The Human soldiers that had both survived the barrage and were able to move tried to escape the battlefield by running back toward their camp. Those that couldn't move resorted to begging their compatriots for help, though many were simply ignored.
"Let's… let's run away! Even if we become slaves for it, it doesn't matter! Are we to give up our lives and die in this absurd war?!"
As the staggering group of soldiers passed through the black smoke, the ground began to rumble. Before they had the chance to react, fully armored cavalry suddenly appeared before them, piercing through the smog.
"What…?!"
The soldiers' eyes grew wide, surprise the last thing etched on their faces before they were trampled by horses. The regular troops were gradually reduced to minced meat. It was no longer possible to distinguish individual corpses from one another. Not even their heads remained intact, instead shattering like watermelons under the horses' hooves. It was a gruesome sight, to say the least.
"Cavalry, full speed-!"
They were speeding up, their lances pointing ahead. The spear-blades shone with a blue light.
"Die! Wicked Demons-!"
"Blessings of Artarrk-!"
"In the name of Pope Salem Gottshuranche, run away like the beasts you are-!"
The Holy Knights let out a roar filled with fighting spirit.
Crushed under their horses' hooves and impaled by their long lances, the Holy Knights were confident that such a scene would play out as soon as they reached the Orcs. But, just as they were nearing their targets…
"Kwooooooooooo-!"
Huge Ogres appeared out of the black fog.
"What?!"
The Ogres, with their massive builds, jumped over the Orcs and swung their maces and war-hammers with all their might. Unable to bear their enormous strength, the Holy Knights and their horses flew through the air, crashing into the ground with sickening thuds.
Their bone armor and large weapons already weighed a ton, yet their movements were anything but slow. Instead, the Ogres nimbly destroyed the Holy Knights' flying wedge formation. The cavalry split to avoid the huge rock-like Ogres, completely giving up on any thought of attacking the Orcs.
Karakul looked to his side with a shocked face. One of the 12 Apostles, the Ogre Kuman, approached him.
"Kuman?"
"…Even though it's late, from now on, the Ogre's will join in on the battle."
"Wait! Then what about the Demon Lord's Guard…?"
Kuman pointed behind him with his thick finger.
Karakul's eyes followed his direction and grew wide as saucers.
Wearing a red helmet which was custom made so that both of her goat horns could stick out, and armor in the form of a red dress, in which she could move around comfortably, the Demon Lord Lily was coming, riding a unicorn. Ellin rode next to her on another unicorn, making sure to stay close by.
"…Your… Highness?"
Karakul's eye muscles twitched. The Demon Lord had appeared in the middle of the battlefield? This was unthinkable! Even the Hero hasn't appeared before them yet, let alone any Human rulers.
"What on earth were you thinking….! Kuman! You bastard, you came here even though you're Her Highness's guard?!"
The moment Karakul scolded him, Kuman frowned "I only obeyed the Demon Lord's order. I'm merely a servant, while she is the Demon Lord. I'm also an Apostle. I don't need to listen to what another Apostle is telling me to do."
"Ngh…"
Karakul then turned to glare at her. Lily flinched and shrunk back, but Ellin spurred her horse and rode in front of Lily to protect her.
"It's the Demon Lord's order. An apostle must not scold Her Highness, although you can give advice."
Ellin spoke calmly, which was rather unusual for her. Karakul was also not in a position to tell Lily off. Besides, he was thankful more than anything deep in his heart. If the battle had continued as it had been, countless Orcs would have lost their lives.
With the Ogres joining them, the Orcs' fighting spirit rose once more.
***
"Don't retreat!"
"Ogres have arrived! We're already at our limit!"
"Priests, support the Holy Knights!"
The Priests in the back lines raised their staffs and chanted their spells. Soon, the bodies of the Holy Knights were surrounded by a warm light, helping them regain their physical strength and calm their minds.
The Holy Knights didn't retreat due to the arrival of reinforcements, though they knew they stood little chance. With the addition of dozens of Ogres, the outcome of this battle was already decided.
There was no way the cavalry, having lost the power of their initial charge, could defeat Demons who specialized in close combat.
"…It is not over yet."
The Hero Ludin's eyes lit up as he lifted his Holy Sword and jumped up off his horse. As he swung, his sword began emitting a brilliant light.
The moment the flash of radiance struck a group of Ogres and the Orcs, their bodies burst apart and broke into pieces.
"The Hero…?"
The Demons looked at Ludin in shock. However, Ludin was unable to notice this, as his attention was already fixed on something else. Amongst the Orcs and the Ogres, a bit further from him, a woman stood out.
She rode a unicorn, a mythical creature which only appeared in fairy tales.
