Jaune hummed an old song as he jogged down the road on the trail of the Demon Soldiers from the day prior. He took the time to take in the world around him, the beauty of unspoiled nature.
No Grimm, No Dust, No Aura, No Huntsmen or Huntresses.
He'd call the whole world beautiful if not for the simple fact of who lived in it.
Still, its barely been more than a day since he arrived in this world, he can't jump to every conclusion just yet.
There might be good demons, one who don't wish to partake in this war.
But he's getting ahead of himself.
He stops as an arrow flies past his head. Quickly turning in the direction it came from he found a small watchtower with three Demons surrounding it. One was knotching another arrow as the other two ran in opposite directions. One running for him with a weapon drawn while the other fled along the trail.
With practised ease Jaune drew Cocrea Mors and parried the blade of the attacking demon. He jumped back as another arrow flew past where they had both been standing. Bringing out his shield, he bashed the hand of the attacking Demon, forcing it to drop its sword. A loud crack echoed out as Jaune struck the Demon in the face with his shield, sending it to the ground.
The other Demon fired on last arrow before it jumped down from the tower. Landing with a roll as Jaune casually swatted the arrow away. It stared him down before pulling two daggers from its belt. With a shout it charged, both blades held forward with intent to stab him.
Jaune held his shield up to block, Cocrea Mors held back for a counter. A loud clang echoed as both daggers struck his shield. The Demon scowled as it jumped away, Jaune only eyed him, sword still held back. The two of them began to circle one another, each staring into one another's eyes for any sign of weakness.
As they continued circling one another Jaune shifted Cocrea Mors, now aiming his blade for a piercing strike. The Demon made a mad dash for him, Jaune moved to strike with Cocrea Mors. In response the Demon made a sudden change in direction, dashing to the side with his shield. Jaune turned with it, only to be met with twin blades striking his shoulder.
His aura still held, the Demon quickly looking shocked as Jaune struck its arm with his shield. A loud crack followed as the Demon's arm now hung limply at its side, the dagger in its grasp now falling to the ground. The Demon grit its teeth and side stepped as Jaune moved to stab him. The Demon barrel rolled as Jaune stabbed down at the soldier. The Demon dodged, using its remaining dagger to stabilize itself.
Quickly channeling aura into Cocrea Mors, Jaune launched a blade of aura at the Demon. The Demon could only look in shock as the blade struck his chest and cut through his armor.
The Demon fell to the ground, blood already pooling around them.
Jaune gave the soldier a once over, ensuring that they were dead, then turned in the direction the other had fled too. He broke into a sprint, fully intent on reaching his next target.
Andrum huffed as he watched another wagon train filled with slaves get carted off. Another issue off his shoulders, even in the face of a new one. He wasn't sure why they were even bothering to take so many slaves, but it was a demand from the Empress.
Though, he can't help but applaud some of her newly introduced strategies. Hostages as living shields, disruption of supply lines, infiltration of council and manipulation of factions. So many things that made warfare easier for them.
He wouldn't had imagined her victory in the civil war had she not manipulated most of the other families and lords to tear each other apart. The lies and rumors she had her agents whisper in their ears were most efficient. He had watched it, watched the entire family he had served stab one another in the back before his master had allied himself with the yet to be crowned Empress.
But that was in the past, now was the present.
"Intruder Incoming!!!" The shouting of one of his subordinates broke him from his musings. The sound of approaching footsteps made him turn to see another one of his soldiers getting closer. "Sir, its the knight, the one Hannibel's group spoke of." The Soldier reported. Andrum simply nodded before turning to his tent.
"Have the men distract the knight until Uridun wakes up." Andrum ordered. The soldier nodded as Andrum entered his tent. Walking past the war table, he ran a hand over his armor.
He could hear the sound of battle outside, best be prepared.
Jaune parried another blade as the Demon Soldiers surrounded him. Their forms were sloppy, almost panicked as they held all sorts of weapons against him.
He had caught them off guard.
It was honestly humorous, if a bit disappointing.
He took a step back as arrows began dotting the ground around him, a lucky few even grazing against his armor and aura. He lunged forward, aura channeled through Cocrea Mors as he cut through several Demon Soldiers in front of him.
Arrows continued falling as Jaune began to cut loose. Slicing through armor and weapon alike with his aura pouring off Cocrea Mors like water.
