Towards the hills

Jean's squadron passed through the door to the final test. The scenery changed; the cave-like surrounding became plains and mountains, with mist behind them. Even the sky seemed natural.

''Doesn't feel like we're still in the ancient zone," François said, "And that only makes it more dangerous." His eyes darted in the distance, spotting a dozen groups like their, barriers caging them. "Would they have actually starved to death if a group decided not to go?"

[The trial will start in 10 seconds. When less than 250 people remain alive, the salvation door will appear. It will close itself 30 seconds after the first person passes through it. If there are less than 30 people left, it will reopen.]

"Anyone's got an idea?'' Jean asked

''If I saw it right," François said, "we're the only humans. Though it would be best to stay close to the center, we wouldn't last long; we need a strategical position where numbers don't matter, we should go to the hills."

Jean eyed the group. Tension was rising even inside Cleppe's soldiers while the others seemed depressed. They carried their weapons low, heavy of emotional weight. "We'll do as you say then, take command."

"It's an honor."

***

The squadron moved forwards at the barriers' lifting, Cleppe's soldiers moving in line, firsts of each side of the formation.

"Stay in formation!" François yelled, "Cover the whole area with your shields!"

The demons spotted them, 2 groups trying to encircle them. This was only logical, Emilie thought, people would always rally with the ones they feel the closest. This was just the endless cycle of life and love. How absurd would it be to make no difference? Even animals had that instinct.

They launched demonic energy, slamming into Cleppe's shield-bearer. None got destroyed, though a few got pushed back.

"Go on! There's no other way."

The group continued to march, being slowly caught up by the demons. Energies lost strength with the distance. Each round was becoming stronger while diminishing the soldiers' stamina.

"We need to go faster!"

Most were heavily breathing, others injured. None complained. Even when another group joined in. They just obeyed, as if mindless tools. Another valley of energies blinding them, ripping them, making them screams. And they continued, fatigue wearing them down, bathed in sweats.

Then, one fell, his last moments of extreme pain. He was abandoned, throat cut while fallen. Where has gone honor demons were so proud of? Washed away, like what would happen at their death. Emilie sometimes wondered if they were meanings to her goal if humans had a reason to be saved.

They probably hadn't. Surely was she doing it just to save herself from wandering aimlessly? These were her worst enemies, her thoughts. She stopped them as they entered a narrow passage of the hills. There, the situation improved a bit. They sometimes switch shields-bearers and soon climb to the top. Then, they reformed the formation, the enslaved demons in the first line.

"We've finally arrived," François said. He glared at the demons who had stopped climbing, wondering what they should do. "We're safe for now."

"And then?" A Cleppe's soldier asked, "How will we get out of here?"

"That, I have no ideas. I'm not a God, I can only do so much with that much."

From atop, they could observe the rest of the battlefield. Some were fighting, while most were grouping up, maybe preparing to launch an attack.

'Making fight demons against demons,' Emilie thought, 'would that actually work?' More than talent, demons were known to rarely have any internal conflicts. Was it organic? Or just culture passed down? She didn't know what she wanted to see. If life was senseless, why would she even try? But if life wasn't, then was actually preserving her secrets hidden just to eventually save more people in the future a good decision?

"Ready yourselves! They're coming."