"That's dumb, why wouldn't you build something that would copy the way a bird works? I mean, that would make sense wouldn't it?" Angelus asked.
Aegis shook his head. "From what I understand, trying to build something with that much complexity is too difficult for the Techs. It's a lot more than just their wings that would need to be copied. The bone structure, the light material which allows for flight while still holding multiple human passengers, everything from top to bottom. There's a big difference between getting a living creature built for flight to fly then building a machine to fly humans, creatures which are not designed to fly."
"Where the fuck did you learn all of this anyway?" Angelus asked.
Aegis smiled. "I actually paid attention in class. And, even more miraculously, I took the time to study during our off time."
"Fuck you, fucking nerd." Angelus scoffed. Here, Aegis' smile disappeared.
"Oh, you don't think it's important to know about the enemy you are risking your life fighting against?"
Angelus grumbled, but said nothing.
"Hey guys." A new, but familiar voice called out to them, and three heads turned to see Azreal approaching, with Veteran Brandall.
Aegis, Angelus, and Barka rose to their feet. "Veteran Brandall." They greeted him with a bow, who held his hand up.
"Relax, you're not in trouble. And it's good to see you three made it out, Graduate Angelus, Graduate Aegis, and Graduate Barka. I'm sorry, but I must borrow Graduate Aegis and Graduate Angelus. You can stay as you were Graduate Barka."
"Umm, yes Veteran. Though if there is something I can help with, I'd be happy to."
Veteran Brandall shook his head with a smile. "There will be no need. You have already fulfilled your mission of getting out of NorthRend alive. Do not worry, there will be things for you to do, but for now, just relax, you have earned it. Graduate Angelus, Graduate Aegis, come, Veteran Hailey has requested your audience."
Veteran Hailey scanned the small group gathering before her. They were all Seniors, approximately thirty in all, herself and two other Veterans, and lastly, the ones sticking out like sore thumbs and typically would be nowhere near such a gathering, the three Graduates.
Nearly everyone had given them a glance of some sort, one of hate, one of fear, one of suspicion, just about every look a human face could give, and even Hailey herself acknowledge that she had given them a strong glance of her own as they started approaching.
Veteran Hailey put the question in the back of her mind to ask herself later, how long would it be before they stopped being assets, and start being detrimental? But now wasn't the time, especially when she can still utilize their talent and powers in the fight against the enemy.
It also wasn't something she couldn't put aside forever, and might even have to deal with it sooner rather than later.
"Listen up!" Veteran Hailey told the murmuring crowd who were talking amongst themselves, which instantly died out at the sound of the Veteran's voice.
"I realize this goes against our primary objective, so I can only ask for volunteers. I do not intend to allow the enemy to keep NorthRend if I can do anything about it. So, I ask, who wishes to go back and burn NorthRend with me? We couldn't do so when we left, for the survival of all depended on us watching out for our subordinates. But now, I want to go back and burn NorthRend right to the ground, and the enemy with it. Who wants to go back with me?"
Several voices spoke up in favor of such a mission, but one voice stood out among them.
"I'm in, let's fucking burn them straight to the fucking Abyss!" Angelus shouted, causing everyone, and especially Aegis and Azreal, to turn to him in surprise.
"Angelus! Are you out of your fucking mind? What the fuck are you doing?" Azreal blurted out.
Angelus simply shrugged in response. "All I'd need to do is burn NorthRend right? Shouldn't be that hard."
Either he was crazy, or stupid. Does he really think the enemy is that easily to deal with? Did he not learn anything during their encounter with the enemy at all today? Regardless, Veteran Hailed decided to allow the conversation to play out.
"Have you forgotten that the enemy has completely overtaken NorthRend at this point?" Aegis pointed out.
"Eh." Was Angelus' response.
"Dude, seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you!? Are you trying to get yourself killed!?"
Although it was just for a moment, and barely noticeable, Angelus reacted to that question slightly, a reaction both Aegis and Azreal did not miss.
