The two-hour preparation window was rapidly closing. A palpable tension hummed through the air, mixing with the tang of fresh potions and the earthy scent of the defensive perimeter everyone worked hard to quickly set up. Golems, massive constructs of stone and iron created by a few mages worked with those he had brought over moved everything as ordered into pre-assigned positions before those he brought returned to their pen well those the mages made took positions along the rushed walls, becoming a silent vigil and formidable outer ring around the base. Beyond them, an intricate network of traps lay camouflaged, waiting patiently on the outskirts for any unwary trespassers, both layers of defense were set up as a means to thin even the slightest bit of the coming enemies to ensure a sliver of better survival for his own forces.
Long-range fighters took their places along hastily built ramps, some clutching conventional bows and staves while a specialized team of snipers nestled into strategic vantage points on slightly higher posts made specifically for them. Their rifles seemed to be crafted in one solid piece from a peculiar crystal-like stone and hummed with a faint glow, covered in intricate runes that where faintly visible along their barrels that they said gave them better precision along with the promise of death at a distance. The war beasts with their gleaming barrels where spread out to the four corners of the base along with groups of dragon ogres, they were different in size and ferocity but seemed to holding an understanding between them, each having a colossal Titan with them as a vanguard, their sheer bulk supported by the surprisingly agile with their many eyes gazing around taking in everything around them well the last six followed the commands to stand ready to enter the battle once it begun to get heated. further back the shimmering, iridescent forms of slimes lay in wait with raised barbs, a viscous surprise for anyone who managed to breach the defenses.
The main fighting force was meticulously divided into smaller squads. Each unit was a self-contained team set for combat. At least two healers were placed on a team with a core of melee fighters. These close-quarters specialists not only protected their vital support members but also shielded the mages whose spells would hopefully turn the tide of battle along with a smattering of gun fighters for mid-range cover. He even had a dedicated reserve force that was a mix of all unit types that were placed around the inside of the base, an insurance policy against unexpected infiltrations.
Amidst this organized chaos they fell into, the alchemists moved swiftly, distributing a range of potent potions, both those he had bought and the ones they had hurriedly made. One of them though seemed preoccupied with building a odd machine rather than handing out potions. It was a strange cannon-like weapon loaded with vials and even had a few fused into the barrel which he proudly called a "potion thrower" when John had asked about it. Nearby, Choi was a picture of calm efficiency as he held a drawn map of the base and its surrounding terrain with clear markings for where the traps where on a solid table in the middle of the command tent, he had them set up, with him where a few others all with tactical minds, he explained this way they could relay orders across the forces and battlefield well receiving updates from the scouts. There were even a few key individuals gathered around the table discussing among themselves the final stages of their defense, moving small, crudely carved wooden figures across the map. John, who had fashioned the figures in a rush upon Choi's request watched as his simple creations, despite their rough edges, proved surprisingly effective in visualizing their battle plan and how to react to various situations that might happen.
In the sky across from them the colossal, spectral red wolf, wreathed in an ethereal crimson haze, snarled at them. Its eyes, burning like twin embers as its form seemed to swell even larger well pulsing with a steadily growing power before with a slow, deliberate prowl it began to move towards the base making the large emerald snake hiss angrily and rear up seemingly ready to fight.
John felt a cold knot tighten in his stomach as he watched the beast move. Unease gnawed at him, but beneath it, a steely resolve had formed. Whatever came, he would face it along with his new force and both Ash and Saya at his sides. His gaze drifted to the two vital machines that continued to hum softly at the base's core. After rushing over he carefully and tentatively tried to perform a final diagnostic check before activating another, much smaller shield that fully wrapped around them. It was a one-time use item, something he'd bought from Kay. She had promised it would last twenty-four hours and act as an invaluable extra precaution to safeguard them from any stray attacks or attempts at sabotage.
"Nervous?" Ash's voice cut through the hum of anticipation, her footsteps light as she approached him. She was still noticeably pale but her eyes held a spark of determination, looking remarkably better than before.
John let out a short and humorless laugh as he gripped her hand tightly. "It's hard not to be. In a few minutes, it's a full-on war. The first of many, yet still the first, it will probably shape how future battles and wars will go and to be entirely honest, I'm more scared than nervous. I knew this day would come, thought I was ready for it, but..." His voice trailed off, the unspoken weight of the moment heavy in the air.
