Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

Guardian's Keep was led by Zi Jing and built as a support to the Southern Tower. The latter did most of the battle and mining while the former focused on crafting and processing. With that said, those that resided in this base were craftsmen and researchers, not soldiers. There were certainly defenses and what not but the number of people that could fight in combat was pitiful compared to the other armies. 

Still, among the strongholds, Guardian's Keep had the greatest defense. 

What was the need for soldiers when there were walls fortified with layers of Deepwater Steel, towers with cannons and artillery, all manner of tricks and innovation. 

All of these things born from the minds of Zi Jing and his men. 

Just outside was the Tide King and his men, camped outside of the stronghold. They were stopped at the gates, blocked by a barrier. But it wouldn't last for long especially from the constant attacks. After all, it was just a few dozen men but all of his soldiers, hundreds upon hundreds. 

They even had crates of those spiked balls, their own cannons, and other weapons, all brought in by that warship. Under Hai Zhu's command, they laid siege to the keep, shooting at the barrier, trying to breach it. 

And at this moment, Guardian's Keep was in chaos.

"Get the defenses going!"

"How much of our stock is left? Do we have enough ammunition?"

"Come on, those demons aren't going to just wait for us!"

"Gah! Get the two commanders safe and cared for! Don't forget about our comrades from the Southern Tower! We have to hold until reinforcements come!"

The various craftsmen and anyone else who could move scrambled about. The rumbling of explosions could be heard from the walls, making it even tenser for them. All of it was so sudden for them.

The arrival of their half-dead commander, the news of the Southern Tower's destruction, and the advent of the demons. 

One thing came after another, like a chain of events that rocked the men to their feet. 

"Come on! Aim at the demons!"

"Someone help load up the cannons!"

"Whose watching the artillery?!"

"When did they have bombs? Were they hiding this the whole time?"

The counterattack was weak as best as they tried, composed of a wild barrage of shots and explosions. The only word one would use to describe it was "messy" and their display of prowess only made the demons laugh out loud.

"Ahahaha! Were the humans always this weak?! Let's break the barrier and kill them!"

Wheeling their cannons closer, every demon knew their job, partly because of Hai Zhu's leadership. They moved quickly, loading up the barrels and planting more of those spiked balls or bombs rather. Piling it on in one spot, everyone retreated while those manning the cannons aimed at that very spot. 

Hai Zhu stepped forward and held his trident out, filling it with power and causing the bombs to tremble. 

"On my mark!"

From within, the many men and women grouped together, protecting themselves.  They watched the gate closely, readying their personal weapons. It ranged from hammers to crossbows and even a small cannon, a hand cannon to be exact. It was etched with red and carried a small gem above the trigger*

"They're about to breach the keep! Defend it! Live or die, this is our home!" one of them shouted. 

The other roared out but their hands trembled. For some, it was their first battle. They were craftsmen at heart, after all, war was not in their blood. 

And outside, Hai Zhu looked waited, there was silence in this place. Staring at the keep, he knew that the humans were preparing for the barrier to break. This was the moment he would relish in. 

"Once I have control over this lake, I could do so much with it. I wouldn't have to work under Kong Zhi. Vajra bloodline or not, he's going to have to ask me for the resources. He's going to have to bow down to me!"

On that note, he slammed the trident down, signaling to his men and detonating the bombs. The cannons fired and the bombs exploded, blowing a hole in the barrier and rupturing the gate too. 

"Charge! Take the stronghold! Kill the humans! Go!" he commanded. 

Happy to follow his orders, they ran forward, sprinting towards the open gates with their weapons swinging about. 

The explosion could be heard for hundreds of kilometers and Ming Yue heard it clearly. Rather, she saw the pillar of fire and ash and the barrier that shattered to pieces. 

Looking at Shen Varuna, whose eyes were fearful, she took out Drifting Sky. Her other hand formed the Zephyr Claws for there was no need to be silent here. Then ghostly blue energy flowed from her body as she let go of the child and her two beasts. 

"I'll be sending you three into the base, okay?" she spoke with a smile. 

The little demon stood back in shock at this power but nodded, hugging Hei Yue instead. The moment, she turned around, her face went cold like ice. 

"Storm Lance."

Six crackling lances of wind formed as she stepped off the wind sword and dropped down, flying straight for the demons. 

The wind sword continued to fly before landing inside the stronghold, right in front of the crafters. Their eyes widened in shock, unable to fathom the sudden appearance of this demon child as two beasts. 

Before anyone could even think past that, their ears were struck by the sound of thunder as the storm lances blasted apart everything in its blast. 

Ming Yue landed in front of the gates, right in the middle of the demon army. With just her entrance, dozens of demons had died, some had their bodies ripped apart from the shock, others were vaporized. 

"What?! Who?!"

Hai Zhu's men stopped moving, staring at the fluttering dust where an eerie blue light glowed from within. Then it vanished and everything had become quiet once more. All of them turned around took at each other, confused as to what just happened. 

The Tide King, himself, knew that something was wrong, someone had arrived.

"Stay wary! Someone else has come!"

He warned them but it was too late. Several thuds were heard as bodies dropped to the ground. 

"What?! What happened?"

The soldiers were stunned, unable to see how their comrades had died. But the state their bodies were left in sent chills down their bodies. Their faces were shredded apart, separated from their body with a clean strike. But that was it, there was no sign of anyone or anything. The only proof was the dead bodies.

"Damn it! Charge into the fortress! Whoever this person is, they'll have to reveal themselves!"

Hai Zhu stamped his trident on the ground, causing the remaining bombs to fly out. 

"Explode!"

At his command, they burst out in a fiery explosion in the sky allowing the demons some few seconds of cover. Steeling themselves, all of the demons ran for the fortress confident in their leader. 

As expected, the eerie light appeared, flying through them and killing those in her way. Then Ming Yue stopped at the gate, looking at this mob of demons. 

"A human girl!"

"Kill her!"

Those closest to her began to swell in power as they activated their bloodlines, raising their weapons to attack her. She only looked at them, taking note of their positions. Even then, there were several hundred of them. 

"I should finish this quickly. That demon with the trident, he must be the Tide King, I should've gone for him first."

She tightened her grip on Drifting Sky, preparing to make her move. Just then, she heard a loud bang as a fist-sized flaming ball shot past her, hitting the nearest demon in the stomach and throwing the soldier into those behind him. 

"Help the girl! Defend Guardian's Keep!"

Standing by the crafters of this place was Commander Yu Zhen, wielding her giant saber with both arms. She was sweating heavily and the armor she wore covered the bandages.. But she was awake and she had some strength, she wasn't going to just stay in the backlines. 

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