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Echoes of Immortality
Ch 9: The Horde's Assault

Ch 9: The Horde's Assault

Five days had passed since Freya had awoken her newfound powers, and the calm at Oakheart Keep was shattered by imminent danger. As the afternoon sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the fortified walls, an atmosphere of tension gripped the air. Freya stood at the top of the defenses, her eyes fixed on the horizon where dark clouds of corruption swirled.

Vlad's footsteps echoed behind her as he approached, his face etched with concern. "Commander, word from the scouts. A massive horde of corrupted creatures is headed this way. Mostly animals and cyclops. They estimate they'll reach the walls by evening."

Freya nodded, her expression unwavering. "Seems like we'll have a party tonight, Vlad. Let's prepare for their arrival."

With purposeful strides, Freya summoned Kormac to her side, and together, they began orchestrating a defensive strategy. In the midst of their preparations, Alaric Venomhart approached Freya, speaking in a low serious voice.

"Miss Freya, I couldn't help but overhear your comment about the party and any good party needs a bonfire, don't you agree? I have something that might aid you in this battle." He presented a handful of flasks to her. "These flasks, when shattered, unleash a fire that will burn for an extended period. Use them wisely."

Freya accepted the flasks, studying them with curiosity. "Thank you, Alaric. Your assistance is greatly appreciated."

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, bathing the sky in shades of orange and red, the ominous dark mass of the corrupted horde grew closer. The air was thick with anticipation as the defenders took their positions, archers lining the walls, barricades and rolling logs ready to deter the approaching force.

The first wave of the corrupted creatures surged forward as evening approached. Battle cries, clashes of weapons, and agonizing roars filled the air. The Black Wardens stood their ground, their determination unyielding.

Yet, in the midst of the chaos, the horizon revealed a trio of monstrous figures. Fenrir, Vorag, and Chernos, the evolved creatures, emerged from the corrupted ranks. Freya's eyes sharpened and her instincts were urging her forward.

"Kormac," Freya said, her voice resolute, "I'll leave things to you here, I'm going down."

Kormac's face contorted with worry. "Commander, don't! You can't go down there alone."

Freya offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about me. I need to assess the situation up close."

With that, she focused her mana, a faint silver hue began to envelop her. Vaulting off the walls, she descended gracefully toward Vorag, who was relentlessly pounding the gate. Her descent was halted abruptly as Fenrir, agile and dangerous, intercepted her.

"And who do we have here?" Fenrir's voice held a touch of amusement. "The Oracle's little discovery. You don't seem as menacing as we were told."

Freya grinned, unfazed by the danger that surrounded her. "Oh, don't worry, big wolf. I promise not to bite... unless you start it first."

Fenrir's growl echoed, irritation evident. "You might regret that, human." And he began punching her with all his six arms while Freya was using her spear to deflect them. With a sweep she threw Fenrir away, on guard for another enemy.

Another figure joined the fray as Chernos descended attacking her with his claws, Freya barely dodged it while managing to stab it, it was a shallow cut tough and then he soared back into the air. Freya's grin persisted as she exchanged glances with the creatures before her. "You sure know how to make an entrance. You even stained my spear, that's just rude."

The bat-like creature growled, "You'll pay for that, you insect!".

High above, Kormac divided his attention between Freya's bold move and the impending horde. He decided to set up a defense in case the gates will break. He took the lead preparing for when the gates will fall.

"Wardens! Prepare yourselves and remember! In shadows we fight, in death we protect!" Kormac shouted the Black Wardens motto and soon the soldiers joined as well. "In shadows we fight, in death we protect!".

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A massive explosion shook the ground, causing him to tense. The gates had been obliterated, and the corrupted horde surged forward clashing against the black wardens shields and spears. Kormac wielded his 2 handed war axe and circulated his mana enabling him to cleave the creatures with ease but he was soon blocked when a cyclop and hecantophile with 3 arms started atacking him.

Accomplishing his goal Vorag now also joined the fray and started attacking. Freya's grip tightened on Silverwind's shaft as she faced the trio of evolved creatures. Her eyes locked onto their movements, calculating her next steps. Fenrir's howl filled the air as he lunged forward, his six arms converging with terrifying speed. She sidestepped his assault, feeling the wind from his fists brush her skin. A playful smirk danced across her lips. "You're a fast one, aren't you?"

Chernos swooped from above, claws extended, aiming to rake her with his talons. Freya spun on her heel, her spear deflecting the deadly attack. "Not today, bat-cat."

Vorag charged, his four arms flexing with power. Freya's muscles tensed as she sidestepped his punch, her spear slicing through the air, leaving a trail of silver light. "Four arms and still can't land a hit?"

