Fourteen fireballs of different sizes and power hurtled through the sky.
The human traitors who were jeering loudly were all stunned into silence.
They could not believe their eyes!
What the f**k?
Why did those lunatics hurl their fireballs towards us?
Did they forget about the indestructible demon shield?
Are they nuts?
Didn't they know that the demons surrounding them would instantly shred them to pieces as soon as they did so?
What the flying f**k?!
Did we just see the heroes of humanity… commit mass suicide?
Is that what this is?
One million men and women… committing mass suicide?!
Random thoughts of incredulity thundered through their minds.
On the side of the demons though, everything was much simpler.
The fireballs aren't flying this way? Good!
Attack!!
With bloodcurdling howls, the surrounding demon army attacked!
Their clawed feet pounded upon the ground and caused it to tremble beneath them.
They came as a tide of blackened flesh and burning eyes, a living storm of hate and hunger.
The six fire mages beside Elson, so resolute moments before, flinched as the wave drew near.
One of them even screamed in terror.
It was one thing to decide to die.
It was a whole different thing altogether when one had to actually go through it.
Especially if it's a death in such a gruesome manner.
Being ripped apart by horrifying demons.
"Kill!" Elson roared with every ounce of strength left in his body. "We are not dead yet!"
He hurled his remaining grenades into the oncoming tide and watched with grim satisfaction as the front ranks of demons erupted into mangled flesh and smoke. The acrid scent of burning blood filled the air once more.
The explosions jolted his men out of their terror. They shouted desperately and threw their own grenades, causing the battlefield to light up with thunderous bursts that tore through the enemy line.
The concussions shook the ground beneath their boots. Hundreds of demons died under the powerful grenade barrage. But thousands more surged forward to take their place.
He knew it was pointless.
They would not survive.
But he had to see it. He had to know.
He had to know if their attack on the demon shield worked!
KABOOOM!
The fourteen fireballs finally struck, slamming into the massive barrier with earth-shattering force. The air split open with a deafening crack that reverberated through his bones.
Elson's heart leapt into his throat.
Did we… did we really succeed?
He forced his burning eyes upward. The shield shimmered for a moment, and then split.
A jagged crack tore through its surface, glowing with molten light.
For a heartbeat, hope flared.
Then the glow faded as the shield held firm despite the horrendous crack.
It hadn't fallen.
They had failed.
Humanity had failed in its invasion of the Demon Continent.
"We have failed… Hahaha! We have failed! Fine! Well done! In that case, I will take all of you with me! Hahahaha!" Elson's sanity teetered on the edge as he finally beheld the futility of his struggles.
"Lyra! Wait for me just a few moments longer! I am coming to you very soon! Hahahaha!"
Elson drew his heavy saber and charged forward recklessly.
The last of his fire magic flared to life, coating the blade in molten light and giving it an edge that shimmered like liquid steel. Combined with its sheer weight, it cut through the demon ranks like a hot knife through butter.
Slash! Slash!
For several long, desperate seconds, Elson carved through the enemy, felling dozens of demons without taking a single hit.
His attacks were so ferocious that it seemed as though he was going to cut down the entire demon horde by himself.
But alas, it was just the final burst of a dying flame.
A demon captain lunged from the chaos and drove its claws deep into Elson's abdomen.
Blood burst from his lips.
Elson's face twisted into a bloody grin as he swung one last time, his saber cleaving through the captain's neck. The creature's head spun away into the darkness.
He fell down to his knees and quickly lost all of his strength.
His saber fell from his weakened fingers, hitting the bloodied ground with a loud splurch.
"This is it…" Elson thought weakly.
He raised his head to see his killer.
But surprisingly, no demons came forth to kill him.
"Hahhh…" His breath came out ragged and thin. The world swayed. He could feel the warmth of his own blood pooling beneath him.
He was losing too much blood too quickly.
But as he hung on to the last of his consciousness, he saw the Great General Valar flying out of Los Valaris.
He was huge.
At five meters tall, he towered over every single being in that battlefield. Muscles like black iron, his leathery wings blotting out the light of the sun.
But Elson's eyes were not focused on the demon.
He was looking at the beautiful woman who was seated on the demon's left shoulder, as though she was the demon's handler.
Her pale armor gleamed faintly, marked by the sigil of the Pale Moon.
Selune Fenris. The Thirteenth Captain of the Lunate Order.
"Pale Moon Cap…tain…" He wheezed lightly in absolute shock. "So… That's why…"
He finally realized why he was ambushed.
"Hahahaha! Hahahahaha! Fire King Elson… Dead! Hahahaha! Don't worry, puny human. I will make sure I personally catch all of your comrades… And eat them! Hahahaha!" The Great General Valar's demonic laughter boomed out powerfully. "Perfect timing! With their mana, I will finally be able to awaken this damned Wolf Rock! Hahahahaha!"
The Great General Valar played with a strange rock that was glowing a deep blue, tossing it up and then catching it.
Elson barely heard him.
His gaze stayed on her. The Pale Moon Captain.
Her face twisted as though she were fighting something inside her. Tears welled in her luminous eyes.
But Elson's heart was too hard for pity.
What the f**k. Who cares if she was sad.
That b***h betrayed us! That b***h betrayed us!!
Sigh… Whatever… It is over… My fight is done… Lyra… I am coming now… Please… Please… Be there…
However, right at that moment, the Pale Moon Captain suddenly stretched her slender hand and caught the Wolf Rock that the Great General Valar was playing with!
Crack!
Her slender fingers crushed it like glass. A blinding light burst forth as she flicked the glowing core toward Elson.
Splat!
The core struck his forehead and sank into him with a wet sound.
For an instant, everything went white. A radiant explosion of light tore through the battlefield, blinding demons and humans alike.
And when the brilliance faded…
Elson Noctis was gone.