One by one, the 2nd stage Ersatz guards fell lifelessly to the ground. The Elite Penumbras were showing why they were called Elite!
The mere shock factor of seeing multiple Orcs wielding a shadowy Diva above their heads was enough to make anyone pause for a good few seconds. And in a life or death battle, that was essentially a lifetime. The Elite Shadow Orcs wouldn't waste an opportunity like that.
Terrified, some of the Ersatz guards began running away from the fight. They scrambled, jostled, and crawled their way out of the battlefield containing these monstrous Orcs.
This only caused further chaos within the Ersatz defense, making it a lot easier for the Orcs to divide and conquer.
Just then, they heard a booming sound echoing throughout the six walls of the Stronghold.
DUUNNNN! DUUNNN! DUUNNN!
It sounded like gigantic drums were being banged repeatedly, causing there to be such a deep and intimidating tone to permeate the battlefield.
One of the surviving Ersatz members smiled maniacally. "Hahaha! Finally, reinforcements have come to save us from these ungodly invaders!"
And true enough, the main doors to the castle suddenly burst wide open. Five figures emerged, each one donning an elaborate dark armor that denoted their clear difference from the ordinary guards in the Ersatz organization.
They walked forth, scanning the battlefield with their sharp and unforgiving eyes.
And without warning, their bodies emitted a shockwave of power, causing even the Elite Shadow Orcs to stagger backwards.
This was accompanied by the manifestation of their Artifice Divas. Above them was a different depiction of Hanya Masks, each as demonic and sinister as the other. Some had horns, some only had one, some had open eye holes, some depicted hellish irises.
As with all Divas born from an Artifice, these Divas didn't look realistic at all. They looked like they were painted by hand, with brush strokes still visible on its dark outlines.
The guards walked forward, their very presence changing the atmosphere in the battlefield.
An Elite Penumbra member slithered through the shadows, before striking with a well placed lunge at the last one behind them.
But the guard simply turned around and drew his sword, cutting down the black tendril that tried to assassinate him.
The Elite Penumbra Orc turned into black mist before retreating.
The guard scoffed, raising his hand in a taunt. "Come on. Is that all you can do?"
The Elite Penumbra Orcs held their knives in hand, eager to prove these guards wrong.
But just then, two shadows blurred past them and rushed into the open fray.
Two humungous Orcs emerged from these tenebrous shadows, their stature towering over all the other Orcs. Not just in physicality, but aura as well.
"Do not fear. For I have—"
"For I have arrived!"
Narito angrily turned to his side. "That was my line, you buffoon!"
Sasuki coolly shook his head. "I thought of it first."
"YOU!"
The Ersatz guards watched these two Orcs argue with a frown on their face. Were they treating this as a joke?
"I'm done with this. The Ersatz will not be treated as a joke!" shouted one of the guards.
Red flame emanated all over his body, the red hanya mask Diva above him engulfed with the same fire.
Their Aubility Power allowed them to increase their physical prowess by a very substantial amount! Pound for pound, they could easily overpower any monster they fought against, including these Orcs.
As soon as he disappeared, Narito and Sasuki turned serious.
"After you," Sasuki said, facetiously bowing at Narito.
The Orcanine Chieftain growled, before spreading his arms wide. His muscles and werewolf-like fur was in full show.
Above him, the figure of a Shadowy Orc appeared, mimicking his movements.
"BU TO TO!"
Narito slapped his chest. A shockwave permeated through the air.
The attacking Ersatz guard suddenly heard high pitched noise assaulting his ears.
His vision doubled, with blackness starting to erode his eyesight.
He stumbled forwards, unable to discern his current location. The red fire in his body flickered, his confusion leading his Diva to be staggered as well.
At that same moment, Sasuki finally moved.
He hunched his back, flexing his lat muscles.
The quills on his skin started to shake and vibrate, caused by the Shadowy Diva above him pounding its own chest.
"RAH TA TA!"
Quills shot forth like bullets all around him.
It seemed arbitrary. Random. But at the sharp end of these quills, a black shadow tendril emerged.
They pulled the quills into a different direction. Towards the staggered guard.
