Denizens of the Labyrinth

The ground trembled violently, the tremors rolling through the city like a grim harbinger of what was to come. From the direction of the volcanic eruption, an ominous glow began to rise, casting the landscape in hues of fiery orange and blood-red. The horizon seemed alive, shifting, and twisting as the first Beast Tide emerged.

They came like a living avalanche, a torrent of monsters born from the lava itself. Fire-wreathed hounds ran ahead, their snarls punctuated by bursts of flame from their maws. Behind them, massive beasts with molten rock for skin lumbered forward, their every step leaving fiery craters in the earth. Winged creatures, trailing embers in their wake, circled above like vultures waiting for carnage to unfold.

The walls of the city seemed impossibly high, yet insignificant against the sheer number of monstrosities barrelling toward them. Jazmel ascended the stone steps to the top, his movements steady despite the chaos erupting around him. Reaching the parapet, he looked out over the endless wave of creatures.

The sight was enough to chill even the most hardened warriors. Thousands no, tens of thousands charged toward the city, their roars blending into a cacophony of rage and fire. Rivers of lava followed in their wake, as if the very ground sought to aid the tide in its destructive march. The heat radiated up to the walls, stinging exposed skin and turning the air oppressive and thick.

Jazmel's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of Yoru No Tsubasa. The blade, sensing the intensity of the moment, hummed faintly under his grip, eager to be unleashed. Around him, soldiers and adventurers whispered nervously, their voices carried by the ash-laden wind.

"There are too many," someone muttered, their voice tinged with despair.

Another added, "This isn't a tide it's a flood."

Jazmel didn't flinch. His gaze remained fixed on the oncoming wave, his sharp Mana vision discerning the chaos and order within their ranks. With a deliberate breath, he unsheathed his sword, the dark blade glinting faintly even in the ash-filled gloom.

"We will make it through this merging," Jazmel said, his voice cutting through the rising tension like the edge of his blade. He turned to his group and the others nearby, his tone unyielding, resonating with quiet authority. "We always do. Defend the person to your right. Guard the person on your left. And when you are spent find more. Do not give up."

His words carried louder than intended, rippling through the gathered defenders. Heads lifted, and those trembling with fear began to steel their resolve. Charme placed a steady hand on his shoulder, a silent nod of agreement passing between them.

Jazmel turned back to the tide, watching as the first creatures reached the outer fields. The air vibrated with the sounds of claws tearing earth, fire igniting the grass, and the furious cries of beasts eager for blood.

"Hold the line," Jazmel muttered to himself, his grip tightening on the sword. "We will endure."

Paldane's massive form loomed above the battlefield, his wings spread wide like a storm ready to break. His eyes, blazing with a fierce, predatory light, locked onto the first wave of creatures charging toward the city. Without a word, he unfurled his wings fully, his immense tail flicking as the air itself seemed to tremble with his power.

Aeonic Inferno!

Jazmel uttered under his breath, the words barely audible over the roar of the approaching storm.

With a guttural growl, Paldane opened his mouth wide, revealing the searing inferno that churned within him. The air around them rippled as the dragon's chest heaved, and in an instant, a torrent of blackened blue flames erupted from his maw, crashing down upon the first line of beasts.

The flames that tore through the air weren't simply fire they were born from the depths of time itself. Each flame twisted and danced with a force that seemed older than the world, an essence of destruction forged in the core of stars long forgotten. The inferno swept over the monstrous creatures in waves, turning the ground beneath them into a writhing sea of molten rock and ash. The beasts shrieked as their forms were engulfed, some instantly incinerated, others struggling in the unrelenting heat, their flesh bubbling and cracking.

The first line of the wave faltered, but the sheer mass of beasts behind them was unyielding. They poured forward, undeterred by the devastating attack, their numbers seemingly endless.

Jazmel watched Paldane's attack with quiet admiration, but his focus never wavered from the task at hand. The dragon's inferno had given them an opening, but the true challenge was in the waves that would follow.

He turned to his allies, his voice sharp with the urgency of the moment. "That's just the beginning. Ready yourselves. The next waves will be harder."

Sadé, already poised with her storm-calling sabre, nodded with a grim determination, her Mana swirling around her like a storm of its own. Charme was already moving toward the first line of defenders, eyes narrowed and ready for combat. Baek stood beside Jazmel, his stance unwavering, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the next surge of beasts was sure to come.

"We'll hold this line," Jazmel said, his voice resolute. "We will not fall."

DING!

YOUR COMPANION HAS GAINED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXP!

LEVEL UP!

LEVEL UP!

LEVEL UP!

LEVEL UP!

…

The creatures were relentless, undeterred by the fiery chaos of Paldane's Aeonic Inferno. As the burned and blackened bodies of the first wave lay scattered like charred debris, the next surge of monstrous beings trampled over them, their claws tearing through the remains as they raced toward the walls.

