After making their way out of the town covertly, Nes and Allein circled around to the rear of the monster army in the skies above. With their Dragonkin eyes, they could see the lizardmen clearly below and had already chosen their targets. Using their powers of telepathy, they communicated effortlessly, coordinating their attack.
"Brother, I will land near the rear and target that group of shamans with a wide area Fireball spell. Wait for my Fireball to hit them, then go straight for the lizard commander."
Allein transmitted her plan calmly. Nes, however, responded with anger.
"Allein, I do not like this. You are a Dragonkin princess. What right does a Human have to order you around like some lackey?"
Allein sighed inwardly. Her brother's pride always got the better of him.
"Nes, enough. If the town falls and Fayde dies, our plans will be for nothing. Is that what you want?"
She was better than her brother at seeing the bigger picture. Personal feelings could not outweigh their mission.
"I understand."
Nes's reluctant agreement came through the link. Satisfied, Allein transmitted that she would begin the attack.
As she flew closer to the ground, her form shifted midair. Her massive dragon body shrank, until the only remnants of her true form were a pair of jet-black wings protruding from her back. She hovered mere inches from the ground, keeping a good distance from her targets. Her wings kicked up dirt and debris in fierce gusts, but the distance and subtlety of her movements kept her hidden. In close quarters, her wings would have been a hindrance, but here, they were perfect for a sudden strike and a rapid retreat.
Gathering her magic power, she began to chant. The Fireball spell required a lengthy incantation, impractical for a brawl, but ideal for this moment. As soon as her magic reached its peak, she launched a massive fireball at the group of shamans attacking the western wall's barrier.
The moment he saw the blaze leave Allein's hands, Nes sprang into action. He angled himself toward the lizardmen commander, diving through the chaos as the Fireball struck its target. The explosion tore through the shamans, sending bodies flying and lighting the battlefield in a flash of orange and red.
The enemy forces fell into immediate confusion.
Nes landed cleanly, shifting fully into his humanoid form just before touching down. He cut through the guards protecting the lizard commander with ruthless precision. One of the lizardmen managed to blow a horn before being cut down, but it was already too late. Nes struck the commander down swiftly, his spear a blur in the dark.
Seeing the devastation, the lizardmen and Kobolds in reserve charged toward the rear, desperate to retaliate. Nes did not linger. His black wings burst from his back, and he took to the skies once more, gaining distance as the monsters surged after him.
Before the enemy could mount a counterattack, another Fireball slammed into their ranks. Allein had not remained idle. The second explosion devastated the disorganized rear, scattering the remaining shamans and lizardmen forces.
Those few shamans who survived tried to launch spells at the retreating Nes, but he had already pulled too far away. Their magic attacks fell short.
With the death of the lizardmen commander and the destruction of many of their shamans, the monster army descended into chaos.
From the walls of Enrain, the defenders saw their chance. With the enemy ranks in disarray, the Human forces launched a full counteroffensive.
_________________________________________
After rushing back to the breach in the wall, Fayde and Reia found that a fire had already been started around the gap. It had slowed the advance of the heavily armored lizardmen, but they still pressed forward, wading through the burning flames. The adventurers had fallen back slightly to let the fire grow, hoping to surround the enemy, but it was not as effective as they had hoped. It was not so simple to start a large blaze in a short time. Even so, it bought them valuable time.
Meanwhile, Orban had coordinated with the town's commander, preparing a force of light infantry to counterattack the moment the enemy showed weakness. From atop the walls, some soldiers shouted with joy when they spotted the sudden assault on the rear of the monster army. A distant horn sounded, and the advancing lizardmen froze in confusion.
For a brief moment, they hesitated, looking around uncertainly. Then they began to pull back slowly, guarding against an attack from the town.
The Human defenders had prepared heavier spears for exactly this moment. With the enemy army in disarray from the rear assault, the forces of Enrain charged forward into the breach, not bothering with a tight formation. Mobility was key. If they could strike hard and fast, cutting down the heavy infantry before the monsters could regroup, the rest of the army would collapse easily.
Adventurers joined the charge, and with their momentum, the heavy infantry formation of the lizardmen began to crumble.
Fayde and Reia plunged into the fray together, cutting down several lizardmen as they advanced. It was far easier now that the enemy shield wall had broken. Orban had given Fayde a heavy piercing spear, and he enhanced the weapon with Void Flames. The dark magic made it almost effortless to punch through the enemy armor.
