Screeches of pain and anger rang out from all directions. It was difficult to identify if they were friend or foe. The demons had finally gotten steady and retaliated against the Vethyean forces. Alongside imps and devils were cyclops and chimeras. Mutations and magic had given form to creatures who would normally side with the Vethyeans. Wide eyed fear was evident on even the fiercest of fighters as they pushed forward. Weapons clashed as the demons showed unexpected skills. Where once the allied troops could fell a beast in two strikes, they now needed to focus and fight one while fending off others nearby.
Thankfully, swaths of enemies crumbled to the might of a mighty owlbear. Avant empowered himself with an aura that sharpened his feathers before charging through monsters. A torrent of ferocity forced itself into enemy reach before tearing them apart. Talons and claws violently ripped small creatures in twain. Jagged teeth and spiked beak ripped chunks out of any monster too large to easily defeat. If he became too overwhelmed, Avant shifted gravity to force the monsters to their knees. While this slowed the demons, it did not stop them. Wounds riddled the owlbear but he did not falter.
Size was of no consequence when pertaining to Vofric Starc. Even in the frenzy of battle he did not hurry. His watchful eye knew where to look and helped him arrive moments before he was needed. Deliberate steps accompanied powerful swings of his warhammer. Where others wished to kill a demon with one strike, Vofric had no need for wishes. The massive and unwavering arc of his weapon eradicated multiple enemies without effort. Larger beasts lost limbs when foolishly attempting to stop the holy warrior. Many of them died seeing the warm brown eyes angrily staring from under a weary gaze. Those that were stopped moments before harming an ally experienced the worst of his anger. A heavy slam from his hammer always collided with the largest creature in a group. Once the impact reached the ground, a shockwave of light burst out and burned the enemies. An imprint was left on the crushed corpse of those that blocked his way.
“Do not focus on pushing towards the castle. Push outward from our cluster to surround the enemy!” Vofric commanded.
Rusty’s group were well versed in overpowering their foes. With their abilities it was easy to gain ground. But going for the far wall was fruitless as none of them had a chance against Aeraza and would simply hinder Aisha.
Scattered acknowledgements could be heard amongst shifting metal. The wall of soldiers twisted and forced their way into gaps in the enemy’s defenses. Normally they would be in a weaker position but the situation was anything but. Golden weapons were gripped tightly in the hands of anyone near Vofric. Intense focus allowed him to constantly empower his allies. None of them dreamt of facing such unfortunate odds alone but were more willing with magical strength and constitution. Though fear was apparent in all of them, it did not hinder them. Avant’s roars whipped everyone into a frenzy that would not be deterred by unknown concerns. No one lacked self-preservation. Rather they fought with every skill they’d gathered through whatever life they led. Their awareness and focus were unwavering even as they took hits from the enemy.
Unfortunately, magic could only do so much. Overwhelming odds got the best of some Vethyean soldiers. Some didn’t get hit more than a few times before being torn asunder. Others were able to retreat with cuts deep into their armor. While they couldn’t be completely healed, enough could be remedied so they could re-enter the fray. Each fallen ally only drove them to more anger. More rage at the unfairness of their situation. The only saving grace was the powerful warriors that led them. Pillars of organizations that kept peace around the world fought side-by-side with their lowest rank soldiers.
Might was not the only thing carrying these fighters through combat. Soldiers with dextrous fighting styles followed Freckle and Spike’s lead. Shadows of giants were their domain. Dashing from one to the other was child’s play. The demons would feel a small prick but not notice its result. Large gashes were cut into vital muscle. A single step forward shifted their weight onto the wounded limb and sent them tumbling to the floor. Before they could rise again, Vethyeans troops beset upon them like ravenous hyenas. Any enemy that crossed the hedgehogs’ paths could be considered the unluckiest of the demon army. Like a hurricane of blades, they cut through the monster before vanishing from sight. Time dilated for those cut apart by the torrent as they clung to a life that was taken in seconds.
The ferocity of each captain’s attacks ignited a fire nearby. Like a passing flame, more soldiers found new strength that empowered others. Each bared fangs they were unaware hid within. None would recall if it was adrenaline or a distant hope of impressive leadership. All that was clear was a hope of protecting their home and never facing a foe like this again. They could find this strength through other means. But only a situation like this could introduce an insanity to their allies that few were fond of. The sentiment was shared by anyone who caught a glimpse of the Dawncaster Captain. It was simultaneously inspiring and frightening to watch the Rusty battle.
