What is that? Just what is happening?
Magical flames that arc high above the battlefield, then rain down, setting fire to the land. The fire magic of the humans... As though they are flame dragons. The evil dragons that served as the Demon King’s familiar in the old legends, the ones who feared no one, not even the gods.
The bloodsuckers go up in flames, leaving ash in their wake. There is not a shadow of the resistance they put up against the magic of us elves, erupting in flames as though they are mere kindling. Flames that had burned even the elves now revert to their true role.
Shadows that lurk over the burning fields. Black wolves. The vampires who managed to avoid the flames also rush forward. That aggression is their true nature. The bestial rage that throws the continent into chaos. Something that all elves loathe and fear in equal measure.
The mounted warriors swiftly move in to intercept. This I should have known. This I should have understood. I had witnessed the urban battle in pitch darkness. But this goes so far beyond that... to use magic as well. They are the equals of elven and vampiric warriors.
And what drives them? A morale that burns so brightly it could engulf a forest.
Were infantry not mere fodder, a wasteful use of flesh and souls? How do they fight so fiercely? To resist even as they’re flattened by black wolves, torn apart by the blood-suckers... could even elven warriors perform such a feat?
A people that wield fire, ride upon horses, and fight as though they are flames.
So these are humans.
This is humanity.
A people with a history comparable to the elves. Now possessing the blessing of a god. This is what they’ve become.
That is what this is. There is no doubt. I know humanity’s Apostle. The raven-haired warrioress that spells inevitability. The incredible threat that cuts through elf and vampire alike without distinction.
Kuroi... Kuroi, the Apostle of Humanity.
She is powerful. Very powerful. The vampires stood no chance against her. The sight of her creating infinite weapons, slaying her enemies with blades and reducing them to ash with flames was like a firestorm of swords. She drew on her quarry and utterly destroyed them without mercy.
To use summoning magic for melee combat... From the elven way of battle, it is a concept impossible to fathom, much less execute. Indeed, it is closer to the vampiric way of battle. Like the Three Apostles of the Vampires that continually trouble the Three Apostles of the Elves... For they hold in common the summoning of magic weaponry in battle.
“Fleilyu, are you here, Fleilyu?”
“Y-Yes, I am here, Lady Sakiel.” Shameful. I lost myself in surprise. Such is the sight before me.
“A runner to the human army... Instruct them to come hither! My magic cannot protect them from this distance!”
“Respectfully, they appear to have the advantage. Perhaps you need not direct them...” To bring that army closer, that is a risk.
It appears Kuroi has returned to the host to rest, so we should hold some distance from them. The others are still confused.
“Fool! The sky, turn your gaze skyward!” The sky. It’s painted in the color of the setting sun and red... No, stained red and black. A thick, curdling black cloud engulfs the entire sky. Just when did...? No, it’s growing as we speak.
“It’s her! She’s summoned a thunder cloud!” Her. Yes, Golden. The ruler of the evil earth, the Golden, has started moving.
“Hurry! Tell the humans... Oh! It approaches.” The clouds let out a menacing growl, twisting around before the light and impacts follow. One after another. Over and over. No one can do anything but close their eyes and brace themselves against the onslaught. An overwhelmingly violent display of lightning magic.
Yet, no harm comes to our ranks. For above us float countless Jellyfish Bells and Sunfish Gongs. Slowly, almost casually. Despite being subjected to such lightning, they absorb it without so much as letting through the faintest shock. A divine and towering art wielded by the Bell. The wondrous ability of Lady Sakiel.
The humans... they could not stand. The cavalry, the infantry, the mages. They mattered not. There is power that no equipment in creation can stop. Such is the lightning wielded through the Golden’s summoning magic.
But it’s an indiscriminate attack. The humans suffer enormous losses, but the vampires attacking them are a wreck as well. No matter the power, if it can only create barbarous, destructive results, it is only worthy of scorn, not admiration.
Here the thousand pebbles, the core of their host, begin to move. They stand as always with the Golden. If we can handle them properly, we can win this battle.
“F-Fleilyu...!” Lady Sakiel. If this is her first field battle, I can fully grasp the feelings that trouble her.
“I give to you my command as Dragon Commander.” Lady... Sakiel?
“Help the human army. Save their wounded. Then retreat. I shall cover the retreat. Stay silent, this is my command. I shall Do My Best and force a stalemate!”