The field, Lith and Belle were walking through, was covered in dirty snow, splintered wood, and blackened flesh. Ash and smog from still burning woods was flying in the air and pools of blood were everywhere throughout the opening from the forest to the town. Most of the blood was of significantly darker color, but it didn't diminish neither the gore of surroundings, nor loses their caravan suffered.
Pillars of smoke were still rising from both positions, army defenders were located at, clearly indicating that their 'perfect', as Lith considered, state of the trip, wouldn't be possible to maintain any longer.
"We won't be able to drive out right now, I assume?"
Belle's everlasting amusement in eyes changed with tiresome and grim expression, voice was hoarse.
"No. I don't think we can. If we will squeeze all of them in trucks, then maybe, but we won't be a moving fortress as before."
Ascended sighed. Despite not being so negative as his friend, he too didn't like the idea of staying here longer one bit. Even if Siege Capital they were heading was destined to fall, it still was a place where could be other members of his cohort. And maybe they even manage to sail away, gather as five, and figure out how to end the Nightmare. But staying in a pit, surrounded by mountains, was just stalling before they would be crushed.
"And how long will take at least basic maintenance?"
"Do I look like a mechanic to you? And even if I would been, I don't know how badly our tech is damaged."
Majority of retreating in the town vehicles were battered. Some of them heavily. Ascended thought, with initial perfect execution of the plan, they already dealt with the absolute majority of Nightmare Creatures, and all they needed is to finish Tyrant and move on. But ugly wretch had a backup plan. It relied on apparently main ability to create new golems from the dead ones.
The giant mass of flesh was simply rushing at the army positions, flowing around cohorts and gathering in Awakened creatures midway. Their general goal was to try to overrun the defenders, but reviving monsters and still coalescing flesh lumps were thoroughly destroyed with the artillery fire again and again.
What army didn't detect, though, is that horrific wave was both a literal flesh wall, and a distraction, as even bigger chunks were hiding in the forest. And after couple minutes of full-scale battle, a volley of wooden projectiles was launched on their positions. Then came another one, and after, trunks started to fly randomly, crushing armor, and making explosive ammunition to periodically detonate with each lucky throw.
It should not be possible for just flying pieces of wood to severely damage heavily armored transport. But after the first impact inside the central formation, Tyrant saw the effectiveness and ordered parts of flesh river to bring Ascended Soul Shards, gather behind, and attack from the distance. And with the might of the Fallen, ranged assault was successful.
Walking beside 'Master Verne', Belle was counting loses.
"Sixteen APCs are completely destroyed, hell. And half of the platforms, from what I can see."
Lith glanced at the swordsman.
"Counting only vehicles, but not human loses?"
"We were speaking about the tech, no? And how exactly should I now know how many are dead?"
"Well, I can tell you. Couple hundreds mundanes are definitely dead. And around forty awakened are lying here. Probably more. That's before we chased that fiend."
Catching strange glance from Belle, tall Ascended smiled.
"What? Experienced fighters must watch their surroundings."
"No, you are right. It's not about it, just thinking. Less vehicles, less people, less road…"
The road between cliffs, they initially tried to preserve, was partially destroyed too. Mountain path in some places was buried under the rockfall caused by skirmish, and where it was clear from the stones, tree trunks, blackened flesh, and metal debris were lying around.
Awakened chuckled.
"Less abominations would be nice too. Preferably none at all."
"Uh-uh. That's some sick optimism. If you want less monsters you need to eradicate them all."
"Figures. Anyway, let's go find out what is Tei up to."
Walking on the sound of gunfire and explosions, awakened arrived at the southern border of the military town, where the group of survived vehicles and MWPs gathered in another defensive line.
Getting closer they managed to see what defenders were fighting. Or finishing off, to be precise.
Two running at the distance tall and lanky humanoid creatures with stitched eyes were completely decimated by the explosive shells and arrows. There were around twenty similar bodies scattered around the road. The question, what such small group of Nightmare Creatures was doing here, was answered as soon as they approached Tei's APC.
They were chasing certain people.
Behind the carrier two light armored transports, clearly not from their convoy, were parked. Scared to death soldiers were trying to catch their breath like after the long run, which they had in a way, reclining in seats. One was outside, stammering breathlessly before Tei and his guys, thanking them.
Feeling the sense of unease, Lith came closer to learn what was going on.
***
"So, several soldiers were fleeing from the monsters, and now they are with us. What's exactly is a problem here? I don't follow something or what?"
