The left and middle flanks of the formation were holding but there were too many enemies and not enough paladins. Chronos hoped that Captain would arrive soon and made some preparations for him.
"Clerics save your magic as much as possible. Reinforcements are coming from the north, but they will need your blessing. Prepare to cast a mass blessing."
"Do you have any idea how diffic..."
"Do it! Or I'll have you thrown in a meditation room for the rest of the year." An older priest cut off the younger one's complaint
As the priests made preparation Chronos jumped in front of a dark boar that tried to charge a paladin that had been knocked over. Planting the butt of his spear in the ground the boar impaled itself.
"Luckily boars have a hard time changing direction mid charge." Chronos thought right as two shadows came around its body.
Abandoning the spear Chronos drew his two axes from their amulets prepared for another fight.
Two wolves stood in front of him this time. Working together they tried to keep him trapped in a pincer, but Chronos was barely paying attention to them as he kept an eye on the rest of the battlefield.
Jeffrey had treated himself with a potion and was assisting Mike in dealing with another bull.
Chronos had never relied on potions as he healed rapidly but he could see how useful it would be in a fight like this one where the enemies were double your numbers, or more.
With a number of the priests backing up to prepare the mass blessing the dark beasts started to panic. They pushed harder only for the weak and injured paladins to form an aura shield wall that rose 3 meters in the air.
The paladin's leader saw this change in the battlefield and responded by having any free priest support the mass blessing, which caused a small frenzy throughout the line on both sides. The paladins took heart in this, if the enemy was panicking then they were doing the right thing.
Everyone started using personal buffs to go all out now.
The wolves fighting Chronos were getting frustrated by their inability to injure him. Then one jumped too early, losing its companions' protection. Chronos beheaded it with a downward chop then threw his other axe into the head of the other wolf.
Retrieving his axe, he charged at another two bulls pressuring a paladin. Once he was close enough, and the paladin was not in the danger zone, he used his altered aura Roar causing a wave of aura to erupt from his mouth like a wall. It slammed into one of the bulls, throwing it from its feet and snapping the neck at the same time.
Unfortunately, it was still a roar which is meant to draw a monster's aggression to yourself.
Four of the surrounding beasts immediately turned to fight him.
2 wolves, 1 boar and an alligator.
It was a bit strange to see forest creatures and swamp creatures fighting side by side but none of these shadowy dark creatures were normal to begin with.
The boar tried to charge him only to have two axes thrown into its head. Chronos pulled out his sword barely parrying the wolves attack but the one that worried him was the alligator as it would try to perform a death roll if it bit him.
Braah Braa
A horn sounded from the north. Captain was here, Chronos just needed to hold out for a few minutes and help would arrive for him.
He heard a shout from the old priest. "Include those mercenaries in the blessing. Ready...cast."
A white light landed on all combatants and reinforcements causing their weapons to glow.
Chronos jumped to dodge another snap from the alligator then struck at a wolf causing it to howl as it fell to the ground rapidly dying.
Good, the blessing was adding a devastating power to the attacks just like he had thought.
With the blessing the battlefield's situation rapidly changed. The beasts were being pushed back, and the paladins were able to reform their lines.
Turning back to his opponents the final wolf was taken by surprise by a paladin dying with a single slash, but the alligator had thick skin. Ignoring several attacks, it lunged at Chronos again, stepping back swiftly Chronos put his sword away and drew his maul.
A tail lash nearly tripped him before he used Shatter to crush the hide and brain of the alligator at the same time.
Looking around, the dark beasts were being defeated one after another. They were unable to threaten the paladins any longer.
"That blessing was a good call. We normally save the priest's magic for healing, but our aura didn't seem to do much against these beasts. I'm Commander Stan, it's a pleasure to meet you."
A large man, who looked like a barrel, and in white plate mail was standing behind him. The white on the plate mail showed that he was favored by the white head of the dragon God and he also had 2 small dragon heads on his shoulders marking him as a second rank commander. His most outstanding feature was one of the most phenomenal mustaches Chronos had ever seen.
Taking the hand he offered. "I'm Chronos, a travelling merchant with the Brynn caravan. I wasn't expecting to see a favored paladin here."
"Un, receiving the white heads blessing is my greatest honor. I would like to have some of your time to discuss what has happened here with you and your Captain."
"Alright, Captain the paladin commander wants to speak with us." He shouted across the battlefield.
"Got it." Came the reply as the Captain made his way over to them.
"Alright first I want to know how you were able to kill that bear with only one serious injury?" Commander Stan said as he pointed at Chronos. "None of my paladins were able to do that, even when they stabbed the heart. Is it a method practiced by the mercenary company?"
Captain spoke up "No, our method is focused on acquiring the trait of fire and is suitable for most people to practice. Chronos' method increases recovery speed and can be used with any weapon but needs high comprehension to use it."
Oh, the captain has a good eye. Chronos didn't think Captain had noticed that much from just a few days of training together.
"He's right. It was taught to me by Bruar of the Bekleadning clan. I don't think it should have this sort of effect. It is relatively new so perhaps not all of its abilities have been explored but the only one who could tell you is Bruar." Chronos' connection wouldn't be of any help now that he had fled from the clan.
"I see, I will send someone to speak with Bruar. Other than that, I would like to request that we travel together on our way back to the church?"
"I agree, my company won't survive if a threat like this one shows up again."
"How long have these dark beasts been appearing around here?" Chronos asked.
With a sigh Commander Stan recalled the disaster that had been the last few weeks.
"They first started showing up a few weeks ago. We saw some of them gather around a strange tear that just floated in the air. It wasn't anything like a teleport or any spell I have ever seen and unfortunately, we weren't able to get close to it.
The Matriarch of the church seemed to recognize what was happening and sent a message to the main temple, I hope we will have a response once we are back."
Chronos' eyebrows knitted together "How long have you been out in the field? And where did you go? We might be able to avoid other beasts if we know that."
"We started in the northeastern region of the swamp but were repeatedly pushed back before I ordered a full retreat westward. I wanted to go south in the swamp but the scouts reported another tear opening south of us. This road is the first time we might be able to make a run for the church."
With a contemplative look Captain chimed in "So these monsters either followed you out or another one of these "tear" things is open close to here and is gathering them. I will get the caravan to rush; I don't want to be caught out in the open with these dark beasts."
"Ask Boruk to lend us some beasts. He should have several powerful beasts that can pull a cart. I will see about helping the injured into open carriages."
"Got it."
After their discussion each person went to make preparations for this journey. It might only be two days away but there might be a lot more beasts between them and the church.
Brynn agreed almost immediately, which was a bit strange for him, until Chronos realized he was trying to earn some favor from the church to smooth over negotiations with the naga alchemists.
Boruk brought out several firebleats. They looked like goats but had long tails and some scales on their bodies. They were half the size of a horse but just as strong with greater endurance and had the ability to breathe fire.
Some scholars think that they are a result of crossbreeding between a salamander and a goat, others think they are from the legendary hell realm, but no one was certain how they came about.
It was an orc that first found and named them, he heard a bleat right before he was engulfed in fire.