"But now that it's happening, it all just became so much more real?" she finished softly, her thumb tracing patterns on his knuckles. He sighed, a long, weary exhalation.
"Yeah. I mean, I faced a war on the planes not that long ago and it's how my arm got its problem, but that was different. The allies I called upon then I knew in this strange personal way. Even with our losses it didn't feel like this, I mean knew I could trust my back to them and in a sense, I knew what to expect and everything about what they could and couldn't do so I managed to keep losses as low as I could and I guess it just didn't feel real?" He tried to explain before pausing, his gaze sweeping across the meticulously prepared defenses pocking over the buildings and the special watch towers and sniper posts, then to the menacing red wolf slowly prowling towards them. "But here? It's against other people, probably monsters as well. Not that there's much difference anymore though. But humans are adaptive, constantly changing and always unpredictable. They're capable of inflicting the worst kinds of atrocities, even more so now with powers and abilities now woven into their very being, something we've both seen. It's just so different now, and I guess I just still need to come to terms with that. Even though," he admitted, a flicker of doubt crossing his face, "I doubt I'll be much help this time as I will be taking a more leadership role and only engaging in combat when and where needed."
Ash tightened her embrace, pulling him into a fierce hug. "Have some trust in yourself, and in those you've brought together. Keep the key people protected, but also trust those you've brought to fight. Lead them, lead us. In the long run there will be a lot more people, a lot more on your shoulders as well, so you can't get cold feet from this! Like you said, it's only the first real battle and war!" She added before pulling back slightly and looking him squarely in the eye. "But you need to remember something really important, along the way you have me, Saya, the other girls, Sieg and Choi to stand with you. All of us are here for you. You're not doing this alone or expected to be some kind of Super Saiyan or Saitama that takes everything on alone. You're not alone in this. So use that real good knowledge I know is in there for this, your deep repertoire of manga and anime knowledge to take things further for all of us! Keep leading your new forces and army by taking all the best elements you've seen over the years."
A small smile spread across John's face. "Thanks Ash. That really means a lot. And when this is over, I'll try and see about exploring things between us, I, I'll try to open up a bit more and properly let us explore things." As his words faded a deep, resonant horn blast echoed across the landscape soon followed by the faint, ominous thrum of war drums in the distance. "It seems it's beginning now though," he murmured, his smile hardening into a grim line.
Right as the words left his lips a deafening boom ripped through the air. Plumes of furious red and orange flames erupted from the distance and slammed against the shimmering shield around the base. The defensive barrier rippling violently from the impacts, as crackles of volatile lightning soon washed around them with a chilling pervasive blue hue.
"Artillery strikes and large-scale spells!" John muttered, his mind already racing. "Damnit, I figured they might have some military forces left from before the world changed under their banner but I didn't factor in or even consider the military equipment could still be working or even still viable. Fuck! Since guns still work why wouldn't real heavy weapons." He berated himself but wasted no time on it, instead striding towards the strategy tent where Choi was surrounded by a flurry of activity already giving commands through a glowing crystal infront of him. Several assistants bustled around him, moving carved pieces on the map well receiving urgent information through smaller crystals well relaying it back to Choi with military precision as he moved the pieces and adapted plans to match.
"Tell me what you can Choi and please let there be some good news with it." John began as soon as he entered the tent.
Choi glanced up, his expression grave but composed. "It appears to be mostly scattered assaults for now my lord. The long-range strikes were unexpected, a clear attempt to soften us up but your shield is holding firm. A group of summoners you had brought with who had helped created the larger golems joined the magic unit are currently waiting for your word to begin calling upon flying beasts and constructs to start a counter attack. Our own war beasts are still being kept back, we positioned the 4 teams so that should the enemies break through our defenses we will be ready for them, the extra groups have also been poisoned for a decisive counter-attack once the main forces attack. The few enemy small and scattered forces that have managed to cross the shields' range are quickly being taken out by our perimeter defenses and traps. The 'snipers' as you call them are also proving highly effective, eliminating targets as soon as they get to close, making the enemies believe there range is shorter than what It truly is." He paused, his gaze flicking to the larger carved wolf figure on the map. "The spectral red wolf, however, appears to be growing ever closer and we believe it to be the enemies main force. But we have also noticed a few of those angelic creatures currently approaching from the northeast accompanied by figures in gleaming white armor all glowing faintly as they advance making them rather easy to notice from a distance." He told John, pointing to one side of the map before drawing his finger to another spot.
