They moved in perfect coordination.

One attacked while the other defended, switching places every few moments. Their teamwork became the anchor of the center line.

But for every demon they cut down, more rushed in. Soldiers screamed as they were dragged down.

Armor shattered with the clashes. Limbs flew apart and the ground turned red.

A young soldier stumbled beside Vic, his eyes wide with terror. A demon's claw tore through his neck, and blood sprayed over Vic's face.

Vic gritted his teeth and kept fighting, his blade slicing through another enemy's throat.

Nearby, an archer screamed as a demon leaped on him. The creature crushed his bow and bit into his shoulder, tearing it apart.

Another spear man raised his hands and sent a blast of spear straight at them piercing the two at once.

Everywhere was filled with chaos of smoke, blood, and the stench of death. The screams of men and demons mixed together until they became one endless roar.

The human formation began to bend slowly but it didn't break under the conjoined effort.

Officers shouted from all sides, waving flags to direct reinforcements.

"Shift the line to the right! Push forward! Don't give them ground!"

The soldiers obeyed, tightening their formation and slowly regaining control. The shield wall moved forward step by step, trampling over corpses and black blood.

Above the battlefield, the sky turned darker as the sun was hidden by thick smoke. The faint sound of horns and drums echoed far away, signaling more reinforcements or maybe another wave of demons.

Kael and Martina watched from a distance. The scene before them looked like a painting of hell men and monsters locked in endless slaughter.

Kael's eyes narrowed. "This isn't enough. The demons are adapting faster than we expected."

The sound of battle filled the air. Screams, the clash of metal, and the heavy thud of bodies striking the ground made the world tremble. Smoke and dust rose high, covering the sky like a dark blanket. Kael stood at a distance, his eyes cold and sharp. He watched the human lines struggle under the demon onslaught.

Martina's expression was grim. "Then we'll have to change our approach."

Kael nodded slowly.The wind carried the cries of dying men to where they stood.

He looked at the flames rising over the horizon.

"Prepare for the next phase," he said quietly.

Martina stood beside him, her armor smeared with blood and ash. "The left flank is holding," she said quietly, "but not for long."

Kael didn't answer. His gaze stayed fixed on the moving lines below. Soldiers pushed forward, shields raised, their faces hard and weary. The demons charged again, roaring as their massive bodies crashed into the human wall.

Kael finally spoke. "It's time to start the next phase."

Martina frowned. "Are you sure? The troops are tired."

"That's exactly why," Kael said calmly. "If we wait any further they might break. We have used everything we have now. Tell Riley and Gare to prepare for the shift."

Martina nodded and called a messenger, who ran down the slope. Kael lifted his head to look at the entire field.

Martina's voice grew firmer. "We change our formation to the Crescent Wall."

The order spread like fire through the ranks.

The soldiers began to move, their units shifting with slow discipline. Gare's right wing pulled back slightly while Riley's left wing spread wider, curving outward. The center line under Kael stayed firm, holding the enemy in place.

Slowly, the formation began to take shape — a great crescent, curved inward like a bow ready to snap. The demons, drunk on rage, didn't notice. They pushed harder into the center, believing they were breaking through.

Kawl watched with tension in her eyes. "Are you drawing them in?"

Martina gave a faint nod. "Let them come. The more that rush in, the easier it becomes to surround them."

The Crescent Wall formation was inspired by the tactics used in ancient wars — the same one Hannibal used at the Battle of Cannae to destroy a much larger Roman army.

Martina had studied such history, memorizing the art of turning strength against itself.

However she has studied many things but they were hard to recall until Kael suggested about this

At the center, Vic and Freya fought back with precision, slowly giving ground but not breaking. The demons poured in, roaring in triumph, unaware they were walking into a trap.

On the flanks, Gare and Riley watched for Kael's signal. When the horn blew, they moved at once.

"Close the wings!"

The human lines curved inward sharply, crashing into the exposed sides of the demon army. From above, it looked like jaws closing shut. The demons realized too late what was happening.

