The forest was alive with the sounds of battle. The moon hung high in the sky, casting long shadows that danced and flickered with the movement of the combatants. In the midst of the chaos stood the commander, a figure of calm and determination. He was a seasoned warrior, his body scarred from countless battles. His eyes were focused on the beastman, a hulking figure with tiger ears and a tail, who was flailing a club around with reckless abandon.
The beastman was a terrifying sight. He towered over the soldiers, his muscles rippling under his fur. His eyes glowed in the moonlight, filled with rage and bloodlust. Around him lay the bodies of the soldiers he had defeated, a grim testament to his strength.
The commander took a deep breath, steeling himself for the fight. He drew his sword, the steel gleaming in the moonlight. He adjusted his grip, feeling the familiar weight of the weapon in his hand. He took a moment to center himself, blocking out the noise of the battle around him. His heart pounded in his chest, but his gaze remained steady, locked on the beastman.
With a powerful leap, the commander launched himself at the beastman, his sword arcing through the air in a wide horizontal slash. The beastman reacted quickly, raising his club to parry the attack. The sound of steel against wood echoed through the forest, but the commander didn't miss a beat.
Using the momentum from his blocked attack, the commander spun around, his sword cutting through the air in an upward slash. He used the beastman's leg as a platform to propel himself upwards, his sword poised for a downward strike.
The beastman barely had time to react. He moved to dodge, but not quickly enough. The commander's sword cut through his left shoulder, leaving a shallow wound. Blood seeped from the cut, staining his fur a darker shade.
As the commander looked at the beastman, he was taken aback by what he saw. The beastman was grinning, seemingly enjoying the fight. Before the commander could react, the beastman reached out and grabbed his collar, lifting him off the ground with surprising ease.
With a powerful throw, the beastman sent the commander flying into the air. The commander was taken by surprise, his body spinning in the air. He had never expected someone to be able to throw him, especially not with just one hand.
As he began to fall, he saw the beastman preparing to swing his massive club. With no time to dodge, the commander did the only thing he could - he raised his sword, hoping to dampen the blow.
The club struck him hard, the impact sending him flying. He crashed through the trees, the force of the blow snapping branches and sending leaves flying. He landed with a thud, his body skidding across the forest floor.
For a moment, all was quiet. The commander lay on the ground, his body aching from the impact. But he was not defeated yet. He pushed himself up, his grip tightening around his sword. He was ready to continue the fight.
Before the commander could gather his thoughts, the beastman was already in front of him, his massive hand reaching out to grab him again. The commander reacted instinctively, his sword slashing upwards. The blade grazed the beastman, but it didn't seem to faze him.
With a swift movement, the beastman grabbed the commander's head and slammed him hard into the ground. The impact was brutal, and the commander coughed up blood, his body writhing in pain. Aria and Elias watched in horror from the sidelines, their hearts pounding in their chests. They wanted to help, but they knew they couldn't interfere.
The commander was down, but not out. He was a seasoned warrior, and he wouldn't give up so easily. He had to get up, had to keep fighting. For his men, for Aria, and for himself.
The commander looked at his sword, realizing it was of little use in this fight. With a firm decision, he plunged it into the ground, choosing to face the beastman barehanded. He shifted his stance, preparing for a grapple.
The beastman laughed at the sight, his voice booming through the forest. "You must be joking," he proclaimed, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Get ready to die," he added, before lunging at the commander.
The commander watched the beastman's movements carefully, his mind racing as he analyzed his opponent's attack. As the beastman swung his club downwards, the commander moved with finesse and agility, using the force of the beastman to push the club sideways and causing the beastman to miss his attack.
Caught off guard, the beastman didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. The commander swiftly picked up his sword from the ground and, with a swift and precise movement, cut off the beastman's head. The beastman's body fell to the ground, his head rolling away.
The forest fell silent, the soldiers staring in shock at the sight before them. Then, a cheer erupted from the crowd. Their commander had won. Aria and Elias let out a deep sigh of relief, their bodies sagging as the tension left them. The fight was over, and they were safe. For now.
In the aftermath of the battle, Aria wasted no time in tending to the commander's injuries. Her hands moved with practiced efficiency, cleaning and bandaging his wounds. Once she had stabilized him, she moved on to the other soldiers, her face a mask of focused determination.
Meanwhile, Elias approached the commander with a report about Silas, another bounty hunter they had encountered on their journey. The commander listened intently, his mind already strategizing their next move.
