Shelby Lockhart's Story

A flash of brilliant golden light illuminated the street a short distance down the slagged street, and for a brief moment the air warped around a clear stretch of road. The flood of light faded after a moment to reveal a small group of figures standing in the previously empty space. The jump from the Temple was slightly disorienting for those inexperienced with teleportation, but having used it for many years, Elante barely hesitated before stepping forwards to survey the situation. He frowned at their somewhat vulnerable position and the state of the road, glad for his relatively thick boots.

"We should spread out and do what we can to help anyone that needs it, focus on protecting civilians and people in trouble rather than on taking the offensive," he said, casting a glance back over his shoulder at the rest of the group. "If anyone wants to join me, I'm going on to the business district to find Aeryn."

"It looks like a dragon flew through here," Shelby exclaimed. The scorched and melted street was still giving off heat. "What could have done this much damage?" All around them were the charred and littered bits of molten slag from what remained of the cyborgs unfortunate enough to be caught in the Reverence's attack.

"Maybe that?" Tahlia asked as she pointed up at the Reverence looming overhead.

"Void take me, we need to get off these streets if they're firing down here," Shelby replied. "What are they thinking bringing a Reverence down into here?!"

"It's the damned Aschen, what do you expect?" Dryden growled.

"Burn me if I expect anything but insanity from anyone this side of home," Talren muttered, "I'm convinced if most people in this bloody world had half their wits about them we'd barely have to lift a finger."

"Is that a mob moving towards us?" Tahlia gaped. "What in the hell is going on out here?" she asked.

Talren threw up a hand in defeat, "I told you! Everyone's bloody mad!"

The echo of core, core, core rang out over even the sounds of battle until you could feel it reverberting right to your bones. In one direction the cyborgs were re-gathering en masse to start their own march back down Main Street, and in front of the approaching mob from the other direction were soldiers and a line of mechs setting the place alight as they went. The cyborgs had been pushed back but a sea more awaited to retake their place if the position wasn't re-claimed swiftly.

"Light. We'll be in a meat grinder if we're caught out here when these groups hit," Shelby told the others. "Go on Elante, we can handle ourselves here. Anria, Cináed, Sahlie, Talren and Tahlia. Get to that blockade and find out who's in charge here and where they most need our assistance. Everyone else with me, we need to get clear of this area. Get to the outskirts of the combat zones and get as many people evacuated as possible before the fighting reaches them."

Elante nodded his head, "Good luck, watch each other's backs." he said, before in another flash of light, he was gone.

"You heard the woman!" Anria barked, voice booming heartily from beneath her helmet, "Move, and show any undead monstrosities that cross our path the business end of your blades!" The tall and broad-shouldered woman hefted her halberd and set off at a run.

The sound of the wind whipping past Paragon's form was all the warning Maria needed. As Paragon closed on his target, Maria coiled and leaped for the nearest building, her claws digging into concrete as she looked back to the shattered asphalt where Paragon had struck the ground in her wake. Hot saliva dripped from her maw as she launched herself clear of the building and down at the strange cloaked figure that had attacked her.

Landing only paces from Paragon, Maria stalked forward with menacing intent. Every coil of her body, and the ripple of her muscle and sinew beneath flesh spoke of the feral grace and raw strength of a predator, while the glint of intelligence reflected in her eyes spoke of a cunning adversary.

A cyborg slammed into her side while she had her focus on Paragon, but she twisted to meet it, and her claws dug deep into its undead flesh before she flung it free to smash through the windows of a street side shop.

Wheeling back about to face Paragon once more, Maria didn't get the opportunity to make a move as the street lit up from the pillar of plasma that struck. It was incinerating abandoned vehicles and cyborgs caught up in its wake, and Maria and Paragon were right in its path. Having been caught out in the middle of the cyborg horde by her fall from the helicopter, it did have the fortunate result of landing her well clear of friendly allies that she might harm in her current state, but it also had the unfortunate result of leaving them in a position at very high risk of friendly fire.

