"Who said I was running?" Zack announced.
"You must be delusional. Just look around." The commander declared.
"I like my chances." Zack's eyes went gold as the city began to quake.
"I can kill them at any moment so you have to do better than a little earthquake. " The city lord smirked as the servants next to him trembled.
"It was just a distraction," Zack retorted watching the shadow manifest behind him.
The second the smell of sulfur filled his nose the city lord was stabbed through the heart with a black blade. With a simple twist, his body rapidly withered as the soldiers charged to retaliate. Octavia retrieved her blade and released a sword aura towards her assailants.
"Fire!" The commander ordered turning towards the roofs.
He turned to see a massive arrow flying towards the roof that split apart. The commander's jaw dropped when he saw arrows covering the sky as their archers were skewered. Archers from the other roofs managed to fire their volley before being taken out.
"Sorry I have to be careful to avoid stragglers." Kaya relayed.
"You're doing great," Zack replied.
The fire orb appeared in Zack's hand as it launched towards the volley. It halted in the air as a steady stream flowed from it. Flames covered the sky incinerating the arrows in an instant. While soldiers were charging Zack his wings appeared releasing a shockwave. As they tumbled across the street Octavia appeared at his back with chaos oozing from the blade. While staring down an army the two didn't waver.
"Just like the old days," Zack smirked.
"Close enough." Octavia glanced over her shoulder with a smile.
"What's the verdict on these guys?" Octavia examined the soldiers slowly closing in.
"They stand by watching others suffer and see it as no problem. They are fighting for the slavers as far as I'm concerned." Zack announced.
Most of the guards never saw the inside of the estate and had no idea of the city lord's misdeeds. Hearing Zack's words they began thinking of all the civilians who mysteriously vanished. The civilians that went missing were blamed on the other species. Given the deadly nature of the swamp, it wasn't questioned.
Looking back they realized the city lord's estate would grow after each incident. This realization causes several soldiers to drop their weapons, and abandon the formation. Watching them leave their post the other soldiers turned to cut them down, but the commander's voice halted them.
"We'll deal with the cowards later, but for now we need to attack in unison! He may be an angel but the numbers are still on our side!" The commander ordered.
Every soldier was wielding a low-grade artifact, but they were all experienced warriors. Living in the swamps wasn't for the weak after all. As their weapons began to gather mana Octavia prepared to move into the shadows, but Zack turned to embrace her.
Zack's wings began to illuminate as they enveloped them both. Once they wrapped around Octavia their bodies disappeared. The only thing the soldiers could see was golden feathers shining brightly.
"I c-can take care of myself." Octavia blushed.
"I know that, but I couldn't risk you getting hurt." Zack caressed Octavia's cheek.
As they kissed passionately the attacks began to launch. The city rumbled, and debris mixed with dust flooded the streets. The soldiers knew fighting an angel wasn't wise, and their only advantage would be to exhaust his stamina.
This tactic might have worked on an average angel, but Zack was far from that. Their wings are embodiments of their divinity and with six Zack could cover their bodies with ease. With no damage hitting Zack directly he only had to channel his grace into his wings to protect them.
The soldiers were struggling to catch their breath when the divine light amplified, and Zack's wings blew away the dust. They stood there in disbelief seeing them unscathed from their attack. While their eyes fixated on Zack golden arrows filled the sky. They rapidly struck the outside of soldiers' formation erecting a barrier that sealed them in.
Zack stuck his spear into the earth chanting while Octavia dropped her gladius into the dirt joining him. The sounds of Enochian and a distorted language could be heard chanting in unison. Circling the spear was three holy orbs that shot into the air.
Octavia's eyes went pitch black as cracks spread out from the gladius, and chaos rapidly oozed out. The chaos gathered imitating Zack's orbs before flying into the air. Once Zack finished chanting they were covered in a barrier, and Kaya's became reinforced.
The forces above began to fight for dominance as destruction ensued. Even the barriers set by Zack began to crack and required his full attention to maintain. Once the anarchy settled armor could be seen glowing on the ground, and they saw puddles of melted artifacts littering the streets, but no soldiers in sight.
"Told you we needed the barrier," Zack stated.
"I wasn't expecting that much," Octavia replied.
"You should know better after watched him spar with Samuel," Kaya told Octavia while strolling into the city.
"His attacks are on another level, and I figured that was why," Octavia replied.
The observers from the market were still in shock from the events. From the barrage of arrows, they assumed it was a band of archers. When they saw one elf entering the city it meant three fighters took out their entire army.
Lindsey dashed out with the other workers and surrounded Zack.
"I'll get started on the array," Kaya told Octavia.
"T-thanks," Octavia replied while grabbing Zack's hand.
"Are you shaking?" Zack whispered.
"Shu-shut up." Octavia stomped on his foot.
"I was gonna say it was adorable," Zack smirked.
"What's gonna happen to the city?"
A soldier named Reiner was standing with his family, and the civilians gathered behind him.
"This is now the property of Eden." Octavia declared.
"Don't be mean." Zack pinched Octavia's butt causing her to jump.
After Octavia's words, the crowd's mumbling was growing. Eden hasn't been a kingdom for long, but the news of its existence already spread through the demon territories. The only information they possessed was Eden being the first human kingdom to be appointed by one of the demon lords. With their status, the treaty gave them every right to lay claim to their land through conquest.
"The city will be restructured, and anyone with a problem living with other species will need to be on the road tomorrow. We can provide you safe passage to several human cities, and if none of them suit your liking we have supplies to ease your journey." Zack announced as his form reverted.