Capítulo 22: Chapter 22: War Pt 1
The skies above the kingdom darkened, swirling with ominous clouds that echoed the tension brewing below. A bitter wind cut through the air, carrying with it the scent of impending conflict.
For weeks, Earth's defenders had been preparing for the onslaught that they all feared but hoped would never come. The full might of Apokolips was about to descend upon them.
The camp was alive with the sounds of preparation as the forces of Earth gathered on the flat ground outside a recently created city.
Tents stretched as far as the eye could see, a sea of colors amidst the dim glow of torches flickering against the night sky.
Aiden moved through the bustling crowd, his senses heightened by the tension that crackled in the air like a storm about to break. He could feel the collective anxiety and anticipation of the impending battle, a pressure that settled heavily on his shoulders.
Beside him, Finn bounced on his heels, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Look at them, Aiden! The warriors from all over the world! Did you see that Amazon woman? She could probably crush a boulder with her bare hands!"
"Calm down, Finn," Aiden replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "They're all here for a reason. The threat from Apokolips is real, and we need to be ready."
"Ready or not, this is going to be epic!" Finn grinned, pointing toward a group of Greek gods in the distance, their presence commanding attention. "Those are the Gods! You see that one? That's Ares! The God of War! I've read about him; They say he can handle any weapon."
"I bet he can." Aiden said as he looked over and caught sight of a fully armoured God sitting by himself.
Jaxon frowned as he adjusted his grip on his sword. "Legends won't save us if we don't pay attention to the enemy. What if they decide to fight without us?"
Jaxon, like Aiden, had trained with the sword in his free time. This was so he could still fight even with an exhausted mana. He couldn't allow his robust physique go to waste just because he was a mage.
"Hey, lighten up!" Finn said, playfully elbowing Jaxon. "We're the defenders of Earth! We've got this!"
The atmosphere thickened as Aiden caught sight of the sky, dark clouds gathered, swirling ominously as if reflecting the chaos brewing within their camp.
He felt a shiver run down his spine; the forces of Apokolips would descend soon, and they would come with a ferocity unmatched.
As the trio walked deeper into the camp, Aiden's mind wandered to the forces they would face.
Darkseid and his minions had a reputation for ruthlessness, each warrior stronger than the last.
The Old Gods, arrogant and dismissive of the human defenders, believed they were there to handle the "fodder" while they focused on the real threats.
Their disregard for the human efforts fueled Aiden's determination. He didn't see it as a bad thing, on the contrary, he saw it as a means to survive.
"Do you think the Old Gods will actually fight alongside us?" Jaxon asked, casting a wary glance at the divine beings gathered around the fires.
"They have to," Aiden replied as he shot them an observing glance. "This isn't just a battle for mortals. Darkseid won't stop until he conquers everything in his path."
Just then, a loud horn echoed across the camp, cutting through the sounds of chatter and clamor. The warriors froze, a hush falling over the crowd as they turned toward the source of the sound.
"Here we go," Aiden muttered, his heart racing. The moment they had all prepared for had arrived.
The Old Gods stood tall, their expressions shifting from arrogance to serious contemplation as they took stock of the gathered forces.
Ares stepped forward, his armor gleaming in the torchlight, and raised his sword high. "Warriors of Earth! Today, we unite against a common enemy! Let us show them that our resolve is stronger than their darkness!"
Cheers erupted from the ranks, the sound reverberating through the camp, filling Aiden with a surge of hope.
'A boost?' he thought to himself as he himself felt his previous anxiety leave him. 'Is this his Authority over War? Impressive.' Aiden couldn't help but nod in acknowledgement.
Aiden took a deep breath, channeling the energies within him, Aura, psychic energy, mana, and The Force, all intertwined and ready to be unleashed.
He glanced at Finn and Jaxon, their faces set with determination. "Whatever happens out there, we fight together."
"Together," Finn echoed, his excitement bubbling beneath the surface. His heart raced as he tried to steady his breathing, feeling the familiar hum of energy thrumming through him.
Tonight would change everything.
Life and Death could be decided in an instant.
At that moment, a massive armada broke earth's atmosphere as the forces of Apokolips broke through the clouds, a terrifying array of monstrous ships and figures.
The sight of their colossal war machines sent a ripple of fear through the ranks of Earth's defenders as they eventually touched ground while the bigger ones remained suspended in the air.
From the lead ship, Darkseid emerged, his presence a chilling contrast against the chaotic backdrop.
The ground trembled beneath Aiden's feet as the god of tyranny stepped forward, his red eyes surveying the battlefield with a calculated malice.