In a moment of pure instinct, Maria joined the cyborg she had flung through the window as heat seared past scorching fur and flesh. Her form was smoldering as she landed crumpled in a heap of broken glass, and her body shuddered as the damage began to knit closed. As the wounds faded so too did her fur. The injuries the plasma had inflicted had taken a lot out of the werebeast and she was rapidly shedding her bestial form.

She roused to the sound of the pounding footsteps of Aschen soldiers running past the building, mechs, and citizens marching to the beat of Core. Core. Core. For the moment though, the street outside was largely clear of cyborgs save for those nearest to the blockade that had been outside of the blast zone.

As the Aschen Sergeant barked his warning, Shannon Bennet barely had time to duck for cover as the pillar of plasma seared down to impact with the street. The heat gusted past her position and the stench of ozone filled the air.

"For frak's sake," she muttered as she surveyed the damage.

It had been a reckless gambit, but fortunately whoever was up there was spot on mark as the pillar struck the intersection up ahead. The street further down from the fighting had been swept clear of the worst of the cyborgs; though, dozens more remained that had been safely outside of the blast zone as they were engaged with those near the blockade, but the locals were making short work of them now that the incoming flood had been momentarily stemmed.

She checked the micro-fushion cell in her disruptor rifle before moving out into the street with the other Aschen soldiers and Terran military that were rushing down the street. The cyborgs wouldn't leave the area clear for long, and they had to secure the position if they intended to hold it. Cyborgs were felled by the dozens as the soldiers broke through the surviving zombies to reach the cleared street ahead.

One cyborg reached for Shannon's leg in passing - its lower extremities having been incinerated by the plasma beam - but Shannon quickly finished it off with a single shot.

Back at the blocade the break in the cyborg flood had the fight for Main Street swaying in favor of those manning the barricades. In a roar of gunfire WCPD officers, NPA officers, and Invictus soldiers were cutting through the remaining cyborgs and laying down cover fire for the soldiers moving out into the street to retake it. Daniel Johnson, a man of thirty-two and a long standing member of the police force was among those holding the line. Popping a fresh magazine into his rifle, he sighted down it and fired off a few more shots that dropped another cyborg.

The bodies piling up in the street in front of the blocade were beyond count, and those still walking were rapidly thinning, but movement far in the distance betrayed the imminent arrival of the next wave if the soldiers didn't secure the street.

Snuffing out the still blazing corpse of a nearby cyborg tentatively with the heel of his boot, Benjamin Davis sighed, nudging the charred body away and wrinkling his nose. It was starting to smell badly of rotting flesh, the piles of bodies formed of already dead flesh swiftly deteriorating as the battle went on.

"Uhg," the long-haired mage grimaced, wringing his hands together and glancing at Daniel, who was adjacent to him in the line. "Did we miss a mass excavation of graveyards, recently? Where does anyone get this many bodies? This isn't what I signed up for."

"Damned if I know," Daniel shouted back over the gunfire. "But I'm sure they'll take your preference into account if they break through the blockades."

There was another crack of Daniel's rifle and another cyborg fell to join its brethren on the pavement.

"Do you think? They don't seem very considerate, to me." Ben replied, frowning and extending a hand outwards to catch an approaching cyborg in a burst of fire that knocked it to the ground where it was promptly finished off by one of the others on the barricade.

"Have you ever tried to give out parking tickets in this city?" Daniel yelled back. "Believe me, these things are far more reasonable."

Ben cracked a smile at that remark, "I suppose you're right. In no other city will you see something escalate from a speeding fine, to resisting arrest and several thousand dollars worth of property damage in the space of ten minutes. That was a fun one."

”Oh my… How wonderfully intoxicating!” The rumble of a myriad of gunfire and explosions overwhelmed the beat of his heart. A lustful sensation drew to the very tips of his fingers. His shoulders wriggled in a giddy fashion, before he hugged his chest to contain the feelings within. Only his eyes could escape the illustrious orchestra of madness, and peer above into the ashy night sky.

