Chapter 7

Just as we neared the gate, a fireball unexpectedly plummeted from the sky. The massive blast twisted the iron gate out of shape, and the ensuing rubble avalanche sealed off the military zone's only escape route. The fire spread rapidly, fiercely surrounding us in a deadly spiral. A thick cloud of smoke and dust filled the air, making it hard to breathe.

"We must climb up! Quickly, to the wall! Get to the Eastern Tower!"

Desperately, I dashed forward like a moth to a flame. The searing flames singed my once jet-black fur, the smoke filled my lungs, but the terror of death urged me on. As fast as I can.

The crazed dragons attacked furiously, causing the earth to tremble and the sky to roar. Even the border wall, once thought invincible, crumbled under the weight of this horrific onslaught. With Eric's guidance, I leaped and ducked, dodging the falling rocks. With a sense of urgency, we raced up the stone steps of the East Tower. The burden on my back was a hindrance, but as death drew near, fear seemed to invigorate the body.

The view from up high was terrifying. The tents were ripped apart in the crimson sea, the clashing of metal mingling with the agonizing cries. Charred corpses lay scattered amidst the raging inferno while the bodies of some soldiers were flung from the walls, dangling and swaying. The living still fought on bravely, their iron arrows constantly aimed at the dragons above.

We are losing. In a lopsided battle.

As soon as I reverted to my human form, I snapped my head around to look at him. Alone and in pain, he leaned against the cold wall, his breathing ragged, his face drained of color from the agony. His left leg was splintered, and the wound on his right arm gaped open, leaving a crimson trail down his arm and staining his clothes crimson. Kneeling beside him, I ripped a piece from my cloak and wrapped it around the wound, desperate to stop the bleeding. Huddled against him, my body trembled uncontrollably with bone-chilling fear. The violent tremors caused the eastern walls and towers to sway precariously, as if they were about to collapse at any moment.

I don't want to die. Not like this. Helpless and hopeless, all can do is pray to nothingness.

Suddenly, a blazing red sphere crashed into the wall, the violent impact sending nearby archers flying. We clung to each other, trembling weakly, as his shattered form a fragile barrier against the terror that consumed us.

"...They are attacking the main tower...At this rate, the defensive barriers of not only the border but also the entire empire will soon be destroyed."

The sickening thud of flesh against stone echoed through the darkness as their dying cries were swallowed by the abyss. In the blink of an eye, their lives were snuffed out. A brutal and sudden death.

Amidst the pool of crimson blood, glossy black seeds rolled aimlessly. A sudden thought struck my mind. Breaking free from his embrace, I scrambled to the edge. My fingers, trembling with fear, gathered the scattered black seeds from the viscous pool. With a forceful tug, his grip tightened around as he yanked me back.

"What the hell are you doing!? Are you trying to get yourself killed!?''

"Look, Eric, these are smoke bombs! We can use these to drive away the dragons!"

"There is a freaking arrow storm out there! The smoke will just obscure our vision! How can they aim accurately in this situation?!? Are you out of your mind?"

Rising abruptly, I stormed out. The rain of fire was like a storm, the piercing whistles of arrows weaving through the thunderous roar of explosions. The once formidable catapults and crossbows below were now nothing more than shattered remnants. One of the archers yelled in surprise when he spotted me on the wall. Dashing forward, I held out the black seeds, his face crumpled in confusion as his eyes narrowed in doubt.

"Use this, bind them to the arrows and aim at the dragons! Fire all your flaming arrows at once!"

"This is no time to play around! Using smoke bombs will only put us in a worse position! And who the hell do you think you are to give such an order!?"

"That! Is it important now!?"

"What?! You dare-"

Before he could say more, I quickly tied the seeds to an arrow and snatched the wooden bow from his grasp.

"Don't be stupid! The smoke bombs will blind our archers!! Don't you understand!?"

I awkwardly drew the bow and aimed it towards the sky. The arrow zipped straight ahead, only to veer dramatically and collide with the other flaming arrows. A deafening explosion ripped through the air, and a billowing cloud of black smoke engulfed the area, sending the nearby dragons reeling. The battleground was shrouded in a veil of obscurity, momentarily blinding both sides.