He then bent down and grabbed a handful of sand from the ground and raised it to observe
As if pleased with his discovery, he nodded and raised his weapon, a double headed spear with which he used to slam the ground with so much strength that the very core of the planet shook.
"My God." Finn said. His expression, no longer one of excitement but horror. "Is that who we are fighting against?"
"No." Aiden said and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Huh?" Finn turned to Aiden who pointed at a spot behind Darkseid where creatures which were a mix of both biological and technological parts began pouring out.
"Are those…insects?" Finn asked, his brow furrowed in disgust.
"Parademons." Aiden responded, but just as he was about to expand on that, a blaring horn rang out and the battle quickly commenced.
The air erupted with energy as Earth's warriors charged forward, led by the fierce Amazon warriors who clashed against the grotesque forces of Apokolips.
Aiden too, focused on the chaos around him, his instincts guiding his movements as he joined the fray.
"Keep your guard up!" he shouted towards his friends, dodging a massive swing from a parademon.
The creature snarled, its jagged teeth glinting, but Aiden countered, channeling his energy into a swift wind strike that cut it in two.
"Nice shot!" Finn called out, taking advantage of Aiden's distraction to unleash a flurry of lightning infused punches against another foe. "I've got your back!"
"Thanks! Just watch out for—"
A massive figure loomed behind Finn, a hulking brute, causing Aiden's instincts to kick in, and he dashed forward, tackling Finn out of the way just as the creature swung a massive fist, smashing the ground where they had just stood.
"What the hell was that?!" Finn exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock, scrambling to his feet. "What's the plan?"
"Stick together!" Aiden replied, glancing around. He spotted Jaxon, his earth based powers on full display as he used the terrain to his advantage, summoning rocks to defend against incoming attacks while attacking with them too. "We need to push forward and hold the line!"
Finn nodded and immediately charged into the battle ground.
As the battle raged on, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling of dread settling in his stomach.
The chaos was suffocating.
For every enemy they faced, there seemed to be two more, and the death count was climbing at an unforgiving pace. Aiden tightened his grip on his weapon.
Finn would've been among the fallen if Aiden had been a second too late.
They were fighting not just for their lives, but for the future of their world.
Amidst the chaos, Aiden's gaze fell upon the Old Gods, their power unmistakable but their arrogance glaring.
They fought with ferocity, their strikes obliterating the Apokoliptian generals, but they paid little heed to the countless foot soldiers swarming the battlefield.
…
Apollo stood atop a crag, his golden bow drawn and glowing with the brilliance of the sun itself.
As he released each arrow, it streaked through the air like a ray of light, incinerating Parademons mid-flight and causing explosions among Apokoliptian ranks.
His sun arrows moved so fast that they seemed to be shot in multitudes, decimating the enemy in waves before they even realized what hit them.
Ares waded into the thick of battle, a living storm of chaos. With every swing of his blood-red war ax, shockwaves of pure bloodlust rippled outward, driving allies and enemies alike into a maddened frenzy.
Parademons were torn apart by their own claws, while Apokoliptan soldiers turned on each other, consumed by the overwhelming drive to destroy.
His presence radiated fear, and the harder his foes fought, the stronger he became, feeding off the endless violence around him.
Athena moved with calculated precision, every step she took was a dance of tactical maneuver.
Her shield shone with an otherworldly light that deflected energy blasts, while her spear pierced through weak points with uncanny accuracy.
Her voice periodically rang out like a bell, rallying Earth's defenders, bolstering their courage, and sharing her strategies telepathically.
Where Athena fought, the humans held their ground, forming perfect formations that repelled wave after wave of the enemy. Her mere presence seemed to bend the battle to her will.
Poseidon commanded the battlefield with the sheer force of earth-shaking waves. Though far from the ocean, his power over seismic waves and pressure reverberated through the ground, causing devastating tremors that toppled Apokoliptan formations.
With every strike of his trident, shockwaves rippled outward, splitting the earth and sending enemies flying.
A titanic wave of energy surged across the area of the battlefield he was in, crushing Parademons under its relentless force and throwing massive Apokoliptan brutes off balance.
When a general of Darkseid charged him, Poseidon channeled his divinity into the ground, summoning a crushing wall of seismic energy that collapsed upon the enemy like the unyielding tide.
He was the perfect example of a one man army. His expression remaining unchanged despite his feats. (A/N: Reference from ROR)
Hades was a force of unstoppable might, wielding his bident with terrifying precision. Each swing carved through Apokoliptan forces, leaving a trail of destruction.
