Ashborn Primordial

Chapter 136: Counterstrike

We have incoming! Badal shouted over the wind as they soared above Kinjal territory. Clouds obscured the moonlight, darkening their surroundings, and Vir wondered how the pilot flew the Acira without Prana Vision.

Whats wrong? Vir asked.

Aciras on our tail.

Kinjal?

Likely.

Why? I thought you said they were expecting us.

They are! Doesnt mean they wont pick off as many of us as they can.

Great.

Vir supposed it made sense. Kinjal had to have a plausible alibi in case they ever got flak for allowing the Order to steal their demon prisoners. If they injure or kill some raiders, they can at least claim they did everything they could.

The raiders had stopped only twice on their way to Kin'jal. Once, for rest, and the second to obtain precharged magic orbs from their agents. Though none of the raiders were mejai, anyone could activate C Grade precharged orbs. Just that it was impossible to precharge an orb in the Pagan Order, so they'd had to land in Rani to collect them.

Kinjal combat air patrols operate in groups of three! Badal yelled above the wind. Keep your eyes peeled. Were moving to engage.

Engage? How?

As far as Vir knew, Acira lacked offensive capabilities of any kind, and none of the Order raiders were mejai.

Badal retrieved a crossbow from a holster down by his ankles. Can you use one of these?

Vir nodded. Riyan had trained him in a variety of weapons. While hed spent little time on bows, crossbows were far easier to operate.

Badal handed Vir the weapon and retrieved another, which he loaded up.

Fire on my mark. Aim to harass, not kill.

Vir kept his eyes peeled for any sign of other Acira, but all he saw were the ones behind himthe other Pagan Order Acira.

It was only when Arc, Ember, and Wind Blade spells hurled from the clouds and the pilot threw the avian beast into a dive that Vir spied them. Though Prana Visions resolution was poor at long distances, Acira were large beasts. The signature grew brighter and brighter as they approached, and Vir locked on with his crossbows sights.

Vir dug his boots into his stirrups as their Acira rolled to avoid their enemys spells. It wasnt just them, eitherseveral Acira dove, while the ones not being targeted climbed, seeking higher vantages from which to bombard the enemy.

The pilot juked the beast, narrowly dodging an Ember spell. An enemy Acira emerged from the clouds on a collision course.

Were going to crash! Vir yelled.

We wont. Hold your fire, Badal ordered.

Vir couldnt have shot even if he wanted to. Maintaining a lock on another moving target proved far more difficult than Vir imagined. Though he tried to compensate for the movement of their Acira, his aim was thrown off whenever the beast flapped its great wings, buffeting the riders.

The enemy drew closer, and Vir braced for a midair collision. Even if he had to bail, Light Step would soften his blow. Hed grab Badal before jumping off, but the pilot would have to fend for himself.

Vir made to unhitch himself when a rain of arrows descended upon their enemy like a cloud, forcing the opposing Acira to spiral into a dive.

Brace yourselves! the pilot shouted, diving after them without even a moments pause.

Their Acira folded its wings, plummeting at an incredible rate that made Virs dinner threaten to come back up. Never in his life did he imagine a beast traveling so fast. The wind, which was loud before, deafened him, blowing his cheeks back, and it took all he had just to keep his eyes open.

No wonder the pilots wearing goggles.

It was terrifying but if he was honest, also a little fun.

He really knows what hes doing, Vir thought with a pang of envy. He wanted to be the one executing death-defying stunts in midair.

A wild grin crept up on his face, and Vir thought he could get used to the thrill of flight.

Their enemy, perhaps assuming the Order demons werent that crazy, opted for a saner, safer dive. The distance between them rapidly closed, as did the ground, which rushed up under them. Vir didnt think theyd catch their prey before they crashed.

Fire! Badal ordered, and Vir immediately complied.

Badals crossbow bolt shot forth, but a last-minute juke by the opponents pilot set it sailing harmlessly by.

Virs aim, however, was true, and his bolt sank into the rump of the Acira. His attack was followed by four more bolts from the others, one of which clipped the beasts wing, causing it to screech in pain and abort its dive.

Were you aiming to hit its vitals? Badal asked, panicking slightly.

