Saiyan

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Tag team match. In the red corner... tiredness and a hangover. In the blue corner... adrenaline and fear.

It was a one sided slaughter that may have been the quickest match of all time.

The moment the city sirens reached Zell's ears, his eyes shot open. His skin tingled from the sheer speed that his body's internal systems had gone from a state of sleep to hyper-awareness and a racing heart. He got up and sat on the edge of his bed, taking a second to try and calm his heartrate - control his breathing. It didn't do much good, so he jumped up and hastily suited up for action.

Zell was out of his room around the same time of some of his friends. He clapped the first one he came into contact with on the shoulder and nodded, seamlessly turning to rush down the stairs. Barracker was in front. He clasped the vampire on the shoulder as they made for the exit of The Mended Drum and started running through the streets.

"This is us, guys!" he shouted as they ran. "We've got this! They don't know who they're fuckin with!" Booted feet pattered the cobblestones, the group staying together until the point where their individual assignments would force them to split. "Stay swift, bro," were his words for Barracker as they parted at an intersection. "Be careful. Later," or some form there of for the others, no time for a deeper and more caring message. He could only hope that they were used to his ways enough that they'd know just how much they all meant to him.

He was on his own by the time he met any resistance. Zombies. Even on his approach, more were dropping out of the sky, somehow still alive and struggling up to their feet to join in chaos. So that's what were falling out of that thing, he realised now. He didn't miss a step and sprinted straight into the action, drawing his sword off his back. He left the flimsy lightweight buckler hooked on his hip. The shield was purely to block magic, completely useless against physical attacks and therefore pointless at the moment, but it was light enough to be of minimal annoyance on his belt, ready to punch his left arm down into the hand hold the moment he needed it.

He fought his way down the street among allies, the bright white light coming from the flare above helping him keep his bearings as he progressed towards The Lions' meeting point. In spite of the intensity in his heart and mind, the technical difficulty of the foes before them was pitiful. They were slow. And if not slow, then straight lined and single-minded. Easy work. And yet it was wildly difficult on the stamina and the senses. It didn't matter how much knowledge of melee combat and field battle that the Source Crystal forced into his lexicon, it was all just theory and could never compare to the real deal. He had to control himself. He was expending too much energy on nerves alone. But the urgency to find his fellow Lions and rally them around him was too great.

Once he was only a single street away from the meeting point, he began to see familiar faces. "Lions!"

Bit by bit, he picked them up - "Lioooons!" - his group slowly growing as they made it to a crossroads. Here there were a large number of enemy, but ruthlessly, Zell ordered his men to leave the other soldiers to deal with the mob. It had to be done. Sure, the defenders on this intersection were outnumbered, but these dumbass zombies were just a distraction. Just here to cause chaos.

The real threat was the danger that Valhiem's walls were not adequately defended. If Saladin managed to take the walls without losing the absolute maximum number of his troops then Valhiem would most certainly fall. Every layer of fortification had to be utilised to the fullest. And anyway; if Commander Thorn wanted the Centre of the Defensive Line to stay in the streets, then it would have to come down the chain of command. "Move now!"

The looks in the eyes of some of his soldiers was hurt as Zell forced them to follow him down the much safer street, away from the fighting, but the hardened eyes of a couple of his vets gave him heart. "Liooons! To meee!"

They arrived at the meeting point and formed up. Ten ranks of ten was easy enough to count and the Lions held their position to wait for the stragglers. Zell knew he couldn't wait all day, but luckily none of his soldiers forced his hand. Everyone showed up and the made for the wall.

...

Five ranks of twenty. Higher troop quality in the front ranks and the flanks. No archers in his particular block. He'd been given the assignment of a pure melee centurion, flanked on either side by The Pits and The Scarabs who would be firing at will once present and ready. The Lions stood looking over the battlements, among the first of the blocks on the walls. The view was awe-striking, the sheer scale of the enemy host was so grand that each would have to swivel his head almost 180 degrees to see it all. Amongst the slowly advanced siege towers were just fucking MASSES of baddies. A million glinting metal blades of various shapes and sizes. Armour. So much armour. Monsters. Those fucking dino-cavalry. All sorts.

