New World - A New Beginning

Chapter 109: The Bridge

ARES HEARTH'S POV:

I stood atop the small hill, the black army emerging from the horizon. Thousands of soldiers approached steadily, two figures leading the charge. It seemed like the ice girl was once again at the forefront of the army, but the other individual was no longer Asthia Darck. I smiled, recognizing the Supreme Commander.

So he knew exactly what we'd try and do, huh?

I glanced towards the left, the shining armor of Imania glinting in the sunlight. I raised my arm, two spears of stone rising from the ground behind me.

"Do not let the Imanian commander make contact with the Dragons! Separate them at all costs!" I roared. A cheer of acknowledgment arose around me, my soldiers understanding their task.

The ground rumbled from thousands upon thousands of shield crashing into the Earth repeatedly, the Dwarven ranks all chanting as they prepared for battle.

"Charge!"

A stampede of iron rushed forward, the enemy picking up the pace to meet our attack head-on. I shot my arm forth, sending the spears hurling at the young boy. Dodging the projectiles would only lead to dozens of deaths from the soldiers behind him, and it was clear that he was aware of this too.

Lightning crackled around him, his silhouette shining as he shot up towards the spears.

BOOM

The two lances shattered into pieces as Jay's body came out the other side of the massive pillars, a black dagger in his right hand.

"Defend the Imanian armies at all costs! Don't let the Dwarves block them!" called out the boy upon landing back onto the ground, his soldiers speeding up into a full sprint as they prepared their weapons.

I launched myself towards the frontline, rejoining my troops. I leaped into the air right before both armies made contact, swirling my spear momentarily before crashing down onto a large group of Dragons.

Jay appeared in front of me. I flinched, once again amazed at the boy's speed. His movements were imperceptible to even S-ranks, and all I could do when fighting him was rely on my reflexes and raise my weapon defensively wherever he magically manifested.

The boy took an offensive stance, preparing to swing his weapon.

"!!"

He vanished. I felt his presence reappear behind me, realizing he had simply faked an attack. The girl named Mia lunged at me from where Jay was originally standing, a spear of ice in her hands.

My arms shot out instinctively, sending a wave of energy outwards and repelling the two attackers. I gritted my teeth in frustration.

If I was going to be forced to fight defensively, then there was no way we'd be able to intercept the Imanian forces. I channeled my bind into my weapon, watching the divine weapon glowing with an auburn aura.

I felt the incoming power of both individuals as they recovered from the small shockwave. I closed my eyes, feeling their cores rather than relying on my eyes. I knew I couldn't match Jay's speed, but in terms of raw power, I still came out on top.

My head tilted to the side suddenly, avoiding the oncoming spear. I rotated on my feet, sending my foot flying into the girl's ribcage.

BOOM

She shot back into the Dragon's ranks, slamming into a few soldiers along the way. Jay's core appeared to my right. I raised my spear, meeting his dagger as we locked into a clash.

"Resonate," I muttered, releasing the stored bind that surrounded the weapon. The burst of bind forced the boy back, but saying it injured him would be a lie. I brought my spear back, swinging with all my power as a massive slash of earth bind followed its trajectory.

The ground cracked as the attack traveled across the earth, crashing into Jay's body. I opened my eyes upon hearing the low gasp that escaped the boy's mouth before he was shot back.

I smiled, following up on my attack. I appeared above the boy before he had even finished moving, slamming my foot into his body.

BOOM

A small crater appeared around us as Jay was pushed into the earth.

"Jay!" cried out Mia, emerging from the dust cloud in an attempt to separate me from my target. I sidestepped her rapid chain of slashes, extending my free arm as a small ball of energy condensed in my palm.

The girl's eyes widened as she dashed right towards the ball of bind, realizing that her miscalculated trajectory had doomed her. The energy burst forward with a low hum.

I smiled as a cool mist of ice followed Mia's defensive swing, absorbing the energy.

"Glacial Havoc."

BOOM

A blast of ice exploded beneath me. I flew back, plunging my feet and my weapon into the ground to slow my speed. My head shot up, feeling another incoming presence.

"Electroblast," muttered a voice as Jay came crashing onto my position; lightning crackled around his weapon as the blade absorbed his elemental bind.

BOOOOOMMM

I let out a small grunt from the attack, feeling my strength beginning to waver. The power of the Dragon's commanders was terrifying. They managed to strike together and with absolute precision, rendering every offensive deadly.

If not for the defensive capabilities that my mastery over earth bind had allowed me to achieve, I would currently be a dead corpse amidst my soldiers. My eyes spotted the silver glint of Imanian soldiers beginning to blend in with the wave of black.

I scowled. Had we really been defeated so easily? The determining factor in the outcome of magical warfare was the difference in power between the leading individuals of each army. Numbers and discipline had little to no impact, and if I were to lose now against these two adventurers, the Dwarves would lose everything.

The only way we could've achieved victory was if I had somehow managed to push back both attackers, and it was clear I was unable to do that. If I were to imagine Princess Darck's presence alongside both Mia and Jay, would I even be able to survive?

I got up, planting my spear into the ground. Jay and Mia appeared on either side simultaneously, attempting to end me with one final strike.

"Earth spirit."

My eyes roared with power as I opened a link between myself and the earth below me, gaining access to all the excess bind that had been absorbed by the ground.

I dodged Mia's horizontal slash, bringing both my arms back before unleashing a massive wave of bind right towards the girl.

BOOM

I barely managed to see the effects of my spell before being forced to turn around, blocking Jay's attack. I pushed him back, appearing beside him with my enhanced speed.

Even if I was unable to match the boy's speed, it was clear that the hidden boost from earth spirit was enough to catch him off-guard. I planted the head of my speed into the ground, slicing upwards and creating a wave of earth that shot right into the boy.

"Divine Aura," echoed a voice. A figure manifested above me, crashing into the ground before planting their sword into the earth. A golden shimmer radiated outward from the blade, its effects sending shivers down my spine.

Every Allied soldier the blast touched was immediately healed, recovering their stamina and mental morale. It seemed like I had failed. Both Commanders had made contact, and there was no longer any future left for the Dwarves in this current battle.

"Princess Diana," I said, greeting the young girl.

"Ares Hearth. I believe you've failed," she responded fiercely, her blue eyes gazing into mine.

I chuckled, letting out a small sigh.

"I think I have, but please don't be mistaken. A victorious battle will not save you from the fate that awaits all of you."

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