Ethaendra: Rise of the Storm Mage

Chapter 8A

Chapter 8A:
The Battle of Wartha

Toval Laboratory
Youngwood City
Arlon
Afternoon

"Alright Abigail," I said. "I'll see to it that my aid reaches Wartha City."

"Thank you for returning the favor Arlon," said Abigail happily. "Let's go assist them in combat!"

"No Abigail," I insisted. "The battlefield is pernicious. You cannot die out there. Better stay here in your laboratory and barricade it, as riot can be present, and a worse situation may come up. Please stay safe."

"Thank you for being concerned Arlon," she replied. "I'll ensure my peace. I've sold some cooking chemicals in exchange for food I can stock up for myself. Take care, your power has limits."

"Will do," I said. "I'm off to Wartha now."

I mounted a storm cloud and hovered my way to the port of Wartha. The sky is nearing sunset as I soared through the Ethaendran atmosphere, encountering majestic flying birds. I could get used to a view like this.

Port of Wartha
Wartha City
Arlon
Sunset

I observed the army setup, looking impenetrably defensive. Hundreds of battalions of archers, master wizards, and musket men stand at the decks of ships, lined across the shore. These soldiers are like ants when seen from my point of view. I speculate no army can overwhelm this.

Before that, the attackers have to go through something even tougher. All Ethaendran Warships are formed in groups of four by three. This is to maximize the effectiveness and mobility of each and every ship, as a defensive stance can be formed upon the assault.

Goblins are scums for engaging combat against a nation I assume they have no chance against. However, if they are able to demolish these defenses, Ethaendra is done for good.

I landed in the front line ship which Archmage Toval commands to have a word with him.

"Ah, tis the descendant storm mage!" he greeted. "How are thee young lad?"

"I have come to aid battle sir," I said. "I know, and these are the final forces Ethaendra has, as well as the goblins. If ever they infiltrate the barricade, our land is done for good! My powers transformed me to a demigod, and I shall use it against the assaulters."

"Viktor's fleet can sail at any moment," he claimed. "Engage at the front line with us, and we can hold 'em off with ease, aye?"

I stared into the horizon where the sun sets, sighting a lot of ships. It is the whole, massive navy of the goblins!

The Ethaendran army sighted the hundreds of goblin battleships, sailing through the Ethaendran waters as one. A constant movement, and the sheer size of this fleet, made everyone tremble in fear.

"Battle stations!" commanded Archmage Toval, as the wizards prepared their deadly spells and the warships had their broadside spark cannons loaded.

The goblin fleet sailed onward the shore of Wartha. I charged my lightning rod with sparks and prepared a deadly thunderbolt.

When enough ships were in range, the Ethaendrans, along with my powerful thunderbolts, bombarded the approaching naval vessels, sinking the whole fleet at once, shocking the water with deadly voltage to electrocute all those who survived the blast. Swiftly, the ships reloaded to prepare for another salvo. However, these are dummy wooden ships with no goblins inside.

Fog began covering the sea as soon as we destroyed the decoys, and the shadows of the real fleet moved along the obscurity. Behind them was a highly threatening giant automaton that stomped its way through the shallow sea, making a disturbing noise by blowing its really loud horns.

Could the legends be true? I have read stories about the legendary Iron Centurion, a titanic automaton that stands as high as towers. It is ten times the size of a regular Mechanized Walker!

Armed with a giant mace on the left hand, and a machine gun on the other, this titan was rumored to take down walls with one swing of its ample mace and compel devastation to anything it comes across, and believed to be used by the goblins in any given time when they want to conquer. This is the very first time the gargantuan machine is witnessed.

This is no legend, and I will take this down on my own!

Both Ethaendran versus goblin ships and Mechanized Walkers openly bombarded each other. The opponents stood no hope against my lightning bolts, then came a very dangerous attack. The Iron Centurion prepared a stance, aiming its enormous machine gun at the Ethaendran Warships.

The barrel slowly spun, granting the warships time to retreat, although not enough. Bullets spurted rapidly fast, tearing down the Ethaendran Warships. I took action, and hovered nigh to the Iron Centurion, diverting its focus.

It started attacking me. Both fleets continued to bombard each other, as the water that once was a calm sea gradually filled with floating corpses of the courageous soldiers and chunks of wood and scrap from the damaged ships.

I isolated myself to duel the Iron Centurion.

I cast a lightning barrier to drive off the bullets and parry the melee attack. The defensive spell was highly resistant, erupting a large electric burst upon blocking the mace, knocking back the arm and staggering the Iron Centurion, driving it away a few steps.

This titan truly wants to slay me, yet it barely can. This metallic masterpiece is no match for a demigod who calls upon the powers of the storm. Not a single attack can hit, and only gets parried on successful hits. I cast fast lightning bolts at it, yet only insulated.

A thunderbolt did no harm either, and only knocked the titan back. However, it seems that a powerful force can take this automaton off of its stand and forcefully electrocute it upon fully drenched in saltwater.

I approached its feet, forcing it to turn around. It swung its mace, yet missed. Its attack was so forceful, staggering itself. I then flew behind it, and charged a baleful spell, covering the full moon with murky clouds.

The Iron Centurion is struggling to stand back up, as its heavy mace sunk down to the bottom of the sea, forcing the automaton to crouch. My spell gradually ended the channel, followed a barrage of thunderbolts from the sky, striking down the Iron Centurion, overloading the power and forcing it to fall.

One final bolt struck the drenched titan, frying it in one final thunderous blow. I have taken down the legendary Iron Centurion, the Goblin Kingdom's key to conquer Ethaendra.

The fray went on and on, as the Ethaendran Warships demolished the remaining goblin fleet. The ships on the rear were forced to retreat away, yet I showed no mercy. I called upon a thunderstorm along their route, generating raging waves. Surely, very few were able to survive and return to the Goblin Kingdom.

Outstanding fray, although numerous ships and men were lost. Contrary, the goblins have run out of forces, preventing any further attacks. I disembarked at the military camp near the shore. A wounded soldier dragged his body along the beach, catching everyone's attention.

I swiftly assisted and laid him down for rest.

"Entropy....." he faintly whispered, followed by a cough of blood. "Reign of terror.... not our fervor...."

Continue to Chapter 9A