Chapter 274: First battle

We surely made for an odd sight. A small army of humans and beasts who had just rekindled their hope and courage, followed by two large dragons and a goddess. Truly, odd indeed.

As the army led us toward their headquarters, I turned my attention to Sidus and Breta, "Do you guys sense that?"

Sidus nodded in reply, "I can sense their putrid aura, brother."

"They have us surrounded, the poor souls," Breta scoffed with a hint of amusement.

"Indeed, from their foul auras and measly numbers, they pose no threat," I replied confidently.

"What do you want to do, brother?" Asked Sidus.

"Leave them for now, we'll get all of them once we figure out the exact situation of this world," I replied.

"En, I doubt they have the courage to attack us now. It seems like they were initially dispatched to take care of the surviving army," Breta spoke, her eyes glancing toward the west.

As we marched toward the headquarters, the barren landscape slowly gave way to signs of life. The ground under our feet, once dry and cracked, now had sprouts of greenery poking through. The occasional chirp of a bird or rustling of leaves gave me hope that nature was healing from the destruction that had ravaged this land.

We soon made our way through a ruined village, the sickly-looking inhabitants stopped in their tracks and gazed upon our motley crew with awe and fear. Humans, beasts, dragons, and a goddess. Our odd group exuded determination and power as if we were a force of nature, sent to restore balance to the world. Some of the villagers stood in stunned silence, while others quickly retreated to the safety of their broken homes, unable to bear witness to the spectacle before them.

The stench of death filled my nostrils, and I couldn't help but notice the numerous corpses scattered around. The army accompanying us seemed accustomed to such a gruesome sight, for they paid them no heed, marching forward with unyielding determination.

As we passed through the desolate streets, the broken buildings and abandoned homes stood as a testament to the horrors of war. But amidst the destruction, I could sense a faint glimmer of hope. The villagers who had survived the onslaught peered at us warily, unsure of what to make of our strange group.

Their eyes widened in terror as they caught sight of my, and Sidus's colossal forms, but their fear quickly turned to awe as they beheld the divine presence of Breta, daughter of the God of peace. The aura she was exuding was enough to calm and charm the mortals.

I could sense the villagers were amazed by the sheer power and determination radiating from our group. The soldiers' unflinching resolve, the beasts' fierce loyalty, and our undeniable strength all seemed to serve as a beacon of hope to them, amidst the darkness of war.

By the time we left the village, the faint sunlight disappeared making way for the night. As the dark enveloped us, the army began to feel uneasy, despite the radiance emanating from Breta's aura. It was as if they were haunted by the horrors they had witnessed earlier.

"Be not afraid, warriors. We have the goddess of peace and two mighty dragons by our side," The tall commander suddenly spoke to reassure them, but their nervousness persisted.

"Steady, men! We may be surrounded by shadows, but we have the light of our torches to guide us. Follow me!" His brave words were met with nods of agreement and the survivors quickly grabbed makeshift torches to light their way.

As we marched forward, the howls and roars of the shades echoed in the distance, causing the army to huddle closer together in fear. But they pushed on, the warmth of their torches and the safety of our presence gave them strength to persist.

Breta and I opted not to light the path, choosing instead to rely on Sidus, as we turned toward him. His aura had grown stronger, now that he was in his natural element. His obsidian scales blended in with the darkness, making it difficult to discern his position.

"Give me the command, brother. These pests still have the audacity to pursue us this far," he uttered with a menacing growl.

"Patience, brother," I advised Sidus, as he struggled to contain his emotions. I knew that his eagerness to strike down the shades was understandable, but we needed to wait for the right moment.

As the minutes ticked by, the shades grew more restless and their movements became more erratic. Finally, they could no longer resist the urge to attack, they were finally ready to make their move.

I nodded as a grin emerged on my face, "Go, show them what it means to defy the dragons."

With a fierce growl, Sidus took off, soaring through the dark skies as he unleashed a terrifying roar that echoed across the land. The ground trembled as his massive wings created gusts of wind, and the shades that had been following us and were planning to attack, suddenly scrambled in fear, realizing they had underestimated our power.

I turned to the army commander and spoke in a deep voice, "Stay here, we will deal with the pests before we continue." The commander subconsciously nodded in shock and surprise.

Breta and I then turned to follow closely behind Sidus, our own auras shining brilliantly as we summoned our magical elements to join fight. The army suddenly raised their swords, and shields and cheered as they watched us in awe. The sounds of the shades' screams filled the air. It seemed like Sidus was a little too eager.

Although It was night, I could still make out the scene before me with ease. My vision was not as good as Sidus, but it was enough. The shades surged forward, a horde of twisted dark monsters clawing and screeching in the night. Sidus leaped into the fray, unleashing his rage upon the enemies.

He disappeared from sight, his obsidian scales blending seamlessly with the darkness around us. Suddenly, a cacophony of screams and growls filled the air as Sidus unleashed his wrath upon our enemies. Dark tentacles emerged from the shadows, ensnaring the bastards and tearing them apart. Sidus's massive body crushed those who dared to approach him, sending their broken bodies flying in all directions. The sight was beautiful.

"Leave some for me!" I laughed as I leaped forward to join the fight.

"How unsightly," Breta scoffed as she summoned her glowing spear.