”Denizens of Ásgarðr,” A manner of spite twisted the tongue, which voiced his commands. “Be wary.” It was the very epitome of an insult, and warning, to the otherworldly beings who claimed a higher throne.

“Proxies, I trust most of you have kept a surviving distance from the tactics of these aggressors?” The inquiry dispersed electronically to the canals of several ears. With the scope of an eagle, smiling eyes ogled the blazing ground in search of the enigmas.

In a general sense, the word ‘proxy’ refers to someone or something, which is a reliable substitute to act on another someone or something’s behalf. To act, one must be able to react; a reasonable number of the proxies, as they were defined, had escaped the confines of the destruction caused by the erratic soldiers. Meanwhile, everyone else wrestled with their grip on life, and the rebellion they so vigorously showed in the beginning.

Masked faces and hooded figures charged the streets with guns and bats in hand. They screamed as if it was their last moment to live. Soon blurred vision, and an infallible ringing from the explosions caused them to recognize the bodies of their comrades being blown across the street, and splattered onto the sidewalk. Some of the rioters cringed away, while others threatened any oncoming zomborgs with a spray of bullets. Several threw ‘Molotov cocktails’ at the hordes of zombies; the cocktails had been simple jars of gasoline with a flaming cloth at the end. The first to surrender his life to the cause was the speaker of the mob. His megaphone lay somewhere underneath the clashing scores of human and zomborg.

Countless bodies of the rioters had all but evaporated in the ignorant mayhem of missiles, gunfire, and supernatural fury of the so-called “protectors” of this city. One being, of whom stood amidst the grand scheme, had long realized an undeniable truth of humanity. He had taken part in this claim several times. What was it? What did all humans desire so much? It was something, in the purest sense of the word, ephemeral. This drive in every man, woman, and child; it builds kingdoms, it destroys nations, and it inspires every living human to create a new life.

“We all knew what this conflict would bring. Well… maybe not all of us.”

Any one survivor’s eyes would reflect the Aschen Reverence, and bare a spiteful glare toward their fallible approach; after the ungodly blue column of light struck down on the masses of zomborgs a wicked ringing had invaded every conscious human’s ear. The scattered horde of civilians had been assisted by what they truly feared and hated: The Aschen. Out of the ‘Thousand Core’ riot, over two-thirds had perished in the uproar of battle. Hundreds more were injured, and on their way to being mauled. All former predictions of how these people were destined for death the moment they made their choice had, in fact, been proven right. Perhaps, the enemy of thine enemy is not thine friend?

“And, so I see they make their appearance. Oh, what did I say, Mammon? They’ve never known how to keep their noses clean.”

The proxies hid in the shadows of the buildings, and fought each encounter of rabid zomborg on their own, or simply ran away to another crevasse of Main Street; shops, bars, alleyways. Many retained their own unique prowess of how to deal with such things. Each one was subtle. Some were mutated animals or humanoids, others were shifters. Some were even the everyday prospect of an average human being. The variations of these proxies did not falter under any means of scrutiny.

”Tom-Bear, gather your team. It’s time to infiltrate the buildings. Secure the ground level, if you can, but I want a body to set up a fifty degree perimeter of c4 on the interior mid-level of each structure. Ping back, if you need any assistance.”

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Three figures traveled south of the blockade, while keeping their distance from the main fight. A large figure, who seemed more burly and fit to head the vanguard, had kept to its post of snuggling a half-mile away from the edge of combat. Two of the figures, men, lagged behind the larger leader of their pack. Vicious zomborgs, which lay ahead of the men, were left shredded by bullets. However, a few of the undead had limbs ripped off, or their bowels gutted. By first glance, it would appear their bodies were mauled by something with more animosity than themselves.

