Chapter 206 Warriors Of Elysium [Hell - Part XII]

[N/A: sorry for the late I took a break]

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- POV General -

The sun was beginning to fall over the horizon, turning the sky a blazing, intense color that heralded the arrival of night and the moon. The Zal and Elysium armies had been fighting an all-out war for an entire afternoon. As the Commanders recovered from their battle, it was their soldiers who fought, led by their Lieutenants, against the human army.

At the foot of a gigantic ice platform, more than 4,000 people clashed in a bloody and deadly melee. Elysium had escaped without a single death, killing the 20 best Knights and Paladins of Zal thanks to the Commanders, but now everything was different. The brave soldiers defending their lands fought valiantly, but after all, a war is a war and some fell.

For the first time in the history of the Empire, bodies were falling, and while they were holding up better than the humans, tonight...Freya's army wasn't going home with everyone. The Lieutenants were on the front lines, doing as much damage as possible by all being coordinated, communicating orders to the troops clearly and precisely. They could be proud of their work, but that didn't stop some from dying.

Zal's army was without a leader, with Saint Leto and Sir Myles perched atop the platform facing Freya and Gaya. The Knights and Paladins were following no orders except to kill as many subraces as possible to save their lives, which were hanging on a thread. Blood spurted, screams echoed in the sky and never before had the forest known such Hell.

Neither the Commanders, nor the Princess, Queen or Empress could come, all of them held in different places for different reasons. The soldiers could only rely on their own strength and the trust they had in their companions who were fighting alongside them. As night fell slowly over the forest after hours, the citizens of Elysium were far from imagining the massacre that was taking place not far from there.

"Soldiers ! Stand firm until the return of Her Highness and the Queen ! We are the proud warriors of the Empire and it is our duty to protect our lands and show the humans that weak subraces can emerge victorious !!!"

"For Elysium !!!"

"FOR ELYSIUM !!!"

Even without the Commanders, who were still recovering from their tough battle, the Lieutenants were able to handle the situation perfectly. After exploring the crypt, they had all seen how key coordination and the mindset of the troops were. Their rigorous daily training in the barracks also played a very important role in knowing what to do and keeping a cool head.

"Break through their defense and advance to the King ! Do not kill him but kill all who stand in your way !!!"

The Lieutenants were all eight in the front line, leading the way and motivating the soldiers who followed closely behind them. In front was the half-tiger Liz, cracking her whip and clawing at human flesh. Beside her, the red bear Zak was breaking through the first human lines, closing his jaws on anyone who came near. There was also the kobold Leon using his wind element to disperse his enemies and hurt them as much as possible without giving them time to react.

The three Lieutenants were part of Ralph, Emilia and Thorunn's section, specialized in hand-to-hand or mid-range combat. Followed by their section, they were the first line of Elysium's soldiers, the strongest physically and able to survive a big general melee. Thus, it was possible to see Centaurs, Minotaurs, Ogres, Tigers or Bears fighting fiercely without ever weakening.

In the middle, just behind Liz, Zak and Leon was the elf Itham, Lieutenant of Persea and Ynir, accompanied by his section often called "the Guardians". Composed solely of dryads and elves with a command of nature-related elements, they were causing chaos from afar. The half-leopard Ash, Lieutenant of Luna, who was also in charge of executing the humans who crossed the front lines with his section of assassins.

At the back, there was the elf Kurumi Lieutenant of Nixia and Naia, who with her stone fists, hit the humans to make them explode. Supported by her soldiers who could send spells from a distance, they were the last line of the whole army of the Empire. At her side, Nina, the dryad of Caipy's medical section, fought less, but healed the wounded soldiers who were sent back to the rear in the chaos.

Finally, all on the ground were protected by Trioa's last airborne section taken over by the young harpy Nella, attacking from the sky. Halfwyverns, griffins, harpies and half-dragons rained down their attacks in a coordinated way. Magic attacks were flying, cries of pain and encouragement were mixing, swords were clashing and blood was spurting out, turning the ground a scarlet red.

"Keep moving !!!"

Little by little, despite their numbers being only half of the human army, the men and women called "subraces" were breaking through the enemy lines. The lack of command and organization did not help the Knights and Paladins, who were content to strike and incant only to kill. As a result, as the minutes passed, the humans were scattered by the Empire's sections.

