The echoes of screams and cries of panic rung through the entire capital. Panic had taken grip.

  The last thing the projecting screens had shown before they cut was a struggle up in the sky box and then Cole being knocked back into the wall by Emberith.

  Then the feeds cut and the members of O.L.F. And Castle Tsukuyomi began attacking, launching a full assault against the royal knights.

  The entirety of O.L.F. leading as infantry, while half of Manaan Legio’s team and half of Castle Tsukuyomi’s team was leading them from the rear.

  Coordinating them against the Holy Rune Knights who were holding them back to allow for the civilians to find shelter from the attack.

  In mere hours the once bustling and lively capital was being laid to waste by traitors guild members.

  Akina had taken charge and rallied all she could to her shop and was doing what she could to guide people to safety.

  The teams of Garden of Ligeria and Terra Spire were racing on ahead to meet the traitors and aid the Rune Knights where they could, but two of Juno’s Spire teammates still injured they couldn’t fully assist.

  All the traitors were aiming to push towards the palace and take it, or at least that was it seemed like.

  But it wasn’t the only the capital that was under attack. All the outlying cities and villages were under siege. The remnants of the dark guilds that had remained hidden as well as a contingent of forces from the Darktop Mountains.

  Shadow Wraiths came bursting out of the ground near Castle Tsukuyomi’s territory, Wyvern’s taking to the sky from the Darktop Mountains, and Hydra’s were emerging from the depths along the beachfront of the Village of Misty.

  With the entire Holy Rune Knight Corp tied up in defending the capital, it fell to the remaining guild members who had stayed behind to protect the people.

  There was little anyone could do except hold out and pray for a miracle, that this long night would pass and that a new day would dawn.

  Welfen, Bail and Val were alongside Aquaria, Sierra, Rosa and Vespera fighting their way through the traitors and to those that were leading this battle.

  Vladar, Drahonst, Garrick, Kai, Nortoshi, Kiotaka and Kasumi were quickly becoming frustrated with their launching point of the invasion was being routed so easily.

  The freelance teams as their true master, the old man had warned and cautioned them of had already made it deeper into thick of battle.

  Yet Emberith, Nimara and their greatest asset Braagon Dorne would deal with them as planned.

  It was up to these seven to hold back the rest of the Rune Knights and the other guild mages who would fight alongside the knights.

  Welfen, Bail and Val were the first to break the deadlock and reach the traitors, taking on Nortoshi, Kiotaka and Kasumi.

  Beating them back and quickly overwhelming these three with spear, bow and axe.

  Unleashing powerful spells of light, wind and earth.

  Toppling each of them and sending them flying back and giving chase to the rest of the O.L.F. Guild members who remained and were still fighting the knights.

  It now fell to Vladar, Drahonst, Garrick and Kai hold the line against Aquaria, Sierra, Rosa and Vespera.

  ——————

  Garrick launching at Sierra, Vespera going after Kai who was dodging and weaving her strikes. Rosa giving Drahonst a wide birth, while Aquaria and Vladar both held their respective weapons and met each other’s eyes.

  Garrick letting loose a howl as he gave into his more beastial side while Sierra roared with the rage and transformation of a lioness. Completely outpacing and outmatching his strength with her speed.

  Vespera continued to go back and forth with Kai. He maintaining an excellent defensive style and avoiding each swing with a level of grace that was commendable. Even matching her with a well timed counter attack of a dagger or distraction of an explosive tag.

  “You once championed the ideals of inter-guild cooperation, when you were aspiring to be a commander of the Rune Knights.” Rosa said, recalling Drahonst’s glory days.

  “The Rune Knights are forever blinded by their sense of duty and tradition, completely inflexible the lot of them.” Drahonst retorted, without care for who he once was regarded as.

  “And you could not temper your own ambitions, your desire for growth. Power is attainable, when you show a measure of patience.” Rosa countered, now allowing her garden to bloom and grow, her roses beginning to bud.

  “You think yourself superior with subtlety and warm words lady Gardenia, and that it will pacify me? You’re going to have to try harder.” He declared, stamping his foot down as an explosion of blinding light appeared behind him.

  “And that is your mistake.” Rosa said coldly, closing her eyes and began to sing and her flowers released their toxic perfume.

  “Your garden of death will be overtaken by the true light of all!” Drahonst commanded, as the brightness only intensified and seemed to burn away and evaporate the perfume, as well as causing her roses to wilt and die almost instantly.

  “And thus you have fallen into my garden’s snare.” She fired back, her gaze more threatening.

  The Count was momentarily confused before he could feel it, the thorny texture of vines digging into his legs as they curled around him. Vines now shooting from the ground and taking his wrists. Now it was a battle of wills, could he outshine her and wilt her garden fast enough before he was completely taken.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Vladar and Aquaria had been clashing repeatedly, each delivering heavy and swift strike after strike after counter-strike.

  “I told you before, you can’t drown out the darkness.” Vladar reminded her.

  “I will not waste my words on one who will not heed them the first time.” Aquaria remarked back, her eyes narrowed and expression was one of unbridled rage. “You can’t fight the typhoon struggle that is life.” She chanted now

  In an instant both were immediately surrounded by the whipping vortex of a howling storm. Both were trapped inside the heart of the storm, and neither could leave until one had conquered their own storm inside their soul. That was at least before this swirling storm washed away either of them, if not both of them.