His strikes carried a sinister weight, as though the shadows themselves lent him strength. The very ground darkened where he walked, and enemies felt an oppressive chill as he approached, their movements sluggish under the sheer aura of dread he exuded.
When confronted by a towering Apokoliptian general, Hades moved with methodical precision, deflecting each blow with his bident before countering with a devastating thrust that tore through even the thickest armor.
His power over the underworld manifested not as life-draining magic, but as the sheer inevitability of death; the impact of his blows reverberated like the toll of a funeral bell, crushing morale and instilling terror.
No soldier, mortal or otherwise, could match his overwhelming presence.
Zeus dominated the battlefield with booming thunder and blinding lightning. His strikes were indiscriminate, bolts of raw power raining from the heavens and obliterating entire squadrons of Parademons in a single instant.
The sky above the battlefield darkened, storm clouds swirling ominously, reflecting his fury.
Each swing of his scepter unleashed a cascade of electrical energy, leaving nothing but scorched earth and shattered enemies in his wake.
Artemis moved through the battlefield like a shadow, her silver bow picking off enemies with uncanny accuracy second only to Apollo's.
Parademons fell from the sky as her arrows found their marks with eerie precision.
Her divine beasts; lions, wolves, and stags joined the fray, tearing through Apokoliptan forces. She remained untouchable, disappearing into the chaos and striking from the shadows, an unrelenting predator.
…
While they fought valiantly, they were more focused on the Apokoliptian generals than on the myriad of foot soldiers overwhelming the defenders.
Fury bubbled within Aiden as he watched the gods treat the battle like a stage for their strength. "Focus on the troops, damn it!" he bellowed, but his voice was swallowed by the clamor of clashing steel and roaring beasts.
Despite their valor, the defenders were on the verge of collapse, and Aiden couldn't shake the gnawing realization; their survival hinged on more than divine arrogance. It demanded unity.
The air was thick with the stench of death, the cries of the wounded, and the unearthly screeches of the Parademons.
Aiden's muscles burned with exhaustion, but he pushed forward. He had no idea how much time had passed but he knew he couldn't stop. Not yet.
A Parademon swooped low, its grotesque metallic wings cutting through the wind as it bore down on Aiden.
Aiden shifted his stance, raising his hand and muttering a quick incantation and with a swift motion, he thrust his palm forward, and a roaring torrent of flame shot forth, engulfing the Parademon mid-flight.
It screeched in agony as its body disintegrated into ash, falling to the ground in a smoking heap.
Suddenly, a roar shattered the chaos of battle; a guttural, bone-chilling sound that silenced even the clamor of clashing weapons.
From the depths of the Apokoliptian ranks emerged a towering beast, its body a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and metal, with glowing crimson eyes fixed on Aiden.
Its claws, long and jagged like twisted shards of steel, gleamed as it lunged forward, aiming to tear him apart.
"Look out!" Finn shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.
Aiden's instincts kicked in as adrenaline surged through his veins. Time seemed to slow as the beast closed in, its shadow enveloping him.
Gritting his teeth, Aiden reached deep within himself, tapping into a force he hadn't yet mastered. With a roar of his own, he unleashed a crimson blast of energy which crackled like lightning as it slammed into the creature with the force of a hurricane, sending it hurtling into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Dust and debris filled the air as Finn scrambled to Aiden's side, his face a mixture of shock and relief. "That was insane! Are you okay?"
"That was incredible!" Jaxon chimed in as he too rushed to Aiden's side, his usually calm demeanor shattered as he stared at the smoldering remains of the creature.
Aiden, breathing heavily, clenched his fists, feeling the power fade. He had acted on instinct, but for the first time, he truly felt what he might be capable of.
But the moment was fleeting. Aiden's energy felt drained. Under the influence of the adrenaline surge, he had used his Force to attack, and he struggled to catch his breath. "We need to keep pushing!" he gasped. "We can't let them take our momentum."
There was no time for respite.
From above, the sky darkened as another squadron of Parademons descended, their jagged wings slicing through the air like razors.
Their yellow eyes glowed with malevolence and a promise of death to all they encountered, their guttural screeches heralding chaos as they dived toward Aiden and his comrades.
To his right, Finn was already in motion, his reflexes blurring the line between instinct and skill as Lightning danced along his limbs, amplifying his speed and power.
He darted around the creatures with almost supernatural agility, his strikes precise and devastating. Each blow sent sparks crackling through the air, leaving Parademons charred and crumpling to the ground.
Aiden inhaled deeply, willing himself to stand firm.
His mana reserves were dangerously low, and the weight of exhaustion pressed on him like a vice. Yet there was no room for hesitation. Clenching his fists, he steadied himself. The fight wasn't over and neither was he.
