Ambush! Part 4

(narrator)

A heavy silence settled over the battlefield. The war was almost avoided.

Then…

Screams.

The ground trembled under the sudden footsteps. Hundreds of figures emerged from the shadows, a swarm of masked assassins flooding the battlefield. They struck with terrifying speed, heading straight for Drayton's forces, straight for the princess…

They didn't attack the devotion army… this is a well-thought-out plan to put the blame on them.

"Ambush!" someone shouted.

Drayton's army, though disciplined, was in a difficult position. Many of his soldiers were still holding prisoners, unable to fight freely, but they responded quickly. Backup forces rushed in, swords drawn, shields raised, arrows rained down, clashing with the enemy in an instant.

But now everyone saw why they are known as the strongest soldiers; they stand strong in front of them, despite their large numbers.

Keven was at the center of it all.

Surrounded by enemies, he moved like a force of nature, his sword cutting through them with effortless precision. A soldier rushed at him, Keven sidestepped, dodging him, his blade slicing through his attacker's armor with terrifying ease. Another came from behind, and without turning, Keven spun his weapon back, the steel edge tearing through flesh. Three more charged at once, hoping to overwhelm him. Keven ducked under the first attack, grabbed the second attacker's arm, and twisted (snapping bone) before kicking the third straight in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground. He barely seemed out of breath.

But the enemy's numbers were relentless.

Yuri's voice cut through the noise. "Shields up! Stay together! Wait for my order!".

Devotion soldiers rushed into formation, shields locking together, waiting. They weren't the target.

But Drayton was.

 Roy barely had a second to process what was happening before he saw it…

The princess and Elena were surrounded by forces. The chaos of battle spread everywhere, and Keven was now too distracted to protect them. A masked enemy rushed on Lily, raising his sword. Lily retreated in time, but another enemy came from the side, ready to attack.

Andrew screamed. "If she dies, we're screwed… GO!"

Roy's body moved before his mind did.

Then Roy and Andrew go forward.

The princess didn't have time to react. The enemy's sword was rapidly descending, but before it could reach her, a heavy blade (Andrew's sword) slammed into it, stopping the attack with a fierce force. The impact sent sparks flying as Andrew lunged forward, forcing the attacker to retreat. Before the enemy could recover, Roy was already there.

One clean, precise strike. A single motion. The attacker fell instantly.

Lily screamed, "Roy just gets me a sword I'll support you both"

Roy, without hesitation, threw her the sword from the person he had just defeated.

Lily effortlessly blocking strikes with her own blade. Roy eyes widened in surprise as she can hold her ground, she lands a hit with precision, swiftly countering and taking down one of the attackers.

"You're... not bad," Roy muttered

She shot him a brief, almost amused glance. " I've learned a few things," she replied.

Andrew was beside him, moving like a monster. His heavy sword swept through the enemies like they were nothing. One swing, three fell. Another one, two more.

Even Elena took a sword and started protecting the princess.

But they kept coming. Sophia tensed, ready to rush in, but…

"Stay back!" Yuri's voice was sharp, final. "Only Roy and Andrew there, no one else!"

Roy saw another attacker break through and aiming to the back of lily. Too fast, too close, his instincts screamed... And then he moved. He grabbed her wrist, yanking her to him and put his arm around her.

For a split second, her face was inches from his. Those blue wide eyes, full of shock.

Roy didn't look. He blocked the attack, then turned, twisting her behind him as he struck down the next enemy. A sharp breath escaped her lips.

No time to think. Andrew and Roy moved together, their blades dancing in sync. The attackers were skilled, but the brothers were stronger. Where Roy was precise, Andrew was forceful. Where Andrew struck, Roy followed, filling every gap.

An unstoppable rhythm!

But the next attack came already.

A wave of assassins broke through, surging toward the princess.

Andrew crashed into the first with a brutal strike, his heavy sword cleaving through armor with terrifying ease. He spun, bashing another with his shield, sending the man flying back.

Roy moved beside him, fast, precise. His blade danced, cutting down one assassin before they could even raise a weapon. He ducked, slid under an incoming strike, and slashed upward, blood sprayed, another enemy down.

The two brothers fought like they had done it a thousand times. No wasted movement. No hesitation. One blocked, the other struck. One fell back, the other covered. Nothing could break them.

Yuri watched, his sharp eyes assessing the battlefield. "Damn good, finally got to see these two in action" he muttered under his breath.

Then he turned and noticed, Keven was surrounded...