All the while, Fayde absorbed the Dark Matter Contamination from every slain lizardman nearby. The more he fought, the stronger he grew. His black flames grew denser and hotter with every kill.
Reia fought at his side, her sword enhanced with the power of wind, transforming it into a weapon capable of piercing armor. She adapted quickly, her strikes clean and deadly. Magic truly offered endless possibilities to those with the creativity to use it properly.
Even with their advantage, it was not as if the lizardmen were helpless. Many Human soldiers fell in the melee, and the fighting was brutal. But over time, the tide turned. Fayde lost track of how long they fought, but eventually, the defenders overwhelmed the enemy heavy infantry.
Meanwhile, archers atop the wall unleashed volleys of fire arrows onto the fleeing monsters, setting fires throughout their ranks. With the barrier no longer needed, every mage on the walls joined the bombardment. Elemental spells lit up the night, cascading down upon the broken army in a storm of destruction.
The remaining monster forces broke into a full rout. Light cavalry, held in reserve within the town, charged out of the western gate and trampled the fleeing monsters underfoot. Infantry and adventurers cut down any creatures that tried to regroup.
Some shamans managed to resist for a time, but a few Void Flames to the gut made short work of them. Fayde continued absorbing Dark Matter wherever he could, feeling the surges of strength build inside him. This battlefield had become a feeding ground for his growth, and even his Void Flames burned more fiercely now.
Reia never left his side for a moment, guarding his back without hesitation. Fayde could not have asked for a better companion.
As the battle finally wound down, Fayde collapsed to his knees, exhausted. His heart pounded violently in his chest, and he realized with some horror that he had lost himself in the fighting. A cold thought crossed his mind: he was becoming too accustomed to killing. Even if the enemies were monsters, it unsettled him.
Around them, soldiers scoured the battlefield, finishing off wounded monsters. The fires set earlier now cast a flickering light over the dead. Some soldiers thrust spears into the fallen, others harvested monster parts or looted bodies.
Many adventurers seemed confused by the absence of magic crystals in the corpses. Only the few monsters Fayde had not absorbed still carried crystals, leaving others bewildered by the empty remains.
Fayde looked over at Reia. She was already watching him, her face filled with concern. She helped him to his feet, placing her hands gently on his shoulders.
"I'm so glad we made it through that," she said softly. It seemed like she wanted to say more, but no words came.
"You don't need to look so worried," Fayde said, trying to smile. "We won. We're alive, aren't we?"
His attempt at reassurance came out weary and hollow. Reia's expression only grew more troubled.
"I have fought alone many times," she said, her voice trembling. "I have never felt fear, even when I thought I might die. But tonight, I was afraid... I was afraid something would happen to you."
Before she could finish, Fayde pulled her into an embrace. He whispered in her ear.
"Don't say anymore."
He half expected her to push him away, but she stayed in his arms, silent and still.
They must have been a strange sight, two battered fighters embracing amidst a sea of corpses, their clothes torn and stained with blood and soot.
Fayde knew that Reia's emotions were complicated. Ever since he had entered her life, something fragile and uncertain had begun to grow between them. He suspected she cared for him, but held herself back. Years of discrimination, both from Humans and even her own kind, had left deep scars.
Her tribe had been exiled, forced to survive on scraps, and even among her people she had never truly belonged. Her hatred for her uncle, the betrayal she had suffered, it was a heavy burden to carry.
Fayde felt sadness swell inside him as he thought about the hard life she had led. In that moment, he made a silent promise.
I will give her a better life. Whether she accepts me or not, I will give her a future she can believe in.
He could be patient. And deep inside, he could feel it, his own feelings for Reia were growing stronger by the day.
_________________________________________
The aftermath of the battle created a hectic scene, and there was much work to do before anyone could rest. All of the dead needed to be buried, and the area outside the city where the battle had taken place needed to be completely cleared of equipment. Dealing with the monsters was a little easier because their bodies would decay over time and didn't require burial. Once their magic crystals were harvested, the bodies would eventually melt and disappear.
By the time they finished cleaning up the battlefield and transporting all the loot, it was already well into the morning, nearly afternoon. Most of the soldiers and adventurers could barely move after completing the work. As the town awoke, citizens began pouring from their homes, cheering the returning fighters and showering them with flowers along the dirt roads.
