Howling 21
As the sun rose, two forces were on the verge of battle. On one side stood a fort with demon soldiers. Their opponent was the human forces of the Umbridge Kingdom. On horseback, King John stared at the defensive stronghold. On top of the wall, General Musashi looked at the humans. General Musashi gave orders, and the fort gates opened. The troll mud creatures emerge. On two towers within the fort, demon eyeballs appeared. The eyeballs move, looking at the humans. The humans began hyping themselves.
A few days before the battle, King John marched with his troops. The forces that had left earlier had arrived and were setting up camp. King John received updates on the status of the fort. He realized they, too, were being watched because they began getting ready. He told Cortez and Haddison about it.
"There is nothing we can do now but be ready," Haddison said. "Es cierto, we need to adjust our strategy when we encounter them." Cortez patted King John on his back. He also told him not to worry until they got there. John agreed, and they continued their travel through villages, farmlands, hills, and forests.
After many days of travel, they arrived at the newly constructed campsite. King John and his forces unpacked and relaxed. King John's tent was the largest in the camp. Inside, he had a desk, bed, war table, and supplies. King John removed his armor and sat at his desk. There were many documents, and he began reviewing them. Some documents revealed the demons' daily routines.
King John finished by sundown. After finishing giving out orders outside, Cortez walked into his tent. "Well, how does it look?" he asked. King John shook his head. He told him they couldn't figure out the enemy's count. King John also mentioned the troll creatures. "They aren't just for war. They seem to be able to build things." King John wanted to put some work behind him and asked to raise spirits.
Outside, King John asked some soldiers to bring barrels. "I see you have been working hard, and what awaits us is a battle no one ever thought would happen. As king, I failed to keep your peace…" The soldiers heard King John's words but dared say nothing. "I know some of you might be scared, so to shake any worry or doubt, we will drink those fears away. I have brought you the finest ale from the dwarf kingdom." King John opens the first barrel and pours a glass of beer. He hands it to a soldier.
The others cheer and begin lining up. King John also tells them to take it easy. The soldiers drink and party. King John sits with Cortez, and Haddison also appears. "If Annabeth saw you gave your troops beer before a battle, she would be furious." Cortez and John laugh. "I bet she will," John said. They continue laughing. As they also dispel their worries, John notices a group of people in colorful masks.
"Who are they?" he asked. Cortez looked at them and smiled. "They are a group I hired. Our city has many warriors. As a result, many work as ordinary people. A group wanted to preserve their family heritage. The group was training, and a crowd gathered. After a while, their training evolved into a performance, but they still retained their warrior spirit."
King John watched them perform for the soldiers. "I enlisted their help. They are the Luchadores. They are quick and agile; some are fierce and tough. I believe they will help control the battlefield." King John nodded in understanding. Haddison laughed, "I hope they are good at fighting and keep the dancing to themselves." "Hey, Cuidado con lo que dices." King John calls to have more beer.
He tells Cortez and Haddison to behave and drink. They continue partying into the night. Cortez brings out some expensive wine and shares it with them. Many older veteran soldiers think of their lives and families as the cheering dies. Some younger soldiers become scared again. Others try to ease their worries. Haddison's Amazonians flirt with some male soldiers and eventually take them back to their tents.
The following day, many woke up with a hangover. The captain ordered their groups to sober up and begin getting ready. King John had sent letters to King Sloan but had not received a response. "What are you planning to do?" Haddison asked. "If they don't respond, we will proceed with the plan." Cortez and Haddison nodded.
The soldiers begin their last days of practice. While they train, all the captains gather to listen to Cortez explain about the enemy. Cortez and his forces have faced the enemy. He tells them there is little information about the mud creatures. "Let me start by saying that they should not be underestimated. These creatures may resemble trolls and goblins, but they are not."
Cortez talked about his encounters with them. He started with the goblins. They were the size of regular goblins and just as weak, but they attacked in droves. He advised that they should not let their forces get overrun. Cortez moved on to the trolls. The trolls were slow but powerful. They could turn their hands into weapons. "We will work as a group to bring them down," he said.
