Rock giants had already come to the temple of the Mother Goddess but found themselves headed back to the area. They did not have any way of protesting the orders of their dwarven masters as they followed the tracks they made in their first journey. The masters commanding them would have more than just another opportunity to steal a precious valuable this time. A long awaited battle with the rising overlord was overdue for the dwarven army and finally being realized this day.
Golding could see the entrance to the temple clearing in the distance as he continued to guide his men through the woods before hearing one of them ask, "Are we taking them by surprise my lord? I was ready for them to stage a surprise attack by now."
This suggestion was not lost on Golding as he kept a hand on the handle of his axe answering, "I as well. I do not want this to pave the way for us to be lax in our defense. It is only a matter of time before we start seeing bloodshed."
One of the dwarves on the top of the rock giant saw the two conversing as he asked his partner, "Do you think it is just the anticipation getting to us?"
He was not left with any more assurance than his prince as he was told, "I would prefer to think Kahn was able to wear them down to make a retreat. That would probably be too much to ask for in any battle though."
"How right you are."
These were the only words the two dwarves heard as they were subjected to a mighty slash that came their way. The first was cleaved in half from the chest up while the other fell off the rock giant in desperation to avoid being cut. Realizing its masters had been forced off its back was a revelation to the rock giant before it turned to the left away from the path.
The marching dwarf army looked up as soon as they saw one of their giants walking away only to find themselves met with an attack coming in front. Several konouchi Rei clones leapt through the air throwing their knives into their throats. The first soldiers of Shinji's army made contact with the dwarves causing Golding to take up his shield and axe to defend himself.
He backed away as his shield took a knife before he ordered, "Hold formation! Don't let them break you!"
A new battle had begun at the edge of the temple clearing that even the distracted rock giants were unable to steer away from. They were also the best hope the dwarves had against the continued onslaught that came from every direction. It was one weakness the konouchi Rei clones could not compensate for at the moment given their weapons could not easily pierce the solid stone of their bodies. Being blessed with such hardness did not mean they had invincibility on their side.
Shinji led the charge into battle as he swung his mace at the shin of the nearest rock giant to cause it to tumble backwards. Phanton and Misato flew next to one another alongside Vixen and Aoi as they charged for both sides of the giant and took hold of the arms. It took a mighty pull from both of them before slamming the loosely joined limbs to the ground where the assembly of dwarves continued to stand their ground.
A brief amount of time had passed before the immediate damage done to the dwarven army could be visible. Soldiers scattered and kept themselves on the defensive as they stood against the Rei clones and the growing number of Shinji's fellowship showing up to the frontlines. One in particular knew it was time for her to demonstrate her devotion to this new cause.
Jewel brandished both of her swords as she rushed towards the cowering soldiers. She was out of their sight as she rushed between the trees to find the perfect opportunity to attack. Her arrival should have been the first sign they were about to turn the battle in their favor. It was instead another reminder of how difficult their cause was.
Leaping into the air, Jewel spun her blades at both sides to cut across the throats of two dwarves she landed near before rushing away from them. Seeing the Ruborian leader deal such damage to them was a blow to their morale but their numbers were harmed as they were dealt one strike after another. Jewel proved with her swift motions that she was not originally one of the heroes for nothing as she stuck down one after another in her storm of slices.
The sight was enticing enough to command the attention of Orange and Tôkibi as they kept track of her motions before focusing on the soldiers charging their way. Several rushed towards them with their axes for a mighty series of sweeps. The advantage of air belonged to the succubi as they leapt into the air and hovered as they were left to swing their axes right into the ground before being left open to attacks.
Orange summoned a mighty ball of energy from her fist before pounding it into the head of one of the dwarves while kicking from behind at another one. Tôkibi took hold of two by their beards before twirling them in the air and throwing them into another gathering of soldiers nearby. Their best efforts were rewarded as soon as they saw their allies continue to press the attacks and leave the dwarven army in a struggling state.
Pollyanne saw another one of the rock giants collapse in the distance as she observed, "This sure has turned out to be easier than I thought."
Ai swung and sliced her katana across the gathering of soldiers warning, "They can take advantage any time. There has to be more of them."
Both Mayumi and Ayanami knew this was a warning they had to take as they continued their fight. Remaining back to back gave them the cover they needed to be protected form incoming attacks while delivering opposite forms of offense. Ayanami cutting away at incoming attackers with her sword and Mayumi casting elemental magic towards every opportune gathering.
