The foreign-creature exposition was easy to find, a massive sprawling set of tents filling another of the squares the city was rich. A long slit was made in the front side, reminding me of how Libidi had gotten us into the tent in the army camp. As I slowed down, two raggedly dressed men climbed out. Arms filled with small wooden carved animals, they froze when they saw me approach.

Before I could even decide what to do about the looters, they dropped what they were holding and sprinted in opposite directions. I watched them disappear around corners, knowing even if I wanted to, I couldn't go after them.

Not that I wanted to. I had more important things to take care of.

I ran towards the slice the men had exited from and inspected they had dropped. They were mostly small, demonic-looking rodents and something feline-looking. They were all too small for what I had in mind, and I ignored them and stepped into the tent.

The thick material of the tent only let a bit of light filter in, and my night vision kicked in, painting everything ruddy.

"Damn," I muttered.

Giant animal statues stood on small podiums with placards before them throughout the tent. I don't know what I had expected, but it hadn't been the assortment of demonic beasts, straight from a nightmare that stood ten feet tall.

I moved to the nearest one, a bipedal thing that vaguely resembled a sloth but with a nasty smile, snake eyes, and wickedly curved teeth. Whoever had made it was a master artist, beautifully capturing the dangerous nature of the thing. They had also taken their time, more so than I usually did. Each line was flawless, and individual hairs showed across the dense, spiky fur. Even when not moving, the thing looked positively dangerous, and I felt a strong desire to create something of this detail and scope. But that would have to wait until I had some time.

"This is gonna be fun," I whispered as I put my hand on the things wickedly taloned foot.

--

"Take them," I roared, pointing at the group of a dozen enemy soldiers that had jumped us from a road leading away from the eastern wall.

They had probably expected defenders or refugees, and when they saw what was moving towards them, their eyes widened below their dome helmets. They stepped back as one, and I saw them teetering on the edge of fleeing.

I immediately noticed that they were just regular soldiers, not those I'd come to associate with demons -those with the black full-face masks. But I wasn't going to hold back, simply because they didn't resemble demons on the outside, not after what I'd seen in some of the alleyways and broken-in houses on the way here.

My remaining Vengeful Spirits surged forward on my command, moving so fast the soldiers lost their window to flee. As I hobbled after them, my left foot burned each time I put my weight on it. The blade I'd kicked had left a deep slice on it, and a quick look had shown the edges were puffy but not infected with demonic poison—just a regular wound, not lethal but annoying and painful none-the-less.

The Vengeful Spirits violently clashed with the soldiers, and it was a quick and one-sided battle. My animated demonic monstrosities all had long claws or gaping maws and fell upon the soldiers like the pack of demons they were.

I slowed, taking a quick count of what I had left—sixteen, ranging from human-sized to horse-sized. I'd started with four times as many, but only those animated statues suited for battle had survived after almost half an hour of battling. I'd expected more of some of the monsters, but perhaps their true forms had other ways of moving and battling. It might have helped if I'd been able to summon some special spirits, but it appeared the special ones were rarer than I had anticipated.

Ahead of me, the strongest and largest one was a massive warthog that I'd named Schmoobly. It had a single remaining four-foot tusk, and as it slammed into two soldiers, it speared one on the gleaming wood. It tossed the screaming soldier sideways and into the nearby wall with a quick shake before stomping on the other, ignoring the sword cuts at its legs. The tossed soldier's head slammed into the wall, and he slumped down, neck at an odd angle.

I'll need to resummon them soon, I thought as I kept an eye on a demon centaur I'd dubbed Chiron, which was almost as large as Schmoobly. He would go unmoving first, showing when the time was up. The others were smaller, heavily damaged, and not named because I couldn't ride them.

Before I reached the scuffle, a thick-legged demon, more head than body, snapped its jaws around the final soldier. It bit the pleading and screaming soldier in half with a sickening crunch, and like that, the small crossroads was peaceful again.

I stopped, taking deep breaths as I looked around to ensure we'd gotten them all. There were only body parts and dismembered figures lying around. The screams of the soldiers were playing around in my head for a moment, but I shoved them down. They had made their choice when they snuck in the city, raping and pillaging.

I continued forward with a weary sigh as I tried to reorient myself. We'd been battling our way towards the south gate for fifteen minutes now, killing off small groups of enemy soldiers, and I was starting to get worried I'd arrive at the gate with no more Vengeful Spirits or after the battle had finished.

I need to figure out a way to mass-produce statues, I thought as I imagined creating some magically powered factory that could churn out battle-ready statues instead of having to hand-carve them.

My Vengeful Spirits stuck close to me, and I was almost surprised when we made it through the last part of the city without another incident. Rounding another corner, I finally saw the south gate.

