The sun was setting and the crimson moon began to slowly materialize. The shattered fragments were like stars and each spark dimmed the blue and dyed the sky red until the twilight faded and welcomed the night.

The air was foreboding, red like blood and thick with its stench, yet the night was still. The real bloodbath was further away, where humankind slaughtered one another indiscriminately and without remorse, all for the fleeting prize of glory and riches. She now began to understand why she hated the smell. It sickened her and she knew she wanted it.

Rana ignored those thoughts and continued forward. She was approaching the battlefield and she had to hurry. It was unfortunate that humans tend to fight for inconsequential reasons and didn't realize the true danger that lurked near. If they were to win this battle she would have to ensure the majority of them survived.

The useful ones at the very least.

The air roared and hostile magic screeched in the distance. Rana halted her rush forward and dodged to the side. The floor to her side cracked as multiple arrows of light rained down and struck the area to where she was running towards. It was the rogue-class Skill Arrow Rain, which allowed a bow wielder to infuse mana into an arrow. When the shot reached its apex, the mana within burst and shattered the arrow, the broken pieces then rained down with increased power.

Her enemy was far, but no bowman would expose their location this easily. That was unless they had no fear of her reaching them.

It was just as she expected. Several soldiers raced out from the shadows and bushes towards her. Unfortunately for them, she already knew where they were and what they were capable of.

Rana ignited the crescent blade and swiped her staff towards a group of enemy soldiers in the distance. They were not marked ones and the blades of ash easily pierced their skin and tore out their fleshy insides. Normally, those without a mark were not threats, but against a long-ranged rogue-class, anything that impeded her movement could prove fatal.

There were now two enemy groups close to her and none of them had marks. Taking them out was not the challenge, the challenge was how could she make it to the enemy marked one. Thankfully, Arrow Rain had a high mana cost so she had some time to close the distance, but due to not knowing the capabilities of her enemy, she should still hurry.

Rana was not at full health, and although those without a mark normally did little damage to a marked one, if they managed to land critical hits that would be another story. It was unfortunate for them that that would be a non-issue for her.

She charged in and ignored the possibility of being attacked. Her jacket defended against the majority of their insignificant taps, and those who managed to pierce her skin or land a hit on what were crucial parts of the human body could only make a small dent to her health. However, any person chipped long enough could pierce mighty walls. There could be no mercy. The only thing to blame was their decision to stand in her way.

Two groups and a total of twelve soldiers, nothing but a thin sheet of paper between her and the enemy. They could barely be called an obstacle. Her crescent bladed staff swiped and slammed at every direction. She did not defend against counter-attacks, she did not guard her back, and she cared not if the edge of a blade sunk into her skin. Her health drained slowly, yet the lifeblood of her enemy splattered and doused the land like rain.

Then, that was it. Twelve soldiers, each with names and stories she had no idea of, now simply a red stain that would eventually rot away.

The enemy marked one fired another shot, a normal arrow. It would still deal a lot of damage to her due to it being empowered by the strength of a marked one. However, it was an attack to create a zone of control, to lead her to where the enemy wanted her to be.

Rana brought up her staff and deflected the incoming arrow. She did not match its power but deflected it from its intended path. It was strong, and the enemy marked one was definitely of a higher level than her. Another arrow came and the third followed shortly after. She managed to match the first one but the second one struck her staff and inched her slightly to the side. The enemy was focused on making sure she did not stay her course. If she did, the enemy would answer with even more shots.

If she faced the arrows head-on, she would eventually lose out. Her strength was lacking and her speed would not be enough to deflect all of the arrows that came her way, even if her reaction was fast enough. However, that only mattered if she simply had her staff to guard her.

The edge of her crescent staff glowed and embers burned. She could not see the arrows clearly, but she didn’t need to. She could smell the enemy and know where the arrows were shot from. Her blades of ash could match them.

Sparks flew in the dark with sounds of metal clashing. They were unheard and unseen by the majority of people under the night. It was but another clash of weapons on a large battlefield among many more similar clashes. However, for the two combatants involved, their eyes were trained onto the arrows and blades flying through the air.

It was her enemy that broke the engagement first.

Rana felt mana gather in the distance, the charge was long and power was surging. The sky rang with a loud blast as the arrow burned through the sky and flew directly at her. It was the Skill Rupture Pierce. The Skill’s power is based on the user's strength and exponentially amplifies it. It had a long charge time and an even longer recovery time as the user’s arm was heavily taxed. The enemy most likely determined that even if they would not land a direct hit, she was too fragile to even take the grazing damage.

The thought was not incorrect, and even if she were to survive the arrow, she would be rendered immobile and fall victim to whatever reinforcement that would soon follow. If that was the case, the answer was to simply face it head-on.

Rana shot forth a blade of ash, an attack that paled to the might of Rupture Pierce. However, the blade of ash was infused with her surging mana and doubled in potency with the help of wards. The Fool’s Fire within ignited and consumed the arrow. The explosion that resulted created smoke that covered her tracks and her enemy soon found himself facing the mage-class.

She raised her staff and slammed the crescent blade down.

A sudden gathering of mana was heard to the side and before her then appeared the gruff face of Hamilton. He used Support Defend. How? The Fire Shield Guild captain was not near nor was the person he defending someone of Nye.

There was no time to ponder the answer. Rana ceased her attack and quickly retreated while raising her guard along with her own Support Defend Talent. The enemy attack came but she managed to use his counter to push herself a few distances away from the man. However, another surge of mana gathered and she braced for an attack that never came. Hamilton struck down the enemy bowman.

Rana and Hamilton looked at each other in the eye, none saying a word for some time, and it was Hamilton that broke the silence.

“To think you are daring enough to come crawling back after putting us through this mess, did your conquest end in failure, traitor? Whatever the reason, I do thank you for coming back as I do want to slit the throats of you lot,” Hamilton said with a sickening smile. He was no doubt the type to enjoyed bathing in blood and battle. However, what he said bothered Rana. Not the traitor part, but somehow he was sure that she was the reason for this fight. Was this not a dispute between cities trying to claim a Dungeon? The man continued before she was able to inquire further. “Shall we get started then? I still have the battle to command and would love for this to be over quick, but let it be known I am one of chivalry. Ladies first.”

Rana thought hard of how to convince Hamilton of the situation, but she was too late. Bloodshed was inevitable.

In the distance, a sudden loud roar pierced the sky and dyed the air in hatred. Tremors began to crack the earth and shatter the terrain.

The inevitable came.

The behemoth rose from the ground and into the stars. Its gigantic body slammed into the earth and the entire land quaked.