When Ash saw the smile on the other man’s face he couldn’t help but think that he was enjoying the battle though if a mirror was present Ash would have noticed that the same smile was present on his own face.
“Guard break,” flashed over the man’s head as he jumped forward his sword still sticking in the ground behind him. The man’s elbow struck out so fast that Ash didn’t have a chance to block it hitting him straight in the nose.
Jumping back Ash wiped the blood from his face as tears began to sting his eyes involuntarily. Gritting his teeth Ash tightened his grip on his sword and let out a deep breath as he closed his eyes as he activated flare. Ash couldn’t see the flash of light but from the startled grunt he knew that it had worked. When he opened his eyes Ash found his target and activated blood strike once again.
Though he couldn’t see the other man still sensed Ash’s movements but he couldn’t move well enough to completely evade them. Ash had aimed for the man’s heart but instead his sword buried itself to the hilt in the man’s shoulder as he moved back at the last minute.
With a grunt of pain the man’s hand shot up and grabbed Ash around the throat. The man’s iron like grip kept any air from being drawn into Ash’s lungs. His face slowly turning blue Ash tried to pry the man’s fingers loose but the man refused to let go of his vice like grip. In a final attempt Ash turned the sword and the man grunted in pain again and his grip loosened slightly. Ash took this chance to twist the sword again as he brought up his left foot kicking the man in the shoulder and separating both himself and his sword from the man.
The man fell down to a knee while his right hand went to the wound on his left shoulder that was wounded. Rising his head he looked at Ash with a thin smile as if admitting his loss. At first Ash didn’t understand until he saw the man get to his feet and try to raise the sword into a ready position.
Ash could clearly see the man’s arm trembling under the weight of the sword. Ash took a deep breath and nodded his head in admiration of the man’s skill and determination before moving forward. Ash’s first strike knocked the weakly held sword aside. Ash didn’t even hear as the sword fell from the man’s grasp and landing on the ground as he was so focused on his attack. A second strike chopped down on the man’s leg as he was bringing it up to kick Ash away and Ash’s third strike left a think line across the man’s throat opening it up.
The man raised his hand vainly trying to stem the tide of blood that was pouring from his throat as his face quickly lost it color. Ash had seen a lot of men die before but for some reason the man’s death seemed like such a waste to him. Even if the man was marked by the goddess he didn’t seem evil. He was just a soldier following orders.
“Tring.”
[You have killed a level 42 person marked by the goddess for death. Since the person was more than five levels ahead of you will receive 14,324,101 experience.]
“Tring.”
[You have received the ability break guard, over boost, and flash step.]
“Tring.”
[You have reached level 37.]
Ash didn’t have time to look at his new abilities or place his stat points with a war going on around him. Using his mana manipulation Ash brought down the wall of earth and quickly took stock of what was happening. After a quick scan he found his guards frantically searching for him about fifty yards away. Ash quickly called to them as he moved in their direction.
Though his personal battle seemed like it had taken forever in truth it had taken less than five minutes so the enemy was still in full rout with the demons chasseing behind them. Just as they reached the designated area the second and fourth mage units moved out forcing them to move in the desired direction. Ash thought about chasseing after them but in truth he was exhausted after his last battle and even if he was added to the fray there was little he could do at the moment.
As they king’s army was moved farther away the flying corps came in from the front firing bows and casting magic to devastating effects. It was at the point many of the soldiers not knowing what to do dropped their weapons and started to surrender. At first it was just a few but quickly there wasn’t a single person left standing against them.
Ash couldn’t hide the smile that spread across his face. They had won though not without cost. Ash looked across the field where they had fought a noticed a number of demon bodies that would never rise again. With a deep sigh Ash forced himself to take a step forward so that he could join the others and decide on the fate of the captured enemies.
Just before meeting up with Uthla Ash glanced back over his shoulder in the direction of the fort to see Emelia looking across the field of battle her eyes focused directly on him. Ash was too far away to see the smile on her face but he could clearly see the way her hair fluttered in the wind.
Emelia had watched the battle with rapt attention though most of her time was spent watching Ash she did move about to check on how her own men were doing.
Just as she had ordered the men held nothing back. Those that could use magic exhausted their supply of MP casting anything they could on the enemies below while the archers fired arrow after arrow so fast that their fingers started to bleed from the strain.
It didn’t take long for the combined attacks from the fort and the unexpected advance of a demon horde to force the enemy to sound the call to retreat. Emelia didn’t have to check on her mean as the sound of the horn reached her ears as the loud outcries of joy were clearly audible.
They had won the day though depending on how things went they still might not win the war so Emelia had quickly turned her attention back to Ash who was currently fighting against a man she knew all too well.
Knight Captain Regan was well known for his skills on the field of battle. He had been given the honorary title of viscount by the king himself after the last war. Emelia had never met the man but when she saw the heavy sword the man used and the crossed talons on its hilt she knew who he was.