Shinji was able to account for every fighter alongside him on the field as soon as he downed another rock giant. The dwarven soldiers were still struggling to find an opening they could take advantage of even as their towering creatures were defeated at every turn. None of the giants were as difficult to face as Kahn but their stone bodies kept them from being easy targets to handle with just a few blows. They were also not invincible as they were crushed by Shinji's strikes to give way to his advance on the defending dwarven army.
There was little to give the dwarves hope they were about to turn the tides as their opponents continued to advance. All of the warriors of the overlord were attacking in synchronicity to wear away at the army that attempted to be an obstacle to them. Forced to see their kind struck down one after another made the dwarves realize how increasingly hopeless their situation was.
One of the dwarves realized this by announcing, "My lord! We don't have the numbers to face them!"
Golding looked around agreeing, "Now is the test my father knew I would have to answer the call to."
Several of the dwarf soldiers immediately recognized what Golding was referring to. This was all the warning they needed to back away even with the Rei clones coming closer to them. If fortune would prove to be on their side, their leader's last resort would be everything they needed in this moment.
Golding held out his battle hammer calling, "Hammer of the Ancestors! Grant me thunder!"
Above his head, a mighty lightning bolt struck the ground where Golding stood but did not harm him. The power of the bolt channeled its way into the hammer before sending a shockwave through the forest. What sight was obstructed by the trees surrounding everyone was cleared as they fell away from Golding's area.
Shinji looked around before realizing what caused such a mighty act of destruction. This was the first time he met the dwarf prince Golding Golderson or saw a demonstration of his power. He could only imagine if the king himself was as comparably powerful.
He did not allow himself to speculate this for long as he took up his mace and told the Rei clones near him, "Keep track of the soldiers. I'll handle him."
Mayumi and Ayanami already prepared for their own attack as they turned their sights to Golding. It only took a brief few seconds before Mayumi summoned one of the boulders that formed the rock giants to throw it towards his area while Ayanami dashed over the fallen trees to find her opportune. moment to strike. The mighty rock flew towards him but Golding was prepared for this as his hammer summoned a mighty lightning bolt to strike into its middle.
The collision of two forces caused a mighty explosion to erupt in the air before sending a rain of rocks in every direction but underground. Golding stood against the incoming barrage before preparing his hammer as he saw Ayanami prepare to strike him. He countered this danger to him by swinging his hammer upwards and colliding with her sword. The clash of two weapons was brief as the remaining force in the hammer summoned a mighty force that sent Ayanami flying backwards from the emission.
Two of the nearby Rei clones were struck down by the ignition of lightning bolts nearby. Jewel saw the mighty display of thunder around her as she struck down another two of the soldiers before seeing what sort of danger she was in. This sort of power may very well have been the kind that would inspire the heroes themselves. It was a display of a kind of challenge that she had not seen since her adventuring days.
Looking around to see who was watching her, Jewel discovered she would not have much room for an escape either. If she was not struck down by Golding's bolt, the succubi in the air would be prepared to slay her at the first opportunity. Neither choice instilled confidence she would come out of this alive.
The simple quantity of those prepared to bring judgement upon her was the best reason she had for why she finally prepared her swords to charge towards Golding. Another volley of thunder bolts charged towards her and the accompanying Rei clones as she leapt into the air to avoid being hit. Black spots of ash remained where she was as the bolts dissipated while she kept hold of her blades in her charge. Unlike Ayanami's clash with Golding's hammer, Jewel only made a brief scratch against the head of the weapon before making a mighty leap over his head.
Golding prepared for Jewel's next attack as he spun around and swung his hammer towards her. He saw his weapon clash with the other sword as this time the two were pushed away from one another by the impact. Golding kept himself upright as he was forced backwards but Jewel was sent rolling to the ground across from him and into one of the nearby fallen trees.
Seeing her on the ground was the opportunity Golding had been waiting for. A decisive strike would end this conflict and grant him the honor of slaying a fallen hero. It was the moment of being caught off guard Shinji had been waiting for as he charged towards him.
Mace in both hands, Shinji thrust the head of his weapon to Golding's back to force him to the ground. The blow sent his hammer flying away from him where it clashed to the ground and let out what electric power remained in it. Golding prepared to scramble to his weapon only to get nd himself at the mercy of the overlord himself now that he was defenseless against the encroaching army.
The danger he was in made serval dwarves rush up to him. They even passed the opportunity to attack Shinji's blindspot as they recognized their prince was in danger. It was one of the first acts of loyalty Shinji had ever seen from an army that was not being done solely out of resigned subjugation. He also knew everyone in the area was already prepared to fight to the death for whatever side they believed in.
