22 The Reinforcements

Hans exhaled heavily as he beheaded another chaos beasts. His appearance remained bruised and battered but thanks to the healers brought by the professors the situation has turned out for the better. While Hans and the rest of the warhounds at the gate could not completely block the Chaos Beasts assault they were able to thin their invading numbers that those that did manage to get into the academy were very few in number.

Very few in comparison with the actual swarm anyway. Dozens of chaos beasts still managed to squeeze their way into the academy. However, Hans did have not have neither the time nor the energy to even think about those problems. After all that was something the professors in charge of the students can handle.

Hans horizontally slashed at the opposing chaos beast, causing it to lose its balance and topple over. The chaos beasts behind simply ignored their fallen comrade and proceeded to jump over its crippled body. [How predictable.] Easily predicting what the next move of the chaos beasts would be, Hans already positioned himself to deal with them all simultaneously.

Sliding down next to the crippled beast's body, Hans swung his sword above his head at the jumping chaos beasts with all his might, eviscerating all four of them.

As the rain of blood and guts poured down upon Hans, he swiftly embedded his sword into the cripple beast's neck, ending its miserable existence. In this short moment of respite Hans took a deep breath before hearing a sound that made his hair stand on end.

Quickly turning to his right, he found massive chaos beasts which stood on two feet. Sinisterly growling it stretched out its right craw to attack. [Crap! My sword is still stuck in this beast's neck!] Knowing full well that he could not get his sword out to defend in time, Hans' mind worked overtime to desperately think of a solution.

Before Hans could think of anything however, the beast roared loudly. Protruding from its chest, the signature warhound sabre glowed a dazzling blue despite being soaked blood-red. The chaos beast's arms went limp, falling down to its sides while it's head hung low. In a swift motion the sword receded back it into the chaos beasts until all that was left was on open wound.

The beast fell on it's knees, kneeling for a few seconds before finally collapsing nearly crushing Hans in the process. Behind the dead chaos beast, Sylvie stood with a stern expression on her face.

"You're getting-"

Before finishing her sentence, Sylvie swung her sabre to her right, slicing through the neck of the attacking Chaos beasts. Her face then once again turned to Hans, although still holding a serious expression he could still see the playfully mockery in her eyes.

"Sloppy"

Hans chuckled lightly before sliding his hidden dagger down his sleeve. Gripping the hilt of the dagger tightly, Hans threw it at Sylvie. Narrowly missing Sylvies face, the dagger embedded itself into the forehead of the chaos beasts that was prowling behind her. Seemingly unimpressed she sighed as she the blade of her sabre outstretched to her right, an over eager chaos beasts impaling itself onto it.

"I had that one covered."

Hans laughed cheerfully before decapitating the next attacking chaos beast.

"I know you did, I just wanted to add another one to my kill count."

"Even in times like this you are still so carefree?"

Despite being in a desperate fight to the death the two warhounds started having a friendly conversation.

"I wouldn't be me if I didn't right? Besides with the healers behind us as long as I don't get killed I won't die right?"

"That kind of logic makes me wonder why I call you my comrade."

Hans severed the limbs of the jumping chaos beasts before vertically cutting open the belly of another. Hans cheerfully answered Sylvie while crushing the head of the limbless chaos beasts with his enchanted leather boot.

"Forced by the circumstances kind of situation I guess. I just can't seem to die!"

"Unfortunately for me."

"Now that's a bit harsh now isn't it? If you want someone to blame, blame the geezer who decided to equip all warhounds with enchanted leather armour. Even though it's not as good as enchanted metal armour like those royal knights wear it can still take quite the beating you know? At least enough that I'm not dead yet."

The blood soaked Sylvie sighed loudly before continuing.

"I guess this line of work is numbing our senses..."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm talking about how we don't even have time to think and especially care for the comrades we lost in battle. Comrades like Skylos."

"Skylos? Dime a dozen guys like him."

"Dime a dozen people like us too. Don't think you're so special just because you were lucky enough to survive till now."

As Hans masterfully ducked under the twin swipes of two chaos beasts before cutting both of their bellies open in one stroke, he immediately retorted Sylvie.

"You call it luck. I call it skill."

"Whatever it is I doub-"

Before Sylvie can finish speaking a large radiant light revealed itself from the sky. The yellow light blinded Hans for a few seconds before dimming down and revealing its form. It was man. A flying man. He was dressed in shining silver-metal armour with streaks of golden patterns all over, his face was obscured by his helmet where only a slit revealed his eyes. On his breastplate was an intricately designed golden cross and on his back, there sprouted a set of wings, seemingly made out of golden light.

"Is that-"

"A paladin."

Sylvies answer made Hans swallow instantly. The paladin are said to be incredibly rare, only those who have traits affiliated with the light are chosen in the screening process and even fewer manage to survive the harsh training to become a paladin. Masters of the light and equally skilful with the sword, the paladins are considered to be one of the paragons of knighthood and one of the best assets to the Church. The flying paladin took his sword out of its scabbard and pointed it towards the sky.

"The hell is he doing?"

Han's question was almost immediately answered, the sword glowed a brilliant golden light for a few moments before the paladin slashed it horizontally. A long thin 'blade' made of light emerged from the paladin's slash before travelling down at unbelievable speeds before cutting through dozens of chaos beasts, splitting many into two. The remaining beasts stopped in their tracks, their attention drawn to the new floating threat in the air.

Hans gulped as he witnessed the paladin in a matter of seconds accomplish, what he even with the aid of the warhounds and the academy professors could not. [This is the power of a paladin? How unbelievable.] Glancing at his right he found Sylvie also felt a similar way, a mixed feeling of both awe and terror at the sheer power of the paladin. The paladin probably noticing that all eyes were resting on him, spread his arms wide open announcing.

"Fear not brave warriors! The Creator has not forsaken you! And as such we of the Church have not forsaken you! Templars! To battle!"

Waving his right arm across the air, multiple lights emerged between the warhounds and the chaos beasts. These blinding lights quickly faded away, revealing multiple knights in similarly shiny armour though with comparatively less less golden patterns when compared to the paladin. The new knights stood proudly, holding their swords with two hands and taking a battle stance, showing of their pride to everyone else in the courtyard. Before anyone or anything could do something they all simultaneously shouted in a single chorus.

"Deus Vult!"

Before charging into battle.