A Search Through Runeterra (Arcane)

"Only those who survive this city deserve it."~ Urgot, The Dreadnought

Images for the last few chapters will go up tomorrow.

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"Is the mage really going to standing at the bottom alone?" Arrika ground out as she observed him. "Against all of them?"

The Captain and her company of soldiers watched the mage sit and twirl his axes. 

"He didn't even take his belongings as he went down.." Someone muttered.

Arrika looked at his baggage. Small and simple.

"He has a shield with him." Another said.

"Ah that will hold against the incoming attack!" One soldier commented sarcastically.

"Shush... they are saying something."

The group went silent.

They couldn't hear the words exchanged but they could see part of the army in front of them.

The mage raised his axe above and swung it down.

WHISHHH

WHISSHHHHHHH

As soon as Gregori's signal was seen, the Demacians on the mountaintop launched their arrows.

Sylas watched as the arrows rushed toward them.

"INCOMING!" A couple of the warriors in the front yelled.

He ripped the pouch on his neck and pulled out the defensive stone. His fingers curled around the stone as he felt the magic course through him.

His eyes snapped open as a burst of magic erupted.

The air above the entire army rippled as a barrier formed above them, shimmering a dull gray color.

CRACK

CRUNCH

CRAAACK

The arrows all hit the barrier like deadly rain and upon contact they all shattered and broke apart. Sliding along the edge of the barrier until the landed on the ground where the barrier ended.

"What the fuck was that?" A soldier on top of the mountain asked. "Is... is that magic?"

"But... no magic is that strong..." Another commented.

Arrika's eyes stood transfixed on the shimmering barrier. She had never seen magic at that level. Is this why Demacia was afraid of mages? Her mouth hung open.

And then she spotted the mage on their side.

Gregori's hand rose once again.

And it fell.

This time arrows did not launch .

Arrika looked shocked that he would request another volley but then her training kicked in, "ARROWS! ONE MORE TIME!"

The soldiers were broken out of their reverie and scrambled to launch another wave of arrows.

But they managed to launch it all the same.

The arrows shot into the sky once again.

This time Gregori raised his other hand and let his own magic flow. His magic stretched forward to the arrows and they all stood still in the air for a moment.

"The arrows..... are not moving?" A confused soldier asked.

Another soldier pointed, "Look at the mage!"

"Is.... is that his magic?" Another asked in shock.

Arrika almost dropped the sword in her hand as she watched Gregori hold the launched arrows in the sky.

In the distance, everyone else was watching the same thing.

"What kind of monster is he?" Garen asked.

Pieter and Tianna just stood rooted in shock at what they were seeing.

Gregori grit his teeth as he swung his hand down and his magic began to PULL.

The next second the falling arrows started to speed up.

He pulled every arrow down toward the barrier with such force that the whistling of the falling arrows turned into a high-pitched ringing.

These weren't arrows anymore. They had become similar to shooting stars and the ones they were shooting toward could only watch as the barrier shattered upon impact and arrows began to rain on the Freljordians.

Jarvan gulped as he watched the arrows. This man was only fighting because he had been blackmailed into doing so.

"Fibbing?" He laughed dryly. "That is no fib."

Xin Zhao looked on, clearly impressed by the feat of magic. His Ionian heritage had seen to that he did not hate magic like the rest while clearly knowing what capable mages were able to do.

Sylas shuddered.

But the barrier had done its job.

The arrows had slowed down.

They still caused damage but it was less. 

Not a single person died but there were injuries.

Injuries the spirit shamans had began to heal already.

Sylas grunted as the now normal Petricite stone fell from his grasp. He breathed hard as he made eye contact with Gregori in the distance, even he was breathing heavily. If that barrier wasn't there.... those arrows.... they would have ended this invasion before it began.

He turned around and spotted Adam. He was looking at him in fear and also awe. Sylas nodded to him. It was one of recognition as well as thanks.

He looked at the other stones in his palm. Three of them. One could heal, one could harden a part of his body and one could create a bright flash of light.

