Liam, the Red Soldier who was forty-ninth in line to be the next Commanding General, charged forward, his sword raised.
The attack of the trees had relented. Liam didn't know why, but he guessed it had something to do with the giant, magickal tree-man's defeat at the hands of Lord Gaovulte. Whatever the case, the trees had returned to their dormant state. They had been possessed by stillness and planted roots all around the battlefield.
And so the remaining red archers fought with renewed intensity. They were few, but they fought ferociouly. Their castle was gone, beyond the need for defending, and their master was caught up in the battles of giants and demons, far above noticing the actions of his human soldiers.
But they fought because fighting was all they knew.
Liam looked to his right and then to his left, scanning the battlefield.
A dozen or so reptilian beasts remained, sinking their jaws into any available flesh, alive or dead.
Approximately thirty of the men who had fought under the misguided command of the enigmatic Justin still lived, fighting until the last breath for reasons that would forever remain a mystery to Liam. They were assisted by a handful of strangers who seemed to be gifted with demonic abilities. Liam had to admit to himself a certain amount of fear when it came to dealing with these strangers.
Above him, the dragons capably dealt with the few remaining bats.
Two dozen or so zombies spread themselves throughout the battlefield, tackling any crocodiles or red soldiers that got in their way.
About seventy of Liam's comrades remained, the rest either dead or too injured to continue fighting.
And towering above them all, fighting on a scale that was incomprehensible to one whose training was as limited as that endured by Liam and his comrades, were Brakk and Godbolt's demon.
Liam spun right, to avoid running into a tree that had just recently rooted itself to that spot. His sword darted out to his left and sliced through the neck of a zombie, sending it's head thudding to the ground. Liam withdrew his sword and thrust it forwards, sinking it into the chest of one of Justin's men. At the same time he raised his right foot and slammed it into the jaw of another of Justin's men.
Liam ducked and rolled, avoiding an attack from the large, dark man with the seemingly unnatural strength.
Priest dove for Liam again, grabbing the red soldier by the left shoulder. Liam thrust his sword at Priest, aiming for the kidneys. Priest stuck out his hand and parried the blow, sending the sword harmlessly the ground.
Liam's eyes widened in fear as Priest's grip tightened.
Liam lived just long enough to hear the sound of his own neck snapping. But only just.
