Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Chapter 1009- Seraphim of Honor— [Barachiel] (6)

It started with a faint shiver at first but turned into a fortress shaking earthquake in a few seconds, sending a chill down everyone's spine.

Then came the cries from the scouts, trembling voices that barely held back their terror.

"They're here! The Demon Lord's forces have arrived!"…

DING… DING… DING…

Alarm bells rang all across the city and all eyes turned to the distant horizon— and there it was. A sight so horrifying it felt like the world itself had stopped.

The horizon, once a flat line of barren plains, now surged with an unnatural, inky blackness. Like a wave of living shadow, it swallowed the land whole, stretching endlessly in all directions, blotting out the ground and sky alike.

A sea of demons, beasts, and monstrosities marched forward, their sheer numbers so overwhelming that one could actually feel their skin crawling.

From the towering silhouettes of Earth Giants with glowing crimson eyes, to the sickly green mist exhaled by countless Titan Boas that clung to the air like poison, the army exuded an aura of death so thick it was suffocating.

Here and there, grotesque figures with massive wings hovered above the horde like vultures, their claws gleaming even in the faint light.

Piercing screeches, guttural growls, howls, and roars formed a cacophony of music so nerve wracking that it drowned out the alarms of the fortress.

Sky earth and even underground, everywhere they laid their eyes, was crawling with the approaching image of doom.

The soldiers and knights at the fortress walls felt their hearts sink into their stomachs, some gripping their weapons so tightly their knuckles turned white, others frozen in abject terror.

The black tide advanced steadily as if it were the embodiment of inevitability itself, and the aura of despair it carried threatened to choke all hope from the air.

The Demon Lord's army had arrived.

"W-W-What should we do? There's no way we can win against that! Run!"

 Panic began to ripple through the ranks like wildfire. The soldiers trembled in their boots and prepared to run away from this nightmare they found themselves in, when suddenly a single arrow was fired.

CLANG!

The sharp sound of steel on stone snapped the soldiers out of their terror. There, standing tall atop the fortress walls, was Vaylen. His sword was unsheathed and the mantle of Orldanos was waving behind his back.

"Do you hear them? The cries of our loved ones, the hopes of those who could not flee, rest on us! If we run, we doom not only ourselves but everything we've ever held dear! But if we stand, if we FIGHT, our courage will echo across the ages!"

The soldiers who were about to flee, found themselves standing rooted to their place, their hearts steeling after that rallying cry.

Despite the immense pressure weighing down on everyone else, his eyes held nothing but determination.

"Cowards die a thousand deaths, but we, the brave warriors of Orlandos, shall face this death but once!" Vaylen's voice boomed over the city.

"Do you hear them? The cries of our loved ones, the hopes of those who could not flee, rest on us! If we run, we doom not only ourselves but everything we've ever held dear! But if we stand, if we FIGHT, our courage will echo across the ages!"

The soldiers who were about to flee, found themselves standing rooted to their place, their hearts steeling after that rallying cry.

"Stand your ground! Ready your blades! Ready your bows! This is our home! THIS IS OUR FIGHT! SOUND THE HORNS OF WAR!!"

HONK! HONK! HONK!

At the same time, thunderous horn sounded from the demon horde. The black tide surged forward as though a dam had broken, charging with terrifying speed. @@novelbin@@

 Infernal Hounds (Level 400), Hellmaw Ravagers (Level 450), Earth Giants (Level 500), Earth Eaters (Level 500)… The city walls shook with the thunder of the demon army's charge.

 The moment of fearlessness the soldiers felt was shortlived and fear gripped their hearts once again. Just as the aura of dread threatened to paralyze them completely, a brilliant radiance pierced the veil of darkness.

SHIIIIING!

A brilliant white harp appeared in the sky and with that, rays of light like shooting stars, shot down from it cutting through the dark veil that had blanketed the battlefield.

As the light touched the walls and the trembling soldiers, the dread and despair suffocating them lifted entirely. That was not all, from the harp a Celestial melody began to play, its music resonating across the entire battlefield each note carrying an invigorating warmth.

The music, negated the oppressive aura of the demon army, dispelling fear, poison, curses and fueling the soldiers with newfound powers.

 "We're not alone!" Vaylen roared "Look, the angel is with us".

The spirits of the soldiers rose and they started fighting the never ending horde with a newfound fervour.

The battle to raze the kingdom of Orlandos officially started.

 Droves and droves of monsters led by legions of low ranking demon nobles attacked the city, spilling rivers of blood and raising mountains of corpses. Casualties increased on both sides; however, it was the humans who were at a severe disadvantage.

Although thanks to the buff from the angel, their powers increased. But to down each monster, demon nobles and other races allied with the demon horde they had to sacrifice ten times the soldiers.

The loss the kingdom of Orldanods faced right after the start of the war was already staggering.

.

"Hmph, keep sending droves after droves of monsters at them. I can sense the presence of two powerful beings on their side. Until unless they come out, don't slow down the pace"

Standing on a high tower made with magic, Garvex commented. Beside him, there were the two other direct subordinates of the Demon Lord of Envy and numerous high ranking demons.

Simon was also among them. He used Vordanaz's coattails to ride the storm. Of the two individuals Garvex mentioned, Simon believed one was Vincent. However, he had no idea about the other.

From his vantage point atop the magically constructed high tower, Simon watched as chaos unfolded beneath him.

The demon horde surged forward like a living wave of darkness. Fighting them, the humans fought valiantly; however, the imbalance in power was far too great.

The cost the humans paid for every kill on the demon's side was far too astronomical. It was not a war, but an execution.