The ground quaked beneath the stampede of beasts, their bodies enormous, scaly, and dripping with the heat of the inferno. As the creatures reached the base of the walls, those positioned high above readied their long-range attacks.

Sadé was the first to strike, her eyes narrowing as she gripped her sabre and whispered a name only she knew. In an instant, the storm within her burst free. Her sword crackled with lightning, the energy swirling around her like an electrified whirlwind. With a sharp slash, she sent a bolt of energy hurtling toward the oncoming wave, her voice barely audible above the howling wind.

Stormfall

The sky darkened above, as if responding to her call. The air crackled with static, and then the heavens opened, sending down a torrent of violent lightning bolts that tore into the monstrous horde. The bolts struck with brutal precision, each one splitting the sky open as they cleaved into the beasts below. Some beasts were instantly vaporized, others scorched into smouldering remains, but still, the wave pushed on, fuelled by an almost primal determination.

Lillianna, hovering with her broom beside Jazmel, grinned darkly, her eyes flashing with malicious intent. She raised one slender arm and, with a swift movement, unleashed a barrage of destructive energy.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Hellfire Astro!

The air shimmered with the sound of magic then, as if the very stars themselves had been captured and hurled to the earth, large meteors of burning hellfire cascaded down from above. Each meteor crashed into the ground with explosive force, sending fiery debris flying as they struck into the heart of the horde. The beasts screamed in agony as they were consumed by the flames, their bodies burning with an intensity that would melt stone. Still, they surged forward, relentless.

Selvara stood with her arms raised, her presence a calm contrast to the chaos around them. With a deliberate grace, she summoned her own devastating magic.

Moon Shade!

The wind around her began to howl, but it was no ordinary wind it was a dark, almost ethereal breeze that swirled into a vortex of black and violet petals. The petals spun in tight circles, the colours blending into a vibrant storm of energy. As the petals danced in the air, they expanded into twisting tornadoes, each one spiralling violently and tearing into the wave of beasts. The sharp edges of the petals sliced through the creatures with deadly accuracy, rending flesh and bone as they spun through the air like nature's sharpened blades.

But despite their best efforts, the tide of monsters didn't break. It wouldn't break.

Jazmel gritted his teeth as he watched the wave push forward, the earth shaking beneath the relentless onslaught. The combined might of Sadé, Lillianna, and Selvara had killed hundreds, if not thousands, but the sheer number of creatures seemed endless. The ground was littered with the corpses of those who had fallen, yet the horde's advance never slowed.

"Keep it up!" Jazmel barked, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "We can't let them through!"

Each wave, each creature that fell, only seemed to feed the one behind it, a tidal force of monsters that could not be stopped with simple blows.

Paldane's inferno, Sadé's lightning, Lillianna's meteor storm, and Selvara's petals they were all forces of destruction, but the Beast Tide was more than just a horde of creatures. It was a relentless force of nature. A flood of violence, hatred, and survival.

And this was only the beginning.

DING!

THE WAVE ENSUES!

BEWARE THE VOLCANO!

MORE THAN LAVA RESIDES WITHIN!!

…

The system notification flashed on display for them all and Jazmel waved it away as more and more monsters rushed towards them. he could feel the heat of their body.

The volcano above continued its violent eruption, spewing molten lava and thick smog into the air. The clouds of ash smothered the once bright sky, casting a sickly darkness over the battlefield. The coolness from the shadows of the smoke swirled in the air, a deceptive comfort against the searing heat emanating from the ground. The smell of sulphur was pungent, mixing with the acrid stench of burning beasts as they were reduced to ashes.

But that was nothing compared to the heat now rising from the oncoming stampede.

Jazmel's grip on his sword tightened as the monstrous tide drew closer. With every passing moment, the temperature seemed to rise, the air thickening with the oppressive heat that poured from the creatures. The ground underfoot felt like it was simmering, as if the very earth were about to ignite. The beasts, their thick hide steaming, began to charge with increasing urgency, like an unstoppable wave of burning fury, each footstep causing the ground to tremble beneath them.

"Here they come!" Jazmel called out, his voice rising above the din of the stampede. His eyes scanned the mass of creatures, their bodies brimming with fiery energy, their eyes wild with an instinct to destroy. The first wave of beasts crashed against the wall, their strength nearly shaking the stone foundations.

Jazmel's words snapped the group into full attention. The air around them seemed to thrum with the pressure of the horde. They could see the massive creatures closing in horned behemoths, fire-breathing lizards, and scaled beasts with blazing eyes, all heading straight for the gates.

The earth shook under their feet as the creatures charged in unison, a rolling force of nature driven by hunger and destruction. The walls loomed tall, but even they seemed to quiver at the onslaught.

