Chapter I

  Last Stand of the Divine

  Aiyana stood in formation alongside her fellow paladins as they looked out upon the vast armies of the Infernal Realm. With their forward lines standing shoulder to shoulder, the paladins formed a mighty shield wall roughly forty thousand soldiers long and almost thirty deep. They had managed to raise the numbers needed to allow their phalanx to span the width of the valley, protecting them against encirclement.

  The hordes of chaos had massed before them, snarling and roaring as their mouths frothed in anticipation. The demons greatly outnumbered the remaining Enochian forces, stretching back in an endless sea of murderous foes.

  The fell creatures came in multitudes of shapes and sizes, their horrific forms reflecting their lives within the Infernal Realm—a nightmarish series of broken dystopias covered with blazing infernos, black oceans, and festering swamps. It was a place of violence and agony that refused to be contained.

  Long ago, this army of abominations had spilled forth from their native hellscape and swarmed into the Abyss—the limitless expanse between the realms. The demons invaded one Abyssal planet after another before arriving at this nameless world. Regardless of the Enochians efforts to halt their advance, the Infernal army stood at the threshold of their final destination: the radiant borders of the Divine Realm, which shone like a magnificent beacon of purity high above their heads.

  Aiyana knew the Divine army would fight valiantly. However, she feared the conflict would ultimately favor their enemy. The Infernal army desired a brutal war of attrition, where superior skill and tactics would eventually succumb to savage force and overwhelming numbers. Despite the terrible odds, Aiyana readied herself for what would soon become the last great battle of their war.

  Gazing through the energy dome surrounding the Enochian army, she watched thousands of demons circle overhead. They were proverbial vultures of the most vile and deadly order, eagerly awaiting the feast of Divine flesh below. The monsters roaming the sky also came in many forms: most had leathery wings, gliding with an ominous grace, while others shrouded themselves in a black mist that propelled them chaotically through the air. Finally, hovering high above the mass of flying terrors, the fallen angels waited.

  The latter were not kin to the lower races of demons but were mighty devils created to be cruel mockeries of the angelic Enochians. They acted as ruthless commanders answerable only to their creators—the immensely powerful Fiends, for whom every Infernal creature unquestionably served.

  Aiyana distinguished the fallen angels by the lights emanating from their crimson wings. She found them eerily beautiful, their feathers aglow like the lingering embers after a raging fire. Though they were little more than mysterious figures patiently waiting beneath the greenish hue of the sky, she could feel their cold and merciless stares as they searched for any vulnerability to exploit, no matter how modest that weakness might be.

  However, the fallen angels could search for as long as they wished, but acts of subterfuge and treachery would not serve them here. The Divine army had been blessed with the time to prepare their forces. By a stroke of great fortune, the archangels, using their powers of divination, were the first to discover the weakest point in the barrier safeguarding the Divine Realm; at the end of this valley, the pathway into paradise was at its most vulnerable, and portals could be opened with ease. Unfortunately, the monopoly of this knowledge would be short-lived; the Fiends had remained ever watchful and soon learned of this revelation. They immediately began amassing the entirety of their forces upon this barren world.

  Throughout myriad years, the Fiends had waged a bloody war in their quest to destroy the Divine Realm. Now that their victory was near, they would hold nothing back. In response, all Enochian soldiers were hastily withdrawn from their contested worlds in the Abyss to unite here in determined opposition.

  Behind the paladin’s ranks, portals opened into their realm. Civilian mages and clerics now had the opportunity to leave their paradise worlds and join the impending battle. Larger portals appeared sporadically, allowing Enochian engineers to push forth intricately built siege engines. A mix of catapults, trebuchets, and ballistae of varying designs rolled through and were positioned to unleash carnage upon the enemy.

  With spears at their sides and tower shields at the ready, the Enochians were prepared to fight and kill any foe who dared approach. Back home, this would have been a beautiful sight; their silver and blue-trimmed armor would have glistened in a dazzling display as it reflected the majesty of the Divine Light. Sadly, Aiyana felt all beauty became muted within this abyssal expanse, especially theirs.

