Elias “Eli” Butterfield stumbled out of his shower to the sound of explosions and screams filtering in from outside his newly acquired apartment. He had already been broken from deep slumber by the yelling of that girl who had previously held his current position. She finally replaced her arm at least. He pulled his trousers on and stuck his head out the door to see what blew up.

His eyes locked on the burning Northwest tower and then the streaks of fire and ice arcing through the sky. He tracked them back to their source and his eyes widened as he took in the horde that marched on the settlement. He ducked back into his apartment, pulled on some boots and a shirt, shot through his office grabbing his grandfather’s cavalry sword and leather armor on the way out the door and began sending out emergency messages to his Lieutenants.

As he stepped out of the Admin building he took in the chaos in the courtyard as people ran too and fro, not certain of what to do. “MAGES! RIFLEMAN! ARCHERS! TO THE WALL! NOW! GET FIRE ON THOSE ATTACKERS! He yelled as the first of his lieutenants arrived before him.

“Sir, third squad is already on the wall and ready for your orders!”

“Good man, now lets see if we can get any barriers up while I get a better view of the force arrayed against us. If you run into the second squad lieutenant before I do, tell them to get a scout force out around the farms, let’s make sure we aren’t being flanked.”

Another lieutenant ran up with his fighters in tow, “Sir, where do you need us!?”

“Get the non fighters in cover, keep your men where they can watch these walls. Hit anything that makes it over. Should be a short bit before that happens.” The man nodded and turned to give orders to his squad.

Karl came running around the North corner of the Admin building and leapt onto his Coyote mount who then leapt to the walkway on the inside of the wall. Eli used his system enhanced abilities and jumped to the wall next to the larger man.

“The Guard is assembled and ready, sir.” Eli flinched to stop himself from saluting the man. “What are your orders?”

Karl looked out across the landscape as madness approached then looked back at the settlement that seemed to hold its breath in anticipation for his decree. When he spoke next it was like something supernatural amplified his voice, though he didn’t yell, everyone heard his declaration, “Why Captain, I think I see my next level was foolish enough to come to me and it’s now out there waiting for me to claim it, what do you think?”

Something in the man’s voice swept Eli up in the moment and he couldn’t resist the burgeoning confidence that radiated into him, “I say if it were raining then maybe this rabble would provide a proper training engagement for our men and women.”

The man roared in wicked laughter that seemingly summoned thunder from the clear Arizona sky.

“Captain, inform the Teams that our mission begins now, they have one minute to join me on the field, other than that I leave the defense in your hands.”

Then he was gone, his mount carrying him charging the almost two hundred yards to the enemies still forming front line. Eli didn’t spare a moment executing his orders. Mental messages were sent to the Team Leads. He directed Teams two and three to hit the North and West flank of the quickly encircling forces. The fourth Team was directed to hold tight and look for an opportunity to break out and hit them from behind.

He was surprised to see Alyssa standing further down the West wall staring at the assembled horde. She was dressed in her full battle regalia with her swords clenched in her hands, her newly acquired right arm seemingly absorbing all light as her cloak billowed in the early morning breeze. He hadn’t expected her to join the fight just yet so he hadn’t summoned her to the defense.

He was more surprised when Choox’il joined her on the wall with a wicked looking bow in hand launching glowing arrows of energy with force into the enemy ranks. Another girl with short dark hair appeared a moment later carrying a staff and chanting a spell. As he watched the trio he noticed that the teams had received their orders and were currently executing them. Karls personal team was particularly enthusiastic as they all bodily leapt over the wall and charged the formation that Karl and the pair of unclaimed coyotes were in the process of solidifying.

He took special note of the Mountain Lions that had one day simply appeared lounging in a corner of the kennel as if they had always lived there, were now each following teams two and three into battle. They hadn’t attacked anyone or shown any aggression and the Coyotes didn’t react unfavorably to their presence so everyone collectively shrugged and ignored them. As long as people weren’t dying who cared. Guess they don’t want to give up their free room and board?

A thought struck Eli as the chaos of the battle had normalized and he was able to plan rather than react. Where the fuck is the patrol that should have prevented a surprise attack? What was that squad leader's name? Alton? Atkins? Addison! Eli looked around for the man in question as the team's attacks crashed into the enemy lines and stalled the magical bombardment for a moment. He found the man directing the defense of the Western wall and approached him.

“Addison!” he barked.

“Sir!?” The young man spun at his name and looked at the older Battlemaster in fear.

