The players of Euthanasia clearly didn’t expect a backstab from enemies who literally dropped on them from the skies. We quickly took them down, striking from two directions. One of the consorts tore off the metallic door, and I stepped inside Shockdown’s powder room. Usually, such facilities were located in the best-protected part of the ship and used to store explosives. I looked over the long shelves full of tanks of red and blue ellurite, stacks of elemental charges, and piles of raygun crystals. Yes, it was going to be a hell of a blast.
“Mara!” I turned to the demoness, who stuck to me like a limpet.
“You’re free to go. Everything here is going to explode. Leave.”
“I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain. It’s your turn now!” the Mistress roared. “I’m waiting for you in Infernis, darling!”
With these words, she disappeared in a fiery whirlwind pulled into the pentagram flashing on the floor. The rest of the Succubate vanished in similar portals, returning to their blazing Netherworld. I had to make haste. Soon, the Pandas would gather their wits and head for the powder room.
I couldn’t believe that I had done it. Another Bolide bloomed on the blade of Aelmaris. Well, how about we make another sacrifice to the cruel gods of Sphere?
Chapter 12
THE PANDORUM LEADER had allowed for almost everything. Despite the loss of speed and the Russians’ unexpected bomber strike, the Shockdown should have gotten into the portal in time. It had 15% of its hit points left; the enemies’ DPS couldn’t be above 1.5% a second, meaning a ten-minute leeway. That should have been more than enough.
Phantom had expected his flagships to be attacked. That’s what the insiders in the enemy alliance and basic logic told him. The juggernauts were well-guarded, all vulnerable points controlled by pros who had received all of the necessary instructions. In truth, when planning out the battle, Pandorum analysts had estimated that the Russians’ focused fire couldn’t strip the hull of more than fifty percent of its health bar even with its dome destroyed. They didn’t consider the invisible fireboats, however, and the results were clear — the burning Shockdown was crawling to the vortex of an Astral Portal, the remaining ships shrinking away from it as if it were a leper.
Boom! The juggernaut turned into a blinding ball of flame just a few feet away from its destination. It was torn to shreds, a myriad of burning debris that cut through the skies like fuming comets. Erebus shook from the impact, and several closer ships caught on fire — the flagship wasn’t going to perish alone.
Phantom’s face froze. Dead silence fell on the bridge.
“How?” someone finally asked.
“An internal explosion. A stealther broke into the powder room.”
For a few seconds, Phantom didn’t say a word, his eyes closed. Then he commanded, “Continue the operation. Amp up defensive fire! Clear out the invisible boats. How’s Jerkhan doing?”
Jerkhan was doing fine. The Stormbringer had jumped out of the Astral Plane and started destroying the American fleet blocking the nearest resp point. The first discharge of the Colossus sent the Eagles into a real panic. Unwilling to lose ships without a good reason, they fell back almost immediately, allowing Steel Guard to rejoin their companions blocked at the respawn circle. Taken together, they considerably outnumbered NAVY. The attempt to hold back Pandorum’s KIA had failed.
“What about our ground support?”
“They’re already close.”
* * *
The cries of joy on our Courier voice channel after the juggernaut exploded were hard to describe. Many people probably kept playing VRMMOs just for moments like those. A giant ship was a tempting target, a coveted kill that would decorate the kill rating of everyone who had fired at the Shockdown.
But the battle wasn’t over yet, and we had already laid open all our trump cards. Pandorum’s fleet circled the castle, beaten, burning, partially deprived of its combat power — but like a cornered beast, being wounded made it only more dangerous.
I stepped out of the respawn circle. Each death removed some of your experience and items, applying a weakening debuff. A brigade of buffers on duty immediately cast a dozen spells removing the negative effects. Squads of Enemy, Heroes, and Varangians were regrouping in the clan hall, preparing for the next attack. Dammit, I had blown up the third juggernaut belonging to the Pandas. I really deserved a medal. The guys congratulated me, but I didn’t feel an ounce of joy. I was just empty and apathetic.
HotCat: I’m at the Condor resp point. What should I do next?
Olaf: Great job. Wait there for now. We’re deciding.
“HotCat?”
I turned around, hearing an unfamiliar voice. A handsome elf stood behind me. I recognized him as Cey-Rus, who had brought the elves to our aid. He stared at me with clear grey eyes, examining me. I had never seen NPCs look like that before.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” I asked him flatly. I had no idea what standards of behavior the elves considered appropriate.
“We need to talk. Let’s go.”
He dragged me to the balustrade of the ring-shaped gallery, to the section defended by the liri and elliri of Im Enoi, the legendary Arrow Kings, and pointed at the black outlines of the enemy ships. After Shockdown’s explosion, the armada moved further away from Condor, out of the range of castle cannons and ballistae. The ships were regrouping in a smaller sphere with two colossal flagships in the center. The third one, the Stormbringer, which I knew well, had left through the portal to block the resp point.
“Do you think we can defeat them
