Battle in the Fort Cervo

Commander Vittorio Salvi stood on the western wall, his eyes fixed on the Elysean ships that continued their relentless bombardment. Smoke and ash filled the air, and the vibrations from the cannon blasts had become almost rhythmic. His men were worn but holding the line, their focus pinned on the overwhelming naval assault.

"Commander!" a panicked shout came from the direction of the courtyard.

Vittorio turned sharply to see a runner sprinting toward him, his face pale and his uniform stained with sweat and grime.

"What is it?" Vittorio barked, his voice sharp over the cacophony of cannon fire.

"The main gate, sir! It's been breached!" the soldier blurted, gasping for air.

Vittorio's stomach dropped. He grabbed the soldier by the shoulders. "What do you mean, breached? By what?"

"There was an explosion, sir—huge! The gate is gone, completely destroyed. The Elyseans are pouring in from the rear!"

The commander's grip tightened. This was the attack he had feared, the one he had tried to prepare for but couldn't pinpoint. His attention had been consumed by the ships at sea, and now the true threat had emerged from the shadows.

"Sound the alarm!" Vittorio shouted. "Get everyone to the courtyard immediately! Secure the inner defenses!"

The soldier saluted and sprinted off, his shouts echoing through the fort as the bells of alarm began to toll. Vittorio turned to Rinaldo, who had appeared at his side, his expression as grim as the situation demanded.

"Rinaldo, take a detachment and fall back to the main gate. Slow them down at all costs. Matteo, keep the cannons firing on those ships; we can't afford to let up there."

Rinaldo nodded, drawing his sword. "Understood, Commander. I'll do what I can."

As Rinaldo hurried off with a group of soldiers, Vittorio clenched his fists. The Elyseans had played them perfectly. The naval bombardment was nothing more than a distraction, and now his forces were spread thin.

"Matteo!" Vittorio barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The artillery officer turned, his soot-streaked face filled with tension. "Commander?"

"Divert two cannons to cover the courtyard! Aim them toward the inner gate, and have the crews ready to fire if the Elyseans push too far!"

"But, sir, that will weaken our—"

"Do it now!" Vittorio snapped. "If we lose the courtyard, it's over!"

Matteo saluted and hurried off, shouting orders to his cannon crews.

The once-calm interior of Fort Cervo had become a battlefield. Smoke from the exploded gate mixed with the chaos of Elysean troops pouring into the courtyard. General Berthold led the charge, his sword raised as his men fired controlled volleys into the disoriented rebels scrambling to form a defense.

"Push forward!" Berthold shouted. "Take the courtyard and hold it!"

The Elyseans moved with precision, their muskets firing in coordinated waves as bayonet-wielding soldiers advanced behind them. The rebels fought back fiercely, using whatever cover they could find amid the rubble and debris, but the suddenness of the attack had thrown them into disarray.

Captain Armand approached Berthold, his own sword streaked with blood. "General, the engineers are setting up the cannons now. We'll have additional firepower in minutes."

"Good," Berthold replied. "Once the cannons are ready, focus on the remaining defenders near the inner gate. We can't let them regroup."

The Elysean engineers worked quickly, dragging small field cannons into position and loading them with grapeshot. As the first cannon roared to life, its deadly payload tore through a group of rebel soldiers attempting to rally near a supply cart. The rebels scattered, their morale beginning to waver.

Rinaldo and his detachment arrived at the inner gate, their faces set with grim determination. He positioned his men along the makeshift barricades, hastily erected from crates and barrels. Muskets were raised, and the rebels prepared to hold their ground.

"They're coming!" one of the soldiers shouted, pointing toward the smoke-filled courtyard.

The first wave of Elysean soldiers emerged from the haze. Rinaldo gave the order to fire, and a volley of musket balls tore into the advancing line. Several Elyseans fell, but the rest pressed on, returning fire as they closed the distance.

"Hold the line!" Rinaldo yelled. "Don't let them break through!"

The fighting was brutal and chaotic, with muskets firing at close range and bayonets clashing in vicious melees. Despite their determination, the rebels were outmatched. The Elyseans' discipline and superior coordination began to turn the tide.

From his position on the western wall, Vittorio could hear the sounds of the battle raging below. He clenched his jaw, his mind racing for a solution. The fort was crumbling, both literally and figuratively. If he didn't act quickly, the Elyseans would overrun them completely.

"Rinaldo won't be able to hold for long," Vittorio muttered to himself. He turned to Matteo, who was overseeing the artillery crews.

"Matteo, redirect fire to the courtyard! Target the Elyseans near the inner gate!"

"Commander, if we do that, the ships—"

"The ships are the least of our problems right now!" Vittorio snapped. "Do it!"

Matteo hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Yes, Commander."

The cannons on the western wall swiveled toward the courtyard, their crews working furiously to reload. Moments later, the thunderous booms of cannon fire echoed through the fort as the heavy projectiles crashed into the Elysean ranks. The blasts sent debris and bodies flying, temporarily slowing their advance.

Those manning the cannons celebrated on their hit—.

Boom!

The celebration was short-lived as the ground beneath the western wall shook violently. A deafening explosion followed, drowning out all other sounds. A direct hit from Elysea's Pride had landed squarely on the cluster of cannons, obliterating them in an instant. Smoke and debris erupted into the air as splinters of wood and shards of metal rained down upon the rebels stationed nearby.

Matteo was thrown backward by the force of the blast, his ears ringing and his vision swimming. He struggled to push himself up, coughing from the smoke that now enveloped the wall. Around him, the once-vibrant artillery crews lay scattered, some unmoving, others groaning in pain as they clutched their wounds.

"Matteo!" Vittorio's voice cut through the chaos as he scrambled to the fallen officer's side. "Are you alive?"

Matteo blinked, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused. "C-Commander... the cannons... they're gone," he rasped.

Vittorio's face twisted in frustration. "I can see that! Can you stand?"

Matteo nodded weakly, using Vittorio's arm to steady himself. Around them, the western wall was in ruins. The last of their heavy artillery had been silenced, leaving the fort defenseless against the ships.

"Pull back to the keep!" Vittorio ordered, his voice rising above the chaos. "There's nothing more we can do here! All remaining forces, fall back to the inner defenses!"

The rebels on the wall, those who could still move, obeyed the command. They scrambled down the crumbling staircases, their morale shattered by the loss of their cannons. Below, the courtyard was a scene of chaos. The Elyseans, emboldened by their naval support, pressed forward relentlessly, their muskets firing in disciplined volleys as they advanced on the inner gate.

In the courtyard, Rinaldo continued to hold his position with the dwindling rebel forces. He shouted orders over the din of musket fire, his voice raw from exertion. 

"Reload! Aim for the officers! Slow them down!"

The rebels fired another volley, but their numbers were thinning rapidly. The Elyseans, bolstered by their superior discipline and equipment, pushed forward like a tide that couldn't be stopped. The rebel barricades, hastily constructed and poorly reinforced, were beginning to buckle under the pressure.

"Rinaldo!" Vittorio's voice reached him as the commander and a handful of survivors from the western wall rushed into the courtyard. "We need to regroup at the keep! The cannons are gone, and we can't hold this position any longer!"

Rinaldo turned, his face streaked with sweat and soot. "If we retreat now, they'll overrun us before we can reach the keep—" 

Boom! 

Another explosion erupted near the courtyard, and Rinaldo was caught from it. 

"Rinaldo!"