Definitely not. I just cant aim that well when were moving so fast.

The demon nodded. It should be fine. This one is retreating. Two more to go.

An Acira tumbled from the sky, and Vir watched with horror as it plummeted lower and lower and crashed with a sickening thud.

Badal looked on with concern, worrying it might have been an enemy Acira.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

It was worseitd been one of theirs.

Ally down. Descend and secure a perimeter! Badal ordered the pilot, signaling nearby Acira to do the same. Were going in.

With two enemies still in the air, half the Order Acira remained airborne to pursue them. The Order had the benefit of numbers, but Kinjal had mejai aboard, forcing the Order to mind where they shot, lest they land a lethal blow.

It was the only reason the Kinjal Acira even stood a chance. They knew the Order wouldnt harm them.

The Aciras dead, Vir shouted as they descended. Prana Vision showed no life at all from the beast. Too far to tell if anyones still alive.

Vir unhitched and jumped off, Light Stepping to absorb his impact before Leaping to their downed ally.

It was a gruesome sight. The Aciras head had hit the ground first, and its neck was clearly broken. It lay upside down, pinning the Order demons under it.

Theyre alive! Vir thought, rushing up to them. Alive, but unconscious. He couldnt be sure how bad their injuries were until theyd been freed, but Vir didnt worry himself with things he couldnt control. Instead, he got to work, cutting the rope that bound the riders to their dead beast.

Badal landed and came running over. Vir hailed him, but stopped when he saw a jet of red fall from the sky.

Badal, dodge! Vir roared, pointing up.

Badal reacted instantly, hurling himself aside and diving into a roll, just as the Ember spell landed, setting the tall reeds nearby ablaze.

Vir pushed against the Acira with all the force he could muster, even Empowering his arms and using Leap, but the beast simply wouldnt budge. Vir could hardly believe such a heavy animal could lift itself off the ground.

A rod of ice plunged into the ground a few paces away, forcing Vir to scan the skies for more.

The Ember spell from earlier acted like a beacon, lighting up the downed Acira, and more Ember and Icicle spells quickly rained down. Whoever the Kinjal pilot was, he was doing a great job of avoiding the dozen Order Acira who heckled him, providing his mejai ample opportunity to rain fire on them from above.

Ice and Fire magic not only had the longest range of the orb-based affinities. When fired this way, they could be launched from miles above. Gravity pulled them down, drastically boosting their range.

Only the mist that blanketed the ground helped to shroud them, but with fire blazing, that advantage was lost.

Help me push it off, Vir shouted as Badal finally arrived at his position, hunkering next to the Acira and putting a finger to each of the downed demons necks.

The pilots dead. The other rider is still alive, but barely. He will not survive long.

One by one, Order Acira touched down, dropping off more raiders before immediately taking off, though Vir barely noticed. There was something about Badals tone that knotted him with worry.

Vir stared at the gray demon. What are you saying? We can save him!

Badal returned Virs gaze. It's too dangerous. We have only a small handful of precharged healing orbs. If we use it now... That's assuming we can push the Acira off of him.

No way. Just because they didnt have healing magic?

Youre not even going to try to save him?

An Ember spell crashed into the ground, just a single pace away from another Acira as it dropped off a demon. The Acira panicked, veering to the side, but the pilot took to the air just in time, aborting his landing.

Look around you. This is a battlefield.

Thats

Badal grasped Virs shoulder. It is a commanders duty to make the tough choices. To decide who lives and who must die. My duty, and I do not bear it lightly.

You're not even trying! Vir shouted, panicking. Every second they wasted, the trapped demon inched closer to death.

He's wrong. It's not too late, Badal. We just need a few people!

How many lives would you have me risk to save a brother with a mortal wound?

Vir bit his lip. He had no response to that.

Do you think I want this? Badal roared, breaking his calm mask. Vir knew then that he'd been wrong. Badal did care. He just never let it show.

I want nothing more than to return home with all those brave souls who left. But war doesn't care about our feelings! It doesn't care whose lives it reaps, or why. That's my job. It's up to me to minimize death wherever I can. Badal took a breath, then continued in a lower voice. I swear to you, his sacrifice will be remembered.

