The Battle of Euangelion: Atonement

Chapter 1: Up in Flames

Embers fluttered all around the charred trees along the riverbanks of Nebula.

Clouds of smoke created a canopy that blocked the poor sliver of light coming from Nullius Terram's setting red sun. But a burning griffon wing soon lit up the sky as it accelerated toward the river.

It was Aquila - her left wing set ablaze. She was diving straight for the water with Lucas and Phoebus still on her back. She hit the water like a crashing plane and disappeared beneath the surface along with her two passengers.

Lucas emerged shortly after they went under.

Bubbles popped a few feet away and were soon replaced by Phoebus catching his breath.

Aquila didn't surface.

Lucas submerged again to look for her while Phoebus swam to the shore. He crawled onto the sandy bank but was soon ambushed by a massive screeching, reptilic mass straddling over him. The beast's red eyes stared him down before its beak opened to reveal a small flame threatening in the back of its black throat. Phoebus hastily dropped his arms to his waist and frantically felt for the pommel of the sword in the scabbard attached to his right hip.

The creature inhaled. Phoebus grabbed hold of the pommel and unsheathed his sword, but there was almost no space for his arms. He forcefully pulled to the left cutting across the beast's stomach. It lifted its head to release a loud shriek, creating enough space for Phoebus to cut it again - properly gutting it this time. A giant Turpi dismounted from his fallen mutati and jerked Phoebus to the side by his shoulder.

Having his sword hand free, he cut the Turpi's arm. The Turpi pulled away and reached for his black saber, giving a swift-handed Phoebus enough time to strike again, lunging his blade at the Turpi's hamstring. The groaning giant dropped to one knee and was now eye-level with Phoebus.

Phoebus matched the hateful glare coming from the scowling foe's yellow eyes and launched his sword into his heart. Even though he'd pierced his target, the Turpi still had enough strength to lift his saber while Phoebus tried to remove his sword from his chest. For a moment it looked like the Turpi was going to cut him down as a final act, but an arrow darting so closely past Phoebus' head he could feel it brush his ear struck the Turpi through his eye. Phoebus swerved around and saw Dominic's bow still pointing in his direction from the fortification's South-Western tower.

Behind Phoebus, Lucas emerged with Aquila's head next to his and began swimming toward the bank. Even from a distance, the damage was apparent - she was effectively grounded.

Above them, Angelo and Mateo were locked in an air battle mounted on top of their griffons Draco and Leo. The Turpis flying their beastly mutatis outnumbered them five to one after some had already fallen. The gigantic Teras and a Turpi named Pavor also left the group to go look for Alexis after she fell from the sky. Though griffons proved considerably faster than their mutated counterparts, the mutatis' ability to breathe fire made the situation significantly more treacherous.

Angelo struck at a mutati every opportunity he got in order to strip the Turpis of their wings. Mateo was anxiously blocking a storm of Turpi sabers and mutati claws as they tried to descend upon an unarmed Rufus who was still seated in front of him. A one-eyed Pravus attempted to grab him more than once with unmatched fury and determination. His burning vendetta against Rufus seemed to fuel each attempt more and more. Mateo was trying to take the human recruit to the Riders' fortification, but that window of opportunity was not going to be created soon if the surrounding Turpis could help it. After every few blows both Riders would have to quickly maneuver their griffons to dodge the fiery blasts that had already crippled Aquila who was now being carried toward the fort gate by Lucas.