Lassim felt a bit of relaxation with the assistance of his [Grand Aegis] technique. He was able to help his struggling allies, but they still couldn’t afford to falter now.
He raised his halberd, the weapon bubbling with water elemental energy as he unleashed a powerful [Slash] attack forward. Another wave of approaching demons were cleaved apart and sending them writhing in agony or dying instantly.
Korro and the allies rested for a brief moment as they realized the barrier around them would hold for a bit as they advanced forward.
While the others rested, Korro was the first to jump back into the chaos with his harpoon that darted forward with deadly precision. The constellation above him glowed brightly. Together, they cut a swath through the demonic ranks, their combined strength a beacon of hope for the defenders.
The battle raged on, the water filled with the sounds of combat and the cries of the wounded.
They had to survive. They had to keep fighting for the sake of the seafolk and even the wider world if they couldn’t contain the legion. They had to keep pushing forward. The fate of millions living on Nexaria depended on it.
Despite their efforts, the portal remained a looming threat, its’ dark energy pulsating ominously. Lassim’s mind raced, searching for a way to disrupt the portal.
As they neared the portal, the intensity of the battle increased. The demons seemed to sense their intent even more now, with more groups focusing their efforts on stopping the group of warriors.
The closer they got to the portal, the more difficult the battle became, too.
The portal began to spit out demons that were larger and more powerful, their dark energy crackling through the water as they emerged. Several large Minotaur abyssal legion members charged forward with their heads lowered and horns gleaming with a red hue of the abyss.
The leader of this legion’s attack seemed to not have arrived yet, and was more careful than the last Lieutenant that he encountered before. It was more cautious and let it’s army to secure a foothold first before it arrived.
However, with the appearance of the stronger and larger demons, most in the Spirit Ascension stage, Lassim figured it was possibly only a matter of time before the big boss arrived.
Lassim’s muscles burned with overexertion of his divine mana stores, trying to push as much outwards as he could to slay as many as possible, but he pushed on.
Finally, they reached the portal, only meters away from its red hued glaring eye. The abyssal energy swirling within it was almost overwhelming, a tangible force that pressed against them.
Everything about it felt wrong and disgusting. Lassim could feel the malevolent power emanating from the portal, the abyssal threat that loomed over their world.
"We need to shut this thing down," Korro said, his voice strained. "But how?"
Lassim’s mind raced, searching for a solution.
At that moment, the power of his progenitor markings thrummed beneath his skin. He knew he had to find a way to use that power to close the portal, but how?
Before he could formulate a plan, the portal pulsed with a burst of energy, and a new wave of demons emerged. This time, they were a variant of the Minotaurs that dropped venom from their clawed hands and horns.
Lassim and Korro braced themselves, preparing for the next onslaught. The battle was far from over, and the fate of the underwater region that Sitnalta managed hung in the balance.
The fight against the abyssal legion continued with relentless intensity. Lassim and Korro fought side by side, their weapons slicing through the water as they battled the seemingly endless horde of demons.
The citizens of Sitnalta fought valiantly as well, their combined efforts holding the line they’d pushed forward, but the portal continued to spew forth more enemies.
Each new wave seemed more ferocious than the last, their twisted forms emanating a palpable aura of malevolence.
Lassim’s mind was focused, his thoughts a whirlwind of strategy and determination. He knew they needed to close the portal, but the constant barrage of demons made it nearly impossible to think of a way to do anything about it.
The pressure was immense. The water was thick with the dark energy emanating from the portal, and the strain of continuous combat was beginning to strain everyone as they’d been fighting against the endless legion for 12 hours now.
As they fought, and everytime the portal thrummed with Lassim in range, Lassim’s progenitor markings began to react to the presence of the portal.
He could feel a strange sensation, as if the markings were resonating with the torn fabric of space. As if having slowly charged by the constant thrumming of the torn fabric of space over the last half day, the markings spread to his eyes.
It was an eerie transformation that made the demons that faced him feel like their souls were going to be sucked into his violet irises that were changed into swirling voids of lightning.
With the change, his vision sharpened, revealing the delicate threads of space fabric connecting the portal to the abyssal realm.
He could see the space fabric now, the threads that connected the portal to some far-off location. The threads were stable, but they appeared thin and fragile to his enhanced vision.
He realized that he had the power to sever those threads, to cut off the connection and close the portal. The task was daunting, needing to get all the way to the portal but he felt a surge of confidence knowing he possessed the ability to end this nightmare quickly with this new ability.
"Korro, cover me!" Lassim shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "I need to get close to the portal!"
Korro nodded, his harpoon slicing through another demon as he moved to protect Lassim. "Go! I’ll hold them off!"
Lassim surged forward with more intensity, his halberd cutting a path through the demons with black ooze bleeding out from his now dead opponents.
He could feel the power of his progenitor markings guiding him, the energy coursing through his veins, as he approached the portal.
The demons seemed to sense his intent, their attacks growing more desperate as they tried to stop him. Each step closer to the portal seemed to heighten their ferocity.
With a final burst of speed, Lassim reached the portal. The crimson red energy swirling within it was almost overwhelming now that he could see the massive universe it was connected to. Yet, he focused on the threads of space fabric, the connections that held the portal open.
He raised his halberd, channeling his space power connected to his divine mana obtained from Khaalseru into the blade. The air around him began to split and fold the fabric of space with the release of this energy, and he could feel the resonance between his markings and the portal threads intensify.