Stepping towards the gathering, Shinji knew he had to make a decision here. He did not know the dwarven prince very well or what kind of respect his men had for him. Only this opportunity to speak with him would give him a chance to comprehend what the outcome of the battle would be.
Pointing his mace towards gathering, Shinji announced, "I don't want to kill any more than I have to. Let me talk to him."
One of the dwarves warned, "Harm him and we all stand against you overlord!"
Another one agree, "The Golderson line does not end this day!"
A third one added, "Whatever you want, we will all give before he ever has to."
A brief look around the area made Shinji realize what was keeping him from being able to speak to the prince beyond the simple threats. All of the women who were prepared to make his reign possible were still locked in some form of conflict with the dwarves that refused to give ground. No matter how dire the conflict might become, they were all dedicated to making sure their last efforts would not be in vain.
Prepared for whatever disappointment might come from everyone, Shinji ordered, "Stand down!"
This command reached the ears of everyone around him. Ayanami and Mayumi managed to recover themselves while Misato and Phanton dropped the dwarves that were prepared to fight them. All of the succubi that joined the fight dropped to the ground as well before looking over to Shinji to see what he was tried to stop while Ai and Aoi placed Jewel back in her feet to see the situation.
Much to his relief only a few dwarves were struck down before the fighting finally reached its standstill. Shinji knew it was not his command but the life of their leader being on the line that made them stop. It was the first chance he would have to see negotiations prevent any more unnecessary deaths.
Turning his attention to the dwarves in front of him, Shinji announced, "If you will give me a chance to speak, I will not harm anyone unless they attack first."
Golding was hesitant to answer such an offer but kept himself weary asking, "Whatever you intend to lure me with, I am prepared to make sure that you are not victorious in your subjugation."
Shinji knew how difficult it would be to gain the trust of his opponent by assuring, "You don't have a reason to trust me. But I'm not trying to ruin anyone's life. I want to prove that."
Such an appeal made Golding push aside several of his men as he made his way up to Shinji asking, "By slaying the heroes who saved this world? Whatever honeyed words you have cannot sway me to your way of thinking."
Mayumi entered the exchange by observing, "But you're willing to at least hear him out. Does your father do the same for everyone he considers to be his enemy?"
Golding was caught off guard hearing this question. His initial instinct was the proclaim that no one needed to hear anything from those they considered enemies. Yet here he was now listening to the overlord himself not by his own request but by the overlord desiring to speak right now. Just this fact alone was enough to make him question if he was in fact meeting with an enemy the other heroes believed needed to be slain.
Even recognizing this opening he was given was not enough to make him reconsider his initial apprehension as Golding warned, "If you intend to use me as ransom or interrogation, you will find I am not worth either possibility."
It was straight to the point and Shinji knew he had to appeal to this fear he would have felt in Golding's position. The loyalty he was displaying to his corrupted father was another aspect he could not help but sympathize with. A time not so long ago where he wanted to achieve a similar achievement.
Shinji prepared himself for whatever further protest Godling had by revealing, "I know it's not what you want to believe but the heroes have all been corrupted. We have to stop them if everyone wants to be free."
It was only a small seed of doubt but one Golding tried to deny by accusing, "Is that how it is being perceived? It's only natural you would include my father in that case."
Misato and Phanton flew down to the gathering before Misato asked, "I had to ask Snarhur about this sort of thing earlier. It doesn't sound like your king was so obsessive about gold before he and the others saved the world."
Phanton agreed, "Dutoum told me a similar story. Does your father claim to have a different reason for why he needed to steal the Mother Goddess statue?"
Once again Golding found himself struggling to explain what he needed to answer for. His father showed an obsession for gold ever since he was alive. Unable to recall when he was not so commanding of the precious metal, he accepted it was just another part of who he was as king.
He forced himself to believe his father did not have any other tendencies by resorting to the answer his father always gave, "We fight to free her from the hold of the elven nightmare that Oberon unleashed. Even if they are free now, they cannot be strong enough to hold on to it. Not with all the destruction you and your kind have wrought."
It was another reasonable cause for him to be concerned but Shinji tried to appeal to him by reasoning, "We would all be able to defend it together if we dedicated ourselves to its protection."
Mayumi added, "I know how important the statue is. Not just to elven kind but yours as well. There were apparently long held debates about whether she was an elf or a dwarf. Try asking yourself this: If the elves were freed, was there any reason for your father to steal it from them?"
Golding wanted to refuse every suggestion that was being thrown at him. He also knew his father should have wanted to see the statue protected more than anything. Every argument he could think of that would deny what he was being presented made him fear he might have been willingly blinding himself to the truth he was presented.