The disorienting effects of Narito's shout created a shadow mark on the guard's body.
And the shadows on the quills chased after it, like they were magnets attracted to metal.
The quills pelted the guard, showering him with an Aubility enhanced needle.
A few seconds later, the guard fell to the ground face-first. The quills dug deeper. But he didn't react. He couldn't.
It was at this moment that the other 3rd stage guards stopped in place like a bunch of rattled cats. They were alarmed. And disturbed.
"You pig bastards!"
They all charged after the two Orc Chieftains. The hanya masks above them exploded into a raging fire. Their 3rd stage cultivation protected them.
One of the guards reached Narito. And with a swift sword strike, he decapitated the Chieftain.
Blood splashed onto the guard's face.
Human blood.
His vision turned hazy, only for the Orcs in front of him to change into humans.
"Sir!"
The Ersatz guards were horrified to see one of their own leaders decapitate another one of their own!
"Wha…"
And before he could even understand what happened, the wind whistled beside him.
Quills shot through his entire body, before piercing through and hitting the other soldiers around him.
He fell to the ground, confusion forever painted on his face.
"Be careful!" shouted one of the Ersatz leader guards.
He turned around to warn the others, only to find himself alone in the darkness.
Then a few seconds later, he saw blood staining his clothes. It was only a few seconds before his death did he finally see the quills that dealt the final blow.
BU TO TO!
BU TO TO!
BU TO TO!
The Ersatz leader guards fell into their trap before the battle even began.
Just hearing that shout—BU TO TO. It was enough to sign their death warrant. They were overconfident, thinking that they could defend against a 1st stage Aubility Power through their own defenses. But the darkness of Narito's shadow was far too deep. Any who heard his song would feel their whole being shaken.
Then, Sasuki finished them off. His quills were stronger and more effective against staggered opponents, thanks to his Aubility Power.
With this, the two Orc Chieftains proved themselves a power to be reckoned with!
…
…
…
The Shadow Orcs slammed their chests and strummed their quills in celebration.
They had completely taken control of the Stronghold's open quarters. The only thing they had to take care of were the stragglers. The deserters who were too cowardly to face them.
As Michael instructed, they were quickly apprehended and brought to chains.
Surrounded by ferocious Orcs and fettered with iron chains, the Ersatz guards trembled in fear.
"You… you won't get away with this!" shouted one of the guards. "You think this is over?! It won't be long now until the rest of us hear about this. There are even more monsters awaiting you in the castle!"
They were telling the truth. Defeating hundreds of 1st stage Ersatz guards was merely a drop in the bucket in their mission.
According to their estimates, their organization held more powerful individuals inside.
Those that went above the 3rd stage Body Formation realm.
"It's too late now. Once they come out here, you're all dead! The drum has been rung!"
Narito approached the apprehended guards. They cowered.
"What? Killing us won't grant you mercy!"
Then, the Orc Chieftain reached into his shadows and retrieved a metal brick.
A phone.
He clicked on a button.
"DUUNNNN! DUUNNN! DUUNNN!"
The Ersatz's guards were startled. Those were the drum beats they were talking about!
This was the very beat that alerted everyone in the castle of an invasion!
How were they able to replicate the sound?!
"Show them," said Narito.
A Shadow Orc emerged from the crowd, before throwing something in front of the apprehended guards.
The item clanged on the ground.
It was none other than the drums they used for the alert!
The Orcs had already taken care of this problem long before the invasion started.
"But… but why did…"
The guard's eyes widened with a realization.
The Orcs purposefully rang the bell!
But… but why?!
And it was at that moment when footfalls rang out into the open quarters.
Everyone turned their attention to the castle as hundreds upon hundreds of soldiers began walking out.
These Ersatz guards were well-dressed. Fully armed. They were ready.
This was the Stronghold's main force. The one containing cultivators ranging from the 4th stage and higher!
"Surrender now and your lives may yet be spared," shouted out one of the main soldiers.
Meanwhile, the group of apprehended guards struggled against the Orcs' grasp.
They couldn't warn the soldiers that they were walking into a trap!