As the beam of light had literally paved the way, the small party came upon an alleyway, which led to the intersection. “Damn, man…” A hooded man panted restlessly, as he skid to a stop behind his bulky companion. Another masked man followed behind, and all but collapsed for a breath of air. They were both hunched over with palms on their knees, as their hearts vibrated in their chests. “God… You’re faster than you look.”

“I’m a mutant, you dumbass.” A distinguishable male voice reverberated in the alleyway. Every articulated syllable uttered by the deep tone of this thing’s voice caused the men’s backs to arch with fear.

“Yeah, but you’re… a pan-“ The hooded man had begun a stuttered reply.

“Shut up, and follow me inside. Damn sacks of meat and metal will fist pump your sorry ass holes, without me, so do as you’re told.” The enormous body huddled alongside the wall of the alley, and stepped out in the open corner of the intersection. A pair of round, black ears twitched at the roars of the zomborgs ahead of them. Then, with the vexation of a spotlight, the golden flash caused the figures to flinch away, and shade their eyes. A giant, black paw commanded the men to stay still. There they stood on the very edge of the alleyway, nearly fifteen yards away from the group.

Without a glance to the men, the fur ridden proxy directed his stubby claw for them to march toward the building across the street. “Don’t stop.” He growled in a low whisper; his upper lip curled to convey his certain authority over the humans. It would only be a couple minutes, before they reached the other side. With each step they took, their toes curled with tension. They were armed, but lugging explosive materials was one route for a good sweat. These individuals desired no interaction. As they crossed to a half-way point of the street within a minute, the large, ebony and ivory mass of a beast began to shuffle from the edge of the alleyway. He trotted along, as if he were as small and hairless as his subordinates, as if his feet carried no such tons of body weight.

As Ki paused on top of a building, his ears twitched when he caught the sound of voices. "Two humans and a..." he frowned as he lifted his head slight and sniffed the air, his slit gold eyes widening when he smelt the musk of another feline. Moving with stealth long born, he moved towards the edge of the roof and looked down his eyes seeing through the darkness of the ally way a gaped for several seconds when he saw the large male.

(*)Holy shit!(*) he though even as a grin curved his lips. "Born or mutated?" he wondered as he moved closer, his eyes trailing over the figures below ears twitching and tail flicking behind him, but never once kept his attention just on those three, since he also saw the shambling zomborgs nearly 15 feet where the three were slowly making their way towards the other building.

As the small force of Mechs marched toward the cyborg a flash of flesh darted out from the shadows a dull grey light could be seen and a high pitched could be heard. The figure raced by a Mech and it fell and it repeated the process until only one remained. It easily dodged the heavy robots weapons. Then the figure raced through the barrier past the troops and down the street. It ran much faster than the average human but not with superhuman speed either.
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General Williams had been walking down the street by the SEC marines when he got reports of his Mechs being dropped. He was about to send a few marines forward when a skinny figure raced by. He caught the figures face in the light and immediately recognized X279.

"STOP HIM! SEIZE HIM!" He shouted to the armored Marines. About six of them raced after the figure their armor enhanced their speed and immediately caught up with him. X was close to the square now but suddenly he made a miscalculation and was backed into a corner at the front lines. Behind the lines Zombies approached while SEC marines leveled rifles to X's head.

Out of the Shadows Zeban sky appeared. "Don't kill him, Mr. Sullen wants him alive." He said in a dark voice to the marines before turning to the boy. "We have been hunting you for months and when our resolve began to falter you land right in our hands. Fates funny isn't it?" He stated laughing knowing the young man could not respond to his queries.

Sighing softly Ki leaped from the building down to the ground and moved towards the zomborgs, his eyes slit gold and his tail lashed behind him. He grinned when they saw him and moved towards him. Sliding to a sudden stop, he twisted slightly and lashed out with his tail, twin shlinks echoing as his scythes popped out and heads rolled as bodies fell with wet thunks. Those still standing soon lost their heads as well as his tail lashed back around before flicking and sending blood everywhere before sinking back into the ball on the end of his tail.