"Forward! Push through!" Gare roared. His soldiers drove their spears deep, cutting off the enemy's retreat.

Riley's cavalry swung wide and came from behind, their lances gleaming in the sunlight. They struck the rear of the demon formation, breaking through like a wave.

The Crescent had closed completely and the demons were trapped inside.

Soon the chaos exploded.

The mages unleashed their spells from the ridges. Arrows rained down, mixed with bursts of fire and lightning. Screams echoed as the trapped demons tried to climb over the bodies of their own to escape.

Martina's plan worked perfectly and it was brutal, fast, and efficient.

The humans tightened their circle, cutting down everything inside. Blood splattered across shields and armor. The air smelled of iron and ash.

Martina exhaled, her eyes fixed on the scene. "You've read this move from history, haven't you?"

Kael gave a faint smile.

The demons still fought wildly, tearing through human lines even in their final moments. Kael's soldiers held firm, following the old principles of formation fighting. The front rank is blocked with shields. The second thrust with spears. The third waited to rotate forward.

It was discipline against chaos.

Herion voice roared over the battlefield as he cut down fiercely with his axe"Don't break the wall! Advance one step at a time!"

Freya darted through the gaps, her twin daggers flashing as she struck at every demon that slipped through the line. She was like a shadow among the soldiers, moving fast and silent.

In the center of the killing field, a massive ogre demon tried to break free, swinging a club the size of a tree. Dozens of soldiers fell in one sweep. Kael gave a signal.

"Mages, target that one!"

A burst of blue light shot from the hill. The ogre roared as lightning engulfed it, burning through its thick hide. Then Vic jumped in, slashing upward with all his strength. The demon's head fell, thudding into the dirt.

The soldiers cheered weakly, their throats dry, their faces covered in blood. The sound didn't last long — there were still more enemies to kill.

By the time the sun began to fade, the demon army had been broken. The field was filled with corpses — human and demon alike. Smoke and ash drifted with the wind.

Kael lowered his weapon and watched in silence. His eyes were tired, but calm. Martina came to stand beside him.

"We are close to winning," she said quietly.

"Of course we will win…After all its me who had made the apperance…"

".."

"..."

Martina and Kael looked at Verion who had managed to climb up the slope after getting kicked previously.

It was then.…

A low rumble began under their feet. At first, it was faint, like distant thunder. The ground began to shake slightly, then harder with every passing second.

"Huh? What's going on?" one soldier shouted, his voice trembling.

"An earthquake?" another guessed, gripping his spear tighter.

"But the ground isn't breaking," someone said, eyes darting around. "It's just the sound…"

The noise grew louder, like something massive moving underground. The ground trembled again, making the soldiers stagger.

Verion jumped back in panic. "What's happening?!"

Martina froze, her eyes wide as she looked toward Kael. "You mean…?"

Kael's gaze darkened. He didn't answer at first, only stared straight ahead. "Yes,they are here " he finally said, his tone low and grim.

Martina turned to follow his eyes and her breath caught in the mid air.

"Hisss…"

In the distance…

Through the mist that covered the mountain pass, something enormous began to move.

Dark shapes appeared first—taller than the trees, thicker than the towers behind them. As the fog cleared, massive figures took shape.

The ground trembled under each of their steps. Stones rolled, and the soil cracked open in long lines. It was as if the whole land was shaking in fear.

They were giant amazing demons, with their bodies like mountains of flesh and bone. Their skin was black and red, and steam rose from their bodies as if the air itself rejected them.

Each step they took made the earth groan.

The soldiers' faces turned pale. Some took a step back without realizing it.

"What… what are those?" a young soldier whispered. His voice shook like the ground beneath him.

Kael's eyes narrowed, his face calm but cold. "The Demon Squad from Levithian," he said quietly. "Looks like the death of their kin didn't sit well with them."

The sky above darkened with their arrival. The sound of their heavy breathing echoed through the valley.

Kael took a slow drag from his cigar, then crushed it between his fingers, the smoke curling around his hand.

"They seem to want some fun," he said, his voice low and filled with disgust.