War against the demons

Frontline –War against the demons

Karl von Reichard

I was tired, too. I had not slept. I was soaking wet. I was cold, yet I felt invincible. It is a wondrous thing, that battle calm. The nerves go, the fear wings off into the void, and all is clear as precious crystal. and the enemy has no chance because she is so slow, and I swept the shield left, taking the scar-faced demon's spear thrust while my friend rushed to help me. I felt the impact run up my arm as her spear punctured his belly muscles, and I was already twisting her, ripping my friend from her grasp, sawing through leather, skin, muscle, and guts, and his blood was warm on my cold hand, and he screamed, ale breath in my face, and I punched her down killing her with shield crushing her throat, and a second demon was on my right, beating at my neighbor's shield with an ax, and he was easy to kill, point into the throat, and then we were going forward.

As I killed more demons, I began to hear our captain yelling at us to retreat. Apparently, the left flank was broke and the demons began their attack to the center.

Looking at the dead body of my friend, I felt empty. He had a wife and two girls who are now without a father.

While I was distracted, a demon managed to approach me and decided to strike me. Unfortunately for him, my fellow soldiers saw him. When he was two meters away from me, two soldiers from my side thrust their spears through the demon's chest.

Soldier: He's dead. Fight for him and live. Don't stand like a target. Pick your shield and sword.

Hearing the voice of my fellow soldier, brought me back and with a new objective in mind, I began to retreat alongside my comrades.

As we retreat more and more soldiers meet their death at the hands of the demons. It is true that a vast majority of the demon army is relatively slow and they can be killed easily, but their officers are the real deal.

Frontline first line camp

General: Your majesty we can't hold any longer. Our men are dying and we can help them. If any of our warlords move, the demons you counter-attack us.

King Joseph: I'm aware of this, but I can't do anything to help them. Even if I go, they will send their leader after my head. I may be a Peak Warlord, but I can't fight a Peak Warlord and a mysterious demon.

General: Your majesty, if my guts are correct and I hope to be wrong, the mysterious demon may be one of Demon Generals.

King Joseph: A Demon General?

General: The Demon General is his rank as for his strength, I presume he is a Noble Fighter.

As the King and the General spoke, a messager rushed inside the tent.

Messager: Your majesty…urgent…news…

King Joseph: Here, drink some water.

Messager: Thank you, your majesty. Our soldiers lose the fight and most of them are dead, but something unexpected happened. The dwarfs appeared and saved our men.

Joseph and General Krane were shocked by the news. The dwarfs joined the war and that means a lot for them. The dwarfs use a strange weapon named musket that fires tiny steel balls. Only the elder warriors are allowed to fight with axes or swords. Their tactics are really strange, they dig trenches that are big enough for a four-meter tall humanoid to stood there without any fear of being hit by a stray arrow.

Some may wonder how can a 1.5 -1.6-meter dwarf can shoot from the trench? Well it's simple, they build stairs that can be used to climb to a position where they can shoot.

King Joseph: With the dwarfs joining the war we may have a chance. How is the conscription going on?

Krane: Good, only your son has some problem with a Warlord.

King Joseph: Hmmm, a Warlord you say. Which one?

Krane: A Beastman Warlord. He was a village and from what they found, the Warlord is their chief. Most of the villagers are fighters or warriors. Unfortunately, they don't have any Witch or your son would have been killed by them.

King Joseph: Witches are really dangerous and only Beastman females can become one. Their ability to use energy to boost the power of their people is scary.

Krane: I agree. Should I tell him to let the Beastman alone?

King Joseph: No, tell him to negotiate with the Beastman for his cooperation. We need soldiers and he is a Warlord who can turn the tide of a battle.