CHAPTER 214: THE PORTAL (7)

Reidar watched as the Behemoth’s lumbering gait shifted irrevocably westward, while each thunderous step crushed stone into powder.

As it moved, the Shadow Guardians flowed into new defensive patterns, solidifying the shadows themselves by raising dark walls of compressed shadows to the east, which blocked the monster’s original path.

Reidar watched for several minutes, confirming the trajectory change was holding.

The change became undeniable at that point, as the Behemoth’s colossal foot crashed down toward a chain of mountains Reidar knew was on the other side of the valley, in the opposite direction to Creamont.

"It’s working," he said.

Xy’tharr’s mandibles clicked in acknowledgment. "The reroute is steady. We will keep up the shadow barriers until the creature exits the region."

Reidar nodded. "I need to go," he said. "The others are evacuating. I need to make sure they get to Creamont safely."

"Go," Xy’tharr said as he gave instructions to his Kytinn warriors. "Your contribution to this has been appreciated. The Aegis Phalanx recognizes the debt incurred this day. We will pay you back."

Reidar urged his crow towards the sky, guiding the massive bird back down towards the ground while weaving between the ongoing combat and falling corpses and sacrificing more and more summons to keep the monsters targeting him distracted.

He had to be careful, because just one wrong figurative step and he would end up devoured.

As the ground rushed up to meet him, he landed near the Spriggan camp.

Reidar dismounted, finding the camp nearly empty. The tents that had housed hundreds of survivors now stood abandoned, with equipment scattered across the ground where people had grabbed what they could carry and fled.

The main body of the raid, which included Helga’s Ironsides, Aldric’s Sun Chasers, and the other survivors, had already left, following the plan of evacuation.

Only one group remained: the Spriggans. Seraphine stood with Kara and her people, their bows slung. Nearby, Jake knelt beside a still-unconscious Lena, rubbing her forehead with a wet strip of cloth.

"The others already left?" Reidar asked, scanning the empty tents and scattered gear as he strode toward Seraphine. The wind carried the scent of burnt canvas and blood from the distant battlefield.

Seraphine nodded. "They left ten minutes ago," Seraphine said. "Helga thought the distraction would not last."

Jake approached him. The boy’s face brightened when he saw Reidar. "You’re back. Did it work? The plan with the Behemoth?"

"It worked," Reidar said. "The creature is turning west. Away from Creamont."

Relief flooded everyone’s face. "That’s good. That’s really good."

Kara’s shoulders eased slightly, not enough to completely dissipate her worries, but enough to not make her move like a log.

A murmur of relief passed through the remaining Spriggans. They had been fighting for power in the valley, for their home, their families, their entire reason for being there—it was all in Creamont. Reidar’s success wasn’t just a victory; it was the preservation of their world.

Seraphine’s composure wavered. "You’ve just saved countless lives, Reidar."

In that split second, he sensed the dread that had haunted them all since the monster’s appearance.

The Spriggans’ fierce devotion to Seraphine, their resolve to complete the raid. Everything was tied to that one vulnerable place, to Creamont. For now, Reidar’s efforts had ensured its survival, but for how long, he couldn’t tell.

Reidar’s gaze fell on Lena. "We need to move." He raised his wand, and a dozen Spectral Mages from his Summon Spectral Legion skill made creatures materialize from the mana.

"Summon your steeds," Reidar ordered, his voice cutting through the tense quiet of the abandoned camp.

The Spectral Mages raised their staves, and the surrounding air shimmered. A series of soft pops echoed as their magic gathered into form. Twenty spectral mana steeds materialized from thin air, their bodies composed of swirling, semi-transparent energy that glowed with a blue light.

Reidar wasn’t done, and he shared with them the Summon Feral Pack skill.

He planned to summon horses, mirroring the spectral mages’ actions, because mounts were needed. Naturally, the Feral Pack Horses would be significantly larger compared to those conjured by the spectral mages using their skills.

Dozens more horses appeared alongside the spectral mounts, stamping their hooves and snorting.

"Mount up," Reidar said. He helped Jake lift Lena onto one of the Feral Pack horses, securing her in the saddle. Jake climbed up behind her, holding her. The Spriggans swiftly claimed their own mounts.

Before spurring the horses forward, they all turned toward the giant monster for a last look.

On the distant plain, the Aegis Phalanx swarmed around the Behemoth like hornets. Pinpricks of light, energy blasts, and spells flashed against the giant mountain of muscles.

A ship exploded against the creature’s shoulder, the blast’s roar swallowing the air like a sudden thunderclap.

Shards of burning steel hissed as they sliced the wind, and the crackle of the fire they carried was the only sound that could be heard above the creature’s low, rumbling growl.

The Behemoth took another step west, its eyes fixed on some distant point, ignoring the attacks that scarred its hide but failed to halt its progress.

Jake moved his horse beside Reidar’s. "Will they be able to kill it?"

"I don’t think so," Reidar said. "But they’ll keep it away from the city. That’s what matters. As for the other monsters, it will take time, but they will hunt them too. We will also play our part."

Seraphine urged her horse forward. "We need to move. The portal creatures are spreading. The longer we wait, the more dangerous the journey becomes."

Reidar nodded. He turned his horse toward the east. "Everyone ready?"

Affirmative responses came from the Spriggans.

"Then we ride."

Reidar swung onto his own spectral steed.

He kicked his heels, and the spectral horse surged forward without a sound. The rest of the group followed, a mixed cavalry of ghostly mages and solid warhorses thundering across the broken ground, leaving the cataclysmic battle behind as they began their desperate race against the dawn.