The fearless band of warriors charging towards the savage beastmen camp suddenly found themselves in retreat. They anxiously awaited their commander's command, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
In a moment of audacity, Solan thrust her fist into the air, swiftly unfurling her fingers like a blooming flower.
This was the long-awaited signal that set the plan into motion. The soldiers swiftly divided into prearranged squads, dispersing into the dense forest and converging at a predetermined location.
Solan's crucial task was to deliberately leave false trails for their relentless pursuers. Though it might not completely deceive the enemy, it would serve as a clever ruse, granting them precious moments to escape and return to the sanctuary of Ice Demon City.
"We're m
Faru's eyes widened, realization dawning upon him."Then... there most certainly is a spy among our ranks," Faru concluded, his tone filled with a mix of frustration and determination.Riben let out a weary sigh, his gaze fixated on his throbbing right arm. The relentless aura poisoning was taking its toll, and he couldn't help but wonder how the warriors were faring in comparison.Faru's expression mirrored the gravity of the situation as he nodded solemnly. "Just as the witch doctors predicted. Over a hundred beastmen are now displaying symptoms of aura poisoning. It seems the recent events have only exacerbated the situation. Rest has become a luxury none of us can afford."His words hung heavy in the air as he scanned the room, meeting the eyes of each officer presen
With a mighty bellow, General Riben himself led the charge, sending a tidal wave of beastmen crashing towards the city. Simultaneously, a storm of arrows rained down from the heavens, piercing their ranks.Undeterred by their wounds, the beastmen pressed on, their assault devoid of strategy, relying solely on their overwhelming numbers.A mere handful of archers stood no chance against the onslaught of several thousand warriors.In this assault, there was no cunning or cleverness at play, just a relentless onslaught driven by sheer numbers.And it appeared that Faru's assessment was spot-on.A horde of beastmen managed to breach a section of the wooden barrier. Like a swarm of buzzing bees, they poured inside the clash of met
Zikk, the noobie of stealth, crouched behind the crumbling wall, his bow at the ready. With each passing moment, he unleashed a flurry of arrows, strategically timed to keep the enemy at bay. This battlefield was like nothing he had ever witnessed before, a clash of titans between an army of eight thousand beastmen and the feeble defenses of a small city.Despite their overwhelming numbers, the mighty beastmen found themselves thwarted at every turn. Only two paths had been carved through the city's defenses, a testament to the resilience of its inhabitants. And it was all thanks to three extraordinary individuals.On one of these hard-fought pathways, two commanders from the Ice Demon city stood as immovable pillars, refusing to let a single beastman breach their defenses.
"Damn it," Zikk cursed, frustration etched on his face. "Why would the beast King send a renowned warrior to conquer a city of such significance?""I shall test the mettle of this commander, see if he can halt the relentless advance of Riben," Zikk declared with a determined glint in his eyes.His gaze remained fixed on Riben's imposing figure, prepared to spring into action at the slightest sign of trouble, ready to summon reinforcements from the nearest city.As a distinguished knight, Zikk possessed a trove of ancient scrolls, each holding the power to beckon aid from any corner of the illustrious Brightwing Empire."You shall face the consequences," Riben muttered under his breath."Let us witn—" Solan's words were
"It appears to be an undeniable truth that beastmen possess a certain lack of intelligence," Solan's voice reverberated through the fiery realm."Even a beastman of your caliber, who has ascended to the upper echelons of the A-rank, remained oblivious to the flaws in these flames for an extended period of time," Solan taunted.A torrent of flames surged towards Riben, but he resolutely deflected it with his bare hands.Solan had meticulously constructed a secluded space, woven with layers of illusion, culminating in her fiery domain.These illusory layers cunningly projected a distorted reality to the outside world, obscuring the true nature of Riben and Solan's battle.Simultaneously, Solan's Domain effectively barred any ex
The words contained within set his heart ablaze, igniting a fire within his soul.In a mere few lines, the message revealed a stunning truth: The Legion, those relentless conquerors, were finally retreating from their failed attempt to seize the Ice Demon city. But what caught Martin's attention was the mention of a mysterious weakening poison that had rendered them feeble, weaker than the average human. It was a revelation that ignited a spark of hope within him.For over a year, Martin had valiantly fought against the Legion, single-handedly thwarting their relentless advances with his small army. But the victories came at a great cost, one that the people celebrating his triumphs couldn't fathom. The toll of battle had prematurely aged him, his once vibrant hair now prematurely gray.Yet, amidst the weariness, there was a glimmer of respite. The Legion, perhaps learning from their defeats, had wisely avoided Martin's fortress, granting him a much-needed reprieve. But this respit
