The air was thick with tension as Isonorai, myself, and the rest of the magic users gathered near the narrow passageway just outside the village. This narrow point was crucial to our plan. If we could block it, we could funnel the demons into a chokehold and slow their advance. But I wasn’t exactly feeling confident. I couldn’t use earth or nature magic—the two key elements we needed here. I didn’t have the crystal in my brain that allowed me access to those kinds of magic. My powers lay in shadow, and as useful as they were in combat, they wouldn’t help much in building a barricade.
Isonorai stepped forward, the weight of her role showing in the slight tightening of her posture. She turned to the other magic users, her face set with determination but also a hint of frustration. I knew she wasn’t particularly skilled in earth or nature magic—she’d told me that herself in one of our earlier conversations. But right now, she was the best we had to guide the others, and there was no room for hesitation.
"Alright," Isonorai began, her voice firm, but with an edge of strain. "This is what we need to do. We’re going to use the earth and nature around us to build a barrier. I’ll demonstrate what I can, but I need all of you to focus. If we don’t get this right, we’re leaving the village exposed."
The group of magic users, about a dozen of them in total, stood around her, some looking weary and others wide-eyed with fear. Many were young, and I could tell this was probably their first time using magic in a real battle scenario. It was strange seeing them like this—regular villagers suddenly thrust into a role that could mean the difference between life and death for everyone.
Isonorai stepped forward and extended her hands toward the ground. Slowly, I could see her beginning to manipulate the earth. Her fingers twitched slightly, and the ground beneath her shifted as rocks and dirt began to rise, forming a small wall in front of her. It wasn’t perfect—the barrier was uneven, and it trembled as if it could collapse at any second—but it was enough to show the others what needed to be done.
"See?" Isonorai said, breathing heavily from the effort. "It doesn’t have to be pretty. Just sturdy enough to hold them off for a while. Focus on drawing the earth up like this and compacting it. If you can, weave the roots from the trees nearby into the barrier for extra strength."
A few of the magic users nodded, their expressions serious as they took in her instructions. Isonorai motioned for them to try, stepping back to observe. One by one, they extended their hands toward the ground, and I could feel the surge of magical energy as they began to pull the earth upward. Some struggled at first, the earth barely responding to their will, but slowly, small walls began to rise.
I stood off to the side, watching them work. My Shadow Sword felt useless in my hand, the magic thrumming through it completely at odds with the elemental forces they were manipulating. I clenched my fists, frustrated at my own inability to help in this particular task. My mana reserves were still strong, hovering at 210, but there was no shadow magic that could do what we needed here.
“Sam.” Isonorai’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. She walked over, her face etched with concern. “I know you can’t use these elements, but you’re still important. Keep an eye on the perimeter. The demons won’t wait forever, and we need to buy as much time as possible.”
I nodded. She was right. Even if I couldn’t help with the barrier, I could make sure nothing sneaked up on us while we were vulnerable. I shifted my attention to the open field beyond the passage. The landscape was eerily quiet, the demons still gathering their forces, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before they came charging again.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Behind me, the magic users continued their work. The barrier was starting to take shape now, the walls of earth rising higher and higher, reinforced with the thick roots of nearby trees. It wasn’t perfect—there were gaps, and the structure was uneven—but it would hold, at least for a while.
I could hear some of the younger magic users grunting with effort, their faces red from the strain of controlling such large amounts of earth. One of them, a boy no older than sixteen, collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
“Keep pushing!” Isonorai urged, though I could hear the strain in her own voice. She was running low on energy herself. “Just a little more! We need to make it taller, or the demons will just climb over!”
I turned my focus back to the open field, scanning for any sign of movement. My mana ticked down to 202 as I instinctively readied my Shadow Sword, drawing on the darkness around me to sharpen its edges. If the demons came now, we’d be in trouble—half our forces were tied up in constructing the barrier, and the rest were still regrouping in the village.
Suddenly, I saw it—a faint shimmer on the horizon. The air seemed to ripple, and then, like a wave crashing against the shore, the demons appeared. Their grotesque forms, some towering and monstrous, others smaller but no less deadly, were charging toward us. I could feel the ground tremble beneath their feet, and the air filled with the sound of their guttural roars.
“They’re coming!” I shouted, my voice cutting through the sounds of the magic users’ work. “Isonorai, we’ve got incoming!”
She snapped her head toward me, her face paling as she saw the approaching horde. “Damn it,” she muttered under her breath. “We need more time!”
“There is no more time!” I yelled back, summoning my Shadow Sword fully now, the dark blade materializing in my hand. My mana dropped to 191, but I didn’t care. We had to fight.
The magic users, sensing the urgency, redoubled their efforts. The barrier rose higher, but it wasn’t finished yet. I stepped forward, planting myself between the barrier and the approaching demons. I could hear the others moving into position behind me, but there wasn’t enough time for us to set up any kind of defensive formation. This was going to be brutal.
The first demon reached us, a hulking creature with massive claws. I swung my Shadow Sword upward, meeting its attack head-on. The force of the collision rattled my bones, but the blade held firm, slicing through its arm. My mana ticked down to 183, but I barely noticed. Another demon was already on me, this one smaller but faster. It lunged at my throat, but I sidestepped, my reaction speed saving me just in time. I brought the Shadow Sword down in a clean arc, decapitating it in one swift move. My mana dipped to 175.
Isonorai joined the fray, her hands glowing with magic as she sent out blasts of energy to push the demons back. "We have to buy them more time!" she shouted over the din of battle, her voice filled with urgency.
The rest of the magic users, now finished with the barrier, turned their focus to the fight. Bolts of fire, bursts of ice, and arcs of electricity filled the air as they unleashed their spells. It wasn’t enough to stop the demons entirely, but it slowed them down.
We were holding, barely.
But I could feel it—the relentless pressure, the sheer number of enemies. We couldn’t keep this up forever. My mana was dwindling fast, down to 164 now, and the demons just kept coming.
“We need reinforcements!” Isonorai called out, her voice cracking under the strain of the fight.
I didn’t answer. I was too busy slicing through another demon, my body moving on pure instinct now. My mana dipped again, 157, and I felt a flash of panic. How much longer could we last?
The barrier stood tall behind us, but it wouldn’t matter if we all fell here. I knew that. We had to keep fighting, keep pushing, or everything we’d worked for would fall apart.
I gripped my Shadow Sword tighter and prepared for the next wave.