Chapter 105: Man vs Lightning

Chapter 105: Man vs Lightning

The Gearsman Titan trampled tanks underfoot and fired lasers from its eye.

From afar, the steel colossus appeared similar to a Cyclops of legends. It was almost as tall as the Eiffel Tower and a true giant of rust-tainted steel. Its armor looked vaguely Roman in design, like a centurion of gears and bolts. A cannon burned with energy on its chest. A buzzing swarm of Watcher drones escorted it into battle, ready to defend it with their lives.

However, this creature was no Horseman of Famine. Apollyon had been powerful enough to annihilate the ISS and survive a Fire-empowered nuke to the face. Meanwhile, this machines plate armor had fallen off in some places under artillery bombardments. Its laser, while powerful enough to blow monster riders and Bulgarian helicopters out of the sky, paled in comparison with Apollyons devastating Gehenna Cannons.

A quick glance at it with Monster Insight gave Basil all the intel he needed.

Gearsman TitanLevel 60 Elite [Artificial]Faction: Unity.HP: 16582/20000Immune: Critical Hits, all Ailments, Mind.Resist: Physical, Corrosion, Metal, Fire, Earth, Light.Weak: Artislayer, Wood, Water, Darkness.The Iron Giants steampunk cousin, the Gearsman Titan is the Unitys mightiest weapon platform. Built with the sweat and tears of countless enslaved minions, it possesses immense physical power, mighty beam weapons, and the ability to inflict [Petrify] on everyone within a large radius as a last-ditch attack.

Basil gritted his teeth. As expected, destroying this machine would detonate its runic core and petrify everyone in the area. Shumen would become a new Bucharest.

Not all was bad. The creature had vulnerabilities that Basil could exploit, and considering how Blackcinders seemed to have made his elimination a priority, he could potentially work as bait.

Mister? Rosemarine asked as she rushed across an ashen landscape. Her hastened feet trampled bones and concrete blocks alike. The song of gunfire and artillery shells grew ever closer. Do I sneak bite it?

Can you use your beam? Basil asked in response. His dear tropidrake shook her head in response. With the dust clouds obscuring the light of the moon and the stars, Rosemarine couldnt power most of her abilities. This greatly limited the teams combat effectiveness.

Worse, killing the titan was only half the battle. Since destroying it would activate its self-destruct petrification mechanism, they had to either scrap it in a safe place or neutralize it without exhausting its health points.

I have an idea, Basil said. One for All: summon Steve Roadwonders.

Unlike his mother, Steve Steve hadnt left the Guild. The Steamobile appeared next to Rosemarine in a flash of light, its metal frame drenched in blood and ashen dust. It let out a terrible noise of grinding gears on arrival.

An expression of shame and remorse.

Basils stomach lurched, but he suppressed his sorrow to focus on the battle at hand. I know, he told his creation. But for now, lend me your strength. Do you think you can use your Improvement Perk to absorb an immobilized gearsman?

The Steamobiles lights lit up at once, and its engines roared. Basil took it as a yes. As a mechanical construct, Steve couldnt achieve metamorphosis but it could grow stronger by absorbing other technology into itself.

Hopefully, the titans core would be no exception.

Immediately afterward, Basil received a video call through the Logs from Benjamin Leroy. He swiftly opened it, only to find two people staring back at him behind the screen.

Thank God, Basil, youre alive. Neria Elissalde sighed in relief. Benjamin sat at her side, typing on a keyboard faster than a pro gamer on cocaine. When we saw the beam, we thought

They have put a BFG on the moon, Basil interrupted her with a frown all over his face. The goddamn moon.

Benjamin nodded grimly. And from what I can see, theyre preparing for a second strike.

Basils heart skipped a beat. He looked up, but struggled to see the glowing moon past the clouds of dust in the sky. Another strike meant the death of every survivor; and probably of Kalki too.

Can you stop it? Basil asked.

General Leblanc has authorized a nuclear strike on the moon with whats left of NATOs remaining arsenal, Neria replied. Theres no guarantee our missiles can get past the Unitys orbital defenses, but even if five percent of them hit home, it would be enough to blow up an area the size of Germany.

Basil doubted the Unity would be mad enough to use a damaged weapon of mass destruction but after what he had seen today, he couldnt rule it out. The sooner, the better, he said before closing the screen. He had received another message, this time from Vasi.

VASI: Basil, Metal Olympus is in the city. Theyve gone after Kalki. Well try to rescue him, but the enemys Perk will interfere with communications.

At this point, Basil was too mentally exhausted to curse his rotten luck. Whenever he thought the situation couldnt get any worse, the System found a new and novel way to prove him wrong.

I should have never let him get out of my sight, Basil blamed himself. I should have known. I should have known.

BASIL: Try to get Kalki and teleport out of the city immediately afterward. The Unity is preparing to use their cannon on us again.VASI: These madmen alright, be right back. Good luck.

Basil wished his girlfriend the same and prayed to God to ensure her safety. Behind him, Shellgirl summoned a Frost Booster from her inventory. Whats the plan, Partner?

