"Tim... eus...!"

"T...imeu...s!"

"Timeus! Snap out of it!" Ajax roared as shadow tendrils busted from his back, swiftly dragging and throwing away the warriors in the field.

Unfortunately, no matter how strong or fast he was, there were still many who did not make it out.

Rapid explosions and earthquakes shook the ground as traps of all kinds springed forth, bringing devastation to their ranks.

Some of the warriors were blown to pieces, giving them swift deaths, while others fell into holes filled with poisoned spikes, tormenting them before taking their lives.

Timeus watched the chaos unfold before him as Ajax's knuckles struck him in the face.

"Move!" Ajax said.

Timeus blinked a couple times as he clenched his jaw. Gathering his wits, he dashed forward and took as many as he could.

"GET OUT OF THE FIELD!" He roared.

Unfortunately, the problem has just begun.

Before the soldiers could enact his command, a horde of wolves sprinted from the fortress, mowing down the warriors one by one.

Panicked, the soldiers hastened their pace, ending in more casualties as the traps took them out.

Timeus eyes were wide open as he watched the hopeless men he trained perish so pathetically. It was as though their preparations were all a joke.

Gritting his teeth, Timeus raised his blade.

Seeing the order, the warriors who did not enter the field closed their eyes as the sound of machine cranked behind them. As Timeus's blade descended, multiple shots from the siege weapons and ballistas were fired.

Their munitions darkened the sky as the hopeless warriors watched it befell them, shattering the ground in thunderous explosions, taking out not only them but the hordes of wolves massacring them.

As the dust rose in the sky, the stench of blood also lingered in their noses. But they could only steel their resolves, as this was war. Some sacrifices were a must.

As the rain of fire ended, the traps were all finally disabled. Yet, no one dared to proceed, as they could only focus on their dead comrades.

Timeus wore a stone cold look as he roared. "MOVE!!! INTO POSITIONS!!!"

The warriors tightened their grips as they marched forward, toppling over their dead as they positioned themselves.

As soon as the siege machines were in place, Timeus watched the towering steel abodes of the beast that caused all this war.

Upon his signal, the siege machines fired a barrage of attacks on its walls, marring its surface in cracks.

Timeus kept the order firm as the warriors shot one round after the other, shattering some parts of the fortress.

Ajax watched the chaos ensue before his eyes. There was nothing he can do.

However, his visage soon darkened as he felt a presence enter the range of his Astral compass. One soon became two and two became four.

Slowly, the numbers of the wolves toppled over the hundreds and soon the thousands.

Realising this, Ajax roared. "ENEMIES INCOMING!"

Timeus briefly shot a glance at Ajax before he switched his attention to the steel walls of the fortress.

Multiple consecutive bangs reverberated in the air as the walls collapsed, stirring the dust as a horde of wolves burst outward.

"BRACE!!! HOLD YOUR GROUND!!!" He roared as he stabbed his weapon on the ground and uttered.

"Ice surge!"

Upon his words, a plethora of collosal ice spikes rooted from the ground, taking out dozens of wolves in one swoop. However, this did not halt their advance.

As the Shield wielders positioned themselves up front, the ranged units started casting one spell after the other.

All forms of attacks littered the sky in their brilliance as fire, lightning, water and even wind rained down.

The wolves fell like feathers on a dying chicken as they were run over by the warriors.

Unfortunately, their number was too vast.

One shattered head would simply be replaced by two more. Their charge remained unhindered as the beasts leaped through the fire like mad dogs.

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Seeing this, the tanks braced for the worst as they enforced their bodies with their own abilities.

As the horde neared, cold sweat trickled down their foreheads and their backs.

Watching the sea of monsters launch at them, the warriors unsheathed their weapons and roared.

A violent collision occured between the two sides as the wolves were stopped in their tracks by the wall of shields, shattering their skulls and limbs like chalk.

Seizing this chance, the warriors swiftly countered using their spears and blades, impaling and slashing whoever was unfortunate enough.

Blood, guts, and sweat painted the decaying earth crimson as bodies piled like snow, forming small mountains of corpses.

The ballistas and Siege machines kept their pressure, bursting the wolves coming out of the lair.

However, just as they thought they were winning, the wall of shields was breached.

Large wolves, three times the size of the normal ones, lunged from the crowd, hammering and sending the shield walls in their path flying.

The wolves were exactly like the ones in the temples, with black, pulsing veins marring their skin and flesh.

"KILL IT!!!"

"ARGHH! SHIT! THEY'RE GETTING THROUGH!"

"MY ARM! AHHHH!!!"

Screams and wails of pain replaced the war cries as the wolves swiftly widened the hole, charging through and mowing down the fighters.

Left with no choice, the shield bearers dropped the formation as they engaged in close combat.

It was apparent the wolves were targeting the weapons they had and the ranged casters near them. Now, the only thing separating them is the second line of fighters.

"DO NOT LET THEM THROUGH!!!"

"FOR TERA!!!"

"ARM YOURSELVES!!!"