If she were to leave behind an incapable heir, the empire would undoubtedly collapse like a house of cards within a mere handful of years, crushed beneath the weight of these towering beings.As Ladia pondered the weighty matters at hand, her hunger pangs were finally appeased by the arrival of her long-awaited meal. With a regal wave, she instructed the maids to place the delectable spread on her table. Once they departed, she wasted no time in devouring the food with an uncharacteristic voracity, as if she were a ravenous beast rather than a princess of noble lineage.Her stomach, in protest of its prolonged neglect, emitted a symphony of growls that would have surely caused her cheeks to flush with embarrassment had there been anyone present to witness it.Amidst her indulgence, Ladia's eyes caught sight of the open drawer in her table, revealing the hidden blue stone used for receiving important reports. A realization struck her like a bolt of lightning - she had forgotten to at
"Richard," I called out, snapping him out of his daze."Yes?" he replied, his attention now fully on me."I've scoured Vermillion City and its neighbouring towns, but the biggest aura stone I've stumbled upon is about this big," I said, using my fingers to demonstrate its size.It was no larger than a tennis ball.Unlike mana stones, aura stones were a whole different breed. As the name suggests, they contained aura instead of mana. It was a peculiar world I found myself in.Aura stones were even more elusive than mana stones, despite mages being far less common than knights or warriors who relied on the aura.In other words, there was an abundance of mana stones due to the scarci
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse
As the first light of dawn broke through the windows of the guest house, Miron found himself indulging in a breakfast that was nothing short of exquisite. The flavours were so delightful that he couldn't help but admit to himself that it had been a long time since he had enjoyed a meal as delicious as this one.Before long, Miron was summoned by the lord of the Ice Demon City. With a gracious wave of his hand, the lord invited Miron to take a seat on the soft and ornate sofa in the grand hall. Miron, still feeling a bit tense and on edge, quickly obliged and sat down.Despite the gravity of the situation and the impending battle that lay ahead, the lord of the Ice Demon City seemed completely at ease. He sat on his throne, casually eating his food and even humming a tune that was both strange and captivating. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Miron finally mustered up the courage to ask, "My lord, how can you remain so calm and untroubled? Surely you must feel some fear or
"You won't find Baron Ethan in the mansion," Zikk stated, his hand resting lightly on Miron's shoulder. "He should be in the Endless Forest, training his soldiers."The gesture, though seemingly warm and reassuring, sent a chill down Miron's spine. He sensed a veiled warning in Zikk's words, a subtle reminder of the stakes involved. This was no ordinary mission; it was a delicate dance, a test of Miron's competence and discretion."I am busy," Zikk continued, his tone shifting to one of finality. "I'll get going."Miron, still reeling from the weight of Zikk's revelation, blurted out, "Sir, you're working in this city?" The thought that the Grand Knight, a legendary warrior, would be toiling away in the mundane tasks of everyday life seemed utterly incongruous.Zikk chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Of course, I need to feed myself, right?" He winked, a playful glint in his gaze. "See you around."With that, Zikk turned and strode away, disappearing into the labyrinthine all
The whispers and hearsay suggesting that Ethan Slayer was the individual responsible for instigating a full-scale conflict between the formidable Beast Kingdom and the vast Empire were, in the opinion of Miron, nothing more than baseless conjecture. He was firmly convinced that these rumors were merely the result of devious political machinations being orchestrated by a select group of nobles within the Empire, who were cunningly manipulating the situation to their own advantage.Such tales of intrigue and deception were likely to be believed only by the most gullible of commoners and the lowest-ranking of nobles, who were easily swayed by sensationalist stories and exaggerated claims.Furthermore, there was another outlandish rumor circulating, which held that Ethan Slayer had single-handedly defeated an entire legion of the Beast Kingdom's most formidable warriors, and had compelled a daunting elite force of ten thousand beastmen to retreat in disgrace, with their tails tucked meek
Miron approached the city with a sense of trepidation, expecting the usual lax security measures that were common in many of the smaller territories. However, he was pleasantly surprised to find that the checkpoint at the gate was both rigid and strict, a testament to the city's strong defenses.As he entered the city, he was immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere that pervaded the streets. The residents of Ice Demon City went about their daily lives with genuine smiles on their faces, as though the war that was raging in the north was of little concern to them. Children played and laughed on the streets, while adults busied themselves with their work.Miron's eyes widened in astonishment as he realized that the roads within the city were all paved, a luxury that was rarely found in such remote territories. He shook his head in disbelief, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him."I must be seeing things," he muttered to himself, unable to comprehend the level of develop