The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 68: Who's Paradise? (Part 2)

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The Isles of Alias had weathered many storms in their long history. They had overseen wars and Rift Walkers but always remained above it all. Even in the past when the Rift Walkers assaulted Areithia, the Isles had warded them off and their inclusion to the new Areithia was a given. Now they were under threat and slowly reaching towards their level, Celestia continued to rise.

I stretched my muscles at the edge of the cliff closest to Celestia. They had begun to send landing parties, literally catapulting demons through the air. The demons were shot by the marksmen of the Isles as they slammed and clung to the barrier, their bodies eventually falling to the cloud layer below. It was watching them that I realised why the Isles could never win a direct confrontation. The demons were suicidal. They screamed in joyous glory as they were flung through the air, faces plastered with smiles even as they fell to their deaths.

"Despicable," Mia spat.

"And we're jumping into a nest of them," I sighed. This really was crazy but seeing everything they had created here, I couldn't let the last hope of the world perish. And on that notion of hope, the people needed more of it.

My eyes gazed down, targeting the grey faceless mass and the canon that protruded from its mouth.

"Hey Shin, can you broadcast to the people here?"

The dwarf's voice replied through the helmet on top my head, "I can. Why?"

"I'm gonna blow up that canon."

"Ha! You're a fucking fool. It's got a barrier but a half second before it fires, the barrier lowers. Is that enough of a window?"

I looked to Mia, "Can you tell me when it will fire?"

She crouched and rolled her dice on the ground, "I can give you a five second count."

I looked between where we were and where Celestia lay. It was about two kilometres away. Five seconds.... I could do it.

"That'll be enough. Now get on," I gestured for her to grab onto my back.

"It would be safer to land past the canon...."

"Probably."

"Not probably, I know it. The canon is heavily defended by them," she frowned.

"You can always head back," I offered.

Mia shook her head, "No, let's do this." She wrapped her arms firmly around my shoulders. "I'll begin my count from 5, when I hit zero, it will fire."

"Understood," I breathed out and bent down to a runner's start. Like an arrow. The Old man's voice echoed through my head. Like a fucking arrow. My energy began to swell and the Mana Heart within my chest responded, beating heavily. At the edge of my mind I could feel the call of the Void but using it too soon would weaken me, I needed to save it for the right moment.

"Ready?" Mia asked.

"Ready," I confirmed.

She breathed to calm herself, it was clear she thought I was insane, but for whatever reason, she trusted me. She trusted the Ardent of this world.

"5!" she shouted and I launched myself forward, rapidly accelerating and quickly flying through the air. Ratansi Style Aura Control: Mana Craft. Each time I strode forward, a small bit of my mana solidified, giving me something else to leap from.