The Battle Has Begun

"Get the women, children and elderly to safety of their houses, give our remaining weapons to our male citizen's to form a militia". Alexios begun barking orders to his hippeis and Perseus, they got only small amount of time for preparations. "My king, given their advantage in numbers they will definitely attack from all sides, i propose that Stormguard should be put on standby" Perseus told Alexios, initaly Alexios was confused but soon he get that why Perseus proposed that idea.

"You want them on standby, if any line was about the threat of breaking through by their attacks, you can go and beat them back, plus they don't know our exact size of our army" Alexios replied to Perseus's idea, not bad idea after all they think their army is only 100 strong in reality 420 Spartans witch 200 were youths and 20 of them was made up of Hippeis, the rest were hoplites.

"Unfortunately we can't do this at the moment, we are short on manpower and half of our fighting force are youths, now go Perseus to make the necessary preparations for our militia, and position your Stormguard along side of the wall with militia as well, Kleon you bring the rest of the hippeis out of the palace, we need all the wariors we can get and Callias, position our army along the walls". As Alexios finished all three of them disappeared in a snap of a finger to fulfill their tasks given by their king.

I can use the lottery to get those 1,000 hoplites but i would probably be burned on the stake, army that magically come out of nowhere would be suspicious, god dammit this will be thought battle. We can use the streets if we get to that, no matter how big their army is its useless in those small streets, and their army is hungry and mostly made up of youths with no combat experience at all. Hell i think if we kill all of their officers i think the battle would be practically over. 

Alexios noticed shining light slowly coming out of the forest, Korithians arrived at last. "My king, i stationed all of our Stormguard along the walls with militia, militia's equipment are composed of 40 men with shields, and 20 of them with spears and the second half with xiphos with no armor". Perseus kneeled while giving report, with Kleon and Callias arrived shortly after, "my king, army as well is positioned along side the wall as well and ready for battle" Callias reported.

And last but not least Kleon arrived with all Hippeis behind his shoulders were kneeling, "my king, i gathered all of the hippeis as you wished, shall split them along the walls as well?" Kleon asked curiously but Alexios had different plan in mind. "No,i got an idea" Alexios proudly proclaimed witch caught everyone's attention, "its fact that we are outnumbered but i and Hippeis, you just gathered here Kleon, will be running along the wall and try to kill all of their commanding subordinates and unit leaders as to spread confusion, and once and for all shatter their morale for good" Alexios proudly said but his plan was met with some resistance.

"With all due respect my king, this plan of yours is very dangerous their officers will be hiding in the back as their troops begin to advance, and they would be like rodents everywhere from all sides meaning you and your men will be tired pretty quickly. let me take some of our hippeis with me, if we split up it should be more effective, and we must take a fact in to acount that you killed their general, so you my king, would be a main target". Kleon said with seriousness, everything he said was making sense it should be small groups eliminating their officers in small groups rather than one large group.

"You are right Kleon, i knew you had something in you, heh i will take only 1 hippei with me, split the rest among you, and before you say anything, don't worry about me, i will not fall that easily, i take the north and east side of the wall. Kleon you take south and Callias you west, now go there is no time to waste korthinians are already on their way, and Perseus you will guard east with me, hold them of long enough, before i arrive". Before Kleon or anyone could say anything Alexios with his one hippei started to move north on the cold and solid stone. 

Kleon briefly stood in confusion but quickly shook his head. "You heard the king! let's give them the true meaning of war!", Kleon shouted with warcry following him and everyone started to move to take their positions. 

As Kleon foretold, Korithians started to split up and started to encircle the proud city of Sparta. Alexios helplessly watched as korithinas were standing proudly with their ladders at the side of their formations, "They waiting for the signal you say?, but of course coordinated attacks are what warfare is about, i will not die a second time". Alexios told himself as fellow youths and hoplites were standing beside him, waiting for the assault.

Alexios knew what he did was stupid, but if he would rely mostly on his guards and hoplites is not how king would act, true that he still wasn't some Legendary warrior like Leonidas but after the battle (if he managed to survive) he would prove to himself that , he can stand on his ground with skills he got from the system. This was the only way to gain experience and to use his skill less and less in the future, Alexios looked at his Aegisbane and faintly smiled.

"Korithians started to move! prepare yourselves!", shouted hippei who volunteered to follow his king. Alexios made his way to the north side of the wall, there was already few youths and even fewer hoplites waiting, Alexios noticed small army of Korithians, "they split their forces eh?, i can tell by those torches and size their at least 500, it would make sense to split them like that, well no matter i will not be scared by this!". Alexios proclaimed with tight fist.

Korithians were marching in organized manner with their ladders ready to scale the walls of Sparta. Alexios watched helplessly as their approached towards the walls, "this is like a scene from monty python, dammit , i could use some archers right now. Alexios cursed while watching as the ladders war being set up. "Forwards men! we are making first steps to make history!" one of the Korithian leader shouted to inspire his young but fearless warriors or so he though.

"Are we really gonna win?, i mean they managed to hold on against the horde twice as bigger as our army" one Korithian voiced his fear to his fellow brothers. "pff, are you scared? that's just a myth, don't be discouraged by this, now stop talking and get this ladder in order!" said one of the Korithian who was helping with the ladder. Ladders were propped up against the walls, ladders were swarming the walls like flies, "kick all of them off!, we are not letting them through!" Alexios shouted his order, but it was not necessary as all available Spartans begined to kick the ladders of the wall, it required multiple Spartans to remove the ladders, but soon they would fall under their hands.

"Shit, this one is still up" Alexios cursed as he put his foot on the edge of the ladder, and could heard the creaking as Korithians were climbing up. "This is much heavier than i thought, aaagh dammit, just a little more!" Alexios struggled to kick of the ladder by his foot, slowly the ladder was distancing from the edge of the wall, but Alexios was short on time as he could see helmet emerging before him. "Fuck it" Alexios dropped his shield and spear and used his hands.

Alexios was struggling, he felt like stopping a boulder that was rolling from the cliff. Thankfully Alexios was breathing heavily and managed to make push harder ,ladder was quickly disappearing before his eyes. In the final moments he could see a young man trying to desperately grab the edge of the cold stone, but in vain. Alexios saw the man's horrific face full of fear in his eyes, desperately to cling on his dear life, Alexios stood in silence as he heard screaming that faded away faster than Alexios could react. 

"Jesus", Alexios stood with body full of shock, he killed before, but never looked in the eyes of his victim, expect the merchant few days ago. "My king, one of the ladders were not removed in time" His hippei who volunteered to follow his king reported with concerns in his voice, "brace your selves brave Spartans!, they shall not pass!".