Chapter 643: Boosting Morale
When the ten seconds had passed, Laz did it again.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
This kind of naked provocation caused the beasts watching on to growl and roar, but not nearly as loud as before. Instead, there was a tinge of hesitation in their actions, even if only a small amount.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
On the other hand, the people who had gathered at the fortress all felt their blood boil at this point. No one wanted to really be a hero since it was always heroes who died first. But watching one, knowing one... being so close to one. It was enough to inspire even the most stone cold of hearts
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
Another beast came forward, this time it came on all fours though. It’s mane was like a river of fire that stretched from it’s head to it’s back. It’s fur was golden and it’s paws were massive, a lion like beast that’s paws could have crushed a deer beneath it. It’s face was again untouched by the darkness, just the hint in it’s eyes to reveal it’s subversion.
It’s roar shook the grounds, almost sending the beast army to their knees from the pressure.
But Laz still stood alone, timing his strikes.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
The massive fire lion charged forward, it’s legs carrying it at a speed unseen. Laz didn’t blink and using the ring Nesha had given him, traded the shield for another sword, but a longer and sharper one than what the army provided.
While the wolf had tried to go for Laz’s side and hit him, the fire lion charged straight on, opening it’s mouth wide as though it was going to bite down on him or crash into him, either way causing serious damage. Laz stood his ground while it came charging by, but jumped to the side just as it was withing snapping distance of him. Had he timed it a second later, his body would have been clasped in the beasts jaws. Instead, since he jumped to the side, the beast turned it’s head as though wanting to catch him and threw off it’s own momentum, causing it to roll forward as it tried to stop itself to get to Laz quicker.
"A beast is still a beast," Laz said with a laugh and jumped forward, driving the swords into the beasts exposed belly and slashing outward, opening a huge gash in it’s soft flesh that caused it’s insides to start tumbling out.
The beast then roared it pain, it’s cries echoing far and wide and shaking the souls of both sides of the battle. The difference was now it seemed like it was crying out in despair, as though just having woken up from a dream to find itself fatally injured. . Laz walked over still covered in it’s blood and stopped right in front of it’s head.
"I am sorry. Go in peace," Laz said and then cut it’s throat deeply, again letting out a torrent of blood. Shaking his head, he turned back to the beast army and with the shield again in his hand, banged the two together.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
With no response after ten seconds, he again repeated his actions, except this time he wasn’t alone.
Lead by Number two, the trash legion also slammed their weapons together, creating a harsh and grating note that echoed loudly.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
When the next ten seconds passed, even more of the humans who had gathered banged their weapons together.
The whole thing was a simple action, but hearing the sounds of the metal on metal, something the beasts could never do, rang deeply in the bodies and minds of those guarding the fort. As the sound reverberated, so did their spirits. Feeling and hearing the ones fighting next to you was a far use better than the stoic silence that had been there before.
With no answer again, Laz again banged his weapons together, the same as everyone else.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
But this time, he didn’t stop. And since he didn’t stop, neither did they.
The maddening echo of metal banging on metal permeated the very air itself as the chaos of the random banging soon died down as everyone naturally found the beat again, allowing the full, focused and united sound to attack the very core of their enemies.
Laz finally stopped and soon the rest of the army followed.
No more beasts stepped forward, no more single creature stood out.
For this battle, the humans had come out on top. Laz turned his back on the beasts almost in a taunting fashion and just as slowly as he had come up, he walked back to his legion.
The eyes he met staring back at him were ones of almost devout like fervor, clearly seeing their leader as their leader for the first time.
"Get ready," Laz said turning around to face the hordes of beasts once again.
A loud cry rang out from behind the beasts lie as though saying to avenge the deaths of their champions and the beast tide charged forward, even if they were a few steps slower than before.
Nesha and the other Demon women were looking on in awe, no longer able to speak. Their history was such that due to their unique body chemistry, they would almost surely kill any man they had sexual relationships with. So over the course of time, they would always look for the strongest, sturdiest and most solid of men with which to procreate. While it wasn’t necessary, it did take a certain amount of strength and stamina to be able to last long enough in one of their woman to actually release the baby batter and when they died to soon, it made the entire exercise useless. And levels didn’t seem to matter either as whether it was a man who was mortal or even a third step god, they would die all the same in the end. While their ancient records indicated that there used to be several races in the whole of the omniverse that could withstand their body structure, even the old ones alive today couldn’t say for certain if that was true. They were young warriors who were part of a merc company when they got dragged in here and had never really gained much knowledge about the omniverse before hand. After being locked up in this one place for thousands upon thousands of years, their memories from before had faded.
On the other side to it, these women, even for all the differences in their looks, were still women. Wanting a partner and even a father for their children was just a normal feeling but one they could never hope for. This world wasn’t one where there were any men willing to be married to them, raise someone else’s child and have a completely sexless marriage for all their days, even though it had been tried once or twice in the past.
"I want him. I want him so bad. He could be it... one of the ones we’ve been looking for.... He would be such a strong father for any child conceived from his seed," said the one-time mother and advisor to Nesha.
"Assuming he survives," she then added on, watching the coming onslaught.
Laz still stood at the head of the column, tall and unmovable. Behind him stood the line of former gladiators and prisoners including the one who Laz had some fun fighting who’s name happened to be Blake.
"Why does he stay up there?" Blake asked the Number next to him.
"Why do you think?" Number 14 asked back. He had found this strong young man to be rather likeable, just with a short fuse that often got him in trouble.
"I don’t know. Isn’t he just standing out more and making himself more of a target that way?" Blake said, his somewhat blank face showing no signs of worry.
"That’s exactly it. When you are in the arena, you have to perform. It’s not just about being a good fighter, it’s about being someone the crowd remembers, someone they can cheer for. Even if we are in the situation, it’s good that the people think that there is a leader they can follow behind," 14 replied back.
"But what if he dies?" Blake then asked.
"Then he dies and morale drops to nothing."
"But isn’t that a bad thing?"
"Only if he dies..... But imagine what happens if he lives?" Number 14 replied with a laugh before saying, "Brace yourselves."
As the beast tide surged forward, most of the oncoming animals seemed like there were heading right for the door, charging straight at Laz and the legion behind him. It was only once they got closer and saw who it was that they decided it was a better idea to change direction and try for one of the other groups of people.
Because of this, the trash legion barely saw a fight for the first hour while the legions around them were decimated.
