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Following the stirring pre-battle speeches, the heroes, accompanied by their respective forces, advanced towards the battlefield. While each hero commanded their own army, Elias stood solitary, a testament to his individualistic nature. The human forces numbered roughly 500,000, while the demon horde boasted a staggering 2 million troops. The demon's swift reproduction and exponential growth had fueled their overwhelming numbers, though it was notable that a significant portion of their ranks comprised of lesser demons that lack in intellect.
The composition of the demon army was as follows:
Demon Gods: 4
High-ranked Demons: 12,000
Mid-ranked Demons: 240,000
Lesser Demons: 1,748,000
The battlefield resembled a desert, scattered with sparse vegetation, bushes, and rocks, with only a few trees dotting the landscape. The soldiers gathered held their breath when they saw dark dots advancing in their direction. The number made the soldiers tremble in fear. Looking at the soldiers expressions Valen unsheathed his blade and pointed at the sky. It looked like he was waiting for the demons to come in a range. After a few seconds he dropped the sword as if signalling something.
*SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH
Arrows with purple coloured tips were sent flying towards the demons by the human archers. The demons, confident in their abilities, disregarded the threat, anticipating their bodies' natural defenses against such projectiles.
Contrary to the demons expectations the arrows actually pierced their tough skin. The demons on the frontlines were taken back. But seeing that the arrow didn't cause any damage they scoffed at the humans actions and cut the lodged arrows from their bodies with only the tips and few inches of the arrow body left in their bodies.
After a few seconds the arrows stopped pouring. Valen looked at Luna and nodded his head. Luna nodded back and then closed her eyes to start chanting. After a few seconds she opened her eyes. Her eyes, ablaze with radiant energy, blinded the demons momentarily.
" EXPULSO " She incanted.
In an instant, the arrows embedded within the demons' bodies ignited, triggering a series of explosive blasts.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
The demons caught in the blast were torn asunder, while the shockwaves inflicted collateral damage on their nearby comrades. As the chaos subsided, Luna, mindful of her expended resources, muttered under her breath about the cost of her mana stones.
" I better get reimbursed for my mana stones. " Luna muttered while looking at Elias.
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During the meeting
Elias looked at his comrades and said " Luna I need you to use your magic to convert the mana stones into something similar to the tips of arrows and Valen I want you to equip your army with those arrows and it is your responsibilty to make sure the arrows pierce as many demons as possible. "
Luna wanted to say something but she couldn't find the courage to ask Elias. But Phoenix couldn't care less.
" And after that Brother Elias?" Asked Phoenix.
" Nothing much. I'll slay the demons with my blade. You guys can follow from behind." Said Elias while caressing his blade.
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Back to present
The composition of the human army was as follows:
Heroes: 5
Archers: 100000
Mages: 200000
Swordsmen: 200000
Seeing the explosions and chaos caused by the mana stones the heroes couldn't help but gulp at the crazy strategy Elias thought of. They all sub-consciously looked at Elias who was standing alone at the front of the human army with crimson sword in his hand. Even the soldiers couldn't help but look at their hero. His back seemed big enough to protect them all. The heroes felt he was so close yet so far from them.
Elias stretched his arms and prayed
" Oh the four gods of the world bless this fool with your power so I can cleanse the filth of the world. And may the deceased find their way to your embrace. Amen."
Elias opened his eyes and stared at the incoming demons approaching him. Elias raised his sword and slashed it so fast that no mortal could see it move yet the demons could see their deaths looming in the slash.
*CLING
The sword stopped and it also seemed like the time itself had stopped. But nothing happened to the demons. Confused at his actions demons started laughing and started moving again.
*SLICK
All the demons in the rear were struck with fear at what their witnessing. The slash made a 300 meter long and 100 meter wide crack on the battlefield. The crack was filled with the corpses of the demons who took the slash. The crack looked like the gate to hell.
Jumping from his position Elias started slashing the heads of the demons so fast that the heads were dropping like the water drops in the rain. His sword danced elegantly yet the destruction it caused made the humans get goosebumps too.
With lightning-fast strikes, he cleaved through their ranks, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
The demons, witnessing his ferocity, hesitated momentarily before rallying their forces to confront this formidable adversary. Led by a high-ranked demons, they advanced towards Elias, their numbers dwarfed by his unwavering resolve.
Daemon POV:
I am one of the high-ranked demon under Lord Thornos. Me and my comrades were looking at the human swing his sword at our brethren his sword was killing our brothers faster than we anticipated. We all looked at each other and nodded. Me with my 100000 army and my comrades with their armies of cumulative 500000 troops marched towards the man with the crimson blade. He glanced at us and ignored our presence. Yet, undeterred, we pressed forward, determined to challenge this crimson-bladed warrior head-on.
Amidst the sea of fallen comrades, their lifeblood staining the earth, a solitary figure rose above the carnage. He stood atop a gruesome curtain of death, his longsword an instrument of divine wrath. In its gleam, one could sense a challenge to the very gods themselves. We were fools to face him; my comrades paid the price in their own flesh and blood. A desperate realization claws at my mind – a realization that I must escape this blood-soaked field and bring dire warning to the holy excellencies. I looked at my remaining comrades they instantly realized what I was thinking. They must know of this relentless force, this harbinger of doom. I looked at my comrades and as I turn to flee, fate intervenes, and our eyes lock in a moment of eerie connection. He looked at me and my comrades with his crimson red eyes. He swung his sword towards me. Why is the world upside down? I thought. Time slows to a crawl as I find myself caught in the deadly dance of his blade. I see the malevolence in his eyes, a reflection of the abyss that has claimed so many. He cut through my comrades without batting an eye. The red moon casts an ominous glow upon the battlefield, and his crimson silhouette, now moving away, becomes a spectacle against the crimson canvas.
With an inexplicable calmness, I embrace the darkness. As he strides away, the embodiment of destruction and beauty, I can't help but smile like a fool. Amidst the ruins and the echoes of my demise, I whisper to myself, "Beautiful!" - a final tribute to the twisted elegance that accompanies the brutality of this merciless crimson devil.
On the other side of the battlefield
While battling the demons Rynn heard his god whisper something to him.
"Rynn I have something to tell you. Find me." Said the voice.
Rynn looked at his trusted aides and told them to hold on the reins of the war in his stead for some time.
Rynn placed his hand on his sword and chanted a prayer.
Rynn's soul entered the God's Realm. Rynn knelt in front of his god and offered his greetings.
" Rynn I have a decision for you to make." said the voice.
" What do you want me to do my lord?" said Rynn.
" Kill Valen." said Arion.
The words shocked Rynn. Seeing his confused expression Arion continued explaining.
" Serene saw the future of the battle and Valen is fated to become a demon god."
" What? How can that be?" Said Rynn.
" During his last battle with Thornos, Thornos slashed Valen with his true intent energy which could turn normal mortals into demons. Since Valen is a Hero his transformation will take time. And eventually at the end of the war before the demon gods are slayed by you, Valen will reawaken as a demon god. And you my boy need to stop him before he goes astray. This is the only way. I'll leave the decision to you now go." Arion said and Rynn's soul dissapeared from the realm.
Sending his dissapearance, three more figures joined Arion.
" Hehe that was good reason to ensue fight between them Arion." said a twisted sound.
" Do you really think that mortal could betray his comrades for us?" said another voice.
" I don't think we should delay our advancement anymore we need those fools. And this is the only probable way." said another voice.
" That bastard might be a variable." said Arion.
Listening to his words everyone fell into thought. They were talking about Elias whose fate couldn't be seen or controlled by even the gods.