Some questions were answered. Cortez explains how they were deployed. "I don't know how they did it, but they come from boulders. They are some earth magic. The enemy catapulted them at us. They don't suffer any damage; we should watch out when they land." There were whispers as they discussed among themselves.
Cortez then finishes by saying that the last line of attacks is the demon soldiers. They are like any other soldiers. They either use weapons or cast magic. "I believe they only have a small number of soldiers because I have only ever faced them after the creatures reduced our forces." There were more discussions before they were dismissed.
On the other side, General Musashi heard the enemy had set up camp. He was still waiting for news about reinforcements. "Sir, there is no news; what should we do?" "Begin preparations for the first wave and gather the first battalion. Tell the others to prepare also." The soldier ran out. General Musashi leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. "Is there anything else I can do?"
One more night passed, and everything was ready. Early in the morning, before the sun rose, King John and his troops were prepared. King John stared one more time at the deselect road before ordering them to move. The Umbridge force marched toward the fort. They went past a forest and stood on top of a hill. They began lining up.
Suddenly, the sound of a horn woke everyone. The archers were already on top of the wall, and the Umbridge troops were finishing their preparations for position. The sun was finally rising, and the Umbridge soldiers saw the demon fort and its archers. They became tense and scared. King John noticed them tense up.
King John drew his sword and raised it. All the soldiers stared. "Today, we drive the enemy forces back to where they came from. Let them hear the roar of our cries and show them how terrifying we can be—for the people, our loved ones, and our Kingdom!" The veteran soldiers began making noise, which lifted their spirits. The captains also began inciting their troops.
General Musashi and the demon soldiers heard the human's loud screams and began to feel scared. General Musashi raised his hand. The fort gates opened, and the large troll-like mud creatures emerged. On towers, eyes projected above and scanned the area. "Wait until the enemy passes the boundary before launching the dark troops."
While all this was happening, Fillan and the other young soldiers were getting ready. The older soldiers gathered and prepared for their orders. Fillan thought about what had happened earlier with General Musashi. Fillan emerged from the meditation shack. General Musashi confronted him. "Fillan, this battle could be your death. As much as I hoped that all of you would have more time to learn, I feel ashamed that some of you will die. I promise all a place to belong, but fate chose otherwise."
"I know I am asking for too much, but please let me fight," Fillan said. General Musashi released some Mana. Fillan didn't notice, and then a murderous aura emerged. Fillan took a defensive stance. "Fillan, the choice is yours. You could either fight or remain back behind the walls." General Musashi then left after saying this.
Fillan stared at the others as they geared up. He then began putting on his armor. Once they were ready, they headed out. The other group of children was already waiting. The instructors started giving out orders. "Our job is to defend this fort. The enemy will attempt to infiltrate. Our forces will do everything possible to halt their advance. General Musashi has pulled you to the line of defense. This does not mean you will not fight. Take this time to calm your nerves. Glory to the demon king."
The children were nervous and scared. They tried to comfort one another, and the team leaders attempted to motivate their comrades. Fillan, Shia, Barret, and Finlay were placed with another group. They weren't worried except for Finlay, who was shaking. They then heard the enemy's roars.
King John orders the advance. The first line casts defensive spells, and their armor and shields glow. They began moving forward, followed by the second line, which carried spears and shields. "Begin casting." A group of mages near King John started to chant. They held crystals. Magic circles appear above them, and a series of fireballs is launched.
General Musashi drew Mana and cast a spell of his own. The fort wall glows. The fireballs begin to hit near or at the fort walls. The demon soldiers hear the explosions. "Fortification magic, keep at it," he told the mages. As the soldiers continue to close in, General Musashi readies the archers. The archers drew their bows. "Piercing shots," General Musashi orders. The archers release a volley of arrows when the enemy steps over the first line.
As the arrows fly, they reach a high point before falling, but before they glow. They begin their descent. "Shields up!" The human calls out. The humans halt their movement and raise their shields. Suddenly, the arrows hit like boulders. Some pierce through. The human soldiers begin to fall. Then, a few human captains cast earth spells and formed walls.