He looked back to where the three had been and hoped to met the feline some day but knew he didn't have time to wast as the soldier on his back twitched. "Lets get you some help." he said as he leaped forward and once again raced down the street, leaping burned cars, dead bodies and skirting around larger pockets of zomborgs. Sliding to a halt, Ki's head cocked his ears tuned towards a shout and shifted slightly before leaping in that direction. Only to skid to a halt when he saw several large armored suits and gulped as his tail lashed out to strike into the side of the building to keep him from slamming into one and froze where he stood, slit gold eyes locked on the mech's while his ears twitched and he shifted ever so slightly.

"Excuse me, sir?" a voice spoke up as a woman descended down the steps of the Patronus' temple towards Iason. "I don't know how you got that thing down into here with the interference these mountains put off, but flying vehicles anywhere near the temple is strictly prohibited. This isn't a public parking lot, and you need to get that thing out of here."

Her words had an impatient bite to them, but in her experience people who show up uninvited to remote temples, and land ships in their front lawn without so much as consulting the residents of the temple while they go about their business weren't the sort of people that you wanted hanging around.

The mountains in the area put off a great deal of interference for navigation systems and electronics which made it somewhat suicidal to try and fly through them, making it all the more dangerous to land airborne vehicles anywhere near the temple, and no roads were available for ground vehicles to traverse the treacherous terrain that surrounded the Patronus stronghold. It was a remote, but highly defensible location within the heart of the icy peaks.

As no accommodations had been built for landing ships, the only clear area to set down was the temple courtyard itself which had a throng of people gathering to see what was going on, and why a ship was sitting on their front steps.

The woman that spoke to Iason appeared to be in her late thirties and adorned in a silver and white cloak to ward against the icy mountain air. The sigil on the front of her somewhat archaic armor marked her as a member of the Knights of Le'thoria, a branch of the Patronus order.

While she awaited a word of explanation from the stranger she caught sight of the steam and smoke rising from one of the distant peaks with a frown.

"Tahlia," she called out to a young woman crossing the courtyard. "Take Cinaed out to investigate that would you? It looks like a ship went down out there."

Achaeos was unflinching in the face of the rifles pointed at him. It was clear the men were merely surprised by his sudden entrance and had little desire to pull the trigger. That judgement was ascertained when they lowered their weapons. "This is the mountain range known as the Icy Peaks, at the north of the continent Aslund," the kitsune replied, "And if I am correct in thinking your craft is spacefaring by its alien design, then perhaps I should also note that this is the planet Terra."

The young-looking man looked back over his shoulder, "This temple specifically, I believe to be the home of the order known as the Patronus. My knowledge of them in this day and age is not extensive, unfortunately, but what I do know is that they consider themselves 'protectors' of a kind. The temple is my destination also. I am a traveller from elsewhere on the continent." Achaeos frowned. "Be on your guard. Someone with a dark heart lurks upon its steps. I know not their purpose, but I do not think they are one of the temple's regular denizens."

He nodded towards the temple, "Our destinations align, so there is no sense in travelling separately. I will walk with you, if I may." he said, then simply started to walk. His sandals crunched in the snow, though he showed little sign of discomfort or cold from his relatively exposed (through tabi) feet.

Cináed perked up from amidst the small crowd of observers when he heard his name mentioned, smiling. A stroll down the mountainside to save people from a crashed ship? That certainly sounded more exciting than wandering around Wing City or reading through dusty old tomes in the temple library. Not that people potentially being dead was exciting, but, well... they were probably fine, the optimist in him reassured him.

The young blonde's eyes sought out Tahlia, who was standing nearby, and he made his way over with a smile. "Guess we're off down the mountain for a bit!" he said, "You need to grab anything before we set out, or shall we go straight off?"

"It's not far from the look of things," Tahlia replied, turning and starting to walk to make her answer obvious.

