Entrance to the Demonic Realm (2)
The forces ahead of us were positioned to defend against a breach of the gates.
As the full assault began, these soldiers set up their prepared wooden barricades, lit threatening fires, and formed a defensive line.
Up on the walls, another attack seemed to be underway.
Arrows flew in response to someone's shout, followed by blasts of magical flame.
I couldn't see what was happening beyond the walls, but it looked like a siege was in full swing.
"Captain, looks like we picked the wrong day to head out. Should we hang back a few days?"
Smack! Palren slapped the back of Ragi's head with his palm, making a sharp crack.
"Ow! What're we supposed to do? This isn't our fight!"
"Palren, care to share what the scouts told us yesterday about what's out there?"
"Here's the story. There were three troll brothers in the peaceful Atriana Mountains."
Not the cute little three little pigs kind of tale, I bet.
"Not sure if they were real brothers, but they always stuck together. Last year, Garrlia dragged a unit way out there to rack up some achievements for his knights and hunted them down. They only caught one, though—the other two got away."
"And those two escapees have shown up nearby."
Guess they're here for revenge on their brother's killer.
"You just spotted them and let them be?"
"No Garrlia around these days to go rampaging after them."
Fair enough. From the soldiers' perspective, fighting from a fortified castle beats charging out there.
Luck might even see them through unscathed.
I felt a twinge of sympathy for the trolls who'd lost family to Garrlia's ego, but we couldn't take that rage on ourselves.
BOOM!!
A explosive shock rocked the air, and cracks spiderwebbed across the gate.
Moments later, the heavy thud of something massive charging echoed.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!!
BOOM!!
And just like that...
The gates shattered, debris flying as a gray giant barreled inside in a tackling stance.
Were trolls different breeds depending on their habitat?
The ones I'd seen before were huge, plump behemoths like living mountains when they lay down.
But this troll was more humanoid in build.
If not for the troll's signature rough gray skin, I'd have mistaken it for a robot—or a golem.
It was slimmer than the others, but still a five-meter giant with tough skin and tonnage to spare.
It smashed through the gates and then the forward barricades like they were twigs.
Hearing the soldiers' screams, our advance team dismounted in unison and drew weapons.
"Palren, I'm on the front line. You protect the academy president!
Chiria, fire on my signal!
President, shoot when I signal or fall back!
Damish, if things get dicey, Earth Embrace on the president!
Ragi, stay back unless there's a golden opportunity!"
I barked orders while drawing my weapon and prepping.
Against a heavyweight monster like this, I was better up front.
Not as a shield tank, but an evasion tank.
I charged the troll as it scooped up soldiers like shields to hurl.
It was like watching a Transformer fight a human—straight out of a sci-fi flick.
"Chiria!!"
So I opened with an armor-piercing shot.
The iron spear—same as Chiria's from her greatbow—slammed into the troll's side, nearly toppling it from the impact.
I timed it perfectly, slashing at its knee.
"GRRAAAAAHHH!!"
It screamed in agony, dropping the soldiers and crashing down.
The troll thrashed, grabbing at the spear shaft Chiria had fired, trying to yank it free.
"Paradilan!"
"Heated spear within scorching flames, unfurl your wings of fury and charge the foe!"
Thanks to our grueling training, they knew just what to do from my urgent call.
Just as I'd planned, with the troll sprawled out and exposed, Paradilan's fire spears rained down from the sky like carpet bombing.
The troll rolled and writhed to dodge, but...
"Water within frozen time, become the dagger's wings and pierce the enemy!"
Six ice pillars slammed in succession, halting its desperate roll through the flames in an instant.
This was my golden chance.
"Heated spear within scorching flames, unfurl your wings of fury and charge the foe!"
Paradilan's fire spell was ready again.
"Mind if I borrow it? Heated spear within scorching flames, unfurl your wings of fury and fly toward my command!"
The fire spears, which had been plunging randomly like a barrage, now zeroed in on the direction my sword pointed and streaked toward it.
"KAGGGAAACK!!"
Pummeled point-blank in the chest, the troll convulsed with a final scream before going limp.
Instant death.
"Hooray!!"
The soldiers around us cheered, but we weren't done.
"KYAAAHHH!!! GRAAK!! AAAAAHHHH!!"
Another enraged troll lurked outside the gates.
Fueled by its sibling's death, it pulverized the already crumbling gates completely.
Even bigger than the first.
This one matched the body type of the trolls I'd seen before.
Just a head taller, wielding a massive tree trunk like a club.
Too big to smash the walls, it ducked low to pass through the gate.
"Chiri... no, everyone, hold!"
I stopped myself from ordering Chiria to fire.
Shooting now, and it'd hurl that tree at Chiria or Paradilan.
The initial hits on the walls and gates were obviously rocks or logs it'd thrown.
We needed a safer window.
I drew my sword and strode straight toward it.
Its furious eyes locked on me.
It must've pegged me as the one who'd directed the fire spears.
Every soldier and knight held their breath as we closed in. Even the wall-top watchers were riveted.
Yeah. Stay put. Don't interfere.
As I entered range of that enormous tree club, the troll raised its massive arm.
