Christina stood at the front line, overlooking the battlefield. The battle had raged on for three days already. Casualties were slowly mounting, but the defensive line held firm. The outpouring of beasts from the forest seemed never-ending.

Curiously enough, the beasts seemed less intent on fighting than she anticipated. The density of animals fleeing the forest was erratic. Sometimes, a lone one would be spotted and dispatched; others, a horde of more than a hundred would swarm simultaneously.

The beasts weren't the problem. Individually, they were weak and quickly dealt with. Their numbers, on the other hand, were monstrous. The never-ending flow of enemies meant that the knights were continuously fighting. Exhaustion grew rampant within the allied forces.

Christina's reinforcement was highly welcomed by the Count's forces. However, her men had barely had time to rest since their last battle. Christina looked towards the battlefield, a dark expression on her face. The situation wasn’t optimistic. Since the reinforcements arrived, a rotation was implemented, allowing the knights some rest.

Christina sighed and made her way towards the command tent. Although she had received a military education, she lacked experience. She had the highest rank and should have been the commanding officer, but doing so would have spelled their failure. She knew her strengths well. She had left command to the Count, as he had the best chance of overcoming this.

Once Christina entered the tent, she witnessed the Count hunched over his desk, pouring over maps and documents. The Count was so engrossed in his work that he didn't notice her entering. She motioned for the guards not to disturb him and approached the desk.

She reached down for a pile of documents scattered on the ground. On it were countless reports from the scouts they had sent out. Most of their findings were the same: large numbers of beasts fleeing the forest in droves, mainly in the same direction. This caught her eye.

If the beasts were fleeing from an apex predator, they should have scattered around the whole perimeter of the forest. Yet, reports of attack against the numerous villages on the periphery were minimal. Most were concentrated here. This almost seemed like a manufactured attack against the fortress.

How absurd, she thought. What could possibly compel these beasts to rush here, disregarding their lives?

Christina bent down, trying to tidy the pile of papers on the ground when she spotted a word on one of the half-buried sheets: Ooze. Intrigued, she took the report and read it. Her frown deepened the more she read.

This is it, she thought.

She put her hand on the Count’s shoulder, shattering his concentration. He lifted his head and was surprised to see the Princess standing beside him. Before he could greet her, she handed him the report.

The last few days had been extremely hard for the Count. He had to coordinate the fighting efforts as well as send scouts and messengers. Most of his free time was spent pouring over reports. He had barely any time to sleep. Christina's arrival was a godsend.

Although the reinforcements were badly needed, he appreciated Christina herself the most. Continuous days of fighting had taken their toll on the troops, and the Princess's presence was the only thing keeping morale high. She had taken it upon herself to reduce his burden; he couldn't be more grateful.

The report in his hands was extremely vague, only mentioning a strange black ooze on the outskirts of the forest to the west. What stumped him was that the ooze seemed to stop at the edge of the forest, going no further, as if some sort of barrier prevented it from doing so.

The Count seemed to realize something. With a wave of his hand, he scattered the documents that cluttered his desk before unfurling a large map of the Acrean Forest. The map was rough, with many annotations scattered on it. Most of the map was incomplete; only the edge was somewhat well-defined.

The Acrean Forest was highly hostile to humans. Most efforts to map it in its entirety ended in failure. Its location was also a factor in its difficulty, as it was so large that it bordered over five nations. Most nations were reluctant to share their maps, fearing opening an invasion path.

The Count took up his pen and started drawing arrows and circling areas. Next to the Count, Christina also studied the immense sheet of paper. His intention was clear to her. She started rummaging the room, trying to find other reports mentioning the ooze. She signalled the two guards to help in her search.

Ten minutes later, the map was complete. Most of it was covered in black, encircling their defensive zone. All arrows pointed in their direction. They had found more reports than they thought. Judging from the timelines, the ooze was creeping forward slowly.

“I should have paid more attention," the Count said, burying his head in his hand.

“We don’t have time for self-pity,” she replied. “You’re in charge. I’m heading out.”

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The Count didn’t bother to stop her. He knew exactly where she intended to go.

When Christina left the tent, Maria was already waiting for her. Her armour had seen better days. It was bent in places, and the silver sheen had dulled. The last days of fighting had been gruelling, and she had been in the thick of it.

Maria observed Christina. Her expression told her everything she needed to know. She barked orders, and minutes later, all the available personnel gathered. There was less than Christina hoped. Of the ten or so men and women standing before her, less than half were fit for battle. Despite their protest, she ordered the wounded to stand down. They would only become burdens.

Christina donned her armour. Hers was still pristine, as she had been forbidden to participate in battle. Claire objected to her decision. Her duty was to keep her safe. She was the Princess, however, and her word was law.

“I’m coming with you,” Maria said.

“The front line needs a commander.”

“There’s still the Count.”

“He has his own duty.”

“My duty is to protect you.”

"That's Claire's duty; yours is to do what I say."

Maria's expression was ugly. Christina didn't want to do this, but time was of the essence. She saddled her horse, and the small company departed. Maria watched them leave alongside Richard. He wished he could have accompanied his sister but was wounded in the last skirmish. Besides, the frontline needed his expertise.

Maria's melancholy didn't last long, as there was still a battle to fight. Most of the weak animals had already fled. Maria had ordered the defence line to let the harmless ones escape so as to not waste manpower. It allowed the men to catch their breath.

