Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 40: Beginning Of The Trial.

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Magnus, oblivious to the ongoing preparations, finally awoke from his slumber. It was time.

As he stepped out, he was greeted by Kael and Avice, one of his recent summons.

Just like Kael, Avice held an E-rank, but her role differed significantly. While capable in combat, her primary purpose was healing.

Magnus understood the crucial need for healers, and Avice, with her affinity for light, was to lead them. Her light manifested offensively against enemies, but for allies, it transformed into a soothing, restorative energy, replenishing their strength. While Avice wasn’t his only summoned healer, she was the sole E-rank among them.

"Lord Magnus," both Kael and Avice greeted respectfully. Magnus returned their greeting with a nod as they set off, the bright, full moon overhead casting its generous light across their path.

By now, most of the final preparations were in place. Civilians had been evacuated to the safe zone near the territory’s center. Proximity to the walls meant increased danger, so Magnus had ensured their relocation to the secure heart of the territory, where they would remain until the trial concluded. His men were also stationed at their assigned positions, ready for the impending challenge.

Magnus soon reached the eastern wall. Robert, accompanied by Kelvin, already stood atop the wall, surveying the landscape beyond. William oversaw matters at another section of the wall, while Godiva managed the rotating troops, ensuring their readiness to deploy wherever needed. Followed by Kael and Avice, Magnus ascended the wall to join Robert and Kelvin.

"Lord Magnus," both men greeted him upon his arrival.

"Hmmm," Magnus responded, his gaze sweeping over the formations of men below. "Everything appears ready," he murmured.

"Yes, we’re just waiting for the b..." Kelvin began, his words cut short by a sudden commotion below.

"It seems the beast horde has arrived," Robert observed, his eyes fixed on the growing disturbance.

Magnus frowned. The trial wasn’t scheduled to begin until midnight. Had it started prematurely? Amidst his confusion, Vorax established mental contact, his arrival easing Magnus’s mind, though the same couldn’t be said for his men. They watched as a massive cloud of dust billowed towards them with alarming speed, the source concealed within its swirling depths. Gripping their weapons, they braced for an attack. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Everyone, remain calm! It’s just my pet," Magnus’s voice boomed across the wall, cutting through the tension.

’Lord Magnus?’ The men exchanged bewildered glances. None had seen him all day, assuming he remained in his chambers.

"Did he say... pet?"

"What kind of pet is that?"

As if in answer, Vorax, who had been tunneling underground, erupted from the earth, its colossal form revealed to the astonished crowd.

"What in the heavens is that?" someone shouted, a wave of fear washing over the assembled men. Some instinctively recoiled, despite knowing the creature belonged to their lord. The sight of Vorax, with its spinning spikes, gaping maw, and whirling, gear-like teeth, defied the very notion of a "pet."

Recognizing the effect Vorax’s appearance was having, Magnus mentally instructed it to revert to its normal form, preventing his men from succumbing to outright panic. Obeying its master’s command, Vorax rapidly transformed, shifting from its combat state to its usual guise: a three-foot-long, fluffy white worm, appearing harmless and even cute.

The men stared at the transformation in stunned silence.

"What... happened?" they whispered, bewildered. Ignoring their confusion, Vorax crawled towards the wall, scaling it with surprising agility and coiling itself around Magnus’s neck, much to the shock of his men.

Robert, Kelvin, Avice, and the others gaped at Magnus, while Kael remained impassive. He had long since accepted his master’s eccentricities and the seemingly endless supply of hidden surprises.

Meanwhile, Magnus’s men weren’t the only ones astonished by Vorax’s appearance.

"A Celestial beast! Wow, I knew this one was special!" Monkey exclaimed with a wide grin, slapping his belly as his laughter boomed across the sky. His mirth, however, was met with silence. He was no longer alone with the original three figures.

The sky now teemed with hundreds of individuals, each radiating an aura comparable to, or just shy of, the initial group. The combined pressure of their presence was suffocating, even though none were intentionally projecting their power.

"I fear for him, though. With all these evil eyes upon him, I fear for his safety," Monkey added, his laughter subsiding.

A multitude of hostile gazes snapped towards Monkey, waves of killing intent crashing against him. Unfazed, the giant took a sip from his keg, glancing around at the glaring eyes.

"Why? Do you all swear you have no intention of interfering with him?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Don’t be ridiculous, Monkey. You know the rules. None of us would be daring enough to break them," Lin Chen retorted.

"Ridiculous? Daring?" Monkey chuckled. "Such rich words coming from you, Lin Chen. We all know who the most daring person here is, and it’s you. Besides, do you take me for a fool? Heaven only knows how many times you and the rest have broken the rules," Monkey accused.

"You!" Lin Chen roared, his aura flaring as he glared at Monkey, a confrontation brewing.

Just as it was about to erupt, a new voice interrupted.

"Hey, looks like it’s about to begin."

--

Magnus stood before his men, sword drawn and pointed ahead. A large cloud of smoke billowed, followed by the sound of numerous footsteps. Then, they emerged – humans on one side, beasts on the other. The confrontation was imminent.

*Awo!!!!*

A powerful roar shook the very ground, a chorus of wolf-like howls echoing in its wake. Magnus’s grip tightened on his sword.

"Advance!" he commanded, charging forward.

With a single word, war began.

Magnus spearheaded the assault, his speed blurring as he reached the enemy lines. A single, precise slash sent the head of a wolf-like creature flying. Kelvin arrived at his side, his fist engulfed in flames. He slammed it into a creature’s chest, sending it sprawling, its body igniting. Avice followed, unleashing a brilliant ray of light. Wherever the light touched, flesh sizzled and burned. The creatures tried to evade, but to no avail.

Kael’s attack was unlike the others, devoid of flashy displays. Moving faster than the eye could follow, he blended into the shadows. A blade materialized from the darkness, piercing the skull of a charging creature, then vanishing as quickly as it appeared, leaving only a lifeless body. Kael continued his silent dance of death across the battlefield.

The rest of Magnus’s forces arrived, his summons leading the charge. Fireballs, wind blades, arrows, and a variety of other attacks rained down upon the beasts. Robert and the remaining troops joined the fray, the battle escalating into a full-blown war.

Magnus reached for Vorax, still coiled around his neck, and without a word, hurled it into the air. Vorax spun rapidly, expanding mid-air until it reached its combat form. The massive worm slammed into the heart of the beast horde, crushing everything beneath it, sending shockwaves and tremors through the battlefield.

*Roar!*

Vorax unleashed a guttural roar that seemed to tear at the fabric of reality, sending shivers down the spines of both human and beast alike – Magnus excepted. He had witnessed this before, and besides, Vorax was his pet; he felt no fear.

With Vorax wreaking havoc in the center of the horde, Magnus and his men carved a path from the flanks, converging towards the massive worm. This allowed Vorax to fight at its full capacity without endangering Magnus’s forces. The spinning spikes that adorned Vorax’s body ground anything they touched into dust, making it a dangerous ally in close quarters.

With a roar of his own, Magnus refocused on his own fight. He raised his blade to block a massive paw, sliding back slightly from the impact but quickly regaining his footing. His sword flashed, severing the beast’s hand as it lunged for another attack. Another swing, and the head followed. Without pausing, Magnus pressed forward, continuing his relentless assault.