  The demons, seething with anger and impatience, hurled balls of fire at the Divine army, but to no avail. The Enochians remained protected as the projectiles crashed harmlessly into the immense magical boundary surrounding them. Aiyana marveled at the colossal energy dome stretching between the two mountain ranges. Thousands of war clerics were scattered throughout their forces, diligently maintaining this shimmering bulwark. Their unwavering concentration was paramount, for a gap could appear in this vital defense should any of them falter or fall.

  Aiyana shifted her attention to the fair faces of the soldiers around her. Despite their silver helmets, their golden eyes and stoic expressions remained visible. She experienced a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach; she did not recognize a single soul. Although she respected every last man and woman in this army, she felt disheartened at the prospect of dying surrounded by strangers.

  Who is still left that I know? Aiyana wondered as she relived the memories of friends that she had watched die.

  Regrettably, in retreat, many of her comrade’s bodies were lost or abandoned, scattered across a host of unnamed Abyssal worlds—terrifying worlds teeming with demonic invaders and swarms of foul creatures native to this abhorrent void. She mourned those fallen friends and lamented that they had not received the peace granted from being honorably laid to rest.

  Aiyana’s thoughts turned to her friend Gallus, a paladin whose face was as handsome as any she had seen. Her memories lingered on his kind smile, which had never failed to brighten her day. Catching his eye had been easy, needing only the flip of her long blonde hair and beautiful face to grab his attention. They often ate their meals together, and she always eagerly anticipated patrolling with him, for he could make her laugh with a consistency no one else could.

  During the lonely nights she had spent in her ragged makeshift tent, Aiyana dared to dream of an end to this conflict where maybe—just maybe—they could be together. Despite imagining this beautiful future, her heart whispered that any hope of finding love, perhaps even starting a family, was merely a fantasy.

  She soon learned a fool’s hope could be as vicious as any adversary on the battlefield. The cruel realities of endless war had systematically stripped away everything good in her life, leaving Aiyana with the haunting memories of the ambush she and Gallus had been caught in while scouting an enemy camp. So now, when she thought of Gallus, the memories of laughter and joy were overwhelmed by images of his head splattered across the rocks by a berserker demon’s mace, a tapestry of gore replacing his once handsome face.

  Aiyana wondered if anyone else who might remember him was still alive. Her lingering regrets of never telling him how she felt could be all that remained of his legacy, and if so, it was such a small and wasted legacy, one that would become extinguished when death’s cold embrace found her. An embrace undoubtedly coming within the day, if not the hour.

  She stared at the gray ground beneath her feet, preparing herself to die for this desolate patch of dirt. Aiyana tried to control her emotions, but fear was beginning to take hold. It was not fear of the imminent battle gripping her heart like a vise, as throughout her many years of warfare, she had become numb to the natural feelings of dread that came from impending violence. No, it was the fear of not avenging those who’d come before her and the realization that this was the last line of defense between everything she loved and this army of pure chaos. She waged an inner struggle to suppress these emotions, determined to stay focused and ensure the sacrifices suffered would not be in vain.

  Aiyana noticed the paladin to her left was trembling. Despite his best efforts to maintain his composure, the steel plates of his armor rattled, drawing sideways glances from his comrades.

  Perhaps I can help him before the fighting begins, she thought as compassion compelled her to reach out.

  “What is your name?” Aiyana asked softly.

  He looked surprised by her inquiry but found his voice once he saw her kind smile.

  “My name is Jerion.” He noticed the insignia of the Centurion Commanders upon Aiyana’s shoulder and subtly bowed his head. “Apologies, Commander. I didn’t expect someone of your rank standing beside me in the vanguard.”

  “I was commissioned this rank mere days before the call for mobilization spread across our forces, so there wasn’t time for me to receive a battalion of my own. Though I must admit, I’m a bit relieved, as I feel far more comfortable standing in the fray. When the fighting begins, do not see me as a centurion. Instead, think of me as the spear to your right, and should the time come, I may be your shield as well.”

  “To rise to your rank, to survive until this day, you must have killed many demons,” Jerion said.

  “I have, as will you before today is through.”

  Upon hearing these words, Jerion’s breath hitched, and his gauntlet tightened around the shaft of his spear.

  Aiyana’s concern deepened. “Do you have a family, Jerion?”

