Heirs to a Nothing Throne

Chapter 31

A foggy and miserable morning greeted us, the wet air sticking to our skin and filling our nostrils with a damp scent. The sun was still lazily rising into the sky, its glow covered by clouds. Near where we slept lay a pile of bags and foods that we decided were unnecessary weight.

Despite nature's peaceful mood, we walked forward with purpose, knowing it was too late for any thoughts contrary to conviction. Our guns were loaded and ready to fire at any moment, and while Theta didn't have her abilities active, I could see that mentally, she was keeping them always at the ready. She led the way, Angelique the closest to her and Eva and I trailing close by on either side. Not one of us said a word.

The plan was rudimentary, but given how little we knew of our opponents, it would do. Theta stopped. "I'll scout ahead," she said abruptly, before flying off. It took only moments for her to return. "Six of them outside." We nodded.

The first shots took out two of them, Eva's bullets ricocheting off of the armor. The remaining drew their weapons, and another two fell from the second volley. One of them turned tail and tried to get inside, but Theta leaped forward and grabbed him by the collar. She put a fist through his back and let him drop. The other raised his sword to bring it down on her, but Angelique tore into his helmet as we advanced.

The interior was identical to how it was before. Walls of a deep black color contrasted the copper doorways. We tramped through a labyrinth of identical hallways accompanied by a quiet echo, and I whispered instructions to the others.

"We'll be looking for a Qaddej to direct us to Timore. If we run into a group, do your best to spare one, but don't put us at risk because of it." They nodded.

Turning left led us right into such a group, three of them. We all raised our weapons and fired, Eva hitting her target for once. We were left with three corpses. I grunted but moved on without a word. After a couple more turns, we found ourselves in what was obviously a much busier intersection. A few dozen Qaddej were spread out among its length, congregated around an open doorway leading into what seemed to be a mess hall. They all ran at the sight of us, and I instructed not to mow them down. A few scattered Chevaliers charged us.

Theta played our vanguard as usual, darting between enemies, floating and jumping, weaving around Qaddej. She was methodical but frenzied, her hair trailing behind at all times as she used fists and tendrils to pierce and tear Chevaliers. Her power burned up armor with a touch, shredding enemies apart and leaving deep slashes in the walls and floor.

Then all at once, there was the deafening clanking of a new horde, filling the room and knocking to the floor several Qaddej fleeing in the opposite direction. We took a few steps back, firing wildly into them, but their sheer numbers prevented us from taking them out methodically. Theta held the majority back, a dark presence filling the hallway before us like a wall. Looking through it made the other side seem distorted and gloomy, and most Chevaliers who tried to pass through found that any part of their body that came into contact with it was completely vaporized. They redirected their focus on Theta proper, and she was pushed back by the brutality of their assault.

We assisted from behind as best we could, giving Theta more elbow room to defend herself. The sea of black armor only a few feet away made my leg shake and my stomach sink. Chevaliers tripped and climbed over one another to reach us, many falling to Theta before they could know what happened. Finally, we began to push the Chevaliers back a little, and someone within their ranks made the executive decision to fall back. While it could have been considered a victory, given the number of armor pieces littering the floor without a sentience to guide them, the skirmish had carved its mark into our ammunition stores. We quickly took mental stock of what we had left before proceeding again. "Save bullets as best you can," Angelique said, walking ahead of me. "Aim carefully, and remember, we've got bigger enemies to deal with."