Chapter 116: Man vs Adaptation

Chapter 116: Man vs Adaptation

Brina opened hostilities with a twitch of her hand. Rain of Swords.

Basil had become used to enemies announcing their attacks nameshe did the same with spells and Perks to better focusbut never before had he heard one so literal. Hundreds of swords materialized above the battlefield, from thin rapiers to heavy claymores, and fell to the ground faster than raindrops.

Disperse! Plato shouted a warning. The team immediately split to avoid the bombardment. A claymore hit the ground only a few steps away from Basil with enough strength to leave a small crater.

With the Bohens separated across the plaza, their enemies sprang into action. Brina immediately rushed at Basil after switching her sabres for a thundering, lightning-coated spear. Belphegor shouted at his thralls to attack the team with shining eyes and

When time skipped forward again, Brina was no longer visible.

Reacting purely on instinct, Basil sidestepped to the right. His reflexes saved his life. Brina fell upon the spot he previously occupied and impaled it with her spear. Lightning burst from the tip of her blade in a flash of light.

Though Basils armor made him immune to the lightning element, he wasnt keen on taking a hit. The Horseman of War had already proven capable of bypassing his defenses. Instead, he charged with his own spear and aimed for the heart.

Flaming chains flew at him from the right, forcing Basil to interrupt his attack and deflect them with his shield. Two skullfire minions of Belphegor moved to flank him. Basil killed one with a single strike of his spear and parried the seconds attempt at whipping him with burning chains. The distraction allowed Brina to remove her spear from the ground and charge at Basil. He barely managed to deflect a blow with his shield; the sheer force behind it pushed him backward.

Weapon Flurry, Brina said. She repeatedly thrust her spear so fast that Basils eyes struggled to follow its movements. He parried one weak blow with his shield, then a second, only for the remaining skullfire to distract him with a well-placed swing of its chains. This allowed Brina to pierce through his defense and stab him in the shoulder and the hip.

Supereffective hit! 431 [Physical] damage and 180 [Fire] damage! 431 [Physical] damage and 180 [Fire] damage! [Lightning] damage absorbed! You recovered 360 SP!

Powering through the pain and deflecting a sixth and seventh strike, Basil leaped into the air rather than keep engaging Brina in close-combat. He fled upward above the battlefield, only for the relentless valkyrie to unfurl her wings and pursue him. The skullfire started throwing fireballs at Basil from the ground to assist her.

A glance at the ground told Basil that his team didnt fare much better. Hellfire elementals encircled Plato, who struggled to cut his way out. Belphegor and Vasi traded offensive spells, with spheres of darkness clashing against ice storms, while Shellgirl and Bugsy repelled a group of skullfires with water and light. Yet no matter how many of these creatures they killed, more appeared to take their place.

Realizing the danger of being overwhelmed, Shellgirl switched tactics and summoned another Pandoras Box. She threw it amidst the enemy troops. Hey, look at my treasure!

Her trap did the trick. Madness spread to the skullfires and elementals, who immediately stopped attacking the team to rush at the chest.

Nice try! Belphegor chuckled as his eyes shone with dark power. It wont work again!

His undead thralls glowed with fell power, and the madness overtaking their mind was swiftly banished.

Belphegor removed his allies status ailments and debuffs!

Basil cursed as Belphegors troops rallied to their master. The battle was not going well at all

A dagger grazed his left arm, the sharp pain forcing him to focus back on the fight at hand.

Can you truly afford distractions now? Brina taunted him. A swarm of twenty daggers floated around her like birds of war. I will ask again. Tell me where your master is and I will make your death quick.

I dont even know who youre talking about! Basil snarled in anger. He turned around and deflected incoming daggers with his spear.

Liar! Brina lunged at him and closed the gap between them in the blink of an eye. I can smell the stench of Walter Tye all over you!

Walter?Basils brief moment of confusion nearly cost him his life as Brina threw her spear at him. Using his superior maneuverability in the air, he bent backward, the weapon grazing his left cheek, and countered with a thrust of his own. He targeted the chest, and his aim was true.

Brina did not dodge. Instead, the Horseman of War caught the spear with both hands. She grabbed the shaft and held it with a giants strength.

Do you even know who youve allied with? What youve allied with? Brina spat in disgust. Walter Tye is a godslaying traitor, an undead abomination, a murderous knave, and an enemy of all that is sacred and pure. He has cursed all of the nine realms with undeath and he will do the same with yours.

Says the invader bringing destruction to my world. Basil countered by trying to thrust his spear forward again. Look at your allies. Demons and talking corpses, all of them!