Brail was trying to lay in a more comfortable position, but it was still too painful to move. Dorn looked at him for a long while and finally answered.
"Two recon vehicles, as I said, not just soldiers. From another group."
Realizing that Brail doesn't see the issue, Sam turned to explain.
"He means, that we may stay here for a while. For them to catch up."
Brail raised his brow.
"I get it, so what? Them coming in a day or two won't make any difference."
Irregulars exchanged surprised glances.
"Aren't you the one who was pushing to drive away as fast as possible?"
Explorer contemplated for a while, clearly dissatisfied with what he was thinking of, before replying.
"And I still think it's our best option. But also, I always trying to be realistic. You are against leaving with a small group. Without the small group, we need working vehicles. Fixing them takes time, several days as he said. Even if I'd decided to grab Lith and get away right now, I still unable to do anything effectively by myself for a while, means I will be throwing everything on him. And he against leaving others either. So, from my perspective, I don't really see the problem to wait for another group and move together."
"The problem is, it might not be a day or two. We don't know at all how long it will take for them to arrive. There is apparently a horde between us. We may be ready to depart, but they won't be here still. Or they might lead the horde directly on us. But Tei, apparently, doesn't care."
"So, you mean he will change plans we all agreed on. To wait them as long as it takes?"
Dorn sat down on the couch and crossed his arms, contemplating.
"I don't know. He might. I hope, you're right and they will catch up in said couple days. But if it will take more… Tell me again, how long before Erebus events?"
"I estimate eleven days. But it's not a certain date."
"I see. I told Luster before he went unconscious to go find someone from Soul Reaper's cohort, or army command, to get clear data on what is happening around Erebus. And further to the north too."
Brail understood, what giant was talking about. They needed a good route if they won't be in time to evacuate from the volcano city. They discussed the topic for a bit longer, before an angry tall man barreled into the medical tent, followed by visibly displeased swordsman, and medic, who previously went out.
Lith scanned everyone inside and chuckled humorlessly.
"Guess what? My plan is worked. But we are not going anywhere, despite it was the last step."
Medic furrowed his brows and came closer to the man.
"Master Verne, you were the one to give up the command, I must remind you. And this is field hospital, so please… people n-need… r-rest… n-n-not the loud…"
Lith's head was turning slowly after each word, like someone was moving a stone statue, until he was completely hanging over the soldier's face.
"Shut. The hell. Up. Or you will be the one who is loud."
Medic instantly closed his mouth and stood at attention. Seeing how shaken soldier became, Brail decided to take blockhead's attention away from him. Motioning poor guy to leave the tent he turned to the Ascended.
"Hey, 'Master Verne', calm down and explain what happened there."
Lith closed his eyes and took a several long seconds to calm himself, loudly breathing through the nose. Plopping lazily on a couch, he started explaining.
Recently arrived recon group drove from the nearby town, only a couple dozen kilometers from them, but initially they were even further in south. Apparently, the lane of military towns Tei advised to move through previously, was overrun by hordes of Nightmare Creatures, and this one was the last place they came. Since soldiers actually had a lot of weaponry and good defensive positions in each settlement, they managed to fight back and survive for a while.
But during the last week, many Nightmare Gates opened around, and assaults intensified. Horrors were becoming stronger and stronger with each passed day, so towns started to fall before they managed to properly evacuate. Without connection and therefore instructions from army command, all their convoy managed to do, was trying to contact at least someone with no avail, and drive north, slowly coming from one military town to another.
Except the closest base, all others they traveled through were already gone, and their group was in a quite desperate situation. Considering continuous attacks from all directions, and low number of awakened, the army, which could potentially consist of tens thousands of soldiers, now could be counted in hundreds and their numbers deteriorated with each hour. So, they needed to either pick the right timing and escape, or to entrench and wait for larger force to come and save them.
Tei decided against coming for their rescue, because obviously their caravan had a lot of civilians they needed to protect and deliver to safety. But he agreed to wait for them, under the pretext, that convoy still needed to fix their tech, clear the road, learn about surroundings and so on. Which basically meant, that waiting will last as long as it takes.
It was understandable, why he didn't want to leave anyone behind. More soldiers meant increased firepower and saving of more lives, both civilians and his comrades. If only his decision didn't expose those he already protected to much higher risk.
So, despite the group, Irregulars and two Ascended were part of, successfully repelled the attackers and had a clear path ahead, that's what they were going to do now.
