Chapter 5. Fomorians. Part 1.
Lilith stood among other mercenaries and observed Ash valley. The journey to get here took almost eight month. Almost all that time they were cramped in a small cargo hall of the ship. Food was lousy, and she used up part of her own rations. Along the way they did make two stops in port towns. First one was called Endgoal, while other was Wrathon, where main demon army fleet joined them. Town’s were major hubs for trade and ocean routes. They were also military outposts, from which demons send their armies for conquest and battles. In the past towards Human continent, and now to battle fomorians. They made stops there to resupply and Lilith used opportunity to visit towns. They reminded her Devilium. Similar architecture and inhabitants, just less human the further they got from Romanium. They crossed more than a half of Lucifer’s empire, traveling near the coast, which prevented Lilith from seeing most of the demon empire.
Behind them, fleet was leaving. Lilith was happy to leave the ship at first, but now she witnessed Ash valley and had mix feelings, about her uncomfortable life on board of ship.
Before her eyes lay Ash Valley – an enormous expanse that seemed to stretch on forever in every direction.
The once vibrant green forests were now nothing but charred remnants; twisted skeletons reaching upwards like skeletal arms, begging mercy from unfeeling sky above. A thick layer of ash coated everything visible within sight here. A grim testament to countless battles waged upon this barren battlefield across millennia.
In some places, craters marred landscape itself, where powerful magic had torn through fabric of reality itself, during those ancient conflicts, long since faded into legend now.
The air hung heavy with an unnatural stillness – broken only by occasional gust of wind, which kicked up clouds of dark particles, swirling amidst eerie silence surrounding party as they stood, taking measure if grim scene spread before them. Lilith could scarcely imagine what horrors had transpired here throughout ages. Legends said that demons, led by Lucifer himself, burn the forests to the ground to make land inhospitable for fomorians, who dared to challenge them. They reduced lush forests to this barren land, destroying fruitful lands of once powerful fomorian empire.
After that fomorians retreated to three lakes and now lived under water. Three lakes resembled a skull when seen from above, which landed them a name – Skull lakes.
Ash Valley bordered South ocean from north, where demon fleet landed and from three other sides were surrounded by mountains. Inside Ash valley was also a huge mountain, which contained entrance to Dark continents oldest and most dangerous Ancient Dungeon. Lilith hoped to avoid the dungeon. Luckily they had no intension to go near it. According to Adamus, demon plan was to attack the fomorians from behind, while second army would draw their attention, marching on them from the north.
Army was led by one of the fallen angels – archangel of wrath Abaddon. Lilith did not see him, but mercenaries whispered tales about their leader. One of the seven fallen archangels, who ruled Lucifer’s empire alongside demon emperor.
His armies were standing on their left. Several thousand demon warriors, ready to lay waste to fomorians, who dared to challenge them.
The sight was both terrifying and awe-inspiring – a sea of twisted forms that seemed almost unnatural beneath sunlight.
The demons came in all shapes and sizes; some towering above even Kragor’s immense form, while others scuttled along ground like nightmarish insects. Many bore the marks of battle upon their bodies – scars crisscrossing mottled skin, hinting at countless conflicts fought through ages past here, amidst this desolate landscape.
At center mass stood a figure even more imposing than those surrounding him – an archangel by all accounts, though Lilith could only glimpse shadowed form beneath heavy armor plate that seemed to absorb very light itself. The whispered tales among mercenaries spoke of Abaddon – one fallen from grace millennia ago, now leading these legions of hell-born against fomorian threat, threatening borders of Lucifer’s empire beyond.
But most of demons were human like, armed with swords and axes, in heavy iron armor. Among then stood a core of sorcerers. They attracted Lilith’s attention.
– What’s the difference between mages and sorcerers? – she asked Sharr.
– Mages use their mana to create natural phenomena. While sorcerers use their mana and transform it into unnatural phenomena, – whispered snakeman: – For example your fire ball would create ordinary ball of yellow fire, while sorcerers would create black fire, which wound would not heal, and would definitely infect the wounded soldier’s burns.
– What about casting technique?
– It is described as the same. Create a magic circle in your mind’s eye, and fill it with your mana to create a magical phenomena. Also if you have Magic resistance skill, it would protect you from both magic and sorcery.
– Good to know. Know anything about fomorian magic?
– No, my lady. Sadly, I do not.
– Too bad.
Lilith turned up front, when she saw Adamus.
– Time to go lads, – he bellowed: – Towards our little victorious battle.
Mercenaries screamed, but their voices lacked true inspiration. No one looked forward to traveling through Ash Valley.
As the combined armies of demons and mercenaries marched through Ash Valley, a sense of foreboding settled over them like a shroud. The barren landscape stretched on endlessly – an unforgiving expanse. An air of grim determination hung heavy over the vast expanse. The once verdant landscape lay scorched and barren – a testament to the countless battles that had ravaged this forsaken land across millennia and would see even more blood and sorcery now.
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