Ocean mist rose above the waters before the sun climbed out of the horizon. Wither skeletons, their color merging with the sea's backdrop, patrolled the docks, arresting anyone who dared approach the ships. No, not even the sailors. Above the city about to wake up to welcome its liberation, a Wither patrolled the sky. Its three heads swiveled left, right, back, and center, taking in a 360 view with its every move.
"Raoum!" An Ender Dragon roar broke the morning silence as Thunderdome came out of the fog and went straight for the wither. It ducked and with great dexterity and immediately turned around. Firing wither skulls rapidly at the dragon, it strafed to the side and pummeled the dragon's wings.
"Raoum!" A second dragon roar, a bit higher pitched than the first, rang out. Luna joined the battle and bit down on the wither's three heads. Together, she and Thunderdome taunted the wither as it weaved in and out, trying to stay alive.
"The Wither took the bait!" North of Meridian, where they hid to avoid being blinded by the morning fog, the attacking forces gathered. Hubris stood atop a small hill, watching the wither through a small telescope. "Knights of Ardonia, begin your attack!" Hubris charged headfirst towards the city wall.
As the troops approached, they saw an orange moat trussed on both sides by purple netherrack, buried into the sand. As well as a ring of wither skeletons armed and ready.
"Stand back!" The Tidesinger leapt forth, and with a tremendous, created a huge tsunami of crimson bolts, all directed at the skeletons. "AAARRGH!" He heaved and launched the wave at the army of the Nether. The darts split open the black skulls, sending the skeletons crumpling.
"Wow." Senn said as the Tidesinger rejoined the troops. "I thought your Song created rays of light?"
"It does." The golden legend replied. "However, I channeled the energy in a special way so that the ray came in short bursts."
"Hey, focus!" Ria shouted as she glided over their heads. "We are in a war over here!"
With stones and Songs, the Ardoni formed bridges over the lava for everyone to cross. At the foot of the wall, they stopped. Archers on top rained down arrows against the invaders below, and everyone ducked for shelter.
"We'll never breach the gate against those archers!" Hubris shouted under his blue umbrella.
"Trevor, Saxon!" Shouted Ria from Senn's blue bubble.
"I guess that's our cue." Saxon walked up and beckoned Trevor along. "Here, drink this." He held out two bottles of green and purple liquids.
"What is it?" Trevor asked as he took one flask.
"Jump boost coupled with strength boost." Saxon drained his bottle. "Let's go."
"I LOVE this feeling!" Trevor leapt, shooting up and onto the wall.
"Heh, just wait till it wears off!" Saxon jumped, but he overdid it a bit and shot clean over the soldiers. "OOF" He landed in a pile of hay. Beside him, a pig looked up from the mud. It oinked once, nudging his boot with its snout.
"Clang!" A wither skeleton attacked Trevor, and he blocked with his twin knives. During his time at Ataraxia, he found these blades resonated with him the most. Pushing the skeleton away, he sliced its skull open and kicked an archer over the wall. The rest turned on him and started attacking. Waving his weapons left and right, he fended off the arrows as he killed off the remaining skeleton archers one by one. Saxon, meanwhile, was kicking the mud off his boots.
Clearing the tops, Trevor jumped down into the courtyard. There, a large wheel, wound with chains, held the gates shut. An orange Netheran pulled out his axes as Trevor approached. Without thinking, he leapt into the air, striking the Netheran head down as he flew over him, and landed by the wheel. Cutting the chain, he let the gates swing open.
Whoosh! The wind behind him felt strange. Instinctively, he crossed his blades behind him to block the axe. The Netheran had come back for the kill. Trevor led him, axes and blades sending sparks all around, into the open space. There, they battled for their lives. As Trevor landed another blow, the Netheran flew a kick into his chest, sending him backwards onto the ground, his weapons flying out of his grasp.
The Netheran twirled his weapons in his hands as he walked up for the kill. Suddenly, a blade pierced his chest from behind. He dropped to the ground, the amber light draining from his markings.
"What are you lying around for? Come on!" Saxon, mud still on his boots, pulled his blade out of the Netheran and extended his hand to Trevor. Standing up, they rejoined the army rushing in through the wide open gate.
"Our priority is to protect the civilians of Meridian!" Ria shouted over the tumult of the battle. "Senn, help see to it that the people are safe! Tidesinger, find the armory and free the Cydonian soldiers! Everyone else- let us rid the city of these demons!"
Soon, the battle was in full swing. The Ardoni soldiers were battling the wither skeletons one on one. Some won straight out, crushing the black skulls under their boots. Some won after a hearty battle. Some, on the other hand, were slaughtered by the Nether blades. Down the main street, skeletons swarmed towards the gate. He positioned his sword, aiming it in front of Him, and dashed through, slicing each skeleton in half.
"What are you doing out here?" Senn shouted to a man wandering on the streets.
"My name is Aren, most call me the Fletcher." The man pointed to his spear. "I knew Thalleous long ago. It is good to see Ardoni here again."
"So you can help us?"
"I know this city inside and out." Aren stabbed an incoming skeleton clean in the eye. "I can help."
"Can you evacuate the civilians?" Senn asked, "We need some place where we can protect them."
"I know the perfect place, come on!" Aren led the way towards north of the city.
Ria meanwhile had broken into the armory. In the cold dungeons, she found groups of men slouching about, confused by the tumult outside. Seeing the Ardoni, they rushed to their cell doors. Ria found the keys and freed them one by one. She threw the spears leaning on the wall into their hands.
"Soldiers!" Ria shouted, "The time has come! Fight and defend your people! Reclaim your homeland!"
"Aye!" The troop responded in unison. Downing their armor, they marched out into the streets.