Many Demons fell, Many others fled.
As Jaune sliced another soldier across the chest he took notice of something. The Soldiers were taking formation, large shields and long pikes held towards him. Arrows continued to fly around him as the last soldier close to him fell.
One look around and Jaune realized he was now trapped. He stood in the centre of an inverse shield wall, pikes and spears lining the formation to keep him at a distance. He glanced around the formation, looking for any sort of weak point.
Then the wall parted at one point. A Tall Demon with more regal armor than the average soldier stepped forward. A Small Warhammer held in one hand, a tower shield held in the other. The Demon pointed his warhammer at him as every pike was aimed right at him.
"So... This is the knight who killed Hannibel." The Demon began. "A knight covered in rust who slayed with a simple sword and shield, protected by a strange forcefield." The Demon proclaimed as the formation took a step forward. Jaune just braced himself as he glared at the Demon. "I must say, I didn't believe the last part until I saw it for myself." The Demon commented as Pikes clashed against his aura.
Jaune could hear the Demon scowl as he remained unharmed. He watched as the Demon turned to one of the others and whisper something to him. The other Demon ran off as the leader turned back to him. "Keep at it, it can't hold forever." he instructed as more arrows flew his way.
Andrum watched as his men continued stabbing at the knight. Each strike doing little as that unknown energy seemed to strengthen his armor. The Knight was just standing there, looking him in the eye without much concern.
HE WAS INSULTING THEM!!
Just standing there, uncaring as they jabbed him with pikes and spears.
But he just had to wait. Uridun would be awake soon, that drunkard of a mage would make quick work of this knight.
"Sir, Sir." One of his subordinates shouted behind him. Andrum turned to the Soldier in question and gave him a look. "Uridun-" The soldier paused to take a short breath. Another figure walked up behind him, clad in layers of toughened leather around simple metal armor.
"Has arrived." Uridun finished the soldier's line. Uridun slunk beside him, looking out the "Trapped" knight. He watched as pikes and arrows did little to him and his armor. "I see why you had to call me." Uridun commented. Andrum could feel the glow of Uridun's eyes as he raised a hand towards the Rusted Knight.
"Don't hit the men." Andrum instructed as Uridun cast a spell.
Jaune almost froze as he felt something fly towards him.
It wasn't an arrow, it was magic.
He could hear the worried whispers of the soldiers around him. The earth near his feet suddenly shifted, being warped as a cloud of dust burst in front of him. His aura flared as he ducked out of the way. He could feel something wash over his self, like a leech was trying to dig into his skin.
On instinct he let his aura surge through his form, letting it wash out the unknown magic from his form. He rushed forward, Cocrea Mors held high as the formation tried to stop him. He let pikes glance off his armor as Cocrea Mors carved through shield and armor alike.
His advance was stopped by the leader. His Warhammer clashing against Cocrea Mors with a loud clang. Both of them jumped back as a soldier in leather and metal shouted something. Jaune ducked away as the earth near his feet warped yet again.
He had to be the Magic User.
He aimed right for the magic user, ducking under the leader's hammer swing. The Magic User began speaking again. 'Is Magic vocal?' Jaune pondered for a moment before that sickening feeling washed over him again. His aura flared, washing out the sickening feeling of the magic as it tried to twist his self.
He felt a strike hit him in the back, yet he continued onward. His head rang as the Magic user spoke once more, yet Cocrea Mors struck as well. The blade cut into the Magic User's chest, piercing through leather and metal alike. In one swift motion he pulled Cocrea Mors up, knocking off the helmet in the process.
He watched the glow of the Magic User's eyes fade away. Blood seeping along the massive cut as the Demon fell back.
"URIDUN!!" he heard the Demon Leader shout. Shouts of fear and shock echoed throughout the soldiers around them. The leader's Warhammer swung with fury as Jaune side stepped another strike.
Jaune struck against the shaft of the warhammer, metal striking against metal as the Leader went to bash him with his shield. Jaune braced his shoulder as the shield struck against his aura.
Pikes followed the leader's strike, clashing against his shield and armor.
Jaune stepped back to avoid another hammer strike. The Leader attempted too follow up with a headbutt, only for Jaune to raise his shield to block it. Both jumped back as they glared down one another.
Then an arrow struck the ground between them.
Many more followed.