I know. That, this idea isn't completely advantageous for us. In fact, it is obscuring the area, making it even harder to dodge the fireballs. But this is the only option. It's a loss. But it's better than losing everything. The main tower has to be defended at all costs.

From the smoke above, several aimless fireballs descended. The archers, terrified, scrambled along the wall, their lives hanging by a thread.

With trembling hands, I hastily attached the last of the smoke pellets to the arrows, fumbling with the bow. Some arrows went astray and failed to explode. But the lucky ones collided with other burning arrows. Consecutive explosions echoed across the dark sky, and a thick, gray cloud of smoke enveloped everything. Terrifying roars echoed as the disoriented dragons crashed into one another, tumbling to the ground. Struggled to their feet, their wings beating wildly as they desperately tried to take flight again.

A violent tremor shattered the rocks blocking the camp entrance, clearing a path for the hurried steps of a large wolf pack. Their distinctive dark brown fur and familiar insignia were unmistakable. Amidst the dust, the golden eyes of the wolves gleamed, signaling the arrival of the royal legion.

"Help is here!"

Under the commander's guidance, the wolf pack converged, their movements swift and deadly. Seizing the opportunity, the soldiers stormed forward, subduing the dragons that were still writhing on the ground. The mages, with their shimmering shields, launched sharp ice arrows that pierced the dragons' tough scales, targeting the disoriented beasts and leaving trails of blood in their wake.

With the timely arrival of reinforcements, the tide of the battle turned in our favor. As I stood with the archers, armed with smoke bomb arrows, I continued to provide cover for the wolf pack fighting below.

Realizing the unfavorable situation, the dragons let out thunderous roars, their call for retreat echoing through the battlefield. Their shadows faded into the thick smoke before disappearing completely.

As the cheers of the survivors filled the air, a sense of relief washed over me. Despite the heavy losses inflicted by the brutal attack, our walls and towers remained standing. The smoke-filled air and the charred remains of buildings painted a grim picture of the battle, but our victory was assured.

Limping down from the East Tower, we made our way to the main tower. Inside, the floor was slick with blood, wounded soldiers lay scattered on the cold stone floor, their faces pale and their eyes filled with pain. The desperate cries of the dying echoed through the chamber. The stench of blood and disinfectant was overwhelming as the medics fought to save lives. 

A chilling silence gripped the room as we stepped inside. All eyes were fixed upon our two desolate figures. He appeared like a ghost from hell, covered in soot and dust, his arm bearing a gruesome wound. And I, my face pale and streaked with tears, blood trickling down my chin, staining my face.

Gently, I helped him sit down. My trembling hands shook his shoulders, trying to rouse his gradually cooling body.

"Hang in there! Help is on its way!"

The situation became even more critical as his eyes glazed over and threatened to close from exhaustion. Panic set in as I darted inside, rummaged through the medical supplies, I emerged with a blood bag and an IV needle.

The rush of the peak hour finally subsided. The communal ward was now filled with the pale faces of the injured, lost in sleep. The initial joy of saving lives was quickly overshadowed by the overwhelming sadness as I witnessed the extent of the destruction.

War has left a trail of destruction, leaving behind ruins, shattered lives and enduring suffering.

Quietly entering the resting room, the dim light revealed a battered face in the mirror, a grotesque caricature of myself. Dried blood crusted around my lips, like a wild beast. The bright red blood stained the white porcelain sink. Like a scratch, the haunting images of the battle replayed in my mind, as vivid as if they were happening again.

The metallic tang of blood, the screams of terror. Driven by primal rage, I fought with a ferocity that nearly ended his life.

In that moment. What had I become?

.

The rubble have been cleared and reconstruction is underway. Life is slowly creeping back amid the smoldering ruins. If only we had more time for tears to fall instead of these red flames. The fires consumed innocent souls, not just their bodies but also the hopes and dreams they carried.

