The Heart of Gaia

*CRASH!* *BOOM!*

The beautiful starlight that hovered over the city. It's deceiving light filled with hope and warmth couldn't justify it's action as it demolished everything in vicinity.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING!"

My mind couldn't comprehend it.

"ALL CITIZENS OVER HERE! COME HERE!

"HURRY! TO SAFETY!"

"Come on Sera, follow me." I motioned towards Sera.

Afar I saw two fellow soldiers, I went towards them with Mr. Bach on my shoulders and Sera not too far behind me. Once near, I raised my right hand to salute in respect to also inform them of my allegiance.

They saluted in reply.

"Captain Trawly sir! How can we assist you?"

"Mind telling me... WHAT THE F*CK IS GOING ON?!"

"Y-yes sir!"

"We've received news from Madame Cordelia to evacuate all citizens."

"The Operation has been compromised sir!"

"How?! By whom?!" I said anxiously.

"Apparently, we've just received the information from scouts under Marshal Yela and so things aren't clear yet."

So was this a trap? but it felt too sudden. Everything is in chaos ever since that entity shown itself.

"What of the other high ranking officers? any news?!"

"Madame Cordelia couldn't be contacted but Marshal Yela is currently aiding her right now although it's not confirmed."

Everything is in the dark, hopefully both of them are alright.

"What of Sir Bardel?!"

"The Seneschal is currently facing an enemy." Said the other Knight.

He pointed towards the direction of the floating enigma.

"Have all members evacuated?" I asked.

"Almost all of the Knights have been sent to evacuate the citizens, but most of the ranking officers stayed with The Seneschal."

"Alright! I want you both to take this person captive, keep him safe and have a ranked person handle him."

"He is to be kept alive! and kept in custody! make sure he doesn't get anywhere! you can tie him up if you have too!" I added.

Then I remembered the girl that stood behind me, oddly enough she had been silent. So I turned towards her. She wore a troubled and worried expression.

"What's wrong?"

"You're with the Liberators right?!"

I pondered for a while but then I realized that we're going to keep her too.

"Yes."

"T-then please help my friend!" She pleaded.

"Who's your friend?" I asked.

It was one of the only ways for me to be of service to this child and what she'd been through, a peace of mind if you will.

"Knoxx! Please help him!"

My eyes widened with surprise.

"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT NAME?!" I exclaimed.

Out of shock I grabbed her on her arms.

"Uh-uh, I met him inside the dungeon holding cells! he helped me escape!" She said hurriedly.

"WHERE IS HE?!"

"He's over there! Now please let go of me, it hurts."

She pointed towards the floating entity in the sky that wrecked havoc through the city. I slowly let go of my grip...

"ARE YOU SURE?!"

"Y-yes! I saw him! Before I bumped into you, I was watching him from afar he was glowing like that! only this time it's much brighter."

"That would explain that bright light I saw down there..."

Looks like she knew more than I bargained for. I faced towards the soldiers that waited for me.

"Take this girl with you! Make sure she arrives at the Fort with that other captive!"

"Yes Sir!"

"Please! Save him! He saved my life!"

I hesitated at the thought especially when I saw her teary eyed.

"Take them away..." I ordered.

I left without saying a word as her voice reverberated that begged for assurance. Soon, I paved the way through the many alleyways only using the only light in the sky as my guide.

It rivaled the Large Viscorr at the heart of the city that served as a substitute for the sun, like the force of nature itself.

*Pant* *Pant*

What in the world is Knoxx? The current figure that I saw reminded me of legends old folks use to tell, but it was too absurd and unreal.

"It can't be..." I said in disbelief.

Long ago... Gaia the Supreme Goddess created the world, along her was the Old Gods: Allina of Fortune, Faustrian of Emotion, Deimon of Spirit, Elga of Matter and Laxxo of the Consciousness.

Along the creation, Gaia left a piece of herself that blessed the living in the process, the ability to do miraculous deeds and the unimaginable--While the corrupted did the opposite. Bringing chaos and ruin upon the world. Soon enough the misdeeds outweighed the good as Laxxo enticed the greedy hearts of men.

With death and destruction spreading throughout the world, Gaia in retaliation chose a man worthy of her pure, unmatched power, to enact equity and peace upon the world.

The man served as the protector of life and the proprietor of Corr, bringing men that misused the blessing of Gaia to justice. It's said that his powers was unrivaled and that his true form was as bright as the sun that brought warmth to those that stumble upon it... Or at least that's how I remember it.

I didn't believe it until I saw this entity soaring above. Tales of old was more fiction than factual in my book, they were merely folk tales that served as a inspiring words to children.

As a child I've never paid attention and was never the religious type to ever set foot inside the Temple of Gaia. But somehow this situation made me remember that legend.

"What in the world is happening." I thought to myself.

The constant twinging of my legs reminded me the fatigue that slowly consumed me, I can't afford to rest now that people are in danger. As I came to peek beyond a blockade, a powerful explosion caught me off guard.

Scanning through the area I saw a familiar figure in the distance. That signature lance belonged only to one person I knew so I bolted towards his direction.