King Theophylactus was still at the back of his army in his golden armor, which was currently useless to him thanks to his cowardice. Even as the Empress and Queen fought on the front lines, the ruler of the Kingdom of Zal hid. At the same time terrified and amazed by the scene that was playing out before him, of a violent beauty worthy of a true work of art, of a true masterpiece.

Before his eyes, hundreds of different races were fighting side by side with great natural and wild power. This was unprecedented and no human could have suspected for a moment that events that seemed so simple to handle would take this turn. Feet and hooves pounded the ground, axes, swords and spears struck, ever harder, ever faster.

On both sides, bodies were falling, but the war was cruel because no one had time to mourn their fallen comrades. Who had been defeated ? How ? Confusion and chaos were everywhere and the warriors of the Elysium Empire had to deal with a situation they had never experienced before. Hundreds of lifeless bodies lay strewn about the ground being trampled, cut and burned by those still standing.

"KEEP GOING !! FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR THE EMPRESS, FOR OUR EMPIRE...DEDICATE YOUR HEART !!!"

Emilia's Lieutenant, the red-furred bear Zak, shouted and continued to motivate the others with his hoarse, powerful voice that carried far. His paws struck out with power, tearing the flesh of the Paladins who were not well protected and breaking the swords of the Knights. The attacks came at him too and hit him, but the bear kept on going and hitting despite the pain and the mental and physical fatigue.

He was not the only one, for all the other Lieutenants were also dedicated body and soul to this war that they must not lose under any circumstances. This war was ruthless, bloody and deadly, yet despite the fear, sadness and anger...these half-humans who had stood up against oppression were brave. At the beginning 1500 against 3000, the battlefield counted only 1000 soldiers of Elysium and 1500 humans.

The sun was already setting over the forest, tinting the sky a beautiful flaming scarlet, seeming to reflect the bloodbath that was taking place just below. Indeed, the ground was no longer brown as the turned earth was now soaked with blood, seemingly feeding the forest itself. A powerful smell of iron enveloped the atmosphere as well as a smell of burning that could make even the weakest head spin.

On both sides, roots appeared, wind tornadoes decimated the ranks, fireballs rushed at the enemy followed by earth attacks. Both sides, mastering a multitude of magical elements, were engaged in a physical and mental battle of the most exhausting kind. Mana was running low, strength was dwindling, and the humans, who had been pushed back so far, were beginning to regain ground.

"I don't know how much longer we can hold out ! There are many of them and even without Commanders, these humans remain tenacious ! M-Many of our soldiers are falling, dead or mortally wounded..."

"I-I know, I'm starting to make mistakes myself and a couple of Knights have come close to slicing me once or twice. They are gaining ground..."

Still fighting, Liz the half tiger had approached Leon the kobold to share her concerns, which were not without foundation. The fights were still going on as intensely as ever, and even if Elysium's striking power was indisputable, it could not replace numbers. This difference, which at first had not really mattered, was beginning to be felt, leading them to a more complicated continuation.

For such a large and decisive first war, there was no doubt that the half-humans and beastmen were incredible and valiant. However, neither the Empress, nor the Queen, nor the Commanders were there to witness the unwavering determination of those who had sworn to protect the forest. Yet, the Empire's army was falling back ever so slightly and all the will in the world was not enough.

"ROOOOAAAAR !!!"

Suddenly, as the confrontation of these thousands of warriors became even more intense, a roar that no one had ever heard before, resounded without warning. It came from the top of the ice platform created by the Empress and shook the whole forest. Never before had such a roar sounded, and at that moment, all the soldiers of both armies stopped instantly.

It had been so powerful that it had not only shaken the earth, but all the beings of the forest without exception had felt it vibrate to the depths of their being. Like a powerful and terrifying earthquake, this roar had frozen time and seized hearts. However, all of them did not even have time to understand anything, as an equally powerful howl resounded from the same place just after.

"OOOOWOOOOOO !!!"

Of a different kind, it also shook all the warriors on the ground and they were crossed by a new wave of cold sweat. The first roar had been stifling, paralyzing, while the next howl was more chilling and gloomy. Suddenly, the last glimmers of sunlight were hidden, while a huge shadow appeared on the battlefield, forcing all the soldiers to look up.