Both a combination of fear from hearing any more degradation of his father and the growing uncertainty he had of his own cause made Golding appeal, "Even if I believed every word you had, facing my people would never stand up to him so readily. Not even if I were to lead them into a moment he was most vulnerable."
It was a difficult case and Shinji knew he could not do anything to make Golding readily decry what his father was doing. He also realized he did not have a chance to negotiate the situation any further. One of the Rei clones made her way to the gathering where she saw Shinji keeping Golding at his mercy. Her arrival made it clear for everyone there was only one reason she was here.
Determining there was no danger to anyone, the Rei runner reported, "Shinji, we have found the enemy out in the depths of the woods. It looks like they might be uniting their numbers."
This suggestion caught Misato's attention making her ask, "He walked around us? He was scared of us this whole time?"
Ayanami tried to determine the cause of such a diversion, "He possibly wants to cut off the potential elven allies before they have a chance to help us."
Mayumi tried to prepare the others by warning, "That has to mean Yersia is in danger. Shinji, you have to decide his fate swiftly."
The sense of urgency was not lost on Shinji even with such a heavy choice on his shoulders. He was prepared to slay anyone standing in his way when he first entered the forest. Having a chance to learn from Jewel and dwarven prince about their respective situations made him reconsider the sort of strategy he had to take. The struggle to live up to the example he wanted to achieve was still a challenge he needed to find a way to realize.
He hoped Golding would at least begin to recognize this sort of aspiration by telling him, "I have to go out there and face him. I can't promise you'll be spared if we have to fight each other again."
Turning away from him, the survivors of his gathering made their way up to him. Vixen and Orange kept their eyes on Golding to make sure he was not about to take advantage of the opening. The reception of allowing Golding to survive was mixed but everyone knew they were not in any place to question Shinji's judgement either. His belief in mercy was a way of thinking many argued he valued to a fault.
This gesture was not lost on Golding however as he watched Shinji turn and leave. He was leaving him behind entirely now with the intent of stopping his father from attacking the eleven people. He did not even have an idea of what sort of resistance there would be but he still managed to feel a growing conflict in him at what just happened.
As parting words, Jewel was one of the last heroes to remain behind as she revealed, "I know it might be difficult to believe hearing from me. But I remember how Goldo was before. He did value the Mother Goddess statue but not for the reasons he wants it now."
One of the dwarf captains spat at her words decrying, "We have no reason to trust your accounts fallen wench. If we meet again, you will be slain at the first chance we have."
Jewel acknowledged the responsibility on her admitting, "This sort of thing wasn't going to be easy wasn't it?"
The moment Jewel turned away from the remaining dwarves, the same accusing captain observed, "My lord, we might have a chance to take him by surprise if we allow proper distance between us."
Golding could tell Shinji was prepared to make this the last exchange the two of them would have for now. It was also a perfect opportunity to find an opening that he could use to take him by surprise for all the dedication he had to fight for his father's cause. He also had much that he was left to contemplate if he was going to make his cause worth continuing. The very nature of the Mother Goddess statue being the utmost concern for his people and many others of his world.
There were many things he needed to consider but Golding finally determined, "The king will be more ready to handle this overlord than any of us will be able to. We will have our chance at redemption once we are certain he cannot be helped."
The remaining dwarves were not any more assured about their current situation but one of the leading soldiers agreed, "This Shinji fellow is more naive than we could have imagined. Either a worthy adversary or the most foolish we ever faced. We shall see if the king can prove himself where the others could not."
Things had gone just as Yersia feared they could. The combined force of King Goldo and his men marched through the forest no longer dampered by the threat of Oberon's nightmares. Even less so, the elven people.
There was no longer a question of orders as the dwarven army made its path to Shinji's castle. Everything in its way was to be struck down as long as they continued to live. Negotiations would not slow anyone down or prevent the climactic conflict.
Yersia prepared her bow again as she shot an arrow towards one of the countless soldiers in the distance. One of them took an arrow to the neck but it caught the attention of the gathered soldiers as they searched for their attacker. Their attention was demanded elsewhere when they found a more prominent target.
The village of Yalebelle only had a brief window to awaken to the reality they had entered but the incoming army denied this opportunity. It had not even come within a few feet distance and several of the rock giants hurled mighty clumps of earth out of the ground and into the base of nearby houses. Such a display of betrayal left many confused as to what was happening for more than just the simple alarm of being thrown into conflict.
