I moved forward without slowing down. The smoke ahead no longer left any doubts. It wasn't just a distant sign. It was recent. The sound that had once seemed muffled now became clearer with every step. Metal against metal, screams, impact. The village was already under attack.
Rai'kanna kept pace beside me.
"We arrived in the middle of it."
"Yes."
Scarlett adjusted her stance.
"How many do you think?"
Lyannis answered before I could.
"More than three hundred, based on the previous pattern."
Elara narrowed her eyes.
"They didn't come in small groups this time."
Liriel took a deep breath, already gathering energy.
"Then we go straight in."
Vespera said nothing, but her presence changed. Lighter, more focused.
As soon as we crossed into the village, the scene opened before us. Houses partially damaged, improvised barricades, guards and some adventurers trying to contain the advance. In the center, a mass of demons pushed forward relentlessly.
"They're being pushed back," Scarlett said.
"Not for much longer," Rai'kanna completed.
The village master appeared in the distance, visibly tense. When he saw me, his eyes widened.
"My lord!"
I didn't stop for a long conversation.
"How many?"
"More than three hundred! It's been going on for hours!"
I nodded.
"You held out well."
He breathed heavily.
"We won't be able to hold much longer."
I looked toward the battlefield.
"You won't need to."
I stepped forward. The girls positioned themselves automatically. We didn't need to discuss strategy anymore.
We already knew.
"Tight formation," I said.
Lyannis confirmed quickly.
"They're concentrated in the center."
"Then we break the center."
Elara was already raising barriers.
"I'll hold the initial impact."
Liriel raised the surrounding energy.
"Support active."
Scarlett smiled faintly.
"Time to clean up."
Rai'kanna rolled her shoulder, preparing herself.
"No retreating."
Vespera had already disappeared from sight.
I took a deep breath.
"Move."
I advanced.
The impact was immediate. As soon as we entered the battlefield, their attention shifted toward us. There was no hesitation from them. They came straight at us.
I activated the sword instantly. The energy flowed through my body steadily. I didn't need to force it anymore. The control was better.
The first clash was direct. I cut through the ones in front without stopping. Rai'kanna opened space beside me, maintaining constant pressure. Scarlett appeared on the opposite flank, eliminating every attempt to surround us.
Elara kept the barriers active, blocking heavier attacks. Liriel sustained the energy flow, ensuring we never lost momentum. Lyannis adjusted our positioning, avoiding pressure points. Vespera appeared and vanished repeatedly, eliminating critical targets.
But this time… they didn't retreat.
"They're being forced forward!" Lyannis said.
"There's someone commanding them," I replied.
I looked toward the back of the formation.
And there he was.
A lesser general, but different from the others we had faced before. His presence kept the others advancing, even while taking constant losses.
"There," Rai'kanna said.
"I see him."
Scarlett appeared beside me.
"Then let's go straight for him."
"Not yet."
I continued advancing, opening space. We needed to weaken the line before going directly for him.
"Maintain the pressure," I said.
Elara answered immediately.
"I can hold it."
Liriel raised the energy even higher.
"You can push further."
Lyannis pointed quickly.
"The left side is collapsing."
"Scarlett."
"I'm already moving."
She advanced without hesitation.
Rai'kanna held the right side firmly.
"They won't get through."
Vespera appeared behind a larger group, eliminating three at once.
"The path is opening."
I nodded.
"Now."
I pushed forward harder. The sword's flow increased, but it was still controlled. This wasn't the moment to release everything.
This was precise execution.
I got closer to the center.
The general noticed.
He advanced.
The impact was stronger than the others. He blocked the first strike, retreated from the second, tried to counter on the third. But he didn't have the same stability as the ones before him.
Rai'kanna came in from the side.
Scarlett sealed the opening.
And I finished it.
The strike pierced through him.
The general fell.
And with that… the formation began to break apart.
"They're losing control!" Lyannis said.
"Then finish it," I replied.
There was no more organized resistance. The rest was only execution. One by one, they fell. Without command, without coordination.
When the last one fell, silence returned.
But unlike before, there were marks left behind. Damaged houses, scarred ground, the air still heavy.
Liriel stepped forward.
"I'll purify it."
"Do it."
Light expanded from her, covering the battlefield. The demonic energy began to dissipate rapidly.
Elara observed carefully.
"That prevents contamination."
Lyannis was already taking mental notes.
"The village remains stable."
The village master approached again, his expression now different.
"My lord… we…"
He couldn't finish.
"Everything is under control now," I replied.
He lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you."
I looked around. The villagers were beginning to come out, watching. Some were injured, but alive. The defense had held long enough.
"You did well," I said.
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"They resisted longer than expected."
Scarlett gave a faint smile.
"It wasn't easy for them."
Vespera observed silently.
"But it's not over."
I nodded.
"No."
Liriel finished the purification.
"The area is clean."
Elara relaxed the barriers.
Lyannis closed her mental record.
"So the attack was contained."
I took a deep breath.
"For now."
I looked toward the horizon once again.
The feeling was still there.
Farther away.
But present.
"Prepare yourselves," I said.
"This was only the beginning."