"Demons. Hold the frontline. Let them crash against us. Show them what real bodies are made of."
The ground trembled as the demons roared into the skies, forming an unyielding front just beyond the gates. Their bodies ignited with hellfire, weapons gleaming like raging infernos.
"Aurora."
His voice shifted slightly.
Aurora smirked, standing atop the wall just near the fortress gates.
"You are my sword."
"Obviously." She cracked her knuckles, flames licking across her skin.
"Control the battlefield. Direct formations. If they breach, incinerate them."
Her flames exploded outward, forming a sea of fire along the fortress walls. "Got it."
"Kael."
A bestial aura erupted from Kael, his battle intent flooding the fortress.
"You're my vanguard."
Kael grinned, his battle intent rising like a wave.
"First counter-charge. If they get too close, go berserk. But keep your team alive."
Kael's hand reached for his broadsword, nodding. Atticus's last remark was well-warranted. Kael tended to go berserk and forget about his teammates. But Atticus had just given him free rein to cause chaos.
"Zoey."
Zoey stood still, her hands clenched as she listened intently. This was her moment, and she had no intention of making any mistakes.
"Construct a defense network."
"I want barriers between our units. Floating platforms for movement. Protective constructs around the artillery. You and your division are the shield of this army."
Zoey's hands glowed with spiritual energy. She nodded.
"Understood."
Atticus's order came swiftly.
"Move."
And with that, the battlefield erupted.
The first wave hit the mountain. The thunderous clash of battle shook their world.
The demons met the horde first, bodies colliding with armored enemies, their hellfire-infused weapons tearing through metal.
The elves unleashed a rain of destruction, arrows slicing through the air, taking down thousands in seconds.
The dwarves fired artillery, the sky illuminated with cannon blasts, tearing apart incoming enemy units.
The angels clashed against the enemies midair, weapons clashing against metal, bodies twisting through the storm as they cut down the aerial units.
And through it all, Atticus controlled everything.
His voice was cold, precise, like a conductor leading an orchestra of war.
"Angels, rotate defensive lines every forty seconds. Do not overcommit."
The angels immediately broke formation, their wings folding in as they swooped back before fresh warriors took their place, ensuring none were exhausted or outmaneuvered.
"Aurora, spread the flames thinner. Delay their approach."
Far below, Aurora's flames roared across the battlefield, consuming hundreds in a sweeping inferno. But rather than a single devastating burst, she adjusted, letting her fire spread thinner, lingering on the ground, turning it into a hellish death zone.
"Kael, retreat five steps. Draw them in, then counter."
The berserker had been mid-charge, his massive blade cleaving through enemies. But the moment he heard Atticus's command, he skidded backward, teeth bared.
The enemy swarmed toward him.
Then Kael roared.
His power exploded outward, his blade cutting through their ranks like a hurricane.
"Zoey, more platforms. Make the battlefield multi-leveled."
Without hesitation, Zoey's constructs erupted across the battlefield.
Floating platforms of glowing energy materialized midair, providing vantage points for archers, footholds for melee warriors, and traps for the enemy, who found themselves funneled into perfect kill zones.
The sergeants watching the simulation clenched their fists, their gazes sharp as a razor's edge.
The number of things happening simultaneously was staggering. Too much for any normal commander to keep track of.
And yet, Atticus was not only keeping up, he was dictating everything.
Every maneuver.
Every shift in formation.
Every counterattack.
And not a single one of his soldiers had been eliminated.
On the battlefield, Aurora had a smile on her face.
She was happy. So happy that Atticus wasn't actively participating in this battle. If he had, it would've ended in seconds.
But now, they would get a chance to showcase their improvements.
Her flames engulfed everything in her path, the heat distorting the very air as her fists shattered enemies like glass.
Her movements were wild, chaotic, yet impossibly controlled.
But she wasn't the only one.
Zoey worked tirelessly.
She wasn't just creating platforms.
Her constructs acted as barriers, shielding the artillery teams from incoming fire.
Each time a cannon fired, a glowing shield absorbed the recoil, preventing the machinery from breaking apart.
But she didn't remain idle.
Purple wings burst from her back.
And she soared into the fray, slicing through enemies with bladed constructs, her movements graceful yet merciless.
She would not fall behind.
And then, there was Kael.
A true berserker.
Kael had transformed.
His body bulged with power, veins glowing with raw energy as his aura rippled in a storm of carnage.
He did not block.
He did not dodge.
He tore through the enemy like a beast unleashed.
Metallic bodies were cleaved apart. Enemy formations shattered upon impact with his relentless charge.
"Kael. Back. Now."
Atticus commanded. The berserker had the bad habit of going too deep.
Kael's eyes gleamed, his muscles twitching. But he obeyed, unleashing carnage closer to the fortress.
'Not bad, bond.'
Atticus's brow raised slightly. 'Is that a compliment?'
Ozeroth had just said something good about him?
Had pigs started flying? Or what was going on?
Ozeroth snorted. 'Why do you sound so surprised?'
'Because you don't do compliments?'
Ozeroth scoffed, his tone dripping with pride. 'When I see greatness, I acknowledge it. Though, let's be honest, this isn't even nearly at the level of the great Ozeroth. Compared to my battles, this is child's play.'
Atticus rolled his eyes. 'For a second there, I thought you had become a reasonable person. My bad.'
'What the hell do you mean by that?!' Ozeroth's voice boomed in his mind. 'You little brat, I should—'
Atticus ignored him and focused on the battlefield.
'Everything seems to be going well.'
Though he said this, Atticus knew it wasn't over.
Aside from the sergeants, even the army of recruits was far too shocked by how the battle was unfolding.
It was too… easy.
The level of enemies had been set to match their average, allowing them to fight back. However, their numbers were far too overwhelming. If not for Atticus's precise orders and formations, there was no doubt that everything would have crumbled by now.
The recruits felt a sense of relief as they battled.
Fighting under this monster was shockingly safe.
But just as they started to get comfortable…
High above, the storm clouds parted and something emerged.
Airships. Dozens.
Massive, metallic monstrosities with their cannons glowing ominously, charged to annihilate the fortress.
The recruits froze.
Their expressions morphed into despair. How the hell were they supposed to fight airships?!
Just then,
"Now."
Atticus's calm voice rang out.