The treaties upheld by the Royal Alliance should have made sure something like this would never happen. Their unity against any remnants of Vandark or anyone else threatening the world should have kept a battle between elves and dwarves from erupting. Such a concern was far from Goldo's mind as he saw this small gathering as just another obstacle to keep him from getting to Shinji's castle.
He could see elves grab their weapons in panic before hearing one of his generals report, "This will probably be the only one we have to deal with my lord. All the other ones have shown reported signs that they do not want to fight."
Goldo took hold of his axe denying, "They might cower on fear at what we demonstrate. They will renew their vigor once they discover what we have."
Turning around to see his new most cherished possession in his tent, Goldo saw a faint gleem from the Mother Goddess statue to remind him of its luster. One of the most singular concentrations of pure gold to be found anywhere in the world was still his to keep hold of despite how much his army was tasked to move. He also knew the elves alone would want this object of worship for more than just what it was made of.
Confident he would be unchallenged, Goldo swung his axe out and charged to the town his army was marching upon before ordering, "Press the attack! Let none of them survive!"
In a mighty slash to his right, Goldo swung his axe to the ground to cause an act of destruction that shook many who looked on. Three houses that stood unharmed were spilt down the middle by the force of his weapon. Several elves were victim to the attack but it the sudden display of power made the defenders concentrate their attention on the one individual capable of such an attack.
Goldo turned his attention to the front where he saw several elves running away but some still stood their ground. He knew he would have resistance to deal with no matter how much of Yalebelle he destroyed but the sight of them standing firm in the face of his might left him grinning in amusement. It only took another few seconds before he realized what the others had reason to resist with.
An arrow soared past Goldo's head but hit square into the eye of one of his soldiers. It was a minor casualty but he kept his weapon at the ready for whoever was making him defend himself. Even a small opening was dangerous enough to deny him ownership of the statue he coveted.
He was less amused as soon as he saw who attacked him standing on a nearby rooftop. It was an elf but not one he was familiar with. Not even the usual species.
Keeping his axe level, Goldo proclaimed, "A Forest Elf? So there are still those of your kind out here?"
Yersia refused to indulge Goldo with an answer as she prepared another arrow to fire at him this time. Goldo was prepared as he swung his axe to split the projectile down the middle of its head while cutting across the house she was standing on. It was another display of destruction but it did not kill the one he had his sights on.
He turned around to see Yersia leaping across the rooftops but was distracted as soon as he found out there was a gathering of elves that pressed towards him. There was a newfound sense of resistance he did not see among the elves even when he entered Yalebelle. It forced the soldiers next to him to raise their child's in defense while making Goldo grip his axe with both hands.
He charged forward while some of his men charged alongside him. Swords and axes collided with one another in a battle that dwarves and elves clashed with in few times before. Goldo allowed himself to be content with his achievement the moment he broke through the line and searched for the Forest Elf that caught his attention before.
It only took a few demonstrations but Yersia was able to see why Goldo was not challenged in his reign. The mighty axe he carried with him was prepared to tear the village asunder of no one was able to stop him. Only the combined effort of the survivors would be able to push back against his slaughter in any way.
She hoped it would have been an easy cause to rally for but heard one of the elves ask, "Have you been so careless that you would challenge him like that?"
Yersia turned before another elf asked, "You're a Forest Elf. What are you supposed to see in the value of civilization?"
It was not a pleasant thing to hear but Yersia knew it would be inevitable. The long history of her kind not being fully integrated as her lighter skinned fellows was a feeling that resonated through all of Oberon's nightmares and the life they had to continuously live through. She was going to make sure that would not remain the case today.
She stood firm against the accusations of what's he was by answering, "Even if I might not see things the way you do, we all value the way of the Mother Goddess. This king who attacks us now, he wants her gift to us for himself. Not for worship but only to fulfill his insatiable greed."
The news of what sort of fate was in store for the Mother Goddess statue was believable to the gathered elves. There had to be a reason the dwarves were so willing to tear down everything in their way. It was the simplest reason but it was also what made the most sense at the moment.
One of the elves determined, "We might not see eye to eye with her people on much. But the Mother Goddess should be part of all our lives."
Another agreed, "If this is how far the dwarven king has fallen, then it falls to us to right their heresy."
Most of the elves were prepared for a renewed fight but one of them voiced his concerns, "They outnumber us so much. How can we stand against them with what we have now? And against a weapon so mighty?"
Yersia knew the odds were not in her favor at the moment but remained convicted in her cause answering, "Out hope lies with the overlord. This battle will determine what he is capable of when he is against an army as mighty as this."