I'm A Fence Sitter

To paint a better picture, the castle is constructed on top of a mana vein. I would explain it, but I never really looked into it. I'll ask Wilharrow later. Anyway, it was built there due to the founding demon lord's decision. Then there were four gates built around it in the direction of north, south, east, and west. Apparently the founding demon lord had already envisioned building a city around it. This leaves us where we are today, where I am now rushing towards the southern gate.

"The southern gate has been broken through!" [Belrick]

He really didn't need to say that since I could see stone and steel bars getting blown into the air. I still couldn't fully see that gate, but I could hear screams.

("They're really going at it, huh.") [Solace]

We passed through a courtyard filled with blue flowers, messed up by the falling debris. Upon coming closer, we saw a crowd of iron plated guards holding a line.

"Do not let them get any further!" [Guard]

Is what I heard before the entire line broke. A large burly man covered head to toe in silver armor equipped with a large rectangular shield and a large single edged blade tore through the demons.

"Follow me!" [Burly Man]

("A |Heavy Knight|?!") [Solace]

A group of three followed behind. Two were lightly armored with I'm guessing tanned leather, and the last one only wore clothing. The lightly armored ones were armed with either a bow or a decorated white spear. The last one simply wore a robe, or a cloak.

("An archer, a spearman, and a mage?") [Solace]

It looked like an elven female archer (literally playing into the stereotype), a human male spearman, a female mage (I didn't know which race had blue skin), and a big burly dude with a magnificent beard (I'd think he'd be a dwarf if not for his size).

"All Royal Guards, stop the hero's party!" [Gray Demon]

Demons rushed in to attack, but the party proved formidable. The burly guy stood at the front, taking wide swings to push us back. This led to large openings, but it was covered by the archer and mage to fill in the gaps. The spearman stepped out to stab at us at his discretion, making sure not to overextend before returning behind the burly man.

("What is this bullshit team comp?!") [Solace]

We had no choice other than to spread out because the mage would throw magic at demons who were grouped up. It was also a pretty terrible decision since it became easier for the archer to pick us off.

"Attack them from behind!" [Gray Demon]

A good decision. Some of the demons flanked them in order to force the other members out of the burly man's protection.

"Rise up and grant me protection! |Earthen Shield|!" [Mage]

I know it was a skill I used somewhat often, yet I was unable to shake off my surprise when I saw large walls of dirt surround their backside.

("They cornered themselves in order to protect them?!") [Solace]

"Now the only entrance was through the burly guy. There was also the gap up top, which still wasn't vulnerable due to the archers high accuracy. One shot through a wing was enough to make any demon fall. I thought of waiting for the archer to run out of arrows, but it looked like she was summoning it through magic.

"I'll make an opening!" [Belrick]

Fast on his feet, Belrick charged at the burly guy.

"|Cleave|!" [Belrick]

He slashed vertically against the burly man's shield, leaving not even a scratch.

"|Counter Thrust|!" [Burly Man]

Receiving the attack transferred a light to his sword. Within a second, the burly man was already stabbing with his sword.

"|Reverse Cleave|!" [Belrick]

Swinging his sword back up, Belrick targeted the burly man's sword for a parry.

"Ugh!" [Burly Man]

"|Piercing Light|" [Spearman]

Stepping out from behind the burly man, the spearman's weapon shone gold.

"Belrick!" [Lemin]

Stepping in like an idiot, Lemin took the blow.

"Ugh!" [Lemin]

The spearhead had entered Lemin's abdomen, causing concerning amounts of blood to gush out. I could see the spearman attempt to retrieve his spear, but Lemin latched on.

"I won't let you!" [Lemin]

"Huh?! Let go!" [Spearman]

The weakling known as Lemin stood his ground, grasping the spear handle and refusing to release his grip.

"Lemin?!" [Belrick]

"Make that opening, Belrick!" [Lemin]

With a loud cry of rage, Belrick body slammed the burly man to the ground.

"Get this demon off me!" [Burly Man]

The archer aimed an arrow at Belrick's face, causing the other Royal Guards to rush in.

"Stop her!" [Gray Demon]

She was forced to fire off arrows at the onrushing guards, leaving several injured on the ground. Perhaps even deceased.

("Do I step in here…?") [Solace]

During this time I've been dragging the injured over to the side. I wasn't too sure if I should be attacking this… other hero's party so I kind of just watched.

"I said, let go!" [Spearman]

He kicked Lemin off, leading to an intestine getting pulled out along with the spear.

"Lemin!" [Belrick]

He quickly picked himself off the burly man and threw himself at the spearman.

"How dare you…! HOW DARE YOU!!!" [Belrick]

Belrick's horns extended and his strength bolstered. Not only that, the edge of his sword seemed to gain a green tint to it.

("I better save Lemin.") [Solace]

I quickly and stealthily snatched Lemin away from the scene. It was pretty easy considering everyone's attention was on Belrick. The hard part was trying to clean Lemin's insides and well, put them back in.