"SIR!" I shouted.

He was breathing heavily, tired as he blocked a number of magical projectiles. Upon closing the distance between us I saw that same hulking purple mass, each of his throbbing monstrous muscles were intimidating.

"HA. HA. HA!" He chuckled.

"You no match for me!" He followed.

As he lunged forward for another devastating attack, I dove right in with shield in hand that absorbed the impact. The force was undeniable powerful that my arms were barely holding it back.

*CLANG!*

The sound of stricken iron resounded through the battlefield. My arms were trembling from the aftermath. Another hit from that monster and I'm dead.

"Are you okay sir?!" I asked worriedly.

We took a few paces back.

"Of course!" He said proudly.

But I could see that he was barely managing to say those words. His body exposed the exhaustion he was currently facing. He didn't had any life threatening wounds.

"What's the situation Sir!"

"Enemies, Two of them!"

The would explain a lot, I understood the muscle-bound enemy being strong but he lacked skill. Could easily be disposed of by Bardel. He only showed premise of unbelievable brute force but apart from that he was useless.

"Watch out for the magic caster!"

He pointed behind the enemy, beyond the battlefield was an old man wearing a laboratory coat. It was two against one. Upon further inspection of the area, I saw corpses, I'm guessing they were the officers that stayed support Sir Bardel against these fiends. There was only one way to honor the dead, it was continuing their will and purpose.

"Let us go you imbecile! I don't need to waste anymore time on you fools!" The coated man shouted from afar.

I didn't like his condescending tone.

"Not a chance! You both are coming with me!"

From his voice, I could catch a hint of suspicion towards them. I could see where he was coming from since that hulking tank definitely screams familiarity towards the monsters from below. It had the same lifeless eyes, discolored body and crystal growing from it's body. Except there was only one gem, it stuck out on it's forehead.

"Fine then! Looks like we'll have to force our way out!"

What ensued was the endless blows between the monster and Sir Bardel while I maintained in assisting him by blocking extra projectiles. Cunning with my rebound magic spell, I targeted the old man but it wouldn't connect as that muscle-headed goon of his always blocked everything; Unfazed.

Combat-wise Bardel was winning due to sheer skill and ability, although no matter what attacks he threw, that thing would keep fighting back completely unhinged of pain and emotion. It wore that same smug expression as if it knew, what's most troubling about it was the fact that if we couldn't do any damage against it then we'd lose.

*Pant* *Pant*

"At this point we're not getting anywhere! that monster is taking every hit like it's nothing!" I shouted in confusion.

"Looks like we're gonna have to keep fighting!"

*Shriek!* *Yelp!*

The sounds of pained horror could be heard from nearby, it sounded like citizens and other bystanders. What happened to our squadrons? they were suppose to take charge in evacuating. We both could clearly see the entity hovering over the city slowly, it rained bolts of destruction that destroyed hundreds of buildings within mere seconds.

"Hackmann! You go help them!"

"B-but sir? you can't possibly take both of them on?"

Especially with their tactical advantage, The old man served as a long-ranged tactician while the monster was a unyielding brute that forced it's way into anything. It was hard to break through their defense.

"Don't worry! This time for sure I'll make it an even fight!"

He pulled his lance backwards as he charged up a considerable amount of Corr that took shape of his weapon. It spun with outstanding momentum that kept growing faster and stronger.

"One! Charge into him!" Hurriedly the old man said.

"GRAAH!"

They took the chance, a barrage of magical projectiles flew towards us while the giant galloped at us with full speed that caused tremors in his wake.

"F*ck it!" I said.

I quickly woven a rebound spell on my shield and jumped towards Bardel. I braced myself as the Corr oriented attacks were reflected towards their direction. With a hasty scan, I saw the monster run through the blast like it was nothing.

The property of my rebound spell was redirecting attacks into the same direction it came from but with twice the force. Seeing that this beast took it without any hesitation, it reminded me of my inferiority in strength and skill; completely destroyed my confidence.

"ARGGH!*"

*CRASH*

*Cough!* *Cough!*

"Ugh... Blood."

Did that monster had magic nullifying capabilities? I thought to myself.

My eyesight was hazy, my body felt numb, the blood on my hand was mine... I slowly moved my head and saw that my right arm was broken from the impact. My shield was nowhere to be found.

"J-just how far did I fly away?" I thought to myself.

I tried looking for Sir Bardel but try as I might my eyes were too foggy. I couldn't afford to just lay here, he needs my help, anything I could offer will do.

"STAND DOWN HACKMANN!"

*Clang!* *Clang!*

I forcibly limped towards the sound of his voice, I didn't care that I could lose my life, if it were a chance to repay him; I'll do it.

"THIS IS A DIRECT ORDER FROM ME!"

To hell with that!, If I live and he dies then I won't be able to return his kindness. Memories of the past resurfaced, my mind swam through the reminiscence, that same extending hand in my darkest days is what kept me going. He saved mine and now was the time for me to do the same.

"Stand down Trawly..."

I heard a familiar voice from behind me, what followed was the warmth of a light and gentle touch.

"Don't risk your life over this."