Waves of crimson ichor erupted from his blade and cascaded through enemies. Any specks of blood that came in contact with his own were controllable. To maximize control he allowed copious amounts to pour over him and into the soil. Dirt and grime messed with his life force as he wildly slashed apart any monster in his path. There was no fear in his eyes even when facing the largest of foes. A manticore breathed a plume of acid over the captain but was unsuccessful in harming him. Rusty slammed his sword into the ground and sprouted a thick pillar of blood that created a large wall to protect any nearby allies. Once the poison dissipated, he rushed through his shield and curved it down towards the beast’s head. The blood plunged into its mouth while remaining liquid. As the entire pillar vanished, Rusty barked something unintelligible. Jagged thorns forced their way violently out of the manticore and returned to the red blade in the warrior's grip. He didn’t so much as turn back to look at the beast he eviscerated.
As powerful as Rusty was, it was obvious his fighting style was taking a toll on him. Small cuts poured as if blood was trying to escape his body. The more that was forced out, the fiercer his attacks were. But each strike was followed by incredibly slow recovery. With each overpowering strike he’d pushed further into the enemy. Each wide swing separated him further from any ally. Once more soldiers were aware of how much he’d weakened it was too late. Dozens of enemies surrounded Rusty with no escape in sight. The smug look of victory on his face hid any fear that might hide underneath. Demons snarled and screeched as they rushed at him. Cascading claws blotted out the sun over the captain’s head. He refused to shut his eyes. Joining this battle meant facing death with his head held high.
The sight of a falling leader made others hesitate. They stood in stunned silence as the world seemed to slow around them. Defenseless observation left them open to the most obvious attacks. Those who recovered from the shock of Rusty being overpowered began defending their other allies. Shuddered breathing spread throughout the army as they got on the back foot. Even with a relatively clear sky above them, the light of the sun was lost.
When darkness seemed at its strongest, it was parted by a silver orb. It appeared from within the Vethyean forces before rising skyward. Once it was just over the heads of demons, it propelled forward. The claws covering Rusty were the clear target. Upon collision they disintegrated and forced the monsters back. An ear piercing howl rang out as a shadow dashed through the allied army into the enemy. Precise strikes from the silver werewolf left large even cuts across their bodies. The miniature moon overhead began to hum as Makani murmured in the crowd. The second he stopped, Albert yelled out.
“Everybody down!”
Only the two young adventurers knew it was an unnecessary declaration. But such a command often caused enemies to hesitate. Just long enough for the moon to explode into rays of light that traveled across the shadowy figures surrounding Rusty and Albert. The beams disintegrated at least a dozen monsters and scared many more. Those who were stunned by Rusty’s predicament were slowly coming around, even if they were worse for wear. But the captain was still faltering.
A roar rang out in response to the muttered prayers of shaky warriors. Avant blasted a crowd of demons off the ground and barrelled through them. Atop him rode Vofric, masterfully batting away the levitating targets. Shuffled feet allowed Avant to skid to a stop while the paladin hopped down. A forceful palm strike against Rusty’s back caused him to feel a jolt of energy. Golden light encompassed him as his wounds rapidly healed but did not close. It seemed his major wounds were self-inflicted. Life returned to the hazy eyes of the Dawncaster Captain as he stared at his stout savior. Vofric did not look at his friend, ashamed of the anger he felt in such a dire situation.
“This is a deadly situation but you need not rush to the heavens. Be mindful and work with our many allies,” he commanded.
“I can-”
Before Rusty could say more, Vofric interjected.
“My words are not a suggestion nor a request. This is an order from the captain you appointed.”
Avant stood by Vofric’s side as they faced a fresh group of enemies mid-charge. The rays of moonlight had died down but they provided space for more allies to get close. Makani teleported to a spot behind the heroic dwarf while Albert stood opposite the owlbear. Freckle and Spike appeared from within the large crowd without slowing down to assess the situation. Rusty dove into action with his subordinates close behind. Golden and blue light swirled around the heroes and passed to everyone nearby. The frenzied defense of Vethyea began anew.
