( The next day, Terra Nova Online, Luke's POV )
Early morning, the next day, Luke heard the unmistakable sound of rhythmic war drums ringing in the distance almost as soon as he logged into the game.
*Dhum* *Dhum* *Dhum*
*Dhum* *Dhum* *Dhum*
The rhythmic pounding echoed through the valley, each beat progressively growing louder as the demon army slowly approached the Stonebridge Hill.
"All men ready!!!"
"Battle positions! The enemy is on the march! Battle positions!"
The team captains and battlefield coordinators within the DarkSky guild began shouting orders, fulfilling their duty as they readied the men to face the incoming wave of attack.
From his vantage point atop the hill, Luke surveyed the battlefield, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene unfolding before him.
The demon army stretched across the horizon, looking like a dark and writhing mass that seemed to swallow the landscape.
Dust rose like a storm cloud as thousands of demons marched in formation, their footfalls creating a low, ominous rumble that accompanied the drums.
The air was thick with tension, a palpable energy that crackled like a gathering storm.
'All 120,000 demons seem to be on the march….' Luke thought to himself, as while scouting the demon camp, he had estimated the demon army's strength to be around 120,000 members.
The demon forces were a chaotic mix of creatures, with each looking more fearsome than the last.
At the forefront, cannon fodder common demons led the charge, their shoddy broken weapons gleaming in the morning light.
Behind them, more experienced foot soldiers and mounted beasts surged forward, their grotesque features twisted in anticipation of the coming slaughter.
Despite their fearsome appearance, Luke could see clearly how their weakness lay in their lack of discipline.
The demons moved with a wild, untamed energy, their ranks shifting and breaking as they marched as although they seemed to be marching in formation from a distance, once one looked closely, they could clearly see many gaps appearing in their approach, with almost every demon marching at their own pace.
As the demons advanced, the DarkSky guild members atop Stonebridge Hill readied themselves for battle.
The fortified position provided a commanding view of the enemy, and Luke took a moment to appreciate the strategic advantage they held.
The wooden walls and archer towers, constructed over months of preparation, stood as silent sentinels, ready to unleash their fury as if everything went to plan, then the guild members looked like they were in for a feast today.
Luke scanned the ranks of DarkSky guild members, his gaze settling on the archers and mages poised to strike.
For today's war, those were the most important sections of his army who were supposed to dish out the highest damage.
As long as they did not choke and delivered as expected, Luke could envision a simple win.
"Remember your training," he called out, his voice firm and resolute. "Wait for my signal. We hold the high ground, and we will not let them pass."
The DarkSky guild members nodded in response, their faces a mix of determination and fear.
*DHUM* *DHUM* *DHUM*
*DHUM* *DHUM* *DHUM*
Soon, the sound of the war drums intensified, signaling the demons' approach.
Luke watched as the first wave of the enemy reached the base of Stonebridge Hill, surging forward with reckless abandon.
"Steady now men…. Prepare to shoot!" Luke said, as he picked a bow and arrow himself and took aim at the first funneling zone.
'Now's the moment of truth, do the demons try breaking the wall and move erratically? Or will they be funneled as we want them to?' Luke wondered, as he watched the demons flood the base of the hill with bated breaths.
If the demons were more intelligent, they would understand that the wooden walls were a trap, and that they needed to break those walls down if they wanted to survive, however, like cattle they ran parallel to the walls, funneling into the death zones that Luke had prepared, concentrating them in a small area.
"Now!" Luke commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos, as immediately the DarkSky archers released their arrows in a synchronized volley, the sky darkening as the projectiles arced toward their targets.
The sound of arrows whistling through the air was quickly followed by the thud of impacts and the guttural cries of wounded demons.
As the arrows rained down, the mages of the DarkSky guild unleashed their spells, their hands weaving intricate patterns in the air.
Blasts of fire and ice erupted among the demon ranks, the magical onslaught sowing further chaos and confusion.
The ground trembled under the force of the assault, the air filled with the acrid smell of burning flesh.
The demons faltered, their advance stalling as they struggled against the withering hail of arrows and magic.
The DarkSky guild members pressed their advantage, maintaining a relentless barrage that decimated the enemy's ranks.
Luke watched the unfolding battle with a keen eye, noting the effectiveness of their strategy. The funneling walls channeled the demons into concentrated areas where the DarkSky guild's attacks were most lethal.
The chaotic energy of the demon army becoming their downfall, as their disorganized assault was unable to break through the DarkSky guild's disciplined defense.
For the first time since the drums began, Luke allowed himself a small measure of satisfaction. The plan he formulated was working, the DarkSky guild was holding firm against the demonic tide.
As the morning wore on, the battlefield was littered with the bodies of fallen demons.
The DarkSky guild members, emboldened by their success, continued their relentless assault, determined to hold Stonebridge Hill at all costs.
Soon, the sound of the war drums faded, replaced by the guttural grunts of the high demons as they urged their army to cut their losses short and retreat.
"THEY ARE FALLING BACK! THE ENEMY IS FALLING BACK!" The DarkSky guild members exclaimed in joy as they saw the demon army retreating with their tails tucked between their legs.
From start to finish the battle only lasted an hour and a half at best and Luke estimated that the enemy lost close to 10,000 members in this assault.
Although they were only common cannon fodder demons and not the main force, this victory still felt extremely sweet for the defending forces as they had not lost a single individual in return.