He soon tapped a different section of the map. "From the opposite direction, the southwest, it seems to be a wave of death. I cannot confirm the exact creatures, but they appear to be living dead, their movement is slow and disorganized yet relentless as they push forward. The ground beneath them seems to also be turning black on their approach which is a rather disturbing sign. To the north and south, scattered enemy forces also seem to be making their way towards us, far less organized but still numerous and the ones who have attacked us first."
"Have our forces ready for anything," John commanded, his mind processing the multi-pronged assault. "Our scouts are to keep a radius as far out as possible without risking themselves. Our rangers are to remain on high alert and on watch same as the snipers. No one other than the scouts are to go beyond the shields just yet. What of the dark magicians, magus and necromancers?"
"So far my lord, they are awaiting your direct command," Choi responded. "The dark magicians though claimed they are preparing a ritual to have a rain of blood fall upon the enemies, a spell designed to drain their strength and sow panic among there numbers. However, it will require bodies to be effective and to work properly. I already agreed to it on the condition that it is the bodies of our enemies who enter the perimeter and are able to be retrieved that they use for it, not our own fighters. The necromancers are assisting with that currently, efficiently turning the enemies killed after entering the shield into our own resurrected fighters but also sending them over to the dark mages for their morbid requirements, using the risen dead to carry the non-raised bodies to them for that ritual. The magus' meanwhile are in the process of setting up what they called 'boundary fields' around the area, ones of the more volatile and violent variety, crafted to detonate or ensnare anything that crosses into them."
"Good," John said with a nod acknowledging the grim but effective strategies, he didn't like it but knew in war like this there was only victory or death. "How long until the enemies' main force reaches us? And call the head necromancer to meet with me; I wish to speak with them directly about that approaching wave of death."
"Our estimates place them three to six hours before they arrive within visible range, my lord," Choi replied. "As for the head necromancer, I called them the moment you finished giving me the request. They should arrive shortly."
John turned to Ash, a different kind of concern etching his features. "Ash, do you know any way around your limiter that won't negatively affect you? Anything that could give you an edge without risking another collapse or worse?"
She frowned, considering, then shook her head with a hint of regret. "Other than practice and slowly adapting to the strain? No. At least, I don't know of any other way, sorry. But I don't mind pushing my limits if you need something. Just tell me and I'll do it!" Her gaze turned intense, burning with a fierce loyalty and desire to prove herself.
"No, no," John quickly reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I was just checking. I'm not going to repeat what happened earlier; the cost was too high already and I refuse to risk losing you by having you push things to far again and dealing real harm to yourself this time." He told her firmly yet with hints of care and softness before shifting his attention to Saya, who had been listening quietly and entered well he was listening to Choi. "Saya, how's your progress with your class?"
Saya hesitated, a strange look in her eyes. "It's… strange. You know the details of my class, how it's not just spirits but other things I can see and hear?" She asked, getting a confirming nod from John.
"Like Luna from Harry Potter, able to see things others can't due to seer blood or from the accident with her mother," Ash offered, trying to clarify in her own way.
"Close enough," Saya affirmed with a huff and eye roll. "Theres been something else, distinctly not human lately skulking around the edge of my senses. I first thought it was my imagination, or maybe just residual strangeness but it's been growing stronger and more insistent lately. I think I might be able to bring a small part of it through to our reality with my sword as a medium for it but I don't know if it's worth the risk, even Angel is unsure and says its masking itself from her but also teasing her." She explained well looked at them, her unease palpable in the tense atmosphere. The decision, she knew, could be either a game-changer or a catastrophic mistake.
"Perhaps as a last resort or a means to keep both yourself and Ash safe or if we really have absolutely no other choice. No point bringing over something eldritch and creating a whole new set of issues or melting our eyes if we still have choices and options." John conceded, his gaze fixed on Saya. A flicker of hope, tinged with desperation entered his eyes. "But what of spirits and some of the other stuff? Can you perhaps channel them through to fight enemies alongside our own forces? Calling them through like lord of the rings style?"