Vorag's attack allowed Fenrir to claw at her, slashing her back luckily her armor stopped most of the attack. At the same time Vorag punched her in the stomach but Freya met it, with her spear effectively slicing Vorag's punch in two. Using the moment Fenrir punched her from the side, throwing her away giving Vorag some respite.

"One down, three to go." Said Freya as she landed on her feet and threw her armor away since it was dented in wards. "Even my dog hits harder than you, wolfie!"

Vorag screamed, "How dare you! You bitch! I'll tear you apart and eat you piece by piece!"

"Why so angry, little kitty, you have three more arms." Freya mocked him while being chased around by Fenrir.

"I'm no cat, my name is Vorag!" He roared while pouncing towards Freya. Seizing the chance Chernos dived down for another attack. Expecting this Freya side steped Vorag appearing behind him and pushed him towards Chernos claws. Too late to stop his atack Chernos and Vorag thumbled down giving Freya the chance to stab them.

Unfortunately just when the spear was about to reach them, Fenrir grabbed at it with all his arms barely managing to stop it. Nonetheless the mana enveloping Silverwind burned his hands until the flesh underneath the skin was visible this allowed Freya to pull back her spear while shouting, "Keep your paws off my spear, mutt!" And retreating to catch her breath.

"Very well," began Fenrir to say "It seems that the Oracle was right, again. Human what is your name, I want to know who I will kill."

"What makes you so sure you can kill me? Anyway, I'm tired of human this, human that. Listen well, my name is Freya Caerwyn, wolfie."

"I'm Fenrir!" And he started to order the two others, "Vorag, Chernos I'm going to transform, you two get out of my way go and attack the gates or something. Just stay out of my way."

But just as they began to move towards the gate Freya tried to intercept them but was quickly pinned down by Fenrir who grew to 4 meters in height and the wounds on his hands were healed.

When Kormac and Vlad saw Vorag and Chernos coming towards them a sense of dread filled them and they threw out the flasks they got from Alaric creating a fiery sea in their front in an attempt to stop the two coming towards them, with little success. While Vlad and Kormac with his 10 people that managed to learn how to control mana were fighting the bat-cat duo, things were looking grim for Freya.

After his transformation Fenrir's speed and power were a few times higher then before and along with the fatigue from the prolonged battle made Freya to barely be able to block his attacks. "Not so tough now are you?" Mocked the hecantophile.

With each attack Freya's energy was draining away, every time she would block the Fenrir's fist her feet dug into the hard rock underneath her finally after a relentless pounding she was thrown away a few meters in the air. It was clear Fenrir was playing with her, "Your pretty tough for a mere human, but so what? Your still powerless against us."

But Freya couldn't hear him, as she laid on the ground, something with her was changing, her drained body in search of energy began to absorb the mana in the air and slowly her it was evolving. If before mana was flowing in her like a foreign thing now her blood it self started to get mixed and changed to mana, it was as if instead of blood it was mana flowing through her blood vessels.

"What's the matter? Why so silent? No witty comeback? Are you dead?" Fenrir started to pay attention to her and his smile froze, its instincts warned him, told him to attack now and so he did he pounced towards her at once trying to bite her head.

Just a moment before he reached her, Freya rolled to the side and got up she immediately stabbed with her spear followed by a sweep.

Fenrir dodged the stab and then jumped up dodging the sweep, Freya followed with an upward slash cutting him across the chest, black blood sprayed and his bones could be seen. An animalistic howl escaped the hybrids maw and its companions Vorag and Chernos instantly left the gate to come by his side.

Sensing them coming Freya tried to press the advantage and went for the killing blow towards his heart. Fenrir's animalistic instincts allowed him to dodge the fatal blow and the spear stabbed his shoulder and Freya started channeling her mana in his body destroying it from the inside. Before ahe could do more damage, Vorag and Chernos appeared saving Fenrir.

With the wolf out of the picture, Freya started focusing on Vorag stabbing him in the leg and cutting of another of his arms leaving him with only 2 right arms. Upon seeing this Chernos took Fenrir and quickly fled the battle field while Vorag also followed after him.

Freya tried to chase it but the horde of corrupted creatures blocked her way. Finally she turned her attention towards the gate aiding in it's defense, the battle lasted all night until they finally took down the last creature that's how many there were. Alaric's fire proved very effective at cleaning the battlefield and mountains of corpses and altough they won the bat-lion duo did much damage to the wardens almost half of the defenders were killed along with another quarter being injured. The battle was won but a heavy toll was paid. Early in the morning the king's forces finally arrived along with medical support wich allowed the wardens a brief respite.

The battle was won, but the cost was evident. Freya's body gave way, and darkness claimed her as she collapsed. In the following days, the aftermath of the attack cast a shadow, but the Black Wardens persevered, thanks to Bryndor taking the lead until Freya recovered.