He took a moment to take stock of their situation. They had left the fort with a company of twenty men, but now only eight remained, including him and Elias. Aria was there too, but she was a healer, not a soldier. The journey had been grueling, and they had lost many comrades. But they couldn't afford to dwell on their losses. They had a mission to complete.
Cosmopolis, their final destination, was only a week's travel away. Dawn was breaking, and they knew they couldn't risk setting up camp here. The threat of more bounty hunters was too great, and they needed to keep moving.
With a deep breath, the commander rallied his men. "Men, let's move out," he commanded, his voice echoing through the silent forest. The soldiers rose, their faces etched with determination. They mounted their horses, ready to continue their journey.
As they left the battlefield behind, the rising sun bathed the forest in a warm, golden light. Despite the hardships they had faced, their spirit remained unbroken. They were a team, bound by a shared purpose, and they would face whatever challenges lay ahead together.
Days had passed since the battle with the bounty hunter, and the commander's party was now nearing Cosmopolis, the capital of the Royal Kingdom of Merthol.
Merthol is the heart of the world, a neutral country recognized by all other kingdoms and alliances in the world of Solandis. It is home to the Adventurers Guild and served as the greatest defense against the Demon Lord's domain. With numerous forts pushing back the Demon Lord's army, Merthol is, in essence, the strongest military force in Solandis.
With only a day's journey left to reach Cosmopolis, the party had traveled without incident. However, their peaceful journey was cut short when Lieutenant Elias Markus, the commander's trusted scout and right-hand man, discovered something up ahead.
The party halted as Elias reported to the commander. "Commander, there's an ambush up ahead. It looks like another band of bandits, and they have greater numbers," he warned. The commander knew they couldn't afford another fight, not with their dwindling numbers and their important escort in tow.
"We're going to outrun them. Leave all the baggage and be ready to run straight to the capital," the commander decided. It was a risky move, but it was their best chance. After discarding their baggage, the commander gave the order. "Go!" Leading the charge, they spurred their horses into a gallop, with Aria safely in Elias' care in the middle of the party.
However, their escape was not as easy as they had hoped. A group of masked figures blocked their path, all mounted on horses. One of them cast a spell, turning the land in front of them into a muddy swamp. The commander ordered his troops to stop just before the swamp, and moments later, they were surrounded by more masked figures. There were about forty of them.
The masked figures wore black robes and masks, each bearing the symbol of the Demon Lord on their foreheads. The commander recognized them immediately. "You are the cult that worships the Demon Lord," he stated, his voice steady despite the danger they were in.
"You are the Hand of Thalassa, the cult of the Demon General Thalassa of the Shadow Domain," the commander proclaimed, his voice filled with authority. "The Demon Lord and His Generals have all perished. Have you come here seeking revenge upon the members of the Hero Party?" he questioned, his eyes fixed on the woman in the red robe.
The woman, who had two short horns, black eyes with yellow irises, and a white complexion, stepped forward confidently. She introduced herself as Leora, the head of the cult. She acknowledged the demise of her master and the Demon Lord but clarified that their purpose was not revenge. "This is... a rescue mission," she proclaimed, her voice filled with determination.
The commander, now confused by her words, waited for her to explain further. Leora continued, stating that they were there to rescue Aria Nightbloom, their comrade. This revelation left the commander perplexed, as he struggled to comprehend the situation. Before he could react, Aria herself spoke up, vehemently denying any association with the Demon Lord's army. "I am not and never will be a part of the Demon Lord's Army!" she shouted, her voice filled with conviction.
The commander, reminded of his trust in Aria, looked at her and smiled, conveying a sense of assurance and support. He then turned his gaze back to Leora, his expression stern. "Your lies are no good here, demon!" he proclaimed, his voice filled with determination and defiance.
As the demon Leora replied, her voice filled with anticipation, "I was hoping you would resist. Now I can finally let loose!" She readied her magic staff, preparing for an attack. With a signal from Leora, her army lunged towards the commander, ready to strike. However, at that very moment, Aria threw something into the air, catching the attention of Leora and her army. They halted, their gaze fixed on the object. Suddenly, Aria shouted, "Now!" In an instant, an arrow released by Elias hit the object-a bottle-shattering it and emitting a blinding light that engulfed the entire area. When the demon's army regained their sight, they found that the commander and his party had vanished.
One of the demon cult members approached Leora, apologizing for their failure. Annoyed, Leora swiftly decapitated the member, showing her ruthless nature. She sighed and muttered, "No matter, we got the message across." Her gaze then fell upon an object on the ground-the Apothecary Aria's satchel.