have to escape!" The Mosquito General thought as his body flickered as his bolted towards the distance like a red blur, but right as he moved, it was already too late.

At this time, Vernisa, who had a pale expression sat within what seemed like a cockpit; her arms were bounded by a series of wires that plunged into their flesh as it drew out her energies in a rapid fashion.

Soon, her face and skin lost color as her beauty faded with each passing second, the scenes of her past began to flicker before her eyes; she recalled the days spend raising her only child, the days of peace from the distant past.

Eventually, her memories faded as Vernisa made a sigh as she stared at the screen before her eyes, one that showed Razel, who was looking back while crying silent tears.

"My son... as your father once said to me, 'fight to live, and live for a new tomorrow,' my memory forever... lives... in... you..." As Vernisa's words faded, her eyes closed as she seemed to have found a sense of peace.

In this instant, the cockpit changed color as a Vernisa vanished. As for the cannons on the outside, a series of giant energy balls had condensed in full.

"Gamma Cannon, now firing!" A mechanical voice said, as a series of brilliant rays fired towards the sky, each of which broke apart into multiple other rays towards what seemed like an endless horde.

The Mosquito General was previously trying to escape, but as he looked around and saw that an endless amount of destructive lights was already upon him, he cried out in anger and resentment, "Nooooo!"

The scene here soon became covered by bright lights, as the battle here within the City of Hope, came to its startling, but also tragic conclusion.