The natives were deathly afraid of the sound that our assault rifles, machine guns, grenades and mines made. They, shuddering, covered their ears with their hands, hiding behind the marlons while we poured a barrage of fire from the wall at the advancing natives. They had already broken into the city and immediately rushed to the castle gates. There were only twenty of us, not counting hundreds more natives with swords, bows, spears and crossbows, but they had not yet participated in the battle, but were only waiting for the moment when it would come for them.

Hearing a click instead of a shot and recoil, I instantly threw the empty clip to the side, loaded a new one, cocked the bolt, took aim and fired a shot, which immediately pierced the steel helmet of an enemy soldier, splashing his blood and brains in different directions. At this time, magicians were working on the other side of the castle and destroying anyone who got close to the walls with their destructive power.

This time we had the advantage of height and observation, so we could fight the natives without any problems. Now we were in our element and were simply in the shooting range, where live targets were rushing towards us. The only problem was that we still didn't have enough ammunition, otherwise we would have been firing heavily instead of saving by firing single shots.

Esko, being a sniper located on the tower, blew off the heads of enemy commanders and reported with flag gestures when the natives reached certain points, giving the sapper Mshkhan a signal to remotely detonate certain sections of the city streets. This moment, for example, has arrived now.

On the right, I saw Mshkhan raise his hand, and I nodded in response and gave permission to detonate, after which a deafening roar rushed through, instantly killing hundreds of invaders somewhere in the depths of the city. Raising my head, I saw a rising column of dust and pieces of human bodies and building debris falling from the sky. It was quite a spectacle, but this was not the time to show off explosions, it was time to fight.

"Reloading!"

"Enemy approaching from the northwest!"

"Inias, Rohan, control the northwest!"

"Executing!"

The battle was already in its third hour, and time was getting shorter and shorter, as were our cartridges. I emptied the next clip and threw it aside, loaded a new one and began to blow off heads with single shots. Fortunately, we were not the only ones who fired from the walls and archers and crossbowmen helped us in the shooting.

They did not eliminate enemies as quickly and efficiently as we did, but they still made a modest contribution to the battle as much as they could afford. The rain of arrows was effective in its own way, despite the fact that most of the projectiles simply missed their targets. Not much, but they saved our ammunition, and the enemy did not even try to look for cover and advanced on the bodies of his dead comrades.

"Glate, what's the matter?"

"It's jammed!"

"Can you figure it out?"

"Not the first time."

The castle in which we took refuge was part of the palace grounds, the largest and most protected building in the entire kingdom. The territory was impressive, there were northern and southern gates with courtyards where stables and warehouses were located. This gate was the entrance for the masters and the entrance for the servants, and we were now protecting the entrance for the masters.

The courtyard behind the gates inside the castle was fortified with barricades, spearmen took cover behind them, and archers still stood on the walls, ready to rain down the enemy from all sides. If by some miracle the enemy gets inside, he will fall into the death zone.

Some fan of military simulations would call this defense point the ancient word "killbox”, that is, an area of cross-concentrated fire from a cornered enemy. We were not yet going to use this trump card in our defense, but we held out as long as we could. However, I am afraid that time is getting less and less, and it seems that the plan will not work.

Where are you?!

In my thoughts I called out to General Zeonid while I emptied another clip, firing single shots to the heads.

"I have two clips left!”

"Here you go, Nelson."

"Thank you."

"You owe me."

"Fuck you!"

Just now I noticed something strange. Our shots should have killed the natives instantly, but for some reason they rose to their feet, completely ignoring any pain and continued to move forward. Because of this, I had to waste more ammo than I should have.

Looking closely through the rifle's optical sight, I saw only dead emptiness in their eyes. I expected to see distorted grimaces of anger, anger, fear, but no. There was only emptiness in their eyes. I immediately had one unpleasant assumption.

Are they on drugs?! Damned if that's the case!

You can’t underestimate an enemy who uses psychotropic drugs; although they stop valuing their lives, they become fearless, forcing them into the thick of things until this hell devours them.

"Cra-a-a-a-a-a-ap!!!~"

Forn shouted as he continuously fired from his machine gun.

"How many of you are there?!”

"Private, save your ammunition!

