Amber Sword

The overwhelming Barbarian Demons in the sky turned toward the humans near the second Flame Gate, like the shadow beneath a giant demon claw sweeping across the horizon. Brand couldn’t help but recall the Solania locust plague during the Second Epoch Year of the Trade Wind, where the locusts that darkened the skies were a true portrayal of today’s scene.

The second Flame Gate was thoroughly shattering, disintegrating into scattered fragments, merging into the downpour like countless golden butterflies dissipating one by one. Griffith stood in the rain, gazing at those scattered flames, and couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope rise from the depths of her eyes as the Half-Elf Princess tightened her lips and clenched her fist.

But the remaining knights were still immersed in excitement, their confidence and morale so high that the battlefield situation seemed insignificant to them. Only Nicholas and Reid felt slightly suspicious, the two turning back to look at Brand. They were well aware that Gallock had already lost his casting ability, and now, to unexpectedly approach the third Teleportation Gate, they could only see if this young man, who brought miracles, could surprise them once more.

The pouring rain even drowned out the screams of demons behind the curtain of rain.

Standing in the rain, Brand forced himself to straighten his face; though he felt no certainty, he knew he must not succumb to despair. At least he couldn’t let others see his hesitation.

"We have to find a way to fight through," he answered calmly.

"How do we fight through?" the knights and Nicholas asked in unison. Unlike the confident knights, Nicholas sincerely sought an answer. Although he and Brand had stood on opposing sides just hours ago, he bore no prejudice against Brand; he admired the calm Brand displayed in battling demons.

Young Sword Masters like Brand were already rare in Erune. Nicholas seemed to see his era of learning the sword in Brand, yet Brand’s achievements were certainly higher. Despite being about the age of Brand’s elder generation, the Flame-Haired Sword Master felt no jealousy, only comfort.

How to fight through.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

For Brand, this was a core issue. He looked up through the rain at the crimson tide sweeping across the green grassland, feeling a slight tremor even from the ground. By his side, including the witch and everyone else, there were only twenty or thirty people, among whom were many injured and those who had lost combat ability, as well as non-combat personnel like Antitina and Delphire.

To say that such a group could carve a bloody path through the Demon Army, Brand wouldn’t believe it himself. To defeat the opponent with sheer willpower was ultimately just a joke.

Now, there was only one chance.

The cloak of the King of Giants, Buni, had roughly thirty seconds of duration left; about one minute. The giant’s cloak could accommodate several people with no issue, but the problem was that one minute was certainly not enough to reach another Teleportation Gate from this one.

Though two thousand meters wasn’t far, navigating through the Demon Army was an entirely different matter.

"Split into two groups," Brand silently pondered for a moment and finally responded. His purpose was simple: to use one group as cannon fodder to attract the demons’ attention, while another group would use Buni’s cloak to escort Antitina and Char to the third Teleportation Gate.

After he briefly narrated his idea, Nicholas and Reid understood. The Commander of the Old White Lion Legion paused to consider a moment and said, "This is indeed the only way now, but how does Mr. Brand plan to divide us?"

Brand fell silent, though he had already made his plans in his heart.

With the presence of the King of Giants’ cloak, the personnel configuration of this group could be quite simple. First, Antitina and Char, as the ’demolition’ group, must be included, and additionally, there must be someone who can handle the Long-Horned Demon near the Teleportation Gate.

The best candidates in Brand’s mind are Antitina, Char, Nicholas, Delphire, the Princess, as well as Gallock and Sugar Jar. Of course, Brand didn’t deny including the Princess due to his personal motives; but no matter what, if the Princess were to die here, everything he had done would become meaningless.

In that case, it’d be better if he hadn’t come to Ambeser, and history would proceed along its original trajectory, without any demon invasion at all.