Before Nanshe could argue, Carlo raced forward, partially shifting his hands to claws and allowing his canines to stretch in his mouth.
It was time for battle. If nothing else, he knew how to do that.
Even as he moved, Carlo bellowed at the others around him. “You need sharp weapons, swords, claws, whatever you can get your hands on. Magic will not work against the Hollows. It will only work against the golems.”
“How do you know that?” a mage returned.
“I've been fighting them. Be prepared. If you need confirmation, contact Kalinda. Do you have an earpiece that can connect to the wolves of the Moretti Pack?”
“I do.”
“Make sure Arturo is safe, and I will battle with you here.”
Carlo waited precious moments, ripping the head off one Hollow and punching through the chest of another.
“He's fine He is surrounded by his walls and has directed you to help here.”
Carlo nodded. “No problem.”
They fought harder, raking through the Hollows. Some mages created magic-forged weapons out of thin air. Others raced and grabbed rakes, hoes, pickaxes–anything they could get their hands on—and tossed them to the other mages.
Nanshe floated over and landed next to Carlo. “What good are we against things that don't fall to our magic?”
“It doesn't matter. Encantado is in danger and we have to save it,” Carlo returned. “Fight like your lives depends on it because they do.”
Nanshe lifted into the air once more, her hair spanning around her. She created a force field around several mages. “All of you, come with me.” She turned to Carlo. “I'll protect them; you fight.”
“If the Guardians are here, Torin must be here as well.”
Carlo couldn't deny having the powerful Guardian on his side would be a great help. “Someone needs to call Torin. Tell him Carlo is near the portal gates and needs his help!”
Carlo couldn't stop long enough to make sure anyone had done what he said. All he had was hope. There were too many Hollows piling over each other as the massive white and black tiger-like apparitions poured through random portals opening in the sky.
“We need someone to turn off those goddamn portals. Do we have any mages that have experience working with the Chaos in that way?”
A couple of mages raised their hands.
“Okay, when Nanshe comes back, I want you to stand within her sphere of influence. She can keep anything from attacking you. Your job is to close the portals. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Carlo could direct war. He knew how to handle that.
Nanshe returned with her band of mages carrying more swords and other weapons. The ones he had ordered to work on the portals surrounded her.
“Nanshe, they're going to closed those damn holes in the sky. Do what you can to keep them safe and keep yourself out of harm's way. Do you understand me, mate?”
“Stubborn male. Of course, I do.”
Carlo’s heart rate sped at her saucy comment, and he tossed her a bright smile. She was a good woman. Now that he at least had someone working to close the portals, he could fight openly to remove the threat. A swath of the Hollows flew into the air, bursting apart.
Torin had finally joined the fray, his body glowing from his runes as they glittered bright gold and swirled over his skin. But he was smart and knew the magic itself wouldn't work. It seemed whatever power he pulled through his body made him hard and extra strong. He was literally picking up the Hollows and throwing them as if they were nothing but stray cats that annoyed him.
“Fuck me, but it's nice having one of them on our side.”
Carlo ran toward the Guardian, attacking Hollows as he went until he met Torin on the battlefield.
“How long have they been here?”
