Chapter 22 - The imaginary army

We awoke to the cold morning air.

We hastily packed our stuff, prepping the dragons for another long ride.

“You seem to be in better spirits.” Wilfred noted as I helped stuff the tent into the dragon's bag.

“Yeah... I had a good talk with someone last night.” Perring over to Layla, she caught my gaze. Her head popped with embarrassment, Elvire was curious to her head over heating.

“Alright everyone! Listen up!” Audrey called out, gaining our attention. “Today will be another tough, and climatic battle. We all here have felt The Demon Kings power firsthand.”

The group stayed silent, no one needed to say a word.

“We won’t have any easy means of victory. Our strength will be our tool in this battle. But more important, our reliance on one another.”

We drifted our gazes onto one another, satisfied with the bonds formed in such a short time.

Lard and Blubber fist bumped, sharing the same mind.

“If you wish to sit this out, I will have no obligations. Speak up now.”

Audrey waited in silence. The group shared the same sentiment.

“Boo!” Ari and Ira gave a thumbs down, offended she would ask such a thing.

Audrey let out a sigh of relief. “Let take this fight. We live-”

“-Or we die!” Wit the groups simple cheer, we were off. The sky felt colder than the day before.

Soaring high, we raced in full throttle. The trees and clouds obscured the land below.

“What’s with this weather!?” Layla cried out, holding onto both Conrad and Wilfred trying not to get flung off.

“This is crazy! Why can’t we stay closer or higher than this storm!?” Lard wailed. None of our voiced could be heard as the rain and thunder boomed.

“Audrey!!!” I yelled over nature. “Are we close!?!?”

“Yes! We should be right over head of the front lines!”

“Can’t we go a little lower! I’m drowning up here!” Elvire wailed, her body was back to normal, meaning her complaints were as well.

Audrey steered forward. “We cannot! We must push strong, otherwise we’ll be caught up in the battle!”

“Huh!? From all the way up here!?” I questioned, bewildered at the idea.

“Hey! Where did the siblings go!?” Elvire’s question had my head swivel. S pot to our sides where they flew was now vacant.

“Keep forward! Do not get distracted!” Audrey ordered, keeping us on the task at hand.

I turned around, unable to subdue the itch I felt.

Lard and Blubber were now gone, only us and Wilfred remained.

“We need to go back! What if the others are hurt!?”

“Keep forward! Do not let yourself get distracted!”

I realized right then and there those were not ordered meant for us.

I glanced over to Wilfred and the two. A chain appeared.

In the moment it cut through the cloud, it had already dragged them down.

“Huh...” I was dumbfounded. The rain and winds knocked us around as we continued.

“Audrey!” I yelled.

“FORWARD!!!” She charged; a metal chain was wrapping over our heads.

In one motion, the chain came down. The dragon roared in pain as we were dragged to the earth itself.

“What...”

The scene was beyond my expectations.

The storm we were flying through had blocked out the light, spanning what appeared to be miles.

Magic and attacks unleased, shaping the environment below and attacks landed.

A small number of dragons flew over the battlefield, fighting those who wish to defend the center.

And the core of the sprawling battlefield, hitting the center point of the storm, stood a castle. Its black gothic architecture was the only pristine part of the whole battle. Its intimidating nature was only second the aura it created.

The world itself inverted in color. The air surrounding the castle even from this distance made it appear as a fruitless fight.

I felt the endless dragging of the chains, Elvire held onto me tightly as we descended.

“Hold on!”

“ARRGHHHH!!!” The dragon slammed into the ground. The chains were directly coming from the earth itself, as if the planet opposed our journey.”

“Toshiro, Goddess!” I was happy by the sudden appearance of Lard’s teleportation.

“Where’s the others?” I asked in concern as the battle was in full swing around us. The storm and dragons created chaos as those in the front lines charged.

“They got chained down the same, they’re joining in the charge”

I felt an itch.

I stood, looking around to all the men and woman charging to the center.

“They... They’re running in place?”

The people had no combatants to fight. The dragons blew their fiery breath at nothing. The destruction has been by their own hands.

“What are you talking about!?” Audrey questioned. “Ack!”

She grunted in pain, suddenly hunching forward, an arrow had struck her arm.

“Take cover!” She ordered. “The volley is coming.”

“The... Volley...?” I questioned.

With the sounds of whistling in the air, I witnessed the sky battlefield being hit by countless arrows, ready to catch us in its path.

“Here!” I dragged everyone down, hiding behind the metal of the chain as it clinked with the rain of pointy arrows.

“What is this!?” I shouted, afraid that my botty wasn’t fully conceal.

“It’s the volley! Don’t get caught up when they fire!” Audrey warned.

Waves of arrows... People running in place... And chains the bring those down high in the sky... My itch was strong.

“Lard. I need you to Bring Conrad here than the others!”

“Understood!” He confidently trusted me, teleporting away.

“Audrey!”

“What is it?” She asked, wincing as she broke the shaft of the embedded arrow.

“I need to tell me something. What do you see out on the battlefield?”