A massive melee was ensuing below, sprawling across the square. Hundreds of defenders, easily recognizable by their armor and helmets, stood in the middle, trying to prevent the enemies from passing them. Above them, archers lined the walls, shooting down into the mass of enemy soldiers, Nailhounds, and regular ones. A steady stream of enemy soldiers poured through an oddly angular hole twenty feet from the double gate. Each new one to come through joined the battle ahead, and I could see from a glance that it was tilting to the enemy's favor.

"Let's go plug that hole," I said.

I ran forward, favoring one leg as I stuck to the left and in the shadows of the buildings. With some luck, I wouldn't draw any attention until I reached it. As my small army of massive demon statues moved across with me, I knew it was probably too much to hope for.

Somehow, we made it to twenty feet from the hole before someone saw us.

"Incoming," a warning came from one of the soldiers that just ran through.

He ignored the melee and moved to the right of the hole, raising a small shield and a sword and shouting at those after him to get ready. A few of those running to the melee turned and ran back to him.

"Let's not give them any time," I hissed, pointing my ax towards the hole. "Kill them and don't let anything come through that hole," I roared.

Near the breach, a group of six soldiers had formed, hardly a challenge yet, but more were joining.

The Vengeful spirits rushed past me, those on four legs moving much faster than the rest and crashing into the soldiers. Schoobly and Chiron led the pack. Instead of any coordinated attack, they rammed into the aligned soldiers, battering them aside and tramping those that fell. The remaining soldiers slashed at them, wood chips flying everywhere, but the slower spirits arrived before they could bring either down.

I stayed behind them, watching them finish the soldiers, when I saw more soldiers exit the narrow passageway.

"Schmoobly, stay here and don't let anything through," I shouted. Although he barely had any intelligence, the Vengeful Spirit inhabiting the body acknowledged me.

"Stay here and kill anything that comes through," I ordered a few others before turning and looking at the massive melee.

I could sense the desire for death and destruction from Chiron and the other Vengeful Spirits, and I quickly picked out a dense cluster of enemies.

"Kill those with the black leather face masks," I said, sending them an image of the Nailhounds. The vengeful spirits rushed forward, and I took one more look before heading towards a group of defenders seeming in dire straits. As I did, I grit my teeth, putting my full weight on my foot, ignoring the pain as well as I could.

Time passed slowly as enemy after enemy fell below my ax, and I accumulated dozens of minor cuts, nicks, and bruises. At a certain moment, a ping echoed from my status, loud enough to drown out the battle sounds. I knew it must be something that had leveled, but I ignored it. The battle continued for what felt like a long time but was probably no more than ten minutes.

As I struck down one of the few still standing soldiers, I held up my ax. A large group of defenders had rallied around me by now, using me as a spearpoint during the attacks.

"Hold," I shouted, my voice so rough and raw I barely recognized it myself.

Ahead of us, the remaining enemy had retreated up against the wall, staying out of sight of the archers and trying to keep the last of my Vengeful Spirits from killing them. From what I could see, it was just a matter of time now and not worth risking my safety or that of the guards.

A bald female guard with glistening blue eyes and furry red eyebrows slammed her greatsword into the ground, leaning onto the large round pommel while drawing in ragged breaths of air.

"Damn, Prime... Don't you get tired?" she managed to croak.

"Just making sure you weren't slacking on the job," I grunted as I kept my eyes on the seven Vengeful Spirits that remained.

When I was sure they could finish up what was left, I lowered my ax and looked around. Bodies littered the square, pools of blood and buzzing insects everywhere. Perhaps two hundred guards were still standing, spread out behind and beside me, either gazing at the animated wooden statues as they killed the remaining enemies or at me.

"Are there any of your leaders left?" I shouted, looking around.

"I think I'm the only one with rank alive," the woman next to me said as she pushed herself up and put the massive blade on her shoulder. "Kira, patrol captain of the early nightwatch, at your service," she said proudly.

Damn, just a single one? Almost like the others were picked out, I thought. I turned towards her, wondering if the Nailhounds were sniping the leaders. I'd heard about that tactic before.

"Alright then, Kira, we need to secure this gate and figure out how the others are doing. Do you have any idea how the other gates are holding up?" I asked.

"No, but I can send out a group to find out," she said, looking at me questioningly.

So, I'm in charge now? I thought.

It wasn't what I wanted, but right now, there wasn't really another option, so I nodded.

Kira turned around, looking at the soldiers behind her. She pointed at six Goliarn that seemed like they wouldn't fall over at any moment.

"Go and check how the western gate is doing," she said. "Don't get too close, and don't join, but come back."

