The owl flew back down and transformed midway. Leo landed with a slight bend to his knees, showing his experience in shifting forms. In front of him, the rest of the defence force was waiting. Elias and Rivie were particularly on edge waiting for his report. From the distance, they could hear the clashes and explosions. Knowing that each explosion took out adventurers and guards with it, everyone was serious for a reason.
Rivie stepped forward. She was about to cast [Heal] and [Second Wind] on Leo, but she changed her mind. She wanted to save her mana not knowing what their options were. "How is it looking like Leo?"
With a deep breath, Leo replied. "It doesn't look good. We are surrounded on all sides. The new types are pouring in every opening in the city. We have to defend here with our lives on the line."
Elias nodded without a word and then turned to face the nearby guards around him. They were experienced warriors who had been through waves of the new types attack and lived to tell the tale. They were veterans in their own right. Each of them was sporting a magick weapon that hummed faintly amidst the noises around them. "Continue as planned. Form a two-layered shell around this area. When the guards and adventurers on the outer layer are exhausted or unable to fight, then swap them out immediately. We will continue to work on a plan here. Go!"
With a single nod, the veterans immediately went to their own assigned posts. They had been deliberating this strategy for the whole night, they knew that it was the best one they had given their situation. With how things were turning out, it turned out to be their only option left. Orders were being barked non stop as soon as they reached their troops. Elias nodded as if to show agreement before turning back to Leo and Rivie. Knowing that he bought them valuable time, he was itching to formulate other plans for their survival. He was met, however, with absent gazes and dark expressions.
"So that means..." Rivie couldn't bring herself to say what was on her mind.
"This will be our last defence. If we fail here then everyone around us dies. Even if we show exhaustion or weakness then the new types will swarm us without hesitation." Leo finished it for her, giving a hint to Elias as well what the two elves were discussing moments ago.
Elias took out his sword and checked it for any signs of tear. Considering the amount of battle he just went through the past few days, the fact that his greatsword still looked pristine was a testament to its craftsmanship. He was inwardly surprised but put the feeling aside for now. He turned to his other two companions who managed Wildecross City more so than the council ever did. "It was an honour working with the two of you. Once this finishes, let's establish another small pioneer city. Like before." He smiled warmly and sincerely.
Leo laughed while patting Elias' shoulder. "Same here old friend. Before that, let's go all out like before as well. We'll each cover one side. When exhaustion hits us, the younger ones can swap. Let's soften the oncoming new types for them."
Rivie looked at the exchange between the two veteran adventurers and began laughing herself. She tried to imagine these two wreaking havoc and chaos around them. Knowing that they were faced with no choice but to go all out, she held her staff out to examine it. "Let's go then. I'm just going to have a word with the monastery leaders before I head out."
The three informal leaders of Wildecross City picked a side and bade farewell to each other before heading out. It would be the last time the three of them would gather.
***
Leo found who he was looking for among the chaos. He was getting close to the front lines, the so-called first layer of their shell defence. He could see adventurers getting blown to bits in front of him, adventurers and guards were missing limbs after each onslaught, and the healers had a hard time just bringing them back to a safe distance for them to cast their healing spells. He approached one adventurer and his slave.
"Sebastian. We will mount what could be our final defence here. Things are looking grim, but we will muster all that we have."
"I know that. You don't need to tell me that. Why are you in the front lines here with us? You can keep scouting and leave this place to us."
"Because I can't keep on leaving it to others and especially to you. We are defending the remains of Wildecross because we are attached to this place and the citizens within it. We watched it grow and nurtured it from nothing. If needed, we won't hesitate to lay down our lives for it."
"Then why - "
"Let me finish first. You are a Forgotten One, cast here in this world against your will. Wildecross City was merely a stepping stone for you. You can be selfish and think about yourself. No one here will hold that against you." Once Leo finished, Sebastian couldn't answer and was absorbed in thought.
He finally lifted his head up. "That may be true, but I found my bearings because of Wildecross City and everyone's guidance. I never realised how blessed I was until I met Nate who was left to fend for himself and had to struggle just for him to survive in this world. You said that this may be your final defence. I'll forever regret it if I run away again. I already ran away when I was in the previous world, I won't keep on running, even in this world."
Leo nodded after hearing Sebastian's reply. "In that case then take a rest. You and Zes have done enough for now. We're going to launch our own attack shortly. Once we weaken their forces, we'll need everyone to push them back out."
Sebastian and Zes took a seat in one of the designated healing areas nearby. When they were alone, Sebastian turned to Zes.