Throughout the whole battle Emelia feared that Ash would lose. It was not that she didn’t have faith in his abilities but Regan was a legend so it was hard for her to see her gentle husband winning against such a man.
Emelia was surprised when Ash blocked Regan’s first attack and even more surprised when he launched one of his own. As the battle continued Emelia watched it as if it were a play put on just for her. With each move Emelia found herself cheering whenever Ash struck and holding her breath when he was in danger.
When Ash made the final strike Emelia yelled so loudly that she feared that everyone within the fort had heard her. Blushing Emelia rose from her seat and quickly canceled her ability before running out of the command center.
Outside Emelia found many of the troops cheering while others were having wounds tended but the vast majority of soldiers were still on the battlements watching the fight between the demons and the king’s arm.
There was quick way to reach the battlements. This was done so that anyone who was able to make it over would have a harder time getting below. At this moment Emelia hated the decision to block off the ramps that led up. Cursing herself Emelia climbed the wooden ladder up so that she could look on the field of battle with her own eyes.
What she saw when she reached the top took her breath away. Small wind tunnels mixed with light struck out against the fleeing army forcing them to turn to the north. The majestic army that had been reduced to less than half its previous size and the ones remaining had lost all will to fight.
Just as it looked as if the king’s army had found a path to escape the sky was filled with large forms that almost looked like oversized birds but when a rain of arrows and magic fell down from the sky the last bit of will left to the king’s army broke and their swords started to litter the ground as they raised their hands in defeat.
Seeing the king’s army surrender was something that Emelia had never imagined even in her wildest dreams. Her best hope what that they could hold off the army long enough that they offered pleasurable term
s of surrender for her people.
As a warm wind blew past Her Emelia couldn’t help but smile as a tear ran down her face. Searching the ground below she looked for Ash but in the distance it was hard to tell who was who. Then she noticed a figure surrounded by a number of women and the smile slowly faded from her face.
Emelia had seen the women when she had first noticed Ash but due to the ongoing battle she hadn’t given it much thought. Now with the tension of the battle gone she was starting to wonder who they were and what connection they had to her husband.
Demonic Valor #10-9
“What do you want done with the prisoners?” Uthla asked Ash as the two looked over the large number of prostrating humans.
“I don’t really know,” Ash replied honestly.
“For now we should keep them under guard and find out what the duchess thinks we should do. She has far more knowledge in these matters.”
“Understood,” Uthla said bowing. “Then I would suggest that you consult with her as soon as you can. We have removed their weapons but that doesn’t mean there is no way for such a large number of enemies to cause problems if left unattended for too long.”
As Ash walked toward the fort he kept his pace slow and even as his heart beat like a drum in his chest. He could still see Emelia standing on the battlements her eyes focused in his direction. Ash was surprised because he had not once gotten close enough that she could have made out his face yet her head was clearly turned in his direction.
To settle his nerves as he walked Ash took the time to place his new stat points and to check out his newly acquired abilities. Unlike before when Ash put all his points in luck Ash spread them out into luck, strength, agility, and stamina. The reason for this was simple. His boosted stats still depending on his base states and so the higher they became the more of a boost they would gain so not it more efficient to place points into them instead of just luck. After finishing with his stats Ash checked out his new abilities.
[Break guard: cost 50SP- fast movement that allows one to break through their oponets guard. Level 1-0%.]
[Over boost- cost 75SP- double the damage of the next attack, level 1-0%.]
[Flash step- cost 25SP- quickly move to any place within five steps. Level 1-0%.]
Looking at the new abilities Ash couldn’t help but think how useful the reaper blessing was. Not only did it allow him to gain abilities from certain humans but also a great deal of experience. Which was something that was dearly needed since after the twenty-second level it cost more than a million experience to reach the next level and with each level after that it went up by a great deal. If he tried to gain a single level just by fighting he would have to spend months doing nothing but fighting. When he thought of the fact that all of his wives levels were in the mid-thirties he couldn’t help but suppress a shiver. Just how much had they been forced to fight during their youth? It was no surprise that Tolarea who was a battle manic was the highest level at forty-one.
Before Ash knew it he was standing in front of the large wood and iron gate of the fort. Taking a deep breath Ash raised his head. “I am Ash Hawkwing open the gate and let me talk with the duchess Hawkwing,” Ash shouted as loud as he could.
In the time it took to take three breaths a loud sound could be heard on the other side of the gate as the chains were turned and the large gate began to swing open. As soon as the gate opened a few feet a blur of blue and red rushed through the gate and charged into Ash’s chest.
Tolarea and Ash’s other guards gripped their weapons but Ash waved them off as he wrapped his arms around Emelia’s slender waist. “I’m home,” Ash said as he held Emelia tightly to his chest.
After a few moments Emelia pulled back from Ash’s embrace and hit him hard in the arm. Emelia looked up at Ash with slightly red eyes. “Welcome home.”
