"[MANA SHOTGUN]!"
As the voice roared thousands of explosions rumbled like a firing line. The advancing army not only got halted but they were utterly decimated. Yet even with the ground full of holes like an endless wave shadows kept advancing. No matter how many they annihilated they just kept coming.
To the west, a 20-meter avatar swung his greatsword nonstop with each swipe of his colossal weapon the largest of the shadows fell like grass.
To the east, an unbelievable shout that shook the heavens resounded. A black dragon covered in orange armor slammed its claws and tail unto the ground.
To the rear explosion after explosion annihilated even the very air. In the wake of each explosion, an army of assassins raced to kill as many enemies as they could.
Finally, to the skies, a goddess controlled a swarm of swords made from calibers. Like a pack of piranhas, they tore apart any shadow that took to the air. Every so often the swords would assist the ones below. Like a deity of steel, the sword saint rained weapons of destruction from above.
Hiro checked and noticed something earlier. The enemies they were fighting did not register in the system. These formless shadows dissipated when they took enough damage. But they neither granted experience nor items. Naturally, this presented a problem.
Heavenly Sword due to the influence of Hiro fought like lunatics due to his skill set that encourages power leveling. The exp boosts all culminated in being regenerated by level-ups. Caliber store refilling also added a huge perk. Without either their combat styles prevented them from fighting at optimal efficiency.
While most of Hiro's realities from [Heart's Dogma] granted increased caliber regeneration, currently all of them were out. His wives upon undergoing the ritual suddenly could no longer be seen by the system. Fortunately, unlike the last time, the butcher saw his wives thus he did not panic.
However, this remained a problem. In the system chats, the members of Heavenly Sword tried to create a plan. While keeping each other up to date.
[Lars]: Tsugu love, new fliers are coming from our area. Twenty-five gargoyles and fourteen harpies.
[Tsugumi]: Again? I just made sure nothing was flying earlier! Oh! I am not angry at you love, thank you for telling me. I will send a sword group now.
[Geo]: Dear, don't separate your swords too much okay? They are stronger when in a formation.
[Tsugumi]: Geo dear, I swear you are as overprotective as Nii-sama. But thank you for caring for me!
A group of thirty-six swords then flew like fighter jets in a formation and impaled and beheaded the new fliers from the rear. In any battle, air superiority reigned supreme. The ability to reinforce your allies unhindered naturally granted them an extra layer of security.
[Aurum]: Tsugu-baby I got shadow gorilla's on my back again. Can you please snipe them?
[Tsugumi]: Yes baby. I am personally heading there now.
The only man not from Tsugumi's harem felt like he was going to barf. Sword Dynasty as an Arcus harem naturally gave Tsugumi her dream of being pampered by gorgeous men.
While the butcher liked the idea of Tsugumi being protected. Hearing them flirt as they did battle started to get on his nerves.
[Hiro]: You guys know I am here right? Or are you intentionally doing this to annoy me?
[Tsugumi]: Shut up Nii-sama, you of all people have no right to say such bullshit. I will ask my Onee-samas to beat your ass when they get out.
[Hiro]: What the fuck did I do that is worth a beating?
[Tsugumi]: For being an asshole. Every time you open your mouth I feel you are trying to reign on my parade!
[Hiro]: Listen here you little shit...
[Dragon]: You humans are so noisy. Aunt, a few shadows got past me.
[Tsugumi]: Okay niece, I will send a few swords.
Luckily right now the battle barely lasted thirty minutes, due to the high stats everyone could still get by. But without level-ups, once Heavenly Sword burned through their supplies they would begin to have problems.
A couple of shadows in the shape of panthers pounced on Hiro, the butcher bent down and kneeled while he buried his longswords into their intestines. Less than a second later both panthers disappeared in smoke.
Using his senses Hiro followed the smoke and noticed it transferred to Aurum's side and became knights that wielded axes that joined in assaulting the Son of Standar.
When he tried to use his AGI to count the army, he noticed their numbers have not changed.
"An army that never dies? What the hell is this?" Hiro then sent a message to his battle harem.
[Hiro]: Try to conserve your calibers, I tried following these shadows and after they evaporate they return to another area.
[Tsugumi]: Nii-sama! Then isn't this a battle we cannot win? How can we fight against such a thing? Is this similar to the [Forsaken]? I thought these people should be the [Convent of Shadows].
[Hiro]: I don't know. But try to prepare for the worse. Do not go in too deep.
As if listening into their discussions after Geo's latest explosion the shadows around him all headed towards Aurum. The noticeable difference in number translated into both Aurum and his summon being overrun.
"Shit! Get off me you fuckers! [Hammer Spin]!" The descendant of Caelum spun like a top and used his greatsword to cleave the shadows into pieces. However unlike before not every shadow that got struck dissipated.
The ones that survived intended to attack Aurum once he stopped and got stuck by the stupor window. "Shit, [Skill Cancel]! [Straight Drive]!" in response, the man canceled the last blow and charged the ones that survived impaling his greatsword one after another like a meat skewer.
[Aurum]: Everyone! Take care, they are getting tougher!
"KYA!!!"
A feminine scream sent a frigid touch onto the spines of everyone present. They then saw Tsugumi fall off her sword and plummet onto the ground. The shadows in Aurum's area under the cover of their allies created homing spells that hunted Tsugumi.
Suddenly overwhelmed by the sheer number attacking her, Tsugumi failed to evade them all and fell off her sword. Her Jians all similarly froze and fell like rocks from the sky.
"TSUGUMI!"
The fastest among them Lars quickly entered the Spirit Realm and chased after her. With only seconds to spare the San-Baka covered in Spirit armor caught his beloved as they rolled onto the ground. Upon checking he found Tsugumi spasming uncontrollably like she had been electrocuted.
[Tsugumi]: Nii-sama! The hordes are all heading to Aurum's side! Help him, please! He is going to be overrun!
[Hiro]: Okay, are you alright?
[Tsugumi]: I will be fine, I am just paralyzed. The armies are starting to pick us off one by one!
[Lars]: Master I will head to your side with Tsugumi.
[Hiro]: Geo can you hold alone?
[Geo]: I will do my best Aniki. Go!
Hiro used the Spirit Realm to travel the distance in short bursts. When he arrived at Aurum's area he saw the shadows covering the Caliber avatar like ants. Their claws, fangs, and weapons mercilessly hammered the summon.
Eventually, the damage became too great and it shattered like glass. After the giant vanished, like a tide of oil, the shadows slammed into the ground akin to a tidal wave.
The butcher scanned the area trying to find Aurum, only to see him held up by his hair by a 3-meter tall knight. The knight covered in shadow swung his ax to chop Aurum's neck.
Before the weapon could touch him however a shout echoed through the skies. "[SPEAR OF LONGINUS]!"
A golden light passed that annihilated everything in its path.
A familiar voice then announced "DYLAN LANCEA DOMINII NOW JOINS THE BATTLE! GAE-BOLG BEGIN ASSAULT!!"
