The battle had taken a turn that Kido himself could never have predicted. What had started as a simple skirmish had now escalated into outright carnage, a tide of monstrous bodies crashing against their defenses.
Yet, Kido, head of the Shizukesa Clan, could not afford to relax. Thanks to the strategy employed by the three clans, they had united to block the creatures' path—there would be no escape for them now. The beasts were trapped, and desperation had turned them into a frenzy, tearing apart everything in their path and creating a wider breach in the barricade.
"Hold your ground!" Kido barked, raising his weapon high. "Don't let them through! Finish off anyone who tries to break in!"
His sword, a sharp-edged longsword with a one-handed hilt, glimmered in the crimson reflection of the twilight sky, shining like a beacon of hope on the chaotic battlefield.
"It's now or never! We've survived four days like this; reinforcements are on their way!"
"Soldiers, draw on your will! Fight for your wives, fight for your children, fight for your families! Let this be your reason for living!"
As Kido swung his sword, it whistled through the air like a melody, the sound of flesh tearing echoing in the tumult, almost sarcastically joyous. Each strike became more addictive, the sensation of slicing through the soft flesh of the monsters with no resistance feeding his darker thoughts.
Pulling himself back from the edge of those thoughts, Kido shook his head. He couldn't afford to lose focus; in battle, a moment of distraction could be fatal.
His Jian, the only sword forged for one of the summoned to reach the unique grade, was named "Silent Laughter." So sharp was the blade that it had no sheath, as any nearby would risk being cut just by proximity. Against these monsters, the creatures fell effortlessly, cleaved apart with perfect precision. And what amused Kido most was the fact that he hadn't yet awakened the sword's full potential.
Although his essence stone was long saturated, using this sword drained him of energy at an alarming rate; he could wield it only for a short time. With urgency, he pushed through his comrades until he positioned himself at the large gap in the barricade, where the other two clan leaders had been fighting since the first wave.
One was a dwarf, the other a lamian. Both were clad in heavy armor and wielded large shields, using their bodies to repel the onslaught of monsters by drawing energy from their surroundings to block the passage.
Moments later, they felt the pressure ease as the screams of the creatures and the clash of swords intensified. The dwarf lifted his head, stunned by the sight before him.
"Is that really Rakahn?" he muttered, disbelief etching his features. "Is that really the boy who asked me to repair his twin swords?"
The lamian raised his head too, his eyes wide as he witnessed Rakahn cutting through the horde. With his long, curved swords, Rakahn moved like a dancer in a deadly ballet, swiftly severing limbs, heads, and anything else within reach. He brought death to the tide of creatures.
"It's definitely him; his mana signature proves it!" the lamian exclaimed, unable to hide his admiration for the half-ogre's newfound strength.
"Did they hide their strength for this long?" the dwarf asked, still in shock.
"I don't think so," a hoarse voice suddenly said from behind them. "I was there the day Rakahn lost his brother. Back then, he was no match for the leader of the Dhakat Clan."
Kido had intended to lend a hand until Rakahn's sudden intervention. Now, as they prepared to join the fight, a sudden tremor shook the ground before them. A massive wall of earth began to rise, enclosing the clearing and trapping all the monsters within.
"Now we can't see what's happening inside," the dwarf said, running his hand over the surface of the wall. "I didn't know they could construct something this big. How did they manage it?"
"I wonder, too. With all those soldiers and monsters trapped inside, what are they planning to do?"
"Shouldn't we seize this opportunity to collect the essence stones from the monsters we've slain?"
Unlike a typical pythonian, the lamian had ash-gray skin and small scales on the backs of his hands. For him, growing stronger was paramount, and he wouldn't let this chance slip away.
"So, Kido, aren't you joining us?" the lamian pressed, stepping over a lizardman corpse.
"If they've built this massive wall, they no longer need our help. Let's take advantage of this brief respite to collect—"
Before he could finish, Kido leapt high, vaulting over the wall. He glanced back at the lamian leader, disdain clear in his eyes.
"I'll pass. I'm joining the battle," he declared, dropping into the sea of creatures below.
The dwarf clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch! This battle-crazed viper is always dragging me into his madness."
With a determined scowl, he followed Kido into the fray.