The Red Hand

"Sooooo... I don't want to sound pessimistic, but that dinky little group of beast-kin just wipe out more cavalry than I've seen in my life in the blink of an eye." Katlyn said as Burning Light approached the Dumetor Base on foot. They'd use magic to make themselves invisible and 'undetectable,' and their goal was to take out as many people inside as possible and find the portal that brought Akagi and her forces to Enoris. Though Nier was beginning to think that their little infiltration mission no longer mattered.

{What good is attacking the base going to do anyway? If they can use magic to obliterate a powerful cavalry charge then what are we supposed to do in here? We might kill a few people, but I'm not even certain about those odds at this point.} (Nier)

"I can sense the power of the Divine inside these walls." Miz'ri said as they inched up against the metal wall. They could hear screams and carnage in the background as the battle raged, and tried to put it out of their minds as much as possible. "It's faint though."

{It feels like Lady Elariel, but...} (Miz'ri)

"Are you trying to say there's a God in there?" Katlyn had to try hard to keep herself from shouting.

{THE FUCK?!?} (Katlyn)

"I can't say for certain that is an actual God. It could easily just be one who bears their blood." Miz'ri said as Nier pulled out a set of grappling hooks. "A Demi-God turning against the world wouldn't be that out of the realm of possibility."

"I'm going to go with the third option and say it's probably some kind of residual power from Halifax." Nier said as he spun the grappling hook and tossed it to the top of the wall, not wanting to even think that a Demi-God was going to be their foe.

{We should've asked for far more money for this job...} (Nier)

"Maybe they caught a God and are tormenting them?" Katlyn said, half joking.

"I don't think so, Lady Eclipse never said anything about a God going missing..." Miz'ri said as she thought back to their conversation, her mind briefly blurring before reverting to normal.

"Whatever it is, lets ignore it for the moment." Nier said as he pulled on the rope to make sure it was tight. "Let's get inside before someone sees us, cause some chaos, and then get out of here as fast as possible. If we find a trapped God, then we'll do what we can to free them." He sighed.

{And if we find an evil Demi-God... Well, let's just not...} (Nier)

"Hey, Miz, put your buffs on us before we go in." Katlyn said as she cracked her knuckles.

"Good idea." Miz'ri nodded as she cast a series of spells to boost her teammates, increasing their abiliities far beyond what they could be normally. "Greater Strength, Full Vitality, Speed Boost, Sensory Enhancement, Strength of Will, Death Ward, Dark Barrier, Rapid Recovery, Magic Accelerant."

"Ah, yes! Its always nice to get the good stuff before things kick off." Katlyn laughed as she grabbed the rope and quickly climbed inside, followed closely by the rest of Burning Light. "Now, I'd bet most of their leadership is outside due to the battle, but there's probable some people to bump... off... in... here..." Her words slowed to a crawl as she looked around the Dumetor base. It was nothing like she'd ever seen before, and the strange metal buildings and layout only served to confuse and bewilder her and the others.

{What the hell is this place?!? Is this how the world they came from looks?!?} (Katlyn)

"Metal buildings, glass windows the size of entire buildings, and those strange cables crisscrossing above." Nier said as he slowly drew his blade, keeping a close eye on the rooftops.

{This place... It reminds me of the old ruins we saw that time... Does this Demon Lord have some kind of connection to the Ancient Ones?} (Nier)

"Do you detect anyone, Miz?" Katlyn asked as she drew two daggers, asking the Priestess to search using her magic.

"Hmm... I do. There are two signatures not that far from here." Miz'ri said, a bit of fear audible in her voice.

"How strong?" Nier asked as they slowly slipped toward their targets.

"I don't know. I can only tell they're here, not how strong they are." Miz'ri shook her head as they pushed up against the side of a building. “But something about their power has me on edge, I don't know how to explain it, sorry...”

"Its fine. If its got you tense like that, they're likely bad news. Let's get up top and get the jump on them rather than attacking them head on." Nier said. "I'd rather do this quietly, if we're lucky, we can take some time to look around this place for a bit."

{We need to find the method they used to get to our world and destroy it, that way at least no further monsters can show up.} (Nier)

"Maybe we'll find the Demon Lord's conveniently placed weakness just sitting out in the open." Katlyn laughed as she climbed to the top of the building, followed by Nier and Miz'ri.

"Listen, I wouldn't be opposed to finding another magical generator that, when smashed, causes the enemy to wither and die." Nier chuckled as they slowly approached the other side of the building, catching sight of Marshal and Kira talking to one another.

“Are those the two you were sensing?” Nier asked the Half-Elf.

“Yes, I detect a few other people inside the base but these ones seem to be the only ones with any real fighting ability.” Miz'ri nodded.@@novelbin@@

"Well then, you take the old man, and I'll get the lizard." Katlyn said, and Nier nodded.

{Lets slit their throats, nice and easy...} (Katlyn)

After a moment, the two slowly dropped to the ground below, both Kira and Marshal seemingly unaware of their presence as they were wrapped up in their discussion.

"Silfana's truly lost herself in the battle." Kira said as the two watched the battle via a floating magical screen. "Charging headfirst into an entire army just seems ridiculous." She sighed.

{I wish Lady Akagi wouldn't indulge her this much...}

"Its what's she's known for, and it's exactly how she acted at Hassan." Marshal said as he let out a puff of his cigar, recalling her brash tactics. "That Vampire is never one to sit back while her forces fight on their own, an admirable quality for a leader to have if you ask me."

"I still do not see why Lady Akagi is including her so much." Kira said as Nier and Katlyn crept closer to them. “It seems like this is just that Vampire fueling her own ego. Could we not have done this far quicker and with less flair?