'Sit. And wait. Wasting even more time. Each day becomes better and better.'
Brail started to think, that these constantly appearing obstacles were the Spell's attempts to correct the timings of events they meant to go through in this Nightmare. He almost heard an elusive laugh of eerie whisper that was following him around since he entered the First Trial. Knowing what should happen in the nearest future, he didn't like the situation one bit.
***
Two days later Brail was patrolling the north border of their settlement sitting in his favorite position on top the armored PTV. The snow was falling heavily, rendering sentinels blind, so they needed someone with the ability to see or sense through it.
It would be better with a familiar face nearby, but what he got today was a group of very tired soldiers, who didn't really want to speak with a strange Master.
'When Sam gets better, I wonder?'
Irregular was still lying in the hospital. Despite her cohort member could heal her legs, with such number of injured, he was all the time on the brink of exhaustion, even with Luster's help. And Samara preferred to wait until other people, who were more in need of immediate help, were treated, so she was still incapable of attending to the patrolling and other duties.
He wasn't yet completely healed himself, but constant nervousness and heavy emotions he felt, amplified with his flaw, were only adding to his inability to calmly sit and rest. So, when Brail was finally able of walk freely, he instantly jumped off the hospital bed, eager to do at least something.
'Gladly', there was a lot of things that could keep him busy. For example, an hour ago there was several flying batlike monsters he shot down, before they get too close.
And several hours before that, there was a small pack of creatures he wasn't fast enough to fight. When he got there, two MWP's was bursting down corpses with flamethrowers until fuel went off, and pilots with blank faces and wide eyes told that they were going to refueling station.
'Didn't they say that tanks last for half an hour of continuous operation?'
But looking at corpses, he saw something that simultaneously reminded a bear, a horse, a spider, and a mantis, so Brail kind of could understand them.
And there would be only more such monsters, considering that he sensed big masses of displaced air in the distance in different directions. Which obviously were indicating huge hordes of Nightmare Creatures.
'They won't get close. They won't attack. That's what will happen. Surely, surely…'
That's all explorer could think about the matter, but how will it go, he obviously didn't know.
***
As Brail woke up on the next day, he spent a couple hours with Professor and his assistant, who was insistently demanding ghostly cat's attention. The cat slumped lazily as a scarf in her usual spot and was turning her nose away from attempts to feed it.
They conversed for a bit over the breakfast, and he told a couple little stories about technological advancements in the Dream Realm. He though modern science level should be deemed as negligible, considering how advanced and complex War Realm machines seemed, but both Beth and Obel were listening with genuine interest.
After description of each process or device, they were dumping a bunch of questions on Brail's head, including many of those, he was not sure how to even answer. He was interested in engineering, sure, but he was first of all an explorer of the lost knowledge, not inventor.
In the end, seeing as Ascended doesn't know the mechanics thoroughly, they pulled out of nowhere stakes of papers, and started writing down theories and ideas, on how to improve inventions Brail enlightened them about. How they could improve something they never saw he didn't know, but they seemed at least in a much better mood.
'Well, distraction from the sweeping anxiety is successful. Too successful, perhaps.'
The sight of engaged in heated discussion Obel and Beth brought a smile to his face. So, he continued silently drink coffee and observe them, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Until, not so long after, his own good mood was swept away with the unsettling feeling that came from his companion. Zeph perked her ears and started looking for something, quickly peering from one direction to another and finally stopping her gaze at a specific point. She came down from Beth's shoulders, jumped onto the windowsill, and looked at Brail intently.
Coming to the window he looked at the west border of the town, and before it, on the same elevation above the glade they were fighting the horde, something elusive was flickering in the air.
***
Another day passed, and with it came growing exhaustion. Nightmare Gate which appeared the day before, caused a lot of problems. It was only of the second category, but regardless, they lost six soldiers, and several buildings were destroyed.
With professional coordination and timely identification of a threat, thanks to Zeph, the Gate was successfully cleared, but the consequences of the nearby rift were unpleasant, to say the least.
They had no means to contain it, since the only effective option was to plant explosive charges around it. Obviously, they decided against this variant, since the Gate was too close to them, so now it was surrounded by troops with couple MWP's and monitored constantly.
Nothing was coming from it since the first two waves, but it was stealing attention of personnel, which can be used elsewhere. And the ability for the awakened to sleep. Not like mundane people could sleep well, knowing of such a danger in close vicinity.
