Chapter 62:
THE FALL OF THE PINK STAR
Lover Online Volume 1 & 2
Asimil and Luce's journey took them through desolate valleys and silent forests until, on the horizon, they saw their destination: the Bastion of the Silver Spire, the last great fortified city in the region, a beacon of resistance in a sea of darkness.
As they entered, the atmosphere was one of tense calm. The city was bustling with activity, but not with joy. They were soldiers repairing the ramparts, healers running with wounded and staring refugees. As they searched for supplies, a cheerful and familiar voice called out to them.
— Hey, if it isn't my favorite pair of adventurers! — It was Mio. She was in a tent that served as a command post, leaning over a tactical map. She explained to them that her guild had sent her with an emergency resupply order. The meeting was a balm, a brief moment of normalcy in the midst of the madness. They caught up, shared stories of the trip and, for one night, rested, feeling a little safer.
The next day, a pale sun rose over the bastion. It seemed to be a quiet day. Asimil and Luce decided to walk the makeshift ramparts, helping the guards and chatting with them. An easy camaraderie was forged, a sense that, as long as they were together, they could hold their own. Asimil meditated a bit, surveying the city, feeling for the first time since the Pit a hint of peace.
Everything changed in an instant.
A rumble, like thunder tearing the sky, shook the wall. It was not a single blow. It was the sound of thousands of feet marching in unison. On the horizon, a black tide stretched as far as the eye could see. An endless horde of Void creatures, and at the front, atop a colossal siege beast, stood General Legion.
— ALERT! ATTACK THE GATES! — roared the shouts throughout the city.
With no time to react, the horde struck the main entrance. The invasion had begun.
On the other side of the city, Mio, with the experience of someone who has already seen the end of the world, didn't waste a second. — ALL UNITS TO THEIR POSITIONS! ARCHERS TO THE BATTLEMENTS! CONTAINMENT TEAMS, GET READY! — Her voice, normally cheerful, was now that of a cold and efficient commander.
On the wall, Asimil and Luce were already fighting, defending their section against the climbing creatures. They were not very strong individually, but there were too many of them. An endless tide. Asimil, seeing Luce about to be overwhelmed, felt a surge of panic. His hand instinctively moved to his inventory, to the Broken Echo Dagger.
Before he could use it, a pink explosion swept the section of the wall at his feet. A sonic boom that disintegrated dozens of enemies. Mio had sprung into action. With her halberd, The Pink Requiem, she was a whirlwind of energy, clearing huge swaths of enemies with each sweep.
— You two, contain the stragglers! I'll take care of the big guy! —
She leapt from the wall, landing in the middle of the horde. She tore through the Void army like a goddess of war, her target fixed on the General she commanded from the rear. The battle between the two was fierce. Mio was a lightning bolt of speed and power, her resonating halberd clashing against Legion's armor, knocking him back. It seemed she had the advantage. With a war cry, she prepared to deliver the coup de grace.
But at that moment, a column of black, corrupted fire erupted from the ground, striking Mio in the flank and sending her flying away. The blow was not to kill her, but to draw her away from Legion.
From the center of the horde, a new figure emerged. It was a colossal being made of magma and obsidian, with dark flames emanating from cracks in its body. General Ignis, the Conflagration.
The battle was about to become a 2 vs. 1.
Mio stood up, wiping blood from his mouth. She looked at Legion, who was regrouping his horde, and Ignis, who was radiating heat that melted the stone around him.
— This... got complicated — he muttered.
The real battle began. It was an impossible fight. Every time Mio focused on Ignis, the Legion horde attacked her from behind. Every time she tried to clear the horde, Ignis bombarded her with meteors of corrupted fire. From the wall, Asimil and Luce could only watch in horror.
Mio was one of the strongest players in the world, but even stars can fade.
Finally, she was caught. Legion used his elite troops to immobilize her legs, while Ignis channeled his most powerful attack: a supernova of dark fire. Mio, trapped and with no escape, could only raise her halberd in a final, defiant block.
The explosion was blinding. It shook the whole city.
When the light dissipated, the horde fell silent. In the center of a smoking crater, Mio lay on her knees, her armor shattered, her halberd cracked. She was defeated.
