Chapter 39: The start of the siege
The enemy army consisted of two monster races. Both races were unique and fought differently, goblins were very agile and fast, especially short goblins that used bows as their main weapon. The rest of the goblins were much taller and it seemed like they wouldn't participate in the first phases of the siege.
Nagas on the other hand were strong, had sturdy bodies, and were very good in mastery over tridents. Just a glance was enough to see that these nagas were good warriors.
However, only a small group of those nagas formed together with 1st goblin groups and it looked like they were there as siege equipment transport.
Hearing the horn signal, many of those goblins and nagas roared and moved out towards the hill and humans' fortifications.
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Seeing their movements, the captain, responsible for commanding that defending perimeter gave one order after another.
"Shield knights, formation!"
"Archers, take care of those small bastards,"
"Mages, save your spells as long as you can,"
This was Mark, the same captain that returned back this morning. In fact, many of his subordinates were also transferred into this defense perimeter and all of them had similar hateful flame in their eyes.
They wanted to have revenge and didn't even think that they were protecting the weakest perimeter with many unfinished areas. So, their defense was vulnerable.
Stella's camp had three layers of defense, the outer - the weakest and the most vulnerable because they didn't finish building all fortifications they wanted, and blacksmiths and enchanters didn't have enough time to improve them. Though it looked strong, experienced warriors knew that such fortifications could be easily breached.
On the other hand, the 2nd layer had taller walls, had enchanting on their surface, more towers and fortifications, and it protected the main structures of Stella's camp like a granary, water supplies, craftsmen carriages with many needed resources, and small field camp where their wounded battle brothers were recovering.
In short, all members of the 5th special would fight like demons to stop the enemy on their short walls.
Finally, there was the last layer, which served more like the last battle point around Stella's tent on the top of the hill. There were no special fortifications, but few in the squad knew that their commander had a small magic shield that can be used as the last line of defense.
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Theo and Nora's group were helping archers in one of the towers in the 2nd layer when they saw how goblins and nagas started their advance.
At first, goblins just continued to skirmish with human archers and mages, moving on their wolves in the process all over the territory till nagas finished pushing their siege equipment right to the outer walls.
Of course, mages used their fire spells to burn many of those tools, but nagas just pushed another one each time after the mage's attack and goblin archers made sure to restrict enemy movements, forcing them to continue hiding behind the walls or shields of the knights.
Finishing, pushing many ladders and mini-towers, the horn signal resounded across the battlefield, and moments later many of still waiting tall goblins dismounted and moved out towards the outer walls while short goblins continued to ride and pour Stella's forces with arrows and stones.
Besides those nagas not only pushed siege equipment, but they also brought logs, stones and placed them some distance away from outer walls, creating good hiding positions for the attacking short goblins they could use to decrease their casualties.
Already quite disadvantaged human archer knights, scouts and others who could respond to enemy archers felt like the enemy was squishing them with numbers.
As a result, more mages joined the battle, burning or freezing them and wasting their mana.
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As the battle continued further, more and more goblins climbed atop the outer walls, using their agile bodies in the process. Even some nagas that completed their objectives by creating shelter points, moved out with their tridents towards the walls.
With each passing minute, more and more enemies climbed on those walls and started fighting with their defenders.
Mark, the captain, responsible for defending this perimeter was swinging his sword almost constantly. He continued to kill goblins, nagas, goblins, nagas and it seemed as if the cycle would continue forever. His subordinates had similar crazy flames in their eyes and continued to kill one enemy after another. Knights killed nagas, piercing their bodies with the help of battle energy, mages burned whole areas where groups of enemies gathered, archers continued to shoot.
All of them knew what to do and just continued to use different tactics and strategies in different situations.
Goblins captured one wall? Good, mages, bombard them with several batches of icicles and return control.
Nagas pushed knights? Let the reserve knights send some energy techniques to wipe them out.
Enemy archers, kill too many defenders with their arrows? Then, let's use some smoke bombs in those zones and show those monsters how the 5th special is fighting in smoke.
In short, they were fighting like lions and used everything they could to stop the enemy.
However, as more time passed, Mark and other captains, protecting the outer walls noticed how their numbers were slowly decreasing. Stella sent only 6 battle groups, consisting of 100 people here. Their numbers suffered each time water porters brought new injured from the battle.
Enemies were literally pushing Mark and the other 5 captains from one section of the wall to another, forcing their mages to increase spending of their mana to return control back to their hands.
However, while Mark and the other 5 captains were busy, fighting against hordes of enemies, they didn't know that several small groups of small goblins were doing something near the surface of the walls all over the hill.
And when their mages used up a significant portion of their mana, creating many advanced spells and killing hundreds of enemies, goblins expected that, and moments later several big bangs resounded across many parts of outer walls.
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When the dust settled, Mark moved his glance through the section of the wall he was commanding.
Just a glance was enough to see many breaches created all over the walls in his section. Several towers were also destroyed. There were many wounded and killed knights, archers, water porters, and mages near those sections and he didn't doubt that the same thing happened all over the outer walls.
Turning, Mark saw around 50 people, still standing and noticed his group's banner holder.
