BXBX NOVEL Chapter 99 (XCIX) Trapped
Jackson climbed the nearby ladder in the intersection, opening a manhole and climbing onto the streets of Fort Vetus. The sun was beginning to set on this side of town, but there were still people out here, walking around with their heads down as they went about their business, rushing to their destinations despite the mandatory curfew.
He looked up towards the sky just above the rooftops where the black clouds hung ominously overhead. It wasn't long until nightfall would arrive...and soon thereafter, chaos erupted across the city like wildfire.
He began running away from the center of town, hoping no one saw him or recognized who he was. He ran through the streets, hiding and slipping past soldiers and guards as he made his way closer to the keep where he had last seen her. As he got nearer, however, things started getting worse. There seemed to be more patrols than usual along the street near the entrance.
'Whatever they got planned will happen soon...' Jackson thought as he looked up at the setting sun, increasing his pace toward the Knight Commander's quarters. 'I don't know how much longer I'm gonna be able to hold them off.'
As he reached the gatehouse outside of the inner courtyard, two guards stood guard over it. They didn't seem particularly concerned with anything else other than standing watch duty. They both stood next to braziers as two soldiers on patrol approached.
The stationed guards waved at the two soldiers as they passed by, quickly turning around, pulling knives free from their belts, slicing the guards' throats, and dropping them to the ground.
The pair of Temple Knights smiled at one another, pulled out the sacks, and threw them into the braziers.
The bags burst open, spilling forth tufts of black smoke. The fires turned green as similar events occurred throughout the fort. The entire fort became engulfed in swirling masses of misty darkness within moments. Cracks began appearing over the braziers as the skies ripped apart as portals were opened.
The Temple Knights started to violently transform into Hollow Templars. Their bodies twisted unnaturally before spasming against the ground. Black trails of smoke flew from the portals as they entered the deceased guards next to them.
Jackson desperately ran faster while dodging between buildings and walls as he moved further inside the fort, racing as he searched for Renee, his heart beating wildly within his chest.
He could hear the clash of weapons and screams coming from every direction. Guards calling for help, screaming in terror as the darkness overtook them. Some fled blindly without knowing what was happening, while others fought bravely with swords drawn and valiantly tried to repel the invaders.
He turned the corner and saw the Temple Knight Commander fighting against three Temple Knights, prolonging the fight as she was unable to gain any ground. She managed to deflect a few more blows before an attack struck her shoulder hard, knocking her weapon to the ground.
"Commander Renee!" Jackson shouted, the gears on his body suit rapidly spinning as his WarFrame appeared, and he drew his Twin Moon scimitars, twirling them around him as he rushed in.
The three Temple Knights turned to face him as he closed the gap, leaping high into the air as he landed before slashing downward with his right sword and cutting the legs out from under the first knight. His left blade sliced upward, deflecting attacks from the remaining two.
He spun around and kicked out at the second knight, sending him flying backward and crashing into the wall behind him. Before the knight hit the ground, the third attacked, swinging his mace at Jackson's midsection.
He deflected it easily using his blades and jumped forward again, striking the temple knight in the throat before kicking him backward and landing beside the commander.
She grabbed her sword and ran toward him, shouting, "What's going on?!?"
"A group of Temple Knights have defected!" Jackson replied, "We need to get you out here!"
"No, I can't leave yet! I have to finish this! I have to kill these traitors! We can't let this stand!"
"Commander, we have to go! If we stay here, we're all going to die!"
"I won't abandon my men! I will not! If I fail, everything we've worked for will crumble! I will not allow that!"
"Tch!" Jackson clicked his tongue as he thought, "We aren't abandoning them, we're regrouping as we evacuate the city to Fort Novae and gathering reinforcements from the Royal Knights!"
"Those bastards?!?" She exclaimed, throwing her arm out and shaking her head, "I'd rather die!"
"Are you fucking serious right now!!?" He shouted, staring at her incredulously, "You need to quit this stupid, petty conflict and work together or the entire island is going to fall!"
"We don't need those Royal Knight bastards nor their bitch of a Knight Commander's help!" Renee yelled, shaking her head before pointing behind him, "Heads up! We have company!"
Jackson spun around to see the three paths leading to the Knight Commander's courtyard being blocked by six Hollow Knights holding wicked black weapons, covered in black smoke.
Their armor had been corrupted, with bony spikes sticking out of the shoulders and elbows. Their helmets were destroyed in various places, revealing the trademark skeletal heads and glowing green eyes.
Their tabards were tattered and had been dyed black and green. Their armor, blackish and rusted, grotesque clusters of legions splattered and grew along the metal.
"We're trapped!" Renee yelled, raising her shield and rushing next to Jackson as the six hollowed knights rushed forward in unison, weapons raised. She swung her sword upwards, blocking the blow, causing the creature to stumble back a step.
"This is bad..." Jackson muttered, deflecting attacks from three of the Hollow Templars aimed toward the Knight Commander while avoiding attacks directed at him.
"We need to get out here!" He shouted, throwing one of the Templars back after blocking their attack and spun, decapitating it and kicking them onto its back.