"Are you-"
"I got a better idea. How about instead of burning NorthRend, we sink it?" Angelus said next, cutting off Azreal and causing audible reactions among the Seniors.
"Sink it!? Are you serious!?"
"And where are we supposed to get the power to split the earth to that degree!?"
"Let's fucking face it, I am closer to Master level then Veteran level, or at least way above Graduate level, and way stronger than you guys. So get the fuck over yourselves about that. Next, it would be safer for us to sink it than to burn it, right? Since we can do that from a distance, while burning it with fireballs would make us go closer, that means it would be much safer to try and sink it. Lastly, if these two tag along." A quick gesture to Aegis and Azreal. "Then that will make three Master level Dragoons, and that will be more than enough."
As Angelus began speaking, everyone had stared in shock as he spoke so bluntly and openly. So shocked, that no one had interrupted him, and force everyone to think over what he had just said since no one had caught it all at first, and silence settled in once Angelus had finished.
This finally gave Angelus time to think about what the fuck he had just done. What the fuck!? In reality, Angelus had no idea why he had no idea why he had even spoken up in the first place, much less went on the roll that he did, and without being stopped on top of it! All while he had no idea what was coming out of him. In truth, he was just as surprised as the crowd gathered around him.
Yet, for some reason, Angelus was just simply not backing down. He knew the risks, know what might happen, understood the danger he would be in. By now, the enemy must have thousands in NorthRend, not to mention a lot more of their machines, including the ones Angelus knew he hadn't seen yet.
None of that mattered. To Angelus, for some add reason, it was simply a good opportunity to strike back against the Techs, and one he felt he couldn't pass up.
The eyes around him now began to narrow in hostility, seeing nothing but arrogance in all of Angelus' suggestions. But that didn't matter, for the most important individual did not see Angelus' suggestion as arrogance.
"Graduate Aegis and Graduate Azreal, would you accompany us to sink NorthRend as Graduate Angelus has suggested? As he said, it would be a safer plan for us to carry out, and a far greater form of mental intimidation to the enemy. They're used to seeing fire and explosions, but to see the earth split open is a true terrifying sight that they are not used to seeing lately. Lastly, it will be more effective manner of destroying NorthRend, and as Graduate Angelus has said, with three Master level Dragoons escorted by myself and Veteran Brandall, who will be joining us while Veteran Phobos will escort all survivors back to Pirus, you three escorted by the two of us alone will most likely be enough, though other volunteers would be appreciated." Veteran Hailey knew how low of a blow that was, and knew the Seniors present, and even the two Veterans probably won't react well to that, but it didn't matter.
Now wasn't the time for arrogance, and though Angelus had appeared to speak with arrogance, in truth, he was not. Everything he said had merit, including the fact that these three Graduates, as unbelievable as it was, and something completely unheard of, the fact is that yes, they were at Master level. Their live demonstration earlier had proven that.
The arrogance Veteran Hailey was seeing wasn't in Angelus, it was in the Seniors around him. They were ready to reject his idea outright because he was a Graduate and yes, had spoken with great disrespect. But right now wasn't the time to that. There would be plenty of time to argue that after they carried out the counter attack against NorthRend.
"Yes, I will go with you, Veteran, as you desire." Aegis responded next, and Azreal shifted his eyes to Aegis.
"Are you fucking serious Aegis!? Seriously!?"
"It's a good idea, and you don't have to come. Angelus and I should be able to handle it."
"You fucking dick! You are seriously putting me on the spot like this!?"
"This is war, Azreal. We don't have time to 'think it over', nor are the situations going to be fair or abide by your feelings. The question is simple, yes or no?"
"Fine! Yes, I'll fucking come along! You fucking asshole! I fucking hate you!"
"You also know it's the right thing to do."
"Wow, really? Way to rub that right in my face too. I fucking hate you."
"Are you sure, Graduate Azreal?" Veteran Hailey asked, deciding to cut their argument here.
"Yes Veteran, I will join you." Azreal answered.