“Wasn’t your squad supposed to send a team out to patrol our Northern flank?”

“They did, sir, they left about 5 minutes before the attack. They should have reported in about another 10 minutes from now. I haven’t been able to reach them.” He said with concern on his face.

Eli eased his overbearing demeanor as he processed the new information. Bloody bastards knew our patrol routine. That squad is probably dead.

“Fuck.” he muttered silently. “Let me know if you establish contact. What fighters do you have left?”

“Yes, sir. I only have the two mages, a rifleman, and a frontliner besides myself.” He gestured around to the mages and rifleman that were currently flinging magic and bullets at the distant enemy line. His remaining frontline fighter stood silently next to him watching the battle and helping to direct fire.

“Ok, good man, keep doing what you’re doing.” Eli patted the man on the shoulder and then turned his attention to the battle in the distance. He nodded approvingly as Teams Two and Three halted the encirclement, timing their attacks to keep the enemy commanders unbalanced. Speaking of which, where are the bastards at?

As he thought the question it was answered with a roar of challenge from the North and the surge of a massive spell to the West that beat back the team on that end. On the North he saw a Gnoll that seemed to be twice the size of the regulars and far more ornately equipped in thick leather armor with steel plates hanging from his shoulders. He walked casually forward with a massive black and silver claymore resting on his shoulder and pointed at the Team Leader in challenge.

The Team Leader stepped forward wearing a metal breastplate and also wielding a large two handed sword and unsurprisingly flashed the gnoll leader the universal sign indicating ‘you’re number one’. The large gnoll reared back it’s head in a roaring laugh then the soldiers parted and the two shot at each other in an explosive clash that disturbed the dirt around them. The rest of the team stood back and uneasily eyed the gathered gnolls that formed a half circle behind their leader. One on one duel, huh? Don’t lose your head. I don’t think that’s one we can buy a replacement for.

On the western front the Team there was being beaten back slowly as they faced two of the enemy commanders. One a mage of some type that was casting magic that bolstered the troops, the other a large warrior that charged Team as they attempted to gain their footing and turn the fight back around. This group didn’t seem to care for one on one fights and were steadily forcing his Team back.

“Team Four, forget about waiting for a break out, reinforce the West, they’re fighting two big bastards there!” Eli yelled to the waiting Team Leader. They leapt off the wall and charged the caster. A rifleman on their Team unleashed a flurry of Explosive Shots that rocked the caster back and interrupted her next spell. This gave the beleaguered team the opportunity to gather their formation and counter attack the big bastard that had been pressing his numerical advantage.

“Get some more fire support on the West!” Eli barked orders to a group of mages that were watching the fight on the North side.

“CAPTAIN! Look Northwest!”

He recognized the voice of the Survivalist, Bill Hargreaves, calling down from the SouthWest tower. Eli turned his attention in the direction indicated and grimaced.

At the rear of the horde two truly massive gnolls were casually walking through the still standing houses while all the lesser gnolls gave the behemoths a wide berth. The reason for that was soon demonstrated as an unfortunate archer stumbled too close and was summarily snatched up and eaten. Christ almighty! Concern rose in Eli’s chest then eased when he saw Karl had recognized the threat and was directing his team to intercept. Still no sign of the overall battle commander.

Eli carefully observed the fight in the West and was pleased to see that the Caster had fallen and it seemed the Fighter would soon fall by the combined assault of the Teams assembled there. His view shifted to the duel in the North as it came to a climactic finish. The young Team Leader dipped low as a massive swipe rushed through the space where his neck previously was. Then the man thrust forward into the side of the large gnoll who gasped in surprise as the sword was then wrenched free. The man followed the momentum of the pull to spin around and bring the sword down in a vicious cut that separated the gnoll from shoulder to hip.

The battlefield on that side seemed to hold its breath a moment before all hell broke loose. The gathered gnolls sniffed the air and howled in rage, then as one charged the young man and his team. They were about to be overwhelmed when the mountain lion that had followed them appeared from seemingly nowhere and became a whirlwind of teeth and claws. This bought the man and his team the time needed to fall back several paces and ready their defense.

Eli looked back and saw the combination of the teams there had faced a similar situation but were beating it back with ease. He barked orders to the Fourth Squad leader, “Prepare your squad to counter attack the North, gather the rest of the frontline fighters and a group of healers, NOW!”

Then Eli dropped to the ground on the outside of the wall and took the field. Johnny joined him as soon as he delivered his last order and surprised him. He cocked an eyebrow at the man as he charged the beleaguered Team Two.

