Overwhelming Firepower

Alexander was once again in the dream that felt like it wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t the old version of himself, but instead it looked to be him, but a year or two older.

He was currently fighting what seems to be a mountain troll, alongside him were Mina, Nina, Ryan, and even Cael.

’Is this perhaps a vision of the future?’

That thought came to Alexander’s mind, but he quickly dismissed it as he watched the performance of him and the others. For some reason, despite being slightly older than the current him, this version of him was actually at the same skill level as he was now.

He was sure that if a year or two passed, he would be much stronger than he was now, but seeing this version of him barely improved from the current him made him think that this was something different from his own future.

’If this is not my future, then what is it? A future that could happen?’

As he was thinking, the older Alexander finally cut off the head of the mountain troll. After the battle, the group gathered around the older Alexander.

”To think a mountain troll has already come this near the Capital,” Ryan said as he wiped the blood from his twin blades.

Normally, Ryan would have followed it up with a joke. Something light. Something careless enough to loosen the mood, even if only a little.

But the Ryan in front of Alexander did not smile. His face was older than it should have been. Not by age, but by exhaustion.

”The war is affecting the monsters as well. I heard that a few demi-humans were taming monsters and unleashing them against the Rocton Empire. The demons, on the other hand, used them as pets, and they feed other races to them.” Nina spoke in utter disgust.

Ryan’s grip on his blades tightened. ”How lovely. As if the world isn’t going to sh*t enough already.” There was no humor in his voice.

Alexander, who was watching the dream, felt a strange chill. Ryan had always been the type to joke, even when the situation was bad.

Even earlier, when Dyr’s horns had nearly pierced through him, Ryan had still found a way to smile. But the Ryan in front of him did not smile. Almost all of them did.

”What is happening to the world. Why does everyone just want to kill each other?”

Mina spoke while sighing. Cael did not say anything, as was normal, but even in this dream, Alexander could feel the intense killing intent he was emitting.

It was at this moment that the older Alexander spoke with a bright smile on his face. ”Don’t worry, guys, I know that things might look bleak right now, but as long as we keep moving forward, we can still make a difference.”

When everyone heard what Alexander said with that smile of his and that naive confidence that things would get better, it actually made them feel a bit better.

Even though most of them had changed over time because of the chaos that was happening, Alexander remained the same.

He and his group continued to help those in need, and they adventured to different places affected by wars, and saved those they could save, and the reason they were doing this was because of their leader, Alexander.

Alexander, who was watching the dream, felt his chest tighten. The older version of himself smiled brightly, and everyone around him seemed to regain a little bit of strength from that smile.

Yet for some reason, Alexander felt sad. It was such a warm and kind smile. It was the kind of smile that made others believe tomorrow could be better.

But to Alexander, who was watching from the outside, that smile looked fragile. It looked like a small lantern raised in the middle of a storm.

Still, the look on the older Alexander was still bright and clear, which was different from the last time with the much older version of himself.

He looked to be quite tired, yes. His clothes were worn, his armor was scratched, and there were wounds across his body that looked like they had not been given enough time to heal properly. But his eyes were still looking forward.

Despite not understanding the current situation that much, Alexander was relieved to see that no matter what happens, the hope in his heart remains ever-steadfast.

The dream shifted. The forest where they had fought the mountain troll slowly faded, and the world around Alexander changed. He was no longer standing in the middle of trees and dirt.

He was standing on a hill overlooking a battlefield, no. That wasn’t enough to describe what he was looking at.

This was a graveyard of those who simply wished for a better tomorrow for themselves. The land beneath him was blackened, scarred by fire and magic.

Broken banners were scattered across the mud. Some belonged to kingdoms Alexander recognized, while others belonged to places he had never seen before.

Among the broken banners were the red and blue of House Vaelgard, embroidered with gold thread, and many others that Alexander could not recognize. The banners of the ducal houses were also there, all except for one.

The banner of Thornehart was nowhere to be seen, nor was the banner of Thornefang found.

”Those b*stard demons. Why can’t the other kingdoms see that if we don’t deal with those demons, they will devour everything in sight?” Ryan clenched his fist at the sight.

