Proofread By Thomas F
I stopped at the front of the army and looked out over miles of open valley, which had become a death ground.
Given how many monsters and people died there, one could smell the dead. If not for regular cleansing by people and churches, a death zone would have formed with the undead rising.
Behind the open ground lies a vast forest connected to the extreme magic region.
I could feel the people staring ahead, as I was, and their emotions—fear and nervousness, but also the resolve, despite all the risk and danger.
On my left is Commander August, to my right Baron Harrods, while Ignatius is on top of the fortress wall.
"They are close," said August.
He didn't have to tell me; I could feel the faint vibration under me. It had made Tempest very excited. He may be staying still and regal, but the lightning covering his legs betrays his excitement.
The vibration got louder by the second, until everyone could feel it.
Cries rang out in the sky as a large number of aerial monsters gathered, but they didn't attack. No, they stayed in the sky, out of range.
I took a deep breath and calmed my heart. At the same time, Zela covered me with the spells.
It's time to address the army. Ignatius usually does it, but he gave me honour today.
"Monsters are attacking us, in numbers greater than ever," I said, with my voice booming across the battlefield. Heard by every soldier from here to the fortress.
"It is something that filled my heart with fear and the stuff of nightmares."
I could see the surprise appear on their faces. Even Harrods and August were surprised by it. Leaders don't show vulnerabilities, as is right, but sometimes, leaders need to be vulnerable to connect with their people.
"Still, I am standing here, just like you all, because I understand there is no other choice."
"We need to stop these monsters; failing that, they would tear through the fortress and enter our cities and villages, massacre family, friends, and neighbours."
"We will not let that happen. We are protectors of our people, and we will protect them even if we have to sacrifice our lives for that!"
"So, who is with me?" I roared loudly.
In response, the legs struck the ground, and the metal clashed against the metal, drowning out the monsters' sound completely.
A minute passed, and I felt like an earthquake had come as the earth began to shake hard.
I could see it's affecting people; there are no roars or cries, which usually accompany the monsters. No, this time, it is entirely silent aside from the earthquake-level shaking.
"They are about to come out," said Baron Harrods, looking at the forest, before looking at the sky, where the sun had just started coming out.
A moment later, thousands of monsters burst out of the forest and roared as the sun rose behind them.
Their roars were so loud that they must have been heard across the northern baronies. It shook the skies and our ears.
Of them, four were the most powerful.
I looked at the thousands of monsters, an endless tide that followed them, and shuddered. The psychological impact of these numbers and roars is tremendous.
Seeing such a number, even experienced men took a step back for a moment.
Tempest, who had been excited until now, had become somber. Now, lightning on his legs isn't dancing wildly. Now, it is just covering his legs calmly.
"There is no sign of the four," said Garzong. "They will appear soon," replied August.
"Cannons Attack!"
Ignatius ordered as the monsters entered the range and immediately. The cannons blasted with the force that I have never seen before.
Knowing the monsters are in massive numbers. We have decided not to hold back.
We are attacking them with our most potent and expensive cannons and using the best ammunition we have. We need to halve their numbers before we clash against them.
Their numbers are over fifty thousand. It is a truly humongous number.
Monsters are stronger than people of the same grade. It is why we cannot let the battle last long. We need to finish it as soon as possible.
I may be saying that, but it's not going to be easy. It's going to be extremely difficult.
The cannonballs and other ammunition struck the monsters, blasting them into smithereens. They created massive explosions, killing countless monsters, but it didn't seem to affect them.
Their numbers seemed endless.
Not all of the cannonballs were hitting the monsters. Many of these monsters have attacked us before. They are trying to dodge and shoot them down.
The same with the mines and other traps; the earth elemental monsters manipulated the ground to blast them.
They were not able to demolish as much as last time. These mines are expensive and react to the magical signature rather than the movement over them.
Their blast range is also bigger. Killing many as they ran through them, lowering the momentum of the monsters.
Finally, a blaring roar rang out, and the first of the leaders emerged from the left side of the tide. It's pale blue and tall, taller than an elephant, with thick muscles.
Torrent Ape.
It's a huge ape monster, with unnaturally large, scaled hands, on which is a layer of water. Punching is its favourite attack, and when it does so, it delivers the force of torrents.
Its punches have shattered enchanted shields and blasted people into a shower of blood and gore.
It had attacked the fortress three times.
It had just come out when another roar rang out. It is heavy, but higher-pitched. Expressions of many tightened upon hearing it.
A moment later, it erupted out of the forest. It's a giant monster, with every step seeming to cause a quake.
Blaze Elephant.
It's just as big as the ape, could even be said to be bigger, given how long its body is. It has red skin, thick, blue, veiny lines across it, and bright, blazing tusks that could tear through most things like butter.
It had attacked the fortress five times and is a very dangerous monster.
For a few seconds, there were only those two monsters, when another roar rang out, and Tempest shuddered visibly, before neighing in defiance.
A second later, a familiar Birkax Bear tore through the forest.
The same bear I had fought at Renin City. The one that would have killed me, if not for my comprehending the aura method at the last moment.
As I looked at it, a frown appeared on my face. "It seems bigger than last time!" said Garzong, and I couldn't help but nod.
It is bigger and even more oversized with that big amber crystal, which looked different.
Maybe because I am looking from a distance, but there seemed to be a faint golden tint in it. Whatever it is, it did not give me a good feeling.
It seemed to sense me looking, and its eyes turned to me, and I saw recognition flash in them.
It roared, louder and angrier than before, sending a shock through me and making me shudder.
