Powers Against The World

Those by Appleridge's northern checkpoint were extremely unaware of the events that were breaking out several miles south of them, as the only effect was a sudden warm wind. 

"What's with that change of weather?" one of the Reserve Guards felt, as well as a few others, noticing the temperature.

"It's a change of season, relax." another comforted the group, who were by now milling around more cautiously, "We'll be alright where we are."

"Y'all sure about that?" another voice rang through the air, although none of the soldiers recognized the voice.

"Who was that?" the main soldier trying to calm everyone looked around, although everyone else was confused.

The answer became clear enough when a single burst alerted everyone that there was real danger. It wasn't until someone pointed at the leading soldier did everyone realized what was going on. The man was shaking in place, as a bullet had pierced through his chest, just barely clipping his heart.

"Oh fuc-." was the man's last words, before collapsing on the ground.

"Oh fuck indeed." the voice from earlier finally had a face, as they walked on the road.

Hops stared down at the remaining forces, estimated to be around two hundred or so. The Reserve Guards themselves were surprised as to how their fortifications leading to here were broken so quickly, but that was the least of their problems. The real obstacle was here to face them now.

"Alright guys, let's go!" Hops raised his hand to signal the attack, before charging straight towards his enemies.

.....

The smell of burning wood consumed the earth around them, but Leon couldn't help but be grateful with a change of pace. The fresh path from Jamal's first attack went through everything in its way, including the small bunkers the enemy had established among the line and other fortifications, and traveled what he hoped was close to the city.

The man himself was launching fireballs that had the length and power of his fire blasts, as the Reserve Guard infantry below had no choice but to pull back to avoid the barrage. It was pure chaos out here. The Port-O-Bea army was absolutely seizing the moment, as they began to move behind the retreating foes, slaughtering any stragglers behind. The time for mercy had left the air once Jamal had charged up.

"That was a change of pace," Brat could only comment on, leaving his elephant form, "Who would have thought?"

"Clearly not us." Leon took a peek at Alice, who's book's light was dying down, notifying them that her attack was coming.

"Sorry for the wait y'all, but should be here any minute." the glow from her eyes disappeared and her legs quivered with every breath.

"You did good. Don't worry about it." Leon thanked as the two men helped her lay down in one of the bunkers, "What did you do anyway?"

"For something of that magnitude, I'll just say that it'll show off." Alice managed to force out, before nodding out.

A loud crash came soon after, turning all the heads in the vicinity of the noise. Quickly leaping out of the trench, the pair could only watch as the forest in front of them appeared to slowly fold onto itself, like how one would use a napkin.

"Holy powers!" Brat couldn't help but blurt out, "She could do that?"

"I did not know." Leon could only mutter, as any of their forces within the attack were able to pull back before it got worse for them.

The Reserve Guards, on the other hand, were not so lucky, as many of them were well-established in the changing woods when they noticed they were moving without actually going anywhere. The realization of what was occurring took quite some time, until the first cries of pain brought in reality. Over three-fourths of the Reserve Guards in the southern flank were essentially trapped in a collapsing forest, with the few remaining either escaping on the other side, or being left behind with the Port-O-Bea army. 

"That's rather gruesome." Leon took one last look at the destruction, as the forest finally closed itself and the desperation of the crushed souls within being snuffed from existence. "Like wow."

"Hey, we surrender!" another voice shouted over them, as the men looked at a descending Jamal.

"That sucks," the burning man began to wane his flames as he took a look at the few soldiers whose lives managed to be spared. "How many of y'all are left? And drop your weapons or I'll kill you. No hesitation."

"Of course," the soldier closest to him shuttered, as the survivors dropped whatever they had on hand with no delay. "It looks like about fourteen of us are left. Out of around five hundred."

"Wow, that's a bit of a drop." Jamal turned to see their side moving out of the trenches ready to take them in, "But I thin-."

"Jamal, let's just round them up and send them back to the city. No need to do anything else." Leon stared him down, already knowing that his powers were manifesting him to do something unnecessary.

"Alright, I'll just have about five of our men bring you back. Everyone else, keep on moving. Our path is now clearer than ever, thanks to Alice. I'm proud of y'all." Jamal took a quick sigh, before letting his flames reextend. 

The other Viligante members couldn't even help one another out before Jamal launched himself into the air and zipped past the flat stretch of dirt that was once a bustling forest, and toward the suburbs that would start making up the city of Appleridge. Not a second passed by before anyone could process the last few minutes that occured. Even with all the casualties taken so far, the pace could only continue or things would move worse in their favor. Because they knew longer their enemies had to recuperate and adapt, would it be harder for Port-O-Bea to tackle ahead and gain ground. But with the likes of Jamal Wrint, this group of determined people would fight on for the future, for the prosperity of all, or die trying.