Order Acira were already taking to the skies, narrowly avoiding bombardment spells that continued to rain from above.

Vir turned away. Fine. I'll get him out. If I do, can you have a healing orb on standby?

Badal hesitated, then nodded. But be quick about it. We're sitting ducks against this bombardment.

That was all Vir needed to hear. Vir brought his katar to bear and cut off the straps securing the stuck demon's armor, letting it fall free. Then he activated Dance of the Shadow Demon, sinking into a shadow beside him and pulling the demon down with him. The only reason this worked was thanks to the demon's diminutive size, just about Vir's equal. Without his armor, he fit... barely.

Vir exited from the shadow of Badal's Acira. The demon raised a brow at Vir's ability, but asked no questions. Instead, two Order healers hauled the injured demon onto their Acira and took off.

They'll treat him in the air. Too risky down here, Badal said, before bringing a whistle to his mouth and blowing three times, piercing the night with a high-pitched screech.

An Acira descended moments later through the mist, and Badal scrambled on the instant it touched the ground, retrieving a crossbow.

Forgive me, brother. We cannot retrieve your body, he whispered, before firing it at the dead demon.

Badal then withdrew an arrow that had been dipped in oil and mounted it onto his crossbow. Striking it with some fire steel, he lit it ablaze, then fired at the grass next to the dead Acira.

Vir Leaped aboard, barely staying on his saddle as the Acira took off. The fire spread wildly, quickly enveloping the Acira in a ring.

A necessary evil, to ensure the Kin'jals don't find his body, Badal said softly.

The aerial bombardment broke off as both Kinjal Acira landed near the one Badal had just abandoned, careful to stay out of range of the fire.

Ordinarily, it would be a supremely foolish tactical decision to land when their enemies circled the skies in such numbers, but the Kinjals knew they wouldnt be touched.

Lets go, Badal said softly.

The Order Aciras rejoined their V formation, this time with one fewer Acira to their number.

So this is what war looks like, Vir thought as they flew the rest of the way, his mind lingering on the demon theyd nearly abandoned. Tough choices indeed. Could I ever make such a hard call so easily?

Vir wondered what thoughts ran through Badals mind. Did he grieve for his fallen friends? Or had he done this so many times that it no longer bothered him?

We have arrived, Badal called, ordering the pilot to set the Acira down. The layer of mist from earlier covered the ground here as well, reducing visibility to near-nothingness. Perfect conditions for approaching unseen.

The great beast beat the wind and touched down in the golden plains that ringed the garrison fortress. They landed out of sight, but not so far that the demons would be unable to reach it.

Best of luck, brothers, the pilot said, clasping Vir and Badals arms before they debarked.

And to you, Vir murmured back.

Then the others arrived.

Vir heard the raiding force before he saw them; the sound of dozens of Aciras wings beating heavily to slow their speed was truly something to behold.

The force was so great, they dispersed the mist, creating a small pocket of visibility.

Vir had expected them to land, but none did. Their warriors jumped off when they were a few paces off the ground, reminding Vir of the Altani elite soldiers whod rappelled off their skyships in Daha.

Whod win, I wonder. The Orders Demons? Or the Altani?

He didnt need to think long. While demons possessed superior physiques to humans, the Altanis mejai advantage was insurmountable. Vir hoped the Order never went to war with them.

Or Kinjal, Vir thought, sneaking a glance at the castle. The Balarian Warriors sheer numbers would overwhelm the Order in an instant.

Any concerns, raise them now, Badal said, addressing his troops.

Silence was their only reply.

Then you have your missions. Execute.

The Balindam and Tash squads broke off without a word, disappearing into the mist like ghosts.

That just leaves us, Badal said. You have free reign on this one, Vir. Show us what you can do.

I will.

Vir wasnt flustered. The opposite, in fact. It was night. The ground was rich with prana and he was acting alone on a mission to save innocent demons.

An inner warmth filled him, like an untameable fire that burned with confidence and hope.

A wraith of the night, Vir Leaped into the mist, disappearing from sight and sound. Aboard the Acira, hed been a useless bystander. But as a demon of shadows, this was his element.

Lets go save some lives.