'They have assembled a great army, just as I remembered, but a major portion will get slaughtered in the next few hours.' Alex thought, saddened for the thousands who would lose their lives in a few hours.
Alex knew the first clash was destined for failure, and the reason for it was the peak sixth Rank High Demon guarding the portals using the War Fortress that he controlled.
The High Demon was a formidable force that stood as an impenetrable barrier in itself, but with the war fortress under his control, he was the individual responsible for decimating the combined forces, not once but multiple times.
There were quite some changes from what Alex knew, but seeing the preparation of the demons, he knew things would only get worse than what happened in his past life.
The demon's army didn't have unlimited resources like humans nor an unlimited number of great warriors ready to sacrifice their lives for the future of their continent, but they came prepared.
In Alex's previous life, the demons had come with a Mobile War Fortress, a war machine of pure destruction named "Wrathreaver," a colossal behemoth equipped with powerful weaponry capable of decimating entire armies.
The war fortress was a nightmare for humanity, carrying weapons like "Soulreaver," a weapon that could obliterate kilometers of area in a single blast reaping the lives of entire battalions, leaving nothing but ash and despair.
Its massive metal frame was adorned with sinister runes that pulse with malevolent energy, creating a protective barrier around it capable of defending against any attack humanity could throw at it.
It was not that higher echelons of the human continent didn't expect the demons to be prepared to protect the portals, but they had no choice but to make a move and hope for the best.
It was also not that the Human Empire didn't have War fortresses capable of rivaling the Wrathreaver, but the issue was that they couldn't utilize them inside the barrier because those engines of war required multiple peak elementalist to operate.
Alex steeled himself mentally, fully aware of the death and destruction he would witness in the coming hours while he waited for the army march to commence.
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After two hours, Alex stood among the vast army, ready to advance into the dark barrier, accompanied by a group of elite members of the StormBearer faction assigned to assist him in his task.
In the last two hours, the army that will clash with the demons was formed, consisting of over three million soldiers, mercenaries, and members of other factions and over seven million players.
This was less than one-tenth of the assembled army, with millions of players standing at the back.
The army had thousands of Fifth Rank warriors, tens of times more than what the demons had amassed, while every player was at the peak of the third Rank.
As the grand army stood at the ready, the grand commander Kerubiel Tigras, a renowned captain of the empire, chosen to lead the army, a seasoned warrior known for his bravery and tactical genius, stood above his mighty beast companion high in the sky.
Kerubiel's presence alone commanded respect and instilled confidence in the soldiers' hearts, and with the vast army before him, he raised his gleaming sword high, its blade reflecting the sunlight like a beacon of hope.
"Brave Warriors and Soldiers of the White Flame Empire!" "Today, we face an enemy who threatens our very existence, but we stand united, ready to defend our homes, families, and future." Kerubiel's voice rang out, reaching every corner of the assembled forces.
A mighty cheer erupted from the soldiers, their spirits lifted by the grand commander's words, and even those who weren't joining raised their voices, making the ground shake beneath the thunderous roar, and the banners of each legion swayed proudly in the wind.
"We, the radiant Blade of humanity, will stand against the encroaching darkness, and we shall scourge those vile Demon scums who dare to invade our Home, purging their hateful existence from the very fabric of our Land."
The grand commander's speech echoed in their minds, reminding them of the gravity of their mission, of the loved ones and lands they fought to protect.
The soldiers stood in resolute silence, their hearts pounding with a mix of anticipation and fear, yet their determination remained unwavering, ready to face the darkness and uphold the radiant banner of humanity.
"Now, warriors and my brothers, we march forward to face the demonic horde. Let no fear grip your hearts, for we fight not only for ourselves but all of humanity, and with our valor and unity, we shall be Vitorioues," Kerubiel declared, and the soldiers roared in response, their excitement palpable.
The various captains and Lieutenant in the lead shouted the chant of glory to humanity as they marched forward, entering the colossal barrier.
Alex shook his head, knowing what the future held for most of these soldiers, but he shook the feeling away, knowing most of the soldiers were fully aware of their impending fate of possible death. Yet, there was no regret in their hearts as they marched forward with unwavering resolve.
Alex entered the barrier, and the scenery was completely different from the sunny and peaceful outside.
The interior was bathed in a gloomy, dim light as barely any sunlight managed to pass through the dark barrier, but the surrounding was still lit enough for even the weakest individual in the army to see clearly.
In the far distance, shrouded in a haze of eerie light, stood the two demon portals, colossal cracks in space pulsing with malevolent energy, the air around them crackling with dark power.
The two portals were located deep inside a valley protected by towering mountains from three sides and were protected with a secondary barrier that prevented anyone from entering.
The army was briefed about this information with their roles in battle before they departed, and seeing that portals were located in the same place as his previous life, Alex was hopeful that things would develop as they did in his previous life because he had a surprise prepared for the demons.
The army marched through the vast valleys of the mountain range, flanked by towering peaks on one side and a dense, shadowy forest on the other.
The soldiers' footsteps echoed off the rocky terrain, adding to the ominous ambiance surrounding them, while above them, the massive flying warships floated like dark specters, casting deep shadows over the marching soldiers.
The glimmering aura of the Aurora Valkyries riding atop their majestic griffins provided a faint glimmer of hope in the otherwise gloomy landscape.
As the army advanced, they quickly reached the valleys leading to the portals, which were void of life, and the demonic presence emanating from the portals and the roar of vast numbering demons sent a chill down the soldiers' spines.
As they marched onward, the demon army came into view, a sea of various unique creatures that stood in a formation, staring with mudras glares toward them, ready to rip them apart.
It was a sight that could freeze the bravest hearts as could see Imps, Small, devilish creatures with leathery wings and sharp claws, Gorgans Serpentine demons with petrifying gazes, capable of turning their victims to stone with a single glare.
Fiends, Agile and cunning demons, Scaldrons, Fiery demons, their bodies covered in blazing flames, Incubi and Succubi, Seductive demons that used their alluring appearances to charm and manipulate their victims before striking them down.
While the sky was cloaked by winged serpents of various dark natures, Harpies with sound as their innate weapons, and Skuraz, Large demonic bats with deadly mind coring sonic attacks and poisons.
The majority of the demon army consisted of these weaker yet deadly demons, but at the front were unique and powerful high demons of noble lineage.
Behemoth's towering creature standing hundreds of feet tall adorned in pitch dark armor with their vile aura of full display, Gargoyles vicious predator of the sky, Hellhound's of towering size cloaked in raging dark inferno, and humanoid demons with mighty bat wings and horns.
The humanoid demons were the army commanders, demons of noble blood, standing at the forefront, tall and menacing, each radiating a dark aura, commanding their respective legions with wicked authority.
The demons also had their own dark and twisted war machinery. Flying warships floated in the sky with sinister grace, exuding an aura of menace that struck fear into the hearts of any who dared to look upon them.
On the ground stood tens of immense mage towers like ominous sentinels, emanating malevolent energy, creating an aura of darkness around them.
In addition to the flying warships and mage towers, other grotesque machines of war lined the battlefield. The likes of mana canons and Demon siege engines, colossal and nightmarish, stood poised to launch their deadly payloads upon the human army.
The demon army, numbering more than four million, stood outside a smaller barrier covering the two portals. The portals were positioned hundreds of meters apart, each a pulsing tear in the fabric of reality.
There were hundreds of demons pouring forth every second from the two portals, swarming like a tidal wave of darkness and joining their ranks in the army.
The demon army stood still, taunting the humans with menacing roars and war cries, undisturbed by their display of might, the human army continued their march, prepared for the impending clash.
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