Getting the camp packed didn’t take long. It did, however, take longer than they had. Once the Chitrans discovered the demons no longer intended to hold the position, they rushed the walls, and the fighting turned instantly chaotic.
Chaos was unwelcome here. It forced those occupied with dismantling their tents to rejoin the fight. Although, it was beneficial for Vir, as it allowed him to reave into the enemy’s lines without worry of discovery.
Chitrans fell far faster than they should’ve as Vir sliced through their skin. Their armor did little against the devastation Prana Blade and Blade Projection could wreak, and so, despite their superior numbers and training, the Chitrans had a difficult time making headway against the defenders.
Even so, with so many Chakra-laden attacks, Vir had to move slower than he otherwise would’ve, hampering his efforts.
They were losing. The only question was whether the wall would be breached before they were ready to leave.
“Leave the Ash’va!” Vir commanded. “We can’t take them with us, and they’ll just slow us down.”
“It’s not looking good,” Balagra replied, slithering up to Vir. A fog of Corruption blanketed the battlefield outside the wall, yet the Chits seemed only mildly distracted by it.
“They must have someone with a powerful Aspect of the Stone Sentinel,” Balagra said. “They are mitigating the effects of my power.”
“What affinities?” Vir asked. “What affinities does that Aspect tattoo use?”
“Earth, primarily, though also Life or Wind or Lightning, depending on the demon.”
“Got it,” Vir said, Leaping over the wall. He fell right into the lines of the enemy, and sunk into the shadows upon landing. To anyone observing, it’d look like he’d disappeared—likely using a movement art. At least, he hoped. He didn’t have the luxury of completely masking his every move at the moment.
From the shadows, Vir closed his eyes and allowed Prana Vision to guide him. Chitran Bloodline Arts tended to use a mixture of Fire, Earth, and Shadow, making the task somewhat difficult. Earth, on the other hand, was a minor element in their arts, and so Vir focused on the brightest Earth affinities.
There were not one, but two heavy Earth Affinity wielders in the attacking Chitran forces.
A Prana Bladed talwar snaked through a shadow and plunged into the back of one, ending that demon’s life. For the other, Vir let loose a Talwar Launch, decapitating the Kothi and sending his head flying, but not before someone launched a Chakra attack.
Stuck in the Shadow Realm, Vir’s mobility was nonexistent. His arm simply couldn’t dodge or avoid the strike, bound to the shadow as it was.
Thinking fast, Vir resurfaced and Leaped, using the momentum from his prior jump to evade the lethal soul attack. It also shot him up and over the wall, allowing him to land right beside Balagra.
That was too close, Vir thought, his heart pumping madly. Far too close.
The Naga shook his head. “You’re incredible, you know that? You’re just one mystery after another. Like the layers of an onion, when I think I’ve figured you out, you show me something new.”
“Just doing what I can,” Vir said, forcing calm in his words. “Looks to have helped.”
“I’ll say!” Balagra said, laughing hard. “Look at them! They’ve turned tail! Now that they’ve lost their Stone Sentinel wielders, they can’t handle my Corruption Field any more than a child!”
Though the Chits had retreated, they hadn’t exactly fled. They’d simply retreated past Balagra’s field, and were continuing to fling ranged Chakra attacks. Unfortunately, strong Chakra bearers didn’t register to Prana Vision, or else Vir would’ve taken them out long ago.
“The troops are ready!” Malik shouted as he came running up to Vir and Balagra, looking winded and worn around the edges. “We’re ready to leave on your mark.”
Vir glanced back at their camp and nodded. “Alright. Let’s make sure everyone gets out safe and sound.”
Breaking down the wall was easy. Getting a throng of nearly two hundred untrained and skittish soldiers out while being pelted with ranged prana and Chakra attacks? That was something else entirely.
“Stay in formation!” Balagra roared, moving to the forefront of the column despite his weakened state. By moving forward, he’d extended the range of his Corruption Field, pushing the Chitran back in hopes of stalling out their Chakra attacks.
“Blasted Kothi,” Balagra cursed.
“They’re hitting us from this far? How?” Vir asked, watching helplessly as another of his demons collapsed.
“His Chakra is strong, that’s how. Curse our luck.”
A panicking four-armed red demon broke ranks and charged the enemy.
“No!” Vir roared. “Stop!”
It was too late. The instant he split off, he was targeted by concentrated Bloodline Arts. Fireballs, icicles, and a slew of other attacks bombarded him, and when he got within range of their Warlord’s Domain, he slowed considerably.
That was his death knell. Punctured and skewered by magic, the demon collapsed halfway to the enemy—dead.
“Let them burn in Ash!” Balagra shouted, though it was more a scream than a shout.
This… won’t work, Vir realized. He’d been too optimistic about their ability to flee under fire. Had this been a trained army, there would’ve been no issues. As it was, they looked dangerously close to routing. Once that happened, it’d be all over. They’d be picked off and decimated.
Even if they didn’t rout, the demons would not only have to stop to pick up their armor and weapons, but they’d have to skirt around the mountain range that had protected their encampment to get to the Ash Boundary.
Weighing the pros and the cons, Vir made his decision.
“I’m going back out. Keep them in line until I return.”
“No, it’s too dangerous. You are too young. You lack the Shield and Heart Chakras, yes? What you did earlier was dangerous enough. If you’re struck—”
“I know,” Vir muttered, thinking of the close call he’d just had. It was precisely why he hadn’t already annihilated the Chitrans. The danger was very real. One misplaced step, one wrong move, and he’d suffer a fate worse than death.
“I know, but at this rate, we don’t stand a chance. I told you before, that after what I did to the Overseer, it’s now my responsibility to ensure these demons survive. Look me in the eyes and tell me that we’ll make it if I don’t do this.”
Balagra couldn’t. He averted his gaze. Balagra had too much combat experience to believe in such fantasies. “Go, then. But do not take unnecessary risks. You are strong, yet you are but one demon.”
Vir smiled. “I won’t. Trust me.”
With that, he Leaped back into the enemy’s ranks, sailing above Balagra’s cloud of death, and skewering a Kothi as he landed. The slowing effects of Warlord’s Domains were negated by Haste, though to do so, Vir had to keep the ability active at all times, burning prana.
Talwar Launch ripped forth, killing a half dozen Kothis before they could respond. Vir Blinked… and just in time, feeling the icy chill of death strike the location he was just at.
Prana Burst exploded outward, and this time, Vir didn’t need to select targets. Given no warning, Kothis all around him were struck, and fell.