Chapter 11: The Seige of Guard's Point

The Royal Guard fighter drew his polearm, spinning it in his hands confidently.

Kaiser only had his daggers.

The crowd roared in excitement. A proper duel, raw and unscripted.

The guard struck first, his polearm sweeping toward Kaiser's legs.

Kaiser barely dodged, rolling to the side.

He lunged forward, his daggers flashing, but the guard sidestepped and countered with a sharp thrust.

The polearm slammed against Kaiser's ribs, sending him stumbling.

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

Nyx hissed from Espada's arms, sensing Kaiser's distress.

Elric frowned. "He's too slow. The reach difference is killing him."

A Sudden Disruption – An Explosion in the Fort

Just as Kaiser was about to counterattack, a massive explosion rocked Guards' Point.

BOOM!

A thick cloud of smoke rose from the eastern section of the fort.

Guards shouted in alarm, rushing toward the source.

The duel was immediately forgotten.

The Royal Guard cursed. "Damn it! What now?"

Kaiser stood still, staring at the rising smoke.

Something was very wrong.

Part 9 – The Revolution's First Strike

The Letter That Set Everything in Motion

Fargus sat in his dimly lit stall, gripping the letter with trembling fingers. The inked words on the aged parchment felt heavier than ever. He had been expecting orders, but now that they were here, he felt a pit in his stomach.

"The time has come to take Smallville in Woodsaw (to free some of our comrades), to take Middletown in Woodsaw (to control the broadcasting facilities). Brothers, you are hereby ordered to detonate the bombs in Guards' Point, Sine Town, and Drogo Town to confuse the Royal Guard."

The revolutionaries in the Squatters District were making their move. This was it—the coordinated strike to shake Woodsaw to its core.

Fargus knew his role. He wasn't a fighter—he was a supplier, a handler, an informant. His job was to help the operatives inside Guards' Point blend in, pass messages, and ensure the right people got the right supplies.

But now, with these orders, his role had changed. This was no longer about moving supplies. It was about war.

Chaos Unfolds – The Explosion in Guards' Point

A massive explosion shattered the still air of Guards' Point.

BOOM!

A wave of heat and dust ripped through the eastern section of the fort, sending shockwaves of panic through the city. Screams filled the air as merchants, soldiers, and travelers scattered, trying to make sense of the sudden attack.

Flames engulfed one of the storage depots, smoke billowing into the night sky. Royal Guards rushed toward the explosion site, their armor clanking as they shouted orders.

Kaiser, still recovering from his duel, staggered back from the force of the explosion. Nyx screeched from Espada's arms, its tiny claws gripping onto her coat.

"What the hell was that?!" Elric growled, immediately reaching for his flail.

Espada spun around, taking in the scene. "Bomb. That was a damn bomb."

The Royal Guard erupted into action—some rushed to the flames, while others locked down the gates, sealing everyone inside Guards' Point.

"Nobody leaves!" one of the guards shouted. "Find the culprits! Lock down the city!"

The fortress had just turned into a cage.

Fargus' Immediate Reaction – Time to Escape

Fargus heard the explosion and felt his blood turn ice cold.

It had begun.

His mind raced. Had the other bombs in Sine Town and Drogo Town gone off yet? Were the forces in Smallville and Middletown moving as planned?

None of that mattered right now. He had to get out.

If the Royal Guard started investigating, they would eventually connect the revolutionaries to him.

He stuffed the letter into his coat and hurriedly packed a satchel of supplies. He had to reach his contact inside Guards' Point and disappear before anyone noticed.

But just as he stepped out of his stall, he locked eyes with Kaiser.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved.

Then, Fargus looked away too quickly.

Kaiser's expression hardened. He had seen that look before—the look of a man hiding something.

Kaiser, Elric, and Espada Take Notice

"That guy's acting weird," Espada muttered, her sharp eyes tracking Fargus as he weaved through the crowd.

Elric glanced at Kaiser. "Wasn't that the merchant we gave the letter to?"