“I think I can be of service here, protect me while I complete my summons.”

“Ok, but whatever you are going to do, do it quick.” He knew the man had been one of Karls first companions and could fight, he had just never seen him do so. The man just smiled and raised his hands in the air. Energy flowed from the man into the sky and clouds began to form and blot out the rising sun. All of a sudden lightning began falling amongst the ranks of berserking gnolls.

The gnolls fell by the dozen as the attack ravaged their ranks. The smell of burning flesh and singed fur permeated the air along with the smell of ozone. Yet the attack continued for several long moments and its intensity increased. More gnolls fell as the lightning arced from one to another and another after that. Eli and Johnny had stopped short of the line of battle by ten meters and Team Two was quickly retreating from the horde as the Fourth Squad Lieutenant arrived with reinforcements.

Eli was about to give more orders when Johnny spoke again, “Wait, I am not done.”

He began chanting and Eli was stunned when glowing green apparitions appeared from the ground and took the form of ancient native warriors. The ghost warriors, a dozen total, charged the line of gnolls and further devastated their ranks. Johnny wasn’t done yet, though, as the badly wounded and bruised Team Two stumbled towards them he pulsed out a wave of healing that restored their energy and began slowly healing their wounds. They smiled their thanks and the old man collapsed to his knees having spent all his remaining Mana.

“Now I’m done.” He smiled as a healer came up and handed him a mana potion.

"Well, ladies and gents, let’s see if we can break this line.” Eli said as he drew his rapier and charged the weakened enemy formation.

Eli struck his first opponent down before it knew it was targeted then smoothly flowed to the next, skewering it through the eye. He was a graceful mechanism of death moving with primed precision and years of practice. He felt as if he had missed his calling for the entirety of his life. He reveled in the simplicity of the battle as he immersed himself in the hypnotic repetition. Vicious Fleche, Riposte, Guard. His skinny sword continuously pierced hearts, necks, and eyes as he flowed in a straight line through the gnoll formations. Blood sprayed from the wounds inflicted and painted the desert red behind him as he moved ever forward.

His hastily formed militia clashed beside him as he dragged them forward by force of will. He caught sight of the large cat that had saved his people out of the corner of his eye. It was wounded and haggard with several gnolls barking and taking swipes at it as it jerked and dodged from them. A too brave gnoll yelped a strangled cry as it got too close and summarily had its throat removed from its neck.

Eli changed the direction of his advanced and activated his skill, Furious Beat, and slapped the flat of his sword on his leg and yelled, “Oi! O’er here you bloody cunts!”

The gnolls between Eli and the large cat turned at his challenge and the feline took the opportunity to disengage from her attackers, killing two as she retreated to limp behind Eli, flashing a look of appreciation as the two locked eyes briefly. A healer hit the animal with a spell and she shivered in pleasure then padded around to guard Eli’s back.

The gathered gnolls charged the man who had deprived them of their sick entertainment and were decimated in return by both angry man and cat. Eli’s militia covered his flanks as they worked to cull the gnolls numbers. He didn’t believe that he could single handedly break the attack, but he was sure to at least push them back while he could. Now I wonder where the rest of their leadership is? As if waiting for him to think it, the gnolls that had been slowly backing away from his counterattack began to shift and part as another large Gnoll approached from the rear lines.

At the same time this happened a pair of roars echoed across the battlefield that rattled Eli to his bones. All assembled, even the approaching gnoll commander paused to look in the direction of the commotion. The gnoll commander shrugged and approached silhouetted in terrifying looking magic that sprouted from the direction of the two behemoths. When the blinding flare of light receded the two behemoths, though one was obviously severely injured as the mottled orange fur he use to have was now singed black and pink fleshy skin was blistering where it had been burned away.

Eli spared no more attention to the behemoths, his own opponent had arrived and was staring down on him with overwhelming menace. The gnoll commander in front of him wore a surprising simple leather breastplate with thick studded pauldrons and bracers to match. His lower legs were wrapped in strips of leather and thick black claws extended into the dirt from his toes as he stomped forth on a heavily muscled frame. In his hands were a pair of oversized machetes that could be considered broadswords if held in the hands of a normal man. Scars of battled criss crossed the monster's body.

Standing before Eli and his soldiers, staring down in contempt was Azuk Rotpaw, Lord of War, Breaker of Men, Defiler of Souls, Adjunct to Legate Khaimshir Splitclash, Commander of the Second Legion; Level 25*** Rotclaw Slasher.