The day comes and Max and I find our way to a blacksmith's shop.

Weapons and armor rest next to nails and farming equipment.

"What can I do for you?" a heavy looking man asks from behind the counter.

"We're looking for a sword."

Max defers to my decisions.

The man smiles, "I can do swords. What are you looking for?

"Can I assume this is for your beastkin servant?"

Max flinches at the question. But, I just smile and say, "Yes."

"There are plenty of common swords I can sell you. But, if you've got coin burning in your pocket, I can show you my best."

The man looks at me expectantly.

"Show me your best."

The blacksmith smiles a toothy grin before turning to the backroom.

He returns with 3 swords in their scabbards.

They line up on the counter.

I take one in hand and draw it from its confines.

"Pah," the sword spits. "This is what the man calls high grade?:"

I move on to the next sword.

Again the sentient sword shows its disdain.

When I draw the third blade, there is a pause in the sword's reaction.

"Eh," it says. "I'm still better.

I chuckle.

"This one."

The swore owner looks to me curiously, "You have a good eye."

We conclude the transaction with a price tag I never would have even considered paying out before the auction.

Max gratefully accepts the superior-grade weapon.

"Thank you."

I shrug it off and move on to the next pressing matter.

The expedition South sees hundreds gathered at the perimeter of the city.

A garrison commander organizes an army of would-be adventurers and soldiers for deployment to the wall.

Max and I find our places in the mass of people.

It takes some time for us all to understand the formation we are being ordered into.

Secretaries take down our information by rank and file.

"Thank you for joining us in this campaign," the commander yells out.

"We will depart shortly.

"Understand that you are now a branch of the empire's military.

"We expect you to respect the chain of command as we confront this crisis at the wall.

"Follow orders. And, the gods willing, you'll come back alive."

Max looks at me nervously.

"It'll be fine," I hope I sound convincing.

Before long, we march out of the city.

I worry that I'll lose track of my companion in this mess of people.

The march is not something that I'm used to.

Life as a nomad builds fortitude.

But, despite my endurance, I notice many of my peers sagging under the exertion.

I can't help but feel that most who took on this mission are unprepared for the threat.

As the day passes, we make camp.

Max finds me.

"What are demons like?" he asks.

I think back on the one demon I faced and the one I hid from.

"They're like living shadows. I don't know much about them. But, one was a massive creature. Like an insect."

The sword glows, "They are corrupted forms of what exists in nature.

"The human form demon is a particularly dangerous enemy. They usually command the lesser demons."

I'm surprised to hear that demons can be similar to humans.

Max and I settled down for our nightly meditation.

I breathe in deeply. My soul world falling into me.

As much as I had feared destroying my soul world, my soul rejoices as the spirits return to me.

I feel a ball of energy forming above my navel.

"You're activating your dantian," the sword states.

"From here, your spiritual powers will grow exponentially."

I absorb the wisdom as I feel my power surge.

The chi of heaven and earth meets my internal chi and I feel electricity course through me.

When I finally open my eyes, morning has come.

This process carries on for a few days before we, at last, find the wall.

The roar of battle carries over the wind.

A bad feeling comes over me as I watch soldiers flee the wall.

A pounding resounds over the field as cracks grow in the wall.

"Double time!" the commander calls out.

We don't have time to breach the distance as a siege breaker demon bursts through the wall.

The mountain of muscle has arms like tree trunks.

The soldiers at the wall flee as smaller demons flow around the monster.

Those brave few who try to hold their ground feed the voracious shadowy creatures.

Recognizing the demons' stampede upon us, we are ordered to hold position.

Thousands of soldiers rally to our formation.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

My eyes find Max.

I wonder if I'll be able to protect him.

The onslaught seems to take a long time as we wait to meet the threat.

I can sense the terror that is coming over this army.

I see men and women tremble as the demons charge us.

The first demons meet our line and all hell breaks loose.

Almost all of the people fighting are normal people.

The spiritualists and cultivators are in the minority.

The formation collapses as the demons fall upon our ranks.

I meet the demons prepared.

The sword revels in the chaos as I cut into an armored foe.

My chi-laced blade cuts through the armor like a hot knife through butter.

As my blade finds the creature's vitals, I can't help but feel the ease of this conflict compared to the difficulty against the millipede demon."

I fall back to Max's side.

He's holding his own against a demonic wolf.

The monster bleeds through its fur. But, its teeth look ready to tear my companion apart.

