Chapter 85: The Siege Begins

Chapter 85: The Siege Begins

Silvia's POV

The first clash of steel and the roar of battle shattered the eerie silence of dawn. The enemy surged forward, their war cries reverberating through the valley as they advanced in disciplined formations. The ground trembled beneath their march, sending waves of tension through the city's defenders perched along the high stone walls. Soldiers stood with bows at the ready, gripping the edges of their weapons tightly as the reality of battle loomed ever closer. Some muttered prayers, while others set their jaws, eyes burning with determination.

Silvia stood at the center of the battlements, her sword drawn, eyes scanning the battlefield below. The siege towers rolled forward, monstrous constructions reinforced with iron plates, their hulking forms designed to weather barrages of arrows and fire. War drums pounded in a steady rhythm, marking their advance like the ticking of an inevitable doom.

"Archers!" she commanded, her voice carrying over the chaos. "Loose!"

A hundred arrows soared from the city's walls, cutting through the sky like a storm of death. The front ranks of the enemy staggered as bolts pierced their armor, sending men to the ground in cries of agony. But for every fallen soldier, another took their place, relentless in their march forward. The enemy had no fear, no hesitation. They had come to conquer, and they would not stop until the city was reduced to rubble.

Dragon was beside her, his keen eyes locked on the enemy's siege weapons. "They're moving faster than expected. We need to slow them down."

Tarren, already nocking another arrow, called out, "Fire crews, ignite the oil trenches!"

Moments later, flames erupted along the city's perimeter. The trenches, filled with oil, became rivers of fire, forcing the enemy to split their ranks. Screams echoed as some were caught in the blaze, their armor becoming molten death traps.

Yet, despite the chaos, the enemy pushed on. Siege ladders slammed against the walls as Titan remnants began their ascent. Soldiers on the walls braced themselves, shoving the ladders back and slicing at the climbing warriors, but more replaced them within seconds.

Breaking the Line

The first siege tower reached the wall. Silvia's stomach twisted as the enemy's massive wooden bridge slammed down, locking onto the battlements. Titan's remnants surged forward, scaling the ramp with shields raised.

"Hold them back!" Garrik roared as he led a charge, his axe cleaving through the first soldier to reach the top.

Silvia joined the fray, parrying a sword strike and countering with a precise thrust. The enemy fought with brutal efficiency, their formation tight even in the confined space of the wall's walkway. She gritted her teeth, pushing back against the relentless onslaught.

Dragon fought beside her, his movements fluid and deadly. He struck with inhuman speed, shifting between dodging and countering in an elegant display of lethal prowess. "This is getting messy!" he shouted between strikes.

Silvia barely dodged a blade aimed for her side. "It's a siege. It was never going to be clean!"

A Remnant soldier lunged toward her, eyes wild with battle rage. Silvia twisted, catching his sword with her own, the clang of metal ringing in her ears. She pushed forward, throwing her weight into her opponent and sending him staggering back before slashing across his chest. Blood sprayed across the stone walkway, the body crumpling at her feet.

All around them, the battle raged. Defenders screamed orders as they struggled to hold their ground. War horns blared from the enemy's lines, signaling the arrival of reinforcements. More siege towers rolled forward, and in the distance, battering rams smashed against the reinforced gates.

The Turning Point

A massive explosion rocked the city's western gate. Silvia's heart lurched as she turned to see flames rising high, a gaping hole torn through the defensive structure.

"They breached the gate!" a soldier cried.

Silvia cursed under her breath. "Tarren, take your archers and slow them down! Garrik, reinforce the inner courtyard! We can't let them through!"

Dragon's gaze was already on her. "I'll go with Garrik."

She hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. "Be careful."

He smirked. "Always."

As he and Garrik rushed down the stone stairwell, Silvia turned back to the battle. The walls still held, but just barely. The next few hours would determine the fate of the city.

She descended quickly, following a group of soldiers down toward the gate's remains. The once-mighty structure now lay in ruins, massive chunks of wood and iron scattered across the cobbled streets. Enemy troops poured through the breach, clashing with the city's defenders in brutal melee combat.

Silvia pushed forward, cutting down two Remnant warriors as they attempted to strike down one of her wounded men. She pulled the injured soldier back, signaling for a medic before returning to the fight.

A roar echoed from behind, and she turned just in time to see Dragon, shifting into his monstrous form, tearing through the enemy ranks with terrifying precision. His claws slashed through armor like paper, his golden eyes gleaming with untamed fury.

The sight sent a surge of relief through Silvia—he was holding the line, but for how long?

Tarren's voice rang through the chaos. "They're bringing in another wave!"

Silvia gritted her teeth. "Then we give them hell."

The Battlefield Shifts

As the battle wore on, exhaustion crept into Silvia's limbs. Sweat mixed with blood on her skin, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. But she could not stop. Not now.

The city's forces had managed to stall the enemy, but the battle was far from over. Reinforcements were still pouring in, the siege far from broken. If they faltered now, all would be lost.

She looked up at the central keep, where their banners still flew. It was a beacon, a reminder of why they fought. They could not let Titan rise again.

"We hold the line!" Silvia shouted. "For the city! For our people!"

The defenders roared in response, their weapons clashing once more as the battle continued.

And as Silvia raised her sword for another strike, she knew—this was only the beginning of the true war.