I opened my mouth in shock when the roar rang out. It was deafening and felt so powerful that it froze my breath, while the soldiers' knees shook, and many collapsed.
"Primal Resonance," spat Baron Harrods.
Primal Resonance, or Primal Surge, is also known as Wild Aura. Every living being has the potential to awaken the aura, not just humans and intelligent species, but also the wilds like monsters.
It is aura, but different than aura.
In monsters, it is more instinctive and powerful. They could use it with vital energies and elemental powers from the beginning. Making them very powerful and hard to kill.
"Two monsters with the primal resonance; the gods are really testing us," said August, shaking his head with a mirthless smile.
The next second, the trees exploded apart in a massive blast, and Voltwing Tiger burst out of the forest.
It is the smallest of all four leader monsters. It is the size of an adult Rhino, with a very muscular body and long, sharp claws that could tear through anything.
It is yellow like tigers on Earth, but has dark purple stripes and large golden eyes that didn't seem to hold even a shred of mercy.
On its back are two stumps that looked like the stunted wings; they are not. The monster could fly and was very fast.
It looks like an incarnation of malice, especially with those thick, lightning bolts dancing across its body.
"Archers, mages attack!"
Commanded Ignatius and immediately, a barrage of arrows and spells rained down on the monsters.
It seemed the monsters were angry, and they roared, but this time, we were prepared, and our skills enveloped the army.
The tiger roared once more, and this time in command of the aerial monsters. Those who were hanging back out of the range flew toward us.
A few seconds later, they entered the range, and arrows and ballistae began to shoot at them, before the spells joined.
I was looking at the attack when I felt a deep power and turned back. Only to see Ignatius pulling the string of his bow, with a deep blue arrow appearing in it.
It fully materialized a moment later, and he released the string.
The blue arrow shot forward at incredible speed. Most importantly, was the power. 'He did not disappoint me,' I thought, with a smile.
I know, after reaching Lv. 40 and making progress in his aura, he would be able to use more abilities of that bow.
The arrow tore through the air toward its target at a speed faster than a bullet and reached it in the blink of an eye.
The Voltwing Tiger looked at the arrow in front of it and roared, releasing a thick bolt of purple lightning toward it.
The next moment, they clashed, creating a massive blast in the air that sent many of the monsters flying, but Volving Tiger remained unharmed and didn't so much as shake.
As I had said before, it wouldn't be easy to fight the tiger, much less kill it.
I took a breath and sent the wave of my presence skill. Immediately, the whole army became alert.
The ring resting above my hand floated in front of me and expanded, before the hilt came out of it. I gripped, felt its power, and pulled the blade out.
"Attack!" I roared, raising my blade forward.
Tempest galloped forward, while I activated Charge of Ironbloods. It is a powerful skill, and I could feel its power covering the whole army.
I rode forward, while my people were behind me.
The two commanders led their teams toward the respective monsters, and they are going to fight. Commander August would fight with Torrent Ape, while Baron Harrods would engage Blaze Elephant.
They have never fought these monsters on their own, but now they have to, with the support of the teams.
It will be especially hard for Baron Harrods. He does not have an artifact. It was a hard decision to choose between Leila and him.
If Leila had been a Great Mage, I would have given him the artifact. Besides, I already gave this fortress an artifact.
Zela and Garzong are in their teams; they might not be Lv. 40, but they both have awakened the aura and are very good at using it with their abilities.
Bell had trained Zela, while Knight Schengen had trained Garzonh.
I also train with them regularly. Their help would be tremendous to both the commanders they would be supporting. As for me, I will be going solo.
It's time, I finished my unfinished battle and killed the bear. I will have to do it fast, before I move to help Ignatius against the tiger.
I left my men behind and reached the monsters.
They roared seeing me alone. Many leaped toward me and attacked with elemental abilities. Seeing that, I smiled and activated Power Share.
Immediately, the bronze lightning covered my sword. Pushing the skill to the limit, it had started shaking, but I didn't even glance at it and swung my blade.
The long lightning whip was released from the sword.
It hit the monsters, destroying their attacks and killing most of them in an instant.
Share Power is my Rider Class skill, through which my monster could share his power with me.
Thus, the lightning. It is as powerful as the strong Grade IV spells, and with the element of my artifact, it becomes even more powerful.
It would have been even more if the skill hadn't been Lv. 23. It could barely bear the power of the lightning. I have to be careful lest I break the skill.
Tempest tore through the horde, and lightning from his hooves would strike any monsters that came close.
The monsters separated in our path, wanting to be as far away from us as possible.
Still, that doesn't mean we let them. The lightning whip, attached to my sword, moved left and right, killing and incapacitating every monster on the way.
Every monster I kill here will lessen the burden my people will have to bear.
Finally, we reached near the bear and saw it looking at us, with eyes filled with fury. It is not angry because I am killing its minions, but because I nearly killed it last time.
Though this time it is more prepared. So am I.
It roared, and it is powerful. Filled with the power of Primal Resonance that is revolving around it.
It is not as powerful as Voltwing Tigers, but no monster with Primal Resonance is weak. The monsters around us shuddered hearing that roar, and even Tempest slowed for a moment before he neighed and picked up the speed.
As it finished the roar, the crystal on its head shone.
'Here it comes,' I prepared myself, but didn't stop moving toward the monster.
It may have awakened Primal Resonance, but I have grown stronger as well. I have levelled up, got an artifact, and now know all the aura methods.
So, I welcome the attack because it will soon be met with my counterattack.