Chapter 586 - Five Hundred And Eighty-Six: No Way Out
The third point of view:
"Cover me!" Niklaus shouted as he ran across the hallway. One of their attackers sensing he was left unprotected, tried to fire at him but Judy was faster, a bullet was lodged into his eye, he fell.
It was just like old times when Niklaus had been his master and he - Judy - was his protector. There had been lots of fighting and though his responsibility was to protect Niklaus, they both had learned to protect each other. Their movements were always synchronized and had each other's back.
Niklaus made it to the end and hid behind the huge pillar for protection -yes, he might be skilled but his skin wasn't kevlar. Albert had managed to conquer almost all the guards. The east wing was the only and last wing of the palace they hadn't conquered - yet - and they had to defend it or drag time till everyone escaped somehow.
This war reminded him of the one in the Bible when Lucifer conquered one-third of the angels in heaven. Micheal had been the one who drew the sword and drove Lucifer out of heaven. But then, who would be Micheal in this situation?
From his position, Niklaus had a clear view of his enemies and fired nonstop, stopping only to reload before commencing his killing. However, a bullet whizzed past him and he dodged in time only for his attacker to fall from the spiral step.
"I believe that was thank you, sir," Eden shouted from the position where he was crouched down on the floor.
Unless closer look, all one could see was a gun positioned in the space between the rails of the wrought-iron balustrade. Eden had always been good at sneak attacks and he took the work of a sniper, taking out the opponents one after the other when they least expected it.
"Thank your ass!" Niklaus retorted, in the middle of the battle.
Eden snorted.
"This is no time for quibbling!" Emerald cautioned them, just as he used his bare hands to knock two idiots who had come at him with their swords into each other. They bumped their heads and fell. He could hear those squabbling idiots through his earphone and it was irritating him.
"Fine, daddy," Niklaus teased him.
"Fuck!" Niklaus cursed as he ducked another bullet aimed at him. He communicated to them through the earphone, "As much as I'm trying to be positive, the situation doesn't look good. We have to replan,"
"I'm much in support," Eden added, "I can barely hold my own here," He skillfully evaded a rain of bullets, taking cover behind the large table they had set up for temporary cover during battle formation.
"He's right. These people are like flies, they just keep coming back. How could you not have had this many troops under control?!" Emerald said.
"Fine, withdrew to the meeting room. I'll call the troops and set up a wedge formation - they mustn't get in. That should buy us enough time," Judy informed them, "Now withdraw!"
"Gladly," Eden said, just as he tossed a grenade to the enemy who had paused to reload. An explosion rocked that section of the building and a part of the wall collapsed on some of the enemy troops.
With a war cry, Niklaus broke into a sprint while firing, each of his targets dropping to the ground. Soon he made it to the meeting room which had previously been the drawing room. Their troops had already formed a triangular wedge with their tip charging at the enemy.
He was the second to arrive after Eden.
"You're injured," He noted his bloody sleeve.
Eden looked down and grabbed his arm, "It was just a graze," he then tipped his head in Niklaus' direction, "And you seem to have lost your touch as well?"
Niklaus narrowed his gaze at him,
"What do you mean?"
Eden smirked, then touched the side of his cheek.
Niklaus at once touched his cheek and he came up with blood. He cleared his throat at once, straightening up.
"It was just a scratch," He said.
Eden rolled his eyes just as the others - Emerald and Judy - came into the hall.
"We cannot win this war," Niklaus told Judy straight away, "Not with this number of troops we have,"
"They are numerous and keep coming back. Moreover, with almost all the weapons they took from the armory, they're more equipped right now," Eden laid out his complaint.
"That means we have to find a way to pull the others out of the palace unharmed," Judy sighed, rubbing his temple in exhaustion.
"Aren't there secret ways out of here?" Eden queried.
"There are - "
"Then what are you still waiting for?" Niklaus took the words right out of his mouth, "Get the women and the kids away from here,"
"During the war with the invaders, most of those secret ways were blocked or destroyed and we hadn't had the time to repair those," He finally explained.
"So in one word, you're trying to say my wife and children are stuck in here?" Niklaus had a look of disbelief on his face.
"I'm sorry, Niklaus, no one expected that there would be a war of this degree," Judy apologized, the guilt stabbing his chest. It would be much better if he died alone and did not drag his friends and their loved ones into this mess.
"Fuck this, there must be a way!" Niklaus had no idea what he kicked away in his rage - he didn't care. There was no way on earth he was letting his kids and pregnant wife become collateral damage in this war - he would protect them to his last breath.
Although none of them expressed their helplessness like Niklaus, it was obvious they felt the same way.
"There's a way," Emerald said out of nowhere and they all turned towards him.
"What?"
"Our problem at hand is they are too much for us. What if we destroy half of them, won't that give us a huge advantage?"
At once, their interest was piqued and they turned to him eagerly.
"How?"
Emerald went on to explain, "I knew something was wrong at the bouquet when the kids accused that asshole lord of treason. There was no evidence at hand, but just to be on the safe side, I asked for help from Sakuzi and…" He checked his phone, "They should have arrived by now,"
"What exactly is that?" Judy asked knowing whatever decision they took affects him at most as the crown prince.
"We're launching an airstrike,"
---------
Bless this shameless author with your golden ticket ?