The Fallen Celestial Ch. 06

"MOVE OUT!" Lexington commanded as he led the Fallen Army from the cove towards the Black Citadel. Lexington then dashed towards Sera as the Fallen Army quickly made its way past them.

Sera fell to the ground, gasping. Lexington tore excess cloth from his robe and placed it about Sera's neck wound. She placed her hand over his while she used the other to keep herself up.

"What happened?!" Lexington asked.

"Eh-...eh-...Esther," Sera replied. She could barely speak as she tried to catch her breath.

"What of her and the Shantei women?"

Sera could not reply. She tried to form words, but did not have the breath to speak them.

Lexington paused and gave her a reassuring look as he continued to compress the cloth bandage about her neck. He tied the ends of the bandage around her neck. The bleeding seemed to stop. He noticed the many cuts about her hands and could see blood smears on her armor.

Sera's breath finally slowed and she took one deep breath.

"Esther betrayed us."

Lexington felt his heart sink into his stomach. He too lost his breath.

"We did as you command and approached the Black Citadel, but remained far enough to escape Shadohinus. But Esther commanded that we hold our position. She said to wait until Shadohinus was close enough so that he was far from the Citadel. We did. But when Shadohinus approached us, Esther quickly slew Beth. Shadowmen erupted from the ground around us and surrounded us. I summoned my armor and sword and slew as many as I could. The Shantei women panicked, all except for the one called Mara."

"What about Mara?"

"She's in league with Shadohinus and Esther. As soon as the Shadowmen appeared, she made her way towards Shadohinus and embraced him. As I fought, a few of the Shantei women escaped. Most were taken captive. Shadohinus didn't care for me though. Once Esther and Mara went to his side, he headed back to the Citadel with the captured and left the Shadowmen to kill me."

Sera continued, "I was overwhelmed. Once they disarmed me, the Shadowmen forced me to the ground on my stomach. They clawed at my armor. They wanted to rape me. I would not give in though so they sent their Felhounds to attack me. Four of them were set before me and the Shadowmen stood in a ring around me and watched. I fought off the Felhounds, but one bit down on me. With that, I used what strength I had left and pulled the Felhound from me and hurled in at the Shadowmen. In it's enraged stupor, it attacked one of the Shadowmen. Some had to subdue it while the others were distracted by the event. I used that moment to dash out of there with what speed I could muster."

"You did well, soldier. Head back to the encampment to heal, I'll send a small group of escorts with you."

Sera nodded. Lexington helped her to her feet as she made off towards the encampment. He wondered how Ishmael was doing. He should be seeing him soon.

The contingency, Lexington thought, is our last chance.

---

As insurmountable as the odds were before, Lexington couldn't even begin to fathom how terrible the odds were for the Fallen and the rest of humanity now. Because the failed distraction ploy resulted in human captives, Lexington now had to figure out a way to rescue them. His then began to think of Esther.

Peculiar, he remembered thinking about her when he was preparing her for the distraction group. He should have known. It was very unlike a Fallen to act so promiscuously, but then again he liked it even though he wouldn't admit it out loud. But I'm different, he told himself. Unlike the other Fallen, he came to with no memory of how he arrived. He wondered if his lost memories made him more human than the other Fallen during their initial time on earth.

With Sera tending to her wounds back at the Fallen Encampment, Lexington had decided to turn towards Shantei. He kept scouts focused on the Blighted Path from the Black Citadel to Shantei to ensure that there weren't any sign of incoming troops from the Black Citadel to aid the Shadowmen Encampment in Shantei.

Within a few hours, Lexington's Fallen Army arrived in Shantei. The Shadowmen and Ishmael's regiment were still locked in the heat of battle. Lexington could see the summoning portal wide open.

We're too late, Lexington thought. The arrival of Demetriux was the last thing he needed to happen on top of everything else that has already occurred. Lexington had his Fallen Army charge into Shantei. The battle cry of Lexington and his Fallen stunned the Shadowmen enough. It was only a matter of moments before most of the Shadowmen fell to Lexington and his army.

The cry of victory from the Fallen was short-lived, however. A rumble startled the Fallen Army as Demetriux, the Valkyrie Lord, stepped from beyond the dark portal. He was just as Lexington remembered him. Demetriux donned a blackened helm that encased his entire head save for a slit that ran from the top and opened to the bottom. The helm was crowned with 6 short, but razor sharp horns. Lexington recalled the horrific times when he witnessed the sheer mutilation that Demetriux caused with just his helm. Save for his black metal helm, the only other armor that Demetriux wore were blackened metal leggings that protected his waist down to the greaves he wore. With both hands, he clutched his Greataxe, Zerstorung. There was a gleam in his eye that Lexington could only interpret that he was ready to kill. The muscles in Demetriux's upper body and arms were the largest Lexington had ever seen on any living entity. He rivaled in size to that of Aggram, the Celestial Giant.

Behind Demetriux, the portal dimmed to non-existence revealing a regiment, maybe a thousand strong Valkyrie soldiers. Each were donned in the same armor that Thraxa wore, except each carried a different weapon. Some with longspears, lances, swords, axes, and knives.