Looking at the big 9th number on his banner, Mark smiled before raising his sword and showing it at the banner.
"9th group of 5th special," cried Mark, using his battle energy, "The time has come, swallow them,"
Moments later, he and all the surviving members of his squad swallowed similar-looking pills and roared in the process.
The same scene was happening all over the outer walls, all survivors swallowed pills that could restore their strengths and abilities for a short period of time in exchange for the imminent death.
Roaring, Mark turned and looked at several small groups of surviving water porters.
"Take as many injured and wounded as you can and retreat to the 2nd layer," cried Mark at the leader of the water porter's group, "Just tell them that 9th group is staying behind and ask them to bestow us with the honor of staying in Freinos family knights' crypt if possible,"
Finishing talking with the water porter, Mark turned and saw many enemy groups quickly approaching him and his people.
There were both goblins and nagas, attacking this time!
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Hearing the sudden sounds of bangs from the direction of outer walls and seeing how walls and towers crumble, Stella released a tired sigh, looking in the north direction where the biggest enemy groups started moving.
"Goblin dust," muttered Stella before turning and looking at her adjutant Anthony and Suthan, "Give a retreat signal,"
However, just as her adjutant started completing her order, their expression changed and their attention once again returned to the 6 six groups, they sent there.
"Seem like we are late, they preferred to choose that battlefield as their last ground," said Anthony, looking in the direction of the 9th group.
"Get ready to help injured that would appear a short time later," said Stella almost immediately after Anthony's words before releasing another sigh and noticing who was approaching them.
"Prepare the cavalry," ordered Stella, clenching the tip of her sword and leaving the tower.
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At the same time, enemy groups have finally reached the outer walls and started storming the 6 groups which were waiting for their arrival.
Unlike before, mages, knights, archers, and others didn't save up their battle energy or mana and started with waves of spells, techniques, devastating the first rows of goblin wolf riders that expected to kill exhausted humans.
However, that was insufficient, and moments later new waves of enemies appeared behind them and continued their attack quickly reaching, encircling them, and starting melee battles all over the outer walls.
Knights and other members of those 6 groups were fighting like crazy, but enemy forces also had strong and brave warriors that killed them one by one.
Gillo, leading his wolf riders was among the craziest, he had a protection artifact that could save him from enemy magic or techniques by creating a shield, made of light. So, he was among the 1st to enter into the breach.
His subordinates, also became crazy and too brave, following after him, and it wasn't difficult for them to quickly start dealing with all left overs they met on their way.
Almost similar behaviour was copied by Hessa, the nagas' leader that also entered into the breaches among the 1st and personally killed enemy captain that blocked his way while other nagas starting dealing with his people.
Gerra on the other hand just used tiring tactics, by sending one wave after another, ordering small goblins to snipe enemy forces in the process.
The similar scenes were happening in other defense perimeters under the command of Gallus.
Only Linek, the distant member of goblin royal family stopped in front of the Mark, stopping his subordinate from touching him, but letting them continue to attack his people.
"I am Linek, one of the members of goblin royal family," said Linek, "There is an ancient tradition in my race to challenge the strong and dying warrior for the sacred duel and bestow him with last battle. My subbordinates won't interfere, so human, I challenge you,"
Hearing his words Mark smiled before bursting in laugh.
"Hahahahaha,"
"Never though that you bastards have royal family," said Mark, adjusting his position, "Good, I will take you with me and redeem myself before the commander,"
Rasing his sword, battle energy appeared, covering his body and sword, increasing it in the process.
A moment later, their swords met and the dance of speed and death started.
Mark continued to pour him with his sword attacks, while Linek evaded or dodged, rarely blocking battle-energy covered sword.
Their battle continued for some time and it seemed as if both of them were in stalemate, but with each passing moment, Mark felt how the effect of the pill were disappearing and how he was weakening.
His speed decreased together with his battle energy.
So, it was just a matter of time before he would lose.
Smilling bitterly, Mark raised his sword and gathered all strengths which were left and started his final attack.
In fact, not only he made such decision, his subordinates, other captains who were still fighting and their subordinates made similar decision, launching the last counter-attack at the goblins and nagas to kills as many as they could and to break their formations as much as they could.
Swinging his sword, and breaking the skull of his opponent, Mark tried to repeat his attack only to feel fatigue.
Noticing the change in the opponent, Linek smiled before quickly beheading him in one attack.
*Whoosh*
A moment and the last captain among 6 defending groups fell to the ground dead.
However, not only his subordinates, but also enemies were too busy to notice his death, fighting and killing. Knights and mages were using their strongest energy attacks directly at the enemies close to them, killing them with themselves in the process.
Such scene was happening all over the outer walls, and it seemed as if battle would never end, but with each passing moment, it became more obvious that humans were showing their last attacks before their imminent deaths.
Just as the last defenders started falling dead from the effects of the pill and when goblins and nagas already wanted to revenge their comrades by devastating their bodies, a sudden signal resounded across the outer walls, and a big group of horse riders appeared quickly galloping down from the hill in their direction. A moment later that group divided into the 6 smaller groups and moved towards all defending perimeters.