Battle Cry - Part 1

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The warning trumpet blares from the distance as the scouts hastily dismiss themselves from their hiding spot. For those who hear the signal, friend or foe, suspense and fear strike their hearts.

Especially for those who are attacking—the Demon army. The sound of this distinctive siren can mean many things. It could signify that the Angels have already spotted their advance or that an ambush is being carried out. A whirlwind of thoughts forces their minds to be on high alert after the exhausting, non-stop incursion they have been executing.

"They've reached Heaven's ground and are about to plough down the trees," one of the scouts reports his findings to Hadraniel upon returning to the gate. "And as we've learned, their numbers might double ours."

"They've managed to increase their numbers after all these countless years, huh? What beastly creatures they are," Hadraniel mutters, his experience with them in the Great War leaving him detesting their existence.

"But with what we have planned, we can reduce their numbers to match ours using this tactic," the Angel reminds Hadraniel, referring to a method recently taught to them.

"I can't believe that a damned Archdemon's tactic is our best option to use right now," Hadraniel mutters to himself, recalling his conversation with Lucifer when they imprisoned him here. "Good. We shall now prepare for the attack."

"Understood, sir." Once instructed, the Angel leaves his post, dons his armour, equips his weapons, and mentally prepares himself for battle. He ensures that his armour is properly fastened and secured, and checks the condition of his weapons, particularly his trusted sword. Then, he joins his comrades, who are also preparing for the fight and listens to any final instructions from Hadraniel, his commanding officer.

The Angel takes a deep breath, steeling himself for the violence to come, and marches with his unit to the battle lines. There, he awaits the signal to charge and engage the enemy, ready to fight for his God and his survival.

A range of emotions courses through their blood—fear, anxiety, and excitement. They are aware of the danger that lies ahead and are worried about the outcome of the battle. At the same time, they are motivated by a sense of duty and loyalty to their God, ready to defend Him at all costs.

The Angels are on edge, constantly scanning the horizon for any signs of the enemy, ready to respond at a moment's notice. The waiting period before the attack is a mixture of fear and anticipation as the Angels steel themselves for what is to come.

"Looks like everyone is ready," Hadraniel murmurs to himself as he looks at the line of soldiers he will command and lead against a force they almost forgot about after the long-lasting peace. Looking up to the sky, he prays, "May God give us strength in overcoming this hindrance to His order."

When the sky darkens with thick clouds of smoke rising from the burning trees and fields, the silhouette of their enemies rides through the scorched land. They are a powerful army, clad in steel armour and carrying sharp weapons, on their way to conquer the entire land, painting it as if it were Hell itself.

At the front of the army, six commanding generals stick out from the rest and survey the landscape. The Angels begin to cower as they see the ruthless individuals with hearts of stone and a thirst for death.

Determined to claim the land for their own, the enemy generals would stop at nothing to achieve their goal. As they march onto the clear moat that surrounds the gate, they see the walls of the fortress towering over them and the army of Angels waiting to defend it.

Beelzebub, acting as the leader, raises his hand, signalling the soldiers to halt. He studies the enemy, sizing them up and calculating the best way to defeat them. The tension is palpable as the two armies face off against each other, both sides determined to emerge victorious.

Not long after, Beelzebub finally gives the signal to attack, and the demons charge forward, their weapons raised and ready to strike. The Angels hold their ground, their line is solid and unwavering, their weapons ready to defend their home.

However, as the Demon army charges forward to engage in battle, they suddenly fall into a trap set by the Angels under the moat. The ground gives way, and the soldiers plunge into the depths below, where they are met with sharp spikes and dangerous traps.

The Angels had set up this death trap in secret, with most of them placing their spears inside, waiting for the perfect moment to activate it and catch their enemies off guard.

"What the?" Beelzebub, as keen as he is, manages to cheat death by swiftly pulling out his wings and flying back to safety. Once he lands in a secure spot, the other Demons of Sin also follow suit, equally sharp in avoiding danger.

But the others are taken by surprise and are unable to react quickly enough. They too fall into the trap along with their army. The sounds of clashing steel and battle cries are replaced with screams and cries for help.

"Help me! HELP!" The hopeless Demons sacrificed to the trap, fail to evoke even the tiniest sympathy from the eyes of the Angels.

"I will kill you, you fucking Angels!" Their determination melts into an unachievable dream, a fierce fire within, fueling their desire to reach for the stars and conquer every obstacle that stands in their way.

But as time passes and reality sets in, that determination begins to soften, becoming a longing that transforms into an unachievable dream—one that lingers in the heart and mind, never fully fading but never quite within reach.

The Angels, on the other hand, watch from the safety of the walls, ready to defend the gate should any of the Demons manage to escape the death trap. But as the dust settles and the noise dies down, they realize that their tactic has worked better than they had hoped.

The enemy army has been decimated in half, with only a few stragglers managing to escape. Hadraniel, feeling a mix of relief and satisfaction, orders his troops to prepare for the next stage of their plan. They will not let their guard down and will continue to defend their home and God, always ready for the next battle.

"The tactic has proven to be more effective than I thought," Hadraniel turns to the Angel beside him and nods. He watches as the trap works its magic, significantly reducing the enemy army's numbers.

"But it won't be enough to defeat them all," the Angel chimes in. Reducing their numbers is one thing, but having to sacrifice their own lives feels a bit sickening.

"Indeed," Hadraniel agrees. "But it will give us the upper hand. We will continue with the plan and push forward."

As Beelzebub regroups with his fellow Demons of Sin, he realizes the extent of the Angels' cunning tactics. He cannot believe that they would stoop so low as to use such underhanded methods to defeat their enemies.

"It must've been Lucifer," Beelzebub mutters to himself, gritting his teeth with irritation.

Filled with anger and frustration, Beelzebub gathers what remains of his forces. His piercing eyes convey his determination as he issues a command for the demons to take flight and attack from above and below. The Angels have successfully outmanoeuvred his army, and he realizes that they should not waste any more time and must take a new approach.

"Everyone spread your wings! We are going to make them pay, dead or alive!" Beelzebub commands and a trumpet sound can be heard, signalling their new proposed plan.

As the army begins to split into two, the first half takes flight, soaring towards the sky. The Angels guarding the gate watch in fear as the black reapers approach, their weapons at the ready. The sound of their engines is like a chorus of death, and the Angels know that this is the moment they have feared.

The first half of the army unleashes a barrage of missiles, aimed directly at the gate. The Angels quickly respond, firing back with all their might. But it is no use; the Demons are too many, and their weapons are too powerful.

The second half of the army approaches from beneath, their weapons blazing. The Angels are forced to choose between shooting down the flying reapers or focusing their energy on holding the gate's door shut.

They choose the latter because they know that if the gate were to fall, their entire city would be vulnerable to attack. The ground shakes as the second half of the army detonates their weapons, creating a massive hole in the earth. The Angels hold fast, their forces working tirelessly to keep the door from collapsing.

But their efforts are in vain. The combined strength of the Demons is too much, and the door begins to crack. With a deafening roar, the restraint is released, and the gate is destroyed, marking the beginning of the Second Great War.