The sight of the Valkyrie only enraged Lexington.

Finally, Lexington yelled, "ATTACK!!"

The number of almost four thousand easily surrounded the Valkyrie Lord and his Valkyrie as the Fallen Army charged at them. Suddenly, a purple haze, almost a cloud, erupted from the Valkyrie multitude. The Fallen that were caught in the haze immediately stopped in a dazed stupor. Lexington could see that their armor retreated to each of their centers.

"What happening?!" Lexington called out to Ishmael.

But Ishmael couldn't respond. He didn't know either. He could only watch.

The Fallen that were caught in the haze, now bare of their armor and weapons all fell to their knees in sequence.

Fortunately, most of the Fallen remained outside of the haze and were halted, awaiting Lexington's command. They too could only watch. In the ring of trapped Fallen that surrounded the Valkyrie, maybe a hundred Valkyrie stepped from beyond their ranks and approached the trapped Fallen.

Every single Valkyrie, save for Demetriux, resembled Thraxa in a way. They all had this dark, exotic beauty. Sharp and angled, their eyes glowed with an auburn ferver. Their hips swayed seductively as they made their way to their victims. Like Thraxa, each possessed a buxom figure that was no doubt tantalizing to the now exposed Fallen soldiers.

Each of the Valkyrie proceeded to wrap their tails around the necks of select Fallen soldiers. The number of entrapped Fallen soldiers still greatly outnumbered the Valkyrie who stepped forward, but they appeared to be helpless while in the purple haze.

Each of the Valkyrie then unbuckled the armor that laid over their crotches to expose fully erect and large penises. The entrapped Fallen soldiers, male and female, seemed to willing open their mouths and began to suck on the Valkyries' penises. Lexington could see each of the Fallen clearly. They used their hands and mouths masterfully as each bobbed their heads and stroked the shafts of the cocks of the Valkyrie.

Lexington had enough of this. "ARCHERS!" he yelled. Some of the Fallen were equipped with bows and arrows as their main weapon.

"AIM!" Lexington then proclaimed.

A little under a thousand of the Fallen army were archers. They aimed towards the center of the Valkyrie multitude.

"FIRE!" Lexington commanded as the whipping sound of the bowstrings echoed through the sky.

In reaction, Demetriux yelled something in the language of Avariceal as the Valkyrie scattered. Most of them didn't carry shields and many of them were struck. With the abrupt movement, the purple haze began to thin.

Ishmael took quick notice and called out for Lexington. Lexington noticed as well and proceeded to yell "PUSH FORWARD!!"

As Lexington's command echoed into the sky. The clouds began to rumble with thunder as rain began to heavily pour on the ensuing battle. Ishmael let out a thunderous roar as he jumped ahead of his fellow soldiers with his sword and shield in tow. Lexington took notice of his second-in-command's fervor and couldn't help feel invigorated as well.

The Fallen Army once again let out their numerous battle shouts as they ran into the fading haze with weapons drawn. The Valkyrie that were getting their she-cocks worked on cut the throats of their victims, but were immediately killed as the Fallen Army enclosed upon the Valkyrie.

The rest of the Valkyrie, however, was prepared as they lashed out towards the Fallen. A clash of weapons and shields of all kinds rang throughout the morning sky. These Valkyrie proved to be as worthy opponents as any. It was apparent that because the Valkyrie had only been in the earthen realm for mere moments compared to the Fallen, the weakening effects of the earthen realm did not effect them as much as it did the Fallen. Lexington noticed that the Fallen were thinning in numbers faster than he had expected.

"We have to retreat!" Daniel cried out.

He was surrounded by three Valkyrie while defending himself with two of his summoned broadswords. One he struck down, dodged a swipe from another, but the third caught him with a slash to his leg. He fell to one knee with both his swords raised in defense. The other swung, he parried drawing her back. The Valkyrie that struck his leg was now in position behind him. Anna, one of the Fallen Soldiers, stepped in and swung upwards severing the Valkyrie's sword arm from her body.

Daniel turned in thanks before slicing another Valkyrie's leg off. Anna pulled Daniel to his feet, but then fell back as a Valkyrie's lance shot out from her gut. Daniel spun and sliced that Valkyrie's head off, before being trampled down by the Valkyrie Lord himself, Demetriux.

"It is our time," Demetriux said with Daniel under his heavily armored heel.

Daniel gripped at Demetriux's leg while he lied on his back in the mud. He looked from side to side for a weapon, but only found Anna as he watched life quickly fade from her eyes. Demetriux proceeded to step down harder. The Valkyrie Lord raised Zerstorung, his Greataxe, and swung it down quickly at Daniel's head.

In that instant, Lexington swung his obsidian longsword, Aequitas, striking Demetriux's Greataxe out of the way. Demetriux stumbled back at as Aggram charged in and took Demetriux to the ground. Lexington pulled Daniel to his feet. Aggram leaped into position between Lexington and Demetriux, drawing the Valkyrie Lord's attention in the move.

"RETREAT!" Lexington yelled. He looked at Daniel and commanded, "Get them to the encampment, I'll see you there."