  “Yes, my wife gave birth a few months ago.”

  “So you were pulled away from them before your bonding time was complete?” she asked.

  “Yes, Commander. I was called to the front lines well before our time together was over. My superiors informed me that after we win this battle, I will be sent home so I may know my family before my eventual sacrifice within the Abyss.”

  Aiyana felt for him, but the bonding was not simply a gesture of benevolence gifted to new parents. It was well known that if warriors had time to bond with their children, they would fight with more strength and determination than they ever could before. After all, what is worth fighting for more than the dream of a brighter future for those you love?

  “Please, call me Aiyana. I have no doubt you will be with them again. We have assembled the greatest force in our history. These beasts don’t stand a chance against us.”

  Aiyana was lying, as neither she nor her leaders had imagined facing such a vast army. Countless worlds drifted aimlessly within the Abyss. This had compelled the Infernal legions to disperse their forces in search of the perfect entry point into the Divine Realm. Now, their true power was displayed. And although her words provided some comfort, Jerion could not ignore the harsh reality before him.

  “There are too many. It will be like battling the waves of a raging sea. How do we stand any chance of winning, let alone surviving?” Jerion asked as panic seeped into his voice.

  “Coward,” a soldier hissed from behind.

  Jerion’s body tensed and his trembling resumed in earnest. Aiyana’s eyes narrowed. She gritted her teeth as she turned, preparing to order the paladin behind Jerion to hold his tongue, but her words were interrupted by piercing screams echoing throughout the valley.

  The cries of agony were followed by pleas for mercy. Aiyana was aware of demons who could imitate calls for help in Enochian voices, only to prey upon any compassionate soul naive enough to investigate. The veterans surrounding her knew this as well and held their ground. They realized this was not demonic trickery as segments of the Infernal army parted, revealing their captives.

  Each had been stripped bare and strapped to pillars decorated with skulls. Aiyana’s stomach churned upon seeing their mutilated, blood-drenched bodies. Numerous prisoners had their eyes gouged out; some had limbs amputated, while others were flayed. Yet their tongues were left intact, allowing their screams to be relished by their tormentors while their fellow Enochians listened helplessly.

  She had heard stories of captured paladins taken to one of the many hellish worlds comprising the Infernal Realm. Her mind had often wandered to grim places as she imagined the cruelly inventive ways in which death came to those unfortunate souls. She no longer needed to use her imagination, as this gruesome spectacle left no doubt that dying in battle was a mercy bestowed upon the fortunate.

  Aiyana’s head started to throb, and her vision blurred. When she regained her bearings, she beheld her mother, her only living family, stripped naked and bound to one of the pillars; deep wounds covered her flesh.

  “Where am I? Aiyana, is that you? They told me they were taking me to you, that I would be released if you let them pass. I can’t take the pain any longer! Please help me!”

  A small imp climbed the pillar and began carving chunks of flesh from her body. Aiyana’s mother begged the creature to stop. It snickered, tossing each piece to a pack of hungry imps who greedily fought for their share.

  This cannot be possible! My father was a paladin, but not my mother. How could she have been captured from the safety of our Realm?

  The imp grinned as it gently caressed the skin of her mother’s stomach before sinking its little claws into her. It tore at the meat within, and her screams mingled with those of her fellow prisoners, a choir of suffering for all to hear. This ongoing act of sadism was more than Aiyana could bear. Even though she was in the ninth row within the massive formation, she prepared to push through their ranks and save her mother.

  “Hold, paladins! Do not succumb to your emotions! Clerics! Cast fortifying auras!”

  Aiyana’s head whipped around. The booming voice came from a centurion lord inspecting their formation. Civilian clerics in hastily fitted white armor advanced from the rear guard and approached the forward line. They were reserves who stood by to replace the war clerics powering the giant dome or to cast spells of protection and fortitude. Their frightened faces made it clear this was their first time on a battlefield, but their efforts were most welcome.

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  The civilian clerics raised their staves, and within seconds, every soldier glowed with a brilliant blue light. Aiyana’s fear melted away, replaced by a newfound strength and vigor. She looked back to see it had been an illusion, a twisted mirage to undermine their morale before the battle even began.

