A New Threat

--- Bramblethorn City

Known as one of the largest cities in Wildergreene. Bramblethorn City had a population count of 2,000,000. Most of the citizens lived their lives by hunting and foraging the nearby forests. The establishments in the city were just large leather tents.

Bramblethorn City did not have any king or queen to rule over them, but was managed by three lords. Lord Brambleheart, Lord Thorne, and Lord Trent. These three lords are brothers and they really are not the warrior type. These three are really good when it comes to economy, trade, and commerce.

Lord Brambleheart had a chubby physique and had brown hair and a moustache. Lord Thorne was taller than the average person and had long black hair. As for Lord Trent, he looked like a normal teenager and had black hair. The three of them always wore an identical steel armor set.

But at the current times, they are facing the greatest problem in their lifetime so far. Just a few kilometers away from the city, thousands of soldiers from Holtheim are moving towards the city. They are being led by Count Griscar the IV.

...

Inside a large tent...

The three lords of Bramblethorn City were gathered here. Together with them was the general of their army and Brambleheart's wife who was their army's strategist.

"My lady, the forces of Holtheim are going to reach our city in a few minutes. I already ordered our men to evacuate the villagers and lead them towards Yellowleaf City..." The general was telling everyone about what he did, but Brambleheart's wife, Molly, slammed the table hard and shouted furiously.

"IDIOT! You just led the citizens of Bramblethorn to their deaths! Do you think we are the only ones under attack?!"

"I'm sorry my lady. I will call them back and let them stay within the vicinity of the city..." The general spoke up again but Molly rebutted.

"Use your head fool! Do you think the citizens will be safe once Holtheim's army reach our city? Tell your men to lead everyone to the nearby forest." After shouting this, Molly handed over a flare gun to the general.

"Once everyone is hidden in the forest, just hide. While the rest of our soldiers are fighting Holtheim's army in our city, use this flare gun to signal everyone to move out and head to the Grayrock Mountains or the Serpentstone Marshlands." After saying this, Molly looked at the three lords who were panicking.

"You three go with the citizens. The three of you must survive through this." After saying this, Molly hugged the three of them and kissed Brambleheart.

"I'll stand with our men in the city to fight against Holtheim. Good luck."

Not even having any chance to complain about the plan, Molly left the tent.

"Damn dogs... Queen Auburn will slaughter you all!" Lord Thorne said softly as tears flowed down his face.

...

Everyone in Bramblethorn City moved according to Molly's plan. The millions of citizens were split up into ten groups and were led to the nearby forests by 50,000 knights. As for the three lords, they rode in golden carriages as they left the city together with their citizens.

The ones who remained in the city were 100,000 knights who were led by Molly. Beside her was the general of the army who was holding on to the flare gun.

...

A few minutes later, Holtheim's army arrived at the city and stopped for a while as they looked at the army Molly was leading.

Count Griscar the IV reigned his horse and shouted as he looked at Molly.

"What a fine woman! Men, leave no one alive besides the girl."

After shouting, he unsheathed his sword and raised it up to signal his men to charge in.

~Thump, thump, thump...

The thousands of knights on both sides started fighting one another. Heads, limbs, and even horse parts started flying around randomly just a few seconds after the fight started.

Count Griscar the IV and Molly was currently having a standstill. The two of them were looking at each other furiously and after a few seconds, Molly rushed towards Count Griscar the IV.

"Don't be in a hurry girl. There is still a lot of time tonight." Count Griscar the IV said and laughed. He even licked his lips in delight as he parried Molly's sword attacks.

...

Just like Bramblethorn City, the rest of the cities in Wildergreene were facing off against an army from Holtheim.

As for Jay and everyone else with him in the Serpenstone Marsh were currently moving at great speed towards the Golden Phoenix guild hall.

"Jay, what about the war? Are we going to join them?" Horace asked Jay as he ran beside him.

"Yes. But we first need to get all of you geared up. Don't worry, I believe some of my friends are already making their move somewhere else." Jay replied as he took out his guild emblem.

"Heda, prepare a thousand pieces of equipment. The quality rating does not matter as long as it is not trash. As for everyone else, prepare for whatever happens." After saying this through his guild emblem, Jay stored it away and focused on leading everyone to the guild hall.

...

Somewhere else near the eastern border of Wildergreene...

"Foolish boy! Step aside or we will crush you into meat paste!" King Arturus shouted as he looked at Roasted Boar who was in front of him.

Together with King Arturus were 500,000 knights and beside him was Queen Aery. Roasted Boar was currently in front of his army and just stood there as if he wants to fight all of them.

"You think I will just let you cross the Nix River with your army? I'm not letting you near our king... our guild!" Roasted Boar almost screwed up and told the thousands of people in front of him about the Kingdom of the Golden Phoenix. It was a good thing he did not do so and reacted quickly.

"I come in peace. I just want to talk." Roasted Boar shouted as he stored away the staff he was holding.

"Fine then. Archers, ready! If this man bores me, feel free to stick an arrow between his eyes." King Arturus shouted and gestured Roasted Boar to speak up.

"Stop this war and help us face against..." Roasted Boar did not even finish speaking and King Arturus suddenly yawned.

~Swoosh, swoosh...

Thousands of arrows immediately rained down on Roasted Boar.

"JUST F**KING LISTEN BLOCKHEADS!" Roasted Boar shouted as he created a magical barrier around him, deflecting all of the arrows that hit him.

'Cannonball Frenzy'

King Arturus said lazily as he aimed the two cannons he was holding at Roasted Boar and fired. Due to the skill he used, the moment he fired, hundreds of cannonballs came out of his two cannons.

~Boom, boom, boom...