Screeches of pain and anger rang out from all directions. It was difficult to identify if they were friend or foe. The demons had finally gotten steady and retaliated against the Vethyean forces. Alongside imps and devils were cyclops and chimeras. Mutations and magic had given form to creatures who would normally side with the Vethyeans. Wide eyed fear was evident on even the fiercest of fighters as they pushed forward. Weapons clashed as the demons showed unexpected skills. Where once the allied troops could fell a beast in two strikes, they now needed to focus and fight one while fending off others nearby.
Thankfully, swaths of enemies crumbled to the might of a mighty owlbear. Avant empowered himself with an aura that sharpened his feathers before charging through monsters. A torrent of ferocity forced itself into enemy reach before tearing them apart. Talons and claws violently ripped small creatures in twain. Jagged teeth and spiked beak ripped chunks out of any monster too large to easily defeat. If he became too overwhelmed, Avant shifted gravity to force the monsters to their knees. While this slowed the demons, it did not stop them. Wounds riddled the owlbear but he did not falter.
Size was of no consequence when pertaining to Vofric Starc. Even in the frenzy of battle he did not hurry. His watchful eye knew where to look and helped him arrive moments before he was needed. Deliberate steps accompanied powerful swings of his warhammer. Where others wished to kill a demon with one strike, Vofric had no need for wishes. The massive and unwavering arc of his weapon eradicated multiple enemies without effort. Larger beasts lost limbs when foolishly attempting to stop the holy warrior. Many of them died seeing the warm brown eyes angrily staring from under a weary gaze. Those that were stopped moments before harming an ally experienced the worst of his anger. A heavy slam from his hammer always collided with the largest creature in a group. Once the impact reached the ground, a shockwave of light burst out and burned the enemies. An imprint was left on the crushed corpse of those that blocked his way.
“Do not focus on pushing towards the castle. Push outward from our cluster to surround the enemy!” Vofric commanded.
Rusty’s group were well versed in overpowering their foes. With their abilities it was easy to gain ground. But going for the far wall was fruitless as none of them had a chance against Aeraza and would simply hinder Aisha.
Scattered acknowledgements could be heard amongst shifting metal. The wall of soldiers twisted and forced their way into gaps in the enemy’s defenses. Normally they would be in a weaker position but the situation was anything but. Golden weapons were gripped tightly in the hands of anyone near Vofric. Intense focus allowed him to constantly empower his allies. None of them dreamt of facing such unfortunate odds alone but were more willing with magical strength and constitution. Though fear was apparent in all of them, it did not hinder them. Avant’s roars whipped everyone into a frenzy that would not be deterred by unknown concerns. No one lacked self-preservation. Rather they fought with every skill they’d gathered through whatever life they led. Their awareness and focus were unwavering even as they took hits from the enemy.
Unfortunately, magic could only do so much. Overwhelming odds got the best of some Vethyean soldiers. Some didn’t get hit more than a few times before being torn asunder. Others were able to retreat with cuts deep into their armor. While they couldn’t be completely healed, enough could be remedied so they could re-enter the fray. Each fallen ally only drove them to more anger. More rage at the unfairness of their situation. The only saving grace was the powerful warriors that led them. Pillars of organizations that kept peace around the world fought side-by-side with their lowest rank soldiers.
Might was not the only thing carrying these fighters through combat. Soldiers with dextrous fighting styles followed Freckle and Spike’s lead. Shadows of giants were their domain. Dashing from one to the other was child’s play. The demons would feel a small prick but not notice its result. Large gashes were cut into vital muscle. A single step forward shifted their weight onto the wounded limb and sent them tumbling to the floor. Before they could rise again, Vethyeans troops beset upon them like ravenous hyenas. Any enemy that crossed the hedgehogs’ paths could be considered the unluckiest of the demon army. Like a hurricane of blades, they cut through the monster before vanishing from sight. Time dilated for those cut apart by the torrent as they clung to a life that was taken in seconds.
The ferocity of each captain’s attacks ignited a fire nearby. Like a passing flame, more soldiers found new strength that empowered others. Each bared fangs they were unaware hid within. None would recall if it was adrenaline or a distant hope of impressive leadership. All that was clear was a hope of protecting their home and never facing a foe like this again. They could find this strength through other means. But only a situation like this could introduce an insanity to their allies that few were fond of. The sentiment was shared by anyone who caught a glimpse of the Dawncaster Captain. It was simultaneously inspiring and frightening to watch the Rusty battle.
