The battlefield stretched wide under a dull gray sky. The cold wind carried the smell of dust and blood. The sound of metal clashing and soldiers shouting echoed across the land.

Gare stood at the front lines.His sharp eyes fixed on the approaching demon horde. Their roars grew louder by the second, shaking the ground beneath. He raised his arm and gave a firm order.

"Handle, get the sword and shield soldiers to the front. I want the heavy infantry forming the first line!"

"Yes, sir!" Handle replied, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The heavy infantry moved into position and raised their armor that was shining faintly under the pale light. They raised their large shields, locking them together in a solid wall. Behind them stood the second line of light infantry, ready to step in if the front wavered. Gare's gaze swept across the troops, steady and calm.

"Archers and crossbowmen, prepare to fire!" he ordered.

The sound of bowstrings stretching filled the air. The bowmen took aim, their arrows lined and ready.

"Loose!" Gare shouted.

Thousands of arrows shot into the sky like black rain. The air whistled with their flight before they fell on the charging demons. The first wave of demons screamed as the arrows pierced through their bodies, falling one after another.

Still, the demons didn't stop. Their roars grew louder, their red eyes glowing with rage. But their advance slowed as more arrows rained down. The front line of human infantry stood firm, shields locked tightly as the ground trembled from the impact of demon bodies crashing against them.

Vic led the right flank, his deep voice booming across the field. "Hold the line! Don't let them pass!"

The infantry pushed forward as one. Their formation was tight, their movement steady. When demons leapt forward, spears met them midair, piercing through their flesh. Blood splattered across the soldiers' armor, but not a single one took a step back.

At the same time, Gare watched for weak spots. His mind worked quickly, eyes moving between his units. "Shift the second row! Support the right side! Don't let them break through!"

The soldiers obeyed without hesitation. Orders moved down the line like ripples in water, smooth and precise. Gare's right wing held its ground, crushing the demon forces that tried to push through.

But on the left side, things were different. Riley's troops faced a much tougher fight. The enemy there wasn't just ordinary demons. They were led by huge minotaurs and centaurs, their hooves thundering like drums. Their cavalry charged in fierce waves, breaking through small gaps with terrifying force.

Riley frowned as he watched the enemy's movement. His mind raced. "Bring out the binding hoops!" he ordered.

The front sword and shield line split in half, opening a path for the special unit. The bowmen and light troops stepped forward, holding strange weapons containing two metal balls connected by a thick cord.

"Throw them!" Riley shouted.

The troops swung the weapons and hurled them into the air. The cords whistled as they spun, then wrapped around the legs of the centaurs. One by one, the beasts stumbled and crashed into the ground, their formation breaking apart. Dust rose as bodies hit the earth.

"Now! Fire the second volley!"

Arrows and bolts flew again, striking the fallen cavalry before they could rise. Screams filled the battlefield. The centaurs' advance halted completely, leaving piles of dead and injured lying across the red-stained snow.

Even so, the demons didn't stop. Those who survived pushed forward madly, their faces twisted in rage.

"Hold steady! Don't give them an inch!" Riley yelled, raising his sword high. The troops shouted in reply and strengthened their formation.

The clash of metal, the sound of arrows, and the cries of the dying filled the air. Smoke rose in the distance where fire spells had exploded, mixing with the falling snow. The ground was covered in mud and blood, the color of despair.

Back at the center command, Kael stood silently beside Martina, watching the chaos unfold. The sound of battle echoed through the valley. Kael took out a cigar and lit it slowly. The faint flame flickered in the cold wind.

Martina turned to him with a small frown. "I didn't know you liked cigars so much."

Kael exhaled a thin stream of smoke and looked ahead. "Not really," he said quietly. "But it helps take the edge off."

Martina crossed her arms and studied him. "Do you want to lead the next wave?" she asked.

Kael shook his head. "No."

She raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You've got the strength for it."