Conjuring wind magic, Aiden summoned a swirling gale that tore across the battlefield, kicking up clouds of debris and disorienting the advancing Parademons.
With precision, he directed the winds into a ferocious vortex, pulling a flanking squadron into its relentless spiral. The creatures scratched and clawed at the air, but the violent winds pinned them helplessly.
The creatures were caught in the spiraling gusts, helpless as they were smashed against one another by the force of the wind.
Aiden's focus sharpened, his hand twisting in the air as he compressed the vortex into a single, crushing point. The force collapsed inward with a deafening roar, and the trapped Parademons were obliterated by the imploding magic, their fragmented remains scattering across the battlefield.
"Aiden, on your left!" Jaxon's warning cut through the noise of battle, snapping Aiden's attention.
Without hesitating, Aiden pivoted just in time to see a massive Parademon charging toward him with its claws extended, its growl vibrating in the air.
Reacting instantly, Aiden dropped to a knee, slamming his palms to the ground as his mana shifted into Earth Magic.
The earth beneath him quaked, and jagged spires erupted from the ground in a brutal sight impaling the creature before it could reach him, lifting it off its feet.
The Parademon convulsed violently, letting out a strangled howl before its body went limp, skewered against the unforgiving stone.
Sweat dripped down Aiden's brow, but there was no time to wipe it away. The battle was unyielding. His mind raced as he constantly shifted between magical elements, adapting to the flow of the battlefield.
Fire, wind, earth, he conjured and manipulated them all with precision, all with one thought in mind.
-Just one more-
…
The battlefield was a chaotic mess of clashing energies, a storm of death and destruction. Parademons swarmed like locusts, their shrill screeches blending with the clang of steel, explosions of magic, and the desperate cries of Earth's defenders.
Aiden, his senses heightened and his thoughts racing, stood amidst it all, trying to process the overwhelming flood of information.
'There are too many,' he thought, his mind rapidly calculating as he watched a new wave of Parademons charging.
Despite the chaos, he remained calm, his ability to accelerate his thoughts was his greatest advantage right now.
Time slowed for him, the screeching beasts appearing to move at a sluggish pace while he planned his next move.
'No point in wasting energy on anything flashy,' he reasoned. He had long abandoned showy, mana-draining spells. Instead, efficiency was his guiding principle. Quick, decisive and lethal…each kill had to count.
Focusing on the principle of Ice Magic, which was similar to that of Wood, the temperature plummeted around him, a sharp chill that cut through a few meters around him.
Heat and Cold. Fire and Ice
These were two opposing Elements that existed in the absence of the other. It wasn't a naturally occurring element but one to be discovered.
Building on the principle of the absence of heat, Aiden visualized the energy bleeding out of the air around him. A chilling mist spiraled outward, frost creeping over the battlefield, slowing the advance of the nearest Parademons. They faltered mid-flight, their wings stiffening, joints freezing in place.
"The absence of heat is more than just cold," Aiden mused, his thoughts racing. "It's stagnation, stillness… even death."
He raised his hand, the frost around him condensing into crystalline shards. With a flick of his wrist, they launched forward, razor-sharp, cutting through the frozen Parademons with ease. Each shard found its mark, shattering bone and sinew, leaving the creatures to fall lifelessly to the ground.
For a fleeting moment, Aiden felt a sense of control. But the illusion was shattered as the swarm kept coming, relentless and unyielding. A low growl escaped his throat. "Even this isn't enough."
He took a step back, the fatigue in his legs a warning sign. The principles of Ice Magic were efficient, but the strain of maintaining such precision was catching up to him. 'I can't keep this up for much longer. Not unless—'
Just as he was in his thoughts, a shadow passed overhead. Aiden glanced upward to see a massive Parademon, twice the size of the others, bearing down on him with razor-sharp talons.
Its eyes glowed with malice, and its guttural roar shook the battlefield.
Instinct kicked in and Aiden summoned a wall of ice, jagged and towering, between himself and the beast.
The creature smashed into it with a resounding boom, the impact reverberating through the ground. Cracks spiderwebbed across the frozen barrier, but it held long enough for Aiden to act.
Drawing upon the last dregs of his mana, he redirected his focus. 'If the absence of heat creates Ice…' He clenched his fists, forcing every ounce of his remaining power into his next spell. ...then I can take this a step further.
The temperature plummeted further, frost forming even on Aiden's clothes and hair. The Parademon smashed through the ice wall just as Aiden thrust his hands forward.
In an instant, the air around the creature crystallized entirely, freezing it in a suspended state of stasis.