The Goliarn looked at her, then at me, and I could almost see them debating if they should do as ordered. What are you waiting for, I thought as my anger flared up. It must have shown because the Goliarn guards turned and quickly wormed their way out to the edges of the remaining army before running away.

"By The Stone, you've got some glare," Kira said with a grin. "Glad you are on our site. You saved us. You and those… things," she said, looking at the Vengeful spirits. "Those with you, I suppose?"

"They are," I said, not elaborating as I began moving towards the gate.

Schmoobly still stood in front of the hole with three other Vengeful Spirits. I didn't see any more moment in the breach, nor anything beyond for that matter. Still, one couldn't be too careful. I looked at the remaining Vengeful Spirits in the square before mentally directing them to join Schmoobly.

During the fight, likely with the large gong, I'd gained a new skill or ability. Although I hadn't checked out its details yet, I could now command the Spirits without words, directing them individually. It made everything a hundred times more convenient and better for my throat.

As the Vengeful spirits followed my command, I looked up at the dozen archers atop the wall. Still holding their bows, their quivers were empty.

"How are things beyond the wall," I shouted.

"The Elision scum is fighting with another army that came through from the mainland," one of the archers shouted down.

That sounds good, but somehow they don't seem happy, I thought.

"They don't seem to be winning," the archer shouted again, and I could see the weary resignation on his face.

"Dammit, I need to see," I said as I turned to Kira. "Have some soldiers search for arrows and bring all archers up to the wall. Leave a large force around the hole, just in case Schmoobly can't hold it."

"Schmoobly?" she asked, gazing at me in confusion.

"The big thing," I said, pointing at the wooden demonic warthog.

"Right, of course," she said with a mock grin before turning around.

"You heard him," she shouted as I walked away. "Gather arrows and bring them up. Those with fight left in them, arrange around… Schmoobly!"

I grinned, feeling some cuts and bruises tighten my face as I went up the stone stairs. I was going to get some more scars after this. At the top was a barricaded door, but it opened as I approached. The archer I'd shouted with stood there and closed the door as soon as I passed.

"Glad you are here," the archer said.

This close, I saw he was young, perhaps not even twenty, yet his eyes had a haunted look to them.

"Glad you didn't run," I said with a nod.

I moved across the small fortification until I could see along the long wall that led to the west gate. In the distance, far enough that only a few muted sounds reached us, I saw two armies clash. By my estimation, they were near the west gate. Smoke swirled up from that part of the city.

I instantly agreed with the archer's assessment. The Queens Naihounds and the other divisions of the Elision army looked much more organized than those attacking them. The second army wore many different colors and banners, showing it wasn't a single united army. Still, from what I could see, the attacking army didn't back down an inch, and even from here, I could see ferocious charges.

Almost as if they can't go back, I thought as I tried to see more than the mass of ant-like fighters.

"If they hadn't come, we would have never held out," the archer said softly. "The rest of the army withdrew when they arrived. Still, I don't think they will win. Are... are you going to help them?"

I sighed as I looked ahead to the right. My first instinct was to say no, but I held that. I was tired, beaten and battered, and bleeding from more cuts than I could count, but if I left, that meant leaving Bastian and the Stonites. But how was I going to help? I'd had enough trouble fighting small pockets of soldiers, and the largest army of Vengeful Spirits I'd been able to muster had been whittled down to dozen from just that. I'd need way more Vengeful Spirits if I wanted to stop that army—that, or something massive.

A thought popped up, one I'd had before, and I sighed as I realized I couldn't shove it back down again. It was time to risk contacting Rathica. Perhaps she had a way to help, that is if I could even reach her.

"I'll try," I finally said. "But I need to do something first."

The archer cast me a tired, uncertain glance, and I couldn't blame him. Without waiting, I walked back to the gate and motioned the archers to open it. Before leaving, I turned to the archer that seemed to be the leader.

"Stay here, and send someone down if anything happens!"

The archer nodded, and I headed back down, finding Kira waiting for me. I saw soldiers move around the battlefield, removing arrows from bodies and the ground, tossing some while creating bundles of others.

"They aren't back yet," she said. "What's it like?"

"They aren't going to make it without help," I said as I looked for a quiet corner and saw one on the eastern edge of the square.

"What are you going to do?" Kira asked, following me as I moved towards it.

"I'm going to see if I can contact my Deity for help," I said.

Kira sucked in her breath as her step faltered. Then she jumped after me.

"Will that work? Will your Deity help? Who is it anyway? That Grablon one I've-" she fell quiet as I cast her a warning look while shaking my head.

"No, and make sure you don't mention his name here," I whispered. "Better yet, make sure you spread the word that nobody uses that name here. If we draw his attention, we can just as well cut our own throat."

"What? Why?" Kira muttered, pale-faced, her knuckles white as she clenched her massive sword handle.

