'Poison!' Frost screamed internally, his lips twitching and his fists tightening around his glaive as the memory of his first interaction with the dreaded stuff came to the forefront of his mind.
The pain, the paralysis, the burning in his veins, all things he never wished to experience again.
In but a fraction of a second he bashed away this poison addled barb and focused his gaze on where it originated yet saw nothing but green and shadow.
Fwoom!
Another barb shot out from behind the trees, swiftly followed by a second one flying with immense speed and fury.
Don! Don!
Frost swatted them away with difficulty, his fear of the poison allowing him to move even faster than normal but even still he was forced to take several steps backwards. His hands trembling from the residual force.
The horrid smelling and painful looking green poison that dripped from the barbs attached itself to his glaive and fought with his ice flames.
"Ssssssss" A horrid sound of the poison evaporating as it came in contact with the chilling flames rang out. The liquid poison rapidly turned into a corrosive gas that assaulted Frost's nostrils and tingled his skin.
Detesting such a feeling Frost's ice flame chakra burst out, enveloping his entire body and forcibly extinguishing the poison from the surrounding air.
A frown was evident on his face and a cold sweat dripped down his neck yet still there was no sign of what fired these barbs, a hidden adversary that could attack from the darkness.
However, though he was wary and even fearful his mind was clear.
"Major Bullen pull everyone back now!" He roared out in desperation knowing full well that he wouldn't be the only target. Next he started summoning his mana as a spell started to formulate.
"[Ice obey my will and form into a mighty wall separating me from thine enemy, wall of ice]" Frost spoke the aria for the 2nd circle spell [wall of ice] creating a large blue magic crest on the ground which proceeded to summon a wall of ice that separated the vanguard elites from the nearby Northrend forest.
"Tsk" Frost could hear a loud tongue clicking the moment the wall was raised and a moment later a vast swarm of lesser barbs fired from the trees, crashing into the large ice wall, cracking and even destroying parts of it.
It was only a 2nd circle spell, so it didn't provide a lot of defensive power, but it was enough to at least lessen the momentum of the barbs and allow the vanguard elites to react in time.
Dozens of barbs covered in colourful poison continued through the ice wall only to be swatted away by the elites who were experienced enough to not let the poison touch any part of skin or open wounds.
They all instantly obeyed Hamon and Frost's orders and retreated backwards giving up all the ground they worked so hard to conquer. Remaining here served no purpose lest seeing to their deaths. This was a gruelling siege that wouldn't be ended in the next hour or even this day. Risking their lives for ground was pointless, they were the defenders in this war.
"Frost!" Major Bullen a man riddled with an uncountable number of scars and armed with dual swords briefly glimpsed at the elites under his command before braving the danger to arrive by Frost's side. Thanks to his quick actions a great many of the elites were protected and as the leader of the vanguard corps Bullen couldn't allow Frost to face the highest danger alone.
A couple barbs -the same type shot at Frost- rapidly found their way before Bullen.
Ding! Ding!
Expecting to be attacked Bullen easily swatted away the barbs, losing not a single beat of momentum as he arrived by Frost's side.
His poison was a fast acting, highly corrosive type that literally melted whatever it touched. It was thus susceptible to antidote potions but by the time you glug one down or pour it on the infected area most the damage would have already been done.
Each poison herald would nurture their own poison resulting in a wide range of effects thus making each one unique and extra hard to deal with. In some aspects the appearance of these poison heralds was a far worse situation than the 3 rindars.
"Yes, he's very fast and has skilled helpers. Taking him down with them around won't be easy." The frown on the B-rank poison herald deepened as his gaze drifted towards Hamon, the true commander of the battlefield. His arm shivered as he endured his biting gaze, a primal fear that struck to his core and sent shivers down his neck.
He then glanced at the fury consumed rindar at his side, understanding now why this person who though he would never admit it had a lot of respect for, was on the back foot in this war.
His steps that were about take him fully past the treeline and towards Frost were halted in place as Hamon's full blown aura hammered down on him, pressuring him.
'That bastard's terrifying.' The poison herald knew that he'd stand no chance if he went toe to toe with that monster, he wasn't even a duelling type.
"Haaaaaaaaa" he let out a deep sigh before taking a step back not willing to draw the ire of that monster named Hamon so early in the game.
"You're giving up!" The eldest rindar screamed in anger as well as complete bafflement, they had the vanguard team on the run and his lesser species kin were hounding after them but without them following, their charge would be short lived.
"Now's not the time, besides our ambush has failed. To carry on now would only end in meaningless death. My subordinates will force them back, dishing out a few attacks before retreating. We serve best as ambushers and fighting in the shadows of others." The poison herald sported a wild grin, proud of his talents and those of his kin.
He ignored the anger of the eldest rindar and pursed his lips, whistling in a high pitch that many who were not of his kin would struggle to hear. This was his order to retreat when necessary something the poison heralds knew well. He then turned and retreated back into the shadows waiting for his next opportunity to lash out.
Smash!
The eldest rindar smashed apart a nearby tree in his anger but that was all he could do. Though he was still technically in command the B-rank poison herald wouldn't obey orders that didn't serve him or his ilk well, plus the bastard was right. He couldn't allow himself to be overcome with wrath during such tumultuous times.
He gave one last look at Hamon and the retreating Frost before joining the poison herald behind the treeline.
A thick wave of D and C-rank monsters rushed out in their place, resuming the horde's advancement.
Frost, Bullen and the vanguard elites however had used the time to swiftly make it near the main force at the base of the northern wall and Hamon was waiting.
"Magic crops and range corps full volley, fire!" Hamon loudly ordered.
Thanks to Frost's swift actions he didn't need to descend from the wall putting himself at risk. The big cheese couldn't place himself in the firing line at every little upset.
With his order a deluge of arrows and magic descended on the charging D and C-rank horde as well as the some of the less responsive poison heralds, cutting down several of their number.
After that the damaged horde met with the large main force of Furano who were braced and ready for the charge. Many monsters met their ends on the tip a spear, sword, axe or even a bo staff without even culling a single soldier or adventurer. A braced line of experienced infantry wasn't something even heavy shock cavalry would clash against head on.
They charged right into a chop shop exactly what the B-rank poison herald expected to happen.
But if anything the number of lesser monsters under their command was endless, such vast amounts of death was nothing in the grand scheme.
Dozens of additional lines of monsters charged out of the treeline, red eyed and caring little about the death of the previous lines.
And so the regular melee that everyone was used to started up again. They had survived another strategy of the leading monsters and ended up with no deaths or even injuries, Frost seemed to be a lucky star.