Chapter 40 While You Weren't Here (2)

  The portal erupted in a brilliant glow, casting eerie shadows against the stone walls. From within, a big figure emerged—a bulky creature over three meters tall.

  Its massive body was covered in thick, coarse brown fur and an armor-like hide. Towering muscular arms flexed with terrifying strength, while its broad chest, powerful trunk, and enormous tusks exuded an aura of primal dominance.

  Then, it trumpeted.

  A deafening sound tore through the battlefield, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

  Soldiers and knights collapsed to their knees, clutching their ears in agony. Some screamed, their heads pounding with unbearable pain as the sheer force of the sound reverberated through their skulls.

  Agnes gritted her teeth.

  The Intimidating Were-Mammoth vanished from where it stood, reappearing in an instant as it charged directly at the city's fortified gates.

  CRASH!

  The impact shook the ground like an earthquake. Dark energy crackled around the beast, distorting the air with its overwhelming presence. The sheer force of the collision sent knights flying through the air—some slammed against the stone walls, while others were crushed into the ground, reduced to nothing more than bloodied remains.

  Joseph barely managed to leap back in time, narrowly dodging the devastating charge. Fortunately, the rampaging beast also trampled a large number of the lower demons in its path, clearing the battlefield of some enemies.

  Agnes' face twisted with concern, but then she noticed something—Joseph's entire body began to glow. A radiant light, Leben, enveloped him, crackling across his skin like holy light. His muscles tensed, swelling with raw power.

  "Everyone, focus on eliminating the lower demons!" Joseph commanded, his voice ringing with authority. "I will hold off the exalted one!"

  Without hesitation, Joseph dashed toward the Were-Mammoth, his greatsword crackling with energy. He moved with blinding speed, a blur light against the battlefield.

  The monstrous beast met his strike head-on, swinging its massive trunk with bone-crushing force. BOOM! The impact echoed through the air as sword and trunk collided, sending shockwaves rippling across the ground.

  The knights stood frozen in awe, witnessing the sheer power of their commander. But their hesitation lasted only a moment. One of them raised his sword high and roared, "For the kingdom!"

  With weapons drawn, they charged forward, ready to fight.

  Meanwhile, Joseph successfully lured the Were-Mammoth away from the city. "Come on, just you and me!" he taunted, leading it toward open ground. The massive beast followed, its eerie, demonic face twisted with hunger for destruction.

  Back at the gates, the battlefield erupted into chaos. Swords clashed, spells exploded, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and burning flesh. A powerful gust of wind howled through the battlefield as Orn, the wind spirit, streaked through the air like a deadly blade. Its razor-sharp wings sliced clean through a Minotaur’s arm, drawing a bellowing roar of agony from the beast.

  Without pausing, Orn soared high before diving again, cutting straight through a cluster of goblins and imps. Their bodies were torn apart in an instant, their shrieks drowned out by the relentless battle cries of the knights.

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  With their numbers dwindling, the remaining monsters were dealt with by the knights, mages, and archers.

  Aqua, the water spirit, spread a thick, misty veil over the battlefield, its soothing energy mending the wounds of injured warriors.

  Sir Jonas worked tirelessly alongside the spirit, moving swiftly from soldier to soldier, stabilizing the wounded. Around him, healer mages chanted restorative spells, their voices weaving together in a rhythmic incantation, filling the air with a soft, magical hum.

  Agnes stood at the heart of the battlefield, directing mercenaries who had rushed in from the city to aid the knights. They fought bravely, proving their worth against the monstrous invaders. Though the battle raged on, there was a shift in momentum—the defenders of Uruk were pushing back.

  A group of warriors surrounded an orc.

  "Ahh!" one of them cried as he drove his blade into the orc’s back, making the monster screech in pain. The others quickly followed, stabbing and slashing until the creature collapsed. Without hesitation, they regrouped, ready to join another battle.

  Soon, all the monsters had been slain—except for the towering Were-Mammoth. The warriors and mages turned their attention to Joseph’s fight, their eyes widening at the sheer intensity of the battle.

  Despite facing a beast of overwhelming strength, Sir Joseph, the princess’s personal guard, stood firm. His breathing was heavy, his brown and black armor was worn and dented, and his muscles were taut with exhaustion. But his resolve never wavered.

  Raising his greatsword high, he swung it down in a powerful arc.

  The Mammoth met the strike head-on, using its massive trunk to block the blow without even flinching. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, yet the creature did not budge.

  Agnes watched with growing concern. This can't go on… Sir Joseph can't hold out for long. If only Father were here… she thought, gripping the green stone on her necklace.

  Without wasting a moment, she commanded Orn, the wind spirit, to strike. At the same time, the archers and mages unleashed a barrage of arrows and spells.

  Orn screeched as it darted past the Were-Mammoth, slashing at its body with its razor-sharp wings. A thin cut appeared on the beast’s thick hide, but it was barely a scratch.

  "Dammit! Its defense is too strong!" cursed one of the archers as his arrows bounced harmlessly off the monster’s dark energy-coated body.

  Then, the beast turned to face them. A twisted grin spread across its monstrous face.

  "Puny… creatures."

  A deep, metallic voice rumbled from the monster, sending a shiver of terror through the warriors.

  Agnes' hand instinctively clutched the green stone harder. Should I use it now? she thought desperately.

  Joseph charged forward, unleashing a relentless flurry of slashes. Drawing upon all his knowledge of swordsmanship, he aimed to overwhelm the beast with sheer speed and precision.

  However, the Were-Mammoth deflected his attacks with its massive arms and powerful trunk, using its overwhelming strength to hold its ground.

  Before anyone could react, the monster Disappeared from Joseph’s side, reappearing in front of the gathered knights in an instant.

  With a sweeping motion, its massive trunk slashed toward a group of soldiers. The beast laughed cruelly.

  "Hahaha!"

  Just as Agnes was about to activate her stone, a deafening crack split the sky.

  Suddenly, a crimson figure blurred into existence in front of the knights, raising a massive, glowing shield.

  "Stay behind me!" she shouted, bracing herself.

  The Mammoth’s powerful blow collided with her shield, the sheer force shaking the ground and cracking the earth beneath her feet.

  Then, from nowhere, a massive bolt of lightning struck the beast, halting its movements as arcs of electricity surged through its body.

  Joseph wasted no time. Taking advantage of the momentary stun, he lunged forward, swinging his greatsword in a devastating strike. The Were-Mammoth barely managed to defend, raising its massive arm to block the incoming attack.

  Before it could recover, a radiant spear of light descended from above.

  Sensing the danger, the Were-Mammoth roared and shoved Joseph aside, attempting to dodge.

  But it was too late.

  The piercing magic arrow impaled its arm, drilling deep into its thick hide. The beast let out a bloodcurdling scream of agony.

  Then, the crimson knight dashed behind the monster.

  Wielding a massive mace crackling with Leben and gripping her sturdy shield, the warrior swung with all her might, slamming the weapon into the beast leg.

  "Dieee!" she roared.

  With a thunderous crash, the beast buckled, dropping to one knee.

  Agnes’ eyes widened in shock, along with the remaining warriors, as they turned to see the newcomers.

  The three young women stood tall, fully armored, their once long hair now cropped short, still growing back from the burns they had suffered. Faint scars from their past injuries remained, but rather than diminishing their beauty, they only added to the valiant aura that surrounded them.

  It was Yumi, Reika, and Alessandra.