Chapter 1097: Levium (14)
Chapter 1097: Levium (14)
<Their firepower is bigger than I anticipated.>
The sky got tinted black as the explosions rang. Black, because the multiple brain crystal powers unleashed brought a myriad of colors in the sky that muddled together to create something that inevitably turned dark as the situation was.
Though the most predominant tone came because of the ash and dust that got raised up above, which not only gave the sky the dark tint of the apocalypse but also reduced visibility to nothing.
Erik watched, clenching his jaw tight.
<That would have killed even me...>
The soldiers under his hex continued their frenzied battle, oblivious to the destruction raining down upon them.
But soon they found out. They screamed, but after some time, these were cut short because their heads got blasted off and their lives snuffed out of their bodies.
Soon after, a rain of flesh and blood fell. But it didn't stay in the air for long, since it got soon blasted away by the new explosions rocking the area.
The place where Erik had just been turned into an even bigger maelstrom of violence and confusion, bodies falling as readily from friendly fire as from the bombardment itself.
Yet Erik didn't look at the scene for long because his target was just one, Levium. The commander's darted through the sky, weaving between the airborne soldiers that surrounded him like a protective swarm.
Erik could do nothing but clench his fist in frustration. There was no clear shot, no opening to strike. Every time he thought he saw an opportunity, a soldier would move into position, blocking his view.
<I can't figure out if he sees me...>
But that happened just because there were many soldiers around, not because Levium saw him.
Erik couldn't find a way to attack the man from a closer position, so an attack from his current one would only be stopped before it could even enter the area where Uncle Benjamin was.
He kept staring at the man. <There has to be a way.>
Then the bombardment intensified. The entire city block vanished in balls made up of various kinds of energies that reached hungrily toward the sky and fell like tsunamis on the ground. Everything shook with each impact, something that could only be achieved by someone as powerful as the men and women the blackguards asked for help from.
Erik could feel the vibrations, even from his position. He watched as structures there crumbled into dust and rubble.
Through the haze, the young man caught glimpses of the soldiers still locked in their maddened combat. They fought on, heedless of the surrounding destruction, their minds warped by his power.
Part of him marveled at how devastating he had been by using his instability brain crystal power, while another part recoiled at the carnage it had wrought and what would have happened if someone with similar powers appeared.
<It would be a mess.>
Then a movement caught Erik's eye. In the distance, he saw one of the Chimaeric Demons creeping closer to Levium's position, using the chaos as cover.
<That idiot...>
Erik reached out with his instability power, establishing a mental link.
<What the fuck are you doing?>
<Master?>
<Yes. It's me. So?>
<We were searching for you, master.>
Erik paused. <You are not alone?>
<No. My brothers are scattered around the area.>
There was silence for a couple of seconds. If the Chimaeric Demons were here, it meant the clone he sent to ask for help did his job.
<Did you come because of the message I sent through one of your brothers?>
<Yes, Master. We received word on the radio and came to investigate. I got told that one of my brothers relayed your orders about the situation to the rest of us.>
Another volley of explosions rocked the area. Buildings crumbled, and flames licked the sky. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and Erik had to hover through the air to avoid debris crashing on him.
<Master, why are the blackguards doing this?> The clone didn't know what was happening in this part of the city.
Erik's expression hardened. <I used my Instability brain crystal power to turn their own forces against each other. This bombardment is their try to regain control and to bring me out of hiding.>n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
He paused, watching as another section of the area disappeared. <They're willing to sacrifice their own troops to catch me.>
<Did they fear you were going to use them to attack?>
<I guess, but it's not like this little move will do anything to prevent that happening again.>
Though, since the blackguards now knew Erik could do that, they were for sure going to implement new strategies and countermeasures.
The Chimaeric Demon observed the destruction in silence for a moment. <If they keep doing
this, there won't be a single hiding place anymore.>
Erik nodded. <Yeah, Uncle Benjamin was never one for half measures...> But there was something else on Erik's mind.
<Are the others coming?> His eyes never left Levium's frame.
The Chimaeric Demon nodded. <They are, Master, but it will take time. Right now, there are just a few hundred Chimaeric Demons around searching for you. The others are outside the
district. The number of troops we had to send doesn't allow for a covert approach, meaning we'll need to break through enemy lines to reach you.>
The clone hesitated. <Master, perhaps it would be wise for you to flee. The situation is becoming too dangerous even for you.>
<I have no intention of letting Uncle Benjamin leave this place alive.>
The bombardment continued unabated. The city, at least this part of it, was being reduced to ruins before their eyes. Fires raged unchecked, consuming everything in their path.
At that point, the Chimaeric Demon reached Erik's position.
<We need to create an opportunity. I just need a single attack, which I doubt Uncle Ben will be able to stop. To do that, we need to get rid of the soldiers protecting him.>