Technomancer: Genesis Chapter 66: Ezra Awakes

Shadow walkers started charging again. The screams of the soldiers could be heard. Darkness devoured them and spit the bodies full of stab wounds or beheaded. The party could not hold the onslaught of Orst. He already destroyed a third of the lighting in the vicinity and killed off three knights.

Rycharde was sweating, strength slowly drained away and his determination wavered. Orst's dive made everyone jumpy they did not know who would be targeted next. He was frustrated because he had no countermeasures for earth viscounts. They were tricky people. He had encountered captains of bandits before with such powers, bastards of nobility that raised their own troop and defected.

This was a headache for him. The Blackfyre Guard Captain thought that with his big frame, Orst would make a headstrong frontal assault. He never thought that the big man would use evasion tactics used by high-level terramancers.

Unless you were a viscount yourself you would be in for a huge headache fighting against this. Coupled with the range Earth projectiles could shoot from and the night time that covered naturally covered his attacks, this tactic was definitely formidable.

The tides changed yet again. The defenders were picked off by both the shadows, the bandits and the skilled earth mage.

"We need to regroup and get into formation," Rycharde told Evered and his team.

"Men, Defensive line, backs to the wall. Break from your individual skirmishes." Rycharde commanded."

Around half of the men broke away and did as commanded. The others could not easily disengage from their enemies.

"I wish those nobles would help, it would be great if they could," Evered said. He was uneasy, he did not like the dire position they were in, he could only look to Rycharde's commands and trust them.

"We can get them to do so but it would reveal Evan and Lord Ezra's identity, it would be more dangerous than helpful," Rycharde replied with hushed stones as sweat trickled off his brow.

The line was flimsy, the lighting was low already and the shadows easily moved forward and their bandit allies were reinvigorated. Their morale was high. The Blackfyre Guard were at a loss for what exactly to do.

Deimos and Phobos remained determined, but the Blackfyre Guard's confidence were steadily waning.

All of a sudden a huge mass bolted through the ground charging through their line like it was thrown out of a catapult. The figure clenched its fist and smashed the head out of the first soldier it landed on. It was Orst, using the fallen soldier's head as an anchor he twisted his body and spun kicking all who were near as they were sent flying. Bandits charged through the gap. The defensive wall was split into two.

Rycharde kept shouting commands at the disheartened troops. Orst slowly stood up, he recovered from his attack and walked slowly, he was a colossus fully using his earthen armour warped around his metal plates, only his head was shown. It was a horrible sight for the defenders.

As he approached the administrative building an arrow flew from the entrance. It was swift and dark that Orst did not notice immediately, but he saw it just in time to dodge his head. The arrow brushed his cheek and blood flowed.

Orst was shocked, he did not react for a moment. From the entrance, Evan and Galwell stood beside a little toddler. Ezra's eyes were focused on the shocked Orst.

"Rycharde, gather the archers let them stay on the top of the building. Oswyn, Dynham. Gather the dislodged magic crystals and bring them on with the archers on top. It will prevent ambush from the shadow walkers. Other knights stay here! You need to battle this brute." commanded Ezra.

The Anticourt Guard was stunned at the appearance of the child who was giving orders. They were perplexed as to who this little thing was. They were bewildered that the elite knights that they were following orders from were showing respect to this little toddler.

"Archers to the rooftop," shouted Rycharde.

The Anticourt Guard were even more confused. The man they had been taken orders from just took orders from the toddler. They were reluctant but nevertheless, they thought that this command was good and it did make sense also Rycharde had proven himself a capable commander and judging from his demeanour he was not one who would take the orders of another without some consideration himself.

The archers withdrew, Oswyn and Dynham complied with Ezra's command. Some soldiers came with the archers to bring the bulk of arrows but were still really uncomfortable that they were indirectly taking commands from a toddler.

Ezra had woken up in the middle of Orst's rampage. He tried to make sense of his dreams but at the moment he focused his attention on the battle outside the window. He carefully observed all that had happened. He tried to concoct a plan in dealing with the brute. While he observed the Shadow Walkers from afar.

"Lord Ezra continue your sleep, Sir Rycharde and the Demon Hunters will handle it," Galwell said. His arrow wound had already been bandaged and he was in much better shape now.

"Well, they're doing a poor job. That huge man is burying himself underground and traversing it, using it to hide then snipe the knights." Ezra observed. "At this rate, they're going to be picked off one by one."

"Milord are you sure you want to go? You need rest you have been awake for a long time, your body milord, can you handle it?" He saw longing and compassion in Ezra's eyes he knew that the toddler wanted to help command the troop.

Ezra looked at Evan. "I can manage. I think I know how to deal with that powerful knight of theirs. Also, I think I have figured out how the Shadow Walkers use their magic. They don't come out of the shadows, they are the shadows." Ezra smirked.

'They seem to be controlling photons and expelling them outward from their body, or probably inward lined in their body as well, whatever the case they are creating an area with minimal lighting. But this means that they cannot see in there as well, or they are probably manipulating enough photons to be able to see in there. Just enough for their eyes to be able to see but enough for the people surrounding them not to.

'They seem to be able to control a restricted amount that is why they prefer attacking during the night, it appears that too much light is hard for them to handle.

'Impressive, magic can actually manipulate light in such a way as well, the magic control of those people must be remarkable, also their mana capacities should be comparable as well.' Ezra thought.

"Do they have oil, tar or pitch here? I think I know how to deal with the tactics of that Orst so that he would not dare go back underground." Ezra continued.

"I think they do, sire, "Galwell answered.

"Good, gather as much as you can. Get the cauldrons to the front. Evan, I want you to scout the surrounding rooftops to see if there any shadow walkers nearby bring a torch as well."

"Evan, Galwell, We are going to retaliate."

Chapter end