Ready? I asked the gathered warriors.
After receiving a few half-hearted replies, I just shook my head and went over the plan a final ti. We had set up in a semi-circle around the dungeons entrance, just like the larger army had done. I couldnt exactly call this plan creative, but hey, it was effective, at least.
Supposedly, our scouts had encountered so enemies close to the exit, so the first groups were bound to arrive any second now. Thankfully, sending any aningful force through a dungeon was seen as impossible, and the fact that our opponents were limited to tier 3 also helped. Unfortunately, Ash hadnt seen fit to spare any tier 4s for our side either. Seeing as I had already gotten two killed by myself, that hadnt co as a surprise.
In simpler terms, we were about to fight an equal number, equal strength battle. I could work with that.
I had ordered so extra traps to be set up around the periter. Those, combined with the undead our necromancers had summoned, would hopefully take care of any stragglers that evaded our notice.
My final check-up was interrupted as a classer stord into my tent, breathing heavily. One of my scouts, I recognized.
Any news? I asked absentmindedly while the scout caught his breath.
The first groups have arrived! Theyre currently engaging our forces.
A few of my guards shared panicked looks as the scout shared the news, not having expected the situation to evolve that quickly.
Taking control of the situation, I issued everyone their orders.
Lets go. I said lazily, as if I was about to do my chores. I was hoping my confidence would rouse my ns spirits. Most of my soldiers this ti werent that experienced yet, which ant that they werent as tough, ntally, as so of the veterans that were currently fighting on the main front. I had been given the younger tier 3 and 2s, and they would have to be enough. If they werent, I could make up the difference, I thought, sowhat arrogantly.
Monts later, I left my temporary tent and joined the other classers near the dungeon, where a heated skirmish had erupted. It resembled the fighting going on at the main front, though smaller in scale in every way. Only a few hundred of us were surrounding the few dozen on their side, since their groups left the dungeon separately. That was the issue with dungeons, the soldiers had to be split into groups to pass through, and they didnt all reach the exit at the sa ti.
It still confused . Why would the abyss watcher even send people into the dungeon if they would only be slaughtered?
Still, people on both sides were dying.
I stopped hesitating and threw myself into the battle, my chains decimating tier 1 and 2 opponents. Thankfully, both sides used coloured clothing. That way I knew I wasnt cutting any allies apart.
At first, my slaughter went unimpeded and tier 1 and 2 classers died a dozen at a ti, which thinned out the herd. Eventually, though, a team of tier 3s got to and started blocking my wild strikes. Our fight devolved into a rhythmic back and forth from there, them not having the skills to defeat , and not having the stats to overwhelm their superior numbers.
While I held them off, though, my own tier 3s got to work and annihilated everyone below their own tier.
As they slaughtered more classers, more and more exited the dungeon and replaced them, quickly evening out the numbers again.
Like this, the skirmish escalated further and further. Soon enough, several hundred people were fighting on either side. Even worse, we werent getting any reinforcents to replace our fallen comrades.
As the battle progressed, I kept hold of my senses, though. I wouldnt lose myself to the bloodlust a second ti, not while everyone was relying on .
I was surprised by the tier 3s that were holding off with an overloaded orb, sending him reeling. I followed up my attack with a sword arc, which cleanly separated his body into two halves. His companions, montarily caught off guard, werent ready for the combo I unleashed afterward. I activated a curse mark and sent three successive chains into the wound, which enlarged the mark and allowed it to corrode their tank, armor and all.
From there, I mopped up their spellcaster and spear-wielding warrior, before throwing myself back into the thick of it. More n and won fell to my sword, my skills, and sotis just my hands.
Yet, I was still being overwheld by their sheer numbers. My allies were holding strong near the fortifications, but here in the middle of the opposing army, I was alone.
That would have been a problem... but now it was a blessing.
My essence erupted into a do that followed my movent, blinding every surrounding enemy. Now that I had no allies to take care of, as I had had when I fought the golden guard, there was nobody and nothing to stop .
Surprised shouts sounded from around , the abyss watchers n being blinded for what was probably the first ti. They lost their composure, and beca pitifully weak now that they had lost their sight.
Thankfully, I hadnt encountered any truly experienced tier 3 yet. Middling tier 3s were on par with when it ca to stats, for now, but peak tier 3s could overpower . In this swarm of inexperienced weaklings, though, I felt like the sole predator.
The battle continued like this for another hour. The abyss goons never figured out a counter to my essence, but their numbers hadnt dwindled much either. People kept streaming out of the caverns, catching up to their compatriots.
With their strengthened numbers, many enemies were starting to pile up around our fortifications. I had sent for reinforcents a while back, but none had answered my call. Our situation was getting grimr and grimr until, eventually, my worst nightmare ca true.
The sounds of battle suddenly stilled. Both sides paused and started to look up to the sky, where a strange ball of light was growing. Its dark-blue sheen hid the identity of its creator, but I didnt need sight to find out who was about to join the battle.
My mana sense was enough for that, and it was telling that a tier 5 classer was at the center of the growing ball of energy.
