Rather than slow RandidlyÆs summons just weaved through the strikes in near silence AlanaÆs eyes narrowed The weird tapping noise made by the approaching twelve was surprisingly light belying the ominous aura that they produced as they moved in perfect formation
Above all of it the towering form of that tree continued to oppress the people from Donnyton like a physical weight Flexing her hands Alana channeled more energy through herself generating more interference But suddenly she feared her prediction had been optimistic
As Dozer raised his weapon to meet the lead rider a wave of crimson energy blasted outward from the formation Like a knife in the dark Helen spun between the two lead riders and turned into a barely visible blur as she dashed forward Within a second a spear shot forward toward Dozer Yet speed at this level wasnÆt enough
AlanaÆs eyes flashed and she rushed forward interposing herself between the two After waiting for so long she felt a thrill at the impending violence Finally time to go wild
DozerÆs calm eyes measured HelenÆs attack and then AlanaÆs intervention before finally taking no action toward them He raised his club higher preparing to smash the first wave of riders to a pulp as though the two women werenÆt about to clash only a meter in front of him
Even as Alana felt HelenÆs spear trajectory in response to her presence Alana snorted coldly Alana was not one who often used fancy moves but in terms of basics no one in Donnyton had performed the reliable Skills as much as she had this sort of improvisation would not fly
Around them the two forces remained in tense silence as they careened toward each other Only the crash and boom of projectiles and the tapping of the mountÆs feet broke the silence It seemed that no one seemed to breathe
With a quick move Alana cut off HelenÆs attack Yet Alana immediately felt Helen notice her adjustment and then spin out of the way relying on the power of her Domain to quicken the move to the point that Alana couldnÆt follow it Once more the woman became a blur
It seemed that up close the image was even more difficult to resist HelenÆs crimson waves were crashing against the orange dust filled winds that Alana created The density was quickly increasing displacing AlanaÆs interference But it did seem like that then magnified the effect on RandidlyÆs tree
For a split second that blur seemed about to shoot past her and crash into DozerÆs line But then Alana simply sidestepped and slammed her shoulder into Helen sending the other woman stumbling
IÆm your opponent Alana said coldly all of the frustration she felt over this assignment focusing toward this talented young woman that had appeared with Randidly when he returned It was due to her presence that she was stuck with this shit assignment As she raised her spear Alana reflected that the best she could do was finish this immediately
Then in the next moment everything was drowned out in the crash of metal as DozerÆs compatriots and the riders smashed into each other Axes and lances blurred toward each other in an elaborate dance The taps of the mount’s legs accelerated into a staccato beat as they adjusted for the collision
Then the two lines hit each other both sides striking out to wound and main Unfortunately for Alana she didnÆt allow herself to look up at the surrounding battle Her focus was on only one foe
As Alana took several steps forward to cut off HelenÆs path of retreat she was surprised to hear Dozer grunt in pain behind her Despite her earlier focus she paused Then she once more heard the rapid taps coming from the mounts followed by several loan moans and grunts of pain
Looking over her shoulder Alana witnessed the strange mounts of these riders twisting expertly out of the way of DozerÆs blow then scuttle forward in the small gap created while thrusting a spear into DozerÆs shoulder Around him DozerÆs companions suffered similarly with the mounts sometimes lightly hopping and pressing themselves off a neighbors weapon to obtain a better angle
The whole thing was so quick and natural that it was mind boggling It was only as the second line of DonnytonÆs forces hurried forward that they were able to slow and surround the riders Without the benefit of their preternatural flexibility their flawless defense began to weaken
AlanaÆs eyes narrowed Not the brute force types then Agility based riders Dangerous but not impossible to handle
Absolute Zero Immediately Clarissa moved forward and blasted the area with a wave of cold that afflicted both the riders and DozerÆs crew alike However while the humans simply shrugged off the powerful restrictive effect the riders seemed physically slowed to the point that the surrounding elites could wound them
Very quickly individuals from AlanaÆs and DonnyÆs Raid Squads worked together and inflicted several small blows on the legs of the mount eliciting high pitched screams It also seemed that these beings were relatively fragile Alana confidently turned her attention back to Helen and thrust forward with the spear At this rate
RandidlyÆs voice sent chills down AlanaÆs spine
Did you all truly forget about me
The ground began to rumble then hundreds of razor sharp roots pierced upward out of the ground and into the legs of the individuals that were attempting to slow down the riders Quick as a flash Ptolemy was among them rapidly healing the damage done But as quick as Ptolemy was there the riders were quicker
With impossibly light leaps they bypassed the encirclement and began to dash rapidly forward toward the backlines of DonnytonÆs forces
Helen regarded Alana warily spinning her spear IÆll fight you later Right now Dozer
Once she falls I can finally fight him Alana blurred forward unleashing three quick thrusts toward Helen Grimacing Helen could only scramble backward allowing the attacks to rip deep gashes in her Domain It wasnÆt just her spear that Alana struck with either the more she used it the more familiar she became with the strange energy she was capable of generating by vibrating her Class
Very quickly it was easy to see how much power she could generate by relying on this extremely primitive version of an image Although those gashes healed quickly Alana was rapidly learning how to use those gashes to herd Helen back toward Randidly As long as she forced the two images close together they would rapidly be forced to reveal some real potential to break out of DonnytonÆs trap
And if Alana could finish Helen off quickly enough then Randidly
More screams erupted behind her as another wave of roots ripped upward Alana leaned backward allowing one vicious specimen to leave a small gash on the inside of her thigh and then pass right in front of her face She directed that orange energy downward and she stomped her feet
Immediately the surrounding ground was filled with that energy destroying RandidlyÆs Skill at least temporarily But although she was able to withstand the Skill the other Donnyton elites were also being harried by the riders they werenÆt able to cope at all
I suppose we will have to be your opponent Mrs Hamilton said lightly as she Donny and Sam leaped over Helen and Alana to rush toward Randidly and the towering tree Without taking her eyes off the foe in front of her Alana forcefully created more energy and sent it in a wave toward Randidly hoping to give those three some cover
No such luck Only five meters away from Alana that energy dissipated into nothing Grinding her teeth Alana unleashed three more simple attacks pushing Helen further and further backward
If she couldnÆt affect him from here she would just shove Helen backward into his chest
The wounds I leave on those Classers you brought here wonÆt be easy to heal Are you sure you can afford to leave them alone with my Riders Randidly said wonderingly The pale grey Crown above his head pulsed with power Behind her Alana could sense that Kayle Paolo and the Cortez siblings had interposed themselves between the riders and the half dozen mages