"Zes. I know that you're really stubborn. You heard Leo. This might be the last battle we will face. I want you to face it as an adventurer and not as a slave. I will release you from - "
"No!" Zes was adamant once more and stood up to emphasise her refusal. "We've been through a lot together. I also told you that I have nothing after my village was decimated from the mutated beasts. My life is yours, it has always been once I became your slave."
"That's why I am releasing you -"
"Don't do this Sebastian. It needs mutual consent so that will never happen. Not while I have breath in me."
Sebastian laughed loudly, shocking Zes and even nearby survivors.
"He's gone mad!" Survivors nearby could be heard shouting in reply to Sebastian's hearty laugh.
Sebastian and Zes both shook their heads to indicate that everything was alright. Zes even cast [Heal] in front of them to show that Sebastian was in fighting shape.
After letting his laugh out, Sebastian wiped the tears from his eyes and faced Zes once more. "I can't even finish my sentence. Please wait until I finish it."
Zes nodded while keeping her surprised look.
"Once I release you, you can still follow me. I simply wish to do so for us to be on equal footing. It's always bothered me that you are considered my slave. You've proven your worth so many times Zestaria. I won't keep you bound unnecessarily. If you still wish to follow me after that then I won't stop you. I don't think I can." Sebastian was still chuckling once he said his part.
After a few moments, Zes nodded once more. "I understand what you're trying to say. I accept your offer then. You can release me from the contract, but I will still follow you and serve you until my death."
"That sounds good to me then. [Contract]" Sebastian summoned the slavery contract bound to his and Zes' mana.
""[Release].""
Sebastian felt that his mana was being siphoned for a little bit as it went into the contract in front of them. With a loud whoosh, the contract dissipated into thin air, leaving no traces behind.
"Is that it? I expected there to be something else. That was - anticlimactic."
Zes chuckled while covering her mouth with her hand. "Don't ask me. That was my first slavery contract. I didn't know what would happen after that."
"Well, let's consider that point done then. It should be time for Leo to make a scene then right?"
Both adventurers looked on beyond the first layer of their defence to see signs of havoc. They could hear the familiar sound of weapons clashing and magick explosions, however, that was it. It felt too quiet for an experienced elven adventurer to be wreaking havoc.
***
Elias was the first to notice it. He saw the wall of new types rushing towards them. He had gone even farther than the first layer of defence to mow down the new types. With his magick sword and combat prowess, he spared nothing in his path. Each movement, each swing of his weapon cut the new types down in front of him. Even when he was ducking and jumping, he made sure that he was still attacking with his limbs.
As soon as he saw the wall made up of new types rushing towards him, he merely scoffed at the new types' formation.
"I'll just slice through it. You can't stop me! [Oakskin], [Rock Kick]!" Using his reinforced body, he simultaneously swung his weapon and kicked at the wall in a spinning motion. As expected, he broke down the wall easily and killed more than 5 new types in the process. What he saw beyond the makeshift wall, however, made him pause.
At least 20 new types were holding hand in hand with each other in pairs. They kept spinning until they became a blur.
Elias didn't stop to gather any further information. He leapt towards the spinning new types and began to brutally slash them. They were helpless while they were spinning, and their momentum actually helped him in slashing them in half. He still couldn't figure out what they were trying to achieve with their spinning. He didn't think too much as he continued to cut them down. However, there were 4 left after his initial attack. As soon as he turned to face them, the 4 pairs threw their partners into the air!
"By the gods! Like a catapult! Everyone take cover!!" Elias shouted to the adventurers and guards behind him.
***
Gerald looked up as soon as he heard Elias' shout. He was previously stationed in one of the city gates as one of the senior guards, however, he found himself fighting in the front lines way closer than what he preferred. Still, he owed it all to the female adventurer who took the post and told him to rest in the monastery after a carriage broke through the gates hounded by the damned new types. The female archer took his place instead and allowed him to rest when the surprise attack happened. 'I have to defend everyone in her place.' He kept reminding himself how lucky he was to survive.
He turned to where Elias was standing beyond the pile of new type corpses and found himself looking at the object hurtling towards them at insane speeds. With the size of the projectile and the speed... He calculated quickly before shouting to everyone near him. "It's a new type! Everyone take cover! Archers and mages, aim for the projectiles!"
The battle-hardened adventurers immediately understood what he was saying and unleashed their quick volley.
BOOM! BOOM!
The two new types who were glowing and about to explode detonated harmlessly mid-air. Combined with the battle on the ground, they now had to contend with dealing with projectiles made out of new types who were ready to erupt as soon as they hit the ground.