They weren't the most useful stones in terms of attacking power but they were extremely useful in a plethora of situations.

He shoved them into a pocket in his fur as he looked to Gregori again.

Eyes widening as he saw Gregori raise his right arm again.

"ATTACK!" He yelled, "RUN TO THEM BEFORE THEY FIRE AGAIN!" He began to run toward Gregori.

Gregori watched them run toward him.

Instead of bringing down the hand, he raised his other hand and crossed them both. The axes making a large X-shape in the sky.

A smirk formed on his face as he heard roars erupting from around the mountains. The Vanguard Bannermen had began to raise the flags of Demacia.

"ATTACK!"

"FOR DEMACIA!"

"DEMACIAAAA!"

"DIE INVADERS!"

"FRELJORDIAN SCUM!"

Gregori chuckled as he spotted confusion on the face of the incoming mage. They were pincered.

Did they really think he would come down with a plan? Without a trap?

-x-

"What is your plan Gregori?" Jarvan asked.

Gregori leaned back on the chair and closed his eyes. "Two hundred enemies and unknown amount of beasts. Two mammoths confirmed." He sat forward and pointed at the map. "They will come through the pass here. And to get there they have to climb up from this side. We just need to take our position here." He pointed to the top of the mountain, "Archers will think them out from here and once there is confusion..." He moved his hand in a U-shape. "You all from your positions here begin to move when I give you the signal."

Xin Zhao nodded, "Straightforward. Will it work?"

"Of course it will." Gregori chuckled. "If this were against Noxus... then this will need more tricks but against Freljordians? People who solve every problem by running into it? This will not fail."

"But how are we going to see your signal?" Garen asked. "Where will you be?"

Gregori pointed, "Riiiiight... here."

"That is where they will be climbing from. Right at the foot." Warren pointed out.

"Yes... and?" Gregori asked, seeing nothing wrong with his words.

The minotaur seemed taken aback by how carefree Gregori seemed, "Y....you will face them all alone?"

"Until your arrival from the sides, yes." Gregori answered.

"That is suicidal!" Jarvan claimed.

A couple of the others snickered, "Well if he wants to die that badly who are we to stop him."

Jarvan gave them a look that told them to keep their mouths shut.

"When I told you that I had faced them before...." Gregori began, "I faced them alone. Close to a hundred and killed around half of them."

"He is fibbing." Someone said.

"Don't need you to believe it." Gregori shrugged. "Didn't even use my spear." He sighed, "Anyway.... just watch me."

-x-

As the Vanguard Cavalry led the charge, Gregori estimated that they would take about a minute to make contact with the enemies and the foot soldiers would take a bit longer.

SKREEEEEEEEEEEE

SKREEEEEE

The Silverwing Vanguards, Lancers and Divers had all lifted off as well.

Demacia had responded to this battle with two hundred troops of their own. Any more and they couldn't guarantee safety from the east due to Noxus. They would attack as soon as they notice the defense on their side thinning.

Gregori cracked his neck, shook his hands. He felt his body heat up as a rush of blood coursed through him. He adjusted the strap holding his new shield on his back and let out a long breath.

His breathing had finally returned to normal after the attack.

Instantly he began to take short quick breaths. He needed to keep the blood flowing. His heart need to keep pumping. Long and deep breaths were for relaxation.

Tilting his neck to the sky, he made a prayer. "Watch over me." He whispered. It was a prayer not only to Soraka but to his two wives.

Dropping to a stance, he made eye contact with Sylas and roared and he charged right into the crowd.

He would make an impression on the invaders.

"He is going in?" A soldier who had fired the arrows whispered horrified.

Their respect for Gregori had grown multiple fold after seeing that he was taking a risk by standing at the foot of the mountain so that he could send signals.

But after witnessing his magic they had been shocked.

And now, he was running toward the enemies?

"What is he?" Another soldier asked.

"Are all mages like this?"

No one knew how to reply to those words.