Max looks relieved to have me at his side as the hound rushes forward.

I leave Max to that demon while I face off against a winged eyeball with teeth.

It's the most alien creature I've ever seen.

The fiend dances through the air as it seeks out a flaw in my defense.

I raise my blade and channel energy into it.

The demon thinks it's safe as I bring the sword down.

A beam of destructive power extends from my sword to cut the flying threat in two.

The monster falls, with a wet thud to the field below.

I turn to see Max's sword pierce the hellhound's mouth.

The demon sags to the ground.

My companion smiles for his victory. But, has no time to enjoy the moment as another demon presents itself.

The siege breaker looms over every warrior in our ranks.

I realize that, until it's dead, our defense will fail.

I rush through the gaps to meet the monstrosity.

Shadows flicker across its body like flames.

One brave, or stupid, soul stands defiant to the creature's advance.

The siege breaker pulls back a fist.

I rush forward and mobilize all of my chi to strengthen my body.

I jump over the man and collide with the fist.

The sword cuts down deep, splitting the demon's hand down the middle.

A roar of pain and surprise escapes the demon as it recoils.

I carry on with my assault, cutting deeply into the massive creature.

The sword glows a blinding red.

I realize that the light is mesmerizing the demons nearby. Allowing the human and beastkin warriors to push back against the horde.

The siege breaker begins to realize its danger and tries to fall back.

I push the advantage and cripple the beast's movement.

Tendons slashed, the demon falls to the ground.

Those enemies that would come to the monster's aid are killed like pests.

I am more exterminator than warrior on this battlefield.

A feminine giggle carries over the ding of battle.

"You," comes the feminine voice, "are dangerous."

Something is alluring to the voice.

I seek out the source to see a woman hovering in the air.

Her bat-like wings flap at intervals.

A human-type demon.

"Tell me, little human, where did you get that sword?"

I mobilize my energy into a beam and strike out at the demon.

She easily evades my projectile attack.

Her giggle carries to my ears.

"My, aren't you full of tricks?"

I put her aside as I go in for the killing blow on the siege breaker.

The demon looks at me with resignation while I open its arteries.

Blood spurts out from the dying monster and I can't help but feel some pity for the goliath.

I am ever aware of the woman's observation.

"You know," she says, "we don't have to be enemies."

I turn from her to face more demons.

"You are powerful," she purrs. "Join us and we could have so much fun."

Her words drip like acid.

I try to forget the human-type demon. But, she refuses to leave me.

I can sense a turn in the battle.

We're starting to push the demons back.

The hours pass as I am hounded by this dammed demon.

Her promises of fun hold no appeal to me.

"Fine," she says sadly. "If you change your mind, you know where to find us."

A screeching sound spreads to every corner of the battlefield.

Those demons that survive retreat through the gap in the wall.

Everyone is breathing heavily as we count our dead.

This victory came at no small cost.

The leadership is confused about how to reorganize with the fraction of an army we have left.

I find Max.

He's looking from one corpse to the next.

"Hey," I say.

He looks up, weary from the battle.

"I didn't think it would be like this."

Tears threaten to well up in his eyes.

"It's a first for me too."

He nods.

"Come on," I say. "We need to report in."

I note the chipped blade he sheathes.

We make our way to where the field commander is taking a count.

It takes some time to tally our losses.

We lost roughly 2/3 of the force we came with. And, the losses from those before us are similarly devastating.

"This," the commander says, "was a hard-won victory.

"But, I have bad news for you all.

"This was but one wave. More will come.

"And, now that the wall is breached, we will face increased hardship in the coming days.

"Prepare yourselves."

We are incorporated into the guard unit. But, fail to replenish the soldiers lost to the conflict.

"How are we going to survive?" I hear a voice ask.

"I don't know."

"I know how I'm gonna survive," someone says. "I'm getting the hell out of here."

"Shut up, fool. They'll execute you for desertion if you try that shit."

A somber moment passes as we are assigned to our teams.

Max and I are put on a spiritualist team. One of the few prestige groups.

"My name is Thomas. I'll be your lead going forward."

The soldier is a tall man with rugged good looks.

He wears the tabard of the imperial army.

"I'm sure most of you are questioning our chances after the last battle."

Blue eyes look out on our dozen-strong team.

"But, I assure you that we can stem the tide.

"We will be making forays into the demon's territory.

"It'll be dangerous. But, we will make the monsters pay for their challenge.

"Until the mission begins, you can rest in the garrison.