The sound of steel blades clashing against flesh and bones ringed in the air as rivers of blood formed puddles throughout the field.

With Timeus's lead, he bravely faced the larger guardian wolves.

With his large white greatsword, Timeus parried and went on the offensive, pushing back the giant wolves on his own.

Timeus weaved back and forth, dodging their attacks as he countered.

"Flash freeze!"

On cue, the ground was frozen solid by ice, trapping the guardians as he flew up and delivered heavy rotational strikes, bisecting them in two.

Using his momentum, Timeus utilised the weight of his weapon to toss and turn. However, the wolves were not backing down so easily either.

Using their agility to their advantage, the guardians often repositioned behind or beside Timeus, delivering constant slash attacks and sometimes nicking his armour.

Eventually, some of their persistent charges passed through the general's defence. Shallow and deep cuts etched through his flesh as Timeus gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain as he felt his wounds decay.

"Cold mist!"

A fog of ice cold mist struck the area near Timeus, confusing the Wolves as he drilled through them.

Corpse after corpse fell limp as half their bodies were thrown away, smashing against their kin.

But as the duration of the mist ended, the guardians lunged forward, delivering their full weight behind their attacks.

Seeing this, Timeus had no choice but to raise his blade and form a makeshift shield.

As the two collided, Timeus was sent skidding back as he felt his arms tremble. Not only in fatigue but in pain.

Regaining his composure, Timeus pivoted and delivered a slashing attack, slicing one of the guardians in half.

However, one of the abominations charged forth and struck Timeus square, catapulting him through the earth.

Timeus grunted as he struggled to rise up, his wounds aching and burning severely.

This caused him confusion, as the decay of wounds caused by these bastards was never enough to do this much harm.

Staring at the approaching guardians, Timeus wielded his blade once more.

Then again, these were different.

With a mighty roar, Timeus dashed forward but was halted when a burst of flame engulfed the guardians, scorching them to ashes.

"This..." Timeus muttered.

"You've grown weak, old man," Erubin said, his blade burning bright red.

"Erubin," Timeus said.

"Save the talk for later; we have a war to win," Erubin told him.

Timeus gave a silent nod as he straightened his back.

Soon, multiple beasts approached them, circling them like they were prey.

The two stood side to side as they charged forward, cutting through the wolves like they were nothing but butter.

Timeus would slow them down as Erubin ignited them in flames, ending them and leaving nothing but ashes.

Erubin swung his blade tirelessly, his eyes dark and unyielding. Timeus could only hope he will not do anything foolish.

Back on the field, Ajax was unable to help the warriors as he was vital to the generals plan.

It was made clear that he would only fight personally when the time was right.

But was it the right choice?

All these men are dying needlessly for a war they never wanted, all so they can end it and rebuild the lives they lost.

They never wanted to kill abominations, they never wanted blood shed. All these creatures had to do was leave their home alone and they will not do a single thing.

They would return and rebuild what they destroyed.

But no, these monsters never wanted to coexist. They only wanted to kill, kill and kill. A never ending cycle of violence and death.

In the end, these abominations are no different than those bastards Ajax thought.

Was he supposed to just watch this bloodshed occur? Was he supposed to just watch these warriors sacrifice their lives?

Tightening his grip, Ajax spoke.

"Blooming darkness."

For a moment, the battle was halted as a giant flower made of shadows sprung from the ground, opening and releasing hundreds of petals in the wind.

The wolves could not help but watch these petals fall, some touching their bodies. However, their attention was soon drawn back to the battle when nothing happened.

It was over for them.

"Bloom."

The flowers touching the wolves started to stem out, forming a beautiful black flower.

Confused by these distractions, the wolves tried to remove them, but to no avail.

With one snap of his fingers, a wolf before a warrior bloated and exploded into a mist of blood, painting him red in its colours.

Seeing this, the wolves tried to claw out the flowers in a panic, but it was too late.

One by one, those infected by the attack blew into pieces, raining back down and filling the air with the stench of iron.

Seeing this, the warriors shot a look behind them as Ajax slowly stepped out. Slowly, he unsheathed his weapon as he spoke.

"Shadow blade."

Long swirling shadows latched itself in Ajax's blade, strengthening its power and durability.

"That's... That's the shadow, Saint..." A man spoke.

"TAKE UP ARMS AND RALLY WITH THE SAINT!!!" A warrior roared.

With Ajax's appearance, the field was filled with loud cheers and war cries as they picked up their weapons and followed him.

Seeing the sudden rise in morale, the wolves growled as they steadily walked back, backing away with their tails behind their legs.

Summoning his shadows, Ajax speared a glance ahead, into the darkness before him.

Timeus's plan has failed. These men and women were dying for nothing. He can't just stand and watch.

So, if the abomination that invaded Tera would not leave its domain, Ajax would kill its kin without stop.

He will lay waste to the foundations they built. He will end the very pack it adores, and he will trample over their corpses.

If the beast has no reason no leave...

Then he will give it one.