Victor's wait was cut shorter than expected—it took only a day for the demons' fortress to be fully prepared, catching the Red Iron Republic's generals off guard. As the fortress gates creaked open, thousands of demons marched out in precise formation, accompanied by beasts and what appeared to be undead soldiers. The army continued to swell until a towering red demon stepped forward from the fortress.
Standing over two ters tall, with scales resembling those of a dragon, the demon's presence was overwhelming. His massive wings only added to his already imposing size. With two large horns and a reptilian snout, he let out a thunderous roar, prompting the entire demon army to raise their arms and echo his cry in unison.
If anyone had been asleep, they certainly weren't anymore. The blaring sound of horns erupted from both sides, signaling that war had officially begun in the northern territories.
On the Red Iron Republic's side, the four heroes had already taken their places among their respective soldier units. The three heroes were each assigned balanced teams of healers and rear guards, carefully crafted for tactical versatility. Victor, the Shadowchaser, however, was given the remaining forces the military could spare. The generals understood that rank and past accomplishnts mattered little now—what they needed was raw, unrelenting power. And the four heroes were destined to lead the charge.
The four heroes were ready, fully ard, and among the first to charge forward as the demons mobilized. Victor held back, allowing his soldiers to advance ahead of him. He knew that he wouldn't be able to assist them directly while fighting, but he could control their shadows—a strategy that would double their numbers and provide them with the critical advantage they needed.
As beasts, demons, and humans rushed to et on the chaotic battlefield, the clash began long before contact. Projectiles rained down from both sides—so deflected, others striking true—causing heavy losses within the first few minutes. Those who survived long enough to close the distance faced an onslaught of swords, spears, and any weapon the opposing forces could muster.
On his end of the field, Brian seed to be performing best. He instructed his team to hold back until exhaustion forced him to retreat, a strategy that took so ti to execute. His flas tore through anything in his path, igniting the battlefield as he used his hands like flathrowers. Each punch unleashed shockwaves of fire, scorching all who dared approach him. Only the mindless beasts, specifically sent to distract him, were brave—or foolish—enough to confront him directly.
On Jonathan's side of the battlefield, he worked in tandem with the soldiers, relying on their support to build montum and unleash maximum damage as a sword user. Charging up his most powerful skills required ti, but when they landed, the devastation surpassed even Brian's best skill. Jonathan's earth blades cleaved through anything in his path, splitting enemies cleanly in two.
Finally, Jonathan was the one struggling most among the three heroes. His long-range attacks demanded space to push back the enemy forces, yet they refused to give him any room to maneuver. Despite this disadvantage, Jonathan's refined technique allowed him to dodge even strikes aid at his blind spots. To counter the relentless pressure, he directed his part of the army to adopt a defensive stance, separating the enemies into smaller groups. This strategic move created the space he needed to execute his skills with optimal precision and impact.
The tide of battle ebbed and flowed, favoring one side only to shift back to the other. It was relentless chaos, yet Victor knew this was rely the beginning. His eyes fixed on the red, winged, dragon-like demon, which remained utterly still despite the carnage unfolding around it.
The demon smiled—a twisted expression, as though savoring every lost life, regardless of whether the fallen were from its own army or the enemy's camp. The sinister sneer unsettled Victor, forcing him to question whether all of this had been carefully orchestrated. He disliked the demon's inaction, its composure almost mocking, as if holding back for sothing far worse.
Victor was about to issue a retreat when two massive explosions erupted overhead. Before he could react, fragnts began raining down. He recognized the shards instantly—the blue crystals, dreaded and familiar. Chaos exploded anew as the shards embedded themselves into the battlefield.
Realizing he had three fools to save, Victor didn't hesitate. He teleported to retrieve them, knowing there was little he could do for the other soldiers. Those fortunate enough to escape ran for their lives, but for many, the shards embedded in their bodies sealed their fate. They could do nothing but succumb as the battle roared on.
On the demon's side, chaos escalated as they unleashed their berserk mode, amplifying the destruction inflicted upon the Red Iron Republic's army. The relentless onslaught was devastating, turning the tide further against the Republic's forces. It was heartbreaking to witness so many soldiers fall, their lives extinguished amidst the frenzied battle.
"Fall back!" a voice called out from behind, urging a retreat as a torrent of long-range magic surged across the battlefield, scorching the ground. Yet the blasts did little against the bodies embedded with blue shards, which radiated an unnatural power. Victor could see the shards' energy being siphoned away, drawn into larger jewels the demons had begun deploying.
Victor's unease grew as he realized the sinister nature of the demons' tactics. Desperate to disrupt the process, he commanded his shadows to do the unthinkable—mutilate the bodies, severing limbs and shards in an effort to halt the energy transfer. But it was futile. The power continued to flow, and those who had died did so in vain.
As chaos enveloped the battlefield, only support and long-range fighters remained active, holding their positions while the rest retreated. The demons, however, did not advance. They held their ground, a silent and nacing force, seemingly waiting for more lives to fall into their trap.
Angered by his stolen opportunities to gain experience, Brian unleashed four massive shockwaves filled with explosive fire energy. Two of the blasts hit their mark, causing significant damage, but the other two were intercepted. This ti, the towering red demon stepped in, effortlessly stopping the devastating attack.
"Hero of the Fire Spirit, I presu," the demon spoke, his voice resonant and commanding. "Allow to introduce myself before we clash. My na is Dravor—Dravor the rciless, as they call ." He smirked with wicked confidence. "This first wave was rely a test, the beginning of what's to co. We'll remain here, awaiting your next mobilization. Be sure to bring more soldiers next ti. And if you take too long..." Dravor's eyes glead with malice. "We'll begin attacking other parts of the kingdom. I trust you now understand just how... quickly we can construct a fortress."
With that, Dravor flapped his imnse wings, retreating into the fortress. One by one, the demons followed his lead, leaving behind only the remains of disintegrating bodies that turned to dust in the wind.
Brian, overco with rage, let out a furious roar. Exhaustion gripped him, his mana completely spent, leaving him unable to summon even a flicker of fla. Both Jonathan and George shared his anger, their frustration evident in their clenched fists and furrowed brows. Yet, like Brian, they too were utterly drained, their strength spent battling an enemy that seed to remain one step ahead.
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