The first official battle began at dawn.
Until then, we had carried out tactical attacks, strategic cuts, rapid movements. That was indirect warfare. Control of pace. Calculated pressure.
But that morning, the demonic vanguard advanced in open formation.
It was not a test.
It was an invasion.
I was on the elevated northern line when the signal was given. Three black columns emerged among the trees, breaking through vegetation without concern for subtlety. Heavy infantry at the front. Conjurers in the center. Corrupted beasts pulling mobile structures behind.
The forest reacted.
The leaves trembled under the impact of the dense mana advancing.
Elara placed the tactical map on a natural wooden surface.
"Triangular formation. They will try to forcefully open a clearing."
Lyannis analyzed movement patterns.
"The immediate objective is to break the first elven line and establish a fixed point."
Rai'kanna already held her weapon firmly.
"Then we don't let them."
Liriel was silent, eyes closed.
Focused.
Scarlet stopped beside me.
"This time it's not a quick attack."
"No."
I stepped down from the platform.
"It's total containment."
I transmitted the orders.
Elven archers took the upper canopy. Mages formed sustaining circles at the central roots. A+ adventurers split by specialty: heavy defense, mobility, magical support.
Two hundred adventurers.
Thousands of elven soldiers behind the main line.
It was the first time all would fight together.
The first demonic wave advanced at a steady speed. Shields raised. Steps synchronized. The ground vibrated.
"Now," I ordered.
The first rain of arrows descended.
Precise. Coordinated. Directed at the conjurers.
Magical shields rose immediately. Part of the arrows was deflected.
They were prepared.
The clash happened seconds later.
Demonic infantry collided with the elven defense with brute force. The sound of impact echoed through the trees.
I advanced through the center, opening space where the pressure was greatest.
Scarlet moved in through the right flank, blade precise, movement economical.
Rai'kanna attacked from the front, breaking shields with heavy blows.
But their numbers were high.
And they kept coming.
Elara coordinated constant repositioning.
"Unit three, two steps left. Do not form a funnel."
Lyannis transmitted secondary orders with cold precision.
Vespera appeared and disappeared, eliminating isolated conjurers before they could complete larger spells.
Even so, the pressure increased.
The second demonic column reached the line minutes later.
Shields began to give way.
An elven captain was thrown backward with his chest pierced.
The war stopped being organization.
It became survival.
I looked at Liriel.
She opened her eyes.
And advanced.
Her presence changed the field.
Liriel raised her staff with a firm motion, without hesitation. The air around her began to vibrate with a frequency different from ordinary mana.
It was not just magic.
It was something purer.
She spoke ancient words in a clear tone, without shouting, but with natural authority.
A luminous circle formed above the allied line.
The first wave of light descended like a gentle rain.
Wounded soldiers began to rise.
Wounds closed.
Fatigue diminished.
But she did not stop.
The second invocation came with greater intensity.
A pillar of light fell upon the center of the demonic formation.
There was no exaggerated explosion.
There was purification.
Black armor began to emit vapor. Smaller creatures screamed as they felt the energy pass through their bodies.
Conjurers had their spells interrupted.
The enemy line lost stability.
"Advance!" I ordered.
The change was immediate.
With Liriel's support, our troops gained momentum.
Scarlet took advantage of the opening and crossed the enemy frontline, eliminating two commanders in sequence.
Rai'kanna pushed the center with renewed force.
I concentrated energy into the blade and cut a direct path through the opposing formation.
Elara maintained strict organization.
"No one goes more than three steps beyond the line!"
Discipline was everything.
The third demonic column tried to reinforce the center, but met solid resistance.
Liriel raised her staff again.
This time, the circle of light expanded even more.
A wide seal covered almost the entire battlefront.
When the energy descended, it was as if the air itself had been purified.
Lesser demons disintegrated.
Corrupted creatures retreated instinctively.
Even more resistant soldiers showed instability.
The enemy vanguard lost cohesion.
It was the breaking point.
"Push to the safe limit!" I ordered.
We advanced in a coordinated manner, not disorganized.
We forced the demonic line to retreat dozens of meters.
Enough to prevent consolidation.
Enough to prevent a clearing.
But we did not advance further.
The enemy rear still existed.
And I would not allow a trap born from overconfidence.
"Fall back to original line!" I ordered after confirming partial dispersal.
Some soldiers wanted to continue.
I remained firm.
"Fall back."
They obeyed.
When we returned to the initial position, the demonic vanguard had already halted the advance.
They reorganized further back.
The first battle had ended.
Not with annihilation.
But with successful containment.
I took a deep breath.
There were bodies on the ground.
On both sides.
It was not a clean victory.
It was a partial victory.
Scarlet stopped beside me, breathing controlled.
"She changed everything."
I looked at Liriel.
She was standing, but the effort was visible.
Not exhausted.
But strained.
"You managed to stabilize the entire field," I said.
She simply nodded.
"It was necessary."
Rai'kanna cleaned her weapon.
"They didn't expect that."
Lyannis analyzed the horizon.
"They retreated beyond the initial breaking point. They're evaluating."
Elara closed the map.
"Today, we held the frontier."
I looked at the surrounding forest.
Still intact.
Still standing.
But now marked.
The war had truly begun.
And we had won the first clash.
Not decisive.
Not definitive.
But enough to show that the Sacred Forest would not fall easily.
I turned my gaze to the horizon where the demonic forces were reorganizing.
They would return.
With more strength.
With more strategy.
But now they knew.
They were not facing disorganized resistance.
They were facing command.
And faith.
The first battle on the frontier had ended.
And the war was officially underway.