The screams of injured soldiers are heard. They call for the medics. Once the arrows stop, they continue their march forward. General Musashi orders another round. The archers readied their next shots. They fired and again hit the advancing forces. More soldiers fell while the others covered up and moved forward. King John orders the following lines to move.
"Keep the front lines pin," General Musashi says. The archers receive their orders and begin shooting. King John counters by having the mages change to wind spells. "Knock those arrows away." King John then looks at Cortez and nods. Cortez turns to his forces. "Adelante Todos," he waves his hand, and his forces move.
The troll mud creatures reached the first line and began fighting. The human forces were scattered. "Don't fight alone!" "Attack!" "Watch out!" The battlefield became chaotic. Cortez and his force picked up the pace. While some groups fought the trolls, the rest moved forward. They then pass the first line.
General Musashi orders the catapults to be released. Large boulders are then seen flying over the battlefield. "Get out of the way!" soldiers scream. The boulder comes crashing down and then rolls over the soldiers. "Rapido," Cortez shouts. The boulder begins to melt, and the goblin creatures emerge from it. The goblins attack the human forces.
The soldiers easily defend them off until they begin to get overrun. Before the ties turn, the luchadores appear and quickly and swiftly cut down the enemy. More boulders come crashing down, and more goblins appear. The human soldiers return to a formation and push the enemy. "Asi, keep the enemy in front," Cortez shouts. He fights with grace, using a rapier and a black whip.
General Musashi calls a soldier and gives some orders. The soldier runs downstairs and heads to one of the towers. He knocks, and another demon soldier opens the door. "A message from General Musashi. The demon soldier then runs upstairs to a room with several demon mages. Demon mages sit in a circle.
Upon hearing the message, the demon mages drew Mana, and a demon mage in different robes began casting a spell. The other tower also started doing the same. The eyes above the towers gazed out at the battlefield. King John noticed, and then the goblins began to form a formation. The goblins attacked like a trained unit, slowing down the advance.
While they wait, Fillan and the others hear the chaotic sounds of the battlefield. Fillan drowns out the noise and closes his eyes to concentrate. "There must be something I can do." He concentrates and tries to draw Mana. He accidentally gets pushed, which causes him to lose his concentration. Fillan looks over and notices Finlay is scared. Finlay sees him looking at him and turns in embarrassment. More explosions are heard.
The human forces were losing momentum. The goblins kept them busy, and some were getting exhausted. King John watched his forces, who could still not reach the fort walls. "Advance," he ordered the remaining troops. He then turned to the captain of the royal guards and told him to charge when they had a clean break to the fort.
The human forces then began a full charge at the fort. They broke their formation and attacked. A horn then sounded, and the fort gates opened again. The demon soldiers emerged and formed up in a line. Once they were ready, they advanced. The demon soldiers drew Mana, and their armor glowed. They began their counterattack.
The demon soldier clashed with the human troops. Many who were tired fell quickly. The adventures that had come charged forward. The demon forces intercepted, and the battle intensified. General Musashi surveyed the battlefield. "They are tough, but they still seem new to this. With one more push, we could turn the ties." General Musashi thought and then turned to see his remaining forces.
"Captain, Iruma, how many more dark boulders do we have?" A demon soldier in knight armor spoke up. "A few; we could probably use about five more." "Do it," General Musashi said. The demon captain issued the order, and the catapults were loaded after some time. The boulders were launched. King John ordered his mages to destroy them.
Some of the mages cast different spells at the boulders. The attacks hit, but they caused no damage. The boulders fell on the battlefield, and troll mud creatures emerged. The human forces were separated. General Musashi dispatched the second unit. The demon soldiers left the fort and launched an attack. Fillan and the other children moved forward.
They reached the fort gate. General Musashi was standing on the wall, looking at them. "Reinforcements won't come…" he shouted. The children look at him. "Today, you are part of the demon nation. You have a place here, and one will take that from you. I wish I had more time to prepare you. The enemy is at our front doors; now is the time to show them you belong in this world. May those that cast you aside witness who you are."