Aiden exhaled sharply, watching as the giant Parademon hung mid-air, encased in a coffin of unyielding frost. He staggered, his vision swimming. The spell had drained him more than he anticipated.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted another wave of attackers approaching. 'Damn it… this is endless.'
Aiden was really at the end of his ropes, of his three energy pools two were already depleted and the other one couldn't affect the battle.
With Mana and Aura already bottoming out, Aiden could only rely on his Psychic energy to influence the ambient energy in the air around him.
And so, raising his hand towards the incoming parademons, he summoned jagged spears of ice, the shards forming instantly in the cold air, and with a flick of his wrist, the spears shot forward like arrows, piercing through the Parademons mid-flight.
The icy spikes impaled the creatures, freezing them in place before they shattered into pieces, scattering their remains across the blood-soaked ground.
Aiden exhaled, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. His muscles were heavy with fatigue, but his mind remained razor-sharp. 'I can't stop now. Not with so many lives depending on this.'
He glanced around, searching for his friends amidst the chaos. Finn and Jaxon were somewhere nearby, fighting their own battles, but he couldn't spare the focus to check on them any longer.
To his right, a group of Amazon warriors was struggling. Their spears were deadly, but the relentless waves of Parademons were pushing them back.
Aiden's mind raced. 'They won't last much longer.' With a deep breath, he extended his hand and spoke a quick incantation.
A dome of shimmering light enveloped the Amazons, a barrier of pure psychic energy that blocked the Parademons from closing in on them.
As he did this, Aiden immediately felt the weight of the drain as his focus faltered, his psychic reserves dwindling with every spell he cast. But there was no time to rest. 'Keep moving. Don't stop. Not now.'
Psychic energy could only do so much when manifested in reality, so he could only hope the Amazons would find their own salvation.
(A/N: Just thought of adding this here. Psychic energy refers to a type of mental or spiritual power that allows individuals to perform feats beyond the physical realm, often associated with extrasensory perception (ESP), , telekinesis, telepathy, and mental control.)
His thoughts flicked back to the battle as he summoned fire next, his hand crackling with heat as flames erupted from his palm, engulfing a nearby squadron of Parademons in a blaze of searing heat.
The beasts screeched in agony, their bodies disintegrating under the inferno, but the victory felt hollow.
No matter how many they killed, the numbers didn't seem to decrease. Parademons kept pouring in, a never-ending tide of destruction. His jaw clenched in frustration. 'It's like fighting the ocean…'
He clenched his fists, his body trembling from the strain, but he refused to let exhaustion take hold. He couldn't afford it.
Behind him, an explosion rocked the ground, sending a shockwave through the air.
Aiden turned, his eyes locking onto a massive figure; one of Darkseid's elite warriors, towering over the battlefield, cutting down defenders with a monstrous axe.
His stomach tightened. 'We're not just fighting Parademons anymore.'
The real threats had arrived. The heavy hitters. The ones that could decimate entire armies.
He raised his hand, prepared to summon more magic, but a sharp pain shot through his arm. His mana was running dangerously low. 'I can't take on someone like that; not with what I have left.'
For a brief moment, the crushing reality of the situation pressed down on him, the sheer magnitude of Darkseid's forces and the hopelessness of the fight threatening to suffocate him.
But then he remembered Finn, Jaxon, and the others still fighting alongside him. And he remembered the humans behind them, depending on their strength.
Aiden gritted his teeth and pressed forward, his resolve hardening. 'We don't need to win. We just need to hold the line. Just long enough for those Gods, for something… anything.'
His thoughts snapped back to reality as another wave of Parademons swooped down from the sky.
This time, he drew on his Earth Magic. The ground beneath him rumbled and cracked, jagged spikes of stone erupting upward, impaling the oncoming Parademons in one swift motion.
Their bodies writhed and twitched on the spikes before falling still.
Aiden's chest heaved with exertion, sweat dripping down his brow. His legs wobbled slightly, his head aching from the strain he was placing on it, but he pushed the fatigue to the back of his mind.
He couldn't afford to stop—not yet.
The battlefield was a sea of chaos and death, but amidst it all, he found a sense of clarity. He couldn't fight forever.
His mana reserves were nearly depleted, and even the most hardened warriors were beginning to falter.
But as long as he still stood, as long as he still had breath in his lungs, he would keep fighting. Because if he didn't… then who would?
However, as soon as he thought that, a sudden pain wracked through his body as his mana and psychic reserves bottomed out causing him to fall to his ass on the battlefield. 'Shit. Where are those gods when you need them!?'
...
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