Chapter 8.5. Siege of Slother.
But these spells too had limits. With each cast, mage’s own mana drained bit-by-bit until nothing left, but empty husk staring sightlessly out over battlefield below. Mana potions were running low, and without mana mages could not even move or use their magic.
Lilith tried to conserve her own mana. She had her secret stash of mana potions, but they were not infinite. Her slaves fought by her side. During few night rests, they used Leveling Crystal and increased their levels, which allowed them to increase their stats and get stronger, but it made only small difference.
As second week stretched on, hardships faced by defending soldiers only worsened. Rations dwindled to bare minimum, water barrels running low, as fomorian siege dragged out, without end in sight.
– How much longer must we suffer? – one mercenary snarled, teeth bared in grimace of exhaustion and anger: – We’re dying here, while those in charge do nothing!
Others muttered agreement, eyes dull with weariness, as they shuffled along crumbling parapet. Wounds left untended festered beneath ill-fitting armor, some so deep that bone gleamed white through tattered flesh.
Few healers run out of mana and needed several hours to replenish it enough to heal a single wound. But it was not enough. Fomorians were relentless. Someone’s will was pushing them to attack, and so they did with no regard to their lives. Several times they created a beachhead on the walls, but reinforcements pushed them back. But now reserves were running low.
Still Lilith noticed that even fomorian determination was running low. Probably their food supply was running low as well. Too many mouth to feed.
In the beginning they attacked from all sides like an endless wave, but now concentrated their main forces in few areas, testing the defenders for weaknesses.
But demons held on, and fomorian determination started to dwindle.
The air suddenly crackled with unnatural energy, a strange humming filling ears as if great bell tolled in distant skies. Lilith spun towards sound, eyes widening in shock, as vast figure began coalescing out of thin air itself.
He was unlike anything seen before, towering above his men. Two great horns curled from brow, while four muscular arms flexed beneath gleaming armor plate.
– Behold! – boomed voice so powerful it shook bones within flesh itself: – I am Ghol’gothar – scourge of gods and bringer of destruction unto all, who dare oppose might of fomorians!
Lilith watched in horror as god-general raised one fist towards crumbling walls before him, then, lips twisting into sneer that promised only death. He gathered his magic around gauntleted hand, crackling sparks arcing between fingers, with each passing second.
– Kneel now, – Ghol’gothar snarled, voice dripping with disdain for those who still resisted his might: – Or be ground beneath heel, as worthless vermin deserving only oblivion!
And then he struck. Lightning bolt exploded forth from god’s fist, slamming into already weakened section of outer wall, with force that seemed shake very foundations Slother stood upon.
Masonry shattered like glass under impact, great chunks hurtling through air amidst clouds dust and debris. Defenders screamed as they were swept away in torrent rubble cascading downwards, while behind it all rose mocking laughter of Ghol’gothar.
Lilith staggered back from spectacle, heart pounding wildly within chest. She knew this was moment she had been waiting for – chance to seize initiative and turn tide once more, against overwhelming odds before her. But to do so would require courage beyond measure.
Fomorians screamed an launched forward. They run through the breach, now unprotected. Soldiers from nearby walls were panicking. Ghol’gothar stayed behind, observing his armies advance.
The fomorians let out a deafening roar, their voices rising in unison as they surged forward, through the gaping hole in Slother’s defenses. The once impenetrable barrier had crumbled before Ghol’gothar’s might, leaving nothing but rubble and shattered stone in its wake.
Defenders on nearby walls stumbled back in panic, eyes wide with terror at sight of relentless tide, now pouring unchecked into town itself. Some scrambled for escape, while others stood their ground desperately – weapons raised against foe they knew could not possibly hope to defeat alone.
The god-general watched from afar, dark eyes gleaming with cruel amusement, as his forces carved bloody path before them.
Lilith cursed and looked around. Some reinforcements were running towards a breach. Demons were panicking, but their leader fallen archangel Belphegor was still giving commands and sending his men to stop fomorian forces.
Lilith cursed and looked at Cian.
– Cian! You are in charge for a while. Make shore everyone stays here and protects this part of the wall.
– What about you? – asked Cian.
– Some reconnaissance, – answered Lilith.
Ghol’gothar, satisfied with his spell was retreating. But he was alone, and this was the only chance, which Lilith would have.
She quickly drunk stamina potion, and then used several mana potions. She spitted and cursed. Mana potions tasted horrible on every continent, and she wanted to vomit. Lilith took a deep breath and concentrated. She casted Teleportation spell which got her almost hundred meters closer to enemy general. Two more Teleportation spells got her close enough, and she used Conceal spell. Lilith silently followed the god, hiding behind rocks and rear trees. Ghol’gothar was going towards fomorian camp, but it was located almost two kilometers further.
Lilith was among few mages, who could cast while on the move, and she used opportunity to cast Remove Resistance and Scatter Artifact power spells.
Ghol’gothar sensed something unusual and looked around. Lilith hid behind rocks, holding her breath.
Lilith crouched behind the rocks, heart pounding in ears, as she struggled to steady breathing. She prepared to unleash final spell, which was needed to turn tide, against god-general before her.
But time was running out. With each passing second Ghol’gothar drew further away from ruins, towards distant fomorian camp and if he reached safety before she could cast Time Stasis…
Lilith swallowed hard – taste of mana potions still bitter upon tongue. She knew what must be done – knew risks involved, should detection come at this crucial moment – when all hung in balance!
Lilith rose from hiding place and began weaving threads of power needed. Ghol’gothar sensed presence then, whirling round suddenly as if caught unaware! But even as divine gaze fell upon figure before him.
– Time Stasis! – cried voice, carrying strange weight – impossible for any mere mortal to possess. But Ghol’gothar casted much faster than her. Lilith felt his power.
…and darkness engulfed them both.
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