Waves of crimson ichor erupted from his blade and cascaded through enemies. Any specks of blood that came in contact with his own were controllable. To maximize control he allowed copious amounts to pour over him and into the soil. Dirt and grime messed with his life force as he wildly slashed apart any monster in his path. There was no fear in his eyes even when facing the largest of foes. A manticore breathed a plume of acid over the captain but was unsuccessful in harming him. Rusty slammed his sword into the ground and sprouted a thick pillar of blood that created a large wall to protect any nearby allies. Once the poison dissipated, he rushed through his shield and curved it down towards the beast’s head. The blood plunged into its mouth while remaining liquid. As the entire pillar vanished, Rusty barked something unintelligible. Jagged thorns forced their way violently out of the manticore and returned to the red blade in the warrior's grip. He didn’t so much as turn back to look at the beast he eviscerated.
As powerful as Rusty was, it was obvious his fighting style was taking a toll on him. Small cuts poured as if blood was trying to escape his body. The more that was forced out, the fiercer his attacks were. But each strike was followed by incredibly slow recovery. With each overpowering strike he’d pushed further into the enemy. Each wide swing separated him further from any ally. Once more soldiers were aware of how much he’d weakened it was too late. Dozens of enemies surrounded Rusty with no escape in sight. The smug look of victory on his face hid any fear that might hide underneath. Demons snarled and screeched as they rushed at him. Cascading claws blotted out the sun over the captain’s head. He refused to shut his eyes. Joining this battle meant facing death with his head held high.
The sight of a falling leader made others hesitate. They stood in stunned silence as the world seemed to slow around them. Defenseless observation left them open to the most obvious attacks. Those who recovered from the shock of Rusty being overpowered began defending their other allies. Shuddered breathing spread throughout the army as they got on the back foot. Even with a relatively clear sky above them, the light of the sun was lost.
When darkness seemed at its strongest, it was parted by a silver orb. It appeared from within the Vethyean forces before rising skyward. Once it was just over the heads of demons, it propelled forward. The claws covering Rusty were the clear target. Upon collision they disintegrated and forced the monsters back. An ear piercing howl rang out as a shadow dashed through the allied army into the enemy. Precise strikes from the silver werewolf left large even cuts across their bodies. The miniature moon overhead began to hum as Makani murmured in the crowd. The second he stopped, Albert yelled out.
“Everybody down!”
Only the two young adventurers knew it was an unnecessary declaration. But such a command often caused enemies to hesitate. Just long enough for the moon to explode into rays of light that traveled across the shadowy figures surrounding Rusty and Albert. The beams disintegrated at least a dozen monsters and scared many more. Those who were stunned by Rusty’s predicament were slowly coming around, even if they were worse for wear. But the captain was still faltering.
A roar rang out in response to the muttered prayers of shaky warriors. Avant blasted a crowd of demons off the ground and barrelled through them. Atop him rode Vofric, masterfully batting away the levitating targets. Shuffled feet allowed Avant to skid to a stop while the paladin hopped down. A forceful palm strike against Rusty’s back caused him to feel a jolt of energy. Golden light encompassed him as his wounds rapidly healed but did not close. It seemed his major wounds were self-inflicted. Life returned to the hazy eyes of the Dawncaster Captain as he stared at his stout savior. Vofric did not look at his friend, ashamed of the anger he felt in such a dire situation.
“This is a deadly situation but you need not rush to the heavens. Be mindful and work with our many allies,” he commanded.
“I can-”
Before Rusty could say more, Vofric interjected.
“My words are not a suggestion nor a request. This is an order from the captain you appointed.”
Avant stood by Vofric’s side as they faced a fresh group of enemies mid-charge. The rays of moonlight had died down but they provided space for more allies to get close. Makani teleported to a spot behind the heroic dwarf while Albert stood opposite the owlbear. Freckle and Spike appeared from within the large crowd without slowing down to assess the situation. Rusty dove into action with his subordinates close behind. Golden and blue light swirled around the heroes and passed to everyone nearby. The frenzied defense of Vethyea began anew.