("|Small Cure|.") [Solace]

It was strangely hard to close the wound. It was like my healing skill had almost no effect on it.

"Spirit Guide, do you know why my healing isn't working?" [Solace]

"Response: The wound inflicted on the demon Lemin has a divine curse placed on it. All forms of healing are denied to those struck by it." [Spirit Guide]

So basically anti-heal from League of Legacies.

("Is there any way to heal him?") [Solace]

"Response: The most common method is to cut out the affected area and reheal it." [Spirit Guide]

Brutal. There was also the part where I'm pretty sure Lemin would die if I did that.

("His intestines seem intact. Maybe if I wrap this up and keep his guts in his belly, he may survive.") [Solace]

Can't say it's the best way to live, but living is still living.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!" [Belrick]

I had almost forgotten that Belrick was crashing out. His strength had suddenly grown to a level where the burly guy was struggling to endure the attacks with his shield, and the spearman was barely able to keep up with Belrick's slash speed.

("He's really fighting them both at once?") [Solace]

He's the Royal Guard's ace for a reason. Speaking of which, almost all forty members were already down. The only ones standing were Belrick, the Gray Demon, myself, and a few others trying to take down the archer and mage. I don't think they'd last long though.

("For a bunch of level 100s, the royal guards are pretty weak.") [Solace]

I took a quick peek at the party's level and well, overall they're stronger than my party. If everyone I hang out with is around level 75, these guys were double their level.

("Almost level 150 across the board. Can I even beat these guys?") [Solace]

With a 50 level difference, no wonder why the Royal Guards were losing.

"Ulgar, take him down already!" [Spearman]

"I'm trying!" [Burly Man]

Ulgar? What a weird name. Anyway, this "Ulgar" guy tried shield bashing Belrick.

"You won't harm my men any further!" [Gray Demon]

Jumping into the fray, the Gray Demon jumped in front to block it.

"Hrngh!" [Gray Demon]

The hulking stature of the demon matched Ulgar's, leaving them in a stalemate. That was until a fireball struck the Gray Demon's back. It shattered his armor plating, leaving him vulnerable to three arrows sticking themselves into him.

"Agh!" [Gray Demon]

It appeared that the other Royal Guards who were supposed to stop the archer and mage failed.

"Sir!" [Belrick]

The small moment of pain allowed Ulgar to overpower the Gray Demon. He dropped the Gray Demon to the ground and began to bash his face in with his shield.

"Stop!" [Belrick]

Switching from attacking the spearman, Belrick attacked Ulgar.

"Urgh!" [Ulgar]

Belrick's slashes were heavy. Now heavy enough to leave deep gashes into Ulgar's shield.

"You come into MY home!" [Belrick]

He slashed.

"You harm MY friends!" [Belrick]

He slashed again.

"And you harm MY family?!" [Belrick]

Another slash. His consecutive attacks had brought Ulgar's shield to its breaking point.

"JUST DIE YOU DAMNED HEROES!!!" [Belrick]

He shattered Ulgar's shield without the use of skills, forcing Ulgar to be defenseless.

"|Rapid Shot|!" [Archer]

"|Icicle Lance|!" [Mage]

"|Bright Cut|!" [Spearman]

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!" [Belrick]

With a wide swing, Belrick cut through the entire party's skills. If there was anything he wanted, it was one of them dead at the very least. He raised his blade high above his head, confident in his sword to slay Ulgar.

"|Cleave|!" [Belrick]

Ulgar raised his sword in defense. The moment their blades connected, the unexpected happened.

"Eh?" [Solace]

Belricks sword shattered. It could no longer withstand his strength.

"Huh?" [Belrick]

All I could see was his stunned expression as a spear ran through his chest.

"No…!" [Belrick]

He fell to the ground reaching around and looking for something.

"Lemin…! Where are you…?!" [Belrick]

Wow, I really felt like shit after watching that.

"Finish him off already." [Ulgar]

"I know." [Spearman]

As he raised his spear, my body moved on its own.

"|Wise Walk|." [Solace]

I appeared in front of the spearman and grabbed his wrist.

"That's enough." [Solace]

"Who-?!" [Spearman]

I hit him with a one-inch punch to send him back a bit before retrieving Belrick.

"|Wise Walk|." [Solace]

I transported Belrick over to Lemin's side before wrapping him up with bandages. Good thing I stored some in my |Item Box|. I did think it was a waste to buy them when preparing for my departure with the hero's party, but I'm no longer sure if I should be happy they came in use.

"I'm truly sorry, guys." [Solace]

I know that they're in this state because I was just sitting on the fence on which side to help. Now that I think of it, it was a different hero's party anyway. Not MINE. There's no need to help them. Other than that, it was just my personal feelings.

("I'll take it as a lesson. Never will I waste time like this again.") [Solace]

I then faced the hero's party.

"You don't know what's coming to you, little shits." [Solace]