"Everyone, move out and make sure your horses have their 'Water Horseshoes' on them. No one is coming back for you if you drown." King Arturus said as he led everyone towards the Nix River in front of them. He thought he finished off Roasted Boar.

Then suddenly...

'Volcanic Desolation!'

The ground started shaking violently and everyone almost fell of their horses. Magma started to spew out of cracks in the ground. Random sized fireballs went in random direction that claimed the lives of unlucky knights. And Queen Aery almost got burnt by the flame pillar that suddenly popped up near her.

"If you want to fight, then so be it!" Roasted Boar shouted and activated Flutterwings to get in front of everyone.

"Damn you! Everyone, kill him!" Queen Aery shouted as she charged towards Roasted Boar while she held a spear and shield.

"Turn your horses into monster essence and kill him!" King Arturus shouted since the horses everyone was riding on might get killed if the earthquake and the magma continues to rage on.

Everyone did was King Arturus ordered and charged at Roasted Boar.

Then suddenly, before Roasted Boar can even cast a next spell and fight off against an entire army by himself, a large wide beam of a rainbow-colored light blasted the nearby area, killing off half of King Arturus' army.

"WHAT?!" King Arturus shouted as he stopped his charge and readied his cannons.

...

"So this is the Fatelord Plane? No one told me about the earthquakes. Those trash are really undependable."

A voice came out of the rainbow-colored beam of light. After a few seconds, the light dissipated and revealed three demons. These guys were obviously planar invaders. But unlike the previous Shurym Demons that had brown or gray skin and tentacle-like black hair, these three looked very different.

The three demons had a thick plate armor set that was jet black in color. On the top of their head was a large octopus-like creature that covered their faces with its tentacles. On both of their shoulders, a long and wide tentacle slithered as it wrapped around their necks. And on their back, hundreds of black tentacles were placed that reached the ground. It was as if they do not need to use their feet anymore to walk but use these tentacles on their back.

"EVERYONE FLEE NOW!" Roasted Boar shouted as he quickly fled and used Flutterwings to cross the Nix River.

King Arturus and Queen Aela also detected the strange and eerie power from these three demons. They were terrified of how strong these demons were that they also fled and jumped down the Nix River, leaving their army behind.

'Dispel'

One of the demons touched the ground and stopped the Volcanic Desolation spell that was still active. After that, he and his two friends looked at the army King Arturus and Queen Aery left behind.

"Perfect timing. I'm hungry. Jangga, hurry and cook them up." One of the demons said and patted the octopus on his head. After that, the octopus retracted its tentacles and the hideous face of the demon was revealed. Just like him, the two other demons did the same.

"Then the two of you set up our camp." Jangga, one of the demons said as he vanished from sight and appeared beside a random knight and started to slaughter everyone.

"Rangga, I'm gonna sleep. You go and do what you want." One of the demons said as he yawned and lied down on the ground.

"Fangra! Don't you dare laze off again!" The demon, Rangga, shouted at the demon who lied down on the ground.

...

A few moments later, Roasted Boar, King Arturus, and Queen Aery reached the Golden Bird Harbor.

"Everyone, evacuate the place now! Retreat to the guild hall!" Roasted Boar shouted at the top of his lungs as he saw the citizens of the Kingdom of the Golden Phoenix still doing their jobs at the harbor town.

Not even questioning his words, everyone quickly dropped whatever they were doing and ran towards the guild hall.

"Wait up!" King Arturus shouted at Roasted Boar. He was currently catching his breath since he had to swim across the river with his armor on. He even had to carry Queen Aery on his back who almost drowned after she got tired of swimming.

"I told you earlier that I come in peace! I was warning you about those demons a**hole! If you think you can fight Wildergreene and the demons at the same time, then go!" Roasted Boar shouted as he fled, not even helping King Arturus run away.

...

Oblivious to this event, the different cities of Wildergreene were still under siege from Holtheim's forces. As for Jay and everyone else with him, they arrived at the guild hall just at the same time Roasted Boar arrived at the guild hall together with the people at Golden Bird Harbor.

"Jay! Bad news!" Roasted Boar immediately rushed towards Jay the moment he saw him and told Jay about what just happened.

"Go inside the guild hall and rest. As for these men with me, I already instructed Heda to accommodate them for the time being." Jay said as he patted Roasted Boar on his back.

Just as Jay was about to tell everyone to go inside the guild hall already...

"Stop right there boy!"

Aisleen suddenly dropped down in front of Jay and Roasted Boar.

"Everyone go inside while we talk." Jay said as he looked at Aisleen, wondering what she wants this time.

"My queen, please forgive me for not telling you about this excursion. But please hear me out, or rather, listen to Jay's words." Vardis said as he knelt down in front of Aisleen.

After everyone left and went inside the guild hall, only Jay, Aisleen, and Vardis were outside the guild hall. At the same time, King Arturus and Queen Aery arrived.

"Oh? What are you two doing here?" Aisleen said as she approached the two who looked like s*it. She also stealthily held a dagger in her left hand.

"Ask the guy in blue robes. We just want a place to rest and hide. If demons like that wants to take over our lands, then who the hell can stop them..." Queen Aery said hurriedly, still feeling traces of fear from the power she felt from the demons.

"Then rest peacefully below the ground!" Aisleen shouted as she quickly thrusted her left hand towards Queen Aery. Just as she thought she would finally finish one of her objectives by killing the queen of Holtheim, Jay stopped her by grabbing her hand and pushing her away.

"Just stop. I know everyone has a reason why they want to wage war against each other, but just stop for once and think about the upcoming threat." Jay said seriously as he looked at King Arturus, Queen Aery, and Aisleen.