Cover me by taking out the smaller drones. Basil could handle the titan alone, but its escort would complicate matters. Once Ive lured the giant away from the city, Ill use the secret weapon. It should take out a large amount of its health.

The secret weapon? Shellgirl choked in surprise. Werent we supposed to use it as a last resort?

Im through with playing nice. Basil stood atop Rosemarine and prepared to jump. Steve, stay close. When the titan is down, youll only have a short time to absorb its core before it self-destructs.

Basil leaped from his tropidrake before receiving an answer. Shellgirl activated the Booster to enhance her damage and shared another with Steve. The party roared as they engaged the enemy.

Chaos reigned when they reached the frontline. On the ground, a patchwork defense of Bulgarian soldiers were firing at incoming Gearsmen behind trenches and fortifications. The shockwave from earlier had collapsed multiple watchtowers, but some walls of concrete and steel walls survived enough to offer the Swords of Saint-George protection. Countless corpses and heaps of scrap metal mounted up on the killing zone where Gearsmen lasers met human projectiles.

Shumens defenders were a complex lot: artillerymen using machine guns in tandem with rune-powered tanks; mages summoning small meteorites while bolstered by bardic songs; archers raining arrows from behind a shieldwall raised by armored knights. Dozens of classes were present on the battlefield, great in their disparity, yet united in their purpose.

Soldiers held the tide of steel for now but just barely.

The titans shadow covered the battlefield, though it had stopped advancing. A group of wyvern riders, tamed demons, and war helicopters attacked the titan from all sides above the clouds, keeping it busy. At their helm was a winged knight wielding a sword in one hand and a spear of light in the other.

Simeon lived.

The sight gave Basils dead heart a little hope. Using Double Jump to join the flying melee, he bounced past Unity drones and slashed at the titans chest. Runestorm: Water!

Water magic infused his halberd as it cut through steel like paper. Basils weapon slashed gears, bolts, and wires before coming out of the titans back.

Supereffective hit!

His dazzling entrance was immediately noticed.

Sir Bohen? Youre alive?! Simeon waved his spear at his troops. We are outnumbered ten to one! We need to fall back!

No, theyre preparing a second orbital strike as we speak! Basil shouted back imperiously. Simeons eyes blinked in horror behind his helmet. Our only chance of survival is to push through!

The Gearsman Titan looked down at Basil with its crimson eye. Scan The machines metal voice suddenly shifted in tone, becoming deeper, more focused. Target identified: Basil Jean-Franois Bohen. Engaging pursuit.

Engaging pursuit! The Unity Watchers spoke as one. Self-Destruct!

They all threw themselves at Basil like a suicidal hornet swarm.

Simeons [Paladin Halo III] granted you an [Regen] effect, buffed all your stats, and granted you Resistance to all Ailments for five minutes![All for One] spread the effect to your Guild!108 [Metal] damage! 206 [Light] damage!Item selected: [Ocean Freighter]. Metal Olympus Power Armor (Broken)Family: Clothing (Power Armor).Quality: A (Broken).[Broken]: This item must be repaired by a Crafter to regain its true power.[Mirage] status! Your chances of dodging Physical attacks are doubled for three minutes!

Vasi and Bugsy exchanged a glance. She pointed to her left, the volcanipede nodding without a word. After facing so many trials, the group didnt need words to coordinate.

I ask you for the last time, Ashok said. Will you come with me quietly, Lord Vishnu?

The eyes do not see Kalki looked up and glared defiantly at the false god. What the mind does not want.

Ashok let out a grinding sound that could pass for a sigh. A pity.

He savagely punched Kalkis head into the pavement.

Ashoks attack was so sudden, so brutal, that Vasis eyes struggled to see him move. The false god hit Kalki hard enough to dislocate his jaw. For a brief second, Vasi thought her traveling companion had been killed on the spot; dooming Earth to destruction. Fortunatelyif the witch could call watching a friend beaten so brutally fortunateKalkis chest rose slightly. He still breathed, but no longer moved.

Bugsys eyes burned in outrage, though he was wise enough not to give Ashok a warning. Vasi incanted a spell as her insectoid friend charged to rescue Kalki.

I hear you. Ashok suddenly turned around, his bloodied hand shining with electricity. Astrapios!

He shot Plato with lightning and killed him on the spot.

Vasi had no idea how Ashok managed to detect the felines presence, but he did. A blinding thunderbolt surged from his fingers and targeted an empty spot at the witchs left. Plato became briefly visible as a bolt incinerated him to dust; he hadnt expected the enemy to see him and thus failed to dodge.

Plato has taken 2850 [Lightning] damage! Plato has lost a life! Four of them remain!

Vasi gasped upon seeing the number. With the System doubling damage for the next twenty-four hours, a single bolt meant death.

But this worked in reverse too. If they could blitz Ashok, they could kill him in minutes.

Murderer! Bugsy charged at Ashok with dazzling speed. Fire Up!

All of Bugsys physical stats have been buffed, and his [Fire] attack will inflict 50% more damage!