Saya hesitated, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "Maybe but there wouldn't be many," she admitted, her voice soft, "Pulling some over could work if I truly pushed myself but I'd end up weak for a while, certainly not to the point of being bedridden, but physically drained and mentally strained without managing to do much." She met his gaze, a quiet determination settling in her features. "It wouldn't be ideal, but it's possible."
"Then please do so but only if I ask you to." John told her, his voice firm but tinged with worry. Saya responded with a slow, firm nod, a silent acknowledgment.
"Why can she push herself but not me?!" Ash's voice cut through the quiet tension, a raw edge of frustration and perceived unfairness in her tone. John moved swiftly, planting a reassuring kiss on her forehead.
"Because I don't think she will have as bad a reaction or as much strain as you did and do when you push yourself, if she does it I doubt it would damage her soul or life force and it won't leave her knocked out or bedridden." He explained patiently, his voice gentle but unwavering well taking slight amusement at her faint blush. "Yours is far more dangerous than hers Ash, and the power you have is also so much stronger as well." He looked at Saya, who nodded in agreement before grabbing Ash's arm. "He's right," she confirmed, a smile touching her lips. "And we don't want anything happening to our little otaku. Especially with how she's still recovering after pushing herself not that long ago to win us that fight." The lighthearted jab was a deliberate attempt to ease the tension, a brief moment of normalcy amidst their grim discussion well reminding her of how she had already pushed herself not that long ago.
It was at that precarious moment, as their private conversation concluded, that the ground shuddered violently. A low, guttural rumble vibrated through the air and seemed to slowly escalate into a deafening roar. The bright daylight outside began to dim as if an unseen, colossal shadow had been cast over the landscape that rapidly turning day into an unnaturally oppressive twilight. A chill of dread, cold and absolute washed over all of them. Overriding all previous concerns and plunging the warm atmosphere into an icy coldness. Without a word they exchanged terrified glances before being propelled by an instinctual terror to rush out and confront the horrifying reality that was apparently unfolding.
What greeted them was a sight that seemed to tear at the fabric of reality itself. There, directly in front of their base a short distance outside the shield of the base was a colossal entity. It dwarfed the last Angel they had faced, making even their own massive titan beasts seem like toys. This was something sculpted from the depths of a nightmare; its form was vaguely humanoid but only that it was standing on two legs, had two arms and a head, every other part of it though screamed grotesque aberration. Its skin was a sickly, mottled grey that was riddled with pulsating boils that continuously burst and spread a thick, sizzling acid. As it got closer the ooze rained down onto their shield, eating away at the ground underneath it after running down it with a high-pitched hiss.
Where its eyes should have been where Instead, two putrid yellow holes that bled a viscous fluid similar to the acid, rather its eyes, malformed and broken sat on a pair of spikes positioned gruesomely on its shoulders that had them stare blankly ahead. Innumerable deformed arms, thick and sinewy jutted out at unnatural angles all over its monstrous body, twitching and grasping at the empty air as if searching for something to tear apart or pull into itself. Its head was a nightmarish wolf skull, the top portion horrifically shaped into a crown adorned with countless smaller, human-like skulls, each one screaming in silent terror. Various weapons ranging from swords, axes, maces and countless other instruments of war, all different sizes and eras seemed to be embedded into its massive, festering body. From its gargantuan back, a pair of immense, barbed stingers sprouted and swayed gently with an ominous grace. Its feet where like massive anchors that buried deep into the ground suggesting it had plummeted from the sky rather than suddenly showing up and clearly the cause of the earlier shaking.
With a final, earth-shattering roar the monstrous entity pulled back its first slowly and deliberate before stepping forward, its immense mass causing the very earth to groan in protest. It was advancing, inexorably slowly, now inside of the shield.
John, despite the raw terror gripping him, forced his mind to focus, quickly appraising this creature. As the information flooded his gaze, a string of curses soon erupted from his lips. The information he read painted a picture far grimmer than he could have imagined. This wasn't just a beast; it was something ancient, something that defied known classifications well brimming with an almost incomprehensible destructive potential and not something that he felt should have been allowed, it was a god fragment in all but name. The implications were catastrophic and he knew this was either a response from the gods or the administrators attempting to wipe him and his forces out well pretending to keep to the rules. Without a second thought, his face pale with a dawning horror he rushed desperately to choi, needing to share the chilling truths he had just deciphered about this impossible monstrosity with him so he could spread the warning to the rest of his forces.