Chapter X: The Battle of Hoax

As the sun rose over the city of Bale, Stryfe immediately got out of bet the moment the first ray of sunlight touched his eyelids. Upon getting their equipment prepared, Stryfe, Dart, Shana and Lavitz left Bale and headed west where the town of Hoax awaited them. Upon arriving at the heavily fortified village, Stryfe could see that every soldier who was in his view was on edge, nervous about the upcoming attack from the Sandorans.

Lavitz: Let's go to the HQ first. Kaiser of the Eighth Knighthood must be waiting for us.

Stryfe, Dart and Shana looked around in astonishment. Hoax barely looked like a town for people to live in and instead took the appearance of a makeshift fortress instead. Stryfe could only imagine how the people who were forced to leave their homes behind felt.

Shana: Is this really a town?

Stryfe: Your army turned it into a fortress.

Dart: The war changed it.

Lavitz: That's true...Nobody wanted it, but it couldn't be avoided. Let's focus on our defense for now.

Following Lavitz into a makeshift fort that was once a bar in the center of the town, Stryfe saw three knights talking around a table in the corner which had an open schematic of the town and the fortifications they made to it. One of the knights then noticed the four of them as they approached.

Knight in Black Armor: Well, well! Lavitz!

Lavitz: Kaiser! Long time, no see!

Kaiser: Welcome, old friend! It's a shame about your Knighthood, though...

Lavitz: Yeah...It was my mistake. But I won't let the dreams of my company end in death and be in vain. I'll end this war and unify this country!

Kaiser: Indeed. We cannot stop until we make our dreams come true.

Lavitz: Yeah! Now! I brought you three powerful helpers, Stryfe, Dart and Shana.

Kaiser: Oh! You two are the famous mercenaries who rescued Lavitz! I am Kaiser, the head of the Eighth Knighthood!

Stryfe: The pleasure is all ours, I guess.

Dart: Could you inform us on how we stand now?

Kaiser: We are still preparing for the raid from Sandora. What I am concerned about is the information that they're using a Dragon.

Lavitz: It would be better to fortify here and see how they move, rather than attacking a Dragon that we don't know about.

Stryfe: Then it'll be up to how fast we can spot the enemy approaching the town and how fast we can counter them.

Kaiser: Indeed. Stryfe, Dart, Lavitz, why don't you three be the night guards? Having Shana as well is not a good idea. Can you prepare the meals for the knights instead?

Stryfe at first saw some disappointment in Shana's face, but it quickly turned into optimism.

Shana: Preparing meals? Okay! Dart, you're gonna love it!

Dart: Yes, I am looking forward to it.

Lavitz: I'm a bit concerned...

Stryfe: Oh boy...

Shana: Wh, what!? Your mother gave me a compliment!

Lavitz: I guess it may be edible...

Stryfe facepalmed himself upon hearing Lavitz complete his sentence. Unfortunately, the argument didn't stop there as Stryfe removed his hand from his face.

Shana: I don't like what you said, Lavitz.

Dart: I can enjoy and eat any food. Just make a lot.

Stryfe: Oh for...

Shana: I don't like what you said either, Dart.

Kaiser: I don't care about the taste. Edible is enough. Just salt is enough for flavor!

This time, Stryfe did a double facepalm, though his hands hit his face a lot softer this time around.

Shana: Even you, !

Stryfe: Could all of you please just stop making the situation worse than it is?

Kaiser: I thought I was trying to relax her. Anyways, I guess that matter is settled. Stryfe, Dart, I want you to go look around Hoax with the others. After you look around, come back to me. Stay with me for now, Lavitz. I want to go over the battle conditions with you.

Stryfe: Alright. Dart?

Dart: Let's get moving, Stryfe.

After looking around the north, south, east and west perimeters of the town, Stryfe and Dart determined that everything was ready for battle. Returning to the bar, Kaiser told them to guard the western perimeter with Lavitz. Heading to the western wall, Stryfe, Dart and Lavitz approached the guard on duty.

Stryfe: We're here to replace you.

Soldier #1: Y-Yes sir.

Dart: If Sandora attacks, it will be a night raid.

Lavitz: We cannot relax till morning. Rest while it's still light.

Stryfe: We should take turns. That way, we can save our energy.

