Final Wave (1)

I know that we won't last long if this battle drags out. This plan will only succeed if the Holy Knights arrive before things could get ugly for us, but we don't even know if they will arrive on time.

Heck! We are also not confident that they will assist us in fighting these ferocious beasts! I despise latching onto some hope that is less likely to occur, but I'm still a powerless woman who can't even protect herself.

If I can remember Adelaide's memories and maybe dig for some information about these demons might be helpful. Still, fate let me possess a dying woman who was forced into slavery and immoral experiments!

Attacking the demonic beasts isn't an option because we are undoubtedly outnumbered, and they are more robust than your average knight. So, we devised a defensive strategy that could at least delay their movements and attacks toward the fortress.

The objective of this plan is to survive and wait, which isn't ideal, but we're running out of options since we only had two days to prepare. The strategy I've explained is the Defense in Depth with a little bit of tweaking to it.

I know this strategy because my late grandfather is fond of war action movies, and he even let me read one of his books about war strategies. With that, we entrusted the defense to Renatus and Faust outside the fortress, as they have their squads to command.

Their role is to delay the herd of monsters as much as possible without having to fight them in close combat. Since Renatus is knowledgeable about this area, his squad is assigned to do the first part of our defense, which is to make tons of layered walls with the help of earth magic.

Two mages were assigned to each squad, and the walls were also doused with some holy water. If the monsters try to climb the wall, their skin will burn, and Renatus's squad will be on top of the trees, which the barrier of the Witch's Forest doesn't reach, interfering with the monster's advances.

We are confident the walls will work because of the beasts' mindless attacks. They only know how to charge forward without thinking about where to go so Renatus and his squad will be safe from a distance.

As for Faust's squad, they are our second line of defense as they made tons of traps for those monsters who could go around the wall. They made any trap as long as it refrained the monsters from advancing further into the fortress. A single trap can be used for fifteen demonic beasts as it was made with 4th circle magic.

Since I had no idea about the concepts of magic in this world yet, this plan could come into action because the Commander and the three knights helped me.

"Squad One has already signaled us. Monsters are already approaching the walls."

I nodded. "Let's also get ready. We'll support Squad Two if any monsters can avoid the traps."

While lying in wait on top of the fortress, I can distinctly hear the sound of my heartbeat. Even after meticulously planning our defense strategy, I can't help but overthink the unknown variables that might come.

There are no efficient communication methods with the squads since communicative devices don't exist here. What if they are suddenly faced with a stronger opponent? What if our first line of defense fails?

"I know what you are worried about, Lady Adel, but we just need to trust Renatus and Faust," Leon comforted. "You can also place your trust in me. I may be the weakest of the three of us, but I am confident about leading my men."

I gave him a reassuring smile. "Thank you for the reassurance, Sir Leon."

"Squad one gave us a signal! The demonic beasts have broken the first wall!"

I took a deep breath. So far, no monsters have been able to come to our second line of defense, which means the layers of the wall were effective. Even though I have no idea how many walls the mages made, I know Renatus motivated them 'till they exhausted their mana.

"Do we have any response from the mage who traveled to meet with the Holy Knights?" I asked.

Leon shook his head. "Not yet."

It's already been two days since he and the other knight set out to rendezvous with the Holy Knights. Since we didn't get any response on requesting reinforcements, we should let them meet to give detailed information about what's been happening in the fortress.

The temple is known for its contempt for malicious beings like demons and greedy nobles. I was sure they wouldn't be able to decline our request since we're dealing with demonic beasts.

This could also affect the Empire if this fortress were in ruins!

"The demonic beasts have already broken into the third wall!"

Wait, that soon? I have a gut feeling that something's wrong.

"Lady Adel, can you feel that?" Leon asked nervously.

I closed my eyes and felt the mana around me. What… is this mana? My instincts tell me something more dangerous than the demonic beasts is coming.

"Tell Faust and Renatus to retreat! Now!" I hurriedly instructed the knight.

Before we could do anything, we heard a massive blast from the walls. Instantly, the walls tumbled down, and the traps were also deactivated.

"Something's coming," I heard Leon say.

Even if it was far from the fortress, I could feel its eerie and blood-crawling mana. The monsters are already advancing to the fortress like nothing happened. Now it's not the time to be dawdling!

Our first and second line of defense has been unexpectedly overpowered!

"Arrows!" I shouted.

They were about to release the arrows when the demonic beasts suddenly stopped.

Suddenly, we hear a shrill and ringing voice that echoes. Just like the appearance of a beast, he has blood-shot eyes, hands shaped like a sharp knife, short thick horns sticking out from his head, and his ragged willowy body has cracks that glow like lava.

"Ah, freedom. How wonderful it is." He looked at us intensely. "I was curious how my beasts have had difficulty dealing with this fortress. Now, I know why."

I froze in terror as I was petrified after a man with an intensely cold and terrifying aura showed up. The eerie mana we had been feeling was from this man. Perhaps he is...

"A demon," Leon whispered.

I hear the demon's hysterical laugh like he is enjoying a show.

"I'm glad that we're still known even after 300 years. With that, I would like to give you an award." He grinned.

Our eyes widened in shock when he threw Renatus and Faust's wounded bodies. My hands were trembling from anger and helplessness. How could we possibly defeat 'that'?!

This isn't about waiting for the Holy Knights anymore! We can't win this! My body is slowly weakening, and my legs are trembling just from the looks of that demon.

I flinched when our eyes locked. I had goosebumps after he grinned from ear to ear after he saw me. What is he planning to do–

"Lady Adel!" Leon shouted.

"Huh?" I slowly stared at the man in front of me.

How… did he get in front of me so fast?

"My, my… what a delectable soul. How did you possess such a remarkable vessel? It's almost like—"

He suddenly grabbed me by the neck. "You're flaunting your profound abilities. Now, you're making me feel worthless!"

He squeezed my neck like he wanted to snap it. I can't… breathe. I squirmed and struggled, but he was just too strong!

"Let go of her!"

The knights recklessly charged at him, but they were thrown wildly with just a snap of his fingers.

"Agh…" I was slowly losing consciousness.

My vision is getting blurry, and the strength left in my body is slowly getting drained.

"Now, be a nice little girl, and let me have your soul," the demon threatened.

He forcefully grabbed my face, and it felt like my soul was gradually leaving my body. Is this…. the end?"

"What the–"

The demon's eyes widened as a sudden blinding light sparked between us, making him lose his grasp on my neck.