26 Rolger Forests (1)
As Edward marched out with 300 of Aureus's troops with the mages at the head of the convoy, Aureus was on the castle wall looking as they departed. Aureus's breath misted as he gazed in the direction of the departed troops. Brandon stood in silent vigil beside Aureus.
As the last of the convoy vanished out of sight, Aureus queried Brandon on the progress of the various initiatives. Brandon reported that it was coming along and while there were issues, there was nothing he could not handle.
Aureus gave a half smile, "I will be counting on you, Brandon."
Brandon was implacable as he replied, "Rest assured."
—
As the sun hung in the sky, the convoy broke for lunch. Edward, Caine and Tiffany were in animated discussions over the validity of the intelligence Caine got from the mercenary guild.
"An upper B ranked mercenary group reported clashes between the spirit beast tribes and demon beasts in the Rolger Forests as they completed a mercenary request in the area. Said mercenaries have a good reputation. I gauge this intelligence reliable." Caine said as he stripped off a chicken leg.
"It would be best if we could catch the demon beasts after they have spent their resources against the spirit beasts," Tiffany said as she drained a water skin "It is unlikely that matters will be so convenient though."
Edward broke up a loaf of bread and shared it out to the two mages while asking what types of spirit beasts were sighted.
Caine grasped a chicken leg in one hand and a hunk of bread in the other while scrunching his brows before replying that lion type spirit beasts were reported in the conflict being supported by sparrow types.
Tiffany speculated that an alliance of more spirit beast tribes has formed as it was unlikely that two spirit beast tribes would be able to maintain a territory in the Rolger forests-unless they were large tribes.
"Our first target will be the salamander demon beasts in the fringe of the forests." Edward said as he finished his bread.
Tiffany had a feral grin on her face as she nodded while Caine's right fist glowed.
—
The air crackled with heat as dozens of fireballs were hurled towards Edward's convoy as the demon salamanders sighted troops streaming into the clearing.
Aureus's army flowed into duos and trios as they each tackled a demon salamander without a single break in rank.
Soon, an encirclement formed. The salamanders had no chance, and the mages had no work.
Judging the situation to be well in hand, Caine summoned nine of his golems and went for the salamander leader. While Caine's golems distracted the salamander leader and his guard from the front, Caine's hands glowed purple as he brought both together and unleashed a bolt of dense lightning towards the salamander's leader back.
The whole affair was over in the matter of several minutes. Caine's hands blurred as he butchered the salamander leader with a hunting knife as he attempted to reach for its core when Edward and Tiffany walked up.
"Grade 4, Salamander Core. No luck, Tif," Caine tilted his head as he examined the core in his hand.
However, Edward requested for the core saying it would help him in the bartering of a grade 5, Salamander core.
Caine and Tiffany exchanged weird looks between them as Edward expressed his idea but Caine shrugged his shoulder and tossed the core to Edward, who caught it in mid-air.
—
In the deeper parts of the Rolger Forests, roars and echoes shook the air as beasts clashed together in the clearings of the forest. Human shaped figures could be seen amongst clusters of beasts on one side while the other side only had beasts.
A female in emerald and black armor with an ethereal aura was in the fore-front. Four appendages ending in spikes protruded from her back and joined two of her arms. With a sudden burst, she appeared in front of two demonic bears and impaled both through the heart with a single movement. Her appendages shook once and both the dead bears flew and crashed into a row of demon wolves.
A green glow flashed and a wicked looking black lance formed in her hands. A demon rock like creature with twice the height of a man bellowed and charged straight at the lance wielding lady.
A dense dark light gathered at the tip of the lance, the lady blurred and appeared in front the creature. In the next instant, the rock like creature burst into dust with only his core remaining.
The lady waved and collected the core before charging for the thickest ranks of demon beasts. The demon beasts saw her approach and roared their defiance as one section of the demon beasts broke ranks and headed off to contain the lance wielder. It was as useful as an egg trying to smash a rock. In the time it took for a few breaths, the entire section were impaled by the appendages or pierced by the black lance. As the lady continued her inexorable advance, the spiders advanced in tandem, boxing an entire side of the demon forces.
The air blazed, and the ground scorched as both sides unleashed their abilities in full. The elements were in full play and in the midst of this bloody tapestry, a figure in green and black danced. The boxed in demons has no chance and were slaughtered to the last beast. As one side of the battle resolved, the balance tipped and many demon beasts turned tail and ran for the hills.
As the spiders readied to charge after the retreating demon beasts, the lady held up her hand and pointed in the directions where other spirit beast tribes were engaged with the demon beasts. The remaining spirit beasts split into two waves and advanced to the nearest battle site with the lady herself heading to a clearing where a winged humanoid shaped figure floated in the air while emitting an ethereal song.
As if catching sight of the lady in green approaching, the female figure in the air started emitting the song in greater intensity, the demon beasts on the ground appeared to have difficulty in moving as the song increased in intensity.
The lady in green lips curled while her eyes narrowed as she picked up speed and brandished her lance…
—
"Reine! Thanks for the assist. As expected, you were first to clear your field," The winged female said as the noises of battles subsided.
"My pleasure, Ara. Those demon beasts should be eliminated root and branch where possible." Reine curled her lips as she replied.
"Reine, my scouts reported a human force of 300 combatants has just entered the outer edge of the forest," Ara said while creasing her forehead.
Blood splattered on the ground as Reine gave her lance a casual swing, "We will discuss this with the rest after the skirmish."
—
As the sun hung in the horizon, five figures could be seen in a clearing. Voices can be heard going back and forth in a heated manner. The conversation was dominated by three male voices and their manners were sharp and valiant.
Reine raised a hand, and the voices stopped. The three men had an attentive manner as they waited.
"We are in no position to make demands of the human forces and certainly unable to take them out without taking losses ourselves. Ara's scouts reported that they have wiped out two demon salamander tribes under an hour."
The three men exchanged tight looks which each other as Reine went on.
"We shall parley with them instead. If needed, we will retreat deeper into the forest."
A silence stretched for several moments before being broken by the chirping of orioles. As the three men pondered, a canary landed on Ara's shoulder and brushed its head against her neck. Ara stroked it with slow motions as the silence continued.
Two of the leonine figures nodded towards each other and indicated that they would accompany Reine as ambassadors to the human forces. Ara nodded as the two expressed their stance while the bulky man looked away.
—
"Hold!" The vanguard of Edward's convoy shouted as three figures approached.
One was an ethereal-looking lady in green and black armor while two figures in dark yellow armor flanked her.
Edward's senses were firing as he looked at the three approaching figures. Edward looked towards the mages.
Tiffany nodded, "Monarch class spirit beasts."
Caine stared intently at the lady in green and black armor.
