"If this fort falls, humanity dies," the General said.
"Grand master are coming with more soldiers. Hold until they get here, and we live."
Orion saluted. "I will hold."
Day 1
The first wave hit like a storm. Claws slammed the walls. Dead monsters piled high.
Orion's sword was covered in blood. His voice was louder than the war-horns.
"Shields up! Spears ready! Hold the line! Archers, loose!"
They held. At sunset, two thousand were dead.
But the fort still stood.
Day 2
The second wave came at dawn. Giant monsters climbed the walls. Their numbers never ended.
Acid rain fell. It ate through metal and shield.
The north tower fell. The main gate cracked.
Orion fought until he could not see clearly. He fought until he coughed blood. He had no special power, no magic. Only will. Only a fire inside him that would not go out.
When the sun set, only half of his men left.
The first wall was breached.
Day 3
Morning was, silence. For a moment, Orion hoped the enemy gave up.
Then the walls shook.
The main horde came. It covered the whole horizon.
The gate exploded open. The last wall was breached.
His men's moral was not good. Their eye lost its light.
But Orion was not. He stepped forward, sword high, and shouted:
"With me! The gods are watching! let's give them a show worth remembering!"
They followed him. Not because they thought they would win.
But Orion was the one who lead them.
The Final Defence
The day feels like forever.
No help had come. Not yet.
Orion looked at his men, no, his brothers still fought with all they have. Men with broken shields, bloodied faces, eyes holding only fire.
He raised his damaged sword one last time.
"One more step! One more breath! We charge! And we make them pay for every stone they've taken!"
They roared with the anger of dead men walking.
Orion fought like a man who fear nothing. His last strength cut a path through the monsters. They all fought with nothing left but honor.
Then—through the smoke—he saw them.
Far away, a storm broke the sky.
Kael, the Grand master, was there. One punch blew away a hundred monsters. A swing decapitated the reality it self. Next to him was Flame, the War Saintess. Her banners blazing with divine sigils, Just by her presence, you can feel the Goddess embrace.
Help was here.
But too far away.
Too late.
The world went dark. His sword shattered. A Monster's claw tore through his chest.
Orion fell. His last thought was not fear, but regret.
If only I was stronger sooner.
If only I could have saved them all.
Then, only dark was there.
He woke up screaming.
Not in a healer's tent.
In a small bed. Small room that he almost forgot.
His hands were small.
The spring wind before everything went wrong.