We started our march, the sound of boots hitting the ground in unison reverberating through the streets of Malakar. The morning sun was rising higher, casting an orange glow over the town, making it look almost peaceful despite the impending chaos.
As we moved towards the front lines, the landscape began to change. The neat rows of houses gave way to rougher terrain. The road became a path of dirt and rocks, leading us towards the open fields where the battle would take place.
I could see black smoke rising in the distance, mingling with the early morning fog. The sound of clashing swords and the occasional explosion echoed through the air, sending a chill down my spine.
My heart started pounding. This was no training exercise. This was the real deal. I glanced around at the other demons, their faces set with grim determination.
They seemed ready, but me? I felt like I was about to throw up.
As we crested a small hill, the battlefield came into view. The sight was overwhelming. Injured demons were being carried back from the front lines, some missing arms or legs, others covered in blood and dirt.
Medics were rushing around, trying to tend to the wounded.
"Call the doctor here, fast! It's an emergency!" one of the medics shouted, his voice urgent and strained.
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry as sand. This was really happening. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.
"I can't do this," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely a whisper. "What if I die out there? What if—"
Someone grabbed my shoulder, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. I turned to see Kael, his expression serious.
"Azazel, you okay?" he asked, shaking me lightly. "You looked like you were about to pass out."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Yeah, I'm fine." I lied.
"Just... a bit overwhelmed."
Kael nodded, his grip on my shoulder reassuring. "Don't worry, you got this. Just stick to the plan and we'll get through it."
I nodded, trying to convince myself that he was right. But the fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of my mind.
As we continued our march, the chaos of the battlefield grew louder. The clash of swords, the roar of spells being cast, and the cries of the wounded filled the air. It was a symphony of destruction, and we were marching straight into it.
I saw hundreds of human 'demon hunters.' There were archers, swordsmen, healers, mages, and more. Their formation was tight and disciplined, with archers positioned at the back, ready to rain arrows down on us.
Swordsmen stood at the front, shields raised, while mages and healers stayed in the middle, protected by the warriors around them.
The humans were fighting with a grim determination, their movements coordinated and precise. Spells lit up the air, and arrows whistled through the sky, creating a deadly tapestry of combat.
Eltor, standing tall and imposing, surveyed the battlefield. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the human forces. Then, with a powerful swing of his massive saber, he pointed towards the enemy and signaled for the charge.
"Move out! Show no mercy!" Eltor's voice boomed across the field.
The demons around me roared in response, their bloodlust ignited by the command.
"YEAH! Let's kill these lowly beings!" one demon shouted, his voice full of fury.
"Crush them all!" another yelled, brandishing his weapon.
The air was thick with the scent of sweat and steel as we began our charge. I could feel the ground trembling beneath my feet as hundreds of demons surged forward, a tidal wave of rage and power.
I rushed towards the Demon Hunters, my heart pounding in my chest.
As we closed the distance, my mind suddenly went blank. The noise of the battlefield faded into the background, and all my focus zeroed in on the fight ahead.
Out of the chaos, a demon hunter with blonde hair and piercing green eyes charged at me. He was wearing iron armor that glinted in the sunlight, and he held a broad, menacing sword in his hands. The determination in his eyes was unmistakable, and I knew this would be a fight to the death.
"DIE, YOU DEMON!!!" he shouted, his voice filled with hatred as he swung his weapon towards my head.
I barely managed to raise my sword in time to block the strike, the force of the blow sending a jolt through my arms.
CLANNKK!
Sparks flew as our blades clashed, the sound echoing in my ears.
The hunter pressed forward, his attacks relentless and powerful. I parried another strike, feeling the strain in my muscles as I struggled to keep up with his furious assault.
Gah, this guy's insane!
Our swords danced in a deadly rhythm, the clanging of metal against metal filling the air. He swung his sword with brutal efficiency, aiming for my head, my torso, my legs—anywhere he could land a blow. I dodged and blocked as best as I could.
In a moment of desperation, I reached into my pocket and grabbed a handful of sand. As he prepared for another strike, I flung the sand into his face.
FSSHH!
"ARRRGGGHHH!" he screamed, staggering back as the grains got into his eyes.
He rubbed at his eyes with his free hand, his guard momentarily lowered.
Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward and drove my sword into his stomach.
SQUELCH!
His eyes widened in shock and pain as the blade sank into his flesh. I could feel the resistance as I pushed the sword deeper, his blood spilling over my hands.
He gurgled, trying to speak, but no words came out.
I pulled my sword free, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his wound. I stood there, panting heavily, my heart racing and my mind reeling from the intensity of the fight.
For a moment, everything around me froze. The noise of the battlefield dulled, replaced by the sound of my ragged breathing.
My heart pounded in my ears, and my hands were trembling as I stared down at the lifeless body at my feet.
HAAA... HAAA...
My breaths came out in harsh, uneven gasps.
What did I just do?
The reality of what I had just done hit me like a ton of bricks.
I had killed someone—a human. His blood was on my hands, literally. I looked at the crimson stains on my sword, my hands, and my armor. The gravity of the situation was overwhelming.
My mind flashed back to the moment the light faded from his eyes, and a wave of nausea rolled over me.
He's dead because of me.
The thought was suffocating. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of guilt and horror.
My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes.
I'm just sixteen, and I've never killed anyone before. How could I do this?
The weight of taking a life was too much to bear. My knees went weak, and I stumbled back, my legs barely supporting me.
Is this what being a demon means? Is this what I've become?
The battle raged around me, but it felt distant, like I was watching it through a fog.
The cries of the injured and dying, the clash of weapons, and the shouts of commands all blended into a chaotic symphony. I couldn't focus on anything but the lifeless body before me.
I can't do this. I can't keep killing.
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. It was Kael, his face smeared with blood and dirt, but his eyes sharp and focused.
"Azazel, snap out of it! We need to keep moving!" he shouted, shaking me roughly.
I blinked, trying to clear my head. The battlefield came rushing back into focus, and I realized that I couldn't afford to fall apart now.
Not in the middle of a war. But the psychological trauma was real, and it weighed heavily on my soul.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and tightened my grip on my sword, forcing myself to stand tall. The battle wasn't over, and I had to push through, no matter how much it hurt.