”They aren’t even the biggest problem. Right now, for some reason, monster waves are happening continuously... If only the Thorneharts...”

Nina was not able to finish her sentence as she realized what she was about to say. The group unconsciously looked at Cael.

Cael did not react. His expression remained the same as always, cold and calm, as if the words had not reached him. But the killing intent around him grew heavier.

The grass near his feet bent slightly, pressed down by the pressure leaking from his body. His hand remained on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles pale beneath his glove.

”What is gone is already gone. What we do now is simply to continue living.” Cael answered in a flat tone, as always, but beneath all that there was a tinge of anger and sadness that only his companions could hear.

”Yeah, if we keep on moving forward. I’m sure in the end of this journey will find a better tomorrow.” Alexander, ever the optimist, spoke fully believing every word he said. This lightened the mood a little.

***

As they were talking in the distance, monsters started appearing. They were so numerous that there was not a single space between them.

From where Alexander stood, they looked like a black tide crawling over the earth.

Ogres, trolls, dire wolves, horned beasts, and creatures he did not even know the names of moved together in a single wave. Their roars mixed with the sound of drums, screams, and collapsing stone.

Behind them, further in the distance, were demons. They were watching with amusement in their eyes.

That sight made Alexander feel an anger like no other. Those beings, what do they take life for? Alexander was never angry at monsters, for like animals, they are simply doing their best to survive, as every other living being.

But those demons, based on what he had heard and what he was seeing, were simply enjoying inflicting pain and misery. Do they find amusement in all of these deaths?

Alexander’s anger did not change anything. The black tide continued to move.

The army standing against it looked vast, but in front of that endless wave, they seemed terribly small. Knights raised their shields. Mages lifted their staffs. Clerics began chanting prayers.

For a moment, the battlefield shone with light. Aura mantles burned across the front line. Magic circles filled the sky. Holy light descended like a curtain, striking the first monsters that charged forward.

Ogres burned. Dire wolves were cut down. Trolls fell beneath spears, swords, and spells. But more came, always more.

The fallen monsters were trampled by the ones behind them. Soldiers who had barely survived one attack were swallowed by the next.

A knight who cut down an ogre was torn apart by three horned beasts. A mage who burned a dozen monsters was crushed beneath the foot of a troll before he could cast again.

The demons did not move a single inch; they simply watched. They were smiling and laughing as if watching the deaths of thousands was the most hilarious thing in the world.

One of them pointed toward the battlefield as if it were watching a performance. Alexander’s nails dug into his palms.

Then the older Alexander stepped forward. His smile was gone now; in its place was an intense quiet resolve.

”Everyone, charge forward! For our kingdom! For the fallen! For our loved ones!” the older Alexander shouted, raising his broadsword.

Even though he was not a general or even a captain, Alexander’s booming voice was heard throughout the battlefield as everyone roared. The older Alexander charged forward, and everyone followed him towards the wave of monsters.

That charge they made was filled with their determination. Unfortunately, determination alone was not enough. The black tide swallowed them.

The front line disappeared beneath claws, fangs, and iron-hard bodies. Aura mantles flickered and vanished one after another.

Magic circles shattered before they could fully form. Clerics who raised holy light were buried beneath monsters before their prayers reached the sky.

Still, the older Alexander moved forward. His broadsword cut through flesh and bone. His voice continued to rise above the screams, calling others to stand, to move, to live.

But no matter how many he saved, more died. No matter how many monsters fell, more came.

Behind the endless wave, the demons laughed. Nina and Mina were already bleeding all over, and Ryan’s side was torn open, blood soaking his clothes, yet he still stood.

Even Cael moved without a word, his body torn and bloodied, yet his sword never lowered. Yet despite all that, they kept following the older Alexander forward, ever forward.

Alexander reached forward without thinking. He wanted to join them in battle; he wanted to give them hope, to tell them that they should never give up, but as the words were about to leave his mouth, the dream shattered.

The battlefield blurred. The last thing he saw was the older Alexander standing beneath a sky of ash, still swinging his sword as the world collapsed around him.

Then Alexander woke up, gasping for air. His hand was still reaching forward. As if he had tried to grab something that was no longer there.