Halie and Charlie were both prepared for the worst. Neither truly knew what they were going to do—neither had ever been placed in charge of an army before. The two simply weren't built for that role.
As for the commanders and soldiers, they looked up to them. Those eyes filled with admiration felt more like weights pressing down on their shoulders.
"Say, Charlie… you know, I don't think I'm the leader type," Halie said, glancing at him. "I basically just let my monsters do as they wish… what about you?"
Charlie sighed. "I'm just mid or rearguard. I'm not taking the front no matter what they tell me."
He began preparing for battle, retrieving a new suit from his storage—a battle robe studded with fire crystals.
"Well, me neither," Halie replied. "I'll have Salamadra take the front. We can ride on Shelder, my earth tortoise, and… I'll have my electric creature Ziggy become a Wyver. I think that will help."
With a few commands, her creatures shifted forms. The large, crocodile-like fire salamander emerged first, flames rippling across its scales. Beneath them, the earth swelled as a massive turtle rose from the ground. Its shell formed into a mobile fortress that mages and archers could use as cover.
Just then, the electric rabbit returned from scouting. It leapt high into the air and transformed mid-flight into a large Wyver. As it ascended, storm clouds gathered overhead, and it began absorbing electricity, growing larger by the second.
"You sure became a baddie after that class change," Charlie said, watching the scene unfold. "I remember when you had eight or nine beasts, but they were so weak compared to Logan's creatures."
Halie pouted, not appreciating the remark. "Hey, next time you insult my summons, you're walking. They just needed more power, that's all. It's not my fault Logan found a way to get infinite mana. If I'd discovered a mine or two, mine would've been just as powerful. Even now, they still need more mana…"
She trailed off. She hadn't been speaking to win an argument—just to distract herself. The nerves were getting to her.
"Yeah… okay, sorry. Let me get into position and concentrate," Charlie said, focusing forward. "It seems the front will be clashing any moment now…"
Ahead, demons, fire-bodied humanoids, and allied soldiers faced off, all poised for battle.
"Charlie…" Halie's voice cracked slightly. "Do you think we'll win?"
"Maybe… who knows. But we need to escape if things go wrong," Charlie muttered, clicking his tongue. He hated feeling like defeat was inevitable.
Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted across the battlefield—on the enemy's side.
Demons roared in unison, and the flame creatures hissed in a way that sounded almost like fireworks.
"What do you think… they're so happy about?" Halie asked, gulping as she strained her eyes to make out shapes in the distance.
"Must be that massive fire monster in the middle… the one that looks like a giant boar. And whatever's mounted on top of it…" Charlie narrowed his eyes, spotting the two fierce creatures from their position.
"I think we lost… I really think we lost." Halie's voice cracked, tears beginning to well in her eyes.
"Shut up. You're making the soldiers look over here," Charlie snapped, slapping her back. He was already casting large-scale shields to brace them against fire damage.
Just as the demons prepared to charge, the air itself cracked. Space twisted with a thunderous ripple, and the entire battlefield froze, eyes turning toward the sudden distortion.
Then a head emerged from the warped space.
Then another… and another… and one more… no, wait—one more… and then two at once.
"Isn't that… the hydra?" Charlie asked, stunned.
"The strongest fire monster! Well… maybe second strongest. I heard Scorch is just as strong," Halie said, her voice tinged with excitement.
As if summoned by name, the massive tyrannosaurus rex followed after the hydra. It let out a deafening roar, its colossal jaws announcing its arrival. Atop his back sat Rubina, calm and composed. She waved cheerfully toward Halie and Charlie.
"Wait… isn't that Miss Rubina?" Charlie said, excitement creeping into his voice.
"Miss? Since when do you ever use that word?" Halie gave him a sideways glare. "Also… isn't she like Logan's official wife? Well, after Lisa? Why are you getting so excited?" she muttered, punching him lightly as she wondered why no one ever treated her with the same respect.
Charlie coughed and tried to shift his demeanor back to normal. Still, he was relieved. Logan had sent powerful reinforcements—just the two massive creatures alone could easily replace five thousand soldiers.
Two more beasts followed behind them. The first was Uriel, Rubina's gifted creature, known by all as the healing phoenix Logan had entrusted to her. Its presence alone brought hope, its radiant aura pulsing with restorative power.
But the fourth creature was unfamiliar.
It resembled a towering human—a dark giant wreathed in black haze, twin horns curling from its skull. In its grip was a massive club that looked more like a tree ripped straight from the ground.
"I don't know what that is," Charlie muttered, whistling low, "but if it can use a damn tree as a club, I'm glad it's on our side."
Soon, the giant took its place at the front, standing alongside Scorch, who let out a thunderous roar that forced several demons to retreat a few steps. Cinder, the hydra, remained still, calculating. She knew Scorch would be the one to face the massive fire boar. That left her free to select her own targets—ideally more than one.
As for Juggernaut, it beat its chest like a war drum. The thunderous boom echoed across the field, signaling the battle's true beginning. It swung its tree-sized club like a broom, sweeping aside scores of demons, shattering shields, and leaving destruction in its wake. Dark miasma clung to its strikes, sowing chaos among the enemy's frontlines.
Scorch, once again growling, charged forward. Ever since Logan's evolution, he had felt his position as the top beast was threatened. Someone else had claimed the peak. And now, he was going to take it back.
The rampaging dinosaur tore through enemy lines, a molten blur blazing toward the boar.
Cinder wasn't far behind. Her seven heads unleashed beams across the battlefield, carving through demonic ranks and causing eruptions of molten stone wherever they struck. Magma surged in her wake—her own way of announcing that the apex predators had arrived.