I Was a Loner, but My Class Got Summoned to Another World…

The inside of Aegis Bastion, the first fortress Roland had taken from General Targo Grivoss, was dim and cold, lit only by a few lanterns and the hero's scattered orbs of light. Outside, the last traces of daylight had faded; it was well past sunset.

Roland suspected the demons knew the sun now rose over these lands, which was why they'd kept their vampire minions away until they were sure the time was right.

At least, that was his guess as he stood over a broad wooden table, eyes fixed on the map spread across it.

His fingers traced the inked outline of Wraith Pass, moving along the marked positions that showed the enemy's advance.

The last marker lay just under three kilometers away, close enough that the real fight would begin in no more than half an hour.

"This is where we hold them," Roland said, tapping the marked section of the pass with his index finger. "They'll try probing attacks to see how many we have here. They'll test our range, and most importantly, our patience. I don't want a single arrow loosed until you're certain the fight has begun. They've got plenty of hostages, and one of them might be someone you know."

A few of the soldiers shifted uncomfortably, their expressions hardening at the mention of hostages. Roland's gaze swept the room, catching each of their eyes in turn.

"If they start dragging prisoners into view, ignore it," he said, his tone firm. "That's bait to draw you out of position. Remember, I will be going in while you all distract them."

One of the younger archers frowned. "Sir, what about the defectors? If they come this way during the attack, how will we tell the enemy from the ally?"

"They'll be coming with a light bearer," Roland replied without hesitation. "Prince Lucien will sort them out."

From his side, Stella's voice cut in, low but calm. "I will be able to detect if they are allies using my ward; anyone hostile will not be able to pass, so everyone relax…"

The soldiers who had been exchanging uneasy glances seemed to steady themselves after seeing their princess display the kind of bravery they should have mustered. Roland didn't let his own doubt surface either; he was seconds from moving out, her words settling warmly in the back of his mind as he smiled lovingly toward her.

"All the more reason for us to hold here," he said at last. "If the enemy doesn't break through Aegis Bastion, they'll have a much harder time striking at the Light Spirit's barrier from behind. Just remember, if we're overrun, leave the fort. This is only a diversion the demons are using to mask their true aim: the barrier."

A long silence followed before he turned back to the table. "That will be all, the first sign of the demons should be soon, so everyone move out."

The soldiers saluted and filed out into the cold night air, leaving only Roland and Stella in the quiet war room.

"I'll be leaving now, Stella. Please keep them safe. We don't have many, but we should be able to handle the demons with these numbers. If all else fails, cast your brightest ward. I'll be here in no time."

"I'll do that," she replied, her tone steady, "but please be careful. It's still at least fifteen to twenty thousand demons you'll be fighting alone this time."

"I'm not alone," Roland said with a teasing grin. "Norelli and Elios are with me. They're a pretty strong force… even if they keep fighting in my head!"

At that, both voices in his mind went abruptly silent, making him smirk.

With no more time to spare, Roland stepped forward, pulled his wife into his arms, and kissed her before turning toward the door.

Soon, he was outside the Bastion walls. The night was dark with some clouds overhead as he rode his great bird around the field, pushing it to its fastest speed while avoiding detection. His goal was to get near the demons' rear, ready to strike the moment the signal came.

It wasn't long before he reached a nearby cliff overlooking the pass. From there, he could see the demons emerging, their march slow but relentless. Cages were dragged behind them, pulled by vampire fledglings and massive beasts, while other demons walked or rode atop monstrous mounts.

As he focused on calculating their numbers, Roland recalled Norelli's words from earlier.

[Three days. You'll see the signal the fledglings will make a mess of things before you even lift your blade.]

Roland stood still, watching what would unfold, his sword ready, a few gems already out so he could toss them.

They were not the most powerful of the light bombs since he didn't want to accidentally kill the fledglings who would be the distraction, but it would put the demons in a chaotic state.

As the demons began to form a proper formation, to close in on the fortress, Roland counted the minutes until they finally stopped a good kilometer before the fort, as if afraid to get closer.

Roland wondered why they would attempt all this when two of their generals had died so easily just two weeks ago to his firepower.

Even so, he didn't have time to dwell on it. Just as his thoughts began to drift, a mental alert reached him.

[Go, I will start in a few seconds.]

Almost immediately, shrieks and wails erupted from the center of the formation. Fledglings went wild, sinking their teeth into demons and lashing out at anything nearby.

Demons were not immune to becoming vampires, and they feared them as much as any other race. Yet vampires disliked demon blood, even if they could feed on it. That was why they usually fought side by side.

With no need to stay hidden, Roland urged his bird forward and plunged into battle. His hands flicked out mana stones, each the size of a marble, before his blades carved into the enemy.

He did not stop his two arms from moving; he was using his two blades this time to make it easier to hit enemies from both sides as he got closer to the center, cutting heads and throats while explosions began to blast behind him.

The more than fifteen thousand demons ahead would be difficult but not impossible to handle. His first goal was clear reach the center, protect those trapped in cages, and raise a barrier.

If he could do that, the castle could unleash its true bombardment.

His bird leapt and stepped over bodies, forcing its way through the chaos. The ride jolted and swayed, but Roland's blades never stopped or missed. They spun like a whirlwind, each stroke cutting through flesh and armor alike.

Light trailed from his weapons, a gleam like something out of a science-fiction scene. The sensation of wielding them now filled him with exhilaration.

Another handful of mana stones scattered ahead of him, bursting as he drove through the last stretch. Then his mount surged into the air briefly, but enough to clear the final obstacle.

In seconds, the barrier flared into place around the prisoners. A blinding column of light shot skyward; it was the signal he had told them beforehand.

All along the walls, archers and mages took aim. Siege crews swung their weapons into position, waiting for the second signal.

Now Roland only had to hold the line, fighting off both the demons hammering at the barrier and the deadly rain of fire that would soon follow from above.

He looked around and counted at least eight cages, each the size of a small trailer. They were crammed with far more humans than they were meant to hold, the captives fitting only because of their frail, starved figures.

The sight gave him even more motivation to keep fighting to protect them, to see them fed. Children huddled inside, some too weak to even move.

This only made Roland promise himself he would work harder than ever once this battle was over.

[What about your fledglings, Norelli? Should I try to save them?]

Some would be difficult to rescue, especially when they kept lunging at him as if he were the enemy.

[Kill them all, they are like that because I gave up my control over them, they are no more than mindless zombies without a brain or will, they will die off without someone giving them instructions.]

Roland liked that, at least it meant free experience, and he wouldn't have to worry about what to do with them afterward.

Good. Then I'm sorry, but you will lose them in mere seconds…

He shrank the barrier, letting the fledglings burn away under the concentrated firepower. All he needed now was for the demons who might be on their side to get inside the barrier. Norelli's earlier estimates put the number between five and eight thousand.

One by one, they crossed the barrier's edge, rushing toward the center as fast as they could. Some even showed goodwill by breaking open the cages or snapping the locks to free the prisoners.

Once enough had entered, Roland expanded the barrier again, pushing back all who couldn't make it through and giving those inside one final chance before he lit the sky once more.

On his second signal first volleys screamed through the air.

The demons who believed they had stayed at a safe distance were in for a rude awakening.

They had no idea Roland had come prepared, using illusion magic to make the fortress appear farther away than it truly was.

It was a risky gamble since Roland had no way of knowing exactly where the enemy would stop, and it had taken the combined effort of eight illusion magicians to pull it off.

Soon, the ground trembles as explosions rang out.