Up in the night sky, clouds began to gather around. The winds were getting colder. Not so long after thunder roared.
Valerius stood on the battlefield watching the remains of his trusted long time subordinates Bren and Hesk with watery eyes.
Beside him, a large body of the creature was to be seen torn into pieces, purple blood seeping out of it.
Soon after the rain began falling down. However, the waves of creatures weren't slowing down.
Two of the four main entrances to the town were already free from danger. And two capable mages, Arden at North gate and Vala at the south —were standing guard.
While the situation seemed under control, Valerius had already suffered a huge loss.
True, it wasn't the first time he had watched men die under his command. But every time it happened, it proved nothing but Valerius' failure of leadership.
While that was the case during war, this time he was just …late.
All of the town's residents had followed him here because they wanted to live their lives. They wanted to escape from the chaos of the battlefield.
It was the same for Bren and Hesk— they died before his own eyes. Leaving their dreams unfinished.
Victor placed a hand on his shoulder,
"It wasn't your fault," he said, consoling him.
Valerius took a deep breath, "they were under my command and I was late. I have to take responsibility. I have to bear this burden."
He sat on one knee beside their mangled bodies, "they were my obedient soldiers and friends. I won't let their sacrifices go to waste, I will carry their memories forever."
With that he stood up, his sword taking form in his hand.
The creatures clawed at the barrier but it was too sturdy and well crafted for their kinds to tear through. Even if the barrier wasn't activated to its full capacity.
Valerius nodded at Victor as they both started to clear the creatures from the parameter of the barrier.
Flames ignited, illuminating the rainy battlefield in the night.
The eyes of some creatures' shone with blue light as they immediately started to attack their own kind.
The battle to clear the east gate from enemy soldiers had begun.
At the west gate, mage Elara was single handedly defending the entrance from enemy forces.
She was most efficient in the use of mental energy hence her control over the natural essence was still firm as ever.
She crafted shields layer by layer and reinforced them with slight quirks like electric shocks to cover for the offence side she lacked.
There weren't many soldiers of the enemy forces here to begin with. So everything was going well.
Until she saw an enormous limb emerge from a rocky cliff at a distance.
A chill ran down her spine as though sensing the danger coming.
By the time she realised, her focus had already slipped —some creatures had managed to break the outermost layer of her shield.
Elara began to form a new layer as a number of creatures started to assault the second layer of her protection.
She concentrated a bit more, while it took a lot of effort on her part she managed to craft another, more agile and sturdy outer layer.
She heaved a sigh of relief. However, in that moment something huge clashed against her crafted shield and broke the most layers.
Before she could even form a thought, the last layer of her defence was struck with the same impact and shattered into pieces.
Now, the threat was right before her sight.
A giant shadow towered above her from beyond the protection of Aurelion's barrier.
Her skin crawled as the vile abomination gazed at her.
The air was filled with intense pressure and killing intent.
And then she saw him, as the giant tried to break the protection of Aurelion's barrier with his bare strength.
It was the same creature she had surveyed herself and discarded as a potential threat previously.
The arachnid.
He was so small then and couldn't harm a soul. How did a creature change into something like this all of a sudden?
Even when it began to form an army Elara ruled out the fact he was ever going to attack the town. Most of the creatures knew what was best for their survival—and most of it was to remain far from humans.
Whatever it was that inspired the arachnid to attack the town all of a sudden must be of utmost importance to the tyrant.
Fortunately, she was still inside the protection of Aurelion's barrier. But being his student Elara knew more than anyone that the barrier wasn't at its full capacity.
Which meant the dome shaped membrane repaired itself slowly as it received damage.
She watched the fruitless attempts of the giant creature. Then suddenly, the arachnid took some steps back.
Elara knitted her brows in a deep frown,
"What is he doing?"
The creature let out a huge screech and opened his gigantic maw revealing a pair of sharp purple coloured mandibles.
He then charged at the barrier, attempting to make a hole in the membrane using his teeth.
Elara was in shock as she saw the purple liquid accumulating on the sharp edges of his mandibles. The liquid was fuming with deadly vapours it seemed.
"Impossible" a shiver ran down her spine. For the first time since the start of this battle, she hesitated.
"When did he evolve into a spirit creature?"
The liquid slowly dissolved the membrane like acid until it hissed and melted revealing the sharp mandibles of the arachnid.
He had successfully made a hole in the barrier.
— — — — —