Chapter 9:story (part 9):The Second Wave.
### Chapter 9: The Second Wave
The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet, a subtle but ominous warning of what was to come. The soldiers standing atop the castle walls turned their heads in unison toward Monoliga Forest, their eyes narrowing as they saw the dark clouds blotting out the sun. The air grew heavier, charged with an oppressive energy that made even the most seasoned warriors uneasy.
Emerging from the forest, about 750 meters away from the main troops, was a second wave of demons. This wave was far more organized and menacing than the first. Over 250,000 demons marched in disciplined lines, their dark armor glinting under the dim light. Most wore chest plates, shields strapped to their arms, and weapons like swords, spears, maces, and bows. However, there was no sign of mages among them—a detail that didn't go unnoticed by the king.
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The king's sharp eyes scanned the approaching horde, his mind racing with calculations. *'The first wave consisted of 75,000 demons—30,000 tier 1 soldiers, 20,000 tier 2, 15,000 tier 3, and 10,000 archers. This second wave is far larger and better equipped. If the pattern holds, the next waves will be even stronger. Tier 4 soldiers, perhaps even rank 2 demons...'*
His gaze shifted to his own army. The humans were arranged in a wide 'V' formation, designed to funnel the enemy into a killing zone. The first line consisted of 100,000 heavy shield bearers, their massive shields planted firmly in the ground. Behind them were 100,000 spearmen, their weapons poised to strike. The third row held 100,000 soldiers wielding hammers and maces, while the final row was made up of swordsmen and those with lighter weapons like rapiers and scythes.
*'This formation should hold against the third wave,'* the king thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. *'But the final wave... that will be the real test.'*
By now, the demons had crossed the 550-meter mark and showed no signs of stopping. The king hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. *'If I give the order now, the archers' accuracy will decrease, especially against tier 4 demons. But if I wait too long...'*
Finally, he made his decision. "Once the enemy crosses 450 meters, fire—but hold your skills," he commanded, his deep voice cutting through the tension.
The four legion commanders exchanged glances, confusion flickering across their faces. This was not the usual strategy, but they knew better than to question the king when he was in this mood. His anger often led to unexpected—but effective—tactics.
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500 meters... 480... 470... 460... 450.
As the demons crossed the 450-meter mark, the archers sprang into action. They loaded their bows with practiced precision, took aim, and released a volley of arrows. Over 1,000 arrows soared into the sky, their trajectories arching gracefully before gravity pulled them down like deadly rain.
To the untrained eye, 1,000 arrows might seem like an overwhelming force. But against a horde of 250,000 demons, it was a mere drop in the ocean. The demons reacted swiftly. Those with shields raised them high, forming a protective barrier. The sword users in the front row, however, had no such protection. Instead of panicking, they channeled dark mana into their blades, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy.
In unison, they slashed upward, their swords releasing waves of dark energy that shot into the sky. The small, black slashes merged as they ascended, forming a massive black line that seemed to split the heavens. When the arrows reached 400 meters in distance and 290 feet in the air, they were engulfed by the dark energy. The arrows disintegrated in a puff of smoke, leaving only a fraction of the volley intact.
The remaining arrows struck the demon ranks, but their impact was minimal. Only the weakest demons fell, their bodies crumpling under the assault. The rest charged forward, their eyes burning with fury.
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The demons were now 340 meters away and closing fast. The king's expression remained stoic, but his mind was racing. He knew this was the moment to act.
"Archers B, fire normal-grade skills with normal energy consumption. Those with area-of-effect attacks, hold your fire—unless absolutely necessary," he ordered, his voice calm but commanding.
The first line of archers stepped back, and the second line took their place. They loaded their bows, but instead of firing immediately, they paused. A faint glow began to emanate from their arrows as they channeled their skills.
One archer's arrow burst into flames, the fire crackling with intense heat. Another's arrow turned icy blue, frost curling around its shaft. Yet another glowed with a sickly green energy, while some emitted an ash-gray aura. The air around the archers shimmered with power as they unleashed their skills.
[Fire Arrow]
[Frost Aura Arrow]
[Poisoned Arrow]
[Shadowstrike Arrow]
The sky lit up with a rainbow of colors as over 900 arrows, each infused with destructive energy, rained down on the demon ranks. The remaining 100 archers activated skills like [Arrow Multiplier], [Double Critical], and [Double Damage], their arrows splitting into multiple projectiles mid-flight.
The impact was catastrophic.
Boom!
Booom!
Thoom!
Each arrow exploded with the force of a tank shell, obliterating everything in its path. The first and second rows of demons were reduced to ash before they could react. The third row was sent flying, their bodies crushed by the shockwaves. Even the fourth row, though shielded by their armor, was pushed back three full meters by the sheer force of the explosions.
The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation. Black blood pooled on the ground, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of burning flesh. The demons' advance had been halted, but the king knew this was only a temporary reprieve.
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The king's sharp eyes caught a faint trace of dark fog forming above the distant sky. His lips curled into a grim smile as a transparent panel appeared before him—a message from the system.
[Congratulations on being the first in this generation to define a defense war. The term "wave" will now be used to describe enemy assaults. You have received the following rewards...]
[Wave 2 cleared.]
[Prepare for Wave 3.]
[Do you wish to announce this discovery worldwide?]
The king thought *'Yes'* and dismissed the panel. He turned to his commanders, his golden eyes glowing with determination. "Wave 3 is coming. Prepare yourselves."
Erick frowned. "Your majesty, how do you know there will be a third wave? The demons have never attacked like this before."
Jack interrupted before the king could respond. "Erick, it's obvious. The demons have divided themselves into five lines, each containing 50,000 soldiers. This is a coordinated assault. They're planning something big."
The king nodded. "Jack is right. This is no ordinary attack. The demons are testing us, probing our defenses. But we will not falter. Hold the line, and prepare for the next wave."
As the soldiers regrouped, the king's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. The faint traces of dark fog grew thicker, signaling the arrival of Wave 3. The battle was far from over.
This wave was quite easy because of the Archer's but it won't always remain that way because the king can tell that this was just another trap.
'whatever it maybe we will definitely win against them,like have always did come on bring out your best demons and I will show you my worst' The king said as his eyes glinted with a slightly bright gold color.