Reia and Fayde had a brief conversation with Orban after the battle. Orban congratulated them on a job well done, promising that they would be properly rewarded for their contributions. He then shooed them away to get some much-needed rest, telling them to report back the next day.
Too exhausted to celebrate, Fayde ignored the festivities and found his way back to the inn, where he sank into a hot bath. As he lay in the warm water filling the bronze tub, his mind wandered back to the night after the battle, to the moment when Reia had stayed in his arms without speaking, without moving. At some point, he knew they would need to have a real conversation about what was between them. But for now, she wasn't ready, and he could wait.
There were also lingering concerns about Allein. There was no confusion there, she had made it very clear that she considered him her possession. While Fayde wasn't about to accept something like that so easily, it wasn't as if he disliked Allein either. She was stunning, courageous, and had saved his life more than once. Yet she still kept too many secrets, and trust needed more than affection.
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate her sincerity, it was her attitude that needed some work.
After the bath, Fayde was given a new room. He fell asleep almost instantly, too exhausted to resist. His dreams were once again visited by Allein, as he had expected. She was her usual self, demanding endless praise for saving his life yet again. Half amused, half resigned, he praised her in a sarcastic, exaggerated manner, which seemed to please her greatly. She either didn't notice the sarcasm or most likely was just happy to play along. She gave him one of her rare, beautiful smiles before vanishing from his dreams, allowing him a few hours of real rest.
The next day, the adventurers who had participated in the defense gathered at the Guildhall. Orban, in true Orban fashion, gave a long winded speech. Fayde nodded along occasionally, pretending to listen.
When the rewards were finally distributed, Reia and Fayde received the highest honors. They had been the ones to warn the city of the approaching monsters, and it had been Fayde's plan that turned the tide of battle. Their efforts had not gone unnoticed. Fayde was immediately promoted two ranks, receiving a silver medallion. Reia, in recognition of her valor and achievements, was awarded a gold medallion.
Both of them also received a generous sum of gold from the spoils of battle.
Orban made another announcement that shook the Guild; they would soon organize a grand expedition to conquer the dungeon that had long plagued Enrain. The years of monster invasions would come to an end. However, preparations would take time. Scouts would need to locate the dungeon, merchant caravans would have to be arranged, and supplies stockpiled. Every silver medallion and higher ranked adventurer would be expected to participate.
Until then, adventurers could continue to take short term missions, but no long term expeditions were allowed. If the dungeon was conquered successfully, the rewards would be unimaginable.
The rest of the day was spent celebrating and getting to know the other adventurers. Fayde, now something of a celebrity among them, found himself constantly approached for conversation.
He couldn't help but notice that Tris wasn't among the crowd. He wondered if something had happened to her. She hadn't been at the breach, but she might have been assigned to defend the walls elsewhere, given her reputation as a skilled archer. Now that there would be some downtime, Fayde made a decision, he would officially form a party with Tris and Reia and prepare for the dungeon expedition ahead.
He smiled to himself.
Void Walkers.
Yeah, that has a nice ring to it.
Later that evening, after the celebrations had died down, Fayde finally had a chance to check his status at the Guild's divination crystal.
[Status Window]
[Level: -1 | EXP: 0/0]
[HP: 94/94]
[Health Regen: 0.5/min | 2/min while resting]
[VP: 600/600 | Void Threshold: 625 | Next Level: 750]
[Void Regen: 1/min | 10/min while resting]
Attributes
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 15
Charisma: 13
Intelligence: 139
Wisdom: 180
Proficiencies
Sword: Level 5/10 (Intermediate)
Evasion: Level 4/10 (Intermediate)
Tactics: Level 4/10 (Intermediate)
Leadership: Level 4/10 (Intermediate)
Endurance: Level 3/10 (Intermediate)
Spear: Level 2/10 (Beginner)
Special Attributes
Blessings: Blessing of the Void (???)
Special Ability: Molecular Absorption (Absorbs Dark Matter Contamination, strengthening host)
Inherent Status: Immortality (Grants agelessness; body and soul no longer age)
Affinities: Void Element
Void Element:
Void Flame (Enhanced):(15VP activation - 5VP/min upkeep)Manipulate wide-area intense flames from the Void for both offense and defense, with limited dimensional properties.
Fayde smiled faintly. Growth was a wonderful thing.