  Something within the horde had crept into Aiyana’s mind and displayed her worst fear, but she was now protected against such deception. She saw the relief on the faces of her fellow paladins. It appeared she was not the only one being toyed with.

  Unfortunately, the tortured woman was very much real. She may have been someone’s mother, perhaps leaving her children to be raised without her while she fought for their future. No one would ever know, as her mutilated face and body were beyond any hope of recognition. The poor soul was somehow still alive; the woman convulsed, coughing up blood that streamed down her body. One would believe it was impossible to survive such trauma, but through dark magics and various forms of unknown alchemy, demons were able to keep Enochians alive far longer than anyone imagined possible.

  Aiyana glanced over to Jerion and noticed he no longer trembled. His golden eyes blazed with anger as his jaw muscles bulged around his clenched teeth. “What did you see, Jerion? Was it your wife?”

  “Yes.” Jerion’s breathing was slow and heavy through his flared nostrils. “My wife was upon that pillar, dead. And our new child, our baby boy… He was nailed to her, a spike rammed through both their chests, impaling them together.”

  “Do not think of this as an illusion, but a glimpse of our loved ones’ futures should we fail today.”

  “I will kill them all,” Jerion spat.

  “Good man,” said a familiar voice from behind. “Steel your heart from mourning and fear. We shall kill every last one of them together!”

  Aiyana agreed. Now was not the time to mourn the nightmarish fate of these forsaken comrades nor to naively dream of mercy from the merciless. Now was the time for every remaining Enochian to stand proud and defiant, united in a singular resolve, ready to fight until all strength had left their bodies.

  The paladins gripped their spears and channeled the essence of their Divine spirits into them. The luminous silver tips glowed with radiant light as a million soldiers slammed their armored fists against their shields in unison. The sound was almost deafening, but Aiyana loved it and allowed herself to revel in the moment. She felt fortified to the core of her being and was ready to fight. They were all ready to fight.

  This new resolve angered the demons, causing their bloodlust to consume them with overwhelming rage. High above, the fallen angels screamed in their foul language, signaling their army to charge. The greater demons lumbered forth—massive horned beasts who were slow yet incredibly powerful. They moved with the madness and aggression that reflected the chaos in their hearts as they stepped upon the smaller creatures scampering underfoot.

  As the Infernal legion neared the protective barrier, explosions erupted beneath them. Thousands of incendiary runes had been buried for this moment. The weaker enemies were obliterated, while the limbs of the larger demons flew in every direction, knocking over or stunning those around them.

  Yet this did not deter the charging horde. Fueled by a lust for carnage, they closed the distance between the two armies.

  Now within range, the primus of the Enochian forces gave the command to lower the energy shield; this was the moment the demons circling overhead had been waiting for, and they dove toward the Divine army.

  Hundreds of thousands of archers released their arrows. These were not the standard projectiles seen in most warfare; the countless arrowheads were crafted from luminous silver and blessed by the Divine clerics. Some hit the diving creatures, while most arced through the sky, leaving golden trails. They rained upon the charging monsters, and each arrow that struck flesh blazed to life, shooting out beams of holy light. The weaker demons burned up from within, while the stronger ones suffered agonizing burns across their bodies.

  Before the energy shield was closed, the catapults and trebuchets released their payloads. Thousands of glowing spheres flew through the air, illuminating the valley as they blazed like miniature suns. A handful collided with the airborne creatures, but the majority crashed into the charging enemy. They exploded with a blinding flash before sending forth waves of holy fire that obliterated scores of demons. The ones not incinerated had their pieces scattered far and wide, creating a grotesque collage of blood and viscera across the battlefield.

  The war clerics restored the protective dome, again separating the two armies while the archers and mages eliminated any remaining threats within.

  Aiyana watched in awe as the charging demons slammed into the golden dome. Their vicious weapons and sharp claws relentlessly attacked the magical barrier, weakening it. The clerics resisted, pushing themselves to their limits in a desperate attempt to maintain their spell against the unyielding onslaught.

  “War clerics! Lower the shield!” ordered their primus.

  The protective barrier vanished, causing thousands of demons to topple over each other. As the horde struggled to regain their footing, another wave trampled over them, crushing some while impeding the advance of all.

