CHAPTER 466: END THIS PROPERLY

The earth shook under the onslaught.

Fire, arrows, stone, and light rained down in a punishing barrage, tearing through ranks of demons before they could recover from the chaos in their center.

The air filled with the deafening roar of siege engines, mingled with the shrieks of wounded beasts and the cracking of heavy armor.

By the time the barrage ended, Roland felt nearly a quarter of his aether drained from maintaining the barrier.

As the smoke began to thin, he slowly lowered the shield, scanning the surroundings for any remaining threat.

And yet there were no movements, no sign of life among the demons outside the barrier.

Still, no one dared to move.

The demons who had managed to enter the shield stood frozen, wary of making any sudden gesture that might be mistaken for hostility.

As for the prisoners, they clung to the cages as if the iron bars were the only things keeping them safe.

Their eyes were darting nervously between Roland and the lifeless battlefield beyond.

Roland let his blades lower to his sides, but he didn’t sheath them. His voice carried clearly over the stillness. "Everyone here... hold your ground. I’ll begin sorting friend from foe in a moment."

[Elios, do your thing,] he sent through the link, his gaze still sweeping the survivors. [The sooner we finish here, the sooner we can move on to the next group of demons.]

[Understood,] Elios replied, [Just make sure to hurry up, I want you helping us with the protection of the barrier... I don’t want any accidents from having demons near us.]

Roland felt the subtle ripple of aether radiating around him like sonar waves as Elios’ presence spread outward.

The effect was immediate several of the so-called defectors flinched, their bodies tensing but that lasted only for a moment.

By the time Elios finished, Roland could see that everyone present was unharmed.

"There," Roland muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "It seems we can trust Norelli more than I thought."

Satisfied, Roland gave a sharp nod. "All right, we’re done here. Form up and prepare to move. We will head inside the fort for now while you wait for the others to arrive."

The defectors quickly gathered near the freed prisoners, helping the weakest stand and guiding them toward the fort whose gates were opened.

A few of the former captives were too frail to walk, forcing others to carry them. Roland’s eyes swept over the group, making sure no one lagged behind while starting his healing magic on the weakest or the most injured ones.

If there was one added perk to being married and sharing a jewel with his wife, it was that it also had the ability to send short voice messages with one another like a cellphone.

"Stella, we’re heading back. Open the southern line in the shield when you’re ready." Roland began speaking towards his palm.

[Already on it,] came her reply. [But be careful our lookouts report movement on the western ridge. Something big.]

Roland’s expression hardened. "Then we’ll need to move fast."

With a wave of his hand, the barrier shifted, creating a narrow corridor of light leading toward the fortress. "Go!" he barked. The group began to file through, defectors keeping to the edges while prisoners were kept in the middle.

Roland mounted his great bird once more, circling around them as a guard. His blades remained drawn, the faint glow along their edge as he tried to see what was happening.

In the distance, Roland spotted several creatures that looked like vampire minions.

[Norelli, please tell me those are your pets as well?]

There was no reply for a few seconds, and then her voice returned, edged with dry amusement.

[Remember that general who fled the one with a good number of vampires? Well, it seems he didn’t truly run away after all. He was probably waiting for the perfect chance... and what better moment than at night, with the gates open, a lone hero occupied with traitors and rescued humans? So yes... that vampire, Azumorak, has come back to finish the job he failed to complete the first time.]

Roland exhaled slowly, his grip tightening on the reins of his mount. "Figures..." he muttered under his breath. "Guess I should’ve finished him back then."

The shapes in the distance grew clearer tall, pale figures draped is armor dulled to a black sheen, eyes glowing like hot red coals in the dark. They moved with an unsettling grace, their pale steeds galloping in perfect unison.

Above them a flock of bats kept up with them as they flew through the air, blotting out slivers of moonlight.

Azumorak himself was easy to pick out.

Even at this distance, his presence was like a blot of darkness pressing down on the senses, his tall frame clad in blackened plate lined with silver etchings.

A long, scythe rested casually in one hand, the weapon glimmering faintly with enchantments Roland didn’t recognize.

[He’s not alone either,] Norelli’s voice warned. [I can feel at least three other vampire lords with him, and they’re not the disposable type.]

Roland clicked his tongue, calculating. "Then we can’t let him reach the refugees. I’ll have to draw him out."

He turned to the defectors and freed prisoners and began yelling.

"Hold formation and keep moving to the Bastion!" he barked. "Do not stop for anything!"

Roland moved to the rear of the formation, positioning himself to cast a shield over the retreating group.

"Stella, get ready to deploy your wards," he said firmly. "We’ve got hundreds if not thousands of vampires incoming. I’ll hold them off, but start directing the artillery and mages to prepare a fresh barrage. Attack only when I give the signal, and keep that ward strong no matter what. If things go well, I should be able to kill this vampire general within twenty minutes at most."

[Understood,] Stella’s voice came through, steady but tense. [I’ll have the artillery crews on standby. Just... don’t get reckless.]

Roland allowed himself a faint grin. "Reckless? As if you didn’t know me, my dear..."

The truth was, his heartbeat had already settled into the familiar rhythm of battle. He could see the front ranks of Azumorak’s force closing in.

The first of the beasts let out a piercing howl. It was the signal for the incoming confrontation.

Roland’s blades ignited in unison, the white-gold light spilling across the field like a dawn breaking through the night. His bird let out a deep, resonant cry, its talons digging into the earth to be able to accelerate at a moment’s notice.

"Come on, Azumorak," he muttered, eyes locking on the general’s towering silhouette among the riders. "Let’s finish this, you coward."

The vampires surged forward as he hissed at the hero’s words.

Roland simply raised one blade high, a thin column of light bursting upward, a prelude to the signal Stella was waiting for.

[Don’t attack just yet, let them get closer... I don’t think this guy will go a certain distance while not having the control,] he told her through the link, watching the enemy close the gap. [Wait until they’re all in range... then we burn them together.]

Azumorak broke from the front ranks, his black-plated steed kicking up clods of earth as it thundered forward. The vampire general’s crimson eyes locked onto Roland, his lips curling into a grin that showed every bit of his white fangs.

"So, the hero still lives, you must have partied hard, know you killed too weak generals," Azumorak called out, his voice carrying easily over the pounding hooves. "I here I thought you would be smart and run away after seeing me..."

Roland kept his stance, blades ready. "Funny... I was thinking the same thing about you. Last I saw, you were turning tail."

The grin faltered into a sneer. "A tactical retreat. You’ll learn the difference before I take your head."

Roland tilted his head slightly, smirking. "You’ll have to get through my armor first, and you’ll find I’m a lot harder to cut through it to run from this time."

Azumorak didn’t bother replying. He lowered his spear and urged his mount into a full charge, the ground trembling under its weight. Around him, his vanguard of vampire knights surged forward, ready to crash into Roland’s position.

[Now,] Roland sent through the link, his grip tightening on his blades.

Azumorak’s vanguard thundered across the field, the air thick with the scent of blood and steel.

Roland stood firm at the rear, blades glowing like twin suns in the night. His bird mount seemed to be just as eager for the incoming fight. "Come on, then," Roland murmured, his eyes narrowing. "Let’s end this properly."

The vampire general lifted his weapon, the crimson blade glowing ominously in the dark.

Behind him, his knights surged forward, each thunderous stride closing the gap. Shadows stretched long across the field, trailing behind the charging riders as their blackened armor caught the pale glint of distant light.

Roland raised one blade higher, the signal Stella awaited.

[Now,] he whispered through the link just as the world erupted into motion.