And then...
It froze.
"Sniff-sniff... krk!?"
Monstrous, but with a human-like face.
And right now, that face was pure shock.
It sniffed again, confirming something.
"Sniff... sniff... KRUT!! KRUK... KRAAAAAAAANG!!"
Once sure, it unleashed a deafening roar and hurled the tree club away—then bolted back through the broken gates.
"KYAAAAK!! KYAAAA!!"
I didn't speak troll, but it was clearly fleeing in terror.
What the hell??
"......"
Curiosity overrode any relief.
Lately, certain races had been bolting at the sight of me, but a troll too?
What was the reason?
Hairil's fur?
Or some weird scent I didn't know about?
I sheathed my sword and turned to my team to ask.
"WOOOAAAHHH!!!!!!!!"
A massive cheer erupted from all sides.
Huh. Sheathing and turning counts as a victory pose?
Amid the soldiers' roars, a burly redhead in ornate armor bellowed.
"You there! Brave warrior!! Hold up!!"
He descended from the walls with escorts and planted himself before me.
This guy was Chiria-tall.
The cheers continued until he raised a hand for silence, and they cut off instantly.
In the hush, he spoke.
"I was called the Blade of Flame in my adventuring days. Now I serve as acting captain of Darania's 4th Knight Order—Baiadilan! I'd know your name."
I'd hoped for a squad or company leader, not Garrlia's successor.
Ah... crap.
"......"
Screw it!
"Kirgil."
"I see! Your valor was astounding... WHAT!? Kirgil!? You're Kirgil!?"
His booming, shocked shout had soldiers exchanging awkward glances.
Of course. I'd killed their brigade commander not long ago.
Baiadilan eyed me up and down, scratching his head. Surprise shifting to doubt.
Here we go again.
That "You? Beat Garrlia?" look, turning to disdain.
Sigh. Is the 4th Order full of these clowns?
"Captain, we have urgent business. If you need to confirm something, make it quick."
A beat later, I added,
"Sorry about what happened to Captain Garrlia."
Better to provoke and end it fast than drag this out.
"Sorry!? Tragic!! A hero like you, shining in this battle, turns out to be our former captain's killer!!
For the honor of our great Darania Knights, I can't let you go!
Right here!
Right now!
I challenge you, Kirgil, to single combat!! Draw your sword!!"
Putting on a show?
Unlike Garrlia, this one had some flair with words and staging.
But just as dumb.
Made sense—Inario picked malleable idiots.
Anyway, he drew his red sword from his hip.
That was the starting gun.
I gripped mine, sighed quietly, and turned.
"What? Turning your back on me...? Huh!? What the—my body!?"
Baiadilan dropped his sword and crumpled forward, limp.
His wrists and ankles were already neatly sliced.
His throat landed perfectly before my blade.
"Surrender?"
Too stunned to move, he trembled pale-faced.
I didn't plan on killing another 4th Order captain and headacheing the palace. But he needed humbling.
"Counting to three. Shout your surrender first. No answer, and off comes the head. One..."
"..."
"Two..."
Baiadilan still seemed out of it. I raised my blade like a guillotine over his neck.
"Thre—"
"Surrender!! I surrender!! I lost! Lost! Hnggh!!"
I sheathed my sword and eyed his escort knights.
The four flinched, then released their weapons and raised empty hands in submission.
"Tend to your captain. And tighten up this city's defenses, at least."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
They stared wordlessly for a moment.
"Yes sir!! Orders received!!"
"Yes sir!! Orders received!!"
"Yes sir!! Orders received!!"
"Yes sir!! Orders received!!"
In perfect sync, they saluted hand to chest.
Whoa, they weren't about to hail me as new captain, were they?
The soldiers' cheers swelled quietly at first, then roared.
My hunch was right—shouts from the walls begged me to take command.
Sorry, but my team and I had places to be.
No interest in Darania's knights.
Heading back, Palren grinned with arms crossed, clearly pleased I'd schooled their captain.
Chiria clasped her hands, eyes sparkling like a fangirl's—literal glitter peeking through her hair.
Ragi, who I'd expected theatrics from, pulled her hood low and gave a discreet thumbs-up. Old intel habits—avoid the spotlight.
Paradilan was still eyeing the pinpoint-peppered troll corpse, mulling my spell hijack.
Damish was missing at first—turns out praying over the dead troll. A rite to return it to the earth's embrace. A sprout already budded on the body.
We tidied the aftermath and remounted.
As we passed the checkpoint, guards saluted crisply. Wall soldiers showered us with flower petals.
Glancing back just in case, Baiadilan was still sprawled.
They'd stanched the bleeding, treating him slowly... very slowly. Like any grunt.
The soldiers knew. He'd lost all claim and power to lead them.
A few days, and he'd resign or get replaced.
His pathetic state painted a clear picture of how he'd treated his men.
Challenging me was his bid to boost his rep and standing in the order.
I knew plenty held grudges against Darania's knights, me and Ashu included.
But these rank-and-file seemed no different from any others—no need to hate them all.
Like always, the problem was the top brass calling the shots.