He gave a short chuckle. "Strength, yes. But I was never good at leading troops. Too many tactics and had to maintain much coordination. I'd rather fight on my own."

Martina didn't reply, but her eyes lingered on him for a moment before turning back to the battlefield. The fighting was still fierce, but their forces were holding.

Kael tapped the ash off his cigar and looked up at the dark clouds gathering in the distance. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"I think we should prepare," he said softly.

Martina turned to him, puzzled. "For what?"

Kael didn't answer right away. He looked at the battlefield again, where the demons' numbers seemed endless, and their howls grew louder by the second. The faint gleam of red light spread across the horizon.

"For the real battle," he finally said.

The wind blew harder, carrying the smell of blood and smoke. The sky darkened as if it too was waiting for something far worse to come.

"What trouble are you speaking of?" Verion asked coldly.

Martina and Kael turned toward him. The man stood tall with his hands behind his back, his face calm but filled with pride. His voice carried the weight of command, as if he owned the battlefield itself.

"Why?" Kael asked with a faint frown. "Do you want to fight it?"

"Fight?" Verion gave a short laugh. "No, I'll command the troops instead. You've come this far because of my strategy. Without me, the humans might have already lost."

He lifted his chin and gave a slow smile. "I've sacrificed a lot for this. I just hope my efforts don't go unnoticed."

Kael choked while biting the cigar. He almost lost control and stepped forward, ready to grab the man by the collar, but Martina quickly caught his arm.

"Let him be," she whispered softly. "He's always like this."

Kael exhaled, forcing himself to calm down. The ground rumbled in the distance. The demons were moving again.

A low, deep horn echoed through the air, signaling the start of another clash. The humans braced themselves. Their banners fluttered weakly under the heavy sky, already darkened by smoke and dust.

Across the vast field, the demon army advanced in waves. They were monstrous in shapes having hulking, twisted bodies of all sizes, charging with wild roars that shook the earth.

"Hold the line!" the human captains shouted.

The right wing formed up under the command of General Gare. His men moved like a machine. The front line of soldiers raised their long shields, locking them together tightly to form a solid wall. Behind them, the spearmen lowered their weapons, their spearheads pointing forward like the teeth of a giant beast.

At the rear, rows of archers and crossbowmen waited for the signal. Gare raised his sword high. "Loose!"

A storm of arrows shot into the air. They fell like black rain over the charging demons. Screams filled the air as dozens of creatures were pierced and fell. But the rest didn't stop. They trampled their dead and kept moving forward, howling in fury.

The left wing, under Riley's control, was struggling against a heavy cavalry of horned beasts and centaurs. Their speed and strength crushed the ground as they rushed forward, swinging axes and hammers.

Riley's voice cut through the noise. "Set the spears! Tighten the flanks!"

His troops moved quickly, forming a half-circle formation that trapped the charging demons in a narrow gap. The front soldiers knelt, planting their spears deep into the dirt, while the ones behind them held their shields steady. When the demons hit, the formation shook like thunder, but it held.

Blood splashed across the shields as demons screamed, impaled on the sharp points. The smell of iron filled the air. Men shouted, pushing against the weight of monstrous bodies.

On the high ridge, the mage unit led by Linda began their casting. Blue and red light flickered from their staff as they chanted in unison.

"Firestorm! Lightning surge! Shield wall!"

Balls of fire burst from their palms, flying into the demon ranks and exploding in waves. Flames rolled across the battlefield, burning everything in their path. Lightning followed, striking down demons in blinding flashes.

But even with magic, the demons kept coming. Their roars grew louder, their claws tearing through the smoke.

At the center, Freya and Vic stood together. They were surrounded by chaos, but their movements were sharp and precise. Vic swung his sword in wide arcs, cutting down two demons at once. Freya darted beside him, her twin daggers flashing like silver light.

"Left side!" Vic shouted.

Freya spun low, slicing through a demon's leg, and Vic finished it with a heavy slash to its chest