Veteran Hailey couldn't help but smile a little, which she managed to hide from all present. All three of them were coming along, and now, though feeling guilty about it, felt excited at watching these three split the earth open on what was sure to be a very wide scale.
A total of twelve Seniors followed suit and volunteered themselves, and Veteran Hailey wondered if they had felt that same excitement that she herself had. Such a raw display of power was rare to see for the past few years, with most of the Masters among the Magi now gone.
Even more so, as unbelievable as it was, Angelus somehow was a natural leader. Here he was, still a Graduate, unable to get along with anyone. And somehow, here on the live battlefield, he basically gave an order to all present, and not a suggestion. An order strong enough for Veteran Hailey herself to back.
At least, to everyone else. Veteran Hailey, however, had seen this possibility. The signs were there, as odd as they might be. First, once he set his mind on something, he followed through all the way, and on the field, that would draw others to follow him, meaning that he was the type who would lead from the front.
Second, he is the type to speak his mind on the spot, and Veteran Hailey very clearly remembered the first day they met. Although he didn't use an ounce of his brain, the unseen fact was that he was still pointing out an observation he had made with no reservation. And when he actually uses his brain, that meant that he could issue strong voice and opinions that others would follow, as demonstrated.
Third, and perhaps the most important element of all, Angelus was the type who would never quit, and would fight in any situation, even if it guaranteed his death. Though that kind of thought walked a very fine line that one could easily fall off, but it also meant that he would be the type to inspire others, even in the heat of battle, someone who would lead from the front to the very end.
Although she had foreseen this potential in him, she was not expecting this, nor had she expected him to come along so soon like this, but nonetheless found herself impressed by Graduate Angelus.
"Very well, the rest of you, gather everyone and continue on to Pirus as planned. All of my volunteers gather around me, and we'll head out together."
This fucking sucks, David Johnson decided to himself. One would think it would be a little more exciting to be paid to sit around and do nothing, as all of the passengers aboard ship were. But the truth is, it sucks. Waiting and waiting and waiting, now it was so bad that David was sick of both poker and spades, and was now just laying down, hoping to catch a small nap to help pass the time. And to think, he still had another three days before he finally touched land once more.
As he did so, he ran the rumors that he had heard of the initial landings. The good news is that down here in the south, things were proceeded smoothly and on schedule for the most part, and the Magi have not gathered for a counter attack yet.
The bad news is what was going on with the north, and with David's father. The power and effort being displayed up north is way above what anyone in the south had seen to this point. A giant wave which sunk a number of ships, and lightning strikes with power that had not been seen for a few years now.
Apparently, dad was getting shit rained on him by these guys.
But David wondered about this. He didn't have all of the intel on the higher level Magi, but he was under the impression that less then ten were left. David himself entered the war a few years after the Class One Magi had mostly been killed off, and has never entered a live battle with a confirmed Class One Magi.
Though his father had told him everything he could, David himself has been wondering, mostly out of concern and fear, (which he hated to admit to) what it was going to be like going into a battle where a Class One was present on the battlefield. From what he had been told by both his father and others that have experienced it, they said it was nothing but pure chaos. Virtually no one was safe, anywhere, and that included the sky.
David had tried time and time again to picture chaos of that level. Chaos where there was a comms blackout, a break in the chain of command, and the danger any sort of open space presented. And perhaps, most importantly, the speed that power could be focused and directed on to new targets. Yet, David just couldn't do it, and he was pretty sure that everything he had told or even tried to picture probably did not do justice to the level of destruction that a Class One can wrought.
What made this worse was that he still had a couple of days to dwell on this.
"Since this hinges on you three, tell us how much closer you need to get." Veteran Hailey said in a low voice, not taking her eyes away from NorthRend in the distance at the horizon, with multiple Tech machines flying around NorthRend like a set of angry bees ready to lash out at anything that dared come close to them. She was gathered with Aegis, Angelus, and Azreal who were laying low as a precautionary measure.
