The Systemic Lands

Chapter 258: Day 535 (7) – A Night Raid

The Ritualist had not acted yet and I had seen him retreat. His monsters were constantly releasing various energy beams in my direction. It was getting quite dark, and the attacks were ruining my night vision.

I leapt off the wall and retreated into the city, heading directly for the Plaza. The Ritualist wasn’t going to make a move it appeared and was hunkering down for the night. The warning the Astrologer had given me echoed in my head.

The Ritualist was sacrificing long term potential for short term gains. That was not a trade I would have made. Unfortunately, I was on the receiving end of such a tradeoff. I reached the plaza, and the Eastern portion was a mess.

There were moans in the distance, which I ignored. I quickly made my way up to the top of the Airship Port which was where Clarissa had set up her command post. I noted the several guards in dark blue uniforms and the few in black uniforms.

General Smith was up here as well. A Radiant Beam cut through the night striking a flying monster that had gotten too close. “Nice shot,” the General said.

“More coming in,” another soldier said.

“Fire at will,” the General said. Beams of heat, light, and fire lit up the night sky. I could guess why activity picked up the moment I was at the top of the tower. The Ritualist was clearly tracking my position. I walked over to Clarissa who was illuminated by a lantern sitting at a table and looking at reports.

“Nice HQ, surprised you have it up here?” I asked.

“It is easy to display flags and send runners. Sure, the elevator costs points, but nothing that serious. Also, it gives a good view of the battlefield. While we are fairly sure the ground gets harder to penetrate the closer one gets to the plaza, we didn’t want to take chances,” Clarissa explained, and I nodded at that.

“So, are we winning or are we losing this war?” I asked her as I took a seat.

“Winning slightly. We managed to turn away the Ritualist’s attack without having to resort to using the City Shield. Our estimates put him around 350 monsters at the other three entrances besides the East one, where he has about 600 hybrids left plus that super worm. You get his supplies?” Clarissa asked.

“Yes, I did. I also had an interesting conversation with a suspicious person who helped out, wounding the Ritualist. Have you heard of the Astrologer?” I asked Clarissa. She frowned and then shook her head.

“No, I haven’t. What does he look like?” Clarissa asked.

“A black robe with a silver rope belt, silver stars on his robe and the black glove on his left hand. He is missing his right hand. He can also fly and disappear,” I said.

“That is concerning. Should we prepare something?” Clarissa asked.

“It wouldn’t hurt to engage in more rigorous checks of all people in critical areas, but for now he is an ally, but not a friend. We can talk, but not share secrets,” I explained.

“Understood. He won’t be helping out further?”

“He ran off to the West, talking about stopping a threat there. Don’t know how much I believe. I suspect he is searching for some kind of reward for his help. We won’t snub him, but don’t agree to anything without me present,” I replied. “In fact, treat him as a visiting person that could sit on the Immortal Council, we can talk more on this Astrologer after we win.”

“I see. I will make the necessary arrangements. You want to rest or attack?” Clarissa asked me.

“Attack now while the Ritualist is trying to rest. General Smith,” I called out. He walked over and took a seat with us. “We were just discussing what to do about the Ritualist now.”

“If you are thinking about counter attacking, we are worn thin at the moment. I could spare 50 people who wouldn’t be liabilities and could fight, but in an open battlefield without defenses, it would be rough and leave the plaza undermanned and them poorly prepared for tomorrow,” the General said. I looked over at Clarissa who nodded.

“I see,” I slowly said as I processed the new information. “Any news of Naran?” I asked hoping he had return. Clarissa shook her head. I let out a long sigh. “Alright, I am going to strike to the West then. You are sure the Ritualist hasn’t moved forces into the city?” I asked.

“We are sure. That is the primary role we have our summoners in. Acting as scouts to track and update the Ritualist’s movements. Also, there are people in the Regional Map building carefully watching all the movements he might make. There has been no need to use counter insurgency tactics yet,” the General explained.

“Alright, I will head West, any bombs left?” I asked.

“Nothing that isn’t a critical part of our defenses, when the horde finally comes,” the General said. I looked over at Clarissa.

“Unfortunately, several experimental bombs were used up in the last battle. Our stockpiles were never that high to begin with and now they are depleted,” Clarissa said.

“Alright, I am off. I will need to rest when I get back,” I told Clarissa, so she knew to prepare a meal and my room. She gave me a nod indicating she understood. There was nothing left for me to do here.

I went over to the West side of the Airship Port. I then leapt over the railing. I kicked off the wall as hard as I could and went sailing over several buildings. “Air Burst.” I used the skill to shoot out over the inner wall and aim for the West Street. “Air Burst.” I used the skill a second time to help me land and quickly began moving as quickly as I could to the West gate.