Zell was lost for words. For a time, he'd forgotten his place. He wasn't captain of The Lions. He was plain old Zell Brooks, stood in awe with tunnel vision as fire, ice, earth and air and plenty of arrows were traded between the mages of both sides. "Christ," he muttered shakily under his breath. He didn't even realise he was shaking his head slightly, his thoughts betrayed by his subconcious body language. His men and women stood faced front, so hopefully none noticed that their captain had frozen. Still... they were waiting for some words of encouragement from their boastful, boistrous beacon of courage, who usually carried himself like he was a legend of the Mythic Age.

And then...

Zell's eyes flared as a big firebolt came like a comet toward their position.

"WATCH-" there was not even time enough time for Biff in the front rank to get out the warning.

<Impact.>

At the same time:

<Teleportation.>

Zell appeared on the battlements with his buckler up, a millisecond before the firebolt struck, angling his shield in such a way to take as much off the punch as possible. There was an explosive crackle as the bolt was deflected in a high arc way over everyone. Zell was blown off the battlements into his men who didn't have any time or choice in catching him. The collective strength of a dozen or so Lions managed to cushion Zell's momentum and thankfully no one was knocked flying off the wall or anything. The firebolt went soaring into the background and landed on a distant empty section of wall south of them. Another stroke of fortune.

Zell's entire left arm was numb and shivering. He was breathing heavy and he was still yet to fully come to the realisation that his efforts had paid off.

"Captain," Chip said in a tone that spoke of great awe and gratitude. There was a similar sentiment from others as Zell was helped to his feet.

Thank fuck for that, Zell thought. He could not, under any circumstances, take casualties before The Lions had gotten some kills of their own to bolster their morale. It was terrifying enough just having to stand there and wait for those siege towers, with plenty of time to think about just how daunting the task in front of them was.

He felt like his arm was about to fall off, but thought of a great way to hide his pain. Aswell as capitalise on this close call.

"Weeeeee shall not,
We shall not be moved.
Weeeee shall not,
We shall not be moved.

We are the Lions,
Hear us Roar.
Weeeee shall not be mooooooooooooved!

"Weeee...." A song they'd sung before, with words easy to remember. Everyone joined in. "SHALL NOT,
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
WEEEEE SHALL NOT,
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED."

...And the siege towers rolled closer.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

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THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

hididdlyho.gif

everyone have a good time over xmas?

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

"Cheers," Fenna said to Clive and Zell, raising her mug. Zell copied her. "We've been through a lot and the troubles are far from over, but at least we're in good company."

"Spot on. I'll drink to that, mate," Zell added with a one-sided grin. He knocked his mug against theirs and took a big swig.

Shortly after Fenna's arrival, the trio had grabbed a spare table and gotten down to business. Beer, lively banter and funny stories all around. Each took a turn getting a round of drinks in, which took them a hour or two into the evening. As the sky outside darkened, the tavern got a little busier, not another adventurer in sight, just regular local folk who'd likely put in a hard days work with the defence preparations and now wanted to relax and take the edge off.

The addition of the Ranger had changed the vibe and Zell was glad of it. It was nice to have some one-on-one time with Clive, to hear about his life, to let him vent some of his thoughts. But in Zell's experience of friends, nothing good comes from extensive drinking while depressed. Combining this bit of wisdom with the Source Crystal superpowers; Fenna had potentially averted a disaster.

"Wehey!" Zell cheered as he approached the table, his big hands wrapped around three small glasses, with his fingers also hooking three mugs of beer. He set them down before taking his seat, then slid each of his friends a mug of beer and glass of dark fluid each. "Would you believe Mytheria's got shots n all, ha."

The stuff in the glass was called, "Manticore Spit," and Zell explained as much, telling them that he got chatting to a table while waiting for the beers and they recommended it as something that will - quote - 'blow your fucking head off.'

"Alright adventurers... shots up." Zell threw back the shot and immediately regretted it. It was as awful as it was powerful and so hard to swallow. "Oh-emm-gee, for fuck's sake," he croaked hoarsely. He banged a fist on the table, his unable to unsquint his eyes for a moment. "I think I'm gonna die."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

lol alright lads, let's propel 'er to insanity

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Hahaha, thanks. I have been flying for a few years as a part of my education. Getting my BA in Flight Operations and working on my commercial certificate at the moment. I love it, and looking forward to it being my career soon.

