Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 692 - 691 - Desperate Struggle

Annabelle was slamming one formation plate after another onto any pathway she could.  The Mistress of Illusions was a gorgeous water and light aether child but at that moment she was bleeding from several wounds as she had fought several Fiends that got through the battle lines.

If not for Ilyria watching over things, the whole camp would have been decimated in mere moments.  Her giant self loomed over the whole forward side, but she was only a Moon Tier.

Even with the Divine Bloodline in her veins, she could not keep it up for long!  The Moebius Sect was not the only power supporting the healing camp but it was a large contributor.  It seemed the Fiends had planned to attack when a certain goal was reached.

Now, Annabelle was making a safe path for the wounded and healers to escape in as they all bought time.  She saw demons and aether beasts fighting viciously against the gray skinned enemy but it was like for every one they killed at least 15 of theirs were taken or killed!

Worse, she had seen several light up when they saw her.  It was not the joy of a new enemy, they actually let people go to come after her!  They were targeting her and given their actions, she suspected why.

A sickening ball of fire came from above but she made a wall of blinding water to both diffuse the attack and blind her opponent the scream of pain only made her look grim as 2 daggers appeared in her hands.

She flew up and quickly slit the throat of the whimpering Fiend.  It was already wounded so it made it easy but she saw it took a damn long time to die.

How were they suddenly so much stronger?  Vile as the creatures were, they usually were as easy to kill with fatal strikes as anyone unless they had some thralls to pull on or something similar but there were no signs of that lately.

It was as if they had no need of them anymore.

Prismatic flames suddenly lit up the sky and Annabelle saw Ethry blasting several Fiends to their graves.  Of all of them, only Kora could match her effectiveness with killing their foes.

"Lady Annabelle, the western ward is in flames!"  One of the Illusion Pythons in human form called her attention to rising flames in the camp.  Panic filled her heart as Lysanna and Reya were in that direction!

"I need an update on the west, did we get everyone out?"  She was stunned at how calm she sounded but a voice answered as if the spirits were listening.

"Annabelle, it's Lysanna, I got everyone out already.  We are nearly to the sect with this batch.  Someone may have knocked me out and tossed me in here too."  Annabelle nearly giggled in the grim moment as she could see Reya doing that very much.

Her fanatical devotion to Lind extended to his family as well.

"Give her a good scolding then."  Annabelle was about to keep moving when the next words made her stop.

"What do you mean I scold her?  Isn't she with you?  She was heading to you next?"  Annabelle froze as the other disciples looked west in fear.  If Reya said she was going somewhere, she was definitely going.

The only reason she would not would be because she couldn't.

Annabelle suppressed her fears as she relayed the update to Little Fey and Cyntilla as they were in charge of the current defense.

"Spirits please keep them all safe!"  She then refocused as she laid out more formation plates to keep the Fiends away and give a better path out.  More wounded would be coming soon and she needed to defend them!

⬧⬧⬧⬧

"Stubborn human, what can you do in that state?"  A male Fiend was leering at the broken body laying in the dirt and flames before him.  The tents were an inferno as if Hell itself was made manifest in what had been a healing camp not long ago.

The once vibrant fiery hair was singed, bloody, and sticking to the still fiercely stubborn woman staring with her one remaining eye at the Fiend.

The last act of her life saved the wife of her Master, she had no regrets.

Qi began to build in her dantian at a stunning rate that even the Fiend was impressed but he then dropped a tripod of dark steel on the ground.  The Qi she had been commanding was ripped from her!

"You think you are the first human to try and escape your fate that way?  HA!"  The Fiend was amused as he did not have to share this soul with any of his brethren.  She had killed them all.

He was about to rip the soul from her body when the very earth he stood on shot up like a rocket!  He was launched skyward when a giant ball seemed to smash him to mist!

Reya tried to smile as Lady Tal dropped next to her in her full stone dral glory.

[Father would be very upset if you died.  You know better.]