Cináed nodded his head and set off after her, and the pair set off from the courtyard of the temple and headed down the trail in the direction of the ship's crash site.

"I am sorry I had no choice than to land here due to the unstable flying conditions this area has provided." Iason quickly spoke as he put the flare gun up knowing that the other group had seen it. "In truth I was following them for awhile up until my master said they would crash here. I take it you all can help them?" With that said the assassin simply hopped back into his ship and took off as fast as he could.

Terra.. and the Patronus temple. He wondered why he had never heard of this planet before. Was it even under the watch of the Jedi Order? It seemed they weren't the only ones who assumed the role of protectors and peacekeepers.

"That dark heart you speak of is a Sith, we sensed them not too long ago." replied Norill, to which his padawan began to speak:

"What would the Sith be doing here, and how did they find out about this planet before the Jedi did?"

Now that was a question he couldn't answer, and wanted to find out for himself. It wasn't long until one of the troopers spotted a cruiser taking flight and bolting away from the temple. "Looks like something spooked him." Aeka shivered slightly, wishing she had brought warmer clothing.

"A sith? I have not heard that term before, nor 'Jedi'." Achaeos remarked as he watched the other ship take to the skies and depart the area. "You must be from another world, I assume, by your reference to 'this planet' and usage of such unknown terms. What lies beyond this world is an area my knowledge is sorely lacking, I am afraid. What little I know of the stars is on a far more spiritual basis than I imagine is relevant."

He noticed Aeka shivering as they walked, and in response raised his lantern. The fire within it pulsed, before a swarm of wisp-like flames burst from it and circled outwards to around the group. The moderately sized candle-flame shaped fires bobbed in the air with a strange uniformity, none of the jumping and flickering of a normal fire, merely a regular controlled rippling. They emanated a pleasant heat through the area, fending off the cold of the mountain air. "For your comfort, miss." Achaeos said to Aeka, inclining his head towards her politely.

"The Jedi are operate on the planet Coruscant, though they can be born on any one that holds sentient life." replied Norill as they drew closer to the temple.

"The Jedi are enforcers of peace, protecting those unable to protect themselves who are unable to do it themselves." chimed Aeka, nodding in thanks to the fox-eared man. She stared at the little flames that danced around her, appreciating the warm they provided.

"The Sith are a sect of Darksiders, or Dark Side users of the force. The sworn enemy of the Jedi." Due to his upbringing, Norill had a different view than most. Being a user of both, he believed that the Darksiders and Lightsiders both kept the Force in balance. It made much more sense to him than the common belief. Most believed that the eradication of the Sith would bring balance, but how could the Force be balanced if there was no darkness to oppose the light?

Such beliefs limited all force-sensitives..

The Hallows would find that Windcrest was not so easily over-run. Though their initial arrival had caught many of the miners off guard in their return from the nearby mines with their wagons and carts of ore, this was Terra. Windcrest in particular bred a grizzled people who had endured all manner of tragedy and strife that this planet could throw at a person, and many that made their home within this city did so as refugees from the wars that often ravaged the south. Few here had not seen combat either in self-defense, or in many cases as retired military men from the TNG.

For a region covered in snow and ice nine months out of the year, and that was filled with hostile predators and frequent ice storms from the north, one learns to be self-sufficient and ready to defend ones family from all manner of dangers prone to frequenting Terra.

Miners abandoned their carts as they sought shelter in the city; though, many fell to the Hallows before they could reach the safety of the gates where the Knights of Le'thorian were sounding the alarms in the form of thunderous warhorns.

The results were swift as members of the local guard reached the height of the walls while others began to exit the gates to form a defensive line out front of the city. At their front stood Shelby Lockhart - Captain of the Windcrest garrison of Le'thorian knights.

As the Hallows reached the stone bridge that crossed the deep icy chasm leading to the city, Shelby drew her longsword and buried it in the ice before her.

