The Broken Halo

Chapter 822 - 821: The Battle Begins

The explosion had torn the first defensive line apart.

A wide crater occupied the location of the isolation area. Black-red flames burned across its edges, feeding on broken stone, shattered artifacts, and whatever remained of the rescue team and the captives.

The first wall had collapsed across several sections.

Two silver formation pillars leaned at dangerous angles, their runes flashing unevenly. One artifact cannon had been thrown into a trench, while another lay upside down with half its barrel buried beneath rubble.

Human and demonic corpses covered the ground together.

The four Abyssal Beasts had also suffered.

The bone-maned lion had lost several white bones from its mane, and burned flesh covered one side of its body. The iron-feathered vulture lay against the cavern wall with one wing twisted beneath it. Cracks crossed the armour of the enormous rhinoceros, while the pale spider dragged itself through the smoke with three missing legs.

None of them had died.

Neither had Nadia, Stefan, or Petru.

A few moments later, a stone shifted along the side of the hill.

Nadia tore herself free from the rubble and landed on one knee. Her white coat had been burned almost completely black, blood ran from one ear, and several shallow cuts covered her face.

But the Aether inside her body remained steady and her aura was stable.

Farther away, Stefan pulled his spear from the ground.

The weapon had created a blue barrier around him before the explosion struck. Most of the barrier had shattered, and a long crack crossed his chest armour, but his injuries were minor.

Petru stood behind his rectangular shield.

The centre of the shield had bent inward, while the arm holding it trembled faintly from the force he had endured. His beard had been singed, and blood stained the corner of his lips.

He looked toward the other two.

”Are you alive?”

Nadia wiped the blood from her ear.

”Yes.”

Stefan’s glowing right eye moved across the destruction.

”Unfortunately for the demons.”

Petru released a breath, but Nadia’s gaze had already settled on the crater.

The woman.

The child.

The soldiers who had rushed forward to save them.

Nothing remained except broken ground and black flames.

”I ordered the barrier to be opened,” Nadia said with a faint tremble in her voice.

Stefan turned toward her.

”I supported your decision.”

”So did I,” Petru added.

Nadia’s fingers tightened around her crescent blades.

”They thanked me.”

Her voice was low.

”They believed they were safe.”

Stefan’s expression became colder.

”They were already condemned before they crossed the rift. The demons merely chose where they would die.”

Nadia gave a cold chuckle.

”That does not make this easier to swallow for me and it doesn’t erase the guilt I feel.”

”No,” Stefan replied. ”But it should make killing the demons easier.”

Before Nadia could answer, all three sensed a change.

The rift pulsed.

Once... then again.

The black surface expanded outward, and a violent wave of demonic energy rolled through the cavern. Silver fractures spread across the air around it, while every surviving detection formation began releasing warnings.

Shapes appeared within the darkness.

Hundreds of them.

Then the demons charged through.

Lesser Demons came first, followed by Fiends and Archfiends wearing armour from different clans and military units. Some carried swords, spears, and shields. Others ran with claws exposed or demonic energy burning around their limbs.

Bloodlust filled their eyes.

They poured around the wounded beasts and rushed toward the damaged human lines before the defenders could fully recover from the explosions.

For a brief moment, several soldiers stared at the approaching army in horror.

Half of the first barrier was gone.

Their formations had been damaged.

Many of the humans nearest to them had died without even seeing the true enemy.

Nadia rose.

Her pale-green eyes became murderous.

”FRONT LINE!”

Her voice spread through the cavern with the help of Aether.

The stunned soldiers looked toward her.

Nadia pointed one crescent blade at the burning crater.

”Look at what they did!”

Her voice shook with fury.

”They tortured our people, sent them home naked, and filled their bodies with bombs because they knew we would try to save them!”

The demons continued charging.

”Those captives died believing humanity had saved them!” Nadia roared. ”Do not allow their final hope to become the weapon that breaks us!”

She lifted both blades.

”Stand your ground and make every demon who crosses regret entering our world!”

A roar answered her.

Soldiers raised their rifles.

Demon Slayers activated their Blessings.

The surviving artifact cannons rotated toward the rift.

Stefan pointed his spear at the approaching army.

”Runemasters, restore the inner formation lines! Gunners, fire in controlled waves! Do not waste Aether on the Lesser Demons!”

Petru raised his damaged shield.

”Shield units, close the breaches! Anyone who can move, get behind something stronger than your body!”

Light gathered around all three B-rank Demon Slayers.

Nadia rose into the air first, pale-green Aether carrying her above the broken wall.

Stefan followed with blue currents spiralling around his spear, while Petru flew behind his shield like a charging fortress.

They rushed toward the demon army.

Then three new figures emerged from the rift.

The pressure of three Abyssal Hearts descended upon the cavern.

The first Demon Lord possessed two black wings and wore crimson armour that covered everything except his horned head. A long halberd rested in his hands, while black fire burned along its blade.

The second was a tall demoness with pale scales, curved silver horns, and several dark chains rotating around her body.

The final Demon Lord had obsidian plates covering his enormous body, and a circular platform of fire carried him through the air. A heavy hammer rested against one shoulder.

The three Demon Lords immediately sensed Nadia, Stefan, and Petru.

They changed direction.

The winged demon flew toward Stefan.

The chained demoness charged at Nadia.

The obsidian giant raised his hammer and met Petru above the battlefield.

The first lines collided below them.

Aether bullets tore into demons.

Chaos techniques shattered barriers.

Human soldiers and demon warriors disappeared beneath fire, lightning, broken stone, and blood.

Yet the rift continued releasing more invaders.

Another group of rune masters crossed while carrying sealed formation cases, and five demons surrounded them.

Simon walked at the front.

Sonya and Akaza moved on either side of him, while Virella and Rellis protected the rear.

Assault Core Seventeen had entered Earth.