At that moment, different emotions ran through every living being capable of seeing, such as panic, admiration, fear or wonder. In the scarlet sky hovered a legendary creature, a huge and terrifying crimson dragon, majestic and magnificent. It commanded respect with a single glance and half-humans, beasts and humans alike, could feel their hair stand on end at the mere sight of its undeniable beauty and rarity.

Just below this dragon, perched high on the ice platform, stood a gigantic wolf almost as big, deep black and hypnotic. It had its lips raised showing its sharp fangs as its aggressive growls echoed. Its fur rustled in the cool breeze and its piercing, wild purple eyes made everyone who looked at them hold their breath.

"This is..."

Yorr, the minotaur who had been rescued in the city of Yarlford at the same time as Shiro did not even finish his sentence because all the soldiers of Elysium knew who they were. Before the eyes of the entire clearing surrounded by a wall of fire, Gaya, the Mother of Earth Dragons, had appeared for the very first time. But that was not all, for the Wolf Demon Freya stood beside her just as striking and terrifying.

Freya and the Gaya in their bestial form were passively sending out a wave of power far greater than the entire battlefield and its warriors combined. The Empress and the Queen were fighting side by side and seemed to be getting down to business as a dense and unmistakable aura was floating around them. The she-wolf and the dragoness had thus appeared, powerful, inimitable, terrifyingly beautiful.

Suddenly, as everyone's eyes were on them, the two unique creatures plunged straight into the battlefield below. In an instant, all the humans and half-humans jumped aside out of instinct, not wanting to be crushed. With a huge explosion of stone and a powerful blast, the two legendary beasts finally landed at the bottom, creating a cloud of dust.

Several minutes passed but the place which until now had been chaotic was suddenly so silent while everyone held their breath. The evening wind blew the clouds away, revealing the wolf and the dragoness of an enormous and imposing size. In the mouth of the Empress, the Captain of the Knights Myles was unconscious and in that of the Queen, Saint Leto in a state not much different than his friend.

One had his arms torn off, the other his legs, blood stained their clothes and their once confident faces were now livid and grimacing. As the two bodies fell to the ground, the she-wolf and the dragoness raised their heads to the sky to echo their voices announcing their victory. With an even more powerful and devastating roar and howl, the Empress and Queen had defeated and returned.

"ROOOOOAAAAAAAR !!!"

"OOOOOOOWOOOO !!!"

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FULL STATUS

Names : Freya / Lucifer Nightshade

Age : 0 years old / Mentally : 25 years old

Sex : Female

Course: Ice Demon Wolf of Chaos - Adult

Race : Imperial Demon

Titles :

- Demon Goddess of Primordial Blood and Death (former - until all powers are recovered) - 20%.

- Wrathful Lucifer (7th Sin) - Master of the unique Sins Demons (to unlock it, please gather the other 6 - 3/6 - (locked)

- Dragon tamer

- Ruthless slayer

Level : 45/70

Exp needed for next level: 0 / 46 000

HP : 170 000 / 170 000 MP : 50 000 / 85 000. BLOOD : 100 / 100

Strength: 560

Defense : 560

Agility : 566

Endurance: 563

Speed : 562

Intelligence: 560

Charisma: 500 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 600

Married to : Gaya Nightshade

Daughter : Shiro Nightshade

Twins (son & daughter) : Tyle & Altaïs Nightshade

Little sister : Kira Nightshade (Greedy Fox)

Big sister : Kalaa Nightshade

Empire (menu)

Subordinates: 2239

Humans killed: 153

Souls: 2/3

Elements: Ice / Chaos (Freya) - Blood / Death (Lucifer)

Skills (all):

Attacks:

- Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 6)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)

- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic Empress aura (lvl 7)

Defense:

- Ice demon wall (Lvl 6)

- Demonic Cloak (lvl 5)

- Pain Resistance (lvl 6)

Attack/Defense:

- Domain of the Ice Empress "Frozen Wrath" (lvl 4)

- Death Gaze (lvl 1)

Others :

- Humanoid form

- Demonic form (linked to the title so incomplete) - 20%.

- Ice creation (Lvl 6)

- Detection and control of mana (lvl 5)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)

- Devouring Chaos (Lvl 5)

- Master of Souls (lvl 2)

- Lucifer's Threads of Blood (lvl 3)

- Healing Blood (lvl 3)

- Analysis

- Telepathy

Passive :

- Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]