“What?” She was confused.

“Uh- Okay...” She poked her head up. The arrows had come to an end. “I see the demon king's army keeping us at a perfect standstill. Our men can’t push past this point.”

“Hmm...” I noted the lack of a present army.

“There isn’t any attackers! It’s an illusion!” Elvrire spoke up.

Eh?

I was surprised the Goddess noticed.

“What do you mean!?” Audrey was confused.

“Okay, I got him!” Lard had teleported back, Conrad in hand.

“What do you need from me boss?” He asked.

“How big of an area can you protect?” I asked him.

“Hmm... I’m not too sure, the bigger the area, the easier my defenses break.”

“Can you protect our party from the arrows.”

“Uh... Yes, I should be capable of that.” He nodded.

“Good. Lard, teleport or guide everyone here which ever you need to do. But make it fast.”

“Understood!” He was quick to obey.

“Audrey!”

“Yessir!”

“I’m going to need you to walk right up to the enemy.”

Audrey went silent as her eyes widened into disbelief.

“Eh?”

“Alright! That’s the last of us.” Lard stated as he brought in Ari.

“Oh, first class teleportation. Thanks Lard.”

His face blushed as Ari gave thanks.

“What's the plan now...” Ira and the rest had their jaws dropped with my explanation. Ari was interested to hear all the buzz.

“We’re going to walk through the enemy lines.”

The group stared, still unsure what they’re hearing.

“Tosh.”

“It's Toshiro.” I corrected Layla.

“There are thousands of demons we would have to walk through, not even these solders are able to break through. How are we going to walk through?”

“Ah, that's the trick. Goddess...” I gave her the floor.

“The demons are an illusion.” She stated.

“Huh?” The group didn’t believe her. They turned their attention back onto the battlefield, witnessing blades clashing with the Demon King’s army.

“That is very much as real as you and me.” Ari stated.

“Audrey.” I gestured to my second piece of evidence.

“It is true. I had walked through their lines, expecting to be cut down. But I was ignored.”

“Huh?” The group was again taken aback.

“A-hem.” The Goddess garnered their attention. “Illusions work with perspective of magic. Stonger the emotions thrown at it-”

“-The stronger the illusion becomes.” I chimed in.

“So... We walked through a horde we perceive and real, hoping they’re not... And we’ll be safe?” Wilfred reiterated.

“Well, not entirely safe. The arrows are very real.” The group looked at me, jaws slacked. “But... We have Conrad’s ability to shield us, clearing that.”

I gestured to my final piece of the puzzle. He waved not knowing how to respond.

“This... This is suicide...” Ira and Ari wailed.

“AAHHH!!!” The group yelled in terror.

The volley of arrows rained down, Conrad’s shield acting as an invisible shield.

“I was wrong! This is Hell!!!” Ira wailed and he embraced Ari in fear.

Everyone's eyes stared in fear to the invisible horde, terrified on of the demons would strike.

“Stand strong! Me and Tosh will tell you if there's danger!” Elvire proclaimed, easing their tensions but only a bit.

I understood their position. Trusting two people to tell you your own vision is lying to you. And the sea of monsters wasn’t real as they hold your hand guiding you through it.

The world inverted in color, blacks turned white and vice versa.

“We’re nearly there! Push forward!”

“A- Aye!” The group let out a weak battle cry, entrusting themselves to me.

We walked a far distance. Eventually, we made it to a grand staircase, two big doors rested on the top.

With a swing of Audrey's concentrated magic, she blew open the doors. An empty echo filled the entrance.

“Let's make out way up. The Demon King must be towards the top.” Audrey stated, the group nodded in agreement.

The castle had many stairs. The corridors were empty, and the big open spaces were lonely.

What’s the point of a castle if no one lives in it?

My mind was abuzz, the group feared heavy resistance once inside but so far it has been desolated, many feeling a bit disappointed.

We reached what appeared to be a grand entrance to the main cathedral of the castle, imposing its size.

The group felt the pressure, knowing a threat was behind these doors.

“Ready?” Elvire asked me in private.

I looked up to the size of the doors, pondering. “Yes.” I met her gaze, she responded with a genuine smile.

With a sudden burst of the doors, the final stand made itself clear.

Resting on a step, Discordia looked in amazement to our arrival.

“It took you two days this time. I’m glad my puppy is learning to keep space.”

Her leg was still missing. In its place was pure concentrated magic, the others looked in bewilderment as she appeared to stand one leg.

The group couldn't pay mind for too long. The single entity, sitting upon a throne had the group shaken with fear. I gazed upon those Golden eyes, feeling the uncaring nature she presented.

“Hello daughter.” I greeting, taking the first step forward.

“Hm.” She grunted, staring down with cold eyes. “I see you have found yourself.”

She observed my confident eyes, hers told me she was still stuck on a single emotion. “What do you hope to achieve here, Father?”

I smiled, my grin both mischievous and genuine I could only think of one thing I wanted to do.

“I’m going to be your father! Here and now! I’m going to solve your boredom!”