Sadé adjusted her stance, her eyes crackling with electricity, already prepared to strike. Lillianna's fingers twitched; her broom steady beneath her as she readied another inferno. Selvara stood calm, an aura of deep energy emanating from her as her eyes gleamed with the power to command the very elements. They were all ready, every one of them bracing for the full force of the Beast Tide.

And then, the first roar of the horde erupted, deafening in its volume. Like the sound of a thousand thunderstorms colliding, the noise reverberated through the air, rattling the bones, and vibrating through the stone beneath them. The wave of creatures surged forward with unstoppable force, a living wall of destruction.

Jazmel exhaled deeply, his eyes narrowed in focus. His grip on Yoru No Tsubasa tightened as he stepped forward, the sharpness of his focus cutting through the chaos around him. His voice was strong, unwavering, as he directed the group.

"Hold your ground! Keep them off the walls! Defend the person next to you and keep your wits about you!" His words rang out, steady amidst the storm. "When you tire, find someone else to fight beside. We'll make it through this together."

The stampede was close now. The wall was going to be tested like never before. The first wave was upon them.

And Jazmel was ready.

The first creatures to make it to the wall were hulking, fire-drenched apes, their massive forms thrashing through the dense smoke and ash. Their fur was singed and charred, patches of molten skin glowing bright orange, with veins of burning red pulsating under the surface. The air around them shimmered with heat as their bodies radiated fire. Their large hands, tipped with claws like blackened iron, pounded the ground with a bone-shaking force, each step causing the earth beneath to quake.

But it was their heads that truly caught the eye. Their faces were twisted with an almost primal fury, and where a normal creature would have eyes, these beasts had flickering, flame-like orbs. Their heads burned like candles, the fire inside them alive with an unpredictable energy, flickering in unpredictable directions. The flames from their heads twisted and flickered like the wildest infernos, casting an eerie glow in the dimming surroundings. The fire danced across their skulls, burning hot enough to melt metal if touched, the heat so intense it felt like the very air was being consumed by it.

Their mouths hung open in a perpetual snarl, revealing rows of jagged teeth set in a scorched maw. From their throats, deep guttural growls and primal roars echoed, the sound of fire itself roaring through the beast's fiery chest. Their flame-tipped heads swayed and crackled as they advanced toward the wall, every step leaving scorched earth beneath them. Their eyes, pools of burning yellow, glowed with an unrelenting hunger, their minds driven by destruction and chaos.

They were the harbingers of the fire, their bodies burning with the energy of the volcano itself. And as they neared the wall, the heat from their flaming heads began to warp the very air around them, making it difficult to breathe. They were unstoppable, tireless, and now they were here, ready to bring the wrath of the inferno to the fortifications.

With a roar, the first of the flame-apes leaped towards the wall, their claws striking stone with terrifying force, flames licking from their bodies like the tails of comet-like meteors. The battle had truly begun.

Jazmel's grip tightened around the hilt of Yoru No Tsubasa as he saw the first of the fire-apes spring towards the wall, its blazing head lurching forward with terrifying speed. His pulse quickened, his focus sharpening as the heat from the beasts grew unbearable. He could feel the overwhelming pressure of the battle building around him, and without hesitation, he called upon the power within him.

Voided Reave

he muttered under his breath, the words carrying a weight of determination as he channelled more Mana into his blade than he'd been comfortable with before. His body groaned from the strain as the Mana surged into the blade, a black, oppressive energy swirling around Yoru No Tsubasa. The air around him thickened, heavy with the weight of the power he was summoning, the ground beneath him seeming to crackle with the tension.

The sword's edge turned a deep, smoky shade of black as it absorbed his Mana, the weight of his energy almost too much for the blade. With a single, swift motion, he swung the sword with all his might. The blade cut through the air with unnatural speed, leaving a trail of blackened energy in its wake.

As the sword connected with the first flame-ape, the power of Voided Reave released in a shockwave of dark energy, tearing through the beast's fiery form. The blade didn't just slice through; it reaped the very essence of the creature, darkening the flames that surrounded it and dragging the fire from its body. The explosion of dark Mana caused the ape's flaming head to flicker violently, the fire diminishing as it fell to the side, writhing and struggling.

The sheer force of the attack was enough to send shockwaves rippling through the beast's body, causing it to convulse and crumble. But the skill drained Jazmel more than he'd liked, leaving him momentarily weak from the strain. He could feel his Mana reserves depleting, but the satisfaction of seeing the beast falter, even if briefly, kept his focus intact.

His eyes narrowed, knowing that he couldn't afford to rest now. The horde was only just beginning, and each moment spent resting would bring him closer to exhaustion. Despite the toll on his body, Jazmel took another step forward, his blade glowing darkly as he prepared for the next strike.

He had to be relentless, and for that, he would push his limits.

DING!

X45 TIER IV FIRE CHIMPS WERE KILLED!

EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!

LEVEL UP!