Chapter 29 – Armed Conflict

The army of the Fori kingdom aiming for the stronghold of the evil god was currently resting at an abandoned village. The small village was not large enough to house an army of 50,000 as many people are seen resting around the perimeter.

Currently night just fallen and the three highest ranking individuals of the army was inside one of the larger buildings within the village. This building was the current commanding headquarters of the marching army.

Around a fire made in a small pit as rations cooked and getting ready to be served. The three people watching the fire as they discuss their plans are Asura, the general Bune Alverson, and the new duke Henry Bourdain.

“Should be less than a week. Reaching our destination if nothing happens.” –Bune

The general breathes out white breath in discomfort. The winter was near and this battle must conclude before the snow falls. Fighting in the snow with a large untrained army was suicide against an unknown enemy force.

“Oink. The fields are left unharvested. Oink. The tax will be low once I retake this land.” –Henry

The fat round noble with black hair speaks arrogantly as he stares at the food cook. His hungry eyes waiting in anticipation for the meal to be served as he drools.

“The souls of my fallen comrades and my little sister haunt me. Begging me to get revenge. The wait is killing me.” –Asura

Bloodlust fill the room as Asura was letting out a savage countenance. His bionic arms were glowing and waiting for his commands to release their power. While the food was being ready to be served, for an officer hurried into the room in a panic.

“We are under attack! Many squadron officers were found dead!” –Officer

The three highest ranking individuals hearing this news yelled out in shock and confusion. The general Brun composing himself started to yell out orders to learn the identities of the enemy and to neutralize the threat. The duke Henry Bourdain only stiffened in fear as he might get targeted and was rooted at his spot.

Asura did not stay and ran out of the building yelling out a battle cry. His face filled with joy at the possibility of one of his revenge targets having come.  Once Asura ran outside he noticed shadowy figures running across the rooftops of the village houses.

Powering up his bionic arms as he was about to unleash attacks at the shadowy figures. A powerful enemy started to approach alone with no sign of fear. Asura saw who it was, for a smile full of rage and delight swept across his face.

“That is right you bloodsuckers!! Doing great!! Kill all the officers!! They easy to pick out with their nicer attire compared to the others!!” –Rider

The servant of the evil god was waving around a giant steel axe as he leaves a trail of dead bodies. A tall human man with spiky hair was leading the charge of this night attack. If this monster of a man was not stopped the entire army might be defeated.

The one known as Rider and was the one who tortured Asura for information. Asura bore a deep grudge against this man. To see Rider in front of Asura was enough for him to praise the goddess Lana, for offering such a great gift.

“Rider!!!!! Good of you to appear before me!!! REVENGE is mine!!!” –Asura

The rage envelops Asura as his two bionic arms unleashed massive magic power. The area surrounding the red arm was covered in fire. The blue arm was freezing everything near it and creating massive ice structures.

“Well. Well. What do we have here? I remember you. Looks like you leveled up. Since I last saw you.” –Rider

Rider smiles nonchalantly as if he was meeting an old friend. However, the way Rider was swinging around his great axe told a different story. He was ready for slaughtering everything in his path.

“Die evil fiend!! Revenge for all my comrades you killed!!” –Asura

Asura runs toward Rider at max speed while unleashing a whip of fire from his left arm. He swings the whip of fire at Rider.

“Good!! Let’s see if you can put up a better fight than last time!! Friend here I come!!” -Rider

Rider blocks the whip of fire with his great axe. Seeing his chance Asura shoots out a long serpent of ice from his right arm at Rider. The attack connects and ice crystals start to form on the left side of Rider’s body where the attack landed.

“Damn that actually hurt. You improved friend!! Glorious!!” –Rider

Asura was unfazed by the attitude of Rider as he long knew how strong his enemies were. A large number of soldiers are coming in his direction as they prepare to attack Rider. Asura using this chance at having all the ally soldiers here, and having them become meat shields for him.

“Bah! Damn bugs!! Stop swarming me!! You guys are ruining my fun!!” –Rider

Seeing his chance as the soldiers are overwhelming Rider in numbers. Asura lets out a ring of fire to surround the large group. Then he throws out a water attack from his blue arm at the fire putting it all out. He ends up creating a large cloud of water mist and smoke covering the entire mob.

Asura using the chance at Rider’s vision being blocked to unleash his most powerful attack. He starts doing a full speed run as he jumps up. Reaching the area that was at top of where Rider was standing.

Putting his two arms together and they start to power up letting out ice and fire magic. The two magic attacks start to circle around one another trying to combine into a drill like shape. Asura points the tip downward at where Rider should be standing within the smoke and mist.

“Take this fiend!! DUAL POWER DRILL attack!!” –Asura

A large explosion rang out in the area as the bodies of the soldiers within the vicinity rained from the sky in pieces. Asura was willing to sacrifice anything to take his revenge. The lives of his allies were just a means to an end.