I commanded and Forn immediately calmed down, starting to load a new machine gun belt for his weapon.

"We won't shoot that many people."

"I know. We don't need it."

I answered, but Itami already objected to me."

"They're not going to give up at all."

"It was predictable."

I said it and at that moment something unexpected happened.

A visible charge of lightning flashed through the enemy soldiers rushing through the narrow streets of the city, which instantly made all the enemy soldiers burst into flames like a torch. And for a brief moment I thought that help had come to us, as I saw her behind the fiery trail of burning bodies rushing in different directions...

Oh no... she's here.

Short golden hair down to the neck, bright red eyes sparkling with thirst and a black robe with a lowered hood decorated with gold jewelry. From her palms came the white radiance of two ball lightnings, as if she were a walking source of two small sparkling suns and commanded the weather itself.

It is this that, according to Ripun, we should fear more than anything else. She can kill us at any moment, at any second, as soon as she appears in our field of vision. Fighting her even with our weapons is simply like death.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Swidok."

I said, swallowing saliva in fear.

It makes no sense to fire a shot in her direction; she will defend herself from it and survive. Our weapons against it are useless, no matter how hard we try to be proud of human inventions. Ripun warned us about this and so we need to do something else that will help us defeat her. And while I was thinking about this, the girl, surrounded by the shot and burning bodies of her warriors, grinned, looking straight at me.

Oh damn!

I panicked and immediately gave the order.

"Retreat! Now!"

I immediately hid behind the marlon, fearing an unexpected lightning strike from her hands, but this fragile stone barrier still did not inspire me with any hope. Just being in her field of vision scared me to the bone, making me tremble like I had never trembled in my life. Obviously I was scared to death because I didn’t know if I could cope with her or if I would die as quickly as Ripun predicted.

I remember how the prophet’s face looked when he talked about her as if she were the most terrible person in the world, a monster from legends and fairy tales. Perhaps this is true, because she was called a "legend of the world”, whatever that means. It could be some kind of self-proclaimed title or something else that we don’t yet know, in any case, it doesn’t matter what it is, it was enough to know that it wouldn’t be easy with her and we could easily die at her hands.

"Leaving already?"

The golden-haired woman said playfully, taking slow steps and examining the bodies of the shot cultists.

"Your magic is interesting, rather the magic of the dark ones, which you appropriated for yourself.”

"Boris, let's leave."

Will gave me his palm, but I did not yet dare to follow him, because I knew that she seemed to see right through my every movement.

It’s as if I have an invisible mark on me by which she tracks my every movement. I just couldn’t take a step, let alone move, so I said to Will:

"Go away. I can't do it yet."

"What can't you do?"

Swidok said.

What? Can she hear me? How? She couldn't! She's still far away!

I asked questions, widening my eyes.

Will, meanwhile, waited a few moments before going down the stairs, leaving with the entire platoon into the barricaded courtyard, and I, in turn, remained in place and gripped the assault rifle as tightly as possible in my hands. No matter what happens, you have to rely on this piece of metal in your hands.

General, please hurry up!

I prayed after hearing a few more caustic comments from Swidok.

"I know these wounds... it was you who killed my people near the village? Wasn’t it?”

"Yes."

I whispered, hoping that she wouldn’t hear, but she did.

"As I thought. They ruined my preparations, my dearest meat, a living gift for Monrid. But I am not here to punish you for this, but to ask what that thing in the sky was doing? It emitted some kind of power, but it wasn't magical. What is it?"

"Do I have to answer you?"

Swidok grinned.

"If you don’t want to, don’t answer, in any case, you will become the king’s dinner, as befits cattle. But if you want to live longer and see your sister, then you better answer my question.”

Bitch!

I was angry inside myself and still understood what she was talking about.

"Okay, I'll tell you. That thing in the sky, a radio station. We use it for communication, that is... sending messages. We called for help, it will arrive soon."

"Wow! An artifact for communication, I didn’t think I’d see something like this here. But I don’t think it will help you. I’m already here and soon you’ll all die and become the dinner of a real king.”

"Why are you doing this? What motivates you?"

