Chapter 862 - Giant’s Rampage Ⅵ

On the outskirts of the village of Mould-on-the-Would, the second squad of Auror's led by Percius Clements at last arrived. He quickly turns to his partner, "Dawlish, half of the team and you are to hold this side of the two as a point of exit and aid in the evacuation of the town. Hold the apparition point for the A.P.D. reinforcements to arrive with the healer support teams!"

"Understood, Clements," replied the capable, and self-assured wizard with very short, wiry hair. The tough-looking wizard had become that much more confident under the tutelage of Percius. John Dawlish no longer hesitated nor was uncertain of himself and had become that much more of a reliable partner.

"Proudfoot, Savage!" Dawlish instructed his fellow Auror's. "Clear a path for evacuations!"

"On it, Dawlish!" The two-wizard replied, before rapidly moving to clear a path from the village to their current point.

Leaving Dawlish behind with half of the Auror team, Percius and the rest of the Auror team move forward with their wands out and ready at all times. "We don't know if the Giants are preparing a trap, but I want everyone on high alert. Remember the giant's forte is long range attacks. Unlike Moody, I'd rather see you lot live another day. If you can't get close enough for an attack, then I'd rather you rescue the wounded if possible and retreat. We won't ever win in a long-range battle against the giants, since our strength lies in short-range attacks in comparison."

"In teams of two," Percius ordered as the remaining Auror team split into teams of two as instructed. Percius departs with a veteran Auror at his back. Unlike what Moody and others might think, he did not in fact prefer to work alone. He'd rather much preferred a partner, but John Dawlish to an extent was still an inexperienced partner. He didn't want Dawlish's worst traits appearing at this critical moment and as such had ȧssigned him to a more stable position. Not that position did have its own risks, but it was better than wandering within range of the giant's attacks.

Percius and his companion move swiftly and expertly through the town directing any straggling villagers towards the evacuation point. They pass several wounded villagers, but they do not stop to offer help. It was not the fact that they were cold nor merciless for all Auror's know basic healing arts. However, the issue lay in the severity of the wounded villagers. There was absolutely nothing that they could do for them, their time was best spent moving forward as a second sweeping team would approach to carry the wounded back to the evacuation point. And as for the wounded that could still move around, they directed them to safety, before pressing onward.

The stench of death and blood fills the air as they pass by several mangled corpses. The town of Mould-on-the-Would is in ruins with half of the town buildings having been destroyed. A child's lonely cry causes the two Auror's to pause and search for the sound. A toddler loudly sobs in the arms of his father, whose ċhėst had been pierced straight through by a beam. The salt-peppered-haired wizard weakly breathes and chokes on his blood. Seeing the beam through his ċhėst, Percius shakes his head at the other Auror knowing full well that the wizard did not have much left to live.

"Please take him," gasped the dying figure of Roderic Filch. He pleadingly gazed at the two Auror's before him to take his son, Rodney, and go.

The second Auror moves to speak, but Percius speaks first, "We will take your son with us, sir. What is his name?" Roderic moves to reply, before pausing to solemnly consider something of vital purpose.

"Sir?" The veteran Auror interjected concerned that the loss of blood was affecting the fatally wounded wizard.

"Roderic Prince," the dying Roderic Filch weakly gasped.

"Prince!" The veteran Auror said in surprise. "As in Georgine Prince's son?" As it was impossible for the child to be Reginald Prince's son as the old Prince had been loyal to his belated wife, Sirsa Prince. And the child is far too old to be a product of any mistress that Reginald Prince might have taken after the death of his belated wife.

Roderic's eyes unconsciously stray to the nearby building that had effortlessly crushed his wife, Eileen. She had not even had time to move except to shove him and Rodney further away from her. After that, she was simply gone without even so much as a spoken goodbye.

Roderic weakly coughs knowing full well that he was going to die soon. He knew that his older brother, Argus, would not be able to properly take care of his child. No, the strongest person to offer protection to his boy would be Reginald Prince, but Reginald had disinherited his daughter, Eileen for her betrayal. Still, he knew that his wife's aunt, Georgine had interfered sufficiently to ensure that no retribution was taken against him nor Eileen.

"Sir?" The veteran Auror asked again.

"His mother is Georgine Prince," Roderic stubbornly wheezed.

Percius and the veteran Auror both share a glance, but don't remark on the statement. "Take the child and retreat," Percius firmly ordered the reluctant veteran Auror.

Nodding his head in acceptance of the reply, Percius gestures to the other Auror to take the sobbing child. "No, daddy!" Rodney wailed as the veteran Auror firmly pulled him away from his father. "Daddy!" The little boy wailed as his cries grew dimmer was the veteran Auror hurried away with the child tightly clutched in his arms.

"Thank you," Roderic gasped, before gurgling more blood. "You best go on, Auror," he spat out knowing that there was nothing further the Auror could do for him.

Percius can't think of anything else to say except to nod his head at the dying wizard, before moving forward to try to get a better idea of the giant's next move. He hadn't gone much further when the whistle of something falling through the air can be heard. "Sonorous," he pointed at his throat with the amplifying charm. "Incoming!"

The Auror's within the village seek cover as enormous sacks loaded down with rocks begin to smash into the ruined town. The sacks easily fall open as thick dark poisonous miasma begins to seep into the air. "Poison!" Roared Percius, before removing the charm.

Pointing his wand at the miasma, Percius shouts "Ventus," but inhales some of the poisonous fog at the same time. The poison eagerly dives into his lungs and is absorbed by the blood vessels.

The wind spell shoots a strong jet of spiraling wind from the tip of Percius's wand. Moving his wand, he uses the wind to send the miasma back towards the giants. Such a poisonous fog would be deadly even to the giants despite their enormous size.

Seeing the poisonous fog rise into the air like a deadly serpent at them, Iwara grinds her sharp teeth in fury. "Cheaters," she hissed at the poisonous fog returning towards them. She was unable to use her own magic since she had overexerted herself during the crossing. Irked, she roars, "Attack!"

The miasma would hurt them and weaken them, but it would not be sufficient to kill the giants. The giants eagerly stride forward causing the ground to shake. Through the miasma, the hulking forms of the rapidly approaching giants can be seen. The Auror's with their hastily torn sleeves cover their faces in order to breathe. They would never manage to make their way through the wreckage of the town in time to retreat. Nor could they lead the giants to the exit point where the evacuation of the survivors was still occurring. Instead, the Auror's position themselves to hold their ground for as long as possible for the citizens to reach safety.. The Auror's knew full well that their decision to remain behind would inevitably cost them their very lives.