Blade Over Magic

Turning The Tables II

The captain watched with a calm expression as the demonic beasts were continuously shredded apart by the onslaught of various attacks. On the surface, it looked like a simple process, but they were actually quite meticulous in this operation.

For instance, the mages that were fusing attacks to send I to the chokepoint. It might look like simple synergy, but in reality, they were constantly mixing things up. This was because there were some demonic beasts that were naturally resistant to certain elements and combinations, so when they appeared, the mages that had been unleashing that specific type would step back, and the ones who had magic that countered the demonic beasts would step forward and use their own synergy to get the job done.

Moreover, while most of the beasts went through the chokepoint, some were able to crawl along the edges of the Ravine, and an even fewer number could fly.

For both, special steel wires had been used to create a net above that portion of the Ravine and embedded deeply into the ground, making it taught and sharp. If anything tried to go upward too fast, it would get sliced into chunks of meat, and it that didn’t happen, a powerful electrical current would either burn it to a crisp, or paralyze and send it tumbling down to be crushed by the stampede beneath.

Despite appearing calm, the Captain’s heart was moved. He had been the one to suggest using the Ravine as a checkpoint like such, taking inspiration from Xander and his team did, but Xander made the suggestion about the wire, and it worked wonderfully.

So far, the melee combatants hadn’t been needed, and things were still progressing at an expected pace. It was then that the massive fire tornado stretched from the ravine into the sky. Despite how far away it was, everyone could clearly see it.

’It’s starting.’ He thought as he brandished his gauntlets and glanced at Sparrow. She had been looking at him at the same time, and when their gazes met, they nodded subtly.

Backing up a bit, the captain went to the temporary tent where the higher-ups were located, all of them making and adjusting tactics in real time, the professionalism unmistakable. It was a far cry compared to the heated atmosphere during the meeting, showing that, indeed, these people did not have their jobs for no reason.

”Sirs, Ma’ams, the elite team has begun their part of the operation.” He reported, causing them to look up.

”Good, that means we can begin the next phase of the operation.” One of them said with a nod, and another glanced at the Captain.

”Give the order for the ritual. We’ll carve a path through those monsters and establish our first foothold in the ravine.” Hearing this, the Captain saluted before turning to two of the higher-ups.

”Commanders James and Haru, you are the main supervisors of this phase. Please follow me.” Hearing this, both of them stood up without a fuss.

”Alright, lead the way.” Commander James gestured, and the captain did just that, nothing appearing amiss.

When they went out, the skies had noticeably darkened, and that was because thunderclouds had appeared all of a sudden. The cause was a group of mages who stood in a circle, a large magic circle in the center that was giving off a large amount of mana.

Lightning rumbled dangerously in the clouds which started to condense around the mouth of the ravine, but it didn’t get fired just yet.

When the three reached the group of mages, they subconsciously looked at them, and unseen to anyone, 4 of the mages blinked between themselves and the two higher-ups, but beyond that, they did not address each other.

”Fire the spell on our mark.” The shorter of the commanders, Haru, instructed, and the mages all nodded, not stopping their chanting.

Meanwhile, the captain shouted an order, and the mages on the walls once more swapped the magic used. But this time, rather than ranged offensive attacks, a thick wall of earth with spikes on it was formed at the mouth of the ravine, effectively blocking the advancing creatures, and any that were too hasty impaled themselves on the spikes.

However, their numbers were too overwhelming, and soon, the demonic beasts were starting to pile over the wall.

A glint flashed in the eyes of the two commanders and the 4 mages, and James and Haru opened their mouths in unison.

”Prepare to cast!” The lighting in the clouds began to rumble far faster, and just as the demonic beasts spilled over completely.

”Fire!” Both yelled in unison, and in that moment, three things happened.

First, a blue blur suddenly zipped past the group of mages, and before anyone could react, the 4 mages that had been silently communicating with the commanders fell to the ground, their heads rolling. And behind the group, Sparrow let out as exhale, the blue markings on her body, similar to Ragna’s, glowing powerfully.