The fort gates opened again, and they stepped outside. The veteran soldiers moved forward, followed by the children. The sound of fighting became louder. They could hear the cries of the humans and demons. They saw the chaotic scene before them. Explosions and elemental spells were cast all around. "Company, forward!" the captain shouts.
They began moving forward. Then, a volley of arrows rained down on them. Fillan was still overwhelmed before he noticed. A large figure stepped in front of him. Barrett defended him. The other children either dodged or blocked the attack. Some got hit, and their screams echoed. Medical soldiers helped the injured back into the fort.
"Regroup…regroup," the captain shouted. The children returned to their formation, closing the empty spaces. They moved forward. General Musashi stared at Fillan, who looked confused. Fillan was still pondering what he had been told. "Fillan, this could be the death of you…" On the wall, a captain asked General Musashi if the children knew how to kill.
The veteran soldier engaged in battle. The children were alone, and a group of human soldiers noticed them. They gathered to attack. "We don't have to worry about that," he said. The older children prepared and defended themselves using the training they received. The human soldiers attacked. Looking at the enemy, their expression changed. The children cast defensive spells on themselves and then launched an attack.
General Musashi thought of them. The children were outcasts. They were discriminated against and tortured for being different. Many had lived hard lives as slaves, and to break free, they killed their suppressors. The humans were no match for their strengths. The children cut them down without remorse. They advance, pushing the enemy back.
Fillan looked hesitant; he felt helpless. Then, he saw a group struggling to take out the enemy. Fillan gripped his sword and ran towards them. One of the enemies saw him and intercepted him. The enemy swings his sword. Fillan felt the danger and dodged. The enemy didn't stop and continued to attack. Fillan blocked but was overpowered.
Fillan stepped back and saw an opening; he struck. The enemy reacted slowly, but Fillan's sword could not penetrate the armor. The enemy then caught Fillan off guard and kicked him away. Fillan was sent back and rolled on the ground. He gasped for air. He then senses the enemy getting close. Fillan felt afraid. Suddenly, the enemy fell to the ground.
Fillan looks up and sees one of his allies. "Damn it, come on, Fillan, get it together." He helps Fillan get up and tells him to regroup. Fillan sighs and tries to get into the right mind. He sees Barret fighting and goes to help. Barret overwhelms the enemy, causing them to retreat. Fillan again couldn't do anything. Fillan looks around the battlefield as his allies fight hard.
Conversely, King John was getting reports from the front lines. Several squads had been wiped out, and others had lost a significant number of personnel. King John could only watch; he looked at the injured as they returned or were brought back. King John had to change his strategy. He gave the order, and Cortez got a signal and ordered his forces to retreat.
The demons, feeling victorious, chase them. The children, doing better than expected, also chase the enemy. Fillan was about to follow, wanting to prove he could do it. General Musashi's expression changes. He glares at his forces as they chase the enemy. Then, the sound of galloping is heard—Fillan senses danger. "It's about time." From the side, a battalion of cavalry charges at them.
The demon captains shouted for the chase to stop. They have spread too much. Haddison and her Amazonians make a pass, killing those in front of them. Haddison orders another pass. The demon soldiers try to defend themselves. From the forest on the side, archers fire a volley of arrows. The battle shifts again. Haddison and her forces make another pass.
When the dust cleared, Fillan saw some of the children dead. General Musashi orders them to regroup. He has the goblins and Trolls cover them. Cortez's troops attacked again. "Go," King John orders. The royal guards release Mana, and they dash into battle. They quickly reach the front lines and deal with the enemy.
General Musashi looks at the royal guards with a monotone expression. A royal knight sees Barret quickly killing his allies. Before Barret can finish the last one, he senses danger. Barret attacks, but the knight blocks. "You seem strong," he says. Barret draws Mana and pours it into his shield. The knight and Barret clash.
