As the second round of explosions began, fireballs and ice spikes started pouring from the fortress toward the positions of the platoons surrounding it. The creatures started pouring out of the broken walls of the gates, which were now open.

  ‘Get down, stay in cover.’ Egor shouted.

  The fireballs passed above their position, hitting trees behind them, but the ice spikes were different; their shape and force got chunks out of the trees that some of Egor’s squad mates were hiding behind. Ethan saw that Samal wasn’t in a suitable position and shouted for him to move; clearly, the tree he was hiding behind wouldn’t last, as he was only concerned with returning fire.

  ‘Move, damn it.’ Ethan jumped on Samal.

  Ice fragments cut the tree he was using as cover in half. Ethan got up quickly and gave Samal a light punch so that he could follow him to a better position behind a slight, dirty elevation caused by a previously fallen tree.

  ‘3-6 to all squads; the trees are not a reliable cover; dig small holes or use the terrain, 3-6 out.’ Bartel’s voice was heard on Egor’s radio.

  As the battle raged, all soldiers were moving, trying to change positions, and that was the chance for some of them to get wounded by the flying projectiles in the middle of the battle; one even got part of an ice spike on his shoulder from the larger one that exploded on his chest due to the magic shield on his combat vest.

  The creatures were approaching the trees where the soldiers were hiding little by little because of the intense volleys coming from the walls of magic. Seeing this, Bartel retook his radio.

  ‘3-6 to all squads, use the cannons to destroy those walls! Now!!!’ Bartel shouted.

  After those words came through the radios, all of his platoon moved in a way to make it happen, and one by one, the shots were fired against the walls, making them crumble. More explosions were happening inside the walls, making more creatures pour out of the broken walls. This time, not because it was a planned attack, but more out of panic.

  The other two platoons to the sides of Batel saw what was happening and mimicked their action by firing against the walls. This caused the mages to make more holes in the massive structure, and because of the bombardment coming from the mortar, creatures tried to flee inside it.

  The problem now was the amount of monsters coming their way. Now, the cannons even had to use their explosive ammunition against the mob of creatures. On top of that, arrows and magic were still flying towards the soldiers on every side of the fortress.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Distant from the chaos, the soldiers arrived at the makeshift hospital field, where Eliza was healing those who most needed it. Because of the number of wounded, Alon needed to send more than half his soldiers to supplement the fourth platoon.

  ‘I thought they had large numbers, but this is insane; we didn’t even leave the forest yet.’ Alon talked to himself, frustrated with the situation.

  ‘Angel-6, this is Angel-4; thanks for the reinforcements; they just don’t top coming out of that thing over.’ The platoon leader got his blond hair out of his eye.

  ‘Understood, Angel-4, your man will return to you soon; these are just some burn marks, nothing major, over.’ Alon looked behind him at the burn marks of the soldiers screaming in pain.

  ‘If you say so, Angel-6, I’ll be waiting for Angel-4 out.’ The blond-haired A-Dam took a deep breath as one ice spike landed on his side.

  Edmund looked toward the fortress, moving his head like he was trying to hear something. Nobody noticed because everyone around him was running back and forth from the front lines.

  ‘Alon, something just passed us.’ Edmund looked at Alon with wide eyes.

  ‘How is that possible?’ Alon looked around, confused.

  ‘Underground, and is going for the mortar squad.’ Edmund looked behind him.

  ‘Mortar squad, an unknown creature is going your way and is underground, over.’ Alon talked on his radio.

  Edmund pulled his sword from the ground, looked at Alon, and jumped over the wounded. The moment he landed and the people looked at him, his eyes were directed at Alon, full of determination. He suddenly started to run towards the mortar team and soon vanished between the trees and small hills. Because of the uneven terrain, it was difficult to see far in the distance.

  ‘Understood Angel-6, over.’ The squad leader looked to the surrounding ground.

  ‘Edmund is going your way, Angel-6 out.’ Alon looked around and to the ground.

  His thoughts were filled with multiple scenarios that could happen; he was hearing the shots and explosions coming from the assault, taking everything in, and trying to think about his next move.

  ‘Angel-6 to all platoons; enemies may be coming from behind or below you. Angel-6 out.’ He looked at the distance, concerned.

  The squad leader decided to move as the mortar squad packed things up because they only had ten rounds left. Still, loud noises of trees crackling and breaking got closer and closer to their position until one soldier saw a large creature charging at them, coming from the left as it punched a tree to the side.

  ‘By the Goddess, he is coming for us.’ The soldier shouted as he aimed his rifle at the creature and started to fire.

  They all turned to where he was firing and did the same, but nothing stopped the creature; the shots bounced on its armor and skin like it was nothing as he was still coming in their direction. Now closer, they noticed what looked like swords in their hands, cutting trees on their way.

  ‘Run to the sides, scatter!!!’ The squad leader shouted

  In the panic, everyone was in one direction, and the creature aimed at a soldier who ran from the beast in a line. Because of the panic, he just didn’t think right. The creature swung its sword, but he jumped forward at the right moment and could dodge the devastating blow.

  His squad mates continued to fire against the creature without a veil. The shots continued to bounce off his skin and armor. The creature looked at the soldier on the ground and swung its sword again, trying to crush him.

  As one round had exploded, a loud noise came from the creature's direction. The soldiers, seeing from behind, thought it was the sound of the impact of the creature's strike. However, instead of the ground, the creature's sword was now up high, and Edmund was to the side of the fallen soldier, holding his sword to the side.

  ‘Run.’ Edmund spoke in a calm tone.