"Stop invading us you assholes!" Lassim shouted, swinging his halberd with all his might.
The blade sliced through the threads, severing the connections in a single, powerful strike.
The reaction was immediate.
The portal began to collapse in on itself, the dark energy imploding as the space fabric tried to snapped back into place. The water around the portal churned violently, creating a maelstrom that threatened to engulf everything nearby.
A demon that was halfway through the portal when the threads were cut was caught in the collapse, its body severed as the portal closed.
The remaining abyssal legion faltered, their connection to the abyss severed. The defenders of Sitnalta rallied as the demons froze and began to lose themselves to their base instincts without the mind control to guide them. They pressed their advantage as they fought to clean up the remaining demons.
Lassim’s vision swam, the strain of using his progenitor power taking its toll. He could feel the crystal in his inner heart world dimming, the effort of severing the portal’s connections draining his energy. But the portal was closed, and the battle was turning in their favor.
Korro arrived to support Lassim and fought with renewed vigor seeing the change, he grabbed the pack of Lassim’s clothes and dragged him away to safety. His harpoon struck down the demons remaining nearby with deadly precision.
The citizens of Sitnalta, inspired by the sight of the closing portal, roared with a cheer and that seemed to release some of their anger. They fought with all their might, their combined efforts pushing back the abyssal legion.
The water was thick with the remains of fallen demons, and the light of the bioluminescent flora within the city seemed to shine brighter, as if celebrating their approaching victory.
The battle, however, was far from over. The demons, though weakened by the closing of the portal, fought with a desperation born of their severed connection to the abyss. Their attacks became more frenzied, their movements more erratic.
Lassim, barely able to stand, leaned heavily on his halberd once Korro set him down near a collapsed wall, but he knew there was no time to rest. He had to fight on, alongside his companions, until the very last demon was defeated.
Korro moved through the battlefield with relentless determination as he protected the area around Lassim. His constellation above him burned brightly, a symbol of hope for the defenders of the Sitnalta outpost.
The sahagin warriors, their tridents flashing with water mana, formed a tight group with the [Grand Aegis] and ice dragon still active, their synchronized movements a testament to a standardized and disciplined training. They pushed forward, driving the demons back step by step.
Mermaids swam around them, their spells of protection and healing reaching the injured, their powers and skill a soothing balm amidst the chaos.
Sirens and naga joined the fray, their attacks devastatingly beautiful. A siren’s song disoriented a group of demons, leaving them vulnerable to the naga’s swift strikes.
The water was filled with the sounds of battle, the clash of weapons, and the roars of defiance. The defenders fought with everything they had, their spirits unbroken despite the overwhelming odds.
Lassim, regaining his strength, joined the fray once more. His halberd flashed and swirled through the water, each strike crackling with residual space energy.
He moved with his eyes scanning the battlefield for any sign of his comrades in need of assistance. The sight of the defenders rallying gave him hope.
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A particularly large demon, its body armored with dark chitin and spiny round head, barreled through the defenders’ line, its claws raking through the water.
Lassim intercepted it, his halberd clashing against the demon’s armored hide. The force of the blow reverberated through his arms, but he held his ground, his progenitor markings flaring with the last bits of stored power.
The demon roared, its eyes glowing with malevolent fury. It lunged at Lassim, its claws aimed at his chest.
Lassim twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the attack, and struck back with a powerful [Slice] of his halberd. The blade bit into the demon’s armor, sending a shockwave of space energy through its body. The demon convulsed, its movements slowing as the energy coursed through it.
It exploded into a million minuscule fragments as if space itself decided this point in the universe was unfit to stay combined and de threaded itself.
The defenders around them let out a cheer, their spirits lifted by the sight of the formidable foe’s defeat.
But there was still more to do. The remaining demons, though fewer in number, fought with desperation.
Lassim and Korro moved through the battlefield and remains of the city outpost, their weapons striking down any demon that dared to cross their path. The defenders of Sitnalta pressed on, their coordinated efforts driving the demons back.
As the last of the demons were defeated, another cheer went up from the defenders. The battle was over, and the Sitnalta region was safe again.
Lassim leaned on his halberd, his body trembling with exhaustion. He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him, and the sight of the dead made him sad.
’If only I was stronger… I might have been able to close the portal sooner…’ He thought to himself.
Korro approached him, a look of awe and gratitude on his face. "You did it, Lassim. You closed the portal! You really saved us there."
Lassim nodded, his voice weak but his body still brimming with energy and tensed if he needed to react to any sudden attacks. "We did it. Together."
Korro extended a hand, helping Lassim steady his feet. "Come on, let’s help the others. There’s still work to be done."
Lassim nodded as they moved to assist the wounded and restore order to the city. The battle was over, but the aftermath would take time to heal.
As they worked, Lassim couldn’t help but reflect on the events of the battle. His progenitor markings had given him the power to close the portal, but the strain had been immense.
He knew he needed to find a way to strengthen this power and harness it more effectively. He had to learn how the progenitor markings worked in the first place and test ideas as he had no guide from Khaalseru. He was the first with this power and his limits were unknown.
This was just another thing he planned to study and advance upon once he reached the Lightning Sect. The journey ahead was filled with challenges, but he was determined to face them head-on. Hopefully the headmaster’s friend at the Lightning Sect would be as helpful as the headmaster had suggested.