At first, they looked equal, but then Barret defended more—the knight attacked with a combo of swings. Barret was too slow and lost the shield. The knight sees an opening and strikes. Barret lets out a painful scream. "Not bad, but you still need more training."
The knight prepares to finish him. Fillan helplessly stares. Then he hears the sound of chains, and the image of the beast pops into his mind. The knight was about to swing his sword when he felt danger. He dodges a blade aimed at his head. Fillan stood before him. "What, a friend?" the knight asks. He then looked at Fillan and couldn't feel his Mana.
The knight became wary of him; he thought Fillan was hiding his Mana. He prepared to fight when Barret stepped in front of him, surprising the knight. "Barret, move," Fillan said. Barret ignored him and readied his sword. The knight didn't know what was happening. He also ignored it and prepared to launch another attack. He moved fast and struck. Barret defended but struggled; he kept Fillan behind him.
The knight realized something. He attacked, and Barret could only block. Then, in an opening, he aimed his sword towards Fillan. Fillan was caught off guard. Barret pushes him out of the way and gets hit. Fillan became angry and attacked, aiming for the gap in his armor. The knight dodges all his attacks. "Pathetic," he mocks. The knight wanted to finish them. He takes out a red crystal.
He suddenly draws Mana, and the red crystal glows. His sword is suddenly engulfed in flames. "It's time to end this," he says while preparing to attack. Barret also draws Mana and pounds the ground. The ground shakes and opens up. The knight jumped out of the way and unleashed a crescent flame slash. Barret raises his sword to block. The knight sees another opening. Fillan tries to block.
Fillan's sword was cut through. The knight swung again, aiming at Barret. This was a finishing blow. Then, another sword deflected this sword. "Wow, there are my friends," a lazy voice said. Shia then made the knight step back. Shia drew Mana and prepared to fight. The knight couldn't believe it.
The knight stared at Shia. "Another one," he sneered. Shia drew Mana and took a fighting stance. The knight felt he should not underestimate him. Shia stared at the knight. The knight made a move, and he attacked. Shia countered by meeting him head-on. Their swords collided. Fillan could only stand and watch. Barret held his injury and also watched.
After a series of attacks, Shia gets pushback. Shia recovers fast and returns to the fight. He attacks while running around him. The knight becomes annoyed and looks for an opening. During an attack, the knight dodges and prepares to strike at an opening. He swings his sword. Shia smirked, and another sword deflected the attack. The knight sees Shia holding two swords.
"I've been taking you for granted." The knight drew more Mana. Barret, shaking the pain, stood up, ready to fight. Fillan readies his weapon. "Fillan, stand back, we got this," Shia said. Barret again stood before him. The knight attacks, and Shia faces him head-on again. The knight swung his sword downward. Shia was about to block when he sensed danger.
Shia stopped and dodged the attack. "Smart," the knight said. Barrett then attacked, swinging his sword. The knight dodged and went for an opening. Shia blocked with one sword and attacked with the other. Fillan watched this intense back-and-forth between the three. The knight was pushed back. "I don't deny the two of you working together is troublesome."
The knight pulls out several red crystals. "I think you still need more training." The crystals glow, and the knight casts several spells. He unleashes fireballs. Shia and Barrett dodge the oncoming attack. The knight unleashes more. Barrett feels the pain from his wound and stops moving. A fireball hits him. Shia goes for an attack while dodging the fireballs. The knight moves and sees Fillan standing still. He attacks him.
Fillan, seeing him, prepares to defend. Fillan raises his sword only to realize it was broken from an early attack. The knight swung his sword but missed. Fillan dodges and steps back. Shia strikes from behind, only to be blocked. Fillan looks for another weapon. Barret then appears again with burn marks on his face. He attacks the knight.
"AHHAHHAHH, let's see what you do, old man?" Far from the battlefield, a child with blonde hair and blue eyes, dressed in nobleman's clothes, watches the battle through a telescope. Then the boy looks up, "My king, everything is ready." In a room lit by candles, the same boy looks at a figure sitting on a throne.