With her beautiful silver hair swaying out from under her helmet, she looked at Ludin with a confused expression. Ludin gritted his teeth while looking at her. A demi-human with two goat horns, tanned skin, and silver hair!
'That is the Demon Lord!'
She looked exactly like what Bludifer had described. There were more Orcs and Ogres left, but it didn't matter. Because here… was the Demon Lord. It would be a victory as long as she died.
"…I'm going to kill her."
Karakul's eyes enlarged after reading his mouth from afar. He rushed to shout at those around him.
"…It's the Hero. Stop him right now! Protect Her Highness the Demon Lord!"
The Orcs and Ogres were and rushed to block Ludin's way. They lifted their weapons and swung them at him, but Ludin avoided those attacks with inhuman speed. Cutting down the Orcs and rolling in between the Ogres' legs, he charged toward Lily.
"Human! I will protect the Demon Lord!"
Kuman lifted up his mace. Tendons were wriggling like snakes under the Ogre's muscles; Kuman had the greatest physical strength among the demi-humans.
"Euryat!"
The massive and agile mace swung down at Ludin.
"Do you really believe that something like a wicked Demon could stop me?"
Ludin blocked Kuman's mace with his Holy Sword.
The ground beneath Ludin's feet caved in, and the air pressure from the attack turned into a violent gale. Even though blood was flowing from the corner of Ludin's mouth, he had withstood Kuman's attack.
"This bastard!"
Karakul made a move while glaring at the immobile Ludin. He approached the Hero from the side, mace in hand, but was unable to land a single blow. Beams of light flew at both he and Kuman like meteors, stopping them in their tracks.
Aris had chanted a spell while pointing her staff at Kuman and Karakul from afar. More spheres of blue light, composed of mana, were forming around her..
Kuman's body was rocked by explosions, and his colossal frame staggered while being forced back. Meanwhile, Karakul was sent flying by the force of Aris's magic.
"Kuaaaaaaaaaaaak-!"
The moment Kuman let out a loud shriek as he lost his balance, Ludin saw his chance. He cut Kuman's side with his Holy Sword. The iron armor and thick leather vest were cut apart like tofu, and his blood gushed out like a fountain. Kuman's body collapsed to the ground.
"Mr. Kuman! Captain Karakul!"
Ellin fell into panic as the two Apostles hit the dirt in tandem. She quickly looked at the unicorn Lily was riding.
"Run away! Protect Ms. Lily!"
The unicorn nodded as if it understood Ellin's words, turned, and sprinted quickly to the fortress.
"Wait…! What about Ellin…?!"
The unicorn didn't even listen to Lily's shout.
Ellin glared at Ludin. He looked back at her and saw through what she was in an instant.
"Human? No, this demonic power! You're a Doppelganger, huh! A filthy Demon that impersonates Humans! Scram!"
Ludin launched forward and grabbed Ellin's head, slamming it into the ground. He then stomped on her fragile body with as much force as he could muster.
Ellin stretched out her hand and tried to grab Ludin. At the very least, she had to grab that bastard's ankle.
But she missed. He was too fast
'No…'
Ellin's eyes watched Ludin's back. He was heading in the same direction as Lily. She had to stop him. She had to… but she couldn't move her body.
Someone like her, that was Apostle in name only, couldn't even hold the Hero back for longer than a second. She hated her incompetent self for that.
'Ms. Lily…! Escape… hurry…!'
Ellin gritted her teeth. She might have to witness someone precious die in front of her eyes, again. Like the monk, Ellie, or the apprentice Holy Knight.
"No way-!"
Even with Ellin's desperate scream-like shout, Ludin's figure quickly disappeared. His feet cut across the battlefield as he nimbly made his way through the few Orcs that still blocked his way. He quickly caught up and overtook the unicorn's pace, which had a speed many times faster than a regular horse.
'At last, this tiring war is over! I'm going to become a real Hero!'
Ludin ran up with his reddened eyes, his Holy Sword covered with a white current. It was such a sacred light that it illuminated his surroundings even in the dark of night. This was a sharp blade filled with holy power, able to cut down every enemy he'd ever faced.
Lily, who was riding on the unicorn, looked over her shoulder; she felt a chill travel down her spine. A shining sword was all that filled her eyes.
"Ah…"
She let out a sound of disbelief.
Karakul, who was still trying to recover from Aris's magic attack, could only watch the Hero Ludin get closer and closer to Lily. Kuman also forced himself to stand up, while Ellin made an expression as if she was screaming.
They were Apostles with the duty to protect the Demon Lord. But now, there was no way to save her.
The Hero Ludin wore a cruel smile on his face.
"Die."
"…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blocked my junior's way."
Ludin's sword was repelled.
— Ω —