"We should have just gone with the rest!"
One of the younger knights yelled as he stared feverishly into the darkness beyond.
He was young maybe had only awakened at most three years ago. He was clad in a simple steel breastplate.
The sword he held shook in his armoured grip. He was a knight but he was still allowed to feel fear. It wasn't beyond him.
The other knights that stood around him couldn't help but nod in agreement. Of course, they were also shaken but they had long since learnt to keep their emotions in check.
Unfortunately, not all of them could.
"Julian you let this kid walk us into this mess."
One of the older men said breaking the formation they had hastily assembled to point at Sebastian. The man's eyes were a moist red with rage.
Sebastian simply ignored him, not because he was feeling snobbish but because they had more important things to focus on than throwing fingers.
Still, the man's outrage could lead to a break in their formation which inevitably led to their deaths so he glanced at Julian expecting the valiant knight to quell the worry building in the hearts of these men.
Julian caught on quickly. All it took was a quick glance.
"Steel yourselves. Are we not conquerors? Don't the dredges of a crisis-ranked event frighten you far worse than this?"
There was a silent attachment to the words spoken by the young knight. It seemed like just a war speech but they all felt a sizable relation with those words.
And so they listened.
"We are Challengers, made from far tougher metal. Today is just another day. It's just another day for us to prove ourselves to be called defenders of the earth."
With that Julian sighed before raising his bronze spear to assume an offensive stance.
The few knights that stood strategically around him couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at his words. Sebastian could see their expressions soften before hardening into something more focused.
Courage, bravery, galant.
These were the expressions Sebas witnessed replace their once fear-rippled expressions. There was still fear– being without fear was foolishness. But the fear they had wasn't nearly enough to be a distraction.
They all had friends and family they wanted to see, and Sebas was determined to make sure that every single one of them made it. Him included.
Hence why he had pulled out one of the most speedy but surely effective formations a commander had thought up in the middle of a battle.
The formation was a simple but highly effective one. They had assumed a spearhead with Julian at the front of the assault. Then there were two wings designed to interrupt flanking by the enemy. Some of the most powerful knights were at the flanks.
Such as the genius swordsman Sir Bellahm, had a graceful gold sabre held elegantly in one hand with his other hand falling loosely beside him. His navy blue amour was suited with ash and black blood, yet it did little to diminish the nobleman's elegance.
The man showed little fear after all he was quite the seasoned knight. Had seen enough action and prepared even more young knights for eventualities such as these. There was no knighthood without lethal gut-clenching danger.
With how he kept himself Sebas could easily see the right wing as well armed. His left wing however could only be seen as heavily fortified. Because of one man who stood out from amongst the rest.
He had ashen black hair and was clad in a heavy amour. He held a lengthy halberd in both hands staring fiercely into the dark with his teeth gritted.
The man seemed a tank with stereotypical cold resolve and stoic approach to pain but he was far from it, he had been released by the Oni to supervise the selection process and was known to be quite the man to work with in the sense that he was a bit cowardly ever since his wife had given birth to a girl. Hence why he couldn't help but lay out his doubt about any annoyance earlier.
So why send him?
Well because he was just as seasoned a knight as the man sir Bellahm. Before his child, he was a force to be reckoned with known worldwide as the Iron Man.
Staring at them both Sebas couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief. He doubted the company would have stood a chance without them even with Julian.
Of course, having them didn't also mean victory but Sebas was sure if they followed his instructions they would, because Sebas had read up on most of the knights that would be present in the manor upon his and his crew's arrival.
It was how he was able to stay alive and even co-lead a special operative group designed for slaughter. With his ample knowledge, he had been able to devise a winning strategy.
All he could was hope because not all was in his favour. There was the Iron Man's cowardice which could take effect in the most dire situation.
And then of course;
'Her?'
Sebas frowned as he peered at the woman before him. She had blonde hair which now hid her enthralling blue eyes, Sebas could remember the red that lined her lips and the seduction she spoke with.
She was now held captive and for the safety of the company was placed at the centre rear, right before Sebas.
The idea was that Sebas would keep an eye on his prisoner while simultaneously watching the entire battle and aiding where he could.
There was a lot of protest to this with some people even trying to appeal that she be set free and allowed to fight alongside them.
Of course, Sebastian was stern with his disinterest. If anything should let this woman loose then they were all in trouble.
As a Myriad of thoughts rapidly spun through Sebastian's head– as they often did, Julian turned to give Sebas a curt nod.
The young Lieutenant didn't need to ask to know what he meant.
The abominations were upon them.
Right as Sebastian finished the thought Julian had begun to send bolts of lightning into the darkness.
The air sizzled I'm the wake of the glowing bolts, wailing as they cut through the air. There was a tense silence as the golden bolt of lightning hastily travelled across the massive basement.
Only a second later the bolt met its mark and a freakish shriek resonated through the air. That brief moment of light as it struck the abomination allowed the knights to have a glimpse of the horrors that seethed in the dark.
Did they really have to go through that? Before the doubt could sink in a voice tore through the darkness.
"Let's spite them!"
Julian roared as he ran forward.