@AvaP

seems like a pretty plain hobby to me

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

"...most of all-" the southerner raised the dirty mug up with a wry smile "Well good beer of course," Clive stifled a snort and Zell grinned.

"Too right, mate. I'd give my last silver for even a watered-down Fosters, right now."

They knocked their mugs against eachothers an extra time for good measure before Clive sighed and looked somewhat more serious. The cowboy had started on a sincere answer, mentioning family first. He'd probably cracked a joke just to make the 'sharing' a little more palatable between the two men. Zell understood.

"If...If I'm bein' darn well honest I reckon what I miss most is what I used to have, my life was simple I...I was a gosh darn farmer, I worked a field and took care of horses not...Not this...Sometimes it's just so...Overwhelming y'know?"

"I hear ya, mate. You aren't alone in that one." Zell gulped down some beer. "My life wasn't exactly simple... Come to think of it, it was pretty fucking crazy at times." A flurry of images flickered through Zell's mind, among them; the parties, the nightclubs. Hand-offs of little baggies of just about every drug that could be found in London. Recieving wads of notes from his workers, counting piles of cash in his dorm. Getting a brutal kicking from club bouncers who'd caught him moving in on their turf, meeting big names in the London's criminal underworld. Still though... "But it was nothing compared to this shit," he made a show of looking at the source crystal in the back of his left and shook his head exasperatedly. "Sometimes, when I wake up, it takes me a second to remember that this is all real." He looked at Clive with a snort and a grin. "So... simple country boy, eh? What's that like? I've only ever known the city."

There was a hint of reluctance but Clive did indeed go into some details about his old life. Zell enjoyed it, laughing along with some of the stories. It was an alien lifestyle and definitely not to Zell's taste, but Clive's passion and storytelling was persuading the Englishman that he might actually love it.

...

"Y'know somethin?" the farmer leered closer to his companion placing a hand around his shoulder, his speech somewhat stunted and eyes bleary from the drink. The sun was almost set. Zell was somewhere between drunk and tipsy himself, at this point, and he leaned right into Clive to hear him. The two looked like they were huddling together for warmth or something. "When-Wh-When I died...Ag-Again, it was so dark..." Zell moved away enough to be able look Clive in the eye and there he saw a troubled soul. "I can't get it out o' my head no matter how much I try."

"Musta been weird ay-eff," was all Zell could think to say. It was pretty traumatic for his own self, remembering every moment from getting hit by that bus to finally passing away. Pretty traumatic to say the least. Clive had two deaths to haunt him. And the description of this second one sounded fucking terrifying. There was an oppressive weight to the minimalism of it. The nothingness. "We won't let it happen again, bruv. Mark my words."

...

"Fenna! Let's fucking goooo." The appearance of the Dutchwoman was fantastic and she looked ready to drink. Zell and Clive were not so drunk that Fenna wouldn't be able to catch up to them. "Barman. Get our friend a mug." Zell had only parted ways with her this afternoon, yet he greeted her like they hadn't seen eachother in ages, holding out his hand so he could clasp hers with a hearty clap. "Our search for Amstel or Heineken has borne zero fruit, but they got somethin that passes for beer... barely."

"Hey," the barman protested as he pulled a drink from the barrel.

"No offence," Zell apologised, then whispered to Fenna. "It's crap, but it does the job."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

"It's like," Zell went on to the short, bushy-eyebrowed barkeep. "I got feelings too. As soft as it may it sound." He took a swig of his ale. "I'm a person."

"I dunno."

Zell looked offended. "Wha'dya mean, 'you dunno'?"

"Well, I mean, you did say you were the asshole o' the group. Doin asshole things. Sayin asshole things all e'time, reet?"

Bartender confidentiality didn't usually come with so much pushback. "Yeah, but not all the time. I can be nice. Clever? On occasion." Zell knew these were not the strongest claims. "Sort of," he weakly added. "Surely I've got more use to me than fuckinggg..." he shook his head, looking at the counter for the right words but couldn't find them. Then he looked further down, between his legs. "...I dunno... like I'm nothing more than a 6'2" breathing machine for my di-"

"Achoo!"

