There were four gates to the city, and thus four different vanguard units accompanied by another number of archers on top of the wall. The goal of each group was to wedge the enemy mutated animals, split, and move away from the divide respectively. That would be simple, if they had numbers.

Fortunately, Kenan, his uncle and the Goliaths alleviated the problem. In their unit, there were a total of 20 people, including Dion. In the split, 16 would go right, 4 would go left. Fighting a frenzy by themselves would be Noctis, Dion, Oz and Ozzy. Doco had completely replaced their archer unit, allowing for others to get on the ground.

Noctis had joined his uncle on the wall, looking over the soon to be scorched earth. Several piles of large arrow bundles lined the pathway. Doco leaned on the edge, with a wheat plume in his mouth. “Uncle?”

“Kenan, stop. Just ask the damn question.”

“Why do I feel like this is going to be the easy part?”

“Because.” He stood up straight. Looked at the sky. “Almost noon.” He said absently. “The head of the snake is always the roughest cut.”

“But the most necessary.” Kenan said. Doco grunted in affirmation.

“Don’t mistake your self nephew, your life is still on the line.”

“I’d have it no other way.” Noctis said, offering a smirk. Then he jumped up on the ledge. Looking down, he saw the pool of waiting warriors. After a little hop, a quick descent down, and a three point landing. Kenan now stood shoulder to shoulder with Oz, and Dion to his left.

“Almost noon.” The ram creation said. Kenan nodded. The siblings had their respective mess of hides and leathers on. Ozzy had a large war-hammer with a sick spike jutting from it. Oz had an equally big double-headed ax. Eerily similar to Roshu’s. “Keep your flame and other tricks for the latter part of the battle. When things start to get difficult. When we separate, Ozzy and I will be the driving force, you and Dion will slaughter any that get past us. Or the ones that think they’re clever, and try to flank us. But remember, it’s only a base plan. When things get dirty, keep you back to Dion, or however that works, and keep moving.”

Ozzy grunted, and handed his brother a dagger. Oz took it with his right. On the back of his left hand, where a hundred different old healed scars were, he made a long slice. Blood immediately started to pool and pour from the wound. “Why are you doing that?” Kenan asked.

“A goliath tradition. A reminder that no matter how much the enemy wounds you. The only thing that could ever truly hurt you, is yourself.” Oz gave the dagger back.

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Suddenly a loud horn sounded. The unit shuffled and got into their position. The connected and the siblings were in the front. With the most powerful of the guards on the side and the rest in the middle. Another horn, and it was as if a cloud passed over them. A large swath of arrows flew into the tree line, striking at the awaiting horde of monsters. A collective screech of anger, and they stirred hurriedly. Drums started. Thrumming excitement into the soldiers, forcing them to throw away fear. Kenan thought Jorun was probably helping the drummers, aiding with his power.

“Gror bloth voth blad ver gror arrah, gror jroz fjorgt vy gror arth. Er jrogor van fizz gror lat su arvj gror mur. Gror zy fer gror zif auf er orzr zvol er gild oll gror mor gror zord ror ver gror utjern.” Oz said under his breath. He then walked out in front of the group a bit, and turned. “The blood we bleed is our courage.” The drums started to get louder. “Our breaking skin shows our honor. The shattered bones in our bodies only furthers our drive.” The drums almost became deafening, yet the goliath had enough base to combat the noise. The beasts started to charge “Our souls that we leave on the battlefield shines light to the strength of our will!” He went back to the front line, next to Kenan and his brother. “And the shield-siblings that die for us give way to our unyielding, unwavering, all encompassing rage!”

Each person of the unit voiced their own unique battle cry, Except for the silent Ozzy, Dion and Kenan. The collective sounds made a general roar. At Oz’s command they moved forward at a steady pace. They wouldn’t travel too far from the wall, in case they needed to retreat.

The increasing frequency and level of the drums soon became synonymous with the thundering beat of hooves and paws. Kenan saw tens of beasts, and plenty of more behind the first line. Squirrels the size of small dogs, swelled with vines. Wolves and coyotes coming with their mouths open and unnaturally long tongues rolling in the wind. Dears and other herbivores rebelling against their nature. More beasts that Kenan has never seen. Large lizards, amphibious horse-like creatures, foxes with two large tentacles acting as horns traveling the length of their bodies, and much more.

The two forces met. Shouting, the thudding of feet, metal twinges, and the whistle of arrows filled the entirety of Kenan’s hearing. The smell of rot and blood drove away everything else. Noctis brought up his blade to block an incoming set of horns. The blow was almost nothing, he felt he could fling the thing away 20 yards if he wanted. Shifting his grip to one hand, Kenan gripped the creature's neck with his claws and ripped. Killing the mutated thing easily. Noctis saw wisps of mana be transferred to nearby animals.

As soon as one died another came to take its place, and it died just as easily. So far, things progressed well. Kenan spitting arteries and Dion cutting throats at unmatched efficacy. The gray brothers used their strength and reach to separate large swaths of animal bodies from their souls. The rest so far had no casualties and saved their energy for when the difficulty surged.

Noctis had to keep his emotions in check. He wanted to surge forward. Right now, he was cramped and lacked the advantage of his speed. Yet, if he moved too far ahead. That would leave all of the soldiers behind him in danger. He had to actively do the same for Dion. Pulling on the invisible leash formed at the commencing of their connection.

At one point, he naturally went into Vatr. Everything became clearer, chilled to clarity. The chaos slowed down and he focused on his task. Yet, at the back of his mind. His sixth sense yelled that he was missing something.