  Meanwhile, the ballistae fired great bolts over the soldiers’ heads, skewering even the mightiest of the Infernal forces. After a moment, the clerics raised the energy dome, separating the invading group from their primary host.

  The trapped demons realized they had been cut off and launched a ferocious attack, determined to spill blood before they fell. The front line braced themselves as their snarling foes crashed into their shield wall. Behind them, their comrades thrust glowing spears over the shield bearers’ shoulders. This was the Divine army at its finest, with a shield bearer in the forefront, holding the line of their phalanx, while the soldier in the following row slaughtered every enemy within reach.

  Although the fighting was fierce, the wave of demons lay dead, with only a few dozen paladins falling upon this initial attack. Even though most of the shield bearers had remained relatively unscathed, they rotated to the back of their respective columns to be healed and given a chance to rest. The paladins in the second row raised their shields, ready to take their comrades’ places.

  Battlefield healers carried those with more grievous injuries through the portal to the Divine world of Arcadeon, where civilian healers waited in field hospitals. The ones deemed fit for combat returned to help fortify the rear of the formation.

  Aiyana was born blessed with the ability to heal, but her powers were not strong enough to become a true healer. She had been deemed a better servant of the Light with a weapon in her hand, but her abilities had proved useful when she’d aided many comrades with their wounds after past battles.

  Once again, the primus shouted for the war clerics to lower the dome. Thousands of demons fell over one another, struggling to their feet before assailing the phalanx. They crashed into the tower shields with all their fury, and brutal claws and crudely crafted instruments of death clashed with gleaming steel and unbreakable resolve.

  Arrows and orbs of destructive light soared overhead, raining onto the enemies on the ground. This time, the aerial demons did not press their attack, as the fallen angels had ordered them to hold their position and preserve their numbers.

  However, the creatures circling the sky were far from useless. The ones who could summon Infernal flames condensed them into balls of blazing death before hurling them at the archers below. The civilian clerics swiftly erected small protective domes, shielding those targeted from harm. Once the volley of artillery had been released, the war clerics restored the great barrier.

  As the conflict raged, the Divine army skillfully alternated between devastating artillery barrages and the strength of their phalanx. But as the rotations continued, the clerics’ power waned as they held against the blasts of Infernal fire and other dark spells hurled at the barrier.

  The protective dome had always been a reliable staple of Enochian tactics, but it had never been tested to such a degree. Breaches in the lower portion happened with greater frequency, and although the few demons who slipped through posed little risk, it was evident this defense would not hold for long.

  As the warriors in front of Aiyana either fell or rotated to the rear of the formation, she slowly advanced toward the front of her column. Only five paladins now stood between her and the enemy. The sea of foes appeared endless, and she worried that the paradise they protected would soon see its last days.

  The dome began to fail, and the order came for all clerics to pull back and recover. They obeyed, and the barrier came down permanently. The Infernal army charged unencumbered while the demons of the sky attacked in force.

  Aiyana knew that from this point, there would be no aid for a wounded soldier. Once someone reached the frontline, only death or victory could relieve them of their post. She took one last moment to marvel at the most extraordinary battle the universe may ever see. Thousands of streaks of light soared overhead as arrows and mighty bolts fired at will. The Enochian mages unleashed lightning that chained their way through the enemy forces.

  The swarm of flying horrors could no longer go uncontested. Aiyana watched with pride as the divisions of aerial knights materialized their white angelic wings and took to the air. While all Enochians could fly, these expertly trained knights were masters at close combat in the skies. High above, they clashed with their demonic foes, creating an incredible display of fire and light.

  Most of the paladins who’d composed the phalanx fell, prompting the soldiers behind them to don their shields and form a new front line. Aiyana’s heart beat faster with each passing moment; she now found herself in the fourth row of her column.

  Something fell on her head, leaving her jarred but uninjured. There was a demon’s severed arm by her feet. She looked up to see blood, flesh, and limbs raining from the battle above. Within seconds, whole bodies came tumbling down. The mutilated corpses were trailed by red mists, making them appear like gory meteors as they crashed randomly among allies and enemies.