"You know Lady Akagi. She always enjoys setting up interesting scenarios just to see how the dominoes fall." Marshal laughed. “It wouldn't be one of her schemes if it wasn't over the top in how it got its results.”

"Fair, and I suppose we're no different in allowing those fools to think they've got the drop on us." Kira said as she turned around, throwing a dagger just in front of Nier, embedding it into the ground and startling him.

"True. I suppose this means some of our Lady's nasty habits are rubbing off on us." Marshal said as he dropped his cigar and stomped it out. “Though that's probably not the worst thing.”

"Shit!" Katlyn leaped back alongside Nier as Miz'ri jumped down from the roof. "How did they detect us?"

{We had layers of magic up that masked our presence! Nobody should've been able to detect us even if they looked directly at us!} (Katlyn)

"Then I suppose that means our plan to do this silently went out the window." Nier said as he readied his sword. "Miz'ri, keep behind us. These two are going to be trouble and we can't guarantee your safety." He said as he formed up next to Katlyn. "We're going to need to work at our absolute peak her. No goofing around, alright?"

"I could say the same to you." Katlyn smirked. "Come on! We'll take you both on! Two against three is a bit unfair, but Miz just buffs us, so I think it evens out!" She said as she twirled her daggers between her fingers.

{That lady is part Dragon. I've seen her kind before, but the old guy... He just looks Human. We can probably overwhelm them if we work together, and with Miz's buffs, I think we've got this.} (Katlyn)

"Two against three?" Kira asked as she drew one of her swords. "I'm afraid that you're mistaken about Marshal's role in things." She said. "He's got other things to do, and there's no reason to waste his time-fighting such pitiful beings like yourself when I'm more than capable of defeating all of you." Kira said as she stomped the ground, causing a minor quake as her body glowed in a faint dark outline.

"Now don't go having too much fun with them and missing out on the battle. You know that Lady Akagi is going to want you back at the front soon." Marshal said before turning and walking off, shocking and confusing the members of Burning Light.

{THAT ASSHOLE! DON'T GO FUCKING ACTING LIKE I'M NOT WORTH YOUR TIME!} (Katyln)

"Turning your back on an opponent? What an arrogant bastard you are!" Katlyn said as she chucked a group of daggers at him, which were blocked by Kira's sword and knocked harmlessly to the ground.

*TINK* *TINK* *TINK* *TINK* *TINK* *TINK* *TINK* *TINK* *TINK*

"I'm your opponent." Kira said as she glared at Katlyn. "And I'd advise that you not underestimate me."

"Bahahaha! You've done it now, girl! Go ahead and show them a good time, Kira. But don't take too long! You'll disappoint Lady Akagi if you don't handle them quick enough!" Marshal laughed as he continued to walk off.

"Such pointless words. I won't allow myself to displease or shame Lady Akagi." Kira said as she drew her second blade. "I'd sooner take my own life than do such a thing."

"Hmpf." Katlyn scoffed at the Half-Dragon's comment. "I see that you're no less fanatical than those other Cultists I've dealt with, what with your devotion to that master of yours. I hate to inform you that such loyalty always goes unrewarded and isn't truly appreciated or valued." She smirked. "I'd be wiling to be money that your master

"Watch out you idiot!" Nier interrupted her, pulling Katyln out of the way a split second before Kira put the tip of her blade where her throat would've been had she not been moved.

"What the hell?!?" Katlyn's body went into panic mode and it took a moment for her to notice the small trickle of blood running down her neck. Kira's blade had barely scratched her before Nier pulled her out of the way, and it was sheer luck that he'd moved her in time.

{I barely saw her move!} (Katlyn)

{That was a close one... A moment later and...} (Nier)

"Hmm... Well, that's a pity." Kira said as she turned to the three adventurers. "I was hoping to silence that foul mouth of yours in one swift stroke, but it would seem that I was denied." Her eyes showed not just simple anger but righteous indignation. Kira was furious that Katlyn would dare to say such things about Akagi and was now thoroughly pissed. "Your death will not be painless, worm." She growled. "No one may impune Lady Akagi's character like that and get away with it. I will have your throat ripped out for saying such things!"

{Well, usually anger makes people worse at fighting, so maybe this worked out...} (Nier)

"Oh? Didn't appreciate my comment I take it?" Katlyn laughed but was still a bit shaken by her near death encounter. "Well I hate to break it to you, but it's true. That master of yours doesn't give a single solitary fuck about you or any of these other little pawns of hers."

"K-Katlyn, maybe we s-shouldn't anger her..." Miz'ri tried to get Katlyn to shut her mouth, something that Nier knew was about as likely as snowfall in the Hells.

{I know that she realizes that this woman's blow would've killed her in one shot. This Dragon woman is no joke, and I don't even know if we can win against her.} (Nier)

"Those big-shot types, especially Demons always claim to love their little followers, but deep down you're all just pawns!" Katlyn laughed, trying to cover her fear with mockery. "I'd bet good money she'll cast you aside the moment you're no longer useful, or better yet the moment she no longer finds you entertaining!" She'd seen it before, leaders who pretended to love their followers like family, some had even gone as far as to really get into the act. However, as far as Katlyn was concerned, it was always a lie.

{It's how it was for me. I believed in that fool... treated him like family... like my Dad... and look where it got me...} (Katlyn)

"Are you quite done with your prattle?" Kira's eyes seemed to burn with a passion and fury that Nier had never seen in his life. It was as if the Half-Dragon's rage had boiled over to the point that it was as if a raging fire covered her very skin.

{This... This might've backfired, Kat...} (Nier)

"Good. Because now I'm going to enjoy taking you apart piece by piece for your insolence." Kira's voice was ice cold and made the three adventurers' skin crawl. "And I will show you the power of Lady Akagi's love for us."