Brina tightened her grasp, both of them putting everything into their contest of strength.

They tied, and the spear lost.

Basils eyes widened in shock as Birghas shaft snapped in two, he and his rival each holding one half. Next thing he knew Brina headbutted him with all her strength. Neither his armor nor his intangibility stopped her.

276 [Physical] damage! You have fallen below half-health!

The blow pushed Basil down toward the ground. By the time he regained control of his trajectory, his enemy had positioned herself right above him.

If you had watched your teammates die, Brina said as she summoned two war axes to her hands. If you had watched all of your comrades suffer a gruesome fate before your eyes wouldnt you do everything in your power to avenge them?

I would swear an oath of vengeance, thats true, Basil replied as he threw an elemental orb at her. But not at the cost of innocent lives.

The end did not always justify the means.

Then you are either nave or a better person than me. Brina dodged his projectile and dived down toward him like a falcon. Whatever the case, I have made my choice.

Yes, you have. Basil jumped upward to meet her in close-combat, intent on opening his inventory and dropping a vehicle on her face. The wrong one!

Brina countered by throwing one of her war axes at him. Basil did not dodge. Taking a page from her last attack, he predicted the axes course and caught its shaft in midair. Knowledge immediately filled his mind.

[Holy War Apotheosis] activated! You gained perfect proficiency with axes!

Now it was Brinas turn to be surprised. Basil threw a water elemental orb at her in mid-flight, anticipated her moving to the side to dodge it, and struck her in the chest with her own axe by surprise.

Critical hit! 1885 [Physical] damage!

Not enough, Basil cursed as Brina recovered. Their axes danced in the sky, each clash a note in a deadly song of steel. Nowhere near enough.

Mmm. Brina seemed vaguely impressed that he had managed to hurt her. You might be worthy of Valhalla after all.

Ill send you to Hell first! Basil inhaled, and breathed out his corrosive breath at her. Poison blew over the valkyries face, forcing her back and briefly distracting her. Runestorm: Water!

Liquid swirled along the edge of his axe, but he failed to hit his target. Brina teleported a few feet away to dodge the supereffective hit.

You are justified in trying to defend your world from us, the Horseman of War conceded. But it would be easier if you simply surrendered Walter Tye to me.

And let you get away with your crimes? Basil snorted. How many lives did you trample to become a Horseman?

I have lost count. A brief look of guilt passed over the valkyries gaze. But I would kill far more if it would give me the power to fulfill my oath. Strength is the winners justice.

She spoke like the Maleking. That alone convinced Basil to answer her arrogance with overwhelming power.

Im so through with your self-righteous lot, Basil said before calling for reinforcements. One for All!

The last member of the Bohens answered his call with a fearsome roar. Her flower wings unfurled above the plaza in a shower of petals. Even Brina appeared briefly intimidated by her appearance.

Mister! Rosemarine raised her cannon-arms joyfully. Who am I killing today?

This is getting tiresome, Vasi thought as yet another skullfire transformed into Belphegor. And exhausting.

Why?! Plato complained as he and his allies surrounded the reborn Horseman of Death. Shellgirl, Bugsy, and Vasi flanked their enemy from all cardinal directions. Why? Why wont you stay dead?!

604 [Darkness] damage! Belphegors [Netherworld Pulse] pierced through your resistance and damage reduction! You have lost 302 SP!Einherjars [Skald Song] buffed his allies stats!Belphegor sacrificed himself to replenish Brinas HP and SP! All her attacks will be [Charged] (x2 damage) for ten minutes!

The Horseman of War was back to full health.

Its a nightmare, Plato commented as Brina rained swords upon Rosemarine. The poor dragon whined after a dozen blades pierced through her petal scales. Please tell me Im dreaming.

Vasi chewed her lower lip in frustration. This was bad. Very bad. Even Basil looked as grim as the day his mother perished.

The Horsemens teamwork was flawless. Belphegor wasnt too much of a threat on his own, but his refusal to stay down made winning against him impossible. Brina was the most dangerous one of the two, and though she didnt appear to share her teammates immortality, her immortal ally could replenish her health at any time.

I can try charming one of them, Vasi suggested at her wits end. She had never kissed a girl on the lips before, but she would rather embrace Brina than Belphegor.

It wont work. Basil shook his head in frustration. Theyre both immune to ailments.

Immune to ailments Shellgirls eyes widened. Eureka! Eureka!

What? Basil snapped in frustration.

I know how to destroy that undead bastard for good! Shellgirl replied with enthusiasm, though her smile quickly faltered. But

But what? Vasi pressed her. Rosemarine could only buy so much time. Shellgirl, what do you hav

A pulse of dark power blasted Vasi as time resumed.

