NOVPUB"YOU JERKS YOU DARE TARGET MY MOTHER!" she yelled, looking at the enemy who was pushing against guards to get into the door.
[Skyfall Pierce]
Gwen yelled out a fierce yell as she leapt high into the air, her spear slicing through the wind. With precision and skill, she brought it down in a powerful arc, channeling all her weight into the strike as she landed.
BANG! 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
"AHH!"
"Damnit!"
This man was past level 20, a good five levels above Gwen, but he was pushed away by the skill. It was a lovely inheritance she received after reaching level 15, and it allowed her to create strikes far beyond her level.
She stood in front of the guardhouse with the others and took over a sector. She swung wildly, making sure no one would get inside.
The Guard House was naturally very secure with minimal fenestration. It just had a small central courtyard to ensure there was natural ventilation and good lighting. Some of the more important functions and warehouses were also on a basement floor, and this included the place where Mathilda currently was.
Mathilda, at this time, was busy monitoring all the aether letters, making sure to pass on news everywhere in a timely manner. After all, sending them randomly where the messages were not needed would only delay movements.
She was also there to calm down the monitoring guards, as well as create instructions that would lead, but not panic, the receivers.
She was no doubt focused on the movements outside rather than her own, so it was up to them to clear out the enemy in this area.
Gwen's team followed her lead and they joined the valiant fight against the enemies targeting the precious elder.
Gwen and her team worked well. While she provided swift and skillfully executed mid-ranged attacks, her team would either serve as shields or engage in close combat.
For a while, they managed to defend the Guard Station like this.
But of course, Gwen had just landed level 16. How much damage could she inflict on those with much higher levels than hers?
But the priority was defense, so that didn't matter as much.
Things changed when a few powerhouses arrived at the site.
One of the enemies who arrived was a level 29 man called Pudek. He had been one of the stair defenders, and he went against some aborigine mercenaries Alterra hired.
One of the main instructions—by that guy Fargo—to certain people was that if they still hadn't gotten through the walls and they were without hope after 3 hours, then everyone above level 30 shall target all the Elders and pry the Token away from them. Pudek was not yet level 30, but he believed he was close enough.
This was why, at some point, every level 30 was just bolstered up over the 5-meter fence. Though many of them were stopped by the mercenaries or the powerful guests, Basset Town pretty much mobilized almost all of their level 30s for this war, so not everyone could be captured.
Again, this was Fargo's recommendation. He had managed to gather support because even if the creation of the explosive failed, the fact was that the accidental explosion still killed their level 28 Weaponsmith was telling of how much power it had.
This also meant that the enemy must not be underestimated. More importantly, if Basset could control that power, as Fargo claimed, they naturally wanted to make sure they won this war.
Pudek saw a mere woman kick one of his teammates. Though the man had long stood up, it was annoying how a woman half his level was still standing for more than 10 seconds in this battlefield.
He disappeared in place and appeared next to Gwen.
Bang!
"GWEN!"
Gwen was kicked in a direction, and her attacker disappeared again before the Alterrans could mob him.
Gwen's protective charm had been activated by that attack so she was undamaged. However, Pudek wasn't planning on letting her go and prepared another attack while she was displaced.
This time, Gwen was able to hold her spear in front of her for defense, though the man used a skill, directly attacking her with his sword.
[Barrage of Blades]
And several slashes and parries were directed at Gwen—so quickly that she wasn't able to react to any of them.
Her spear as bent inwards and her protective charm shattered, causing her to fly away.
BANG!
She coughed as she struggled to get up, but the fighters could not get to her as they were too busy blocking the enemies from causing any more damage. Fortunately, logistics team was there and they were able to carefully carry her up to a stretcher.
Pudek wanted to go after her, but knew he had no time. He just glared at the guards who guarded the structure.
"HEH! YOU WEAKLINGS DARE TO BLOCK MY WAY! When I become a steward, you will be the first to suffer—" Pudek yelled as he waved his weapon carelessly, not caring if he also hit a few of his own teammates.
He did not notice how Magma appeared near his legs, creeping up on him and ruining his armor bit by bit.
[Infernal Bloom]
The magma suddenly brightened as it increased temperature and, therefore, caused damage.
"G-GAHHHH!" he yelled as he finally felt the burning sensation. "WHA—"
BANG!
His distraction allowed a newcomer to kick him down, to the exact same building Gwen was just thrown against.
Pudek was not weak and gathered himself. However, before he could shake away the damned magma that burned his skin, another barrage of attacks came straight at him, forcing him to go on defense.
"I see you decided to target my family," Gill said with eyes darkening as he caught sight of his sister being carried to the ambulance.
"You just asked for the most painful death."
...
Outside the Main Bunkers, Garan's dome had completely sealed the powerhouses inside, while scores of new enemies went to continue attacking the bunker.
When it became clear to all enemies that they wouldn't be winning this war by getting their people inside the walls, everyone went on a desperate mission to get the token.
This also became apparent to the nearby Alterrans, who also rushed to where the Elders were, aiming to protect them all from harm.
Althea did her best to help deal with the rest of them with Gaia and the rest of them, so she could help her husband in whatever way.
She pursed her lips and raised her arrows again, filling them up with her specialized poisons, though they were the standard ones which had limited effects on people past level 20. She felt pity for the one that she used on Vara because he apparently had an antidote for it.
That formula was an experimental one she hadn't released yet and she only had a few drops.
It was made from a plant called Wavul Plant, a plant found in the far southwest. She traded it with Bart's team, who had been coming here every few months with interesting new things in exchange for, well, interesting things from her.
Combined with a few other plants and with Master Hoffen's guidance, she managed to create this incredibly potent poison, at least 5 times more potent than what she sold Loki or Kimmy.
So, for now, other than her standard arrows, she also used her elements to assist her people. For example, although her vines wouldn't hold strong enemies, they could imbalance them.
To be able to control her elements, even for just little things, so far away was actually very impressive.
Anyway, the troubles she caused as well as the fact that she was an elder made her the favorite target of the newcomers.
However, how could it be so easy?
There were lines of guards that surrounded Althea as she made her attacks, humans and Fufi.
"Don't think you'll get past us so easily!"