  The headless body of a knight slammed onto the paladin to her right, instantly crushing him under the weight of muscle and steel. The force of the impact knocked her and several others to the ground. She struggled to her feet as a man’s head rolled by. It was not the head of a fallen aerial knight; it belonged to the shield bearer who had been first in her column.

  Only two soldiers stood between Aiyana and the battle ahead. But the worst dangers were not yet before her but above, forcing her focus upward as she assessed the fallout from the carnage in the sky.

  High overhead, the fallen angels ominously circled a colossal sphere of pulsating red light. The Divine army had experienced this before: the devils were summoning an energy blast of monumental power. Since this was the most significant number of fallen angels ever seen, there was no predicting what level of destruction the Enochians could expect. All clerics, civilian and combat alike, were ordered to cast a magical barrier above their army.

  The orb expanded as it crackled with ever-increasing bursts of electricity. It reached a critical mass and unleashed an intense blast of chaotic energy upon the barrier.

  The two armies stopped fighting and were awestruck as the land and sky flooded with crimson light. For all who bore witness, an eternity seemed to pass before the blast ended and the Abyssal world returned to its muted gray. The attack appeared unsuccessful, and the barrier remained like a dazzling beacon of hope, but this triumph would be short-lived.

  Nearly every cleric collapsed from exhaustion. The few who remained standing were little more than hollow shells, desperately keeping the barrier raised out of instinct rather than purpose. It wasn’t long before their strength faded, and like their fellow clerics, they succumbed to fatigue, and their spell dissolved into nothingness.

  The weakened fallen angels retreated higher into the green sky. Their attack had achieved its purpose, putting every cleric out of commission. This forced all remaining soldiers to fend for themselves against the terrors from above and below.

  With the fallen angel’s attack over, the two armies clashed once again. Aiyana was so close to the front line that the ground beneath her grew soft as it soaked up the blood of the fallen. The paladin in front of her fought fiercely, relentlessly thrusting his spear, while the shield bearer protecting him nearly buckled beneath the onslaught of demonic weapons.

  The attacking monsters continued to fall until a berserker lurched from the Infernal ranks. It was more than twice the height of any Enochian and as massive as the one that had slaughtered Gallus. The towering demon lumbered toward the shield bearer of Aiyana’s column; with each heavy step, it mashed the corpses heaped upon the battlefield into a sticky paste. It raised its war hammer and crushed the paladin beneath his shield, spattering him across the surrounding soldiers.

  Anger consumed her, and before the berserker had time to lift its hammer, she hurled her spear, impaling the monster through its mouth. It staggered back, convulsing as it collapsed into the lesser demons behind it, causing their innards to spurt onto the ground.

  The paladin standing before Aiyana threw his spear into the chest of a charging yellow-skinned demon with four arms. With the swiftness of a seasoned warrior, he donned his shield and moved to fill the breach the berserker had made in the phalanx. As he braced for the incoming attack, Aiyana realized she no longer had her spear, only the short sword hanging at her side. She feared her shield bearer would be overwhelmed without her efforts, making his final stand little more than a wasted endeavor. Recalling the fallen soldier crushed by the aerial knight, she spotted his mangled body and saw the spear lying by his side. She dropped to her knees and reached out, stretching her arm to its limit before finally grasping the spear.

  Aiyana stood and faced the frontline, thrusting her weapon over her shield bearer’s shoulder. She killed enemy after enemy, losing herself in a blaze of rage-fueled vengeance. Fatigue set in, but she refused to let her body slow. Each demon she slaughtered felt like a small yet hard-won victory. Sadly, the man before her could not survive forever.

  A terrifying sight met Aiyana’s eyes, and she shuddered as a bladed devil emerged. Its tall, gaunt body bristled with razor-sharp blades as it locked its hate-filled gaze on her shield bearer. Despite being considered one of the weaker devils, it was far more dangerous than even the most ferocious demon. Its long, serrated fingers could sever a man’s head in a single stroke, and its barbed tail could eviscerate its victims well before they had a chance to strike.