Then, the orb started to fall to the ground. I had just enough ti to apparate behind our fortifications before it landed, creating an imnse shockwave under its sheer weight.
I appeared behind our fortifications, but the hastily built wooden walls were launched into the air by the shockwave, which I barely avoided in the half-second it took for to rematerialize. All I saw was half a ton of wood passing through my intangible body, before the shockwave passed and the dust settled.
With wide eyes, I took in the destroyed battlefield. A giant crater had appeared at its centre, while everything that had stood upright now... didnt. Trees had toppled, tents had flown into the wind and landed sowhere in the distance, and bodies had been flung or simply disintegrated...
Of the six-hundred classers that had been fighting here with everything on the line, only a few dozen were still alive, though their mangled bodies were just barely breathing.
I realized that I was alone.
The orb of power slowly dissipated, revealing one of the abyss watchers generals. He looked like a knight made out of obsidian-colored stone, of a similar make as the golems. I recognized this general as the one that had been wounded before the start of the war, though?! Ash had said he had killed him!
I sighed. I stood no chance against him. But I didnt want to die either... All I could do was stall for ti and hope Ash caught on to his enemys deceit.
Im pretty sure you were supposed to be dead... I shouted jokingly, trying to show more confidence than I felt.
The general turned and set his sights on . He grunted and muttered sothing.
I thought that got all of them... I thought I heard him say. The way his deep-blue, glowing eyes scanned my body made feel like I was an ant before a giant. In a sense, that comparison was apt.
Trying to keep his attention, I tried again.
Not exactly sporting of you to kill your own n, you know... I called out.
A twisted smile appeared on his face, and his body suddenly shifted through space. In a single mont, he stood before , though his legs hadnt moved. Instead, space itself had shifted around his form, twisted to make him move.
Now, he was only standing a single ter away from , regarding with a nacing deanor, as if he wanted to play with his food, first.
They were weak! he shouted suddenly, his booming voice nearly bursting my ears. But you! You are strong! You should have chosen our side!
No chance of that happening anymore? I asked with a small smile.
His face beca neutral for a mont, before turning into a sadistic, twisted smile.
No. He said lowly, I dont need cowards.
He lifted his hand, and dark blue mana started to coil in his palm, the mana turning into a twisted, odd shape. This was it. I was staring at the wave of mana that would destroy my body in one blow. So much destructive energy, concentrated in one palm.
My ti had co, it seed. Was this worth it? I closed my eyes. I had no regrets.
As my mind beca calm, preparing itself for my inevitable death, a childs voice suddenly broke the tension of the silent battlefield.
Arthur isnt a coward! the small, female voice shouted at the top of its lungs.
My eyes widened in panic and I looked over my shoulder. Sure enough, it was Maria.
GET OUT OF HERE! RUN! I shouted by instinct, too scared to act rationally. At any other ti, I might have wondered why I prioritized this small childs life over my own, but for once, I didnt. For once, I felt like I didnt need to question my priorities. Who cared if they werent as pragmatic as they were in the past...
At any other ti, I might have noticed these changes occurring within myself, but as space itself twisted around the tier 5s stony form, I couldnt even think straight.
I drew my sword and was about to apparate, but felt my limbs lock in place before I could do so. Blue rings had surrounded them, as well as my torso and neck. Strangely, my mana felt sluggish, like it was asleep. I couldnt even create a sword arc, couldnt form an overloaded orb or a laser...
I could only watch as the stone knight picked Maria up by the neck and regarded her coldly as he choked the life out of her slowly. She struggled, oh she struggled, but her little limbs couldnt budge the general.
His head tilted to the left, as if he was wondering about sothing, while Marias face slowly turned blue.
So this is the dry mans infamous daughter? Strange... Youve been locked in the tallest tower for a few years, so Id never seen you before. I thought you would be... bigger. But... youre not. Youre tiny, even! Just. An. Ant. I wonder how your father will react when he finds your corpse. Oh wait, hell die before ever waking up. What a sha. He muttered.
Let her go, you monster! Take instead! I scread, my throat feeling hoarse. But he wasnt listening.
I suppose... he slowly drawled, still looking in the other direction. Ill have to settle for seeing your eyes dim as this little ant stops breathing! he spoke, before erupting into quiet giggles.
His head spun 180 degrees and he looked dead in the eyes. This ti, his smile was so wide that his head had separated into two pieces.
Its always so fun to guess, you know! I bet... another thirty seconds. What do you bet?
Marias struggle was stopping, and she was hardly moving...
Tears were streaming down my face, the frustration of it all... of my weakness, getting to . I couldnt respond.
Bet. He said again.
My throat was soar.
Bet! he shouted.
I opened my mouth, but nothing ca out.
BET! he scread, snarling.
I tried to speak. I moved my mouth, but the band around my neck tightened. No sound ca out.
Until, suddenly, another voice spoke in my stead.
Lets raise the stakes a little... the voice spoke. You unhand my daughter, and Ill make your death slightly less painful.
I recognised that voice. I tried to speak. This ti, I succeeded.
Save her... was what finally ca out of my mouth, though I passed out right after.
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