Legion and Ignis approached, savoring their victory. The morale of all the city's defenders was shattered as they watched their brightest star fall.
Hope was lost.
As they entered, the atmosphere was one of tense calm. The city was bustling with activity, but not with joy. They were soldiers repairing the ramparts, healers running with wounded and staring refugees. As they searched for supplies, a cheerful and familiar voice called out to them.
— Hey, if it isn't my favorite pair of adventurers! — It was Mio. She was in a tent that served as a command post, leaning over a tactical map. She explained to them that her guild had sent her with an emergency resupply order. The meeting was a balm, a brief moment of normalcy in the midst of the madness. They caught up, shared stories of the trip and, for one night, rested, feeling a little safer.
The next day, a pale sun rose over the bastion. It seemed to be a quiet day. Asimil and Luce decided to walk the makeshift ramparts, helping the guards and chatting with them. An easy camaraderie was forged, a sense that, as long as they were together, they could hold their own. Asimil meditated a bit, surveying the city, feeling for the first time since the Pit a hint of peace.
Everything changed in an instant.
A rumble, like thunder tearing the sky, shook the wall. It was not a single blow. It was the sound of thousands of feet marching in unison. On the horizon, a black tide stretched as far as the eye could see. An endless horde of Void creatures, and at the front, atop a colossal siege beast, stood General Legion.
— ALERT! ATTACK THE GATES! — roared the shouts throughout the city.
With no time to react, the horde struck the main entrance. The invasion had begun.
On the other side of the city, Mio, with the experience of someone who has already seen the end of the world, didn't waste a second. — ALL UNITS TO THEIR POSITIONS! ARCHERS TO THE BATTLEMENTS! CONTAINMENT TEAMS, GET READY! — Her voice, normally cheerful, was now that of a cold and efficient commander.
On the wall, Asimil and Luce were already fighting, defending their section against the climbing creatures. They were not very strong individually, but there were too many of them. An endless tide. Asimil, seeing Luce about to be overwhelmed, felt a surge of panic. His hand instinctively moved to his inventory, to the Broken Echo Dagger.
Before he could use it, a pink explosion swept the section of the wall at his feet. A sonic boom that disintegrated dozens of enemies. Mio had sprung into action. With her halberd, The Pink Requiem, she was a whirlwind of energy, clearing huge swaths of enemies with each sweep.
— You two, contain the stragglers! I'll take care of the big guy! —
She leapt from the wall, landing in the middle of the horde. She tore through the Void army like a goddess of war, her target fixed on the General she commanded from the rear. The battle between the two was fierce. Mio was a lightning bolt of speed and power, her resonating halberd clashing against Legion's armor, knocking him back. It seemed she had the advantage. With a war cry, she prepared to deliver the coup de grace.
But at that moment, a column of black, corrupted fire erupted from the ground, striking Mio in the flank and sending her flying away. The blow was not to kill her, but to draw her away from Legion.
From the center of the horde, a new figure emerged. It was a colossal being made of magma and obsidian, with dark flames emanating from cracks in its body. General Ignis, the Conflagration.
The battle was about to become a 2 vs. 1.
Mio stood up, wiping blood from his mouth. She looked at Legion, who was regrouping his horde, and Ignis, who was radiating heat that melted the stone around him.
— This... got complicated — he muttered.
The real battle began. It was an impossible fight. Every time Mio focused on Ignis, the Legion horde attacked her from behind. Every time she tried to clear the horde, Ignis bombarded her with meteors of corrupted fire. From the wall, Asimil and Luce could only watch in horror.
Mio was one of the strongest players in the world, but even stars can fade.
Finally, she was caught. Legion used his elite troops to immobilize her legs, while Ignis channeled his most powerful attack: a supernova of dark fire. Mio, trapped and with no escape, could only raise her halberd in a final, defiant block.
The explosion was blinding. It shook the whole city.
When the light dissipated, the horde fell silent. In the center of a smoking crater, Mio lay on her knees, her armor shattered, her halberd cracked. She was defeated.
Legion and Ignis approached, savoring their victory. The morale of all the city's defenders was shattered as they watched their brightest star fall.
Hope was lost.
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