Since Kalki was too close to Ashok for her to risk using her most destructive spells, Vasi opened with a precise volley of ice shards. Ashok shielded himself by raising his arms, to little avail. Vasis ice shards, empowered by the New Year Events effect, might as well have been made of steel. They cut the false gods metal body and left marks all over his platinum armor.

Vasis attack allowed Bugsy to close in on them. The volcanipede swooped at Kalki in an attempt to grab him and run, but Ashok saw the rescue attempt coming.

Useless! Powering through Vasis spell, Ashok engaged Bugsy in melee. "Panhellenion!

Ashoks fists started moving so fast Vasis eyes struggled to see them. He unleashed a volley of punches at Bugsy, hitting the much larger Volcanipede in multiple places. Each blow caused an aftershock as it surged through the air.

Critical hit negated by [Carapace+]! Zeus-Ashoks [Turbo: Physical] bypassed Bugsys [Physical] Resistance!

Strong as he was, Bugsy was still thrown back across the room and hit one of the statues. Vasi prepared to cast another spell, only for Ashok to swiftly grab Kalki by the head. Unable to hit Ashok without harming her friend, the witch hesitated.

And it cost them everything.

Teleport, Ashok said.

Kalki vanished in a flash of red light.

Cheater! Vasi cursed as Plato revived at her side, weakened but alive. I thought teleportation effects didnt work in dungeons!

Ashok didnt bother answering. He instead turned in her direction and charged her with murder on his mind. With no reason to hold back anymore, Vasi completed her spell and nailed him with a volley of ice shards. A pleasant sensation flowed in her body as she fired her magic, strengthening her.

Basils [All for One] granted you a [Regen] effect, buffed all your stats, and granted you Resistance to all Ailments for five minutes!

Neat.

Not again! Plato screeched as he swung his sword and unleashed a blade of wind. The Regen effect healed his wounds, curbed his revivals disorientation effect, and brought him back into the fight. Ive lost half of my lives! Half of them!

Tallaios! Ashok swung his arms. A dozen melting meteors materialized in his wake and flew straight at his enemies. Half the projectiles exploded upon meeting the Bohens own attacks; the rest continued their course at them. Vasi and Plato had to run in two directions to dodge.

Ashok Acharya, I suppose? Vasi tried to distract the false god to give her ally a chance to flank him. I see. You sensed Hypathias essences, didnt you? Is that why you sent her to die at our hands?

Sin: Pride, Ashok replied, a golden aura glowing around his body as he ran towards Vasi.

All of ZeusAshoks stats have been buffed!

He crossed the gap between them in a single bound.

Vasi ducked to the side to dodge. Ashok punched through one of her afterimages, hitting the ground with enough strength to leave a small crater on the floor. He chased after Vasi without wasting a breath, only for one of Bugsys magma bombs to force him to retreat. The lava spilled over the stone ground, and the false god immediately ran around it in an attempt to catch the witch.

This one is not like his teammates, Vasi thought. Tamura had been inexperienced in using his powers; Hypathias arrogance had made her misuse her gifts; and Benjamin Leroy was deranged enough to waste time trying to convince others of his righteousness. Ashok showed no such weakness. None of his attacks were wasted, and all of them aimed to kill. He knows Im a long-range mage, so he engages me in melee. Hes a professional.

Youre not really the talkative type, are you? Vasi asked before deciding to use her trump card. She had wanted to give herself more time to think over her choice, but this man did not fuck around. She couldnt afford to hold back.

This time Ashok deigned to answer her. Chitchat is wasted on the dead, Mrs. Yaga.

Vasi couldnt agree more.

Metamorphosis, she said. Glaistig Fomor.

The power coursed through her veins the moment she finished her sentence. Her skin glowed with otherworldly energies. She felt her body change as her ancestors magic molded her flesh into a form that fit it.

Realizing the danger, Ashok raised a hand in her direction. AstrapAH!

A vengeful Plato had leaped on Ashoks back and sliced his metal neck with Joyeuse. The attack would have severed a mortals head, but though the false gods throat ripped open and shed a fountain of blood, his skull did not fall from his shoulders. The infuriated Ashok turned around and punched the weakened feline, sending the feline crashing against a wall. His body exploded in a shower of blood and bones on impact.

They killed Plato again! These bastards!

Her friends sacrifice was well worth it.

Vasi felt wings burst from her back and tear through her sorceress robes. Her feet became hooves. Her horns grew longer. None of this mattered. Physical changes paled before the cosmic power empowering her and the otherworldly knowledge filling her mind.

Her father was a demon lord and her mother a mighty Fomor. Of the two sides of her ancestry, the latter swiftly became dominant. As primeval magic reshaped her into a true fairy lord, Vasi let out a laugh. A spell inherent to her mothers race was engraving itself in her mind; a mighty weapon she had herself suffered from not so long ago.

Vasi pointed a finger at Ashok and uttered two words. Two simple words that would extinguish even a gods hopes.

Darkest Fear!