My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 35: Assaulting Stonefall

All hell broke loose as the goblins, orcs and trolls rushed over the walls, with the help of earthen staircases created by Grugda. This was the way they had decided to take the town. Leaving the gates and walls intact to aid the defence against the heroes forces when they returned.

Kace waited until Kharja, Gyn and Grugda joined him atop the walls. As they gathered the town's bells began to ring out as the screams from townspeople began to cry out. The army was invading their homes and slaughtering as many as they could as they lay in their own beds.

Leading his party down the walls into the town Kace glanced around. The goblins were dragging any children they found from their homes and gathering them in groups on the streets. 'That's right. They aren't my people anymore. Just forget about it.' Kace thought as he watched the spectacle in passing.

Their target was to first deal with the Mages Association, where they assumed the most dangerous individuals to them would be. As they marched through the streets the sight became filled with human body parts being on display like some kind of festival. Kharja chuckled to himself at the sight while Grugda sighed.

"War is. Worse than. I thought." Grugda said sullenly.

"I don't think this can be classed as war." Kace replied.

The Eljein furrowed his brows trying to imagine a worse sight. Something that he had never been exposed to since his race had been in hiding for as long as he had lived.

When they rounded a bend in the street they came into contact with a barricade that had been hurriedly put together. Behind it stood a mixture of guards, mercenaries and hunters. The total number had to have been around one hundred.

Kace and his party were not alone though. As they had passed by other monsters had fell in behind them. At the front of the group stood three towering trolls.

"Break that barricade!" Kace ordered them.

This resulted in the trolls roaring in glee. The three of them rushed forward. Unperturbed by the arrows that rained down on them. The trolls smashed at the furniture that made up the barricade as they were covered in their own blood. Before long they had torn open a hole in it.

Seeing this, Kace turned to the other monsters behind him.

"Kill them all!" he bellowed.

The monsters rushed forward. Forcing their way through the gap and spreading out. The goblins were taking the heaviest casualties most likely due to being the weakest troops among their side. However overall the defenders were taking the most damage.

Of those present on the human side none had the power to contend with trolls as they walked through their ranks freely killing whoever they caught sight of. They were able to hold off the orcs to some extent, only falling after taking a series of injuries or getting tired out. The goblins had begun using their numbers to either overwhelm their opponents or stab someone in the back while they were dealing with another threat.

Kace felt the sight of the humans struggle was pathetic. A disdain for the race growing in his heart suddenly. He did not let his party join the fight. He wanted to conserve their strength for the more difficult battles that were still to come.

Eventually the human forces were broken. Their carcasses like a carpet covered the street. Only fit to be walked over now. A few of them had escaped in the pandemonium as they realised the dire situation they were in.

Kace did not bother to pursue them. They had more pressing matters to deal with. He led his party and the survivors onwards. Cutting down any stragglers that were unfortunate enough to run into them. Every so often some of the monsters would break into nearby houses. Continuing what they started earlier.

This was fine though because they still had a large number with them. As they went to round the next corner onto the street that held the Mages Association a fireball landed in front of them. It exploded sending debris flying everywhere.

"Fuck! They know we're here. Grugda! Deal with it!" Kace roared.

"On it."

With those words Grugda began construction a thick wall of earth on the street corner. Giving the army cover so that they could pinpoint the enemies positions.

There were ten mages in all. They were taking turns to cast their magic to prevent giving the monsters any opportunity to advance. Kace watched calmly as they went through their rotation for the fourth time. Nodding his head in satisfaction he had remembered the order they took.

A few more spells rocked the wall before Kace darted out from behind it. He cast [Silence] on the mage who's turn it was to fire at them. Stopping him from getting his spell off. This flustered the enemy mages because this opening gave Grugda the chance to create more walls allowing them to advance.

Kace's boots pounded against the street as he rushed forward. The roar of those following him sounding clearly from behind. As he rounded the last of the new walls Grugda had created he fired off [Silence] yet again. Catching the mage before him before he could prepare.

Like a bloody dance Kace weaved, slashed and stabbed through the Mages with his halberd. Seriously maiming or killing all those who dared to be his dance partner. A few of the monsters began to fall to the Mages now that they were unprotected by walls. However with so few enemies there was nothing to worry about.

Kharja could be seen amongst the crowd holding high the head of a mage he had slain. Painted in the red of his enemies blood. Other orcs gathered around him and cheered.

As the last mage fell they all turned their eyes to the Mages Association not far from them. Getting caught up in their victory the monsters rushed forward, desperate to sack the building.

As they entered the grounds of the property a bright blue magic array began to glow. It had been hidden from sight until activated by trespassers. In the next moment a circular tower of ice materialised. Encasing the nearby monsters in it's walls. Frozen to death.

From the tower large walls, more impressive than those guarding the town, sprang outward. Fully enclosing the Mages Association and its surrounding grounds. From atop the tower an old man with a long flowing beard stared at them.

His brown robes were plain and unassuming. He raised his hand into the air before letting it fall.

"Fuck! Take cover!" Kace barely had time to roar.

As the monsters scattered into alleyways the night sky was suddenly lit up. A bunch of brightly coloured spells rose in arch over the walls of ice. Causing a reflection as dazzling as the northern lights.

As they fell onto the surrounding buildings they caused violent reactions. Fire exploded and ice covered many of the buildings as they collapsed from the magic. One spell turned into a mini tornado quickly tearing down three whole buildings.

'Shit! We won't be able to make it look like the town is ok anymore.' Kace thought in anguish.

The trolls who had still survived even through the abuse of what was going on charged at the ice walls. Raising the weapons they hacked furiously. Swiftly digging a crater into it. Suddenly one of the trolls fell due to his injuries. Followed by a second and finally the third.

They had dug out a large enough chunk that the Mages beyond were now visible. Grugda had not been idle. He had created a large spear of earth and was waiting for his moment. This was it. He cast the magic directly at the weak point the trolls had created. With a resounding crash it drove straight through. Causing a section of the walls to collapse as the spear continued on its trajectory, impaling several of the Mages on its way.

The mages never let up on their spells though as the monsters surged forward once again. Waves of monsters were blown and smashed to bits before they could even reach the walls. Kharja roared at the devastation and charged in through the dust caused by the collapsing buildings.

Even in as the sheer numbers of the monsters drove the Mages back they were dealing more damage than what they were taking. At this point Kace could only hope that remi forcements would come to back them up after noticing the devastation being caused in this area.

Raising his halberd he charged into the fray. He felt only slightly bad as he used other monsters as a meat shield to protect himself from the bombardment. He managed to push his way through the gap in the ice walls only to be confronted with a wall of dead goblins and orcs. Pausing briefly to offer them a silent prayer before climbing over their bodies.