Nightfall (Pact Arcanum Integrated Serial Edition) by Arshad Ahsanuddin Page B

instantly immolated by the Fire Sentinel’s lances of white-hot flame. Meanwhile, the Air Sentinel flung any sharp weapons he could grab telekinetically into the enemy’s ranks, using his limited magic to light consecrated flames on the missiles. The projectiles stuck to the vampires’ bodies like napalm, stopping the Nightwalkers from regenerating.
    The first rank of Nightwalkers went down quickly; the second attacked using automatic weapons. Bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the green telekinetic shields each of the Sentinels projected, and the energy released from their impact was absorbed to strengthen the shields.
    Then the vampires darted aside. An Asian Nightwalker strode forward and pointed his sword at each Sentinel in turn. The green shields of force around each Sentinel flared white and disappeared, and the defenders went down in a hail of gunfire.
    “Jesus,” said Take. “How much power does it take to burn out a kinetic shield?”
    “A lot,” Ana said grimly. “That’s why no one uses modern firearms in the field. The vampires just regenerate from the damage, and we can shrug off the bullets. They should have won. They would have, if this new vamp hadn’t been there.”
    Marjorie’s tone was bitter as she added, “The second and third team recovered the security footage and saw what they were up against. They made their stand together, casting a composite ward over the base to prevent chemical combustion and to neutralize the vamps’ ammunition and explosives. That battle was more conventional in nature.”
    One of her team queued up the second recording. This time, when the walls came down, the Sentinels were ready. The Air and Fire Sentinels attacked immediately from range while the Earth and Water Sentinels waded into combat at close quarters. The fight was more evenly matched this time, but again the newcomer focused his attacks on the two Earth Sentinels who were directing the defenders’ efforts. He engaged them both at once, his sword a blur as he struck at each of them in turn.
    “Clever,” Take grudgingly admitted. “They’re linked to their teams but not to each other, so he’s manipulating them to make them interfere with each other’s tactics.”
    “I agree,” said Marjorie. “He’s a master swordsman. A regular Earth Sentinel would have no chance against him without linked assistance to coordinate attacks.”
    Take watched as the first of the team leaders was dispatched, followed by the other. Then the battle became a slaughter, the attackers inundating the remaining Sentinels.
    “Turn it off,” Rory said in disgust. He looked at Take. “Whether or not this guy is Jiao-long, we can’t take him out one on one.”
    “Agreed. We need to eliminate him, and I see only one way to do that.” Take turned to Marjorie. “To even have a chance of bringing him down, we need a linked team. I need your quad to keep the rest of them off our backs while we engage the leader.”
    “You wish to take the field yourself?” Helena, the Air Sentinel, asked suspiciously.
    Takeshi scowled at her. “It’s not my first hunt, despite what you may have heard. Rory and Ana have been acting as my sparring partners for years. They both have enough skill at physical combat to hold their own and support me while bringing their own Gifts to the table. We have the best chance at taking him out if you can keep us from being overwhelmed.”
    “We should get Antonio down here, as well,” said Ana. “He may not be one of the Winds anymore, but his Gift is as strong as mine, and he’s more experienced than any of us.”
    Thomas grinned wolfishly. “I like this plan better and better. Now, how do we find the leader?”
    “We won’t have to,” said Rory. “We leak the location of this base to one of their proxies and let them come to us.”
    Joseph laughed, and his eyes changed from blue to gold with slitted pupils. “This is going to be fun. If any of us are alive afterward, drinks are on