  Sierra continued to drive Garrick on the back footing and plow into him repeatedly with her claw-like hands and rapid kicks. Garrick only managing to just barely able to keep up or counter her, but not able to overcome her speed. Catching his fist, she delivered a powerful headbutt and followed it up by immediately pulling him in and planting her knee in his stomach. Her final attack came from her opposite foot as it connected with his knee and causing him to crumpled to the ground instantly.

  Vespera continued to stay in Kai’s face the whole time, despite all his efforts to create some distance. She had not let her faint smile once slip away, or allowed her swordplay to slip in control. For all his tricks and means of trying to slip away and back from her, Kai couldn’t shake her. It was only a moment, but it was all she needed, he had lost his focus for just a moment, her fist was flying in his direction as it connected with his jaw sending him sprawling to the ground.

  “Do not fight the garden, the more you struggle, the faster it will kill you.” Rosa cautioned Drahonst.

  But the Count would not seemingly listen to her warnings. Continuing to pull and struggle against the thorny vines that were growing and binding to him, refusing to let him leave. The thorns continuing to dig into his wrists and ankles, he could feel them desiring to draw blood and lull him into their dreamy beds of every color of rose.

  “You cannot defy the holy light that reveals all!” Drahonst shouted defiantly, his light burning brighter and causing her garden to wither faster.

  “And yet you ignore the most important fact of all.” Rosa countered, her gaze still just as cold and unforgiving. “The siblings never fought amongst themselves, they disagreed with one another but found understanding. And you are disgrace her light, find peace in Terra’s Garden, Blessing of Terra.” She chanted, now activating her own blessing.

  Even more and larger vines burst from the ground, thrashing and ensnaring Drahonst. The vines drawing blood even more as they pulled more painfully at him, though he continued to struggle and pull at them only for more to sprout and further wrap around his arms. The last and most dangerous one was now snaking around his neck.

  “You fool! You have no idea who you defy! The master will still win! Your champion of fire will fail!” Drahonst cried out defiantly.

  “We will just have to wait and see if he fails or not. It’s out of our hands, and something tells me your master will not see the success he desires on this longest night. Fairwell.” Rosa responded uncaring.

  Now snapping her fingers as the vines began to drag him down to knees and further cover him, yet he refused to stop struggling as he was taken under. His light burning up and out at last.

  Vladar ran a hand along the length of the blade, imbuing it further with his dark aura. It’s dark metal now radiating even more menacing energy, almost as though it was a reaper itself.

  “You will have to make a choice, Lady Delgado. This is the typhoon struggle for which you fight within yourself. Kill me and fully surrender to your own inescapable truth, you cannot drown out the darkness.” Vladar goaded her, hoping to fully tip her over the edge and drive her against her friends.

  This typhoon wall had cut him off from the rest of those left fighting, but wasn’t going down without inflicting some level of pain and suffering. He would leave his mark of damage on any and all he could.

  Aquaria’s expression was unchanging as she met his blade with her club, yet he was faster now, knocking her strike away with ease.

  Bringing it back in a downward arc, she swiftly blocked with the blunt face of her club and pushing it off to the side.

  Immediately following it up with a kick from her left leg, blocking this with his wrist Vladar slammed into her with his shoulder and sending her skidding back.

  “For all you preach of that I cannot escape the darkness in my soul. You are wrong, and you always will be. It’s my friends who have given me hope, that keep from fully plunging myself into the depths of the sea that is my soul.” She said defiantly, going in for another series of rapid strikes. “Even if they do not always walk by side, it’s the lessons and time spent together that matter, the memories we made together, they are mine. They’ve made me better, make me strive to be better!” She added, driving him back and delivering her strikes even faster.

  “Memories fade with time! People aren’t around forever! Time erodes all things! What happens you die?! Will you be at peace?!” Vladar shouted, keeping up with her perfectly, yet becoming increasingly irritated with being put on the defensive.

  “My time may not be long for this world, but others will remember me, and make their own memories, and that will go on. To have faith that my ideals and friend’s will carry on into another generation, as they make their own dreams a reality.” Aquaria countered, driving him back even further.

  “That is no guarantee! Only a fool believes in such idealistic concepts!” Vladar said even frustrated, locking blades with her as he started to push back on her.

  “We’ll just have to wait and see.” She said softly, before slamming her palm down.

  The typhoon collapsing in on them and crushing them both instantly. Washing away they both were sprawled out on the ground. Both regaining consciousness and coughing hard, both in great pain from the pressure of the water. But Aquaria managed to get herself on her feet.

  Sierra, Rosa and Vespera by her side now.

  “You know… this isn’t over, you’re too late. We were only the distraction.” Vladar panted, chuckling weakly not able to fully bring himself to rise.

  “Cole and his companions will stop your master, I know they will.” Rosa said confidently.

  “Don’t count on it, time is not on their side.” Vladar said sharply, before at last his eyes closed and letting his exhaustion take him.

  “Cmon, we need to rejoin the Knights and start evacuating citizens.” Vespera said hurriedly.

  “Not worried about Lisa or Seryn, not thinking of your son?” Sierra questioned softly.

  “I AM thinking about them.” Vespera said snappily, whirling around to look her directly in the eye. “I just can’t afford to lose my head, we do what we can.” She added calming herself.

  “Now isnt the time, let’s find any civilians who may have stayed behind.” Rosa said inturn, Aquaria nodding in agreement to this.

  All four immediately calling out for any stragglers or other citizens who were hurt and needed help getting out wreckage from collapsed buildings, but no such luck. Moving down the street they eventually found the remaining Rune Knights moving civilians out and towards the outskirts, to where Akina had been taking them in, as were the other businesses.