  The bladed devil advanced, driving a mighty kick into the paladin’s tower shield. The impact threw him off-balance while the devil seized the top of his shield and pulled it forward. The paladin held firm, refusing to lose to his foe’s superior strength. However, his face was exposed, and the devil sent its spear-tipped tail straight into the opening in his helmet, impaling him through his head. The tail lifted his body and flung him into the ranks of the Infernal army. Aiyana watched in horror as they tore her former shield bearer to pieces.

  Before it could focus on its new prey, she thrust her spear into the single glowing yellow eye upon its forehead. The bladed devil howled and stumbled backward, wildly striking anything within reach. Aiyana threw her spear, embedding it into the devil’s bony chest before taking up her shield and joining the frontline as her column’s new shield bearer.

  The blinded devil stumbled through the ensuing chaos, dismembering many demons before crashing into a new section of the phalanx. Without any precision to its strikes, the paladins made short work of it. The bladed devil crumpled to the ground as a final spear thrust skewered its throat. In its place, new foes threw themselves upon Aiyana’s shield. Their tremendous weight drove her to one knee while the soldier at her back decisively thrust his spear.

  As each attacker died, the weight on her lessened. Aiyana rose and pushed the remaining corpses off her as she braced for the next attack. The assault came almost immediately as a demonic hound lunged out of the horde. It jumped on her, pinning Aiyana beneath her shield with its massive bulk. She could feel her body being pushed into the blood-soaked mud as its rabid jaws snapped at her face.

  The soldier behind her repeatedly thrust his spear into the vile hound until the beast’s jaws grew still. She shoved its carcass off her and tried to stand, but her fatigued legs struggled to move. Her lungs burned as she took in short rapid breaths while the sounds of battle echoed in her ears.

  To her right, Aiyana witnessed an insect-like demon overpowering a paladin. It slammed him to the ground and tore his shield from his grasp. The creature straddled him and ripped open the man’s throat with its mandibles, spraying blood across her armor and helm. A glowing spear pierced the demon’s thorax before it could lunge at the next paladin.

  Aiyana looked to her left and saw Jerion nearly buckle under the strikes of a tusked brute covered in coarse fur. Her heart swelled with the desire to help him reunite with his family, and she painfully rose to her feet with a renewed determination. She lifted her shield in time to stop a clubbing blow from a scaled demon with the torso of a deformed man and the lower body of a great snake. Under her shield, she felt a sharp pain as her ulnar bone cracked from the impact. The paladin behind her ran his spear through its chest, and the weapon’s luminous tip blazed to life, scorching the snake-like demon’s innards with searing light. The monster collapsed, smoke billowing from its gaping mouth.

  The throbbing pain in her arm coursed through her upper body. She pressed her right hand against the fracture, channeling what little energy she could spare into healing the bone. It worked, and although her arm felt weak, she could still bear the weight of her shield.

  Standing tall, Aiyana was a terror to behold as her once beautiful armor dripped with a foul mixture of blood and mud. Death and carnage rained around her as bodies continued falling from the sky, and artillery exploded overhead. Every part of her hurt, but she managed to raise her shield, determined to fend off one more attack.

  A powerful force crashed into her, knocking Aiyana senseless. A flying demon that had broken away from the battle had seized her. The outnumbered aerial knights had fought valiantly, but control of the skies was not feasible. Now, the winged demons swooped in, snatching anyone they could before dropping them upon their comrades.

  Fortunately, the one that had grabbed her was smaller than most of its brethren and struggled to lift her. It veered over its own forces, and she glanced at the stampeding horde beneath her. Aiyana decided she would not die on this creature’s terms. Drawing her short sword, she tapped into the essence of her Divine spirit. The blade glowed, and she slashed at the demon’s leathery wings before plunging it into the monster’s face.

  The creature shrieked as its head melted, and they tumbled toward the ground, crashing into the ranks of the Infernal army. Aiyana’s eyes opened as demons of every variety ran past, their single-minded blood lust preventing them from noticing the lone paladin.

  Yet she wouldn’t remain unnoticed for long. Three imps pounced on her; two attempted to pin her arms while the third’s greedy fingers probed at the gaps in her armor. Aiyana managed to throw off the two restraining her and stabbed the other through its chest. Her victory was short-lived as a barbed fist slammed into her face, and everything went black.