He was interrupted from finishing his vulgar comment at the last second by the other man sat at the bar. Both Zell and barkeep looked at the old man who was wiping his nose with one hand and raising the other in apology. The barkeep, who was on automatic, wiping 'clean' his dirty mugs with his dirty rag, put another mug down and grabbed the next one. "I can't say I can relate, lad," he said. "I've never been desired for my body."

Zell looked him up and down, noting in particular the giant belly hanging out from under his shirt. The Englishman tilted his head in understanding, then took another swig.

Now the old man with the sneeze decided to get involved. "Ay. Been listenin, I ave, to your dilemma. And I might ave the solution yer lookin for."

Zell's eyebrows were raised, his expression skeptical but he said nothing. The barkeep kept polishing his mugs, still mildly interested in the conversation. The old patron went on.

"I once heard of this scientist from out west who presented an experiment of sorts to his peers. He placed a rat in a small room with nought but a fresh cheese he'd posioned in advance." What the fuck!? was Zell's only thought. "He put it to his peers that until they went in the room to find out if the rat had eaten the cheese and died, two realities existed silemul-taneously. In one reality the rat was dead. In the other, it was alive. But both existed." You could tell that the old man felt quite smart relaying this information. "This phenomenon was coined after the scientists name and thereby dubbed, 'Broodinger's Rat.'" Sneeze! "I'd put it to you that, until you tell this girl o' yours how yous really feel, you don't know what her response will be. So both realities exist. One where you live happily e'r after. And one where yous take yer own life outta depression. Your love is like Broodinger's Rat."

There was a silence that fell on the three. Even the barkeep had stopped polishing. Zell, who literally looked in pain, he was so baffled by what he'd just heard, couldn't even begin. "Double-you. Tee. Eff." Aside from the absolute nonsense of a story, Zell wasn't even sure there'd been a solution presented. "What in the fuck kinda bollocks is that? This is what passes for science in Mytheria?"

The old man looked hurt. "Think so. It might be philosophy."

"Gibberish is what that was. In my world, if some so-called professor had come up with that, he'd be a laughing stock." He shared his disappointed expression between the old man and the barkeep. "Fat lotta help you two are."

"Hey, you're the one came cryin te us. No one asked for ye life story."

Zell supposed that was fair, but shook his head anyway. Done with the conversation, he swivelled on his stool to check out the rest of the room, clocking through the window by the door, a familiar face coming into the tavern. "Well, well." He quickly looked at the barkeep and the old man. "Hey, we never had this conversation, yeah? Not a word." Then he looked back at the door as it opened and nodded to his friend, letting the farmer mosey on over before speaking. "Bit of a coincidence, this, ain't it."

"I ain't even gonna ask what in the devil brought you out here..."

"You don't wanna know, bruv," Zell replied, noting Clive's tired face and tone, which was not like the Texan at all.

Then, as if reading the Englishman's mind, Clive put a hand on Zell's shoulder, sighing "Y'know you and I, we look like shit right now...Reckon we might as well drink to make us feel like it too."

Zell let out a breath. "Christ. Truer words were never spoken. Let's get to it."

And so the pair began their quest to get wasted. Each beer, they knocked their dirty mugs against eachother's in salute before starting on it. They talked a little about how military training was going, Zell naming a couple of soldiers from The Lions that he liked in particular. He was happy to hear about what Clive was doing with his own band as he hadn't seen too much of the Military Centre, the swordsman shirking his duties half the time. After two beers, Zell turned the conversation onto Earth.

"So tell me: Wha'dya miss most about Texas, eh?"

A bit of nostaglia was in order and Zell would enjoy hearing anything other than Mytheria shit, right now. America had always felt like a totally different place to Zell, but here in a world where armies of the undead, willy-nilly just decided to sit outside and lay siege to your city, America was practically home for the Englishman.

He also wanted to ask the man what was on his mind. Clive looked troubled. But Zell decided to wait another beer into their drinking session. He was actually quite happy to just drink and talk about regular stuff, but he figured he should give his friend a chance to get his problems off his chest if he felt like it. He did eventually ask.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

this you lol psyco

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Ugh, this post fought me all the way and I am still not happy with it. Got a lot of stress cuz some bad news lately and I can't focus properly on writting. But anyway, post up.

@Teyao

post was fire to me, bruv. you have picked the hardcore difficulty with this zigmund shit tho lol you always play on hard mode tho. i respect it