The purpose of my plan was to make it difficult for the Ritualist to track me. Flying monsters had decent speed and a steady pace, but they lacked burst speed, since they had to propel themselves in some way. I could kick off the ground to go faster. “Air Burst.” I prepped the skill for later.

As I ran, I liked to imagine I was scaling up a very steep incline as I bent forward and kicked off the ground. A straight and nearly smooth path was perfect for going incredibly fast. Even out in the wilderness there was the change in terrain elevation which slowed me down. Here on the West Street, there was nothing stopping me from going all out.

I thought back on how much I hated even moving, now I was leapfrogging everywhere. I refused to call it a Naruto run. The wall was soon in front of me. No one was around, but I noticed a couple of summons, not hybrids keeping watch. So, on our side then, I hoped. There needed to be an easy way to tell which summons were on which side. I might just give in and get energy sensing after this.

I quickly went through the gate and rushed straight ahead. I spotted where there were hybrids. I freed my sword. I needed to get every kill I could. I stabbed through the head of a white lizard human hybrid, a were-lizard.

Acid Shot x2. I killed the other two hybrids on patrol before they could swarm me. Looking around, more hybrid groups were converging. No rest for you Ritualist. In a war not a battle, managing your sleep was important. There was only one of me and one of you Mister Ritualist, but I had other people on my side.

I yanked my sword free from the hybrids head and kicked off the ground. I stabbed another hybrid trying to intercept me. Acid Shot x6. More hybrids died. I think I got eight since they were grouped together, but it was hard to tell since I had to retreat. Air Burst.

I zipped away back towards the wall. The hybrids chased after me. I retreated to the gate and the hybrids pursued right up to the entrance where the shield would form. But they all clumped together at the entrance. Ritualist, you might have found a way to give instructions to monsters while you are sleeping, but they suck without your personal touch. Acid Shot x10. A wave of acid engulfed the thirty or so hybrids.

I waited there underneath the wall, but the hybrids were slowly retreating back, some of them heavily wounded. The Ritualist probably found a way to handle the pain as well. I let out a sigh. He really was a pain in the rear. “Air Burst.” I prepped the skill and then went on top of the wall.

There were some summons up there that looked at me then went back to looking out at the woods to the West. I needed my rest. The battle would get complicated tomorrow. Air Burst. I shot off the top of the wall. “Air Burst. Air Burst.” I covered a lot of distance before I landed back on the street and running back towards the plaza.

I checked in with Clarissa, but there had been no movement from the Ritualist. I then immediately went to my room. I tossed my armor and clothes to the side to be cleaned. I enjoyed the food that had been laid out. I scarfed down the fresh bread and butter as quickly as possible before collapsing in my bed.

Before I could fall asleep, my mind drifted to think what the Ritualist could do and what he would come up with.

I looked around, everything was hazy. “Michael, I am you grandfather,” the Astrologer said as he swirled around me.

“Whaaa….” I tried to speak, but I couldn’t. I was in a dream. The realization hit me like a sack of bricks. I hadn’t dreamt since I entered the Systemic Lands. I had thought it was the stress, but it could be something else.

I was far more lucid than I had any right to be. There was a crying child. Why was there a crying child? “Acid Shot.” Nothing happened. The child looked up at me with white eyes. It was so sad. My heart clenched at the sight.

“Take. My. Hand,” the child whispered. The world around me bent inwards focusing on the child. It was the center of everything. Each tear that fell was another blow to my heart. I knew it had lifted up a hand. I felt myself automatically reaching out.

No. No! NO! I pulled my hand back. The child cried more, but I could see its deformed features now. It was no child, but an abomination was putting it kindly. Like something diseased and sickly that was a parody of child. Only the white eyes were unchanged. I felt something poking me. I spun around. Another poke.

I opened my eyes gasping for breath. “Michael!” Clarissa was poking with a stick and shouting at me to wake up.

“Wha-What is it?!” I asked.

“You were screaming. No one knew what to do,” Clarissa said. My mind spun connecting the dots and my heart plummeted.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Almost dawn, why?” Clarissa asked.

“The Ritualist can attack through a person’s dreams apparently. A small weeping child. Anyone else having issues?” I asked.

“No, but let me check,” Clarissa said. The Ritualist had taken away one of our advantages and turned it into one of his strengths. Well played Ritualist, well played. Well hopefully the City Shield would give us a day to think and recover once we activated it.

The adrenaline was wearing off and I felt exhausted. Multi-day wars sucked big time. I forced myself to get to my feet with willpower alone and went to get ready for the day. I had a feeling it wasn’t about to get any easier.