Daniel nodded and hobbled off as two soldiers proceeded to aid him in the retreat.

Lexington turned to witness Aggram and Demetriux engage in their duel. He spotted a few Valkyrie surrounding Aggram and proceeded to take them down. He charged at one, then the other, and another. Each he brought down quickly with precise strokes. Fueled by his rage, Lexington proved to be the better combatant of the three. Being drenched in the red blood of the Valkyrie, the mere sight of him forced Valkyrie to a halt. He wondered if they knew of what he did to Thraxa and what he carried in his pocket.

No matter, Lexington proceeded to ware off any Valkyrie who wanted to come to Demetriux's aid.

Aggram and Demetriux swung each of their respective weapons, the Greatmaul and the Greataxe, at each other. Parry. Riposte. Slash. Swing. Dodge. The two were equally matched. Lexington marveled at Aggram's strength. The head of the maul was probably three times the size of Aggram's head and Aggram's head was an astonishing size itself.

Finally, Demetriux's Greataxe connected with Aggram's chainmail, but Aggram was unscathed. The contact slowed Demetriux's swing and Aggram responded to bring the edge of the hilt of Iustae, the Greatmaul, down on Demetriux's armored knee. Though it wasn't a painful attack, the move caused Demetriux to pause once again. In response, Aggram stepped back, turned and swung Iustae horizontally at Demetriux's side. The Valkyrie Lord did his best to avoid the attack, but the Greatmaul caught Demetriux's arm instead and proceeded with a loud crack. Demetriux cried out in pain as he dropped his Greataxe, Zerstorung.

Aggram stepped forward as Demetriux shied away from him, Demetriux gripped his now broken upper arm. Aggram, with his tree trunk of a leg, stomped on Demetriux's bare muscled chest forcing him onto his back in the mud.

The rain continued to beat down on the combatants. Aggram could see the water build up around Demetriux's eyes as he lay in the mud. With no further pause, Aggram brought his Greatmaul up over his head and looked down at Demetriux. He then quickly swung in downward on the Valkyrie Lord's face. As the large of the Greatmaul connected with its victim's head, Demetriux's face was instantly caved in as the Greatmaul sunk into the mud.

With the fatal blow to Demetriux, the remaining Valkyrie seemed to feel their lord's defeat as each responded with a debilitating cringe. The momentary pause gave enough of an edge for the lasting Fallen to rid themselves of what Valkyrie left.

Though the rain didn't stop, it did lessen in its intensity. It was clear enough to see the great number of Fallen that Lexington had lost. Though they had defeated Demetriux and his Valkyrie, the legions of Shadowmen still awaited in the Black Citadel with Shadohinus.

They won the battle, but the war was far from over.

---

As incredible as their victory was, the return to the Fallen Encampment was silent. The remaining Fallen resembled merely 2,500 hundred strong, two thirds of the number they had. Demetriux, though defeated, dealt a great blow to the Fallen and their chances against Shadohinus.

While the surviving Fallen made their way back to the encampment, Lexington, Aggram, and Daniel made their rounds throughout the battlefield. Of those that had perished, Aggram had found Ishmael with them as well. Ishmael was riddled with wounds from swords, punctured by arrows, and had two heads of spears jutting out through his legs. Ishmael would not go down easily. Aggram smiled at the thought.

Lexington had found the body of Demetriux and his caved-in skull. He couldn't help but smile and relish in the victory. He reached into his pocket and grabbed the pouch that carried Thraxa's severed cock and tossed it on Demetriux's corpse. He paused for a moment to relish once again and turned to make his way towards Aggram and Daniel.

When Aggram notified Lexington of Ishmael's fate, Lexington recalled that Ishmael was the first to notice that the mind controlling haze of the Valkyrie had been reduced and the first to rush in after. Though he was sure that Ishmael took many Valkyrie with him, the blow on top of the loss was more than he knew the Fallen and their cause could bear.

"Without Ishmael, the contingency falls apart," Daniel noted.

"What contingency?" Aggram asked.

Lexington answered, "While Ishmael went to Shahemein to retrieve Enama and recruit Shantei women, I had him quickly meet with Gaous and Cresus regarding the Shahemein military. If needed, we would use them to aid us in the assault on the Black Citadel. The problem was, we didn't have time to discuss the briefings between the three."

"Then why not go back?" Aggram suggested.

"Because the military aided assault included Ishmael's regiment. Most of them fell with Ishmael, rendering the military gravely ineffective," Lexington said solemnly.

"What are our options then?" Aggram asked.

"We must head back to Shahemein and fortify our position there. Shahemein is the last city between Shadohinus and the rest of the earthen realm."

"What about Shantei?" Daniel added.

"There isn't enough here to defend ourselves well enough. Shahemein is a stronghold. That much is proven."

"So to the defensive?" Aggram asked.

Lexington could see the concern in Aggram's eyes. He answered assuredly, "Defensive, yes. We shall wait for Shadohinus to lay siege and when he does, it will be the day we end this war."

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Note from the Author:

I just wanted to thank you all for reading again! I write only to bring you all entertainment and I greatly appreciate the time you take for any comments and private messages.

Thanks for your time!

- Geovani