Morana ducked down amidst her army and cradled her damaged hand. She hated that paladin. When they finally won Morana would take great pleasure in cutting her heart out. Healing soul force eased her pain and repaired her mangled fingers. Demonic soul force was so much more useful than her old power. Much as she hated the woman it was impossible to deny her power. She made a worthy adversary. Maybe too worthy. Another jolt ran up her arm when a construct exploded.

Damn it!

First things first. She needed to take direct control of her soldiers and prevent them from walking into the warlords’ trap. The constructs were far stupider than she’d first hoped. Their power compensated for a lot of weaknesses, but right now their lack of intelligence was what was getting them smashed.

She ordered four demons to form a screen around her, conjured an invisible viewing orb, and sent it up to have a look. As she watched the warlords made a gap, just like earlier, and one of the moron constructs walked right through it where the warlord and now paladin as well waited. Well, we’ll see about that.

Morana concentrated on her connection with the demon and ordered it to turn and slaughter the warlords on the line. The crystal soldier obediently turned, rammed razor sharp claws into the back of the nearest warlord, and ripped his spine out.

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The paladin rushed in and blasted the demon to shards while the line shifted to close the gap. One for one and Morana doubted the paladin could do that very many times. She just hoped the warlords were dumb enough to try the same trick again.

A minute passed and the line held, unmoving. It seems they didn’t plan to make the same mistake twice. Pity, but that was what happened when you fought smart opponents. Morana would have to seize the initiative. She ordered her remaining eighty constructs to form a wedge and smash through the enemy lines.

Mindlessly the demons formed up behind Big Eye who had somehow made it through the battle so far. Big Eye hit a warlord and trampled him under foot. More of the enemy fighters stacked up two and three deep to try and stop the charging mass of demons.

Big Eye bogged down for a second, but the press of demons behind it soon forced the warlords back. Strong as they were, the warlords weren’t enough to stop the concentrated mass of her soldiers. Three warlords went down and were promptly torn to pieces.

Morana smiled. She was winning. The blond warlord shouted something and her enemies all seemed to vanish. The field was hers for now. At her command the constructs halted and formed a defensive circle. She made her way to the center of the formation and took up position. It was clear now that she needed to be ready to adjust to the enemy’s tactics directly. It wouldn’t surprise her if those sneaky warlords circled back and counterattacked immediately. Well, let them. Her forces were ready to spill some more blood.