604 [Darkness] damage! You have lost 302 SP!

The blow threw the witch back and sent her rolling on the ashen ground.

You know, I said Apollyon and I would have probably killed each other, and thats true. Belphegor loomed over Vasi with a murderous look. But he was also my teammate. I cant let you guys walk away after you put him in a body bag. Its a question of principles.

Vasi glanced at her surroundings. Brina and her einherjar were raining swords upon Rosemarine, pushing her back. Skullfires restrained Bugsy with chains, while other undead surrounded Shellgirl.

Basil and Plato were nowhere to be found. Vasis heart skipped a beat in panic.

I had some fun, Belphegor said as dark energies gathered around his hands. Please be a good girl and scream for me, would you kindly?

It might very well cost her her life, but Vasi refused to lie down without a fight. Blizz

She was teleported away mid-sentence.

The plaza vanished in a blink, replaced with a rocky hill overseeing Thessalonikis port. Steves metal frame replaced Belphegors wax figure. The Steamobile was still bombarding the rift from the outskirts with the Gehenna Cannon, though for each monster he vaporized from afar, two more fiends crossed over.

Basil Bohen teleported you with [One for All].

Her knight was here, alongside the others. Plato applied a paw to a smoking burn on his chest, while Rosemarine landed near the Steamobile while covered in wounds.

Vasi, are you wounded? Basil asked as he helped her rise to her feet.

Im fine, the witch replied with a thin smile. I wouldnt mind some healing though.

Im here! Rosemarine glowed with green light and her power swiftly closed her allies wounds. Heras Grace!

Rosemarine healed you back to full health!

Its only a matter of time before they locate us, Basil warned before turning to face Shellgirl. You said you had a plan to deal with Belphegor?

The mimic nodded. Do you remember the Gearsman Titan? Its runecore petrification blast could bypass ailment immunity.

Vasi quickly caught on. You want to petrify Belphegor instead of killing him.

Do you think it would work? Basil asked with skepticism.

It might, Vasi agreed. So far, Belphegor needed to die to activate his ability. If he could be petrified, his consciousness frozen in time, then they could potentially trap him forever.

What if we used Steve? Plato suggested. He ate the Titans heart, right? Cant we use that one?

The Steamobile let out an engine roar of approval, but Basil shot down the idea immediately. Activating Steves runecore would kill it, he pointed out with a grim look. And it only works on inanimate items or creatures with a lower level. Belphegor is five levels ahead of us.

Even if it had a chance to work, Vasi doubted any of the Bohens would willingly sacrifice one of their teammates for the greater good. It wasnt their way.

I could craft another weapon lacking this weakness with the necessary material, Shellgirl pointed out. But Ill need time and resources.

Basils jaw clenched. How much?

Shellgirls fatalistic expression was an answer in itself.

Boss, Bugsy said, looking at the horizon. Theyre coming.

Vasi glanced in the direction of the city-center. Flying forms floated above Thessaloniki and moved straight toward the Bohens location. At their current pace, they would reach them in less than five minutes.

She turned to face her boyfriend, each reading the others mind.

Sound Basil looked about to choke when he uttered these words. Sound the retreat.

They couldnt win today.

Boss, you cant be serious! Bugsy protested. What about Bulgaria?!

I know! Basil snapped angrily. The fury in his tone was enough to make Bugsy balk. But if we cant put these two down permanently, then theyll kill us through attrition and ravage Europe anyway!

Not yet, Shellgirl replied grimly. They said they were after Kalki.

Vasi nodded in agreement. They wont send troops to Bulgaria, she told Basil. They will make a beeline to Athens. If we can beat them to it, we can rescue Kalki and lay a trap for their army.

Vasi herself wasnt sure if the Horsemen would truly act rationally, for there was nothing rational about monsters wishing to destroy the world. But Basil had already suffered enough watching the Unity decimate his homeland. He didnt need a reminder the Apocalypse Force might do the same.

Basil sighed in defeat. Lets go, he said with a haunted voice. Lets lets go.

Everyone climbed onto the Steamobile except for Rosemarine, who bombarded the flyers from afar with her Eden Guns to buy time. Afterward, they all retreated before the enemy could catch up to them.

As they drove away from Thessaloniki, Vasi gazed one last time at the pillar of fire linking this world to the Apocalypse Forces own. According to the Incursions rules, it would stay open for three days. Seventy-two hours of monsters pouring out into this reality.

Greece would soon become hell on earth.