The Siege of Ambracia
The thunder of Roman war drums echoed through the valleys as the legions arrived before Ambracia.
The city gates were shut. The walls were manned.
But Rome was patient.
And Rome was relentless.
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Rome's First Strike
Marcus Cornelius Scipio stood before his assembled army, his gaze fixed on the Epirote capital.
"Ambracia is strong," he told his men. "But walls crumble. Kings fall. And Rome endures."
With a simple gesture, the siege engines rolled forward.
Catapults hurled massive stones, crashing against the city walls.
Legionnaires constructed siege towers, their shields gleaming under the sun.
From atop the walls, Alexander watched.
"They work fast," Drakon muttered.
Alexander's jaw clenched. "So must we."
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The Defense of Epirus
Alexander's men moved with urgency.
Boiling oil was prepared to be poured upon Roman siege towers.
Archers lined the walls, their arrows aimed at the advancing engineers.
Tunnels were dug beneath the city, ready to collapse any Roman battering rams.
As the first siege tower neared the walls, Alexander gave the signal.
Flaming arrows struck its wooden frame, setting it ablaze.
The Romans pressed forward, shields raised.
Then—Epirote stones rained down, smashing into their ranks.
Scipio watched from the distance, his face unreadable.
"They fight like lions," a centurion said.
Scipio nodded. "Then we starve them."
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The War of Attrition
For weeks, the siege dragged on.
The Romans cut off all supply routes, waiting for hunger and desperation to weaken Epirus.
Inside Ambracia, food became scarce.
The people grew restless.
Alexander walked the streets, hearing whispers of fear.
Lysandros approached him. "The people suffer, my king."
Alexander's hands curled into fists.
"I will not surrender."
Drakon stepped beside him. "Then we must break the siege."
Alexander's eyes burned with determination.
"We will."
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The Plan to Break Rome
That night, a secret council was held.
A plan was formed. A desperate gamble.
Drakon grinned. "It is madness."
Alexander's smirk matched his. "It is war."
The Romans would not see it coming.
And soon—Ambracia would strike back.
The siege had lasted too long.
Ambracia stood on the edge of starvation, its people weak and desperate.
Rome thought they had already won.
But Alexander had one last move to play.
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The Plan of Desperation
Inside the war room, candles flickered over the maps of the city.
Drakon leaned forward, his expression grim. "If this fails, we are finished."
Alexander's eyes burned. "Then we do not fail."
The plan was simple—but deadly.
1. A small force would slip past Roman lines under the cover of night.
2. They would ignite the enemy's food and supply storage.
3. When chaos erupted, the Epirote cavalry would charge out of the gates.
4. With the Romans in disarray, the full force of Ambracia would break the siege.
Lysandros hesitated. "They will expect an attack."
Alexander smirked. "They expect me to surrender."
He stood, gripping his sword.
"They have forgotten who I am."
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The Flames of War
The night was silent as Alexander and his raiders crept through the shadows of the city's underground tunnels.
The Roman guards patrolled lazily, confident in their siege.
Then—a spark in the darkness.
The first flames caught the grain stores, and within moments, fire erupted across the Roman camp.
Screams pierced the night as flames devoured tents, siege weapons, and food supplies.
The legion fell into chaos.
And that was when the gates of Ambracia burst open.
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The Counterattack
Alexander led the cavalry charge, his sword gleaming in the firelight.
Drakon roared beside him, his ax splitting Roman helmets in two.
The Illyrian warriors struck from the flanks, cutting through confused and panicked legionnaires.
The Romans fought back fiercely, forming their testudo formations, but the fire spread too fast, and their lines broke.
Scipio rallied his men, trying to hold the ground.
But Alexander found him first.
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The Duel of Kings
Amidst the burning camp, Alexander and Scipio met.
The Roman general raised his sword. "You fight like a cornered animal."
Alexander smirked. "I fight like a king."
Their blades clashed, sparks flying.
Scipio was strong, disciplined, but Alexander fought with pure fire.
A quick feint, a deadly thrust—
Alexander's blade sliced through Scipio's armor, cutting deep.
The Roman stumbled, blood pouring from his chest.
Alexander grabbed him by the throat, pulling him close.
"Tell your Senate," he whispered, "that Epirus bows to no empire."
With a final twist of his blade, he ended it.
Scipio fell to his knees, then collapsed into the dirt.
The Roman army broke.
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Victory at a Cost
By morning, the siege was over.
The Romans had retreated, their banners left abandoned in the burning wreckage.
Ambracia had survived.
But Alexander knew the truth—this was not a true victory.
Rome would return.
And next time, they would send more than a legion.
Drakon stood beside him. "You have won."
Alexander's grip tightened on his sword.
"For now."