Swords sang beneath the gray, hopeless skies as the sounds of battle raged in the Cemetery of the Damned.

"Hold the line! We need to buy more time!"

Thrad's party was able to come to the vanguard cohort's aid just in time — before the trio fell into direr-than-preferred straits.

With the assistance of sixteen Damnedlings, the situation began to reverse.

The Egress Army began to push the twelve enemies back.

Had it not been for the three Accursed Soulcatchers holding the rather clumsy ranks of the enemy together, the wraiths would have been overwhelmed.

Like so, the battle continued to rage.

The Damnedlings were winning for now.

However, it didn't seem like the favorable situation would last for long.

Hisses of more wraiths sounded in the distance, heralding the arrival of enemy reinforcements.

Once the enemy's numbers grew to more than what they could handle, Daru and the others would have to retreat again.

Thrad's party dealt with the Twisted Custodians and the Ashen Cleaners while the three top-rankers dealt with an Accursed Soulcatcher each.

The differences in the vanguard cohort's combat styles were glaring, yet mesmerizing in their own ways, even if their comrades caught only fleeting glimpses of their brilliance in battle.

Ascalon was as slippery as an eel, most often than not defending and dodging, but every time he counterattacked, black blood would spill.

He was lagging behind the two other top-rankers in terms of damage dealt to the enemy.

However, it was he who gave off the impression of being untouchable the most.

It would take some time, but he would definitely be the winner.

Lesha, on the other hand, was like a bloodthirsty beast who couldn't wait to rip her opponent apart.

The essence of her style was to kill the opponent.

So, although she retreated from time to time, it was merely to create a better opportunity to attack.

Even her defensive maneuvers were made to give herself a chance at a cleaner counterstrike.

The young female Veshari was the most fearsome among the three, for sure, though seemingly also the most vulnerable.

Nonetheless, they'd already seen these two fight more than a couple of times, so it was Daru who truly shocked them.

His style seemed to be a healthy mix between Ascalon's and Lesha's.

Their savior, Onimaru Kunitsuna, would rage like flames one moment, exploding in a ferocious offensive before switching to a graceful defense in the next.

He didn't look the fiercest.

Yet, strangely, it was his opponent who was suffering the most, leaking black blood all over.

It was rather unfortunate that a skirmish wasn't a duel.

Soon, the tides of the battle that was once in favor of the Damnedlings of Egress grew balanced at the arrival of enemy reinforcements.

The wraiths hissed in utter hostility and malice as they waved their swords.

The Accursed Soulcatchers, in particular, were unbelievably passionate and vicious. It was as though the mere existence of the Damnedlings on land was a sin in and of itself.

In their harrowing minds, such wretches should be buried six feet deep in the endless ashes.

The source of the wraiths' soul-deep hatred towards the Damnedlings was a mystery even to the headless old man.

Nonetheless, this didn't mean the wretches of Egress would simply succumb to the boundless hatred.

The Damnedlings fought, and fought fiercely under Ascalon's lead, inspired further by the sight of their unbelievably mighty savior.

It could not be said that Daru and the Accursed Soulcatcher he was fighting were equal.

After all, the latter was already using its ghostly hand manifestations to try and grab the former, but to no avail.

Daru easily thwarted the apparitions, dancing gracefully while severing them in half and dealing with the elite wraith's follow-up attacks with moderate difficulty.

The Accursed Soulcatcher's hitpoints were now reduced to less than half, while their savior was technically untouched.

If not for the fact that the wraiths were numerous, the Damnedlings would have had a chance to win the battle.

The Egress Army's victory, though, wasn't based on whether they could wipe out the wraiths now.

Perhaps it would in the future.

But in the present, their goals were much simpler: hold for as long as they could to give the other parties more time.

The key to success, however, was not to be muddled by a good run.

Otherwise, there was a high chance that everything would end up in a disaster.

The leaders had to know when to retreat.

Their current forces simply weren't enough to wage an all-out war on the lord of the cemetery. Egress had to build forces first.

Fierce as the Damnedlings was, the number of the enemies only grew, and before long…

"Retreat to Aesyn's party!" Ascalon roared through the white ribbon, informing not only the elven bladeborn that they were coming, but also updating the beastkins on the current phase of the operation.

Needless to say, the actual recipients of the order immediately acted on it.

Thrad and his party did not feel too comfortable staying even a few moments longer.

Fortunately for them, not only was Ascalon a great fighter, but he was a good leader, too. The timing of the call to retreat was perfect.

So, in a swift yet orderly manner, the wretches of Egress retreated, their rear covered solidly by the three top-rankers.

'Sigh…' Daru felt it was quite a pity that he couldn't finish off his opponent.

He was also having fun fighting the Accursed Soulcatcher, but the conclusion of the battle would have to wait for now.

While fighting strong opponents was fun, it was ultimately for entertainment if there was no purpose.

People…Damnedlings were depending on him to get them out of this god-forsaken realm.

And naturally, to escape, they had to be alive first.

Using his morals and principles as an anchor, Daru easily suppressed his battle-hunger.

He would be willing to risk and even throw his life away for his burning passion, but not the lives of others.

That would simply be repulsively irresponsible.

So, he brandished his sword while slowly stepping back, diligently protecting his comrades from the unholy grasp of the cemetery wraiths.

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