"Close enough that we can be seen with the naked eye, unfortunately. Although we'll be further back from fireball range, it won't be that much farther. We'll need cover as well if we are to sink NorthRend." Aegis answered.
"That's going to be a problem. We'll be in the open, how much time will you need?"
"A few minutes, which I understand on a live battlefield means a very long time, considering the situation. And since we don't know their numbers or strength, we don't know whether or not the three of us will have efficient protection if we try." Aegis surmised.
"Two." Angelus cut in.
Aegis, Azreal, and even Veteran Hailey turned and blinked at Angelus in surprise, who was now on his feet.
"We'll get blasted to the Abyss if the three of us go out there and try to sink NorthRend because they'll be able to focus their long ranged attacks on us and we won't be able to do shit about it. But, if I go in, play the decoy, and disrupt them before they can gather their firepower together-"
"Are you fucking insane!? Seriously, what fucking drugs have you tak-wait! Angelus!!" Azreal shouted to Angelus, who had already taken off running.
"What the fuck is he doing!?" Azreal shouted next as Aegis rose to his feet.
"Counting on us to do our part. And as crazy as it seems, his plan is actually the best one we could possibly come up with. Veteran Hailey, it would be better for Azreal and I to split up from here to ensure a better wide ranged effect when we sink NorthRend."
"Don't fucking dodge the question! Angelus is-"
"Attempting to deal with the situation before him in the best way he can. I know you're concerned about his mental state, since he seemed to be the exact opposite about an hour ago. Even I can only guess what's going through his mind right now, but I will say this. I don't think he is looking to get himself killed. To be honest, as odd as it may seem, I think he is now being driven by a sense of duty."
"Play your guessing games after we get our job done. If we're going to help Graduate Angelus, we need to move now. We'll split up from here and start getting ready." Veteran Hailey cut in, now annoyed that she was following another order from Angelus.
In all honesty, Angelus still had no idea what was really going through his mind as he continued to run towards NorthRend, saving his Lightning Steps once he was in the deep shit. And thankfully, it didn't matter. What did matter was that he had far more important things to concern himself with, such as the flying machines which were turning towards his direction as he closed in on NorthRend, and he was now close enough that he could see a number of people scattered around NorthRend. It was also noticeable that they were now very active, with people running around, and even gathering to meet him.
The flying machines, however, seemed to be the more immediate threat, and Angelus was now within throwing distance of NorthRend. Five of them were now hovering over NorthRend, staring directly at Angelus, and it was here that Angelus stepped up his efforts.
Before the machines began firing their weapons, Angelus opened his palms for two fireballs, and threw them at NorthRend as he himself stepped up to Lightning Steps, and arrived in the center of NorthRend as the two fireballs exploded behind him. Angelus paid no mind to the explosions behind him, since he knew he was at safe distance from their intended targets. Instead he focused his attention to the sky, since he had also positioned himself directly underneath the flying machines.
Yeah, they were separated in the sky by dozens of feet, but Angelus smirked at the machines as they began to scramble, having lost sight of their target.
Five good wind blasts from Angelus' closed fists, and all five of the flying machines were completely thrown out of control, which Angelus didn't bother to watch as he repositioned himself with another Lightning Step. (And not a second sooner. A total of five rifles had been honed in on Angelus and were about to fire before he vanished.)
Unfortunately, one of the flying machines fell to the ground very close by, and Angelus instinctively dove to the ground for cover as one flying machine after another fell to the ground, creating a strong succession of explosions in under a single minute.
By this time, the smoke from the fires in NorthRend could now be seen from a few miles away, with the cloud of smoke continuing to grow. And once Angelus recovered to himself, he propped himself to his feet and drew his sword, bracing himself for some very close combat.
'By Osirus, he'll burn all of NorthRend single handedly at this rate.' Veteran Hailey told herself, her sense drawn to the chaos currently rampaging in NorthRend a short distance away as she, Aegis, and eight of the seventeen Seniors came to a stop.
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