Arielle stood at the forefront of the town’s entrance, her armor gleaming under the light of flickering flames as demons closed in.
“Ack! No! Not my arm!”
“Get the hell away from me!”
Clang!
Bang!!
“Die you useless pieces of shit!”
She was surrounded by chaos—roars of demons, the clash of steel, and the cries of mercenaries fighting for their lives. Despite her age, she commanded the battlefield with the presence of a seasoned general.
“Focus your attacks on the weak points!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
Her tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt or disobedience, and the mercenaries around her responded without hesitation.
Arielle wasn’t just shouting orders—she was leading by example. An enchanted shortsword danced in one of her hands, cutting through demons with precision.
One after another, Grade Seven and Grade Six demons fell to her attacks. Each stab and swing carried an elegance that belied the sheer strength behind them.
It was slow but for certain, the tides began to turn. The mercenaries, bolstered by Arielle’s guidance, pushed back the demon horde. Dozens of demons fell with every passing minute, their corpses littering the ground and somewhat acting as a hindrance into the town.
Arielle allowed herself a brief moment to assess the situation. They were gaining the upper hand, but she knew better than to grow complacent. The demons were relentless, and any slip in focus could turn the battle against them.
Then it happened.
Boooooom!!
An explosion thundered through the town, the sound so loud it drowned out all else. Arielle’s heart skipped a beat as she turned toward the source. From the heart of the town, a column of dust and debris rose into the air, followed by a blood-curdling roar.
The roar echoed through the streets, carrying with it a suffocating pressure that washed over the battlefield like a tidal wave.
…wooooong~
Arielle felt the weight of it bear down on her chest, stealing the air from her lungs. Around her, the mercenaries froze in place, their movements halted as if they’d been turned to stone.
Even the demons stopped, their bloodlust momentarily quelled by the overwhelming presence emanating from the town’s center.
Arielle gritted her teeth, forcing herself to move. The pressure bore down on her like a mountain, but she refused to let it paralyze her. With a sharp inhale, she pushed against the invisible force, and a loud crack echoed in her ears.
Clang!
The pressure around her shattered like glass, and she took her first unrestrained step forward. Her movements were stiff at first, but they grew surer with every step.
“Move!” she shouted, her voice carrying the same authority as before.
The mercenaries around her turned to look at her, their eyes wide with disbelief. How was she moving under this pressure?
Arielle didn’t waste time explaining. She reached out, touching one mercenary on the shoulder. The moment her hand made contact, the pressure around them dissipated. “You’re free! Cut down the demons!”
One by one, she freed the mercenaries and guards, her actions inspiring awe and admiration. The once-frozen warriors began to move, their spirits rekindled by Arielle’s unyielding determination.
As the demons remained frozen, Arielle raised her voice again.
“This is our chance! Strike them down while they’re vulnerable!”
The words ignited a fire within the mercenaries.
“You heard her, cut down the demons!”
“Like vegetables for porridge!”
“Porridge comes later!”
“All you think about is food! Fight you bastard!”
The various individuals surged forward, weapons gleaming as they cut down the immobilized demons with brutal efficiency. The demons, unable to defend themselves, fell in droves.
Arielle led the charge, her shortsword a blur as it tore through demonic flesh. She shouted encouragements to the others, her voice cutting through the chaos like a beacon of hope.
“For the town! For your families!”
The mercenaries and guards fought vigorously, their morale raised multiple levels by her words. Some demons were frozen solid by ice magic, only to be shattered into pieces by powerful strikes.
Others were engulfed in flames, their charred corpses collapsing to the ground. Blood stained the earth as blades and spells tore through the demon horde.
Woooosh…
Finally, the pressure lifted, and the demons began to move again. But they were fewer in number now, their ranks decimated by the mercenaries’ assault. The remaining demons roared in defiance, charging at the humans with a renewed frenzy.
Kaaareeiiiii!!
Arielle turned her attention to the remaining demons, ready to lead her allies into the final push. But before she could issue another command, the battlefield was engulfed in light.
It started as three distinct columns of crimson-red light, shooting into the sky from the town’s center. The light was blinding, forcing Arielle and the others to shield their eyes.
Then came the explosion.
…Kaaabooooom!!!
The ground shook violently as a deafening boom echoed across the town. A shockwave of heat and force rolled over the battlefield, sending demons and mercenaries alike tumbling to the ground.
Arielle barely managed to keep her footing, planting her shortsword into the ground for support.
“What in the world…?” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the chaos.
The light faded, and Arielle’s heart sank. Whatever was happening in the town was beyond anything they had faced so far.
Arielle’s thoughts raced. Who was fighting in the town’s center? She could only hope it was someone on their side.
Another explosion snapped her out of her thoughts. This one was closer, and it sent another wave of heat and dust cascading over the battlefield. Arielle tightened her grip on her spear, her resolve hardening.
“Push forward!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos once more. “We need to finish this and reinforce the others in the town!”
The mercenaries obeyed, rallying behind her as they advanced on the remaining demons. The battle was far from over, but with Arielle leading the charge, hope remained alive.
In the back of her mind, however, one thought lingered: Whoever was fighting in the town’s center, they were facing something unimaginable.
“There’s something that shouldn’t be in the town!”