"Because," I said as I turned around. "He is either behind or somehow responsible for this mess."

It wasn't the truth, as from the documents Libidi and I had found, Ux Disir lar seemed a more likely candidate. Still, if Nimron hadn't locked away Rathica and the Stone, none of this would have happened. The Stonites wouldn't have turned this weak, and the Deities could have helped.

When I reached the corner, I knelt, jabbed my ax blade between the stone pavement, and lifted a slab up before throwing it sideways. A few moments later, I'd cleaned out a small section and looked at the seeds I had left, quickly picking one of the more mundane ones. I'd need a piece of wood, and hurrying and searching for something would just cost time I didn't have.

This better work, I thought as I pushed away a lingering question that if it didn't, I'd have wasted time I might not have.

--

When my knife made one more cut, leaving just a few to finish the statue, I stopped and gazed at the small figure of Rathica. Just looking at it, I instantly felt better and somehow connected with her.

Better do this somewhere she can flee away, I thought as I remembered how the last few times had gone.

I moved towards where Schmoobly's body had slumped to the ground. A quick look around showed that the soldiers had gathered before the gate, many watching me curiously. Kira was rushing down the stairs, her eyes on me.

I raised my hand, motioning her to wait, and she nodded.

Right, I thought as I stopped beside Schmoobly's wooden body, taking a quick look.

The massive demonic hog statue was littered with deep cuts, its final tusk gone and its eyes gauged out. It was a good thing Vengeful Spirits didn't need those to see. Still, I wasn't sure one would be able to inhabit the mutilated statue again.

I knelt, put the small statue down, and quickly made the final cuts before shouting in my mind.

Rathica! I nee-

A dull gong came from my mind, interrupting my shout. In front of me, the statue shivered and rocked. Then, as if from an enormous distance, I heard a voice in my mind, barely audible.

Est, we are …-... off by - demon! I need …-... Karma- go …-.... demon $%#* sea and stop the ..-fearance!

I blinked, unable to make heads of tails from the message. Something about going to the demon sea and Karma?

I can't hear you! I screamed in my mind.

Stop Ux … Lar! Dem-.. ested sea! You ha… hurry, befo-

Rathica's voice fell away, and the statue in front of me shuddered. A nasty red glow began to grow around it, and Rathica's head turned towards me with a snap, red eyes glowing like embers.

"So… you are the feisty one's Prime? Glad I've-"

I slammed my ax down into the statue, stopping the creepy, high-pitched voice. My heart was racing, and I felt out of breath as if I'd just sprinted a marathon. Ignoring it, I continued to strike the statue, reverting it to a pile of splinters. The voice stopped as soon as I began, and the glowing eyes faded before turning dull.

When it was scattered across the ground, I stopped, drawing in deep breaths as I gazed at the remnants.

That had to have been Ux Dsir Lar, I thought, shivering.

I had no interest in talking with some evil demon that was able to hold Deities prisoner against their will. Hopefully, he hadn't seen me, although I wasn't delusional enough to believe that.

Someone swallowed audibly, and I turned to Kira, whose face was as white as a sheet and eyes big and fearful.

"What was that?" she whispered.

"A demon lord," I said. Kira's face contorted in fear.

"You need to spread my title around and that of Bastian if you know it," I said before she could ask questions.

"What? Why?" she asked, still staring at the destroyed statue, seeming ready to flee.

"There is something going on with the Deities, and if we want their help, we need to help them first," I said as I walked forward.

"What… what are you going to do now?" Kira asked as she quickly ran after me.

"Find some way to kill those Nailhounds, chase away the army, and then find a way to the coast," I said as I looked at her. "Any ideas?"

Kira gaped at me, then slowly closed her mouth and looked at the ground. After a moment, she looked up. "Can't you create more of those wood things?"

"Only if we have more wooden statues somewhere," I said, and she instantly shook her head.

"Wood is way too expensive to waste on that," she said. "Can't you just use stone statues?"

I was about to shake my head when I blinked in surprise. What did the skill say again? I quickly pulled up my status window went to the class section. I quickly skimmed through the few paragraphs of information. When I got to the end, my eyes were sparkling. All it said was that I had to pull the vengeful spirits into temporary vessels, with the only described limits being the availability of the spirits and the containers. It said nothing about wood. I couldn't recall when I'd made that assumption, and it didn't matter.

"I can," I said as I looked at Kira. "Are there any in the city?"

"Of course," she said, her eyes brightening. "I'll guide you there!"

I frowned, looked at the army around me, and shook my head. "You need to stay here and take control of the defense. Close the hole, fortify the archers at the top, and have the soldiers heal and rest up."

"Fine," Kira said with a weary sigh. "I'm not cut out for this," she muttered as she followed me.