Chapter 8 Part 2 of 5 (Patreon)

The hours counted down as humans joined the council including several warship admirals. With just a few hours to go till they headed for the ninth, the Imperium forces started to move towards the totems that would carry them back to the ninth and the meeting under Weebla’s direction wrapped up.

Sam’s parents hugged him and headed off, all with grim expressions, preparing their minds for the hardships to come.

Rekha and her group moved to Weebla who reviewed her map one more time.

“Messy,” She shook her head. “Get your maps updated.”

Rekha did and reviewed the changes, showing a rough battle plan and positions.

“Once we enter the realm, we’re going to have several groups move into defensive around the teleportation islands. We are going to teleport in as close as we can to the admission hall. There aren’t any gardens, training areas or anything special there, so Shattered haven’t been in the area much and shouldn’t walk in randomly. Clear the area, set up a base of operations call in the warships and push forwards.” A whistle cut through the air, three times. Weebla stored her map and pulled out a scarred battle axe mounted on an old worn wooden handle, wrapped with beast hide. “You three are my guards, which means you’re going to be watching my back and everyone has your sound transmission devices, pass me reports as they come in and update the map as needed.”

Rekha felt a new weight settle on her shoulders. One missed message could mean death for others.

“I see your scared by that, that’s good, keep you alert. Lets get moving.”

They moved with Weebla, surrounding her unconsciously.

Cronen’s mission hall and streets had been turned over the Imperium. Tens of fleets lifted up from the ground, moving towards the totems ready to transition.

They got up close to the front of the totem line, a war horn blared across Cronen, shaking windows and Rekha’s heart.

The line moved forward as the totem flared with transition, it seemed like she had breathed and that she had been there forever, thoughts of death and destruction, anxiety swirling in her gut.

They drew their weapons at the ready as Weebla activated the totem and they arrived at one of the teleportation islands.

“Move it, clear the totems!” A man yelled, repeating as they jogged clear of the totem, people flooded across the ground, leaving the defenses of the totem, heading to the teleportation pads, Weebla led them, checking her map and sending a sound transmission.

“Away we go into the fires of hell.” They stopped on a teleportation pad Weebla entered a location and they appeared in the admission hall. The massive cathedral like building, chairs that were normally filled with nervous friends and family empty, coming out of the teleportation pads that would have taken applicants to the arenas to test to join the academy.

“Wake up you dolts,” Weebla yelled, the statues around the room opened their gem filled eyes and stepped down from their pedestals, shaking the ground.

“Defend the admission hall.”

Gnomes, Elves, humans, all ran out of the admission hall teleportation pads, spreading out.

Weebla took them through side doors and a lift.

Light flooded in as they reached the highest peak of the Admission hall. Looking out at Avegaaren beyond.

Rekha’s breath was pulled from her, the landscape foreign to her. The ground had been churned in the fighting, buildings smashed into oblivion.

The city beyond AVegaaren’s front gates looked like a forest after a firestorm swept through it.

Roars could be heard in the distance, shattered issuing challenge as they fought one another.

Tears dotted the landscape, revealing a dozen other visions into the tenth realm.

The Statue Golems stepped outside of the admission hall, creating a wall around the building. Fighters took up positions in the hall.

Weebla checked her map.

“Cayleigh, get Grog, Sam, updates on defenses,” Weebla called out. “Rekha, ships call them in, say you’re assisting the battle axe.”

Rekha used her sound transmission device.

“Orders from the Battle Axe, you are good to transition to admission hall, sending coordinates.” She added it to the message relayed through teleportation and totem to warship.

Several seconds later shadow passed over the admission hall as Corvettes appeared, then Frigates and destroyers, Cruisers and a Battleship.

Rekha coordinated with the fleets, getting them to spread out.

“Grog, you take the first three fleets and head out when you’re ready.” Weebla paused.

“Yeah I know about the dungeons, just get your strongest in there. I don’t care what they say, blow the shit out of anything hiding a tear and get me my Devourer pelts, advance into the south. Avariose, your group will head to the North.”

More ships appeared over the admission hall, fleets shifted away with ground units underneath, spreading out.

“Forces at the arena are being pushed back.” Cayleigh said.

“Ah shit,” Weebla cursed.

Rekha checked her map, groups were spread out sporadically at the totems around the Arena, each pushing out in their own direction. Warship markers were overhead.

She cast Far Sight, seeing the warships raining down hell on the ground below.

“City is turning into a mess,” Sam said.

Rekha turned in that direction, warships appeared in the sky, coming under fire as they did so, not having the time to even put up their barriers.

Scenes of destruction played out, she looked over at the flash of weapons to the north, Grog’s warship cover engaging tears as Grog’s people brought their power down upon shattered.

Devourers surged out of the ground and flocks of aerial beasts diverted.

“Tell Grog and Avaroise to do as they see fit. Rekha, have the warships gain altitude and prepare to head into the City to support our forces there. Cayleigh, get the incoming forces to gather and organize into units, they’re going to head into the city.”

“The head is ordering you to send forces to the arena,” Sam said.

“Tell him that they’re engaged, if the push out of their positions then we will lose the admission hall. I have a group heading to the city to link up with our people there, we’re the closest.”