“Shall we go inside?” Ash asked with a warm smile. “I don’t think we will get much done just standing out here making a show for everyone.”
Realizing that hundreds of soldiers were looking down on them with more than a few of them wearing broad grins Emelia face blushed. “Yes…Very well,” Emelia said curtly before walking back through the gate.
Emelia never looked back as she walked straight to what had been set up as the commander’s quarters Ash couldn’t help but look around the fort as he followed behind Emelia. It wasn’t really that long ago that the fort was nothing more than an idea he had. The last time he had seen it the inner wall was only just being started. He had heard that it had been finished but he didn’t think it would be so impressive with just the inner wall finished. Other than the wall nothing much had changed since all the buildings inside were made from wood.
Ash was so immersed in his own world that he didn’t even notice when he walked through the door to the small log cabin until it shut behind him. As soon as the door was shut Emelia turned on Ash like a rabid wolf. “Where have you been?” Emelia asked her voice raising with each word. “What have you been doing? Did you even care that I thought you were dead? Couldn’t you have even came to visit your daughter?” By the time Emelia finished her tirade her face was flaming red and her voice was starting to break.
Ash quickly wrapped Emelia in a tight embrace. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say to her words. “I couldn’t risk coming back before the battle,” Ash tried to explain. “Otherwise the surprise attack might not have worked.”
Emelia struggled in his arms for a bit trying to pull back from his embrace but she quickly calmed down and wrapped her own arms weakly around him. “So we have a daughter?” Ash asked once Emelia had calmed down.
“Yes,” Emelia said as she took a step back. She moved over and took a seat in a wooden chair behind a large oak desk. “I named her Ashley. She is the cutest thing you have ever laid your eyes on,” Emelia said her eyes glazing over. After shaking her head she narrowed her eyes at Ash again. “We can both go and see her later. I need to know what has been happening in your absence.”
After taking a deep breath Ash started to tell his story. He started with being rescued by the demons during the battle. He explained that after he woke he learned that he had a blood ability that had signaled him as they next demon lord. Ash continued his story until he reached the part about taking wives.
“What wives…As in more than one?” Emelia asked her face holding a look of astonishment. “Just how many wives do they expect you to take?”
“Forty-two,” Ash said with a slight cringe.
“Forty-two…Forty-two,” Emelia said lightly at first then shouted. Ash remained silent until Emelia had calmed down. He knew that she was a rational person and would understand the situation. Just as he expected after a few moments of grumbling she pursed her lips and looked at him. “I guess it doesn’t really matter if you have one or a thousand extra wives as long as I am the first.”
“Always,” Ash replied with a warm smile.
Ash continued with his story explaining his training and then the planning for the battle. She had been present for the battle itself so that was where his story ended. “Now we have thousands of soldiers and have no clue what to do with them,” Ash said getting to the reason he had originally came to the fort. “I figured that you would know how best to handle this situation.”
“Just kill them,” Tolarea said in an offhanded manner. “It is never good to leave a live enemy at your back.”
“I would like to agree with you,” Emelia said nodding her head. “Sadly if we just killed all of the soldiers the people would lose faith in us. Most of the men are just normal people who had been forced to fight. Killing them wouldn’t really solve who are real enemy is and that is the nobles and kings who didn’t even have the guts to fight in the battle themselves.”
“Then what should we do with them?” Ash asked again.
“We have a few choices. We can ransom them back to the king, release them, or put them into slavery,” Emelia said ticking off the choices with her fingers.
“What d
o you suggest out of the three?”
“First there is no way the king will pay a ransom for a low level soldier so it would be best just to release them. As for the mid and high level warriors it would be best to take it person by person to see if they are worth the ransom but we shouldn’t let any officer level soldiers leave easily. They are the real threat in a battle since it takes years to train a decent field commander.”
“My lord if you wish I will send a message back to commanders Uthla so that he can start separating the prisoners,” Li said interjected.
“Please see to it Li,” Ash replied quickly. Turning back to Emelia he noticed that she didn’t have a please look on her face as Li left the room. “No reason to keep them waiting longer than needed. It takes a great deal of work to keep so many people under watch,” Ash tried to explain.
“And here I thought we could at least have a day to talk before all the work started,” Emelia said with a frustrated sigh.
“Sorry.”
“It is fine,” Emelia said waving her hand. “We will have plenty of time in the future though as soon as you can you should visit Yuki. She has been frantic since you disappeared.”
Ash couldn’t help but smile when he thought about Yuki and the rest of the people awaiting him at his home within the city.
After Li had left it took a little over an hour and a half for the first prisoners to start arriving. The low level soldiers were easily separated out thanks to Ash’s analyze ability though even then the sun had long since set before they had gone through a quarter of the prisoners. Whenever they found someone who was worth keeping they were moved into one of the buildings that had once been a barracks so that they could be guarded with a limited number of resources. The ones that had yet be interviewed were brought inside the fort and were guarded by both demons and humans.
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