Kaiser nodded. "Yeah… and he looks like he's trying to disappear."

The three of them exchanged silent glances.

They didn't know exactly what was happening yet, but something about Fargus' behavior didn't sit right with any of them.

The Fort Goes into Lockdown

Meanwhile, the Royal Guard had started organizing search parties.

High-ranking officers barked orders, soldiers stormed through the streets, and travelers were lined up for questioning.

The arrogant Royal Guard fighter from before, the one who had fought Kaiser, now led one of the investigation groups.

His eyes locked onto Kaiser.

"You," he sneered. "You were just fighting me when the explosion happened."

Kaiser clenched his jaw. "Yeah, and?"

The guard stepped closer, glaring down at him. "Could be a distraction. Could be that you and your little friends are working with whoever set this up."

Elric scoffed. "You really think we set off a bomb while we were in the middle of fighting?"

Espada crossed her arms. "We were right in front of half the damn fortress. Not exactly the best way to avoid suspicion, genius."

The guard gritted his teeth but said nothing.

Before he could push further, a second explosion erupted in the city.

A Second Explosion Rocks Guards' Point

BOOM!

Another fiery blast sent shockwaves through the city, causing even more panic.

The Royal Guard soldiers immediately abandoned their interrogations, rushing toward the new explosion site.

The once-organized investigation collapsed into complete chaos.

In the confusion, Fargus took his chance.

He turned sharply into a side alley, slipping away while the guards were distracted.

Espada, however, noticed immediately.

"He's running."

A Desperate Chase Begins

"We follow him," Espada said firmly, already moving.

Elric didn't hesitate, tightening his grip on his flail. "Agreed."

Kaiser hesitated for a second, looking at the flames in the distance—something much bigger was happening. But right now, Fargus was the only lead they had.

"Let's go."

They took off after him, weaving through the panicked crowds, chasing the man who might hold the key to the revolution's plan.

Fargus was fast—for an old man, he moved like someone who knew how to evade capture.

He ducked through side streets, shoving past civilians, knocking over crates and barrels to slow them down.

But Kaiser, Espada, and Elric were trained fighters.

They dodged, jumped, and pushed forward, gaining ground with each passing second.

The chase through the burning fort had begun.

Espada was ahead, her speed superior to both of them. "He's heading toward the

back market district!" Kaiser narrowed his eyes. Fargus wasn't running blindly—he had a plan. As they turned the corner, they saw it.

Through the open gate at the back of the market buildings, an ocean of soldiers

stretched across the field beyond the fortress walls. Five thousand revolutionaries stood in formation, banners raised, weapons gleaming in the torchlight.

Kaiser's breath caught in his throat. This wasn't just an attack—this was an invasion. Fargus disappeared into the sea of revolutionaries, vanishing among his people. Elric clenched his fists. "We're too late." Espada scanned the enemy lines, her face unreadable. "We need to get back inside."Now!"

Kaiser turned on his heel, his mind racing. The Royal Guard had no idea what was

coming. They ran. By the time they reached the inner defenses of Guards' Point, the Royal Guard was already in full battle mode. Soldiers were arming themselves, archers taking positions along the walls, and barricades being reinforced.

At the command center, they found Captain Henry Guhn, a broad-shouldered man clad in reinforced steel armor. His weapons of choice were a heavy gauntlet and a massive tower shield—a warrior who specialized in both defense and overwhelming counterattacks.

His silver-streaked hair gave away his experience, but his sharp eyes held the fire

of a man still in his prime. Kaiser and his group burst into the command center. "Captain! We have a problem!" Guhn looked up from the strategy table. "I already know. The fort is under attack."

"No, sir," Elric cut in, his tone urgent. "It's worse than that. There's an army of five thousand outside the back gate." Silencefell over the room. Guhn's expression darkened. "Are you certain?"Saw it with our own eyes," Espada confirmed. "They're already forming battle lines."

Henry took a deep breath, then turned to his officers. "Sound the full alarm. We

hold this fort or die trying."