Many smaller Krukin immediately entered through the portals. It was a total mess.
Some humans had prepared spells to cast, some used fire magic, others wind magic, there was every single type of mage.
But the Krukins were countless. It was basically useless. Some Krukins died, but more kept coming.
There were Krukspy, Krukdill, and another new species humans had never seen before.
This Krukin had the shape of a moth, but it was so strange it could not truly be defined as one.
In the language of Krukins, this monster was called Umbomoth. It could be compared to a large wolf with wings.
Its body was small compared to the vast, flowing wings that trailed behind it like wisps of smoke. Long, ribbon-like extensions stretched from its wings, writhing as though alive, curling in the air like tendrils reaching for prey. Its antennae were sharp and curved, resembling jagged horns, glowing faintly with a dim, ghostly light, its only feature visible in complete darkness.
This creature did not have a face. It was one of the small creatures you could easily find.
These Umbomoths came out of the portal guarded only by humans.
"Don't fall back! Keep fighting!" shouted one of the guards, the captain. Everyone followed his lead.
They were able to kill some Krukins, but many humans fell too.
The Umbomoth released a strange green gas.
"Everyone, attention!" the captain yelled again. Some managed to cover their noses, but others weren't fast enough. After inhaling the gas, they collapsed instantly.
In the smaller cave, the one where Vane, Tauren, and Allen were stationed, Bladekruk were pouring out.
"Everyone, get ready!" shouted Tauren. Both he and Vane rushed toward the enemy.
Vane was currently in his polar bear form, able to hold some of them at bay.
Allen had split his body into many different parts, five in total. Each was controlled by him, but maintaining concentration on all of them was difficult, so Allen was extremely weak now.
"Heart of Thorns!" shouted Tauren, as Vane and Allen were about to be struck. Both of them barely felt anything; most of the hits were absorbed by Tauren, whose body was covered in scars.
"Thanks!" said Vane, transforming into an owl. In that form he could create strong winds, pushing the enemies toward Allen's divided forms.
Each of Allen's forms had created different weapons: one with an axe, another with a spear, one with a big sword, another with a flail, and the last with a scythe.
Several Bladekruk were killed by Allen's many weapons.
"Arghhh!!!" Tauren let out a roar, drawing all the Krukins toward him.
Vane immediately turned into a buffalo and charged straight into them.
Allen reunited his divided parts and finished off the remaining Bladekruk emerging from the portal.
Now Tauren's body was extremely hard, but the Bladekruk still tried cutting into his skin. It was useless.
Vane impaled many with his horns, killing them, but it wasn't over.
"Let me stop for a moment, Vane…" said Tauren. Using that spell required great strength, and now his heartbeat was irregular. He had to pause.
"Don't worry!" said Vane, rushing again, this time directly toward the portal.
He managed to push many Krukins back inside, but his horns were grabbed. Vane couldn't move anymore, slowly being forced backward.
From the portal stepped Mantblast. He swung his sword to strike Vane, but at the last second, Vane shifted into an owl and dodged. He transformed back into a polar bear as he landed, but just as he touched the ground, Mantblast followed him out, bringing with him dozens of Bladekruk.
'Tch… what do I do now…' thought Vane.
But something strange happened. Mantblast stood directly in front of Vane and drove his sword into the ground.
He emitted a weird sound, and all the Bladekruk began moving together.
They formed a circle around Vane and Mantblast.
Allen and Tauren were confused. What was happening?
"Don't worry, human… these Blakyush won't attack you…" said Mantblast. All the Blakyush turned to face Allen and Tauren, but they showed no hostile intent.
"You know you should've sent all of them against us, right?" said Vane, trying to joke but sweating nervously.
"Oh, but that wouldn't be fun… I just want to enjoy the fight," Mantblast replied, resting his sword on his shoulder. One Bladekruk handed him his shield.
"Before, it was a total mess… That's not how a war should be fought," said Mantblast.
"So you're saying this should be a duel? Without anyone interfering?" asked Vane, still cautious.
"Exactly. I promise no one else will join us," Mantblast said.
"You can't believe him, Vane!" shouted Tauren.
"It's our only way… there are too many for us to take at once," Vane said, trying to calm him.
Tauren fell silent, then ordered the soldiers behind them not to interfere. It wasn't their fight anymore.
Allen moved beside Tauren.
"Let's hope Vane can do it," he said quietly.
'Let's hope this will be alright…' thought Vane.
"Let the fight start!" shouted Mantblast, rushing immediately at Vane.
In another cave, Nysira had just started using her power. Thunder Vitrea created energy under her feet, allowing her to move extremely fast.
"Is this enough, Jaune?" asked Nysira. The portal had just begun to open.
"Keep going until the enemies appear!" shouted Jaune.
Nysira kept moving until suddenly, a massive hand grabbed her face. She couldn't move.
'How did it catch me? I was going so fast…' she thought, just before being hurled aside. She slammed into the wall.
"Jaune!!" shouted Nysira.
"Yes!!" Jaune immediately used his magic, Echo of the Flow. He controlled the kinetic energy in the room and created wires to restrain Liztawul's arm, but they were destroyed instantly.
Then Liztawul emerged fully from the portal. Nysira and Jaune saw him clearly.
His body was covered in jagged, pitch-black scales that shimmered faintly like obsidian under dim light. Every muscle was tense with predatory strength, built for crushing, tearing, and overwhelming anything that dared to stand before him.
His head resembled that of a monstrous crocodile twisted into humanoid form, with elongated jaws lined with serrated fangs dripping thick, glowing ichor that hissed on the ground. His eyes burned like molten embers barely contained in darkness.
His claws were large enough to crush a man's torso, each talon sharp enough to rend stone. His long, sinuous tail lashed behind him like a living weapon. Despite his size, Liztawul moved with unsettling speed, grace wrapped in monstrous mass.
"Well, let's hope you make this fun," said Liztawul as he stepped out. No one else followed him.
"Are you alone?" asked Nysira, preparing her magic again.
"I'm just preparing the field for them… They'll come later," Liztawul replied, readying himself.
'That girl was fast... I barely caught her before,' he thought. Looking around, he didn't see Jaune, who had hidden just before Liztawul appeared.
'But who created that strange thing before?'
He had no time to think further. Nysira rushed at him again.
Liro, Darian, and Eros arrived in their cave. They found only a few soldiers alive, about 75% were already dead. From the portal emerged a woman… Sappho.
"What happened here…" whispered Liro, horrified.
"It looks like we have to fight… Get ready," said Eros.
Sappho spotted them immediately.
"Oh? Looks like I arrived just in time."
She raised her arm. The corpses of Krukins and guards sank underground. When she lifted her hand again, they rose, but changed.
The Krukins were now pitch-black, indistinguishable in shape, their forms cloaked in a massive shadowy blur behind them.
"Let's start," Sappho said, pointing her arm at the group. The abominations rushed forward.
The battle had just begun. All the teams were formed…
But would they be strong enough to face these enemies?