Over the last few days, the number of foes decreased substantially, but their relative strength increased. A few monsters started appearing scattered among the mass of beasts. Maria was shocked by the number of animals living in this forest. It felt like a whole world estranged from what she knew.

She stood on top of a hill, not far from the hastily made fortifications that served as a wall. From here, she had a good view of the whole battlefield. Messengers came and went, relaying her orders to the soldiers below while flags were also used as signals.

Once she had assumed command, Maria devised a plan to make use of the geography and funnel the beasts within a kill zone. The first day was a slaughter. Arrows rained on the beasts, butchering them. Arrows were a finite resource, however, and they soon ran out. They lacked the manpower to retrieve them, especially since the beasts never stopped coming. She thought the night would offer reprieve, but she was wrong. Although the flow had lessened, it was still constant.

The second day was the worst. The arrows completely ran out, and they had to engage them in melee combat. While commanding her troops, Maria observed her foes. The beasts were strange. They just kept charging into the meat grinder despite the fate that awaited them. Was something done to them, or was something in the forest worse than death?

On the third day, Maria ordered the men to burn the corpses piling in front of the fortifications. Her goal was two-fold. Festering corpses were a health issue. So many campaigns in history had been lost due to diseases and plagues. There were too many beasts to be used as food, and burying them seemed impractical. The only remaining option was fire.

Her second objective was time. Her troops were exhausted. Even with the rotation she had set up, fatigue took its toll. As their weariness accumulated, the soldiers were more prone to errors and injuries. Every wounded soldier put an additional burden on the rest of them.

The fire burned hot on the fatty corpses, deterring the beasts from approaching. The soldiers celebrated their slight reprieve. Unfortunately for them, their celebration was cut short. Two creatures over five meters tall had emerged from the forest. Maria hoped that the flames would deter them. Those creatures were unlike the other beasts. Their paws were massive, and their fangs extremely sharp. Their skeletal structure seemed misaligned, as if an amalgam of different beasts. Fur and feathers combined on the beasts, making for a grotesque sight. They were obviously monsters. Maria wondered how such a creature could even come to be. Could the world’s essence even birth such a thing? Maria sounded the alarm and had all troops retreat. Engaging them would incur too much casualty.

They sprinted towards the wall, shredding unfortunate beasts crossing their paths. Instead of stopping before the flames, they jumped over them and rammed into the wall. Although the flames were intense, the damage they received was minimal. Their feathers burst into flames, but their thick fur insulated their skin from the blaze.

The impact was much more than the brittle fortification could handle, and it collapsed. Fortunately, Maria had prepared for such an event. The fortifications were laced with a sticky web. As the wall fell on them, the web ensnared them. Although the beasts could free themselves in time, they were stalled long enough for the soldiers to stab the monsters with their spears. The smaller of the two succumbed to the countless stab wounds it received.

When the creature saw his companion perish, it went berserk. It thrashed, knocking the spears away. Only a few insignificant wounds were left on its body. The web couldn't contain the beast any longer, and it shredded the web and charged forward, mad with fury.

Maria had already anticipated this turn of events and had rushed to meet it. She wielded a spear that seemed much too massive compared to her. Despite its size, Maria swung it with ease. She had spent most of her life with a spear in hand. It was but an extension of her body at this point.

The battle was intense. She couldn't meet the beast head-on, so she weaved in and out of his range, inflicting blow after blow each time. She couldn't put her weight behind her attack, fearing being countered. A single blow from the creature could be lethal.

The beast’s injuries accumulated slowly. She was assured victory so long as she didn't let her guard down. Unfortunately, an unexpected situation occurred. A wolf-like beast slipped past the newly reformed perimeter and charged toward Maria. Sensing the incoming threat behind her, Maria turned around and cut the beast in one swift motion.

The monster, however, took advantage of the opening and swung its giant paw right into her chest. She jumped, twisting her body to avoid the blow, but was unsuccessful. In a last-ditch effort to soften the impact, Maria brought the shaft of her spear close to her body and used it as a shield.

She was propelled into the air, hitting the ground a few meters away. She was bruised and beaten but still alive. A sliver of red blood dripped from her mouth, staining her lips in its crimson hue. She got to her feet with difficulty and grasped her spear. The metal shaft was bent slightly, but fortunately, it was still usable.

The woman and beast eyed each other. Only one of them would survive this day. She readied herself and charged. The beast did the same. Both were injured, and the following clash would decide the outcome. Maria came into range and thrust her spear forward, only to be met with a paw swatting it away. Maria did the unexpected. She let go of her weapon, which flew away from the impact. The beast was stunned.

Maria ducked under the beast and thrust her hand forward. Silver scales covered her hand while sparks danced on its surface. The hand plunged into the beast's chest despite its heavy hide, reaching its heart. She clenched her hand, and its heart shattered. She retrieved the bloody limb, and the beast fell to the ground, lifeless. The beast's dying howl had frightened the charging horde. It gave the defenders a much-needed rest. The fires still burned as the third day ended.

Christina had been gone for a day now, and the embers had cooled. Maria donned her battered armour and prepared for battle. She was anxious and exhausted but was entrusted with the camp's defence, so she chose to fight.