The past few days have been so long. Now that the danger has passed, Eric is on the mend. His injuries are severe, but I am grateful he is alive.

"The value of human life has diminished to the point where death has lost its significance."

With every labored step on his wooden crutch, he slowly made his way towards me. A melancholy smile, like a crack in his sun-baked face.

Three days have passed, and the charred remains of the fire are all that is left. The flickering flames cast an eerie glow on the lifeless faces. With the last of my matches, I solemnly pray for the peaceful passing of their souls.

''How disgusting''

"You think so?"

"...We were this close to death. It's unbelievable how those scumbags found out about the location of our military district. For half a century, the locations of the base have been a closely guarded secret, protected by an invisible magical shield. Not to mention the fact that they attacked so suddenly at a critical moment when the deputy commander was absent."

"...There must be a traitor...I don't know...But if they attacked at such a critical moment, it can't be just a coincidence. Something's definitely amiss''

"The situation is more serious than we thought. Having an insider is a major threat. The timing of the attack is no coincidence. If they manage to bring down the main tower, the consequences will be catastrophic. Someone is clearly pulling the strings."

Let out a heavy sigh, my soul weighed down by sorrow.

"...They really intended to kill us. Over a pair of eyes that aren't even real..."

"There's more to this than meets the eye. It could be a political issue. Their conspiracy is beyond our imagination. But the more I think about it, the more frustrated I get...their power is growing stronger, while we're powerless to stop them."

The flames danced with a hypnotic allure. It was as if death itself had taken on a beautiful and peaceful form. The fiery glow softened, like delicate silk threads swirling in a crimson dance, a mesmerizing and enchanting dance enveloping unfortunate souls. The smell of burning flesh mingled with the scent of burning fur.

How odd.

Suddenly, a hard hit on my shoulder made me jump.

"You were using heroin again last night, weren't you?"

"...I...couldn't sleep..."

Drowsily rubbing my eyes, I squeezed them shut before slowly opening them, trying to make out his form as it materialized.

"...I've been doing my best, I promise...I've been working non-stop for three days. Barely getting any sleep, only an hour or two...I've always been busy, but during times like this, I'm completely drained."

"At least try to cut down on how often you use it. Don't overdo it."

"...I've explained multiple times that it's a different substance..."

"But you're abusing them! Take a look at what you're doing to yourself!"

Instinctively looking down at my body, my heart tightened at the sight of the calloused skin on my thin hands and my rough skin. I know, I might be slowly slipping into an addiction. But it's not like I am going crazy on heroin. However, he is right. The unusual signs my body is showing are clear evidence that my health is being affected. Or worse.

Standing before the gloomy pile of ashes, where white bones were scattered, the haunting image of the fire from five years ago flashed before my eyes. That fire, both past and present, still exists as a persistent haunting.

All that remains of my thin tent is a pile of ashes. Thankfully, I didn't leave behind any valuable belongings. Most of the morphine was destroyed in the fire, leaving only a small amount for me to salvage.

"Maybe no one will tell you this, but...you did a great job. They almost managed to bring down the main tower."

"...When I took aim, they mocked me, calling me mad...They said...That they needed to slay dragons, not bring more trouble to our side..."

A soft sigh escaped his lips as his warm breath mingled with the frigid air, forming a fleeting cloud of condensation before vanishing into the vast emptiness.

"Young soldiers, adrift without their commanders, they become like scattered beasts, frantic and disoriented. When confronted with mortality, there are only two things humans can think of, running away to save their lives or fighting to survive. Fear of death consumes them, leaving little room for reason...Humans, animals. In the end, we are all just primal creatures. In such moments, instinct is what guides us."

"...It was lucky that the reinforcements arrived just in time. I wasn't sure the smoke screen would be enough to fend them off."

"The commander also brought along a few elite mages. How lucky."

"There's still a lot left to do, so you should rest up."

Slowly turning around, my gaze drawn to the ancient wall. The once mighty wall, a testament to strength and impregnability, was now scarred with deep fissures.

Could this be the chance I've been looking forward to all this time?