Clang....
The first strike brought visions of a war torn field. Comrads and enemies laid slain without remorse or mercy among the blood stained grass. What was once a vibrant forest, now torn asunder by both strange and familiar magics.
Clang....
The vision shifted as they looked down at their body. The proud warrior armor they wore made up of leather of the finest Mana Beasts pierced through. A deep gash formed in their side just under their left breast. If it weren't for their armor, perhaps they would've perished like her kinsman have.
Clang....
A screech was heard through the fog, finally bringing about the sound over their thudding heart that they mistook for thunder. Gripping their sword, they spun to the right to dodge an incoming attack. Bringing their sword up from their knee, the abnormal monster that looked similar to a Pednal* child was swept up by the blade and forced to roll away with a deep cut to its chest.
Clang....
A deafening roar silenced all signs of battle in the distance. Even the creature before them trembled in fear. Though, instead of running away, it ran towards the roar clutching it's chest. Try as they might, the soldier couldn't bring themself to look away from the source of the roar. Standing taller than the mountains was a giant beast of grey flesh similar to the creature that fled. It stood proud in the form of a giant elk with its horns piercing the heavens above, simply looking over the battlefield like the warriors was nothing more than ants beneath its hooves.
Clang....
The clouds a distance from its head split open, revealing a legion of various races flying down on wings and equipment made to allow them that freedom sought by mortals. To the soldier, they looked like greths* racing toward that eerie light. Their number seemed endless, but the soldier felt no hope of victory at the sight.
Clang....
It took an ainta* to find a potions from one of their comrads corpses that wasn't shattered. Feeling better, the soldier looked up to the sky with steeled resolve. Though the familiar forms of the Yatkel* had joined the fight in the skies, their numbers were quickly dwindling. The enemy had sent their own fighters to the sky, sacrificing themselves to pin the warriors so the giant beast could wipe them away with various Lightning spells.
Clang....
It had been several ainta since the soldier stared running towards the battlefield. If it weren't for the soldiers beastial traits and their talent to Shadow Magic, it would've taken at least two Hetha* to even get this close to the front. The occasional Abomination they found was quickly cut down as they raced past. Though that giant beast was a priority, clearing any weaklings along the way was more important as they raced to where the Vanguard was fighting.
Clang....
They'd managed to save a few Tyfiels* from a large Abomination. Without checking on them, the soldier pushed on towards the ever despairing battle ahead. Though the situation was hopeless, they at least wanted to be by their Divine's* side in these final moments. More and more the soldier told themselves to push on through the fatigue as they raced and sliced through the various enemies that met their path.
Clang....
The closer the soldier got to the Vanguard, the more enemies and allies they met along the way. The Abominations wasted no time in eating the fallen from both sides, growing bigger with each corpse consumed. After saving a Jintal* Tiger, they learned the order was to prevent these creatures from reaching the front. It seemed the time to fight by their Divine would have to wait until the numbers had thinned. Cursing their fate, the soldier turned away from the front and began raced towards the biggest Abominations they could spot.
Clang...!
A hetha and a half later of struggle lead the soldier upon their fellow tribe of Jintal Wolves. Few had fallen, but most were injured from the constant fighting. The Abominations did their best to ignore the warriors standing in their way, targeting those who specialized in Mending Magic instead. Joining the defensive circle, the soldier assisted their tribe by weakening the Abominations with Shadow Magic and cutting their joints for easier kills.
Clang...!
The Chief of their tribe had just given the order to join the Vanguard when a sudden light bathed the lands in its orange hue. It drew the attention of every being in the battle, with those fighting the Abominations frozen in fear as they watched the giant Abomination begin to prepare a large spell in it's maw. The minions raced away from them towards the beast as if in fear, making the rest shiver more than they should've. In a desperate act, the chief ordered for everyone to deploy their strongest shields if they wanted to live. Listening to the desperate order, the ones that could still manage brought up the shields of their various schools of Magic. The mesh of colors wasn't enough to blot out the light from above, but what else could they do.
Clang..!
The soldier awoke to find a hellish wasteland had formed before the giant Abomination. Those that fought in the sky were falling slowly to the earth while those below were either gone, injured or knocked out. The soldier struggled to stand up, but the lack of Mana strained not only their mind, but their waning strength as well. A potion tapped against their boot as they fell to their knee, bringing their attention to the Chief that had stood tall even in the face of that horrifying Magic. Through his final act, his strained words waved through the silent air before he finally fell into their final sleep. Stricken with grief, the soldier downed the potion and absorbed the fresh Mana found in their stomach.
Clang.!
It only took a few ainta for the soldier to find the remnants of the Vanguard. They had managed to form a powerful enough shield to defend from the blast, but most were knocked out from the sudden loss of Mana. The rest were busy holding off the Abominations that tried to prey on the weak and weary while the support went around distributing potions. Jintal of all tribes, Yutkel*, Tyfiel, Yefiel*, Hufiel*, Bethral*, Yunthral* and Pednel all stood together to fight through the minions towards the giant Abomination. Though fear filled the ranks, none would go down without a fight. Steeling themselves, the soldier raced towards the center of the formation towards their Divine.
Clang!
They had just managed to make it to the center when the beast began forming another large spell. Racing to their Divine, they spotted another ray of light that split the heavens before the beast. As they approached their Divine, they saw a him take a deep breath and close his cat-like eyes. Lowering his bow, he turned to look towards the soldier in a deep sorrow.
CLANG!
As the soldier approached, the Divine spoke some silent words while offering the bow to the soldier. A deep grief swept across the man's once prideful lion face. His antlers were all but cracked, and he had lost half of his fox tail.
CLANG!
His tiger hands, bloodied from the constant use of the bow opened to drop the bow in the shocked soldiers hands. More silent words left their lips, fading long into memory, but the emotion those words held hurt more than any wound could.
CLANG!
The Divine turned around and prepared to assist in the spell as well. Those that could assisted by sending their Mana to the Divine, draining themselves in this final hope.
CLANG!
Though the soldier struggled against their kinsman, shouting silent words towards their Divine, they were dragged away as the man simply grit his teeth and began reciting the spell.
CLANG!
With their kinsman being far stronger, they were shoved into a portal as tears fell down their face. The only words that could be heard over their cries of refute were from the solemn Divine himself.
CLANG!
'I'm sorry. We've all failed you.'
With a yell, they slammed the hammer down as hard as they could against the anvil. Mixtures of anger and regret filled their heart and made their breath ragged. In their anger, they grit their teeth and drooled from the rage, staring down at the half finished sword before them.
How long had it been since that day? Since they were forced away from their Divine during his final moments? Why did he only allow them to survive? Why couldn't they be with their new family wherever their Divine ended up?
"Damn you, Hevalt." Their low, feminine voice echoed throughout the empty room as she fell onto the seat behind her. Silent tears fell down over her fingers as she held her face before the forge, wishing to see those friendly faces that had long since faded into memory.