Next, two blinding flashes of light.

Two bolts of lighting thicker than water tankers descended at impossible speeds. One struck the growing mound of demonic beasts. A powerful explosion immediately erupted as all the beasts at the mouth of the ravine were vaporized, and the remaining electricity snaked into the ravine like a reaper, and for a few miles in, every demonic beast was electrocuted to death.

As for the second bolt, well....

”AAARGH!”

The two commanders screeched as chains of lightning stabbed through all four of their limbs, binding them to the ground and holding them in place while simultaneously paralyzing them.

As they let out these cries, their appearances began to change. On each of their heads, a horn jutted out with a sickening crack, and rend veins bulged towards one eye which had the white turn black.

Their clothes got burned away, revealing bodies with unnatural scales growing in different places, and in the center of their chests, a glowing purple crystal.

Upon witnessing this sight, the captain did not hesitate.

He took out a plate with runes inscribed on it and threw it out while chanting.

”Seal!” The plate shone with white and black colours, and these colors washed over both of the commanders, creating dozens of characters that directly inscribed themselves into their bodies.

The two who had somehow been reaching for the chains that bound them to break through suddenly convulsed, their auras turning unstable and bodily functions dropping dramatically.

However, they STILL weren’t done.

Nash, who had also moved from his original spot, slammed his staff into the ground, and a green magic circle bloomed at his feet, his own chant complete.

”Nature Magic: Verdant Sarcophagus!” Hundreds of thick vines burst forth from the ground and covered the two bound commanders. In a moment, on top of the chains and the seal, both of the commanders were encased in a sarcphagus each. Both of which were held firmly into the ground by roots that went deep into the ground.

Without hesitation, the captain pulled out another one of those metal plates, chanted ”Seal” once more, and watched as the black and white inscriptions etched themselves into Nash’s spell. It was only then that the two ’commanders’ went completely silent, any and all activity from them ceasing.

The captain did not relax, though. His gauntlets where shining and ready to lash out in the direction of the 4 step seal. Due to their proximity to the Eastern Frontier, and therefore the Hell Gate, captains were required to undergo specialized training in the event that a demon or their spawn somehow managed to approach them. Those plates he had thrown out were created specially to seal demons and anything with their attributes. They were incredibly expensive, so he only had five. But he spared no expense in that moment.

At this moment, several shouts and wails of pain were heard, and not too long after, Zeke materialized, dropping several heads on the ground with an impassive expressing, then Bodhi, Ragna, and Sparrow came and dropped a few more. Each belonged to every member of the last two traitorous squads.

This had been the plan.

Simply put, Xander and co found the Captain and Sparrow’s squad before showing them the truth of everything going on, and as a result, devised a plan to handle both the traitors in the elite team and the one in the main army.

James and Haru had pushed for the four mages to be a part of the mages casting the large scale lightning spell to kill demonic beasts. But in truth, their job was to hijack it at the moment of activation, making it strike the army instead.

So the Captain had done this instead. He allowed them complete the spell while another group of mages far away enough to avoid detection casted a high level lightning chain spell to descend on James and Haru. Meanwhile, when the Captain went to call the two, Sparrow quietly moved from her position and set up some distance away from the visible mages.

With some absolutely beautiful timing, she killed them just as the spell was activated, preventing them from hijacking it while also allowing the spell to be gotten off, having the intended effect!

And as soon as this happened, Nash joined hands with the captain to completely seal the demons while Ragna, Zeke, and Bodhi swiftly eliminated the remaining traitors before they could do anything problematic.

All of this happened in the span of ten seconds.

It was at this point that the remaining higher-ups ran out in haste, yelling at the group to understand the situation, and a large number of the main army was also in shock at the sequence of events, but in that moment, the captain could only think.

’That Xander kid, if not for him, this operation would have been a complete disaster.’ He smiled bitterly.

’And I call myself the captain.’