"Dismissed."

The team of cultivators has hardened resolve in the face of death. And, each leave to find a place to meditate.

"Askilar, was it?" the commander stops me from departing.

"Yes?"

He measures me.

"I saw you during the battle. You took down the blasted demon who cracked the wall."

I nod.

"Forgive me," he smiles. "It's just that that was truly impressive."

"Thank you." I bow my head to leave.

"Before you go," he says. "Perhaps I can convince you to take on some additional responsibility."

I look at him blankly.

"I need a new lieutenant after the battle.

"Someone who can keep an eye on the rest of the team."

One of my eyebrows raises. "In case they try to desert."

The man smirks, "If that should be the case."

I sigh, "I can keep an eye out. But, I'll pass on the promotion."

His lips twitch, "Be ready. We move at dusk."

I nod before turning to leave.

Max is waiting for me as I move to the barracks.

He doesn't question me as we settle down in a corner to meditate.

Before I realize it, night threatens to take the world.

We assemble for Thomas. None of the spiritualists sought to flee.

These are martial artists who have worked towards discipline for years.

For them, they realize their dao in conflict.

I wonder if I'm not the same.

I have wealth beyond any dream I could have hoped for.

And, yet, I choose to face demons.

As if detecting my internal dilemma, the sword speaks, "You're a warrior, Askilar. Otherwise, I never would have chosen you.

I chuckle, "Maybe you're right."

"Of course I'm right. When have I ever been wrong?"

I ignore my partner and focus on the briefing.

"Tonight, we will be attacking an encampment to the Southwest.

"Scouts have reported a high number of beast demons.

"This is an extermination mission.

"Be safe. Watch each other's backs. And, we'll come back safe and sound."

Thomas looks at each man and woman.

"Let's move out."

There are no trails for us to follow as we navigate the primeval woodland.

Our file follows Thomas' lead until we come out to view an open ravine.

In the dark, it's hard to view the shadowy demons that rest below us.

Thomas motions for us to descend.

When we're about halfway down, I hear a long howl.

Like a swarm of bees, the shadows move on us.

"Meet them below!" Thomas bellows as he breaks for the base.

The rest of us follow suit.

The shadows swell as I draw my sword.

The shadows hiss away from the orange glow.

A number of my allies are startled by the light show. But, I sense relief for the visibility.

Max draws his sword. The chipped surface has been sharpened, giving the blade a serrated look.

The first demon meets our leader. And, Thomas proves himself by rapidly dispatching the fiend.

My turn comes as a bear-like creature barrels towards me.

I channel chi into my blade and cut straight down on the beast's head.

The demon splits in two down its torso.

Max takes more time to handle a creature with a long neck.

I watch as other practitioners meet the oncoming threat.

Over the clamor of our battle, I hear a deep, throaty, laugh.

"I had heard of a unique human from Belquess."

A man appears riding something that looks like a lion.

The demons pull back as the human-type demon draws near.

"Tell me, little human, did you give my counterpart's offer any more consideration?"

The spiritualists look at one another confused.

"No," I say flatly.

The man seems unconcerned, "Attack."

The demons recovered and rejoin the melee in force.

I channel energy into a beam and project it out at the man who commands demons.

In a moment, he's off his mount and away from doom.

The lion demon has no such fortune, as my attack cuts into its head.

I don't have time to mourn my failed attack as the horde falls on me.

"What did I tell you, bearer? This is the life."

It exults in the battle and sears the shadowy demons with its glow.

I have no words to express how terrified I am at this moment.

The thought of being eaten by one, or many, of the demons, brings an ice down to my gut.

I hear Thomas barking orders to close our gaps.

I watch as Max takes a slash on his brow. Three tears ran from eyebrow to cheek.

Miraculously, he doesn't lose his eye.

I can't help but feel that this whole mission was foolish.

My chi is being spent as rapidly as I generate it.

Thomas calls for our retreat.

But, I know that scaling the hill with demons chomping at us will only result in our deaths.

I hold back and exert every ounce of my energy into holding the line.

The sword loves life on the razor's edge. But, even it grows concerned.

"I'm taking the reigns, buddy."

I feel myself a passenger in what may be the final moments of my life.

The blood that's shed becomes my own.

The sword can only mobilize so much energy. And, soon, I feel myself fall to my knees.

The sword gives up control and I feel myself gasping for air.

"You're impressive, little human," the demon says.

He looks into my eyes.

"Welcome, brother."