Chapter 18: Two Fronts, One Goal

The battlefield outside Yore had become a living nightmare. Carous Gelheim's army of 18,000 revolutionaries crashed against the city's defenses like a relentless tidal wave, their war cries shaking the very ground beneath them.

Yore's defenders, only 10,000 strong, held their ground behind the fortified walls. Arrows rained down from the towers, piercing the first wave of revolutionaries. Many collapsed before they even reached the walls, but their comrades simply climbed over their fallen, pushing forward with siege ladders and battering rams.

The city guards poured boiling oil over the ladders, screams of burning revolutionaries filling the air. Flaming arrows ignited the siege weapons, turning wooden rams into infernos.

A massive explosion shook the eastern side of the wall, blasting a section of stone into rubble. The revolutionaries rushed into the opening, pouring through the breach.

In the lower districts, the fighting had already become desperate hand-to-hand combat. Revolutionaries hacked through the first line of defenders, taking several streets, but the loyalists formed shield walls, pushing back with brutal counterattacks.

The streets ran red with blood, and yet neither side was willing to retreat.

The Revolutionaries Advance – A Fight of Attrition

Jeffrey Maxim's soldiers formed defensive lines in the marketplace, holding off an advancing revolutionary battalion.

A broad-shouldered warrior wielding a great axe charged toward them, roaring a battle cry.

"FOR WOODSAW!" he bellowed, swinging his axe and splitting a loyalist soldier in two.

The city guards held their ground, stabbing forward with spears, trying to hold the front line. The revolutionaries continued to charge, throwing themselves at the defenders in blind fury.

Amidst the chaos, the banner of the revolution still flew high, unburnt, unwavering.

Carous Gelheim stood atop a hill overlooking the battlefield, watching as his forces gained ground.

He smirked. "They are breaking."

But inside the city, the defenders still fought on. They knew that if Yore fell, all of Woodsaw would follow.

The Resistance's Assault on the Fort – Dante Lands in the Middle of Battle

Far from Yore, in the Squatters' District, Roland Vask and the Grimknights led the resistance in their attack on the Revolutionary Fort.

The fort stood like a black monolith, its towering wooden walls reinforced with steel plates. The plan was simple—strike fast, breach the gates, and wipe out the remaining revolutionaries.

As the resistance warriors charged forward, the massive wooden gates suddenly swung open.

A sharp wave of confusion spread through the resistance ranks. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

Then laughter rang out.

From the shadows of the entrance, a lone figure stepped forward, his spear resting casually over his shoulder.

Dante Viel.

He smirked, tilting his head. "Oh? You thought you could take us by surprise?"

Henry gritted his teeth, gripping his tower shield. "Damn it… It's a trap!"

Dante vanished.

In a blink, he reappeared in the center of the resistance force.

The air went still for a moment, then—

"Kill them all."

The revolutionaries charged forward from the shadows, weapons drawn.

Elric vs. Dante – A Duel of Strength and Skill

Elric Smith was the closest to Dante.

Before the revolutionary commander could strike, Elric raised his arm.

"NESSIE!"

A deep, guttural roar echoed as a massive, spectral shape materialized behind him.

A creature serpentine in form, its scales rippling like flowing water, rose from the mist. Its emerald eyes locked onto Dante, radiating raw power.

Dante merely smirked. "A water spirit? Let's see how long it lasts."

Elric swung his flail, sending spiked metal hurtling toward Dante. The revolutionary commander sidestepped, flickering out of the way in an instant.

Nessie's body lashed forward like a tidal wave, but Dante flickered again, reappearing behind Elric.

"Too slow."

His spear thrust forward, forcing Elric to barely block with his mace.

The ground shook from their clash. The resistance warriors stayed back, too afraid to interfere.

Slowly, Dante began to gain the upper hand.

Espada Joins the Fight – A Two-on-One Battle

As Dante twisted his spear, nearly breaking through Elric's defense, another blade flashed.

Espada Harmony appeared beside them, her scimitar blocking Dante's attack.

She grinned, wiping sweat from her brow. "Hope you don't mind a little backup, Elric."

Dante chuckled, stepping back. "Two against one? Maybe this will be fun after all."

Elric regained his footing, gripping his mace. "Let's take him together."

The two Grimknights attacked in perfect rhythm—Elric swung with brute force while Espada struck with quick, precise cuts.

But Dante was still faster.

He dodged, blocked, and flickered away at just the right moments, making it nearly impossible for them to land a clean hit.

Roland's Last Stand – The Archer Division Falls

Meanwhile, Roland Vask and his best fighters stormed the revolutionaries' archer division.

They cut down dozens of long-range attackers, but five elite revolutionary fighters broke through their ranks.

Roland fought fiercely, his warhammer crushing one enemy's ribs, then another's skull.

But eventually, he was surrounded.

A sword pierced his side, then another slashed deep across his chest.

Roland collapsed onto one knee, blood spilling onto the dirt.

The five revolutionaries closed in for the final blow.

Gregory's Return – A Warrior's Choice

Before the killing strike landed, a mace smashed into one of the revolutionaries' heads, sending him flying.

Gregory Malter had arrived.

He swung his weapon mercilessly, crushing another fighter's ribs with a single blow.

One of the remaining revolutionaries staggered back in shock.

"Gregory?! I thought you fought for us!"

Gregory gave him a smirk, gripping his mace tightly.

"I fight for who I damn well choose."

Then he hammered the man into the dirt.

Roland's Final Words – "Win My War"

Gregory rushed to Roland's side, kneeling beside him.

Roland's breath was shallow, his chest rising and falling weakly. Blood pooled beneath him.

Gregory pressed a hand to his wound. "Stay with me, old man."

Roland grinned weakly. "Not much left in me, son."

His hand grasped Gregory's arm, pulling him close.

His voice was hoarse but firm. "Win my war."

And with that, Roland Vask, leader of the resistance, fell.

Kaiser's Mission – The Infiltration Begins

As Roland breathed his last, the battle raged on.

But away from the battlefield, inside the fortress walls, Kaiser Reiss moved through the dark corridors.

Alzalel, his spectral entity, floated beside him, its ghostly form flickering in the dim torchlight.

His task was clear: Rescue the girl.

He tightened his grip on his dagger.

The war outside was reaching its climax.

And inside the fort, Kaiser was walking straight into the unknown.

The Siege of Yore raged on.

The resistance was struggling.

Dante Viel was still undefeated.

And Kaiser Reiss had begun his true mission.