I was hoping to find out, but instead of answering, Swidok laughed loudly and only after that, having collected her thoughts and a smile on her face, «the legend of the world» answered:

"I want to fulfill the will and plans of my master. I want to see the world that he is going to build. I can’t imagine how wonderful it will eventually become. But you... tell me, you want to know what will happen if I suddenly stop spending with you my time and start attacking right away?”

"This is going to be shit."

"That’s right... you will be no more. You understand me perfectly, even though you are seeing me for the first time. I wonder who told you about me? Was it that boy?”

"Then why are you hesitating? Just do what you have in mind and get lost!”

"Oh-oh-oh... a small, small and timid fool wants to quickly get rid of the fear of imminent death, how cute. I am touched to the depths of my soul. I have seen this more than once and still every time I enjoy such a spectacle. You call this courage , and this just makes me laugh. Hee hee hee hee hee~! What kind of courage is this? This is pure stupidity."

Scum!

I ground my teeth, squeezing the rifle in my hands even tighter.

And she said exactly what I already felt.

Fear.

I was afraid of her, afraid of dying and wanted to finish this as soon as possible, even though I knew that this would lead me to an early grave. I need to restrain myself and wait for Zeonid, otherwise I’m a corpse, or rather... we’re all corpses.

Fear gives strength, you just need to direct it, and not succumb to it.

I remembered John’s words and tried to keep the thought of escaping away.

I have to succeed, I have to try, I have to...

"I hear the song of your soul, it is so aggressive, so angry and at the same time so alien, as if you are not from this world.”

Swidok spoke meanwhile.

"Hah~! Looks like you peed yourself. Hee-hee-hee-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha~"

Her voice became louder and louder, which meant she was slowly approaching the gate and was about to begin her attack.

She herself is stalling for time... why? To stretch out your "pleasure”? Or what?>

I didn’t understand her train of thought and yet I continued to act according to my plan.

"And this is interesting. Boris Kipito, an earthling."

Said Swidok made me hold my breath from what I heard.

"H-how…"

"The songs of your soul are so bright and languid that recognizing your destiny in them becomes much easier than you can imagine. A stranger from a distant world, the native world of people. What stupidity. You do not understand where you ended up and you are unlikely to ever understand it, and when you realize it, you will feel such a strong pain that you cannot imagine."

"W-what are you talking about? Wha-at does this mean?"

"Man... you don't understand anything."

Indeed, I didn’t know much about this planet, but what could it be hiding in itself that could terrify me? What secret is she keeping? Or maybe none? Maybe Swidok is making me go crazy? I shook my head, driving away unnecessary thoughts, and when I saw one point on the bioscanner that had reached the right place, I immediately heard a question from Goldilocks.

"And why are you so happy, I wonder? Did you see mommy?”

"Do you really want to know?"

I asked with a smile.

"Yes. I'm curious to know what useless attempts you have prepared against me."

"Well then you will see everything for yourself.”

I said and pressed the fuse button.

Right on the spot where she stood, a remote mine exploded, which at the same time demolished the heavy iron gate. I almost went deaf from the roar of the explosion, my ears were ringing, and my heart continued to beat wildly while the area was enveloped in a cloud of dust. Pieces of rubble fell down, and dust settled on the ground, exposing the defenders of the castle to a wide gap filled with cobblestones.

Meanwhile, I got to my feet and ran down to the fortified courtyard, where I would meet with my guys the last attack of the enemy. If the general doesn’t make it by then, then we will definitely be finished.

This explosion won't kill her... won't even hurt her.

I knew in advance from Ripun’s words, and therefore I hurried as much as I could afford, almost tripping over the steps.

This explosion is a signal for Granid, he must be in time.

"Everyone get ready!"

I shouted and immediately hid behind the barricade next to Will.

At this time, behind a gap shrouded in a pillar of dust, we heard an angry roar. So the huge horde of cultists screamed as they rushed into the city. I took a more comfortable position behind the barricade, aiming into the distance while the noise of the stomping of thousands of people became louder and louder. The anticipation of a speedy assault filled us all, both the soldiers of the 127th Army and the natives. We were waiting for the moment when the final assault on the castle would begin, after which there could only be two outcomes: victory or death.

I rose to my feet and shouted to everyone what they should have heard, what should have prompted them to the last battle of their lives:

"For the sake of humanity, fight!"

In response, I heard a thunderous roar from the defenders.

They're ready.