Trolls and gargoyles share similar habitats and were both infamous for leading the southern advance, their presence marking the first wave of war. Forest trolls were exceptionally quick on their feet, while gargoyles, with their extreme aggression, dominated the skies as winged demonic beasts.0

From the walls of Rekordak, I looked upon the advancing horde of demonic beasts. Some charged across the earth, each step shaking the ground, while others streaked through the skies, their cries slicing through the air. The beasts themselves were nothing special, but their numbers blanketed the horizon—an overwhelming tide that demanded reckoning.0

“... Prepare,” I commanded, raising my right hand.0

Behind me, nineteen Wood Steel blades rose into the air, their gleaming forms hovering with purpose, while the soldiers’ automatic crossbows were aimed skyward and at the ground. From the earth itself, the knights’ mana began to rise, a shimmering force coiling like mist before a storm.0

“Fire.”0

The command was straightforward, its simplicity carrying a weight that required no volume.0

Creeeeak—!0

The triggers were pulled, and the crossbows roared to life. Bolts—more akin to harpoons than arrows—cut through the air in straight lines, tearing across the sky and the earth alike.0

Whissshhhh—!0

The barrage of bolts, fired without a clear target, tore through the trolls and gargoyles. The gargoyles' wings were shredded, and the trolls' thick neck hides were skewered clean through.0

Whoooosh—!0

Amid the chaos, the nineteen Wood Steel blades weaved through like bolts of lightning. Infused with my mana, they had already surpassed the speed of sound, striking faster than their echoes could follow. Each spear carved through...0