Brail wasn't too tired physically, but the permanent collective nervousness weighted on him heavily, bringing explorer to another stage of mental exhaustion. Even more heavily weighted the fact, that the convoy was already up to go at any given moment, but instead of rushing to their destination, they were sitting in one place, waiting for more trouble.
His mental state only worsened after he tried to push the idea of running away again. He almost had another outbreak, as nobody except Lith now wanted to even discuss the escape without another group. All because of the instructions Irregulars received before the rift appeared.
They also didn't like the situation much, but Soul Reaper ordered them to evacuate without the rest of the group only if there was a real direct threat to the VIP. Otherwise, they were 'advised' to stay with the convoy and protect civilians, as they were much stronger force than regular awakened.
Another reason for instructions to stay with a bigger group was the data their Boss shared about this region.
There was no data. No data at all. The only thing they learned, is that several dreadnoughts evacuated small part of the Erebus Field population from the nearby port couple days before, and that there were many Nightmare Gates outside and several inside the Siege Capital. Nothing about other parts of Central Antarctica was said. So, no matter where they were going, they would be completely blind.
'Going? We are not even going anywhere, that's the real problem.'
But regardless of what he was saying, he didn't manage to persuade anyone.
Aside from Irregulars, Tei was still standing his ground. Awakened didn't want to leave a fortified place, without the rest of soldiers, he already deemed the part of his convoy. The man also didn't want to ignore the orders he received, which he was pretty content with, as army command told him to do exactly what he was doing.
And there would not be new ones any time soon, thanks to the Gate.
The only thing Brail achieved is that instead of one- or two-man watch, full Irregular cohort always sticked around the Professor, on high alert and ready to go in any time.
***
On the fifth day after the confrontation with the flesh Tyrant, loud noises of distant gunshots echoed throughout the town. The long-awaited makeshift division was finally approaching their base.
And as everyone expected they dragged a lot of abominations with them.
Half destroyed caravan led to their positions probably all possible sorts of horrors, existing in the southern part of the continent. There was more of these lanky blind humanoids, and their leaders, Defiled Witnesses. Fallen Devils were difficult to deal with, but most of their minions were only Awakened, so they were dying easily.
Another giant pack of Black Tongues was also here, but thankfully they were mostly of lower ranks too. Though, these ones managed to get close and even bite away couple small chunks of the human army.
Many other types of anthropomorphic and bestial horrors were coming in waves, but all of them died not managing to destroy the column of vehicles they were chasing or plunge the town.
The battle was long and arduous, but thankfully their artillery still worked well, providing the enemy with constant rain of fire, killing weak ones from the great distance, significantly simplifying the job for awakened.
So, in the end they prevailed, as expected.
But several hours long defense as it turned out was not the main problem for the day. What they learned after the battle was.
Explorer, as well as others, was waiting for a group of army soldiers, who went through hell, and arrived battered but vigilant. Who wanted to cooperate and fight their way to the safety together. Basically, large, more or less prepared to confront horrors of Antarctica, unit, assembled from remnants of other divisions.
What they get was a bunch of mostly unarmed people. Barely survived, terrified, crying in pain and fear, and lamenting for the dead. Only around couple dozen soldiers were guarding the procession, and even from them, sergeant from the recon group recognized only few.
The man apparently didn't pay any attention to the passengers of the column during the battle, but now was standing with expressionless face and dead eyes, silently observing as Tei's people were leading them to the buildings.
Tei and Brail questioned arrived soldiers but there was not much to learn. Apparently, assembled division, recon of which contacted them initially, took heavy loses but tore through one of the hordes, and on the way encountered escaping civilians, coming somewhere from the west. That's when second pack of abominations assaulted them.
They were encircled, but protected evacuees and created the opening to let them escape. Unfortunately, it was pretty clear, what both hordes coming to the town meant. Entire division they were waiting for was eradicated.
So, now they had another two hundred civilians, only couple more fighters, and no additional vehicles, except makeshift pieces of trash, incapable to move through the mountain road faster than crawling.
Tei was grim more than ever, certainly questioning himself of the efficiency of choices he made. Half of his people was dead, a lot of tech destroyed, and instead of reinforcements he only got more lives to protect.
But he couldn't look away from the civilians they saved. These people will all make it to the safety, that what his eyes were telling.
Only his gaze was a little more fragile.
Just like everyone else's.