"In the blessed name of Le'thorian, I consecrate these grounds!"

Her voice rang out with icy intent as she knelt as a conduit to the power invested into the Knights by their patron, Le'thorian. The sweep of divinity that fluctuated out from the paladin would bolster morale of those that fought beside her while weakening those of the Hallow who reached the far side of the bridge to engage the knights in combat.

Meanwhile inside the city even the civilians weren't defenseless and many were being passed arms as they joined the knights upon the walls in defending the city. The children, elderly and infirm were quickly clearing the streets as the alarm continued to sound. It was almost routine how quickly the city fell to defending itself.

Meanwhile overhead, the figure of Adriaan dipped low as he ascended towards the city walls, freshly returned from his mission in Shintenchi. He plummeted swiftly with the whistle of wind through his feathered wings before he landed crouched upon the stone wall. Rising to his feet he quirked an eye to the approaching horde of Hallows.

"Starting a party without me?" he asked. "What's the story with this guys?" he asked Thorin, the captain of the local volunteer militia.

Thorin shook his head. "No idea. They came out of nowhere," he told Adriaan.

"Well, it sure looks like a welcome home committee to me," Adriaan replied with a lopsided grin as he hopped the wall to join the knights on the ground.

Walking forward to join the defensive line he gave his knuckles a crack. Though the avorian monk appeared unarmed, he seemed confident in his approach and he drew forth a set of prayer beads that he began to entwine around his hand and wrist.

Inside the city Tahlia found herself standing just past the main gates where a small group of counter-mages were gathering in the streets as civilians were clearing out into nearby buildings.

"Where's the others?" Tahlia asked as the small handful of mages rushed to take up their assigned tasks in the event of a city siege.

"Siral's on the way, and Karin's not here. There was an accident out at the mines earlier," another woman replied.

"Well we'll just have to make do with what we have," Tahlia replied. "They probably won't make it past the walls, but everyone knows what to do if they should."

Tahlia's teleportation capabilities had left her arrival in Windcrest well ahead of the rest of the patroni that were still responding to the alarms from the nearby temple - but others would no doubt be arriving soon.

A girl around the age of 17 appeared by Tahlia as she exited the portal. She made her way to the the main gate. She wore her full mage armor and staff embedded with a shining blue crystal. She looked around nervously the was going to be her first real battle. Walking over to Tahlia she pulled herself together.

"Tahlia Where do you need me?" She asked. Her shield was strapped on one arm and she held her small staff in the other. She knew the general plan for the cities defense but she wasn't sure where would be the best position for her to defend.

The troops of guardsmen were met by the blackened eyes of the rampant Hollows. Throughout the cluster some of the creatures could be seen opening their mouth, in which mono-colored balls of energy took form. Seconds later, they exploded into wide beams capable of disintegrating most substances. The columns of energy, known as Cero, were aimed toward the mighty gates of Windcrest, and the guards that lined the exterior.

The remaining Hollows increased their pace by entering a fearless charge to close the remaining distance between them and their prey. They converged on the ground units, grabbing or swinging at them with any appendage capable of killing them. The Hollows were growing in number. As the seconds passed more and more entered the Living World via tunnel created by their Garganta.

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There was a crackle of lightning in the sky that dissipated horizontally, revealing a shoji hovering above the battlefield.

The gate's doors swung open, and when the brilliant rays from within started to fade, the tattooed Shinigami known by Kaen was standing inside. As the Senkaimon dispelled, Kaen surveyed the area. Not normal for this many Hollow to be in one area. He shrugged his shoulders while descending, "No problem."

The 'shing' produced by his Wakizashi-style Zanpakutō exiting its sheathe rang against his drum. He advanced with utmost confidence, seeming to push off the air with his foot as if it were solid. Swiftly maneuvering out of a Hollow's grasp, he delivered the finishing blow via downward strike to its mask. The resulting blow released a stream of dark blood that dissipated shortly after along with the felled Hollow.