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Once the smoke and debris cleared two silhouettes can be made out. They were Asura and Rider with Rider appearing to be injured. He was bleeding from his forehead that trickled down to his left eye. Rider’s left arm appear damaged and weakened.

“That was dangerous. Friend you came far. I’m proud.” –Rider

Rider gives out a sheepish grin. Seeing the once weak fool became stronger and it was attributed to him. Similar to watching a child grow up.

“Damn monster!!” –Asura

“Hey that’s cruel. You should thank me!!” –Rider

Rider lowered his left arm and his great axe head hitting the ground. He tries to wipe the blood from his left eye with his right hand. In that instant Asura saw a woman dressed in black jump towards Rider and grabbing him.

“……(speaking softly to Rider)” –Assassin

“Well looks like the fun is over. Till next time. Adios friend!!” –Rider

Before Asura could pursue the woman he recognized to be Assassin carried the large body of Rider effortlessly away. Left behind Asura can only let out an angry shout at not being able to kill his target.

“Damn you all!! Just you wait!!” –Asura

The enemies are retreating from the scene as large numbers of armed peasants and soldiers converge at the position of Asura.

+++

The southern portion of the Zorya continent, for battles and slaughter rages on. The demon army broke through the hellgate and taking down the fortress. They start to slaughter villages and towns in their path. Capturing any non-resistant humans they can get.

The kingdom of Korin was being ravaged by the demons. The once powerful militant nation was facing destruction. The kingdom was built upon the labor of slaves as all free residents were encouraged in pursuing the path of a warrior.

Those with magic talent are trained to be supply corps that uses their magic to maintain the military. Humans have very weak magic power unlike demon nobles. They are incapable of using strong offensive magic aside from a few talented humans.

This was the reason the Fori kingdom fostered magic craftsmen for anyone with magic talent. Which requires little magic power, but fine control was required.

The Korin kingdom was different. They revered martial strength and power. They rarely rely on magic craftsmen. Those with talent in magic were trained for support duty in the military.

The result with all citizens of Korin pursuing the martial path came with a downside. All the other chores such as farming, production, and other skilled labor were left to slaves. This meant within Korin kingdom the slave population outnumbered the citizens eight to one.

When the demons invaded Korin this created massive slave revolts to take place. The slaves saw their chance. The citizens being forced to fight on two fronts meant the Korin kingdom may soon fall.

Chaos and fear pervaded the royal capital of Korin. Citizens are in panic that demons might soon invade as slaves are uprising everywhere. Within one of the large chambers of the castle situated in the high ground of the royal capital was the queen. Her name is Queen Beatrice Korinstone.

Her husband the King Jarvis Korinstone III was currently out battling the demon army as he too was a mighty warrior. Left alone in the royal capital to oversee the defense, for the queen can only do her duty and hope for victory.

While the queen quietly contemplating the future of her kingdom, for a woman dressed in armor suddenly appeared before her. The armored woman was no other than saintess Anita Sarkeesian.

“Queen of Korin. Do you wish for salvation?” –Anita

The queen shocked at suddenly seeing the saintess appear can only reply hurriedly.

“Saintess. Why have you come? Is the goddess Lana willing to bless us with victory?” –Beatrice

The queen is a devout worshipper of the goddess Lana. However, most citizens only believe in strength and martial power, so they rarely pray to the goddess. Very few visit the churches of the goddess here in Korin.

“The goddess Lana is willing to lend you her power. All she asks is that you have the people pray to her.” –Anita

“I wish to try. But my husband the king will probably not permit it.” –Beatrice

“Then you must deal with the king. The goddess has no use for mortals that shun her.” –Anita

Beatrice was disturbed at what the saintess was implying. The kingdom was in danger and the power of the goddess will surely help. The queen decided that she must do her duty. There was no love relationship between the queen and king.

“Choosing between the goddess or my husband the king. I choose the goddess of course.” –Beatrice

“Very well. The goddess will lend you her power and protect your royal capital.” –Anita

The saintess takes out a white sword glowing with power and shows it to the queen.

“This is the holy sword of the previous hero. I will place it in the temple of the goddess here within the royal city.” –Anita

The holy sword will become a catalyst to create a magic barrier over the entire royal capital. The barrier with its holy magic will repel any demon and protect it from invasion. The slave uprising will be dependent on the citizens of the Korin kingdom.

With this barrier the Korin kingdom shall not fall as long as the royal capital stands. Consider this the blessing of the goddess Lana. The result will be more faith energy than before coming out of Korin. Both sides benefit.

“My many thanks saintess. Hail to the goddess Lana.” –Beatrice

“Hail to the goddess Lana.” -Anita

The saintess Anita Sarkeesian disappears from the sight of the queen. The queen realizing what she must do. She calls for her trusted retainers. The mission was to assassinate the king and make it not implicate the queen.