Parallel (A Virtual Gamer's Story) [Vol.1 - Vol.4 Complete]

Chapter 91: Captive

Five Days Since Kashi's Capture,

70 Kilometers South Of DarrenHold.

"Line up, men!" Asha, flanked on either side by Diatte and Kaga, screamed. In response to her shout, Asha's soldiers formed three lines. Mages and musicians made up the backline. The frontline consisted of her toughest brawlers, while the middle contained a mixture of brawlers and archers.

Ahead of them, Hektor stood, poised with a double-headed ax balanced carelessly on his shoulder. All eyes were on the horizon, muscles tensed from the anticipation.

Lunette dismounted a few feet from the backline. She ran up to the triplets, who shot appreciative glances her way. Of the orchestra, they were the only ones she had allowed to accompany them on their quest. A larger company meant slower progress, plus someone had to keep the performances going.

Lunette returned the smile, then jogged up to the front where Asha nodded. "They will not be helping us," Lunette confirmed.

Something resembling disappointment seemed to cross the chetah's face. But it was gone almost instantaneously. "No matter," Asha said. "We have been taking care of ourselves for a very long time."

Lunette smiled. "I never did thank you. You have no obligation to risk your lives like this. I truly am gra—"

"Stop," Asha interrupted. "As I said earlier, this is to return the blood debt I owe the daeben." A moment's pause, and she reluctantly added, "I am loathed to admit, but it is a big help that you are here."

Lunette nodded. "Good luck," she said, then joined the triplets at the backline.

"I don't need luck," Asha muttered. She gripped her blade handles as a movement in the horizon caught her eyes.

Shadow atop a dark horse rode hard past Hektor, whose grin widened at his warning cry. "Two minutes!"

Though the warrior still could not see his adversary, his belligerent war cry shook the earth. Hektor charged forward at full sprint, hollering madly at his would-be prey. Galvanized by the human's bravery, Asha's men banged swords against shields, then started a charge of their own.

Behind them, Diegel's drums pumped the atmosphere. Buoyed by the war chant, the warriors' blood rushed like geysers; their cries resembled thunderclaps, as their feet the heralded deadly earthquakes. But above it all, a single voice reigned supreme. All things living and otherwise found themselves trapped under the spell of the most dangerous songstress in all of Destia.

A hundred yards away from where this desperate battle for survival was about to take place, Kira watched over three sleeping companions. She could not help but wonder about how the world worked. During the entire time, the trio was awake, they had not faced any considerable threat. Now they were asleep, and suddenly the party fell under its gravest challenge to date.

Kira shook her head as she lay down next to Jade. Only fitting that the coalition's strongest forces took the day during their worst crisis.