BXBX NOVEL Chapter 102 (CII) Cracks
Renee leaped through the air, spinning her sword and slicing downward like a meteor falling onto the battlefield below while Lydia turned, slashing her blade, summoning three beams of light that shot across the sky, crashing into several nearby groups of Hollows.
When her blade clashed against the ground, killing a Hollow, three beams of light followed her sword's trajectory, crashing into the masses of shadows. She leaped back, clasping arms with Lydia as the sisters spun around each other, unleashing a torrent of beams.
A group of Hollow Templars dressed in heavy armor slowly approached through the mists of shadows. Their weapons glowed with an eerie green aura.
They threw their companions aside and swung their weapons against anything that got in their way. Each swing sent waves of fire erupting outward, incinerating anything caught in their wake.
One knight rushed towards Lydia only to meet her own blades swinging upward, cutting deep into its chest plate, using his momentum as she cartwheeled backward, slamming him into the ground, stabbing it deeply into its spine.
She pulled her blade free before piercing through his helm, severing his neck entirely as the body immediately dissolved in a bright red flame as she stood up.
"Lydia!" Renee called as another wave of hollows attempted to break through the barricades behind her.
"It looks like these ones aren't mindless..." Lydia remarked as she ducked under a swipe from above and sliced open a helmet, sending blood spraying everywhere before kicking away a charging soldier whose arm fell limp after being severed by her foot.
"We're getting overrun! We need backup now!" Renee yelled as she blocked a blow from a giant hammer wielded by one of the soldiers, holding her shield tightly as her shoulder smashed against it.
As soon as she could pull herself upright again, she stabbed through the eye socket of the creature, causing it to scream and collapse to the floor, dissolving instantly as a small cloud of smoke rose upwards.
"Trust my men! They're coming!! We just need to hold on a little longer!" Lydia shouted as she pushed aside a spear-wielding Hollowed Knight and kicked him square in the face, knocking him to the ground. Renee kicked a Hollow into another, knocking back both as they stumbled over the downed knight as she forced her blade straight up through all three of their throats simultaneously.
"I hope they're not taking the scenic route!" Even though this place was built to withstand the most vicious battles of war, our forces are dwindling fast!" Renee replied, shouting as she parried blows left and right as she killed two more enemies.
She twisted her body around and thrust her elbow into the stomach of one before pulling her legs up and planting both feet firmly into the chin of the second, throwing her backward as she landed lightly beside her sister.
***
Jackson rode atop Khione in her War Forme as Umbra flew quickly after her. He sped up as much as possible, twirling his Twin Moon Scimitars around him, cutting down Hollows as she darted through the streets of Fort Vetus, closing in on the first crack.
A single beam of green lightning zipped around the edges of the portal, keeping it open. It wasn't tremendous, perhaps no larger than ten meters wide and twenty long.
Three figures draped in shadows knelt underneath it, chanting as gusts of black clouds would fly out of the crack, rushing through the streets.
Khione rushed toward the portal as Jackson leaped from her back, spinning through the air, immediately taking out a Hollow flying through the air before landing behind the three figures.
The three exclaimed, startled at his appearance as Jackson, Khione, and Umbra simultaneously killed them. When he turned to look at the portal, it had begun to collapse on itself. Cracking could be heard, followed by deep explosions before the portal vanished.
"One down..." He sighed in relief, knowing this would be the easiest one as they would be expecting him at the remaining portals.
He looked around his surroundings briefly before hopping onto Khione's back and flying off toward the next one.
He reached the following location shortly afterward, finding another set of three zealots and a singular Hollow Templar wearing massive armor with an enormous morningstar in one arm and a gigantic tower shield in the other.
Khione growled, lowering her head and baring her teeth as her eyes began shining brightly, changing color from purple to pale blue. Her claws extended as she charged forward with Jackson on her back and Umbra vanishing, appearing directly behind the enemy.
The Hollow Templar turned, spinning his flail as it roared with a green flame, passing through Umbra's body as he flipped in the air, kicking the knight backward. Khione pounced toward him as he knelt, raising his shield and blocking her claws and teeth.
He banged his shield against her, reaching his spiked flail back before swinging it down violently. Jackson leaped forward and blocked the weapon with both of his blades.
The force knocked them apart, but Jackson managed to maintain control of them as the man continued to slam the bottom of his shield against the ground.
Umbra vanished once again as Khione reared onto her two hind feet, slamming her front paws against the ground, spikes of ice shooting out and breaking against his heavy armor. Jackson rushed forward, leaping into the air and launching himself toward the Hollow Knight.
The hooded figures remained focused as they continued their chant as the Twilight Wyvern reappeared behind them, lashing out as he quickly slashed their backs, killing all three as they fell against the ground, vanishing into black mist.
Jackson deflected the knight's weapon, spinning as he kicked the hilt, disarming the Hollow Templar, who turned around, attempting to smash his massive tower shield into him, but it was gripped by Khione's claws and fangs.
Jackson ducked underneath the knight's arm, spinning as he got close, flicking his swords, impaling the hollowed knight between the gaps in his armor as it slowly began burning before it disappeared.