An elixir, pastes, and other healing items were quickly passed into her broken body that was then restored.  It took all her strength away but Reya opened her eyes to thank Tal when she saw a nightmare.

A smiling female Fiend had a dark spear ready to fly at her!

"NO!"  Flames shot from Reya at the Fiend but it was like the sputtering of a candle.  She had not recovered her Qi enough to fight!

The spear flew true and Tal did not even turn when a stone shot up like she had eyes in the back of her head.

"Not nice, but what I expect from–"  Tal was about to attack when an aura slammed into them both.  It was way more powerful and the female Fiend quivered as she knelt on the ground.

[Were you about to kill his daughter?  Were you?!]

The voice boomed in all their heads.  Reya nearly died from it but Tal protected her with a manipulation of earth Qi somehow.  It made the pressure a little less.

"Great Lord Zerod, have mercy!"  The Fiend screamed a name both women paled at.

[There is no such thing in the world.]

They watched in horror as the Fiend was torn apart while alive and not allowed to die!  How was he doing that from afar?!

[That woman is allowed to leave alive, but you are not, daughter of Lind Frey.]

Reya tried to stop Tal from nodding but the large face simply looked down at her and the earth rolled her away.

"NO TAL!  DON'T GO!"  She couldn't allow Tal to come to harm for her!

"Dad always taught me to save lives if I can.  I wished I could see him one more time."  Tal's voice made tears form.  She begged anyone listening to save Tal.  Take her, not Tal!

"GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER!"  The spirits were listening.  Fey's sword aura slammed into something and it cracked before revealing an impossibly handsome Fiend.  The man actually looked pleased.

"The legendary other daughter, Fey of Life and Death.  At least you can put up a bit of a challenge–"  The man was about to continue when suddenly he glanced up and jumped back.

A bolt of lighting fell but it was far stronger than any lightning a cultivator could use.

[If you wish to die here, I am ready.]  Ethry was floating like a Goddess of Death in the sky.  Black clouds boiled around her and the strain was clear but there was no doubt in her elfin face.

"Any other day, that threat would work, but not today!"  He suddenly flared a level of power that should have been impossible!  Peak Shard Tier!  How?!

"RUN, NOW!"  Fey screamed at Tal to run but Tal never moved.  The 2 sisters were far too much alike.

"I am not leaving you either, sister.  I am not leaving anyone behind."  Reya wept in frustration.  She was so weak, so useless!

[Do you test me?!]  Ethry's voice had taken on true anger.  Zerod only smirked as he simply waved his hand and the clouds vanished!

"Heaven cannot help you now, I am protected by a greater power!"  Ethry stumbled and nearly fell from the sky but the cry of a roc made all look to the east.

The golden wings tipped in black of the massive form of Kora usually brought hope but Reya knew the more that came were just making the Fiend's job easier, yet he looked nervous suddenly.

[If the favor of Heaven does not sway you, then will the full power remind you of your place?!]  Kora's voice filled their heads but Fey looked panicked as Tal also brayed in worry.

"You are not ready, Kora!  Don't do this!"  Fey's words made Reya realize what is about to happen.  Kora looked down at the 2 sisters gently and at Reya.

[My adoptive daughters are not allowed to die in front of me, and no one else will die today unless they stay here!]  Kora's aura suddenly spiked and Zerod no longer stayed.  He fled.  Reya was picked up by Fey as she was crying.

Tal was following as she picked up Ethry as well.  They were both red eyed as they screamed instructions into their bracelets.

"Everyone evacuate in any direction. The Fiends can't stay due to Kora ascending to being an Immortal!"  Reya looked back and saw much more terrifying black clouds gathering as the Fiends were indeed fleeing.

There was a form of lightning they were terrified of more than any other and it was tribulation.  Nothing could stop it once started and any of them in range would be hunted by Heaven until the energy dispersed.

A World or Sky Realm tribulation was relatively harmless but an Immortal Tribulation would be a death sentence to them all!

Reya could only give a prayer to the spirits as everyone fled from Kora and her incoming trial.