Dart: Good idea.

Rotating turns guarding the western gate, Stryfe, Dart and Lavitz each took an hour long patrol across the western wall while the other two got some rest. As night fell over the town, Stryfe had just finished his turn patrolling the wall as he noticed the moon light shining down on him with a strange warmth. Looking out towards the forest, he knew that they would have at least some of the advantage when the battle began.

Stryfe: Although it's quiet tonight, if the Dragon does come, we would be able to tell.

Lavitz: Why is that?

Dart: Because of the owls in the forest. Right, Stryfe?

Stryfe: Yeah. The fact that the owls are still hooting out there proves that there is nobody in the forest...for now.

Looking out towards the forest, which was shrouded in the darkness of the night with only the moon light to show what was out there, Stryfe leaned on the brick barrier on the wall and silently sighed.

Dart: I'm gonna go grab something.

Lavitz: Worried about Shana?

Although it was dark, the torch lights shown Dart's face well enough for Stryfe to see that Dart was blushing.

Dart: It-it's not that.

Stryfe: Are you sure about that?

Dart: Now is not the time, Stryfe...

Stryfe: Heh, sorry.

Lavitz: Bring me back something, Dart.

Stryfe: Yeah. Me too.

Dart: Alright.

Just as Dart reached the bottom of the steps, the owls suddenly stopped hooting in the forest. Stryfe shot up immediately, his nerves becoming overwhelmed with tension as he tried to listen for one hoot, only to be greeted with silence instead.

Stryfe: Oh no...

Soldier #2: ENEMY ATTACK!

Soldier #3: The enemy is coming! The enemy is coming!

As arrows from the Sandorans began flying over the eastern gate, striking a few of the Basil Soldiers, the Basil army scrambled to get to their combat positions as Kaiser came out of the makeshift command center in the bar to take command.

Kaiser: Knighthood, ADVANCE! Fortify the gate! You, take care of the casualties!

Soldier #4: Y, Yes sir!

Drawing their weapons and jumping down from the western gate to aid the soldiers countering the Sandorans who were trying to break through through the northern wall, adrenaline raced through Stryfe's veins as he drew his zwiehander as he neared the ground. Right on top of a Sandoran soldier, Stryfe unleashed a clean-cut slash, cutting the Sandoran in two vertically as he landed on the ground.

Fighting off a team of Sandoran soldiers alone at first, Stryfe eventually struck them down by using the same tactic he used against the Hellena Wardens, albeit with a more offensive tone rather than a wait-n-see strategy. Fighting his way through the battle to rendezvous with Dart and Lavitz, he managed to catch up with them when suddenly Dart pointed his attention back to the western wall.

A warrior of different nature from the usual Sandoran soldier jumped onto the wall with inhuman jumping capabilities. After easily striking down one of the Basil soldiers and knocking him over the wall to the hard ground below, Stryfe saw him silently observe the battle silently before snickering arrogantly.

Sandora Elite: This is the Battle HQ for the front lines of Basil!? What a weak setup!

Stryfe: I'm going after that guy!

Dart: Go! We'll cover yoU!

While Dart and Lavitz held off the upcoming Sandoran soldiers, Stryfe made his way back up to the western wall. As he rose his zwiehander and stood ready to fight, the Sandoran Elite once again snickered arrogantly.

Sandora Elite: What guts you have, coming alone like that!

Stryfe suddenly noticed Dart and Lavitz fighting their way up to help him. As soon as they arrived, Stryfe only gave the Sandora Elite a confident grin.

Lavitz: We got the guys at the bottom!

Dart: Did the party start without us?

Stryfe: Nope! You two are right on time!

Sandora Elite: Hmph! One or two doesn't make a difference! ALL of you will fall to my arts!

Stryfe: Humph! Big talkers like you are usually weaker than they look!

Charging at the Sandora Elite, Stryfe, Dart and Lavitz were quickly thrown off guard by the Sandora Elite's strange and foreign tactics. Quickly recomposing themselves, they counterattacked by using a distract and strike strategy, with two of them distracting the Elite while one made a sneak attack from the rear. Then, the Sandora Elite used a trick that cloned himself with two illusions of himself that were solid and immediately faded after being struck.

At first, Stryfe, Dart and Lavitz were taken back by the illusions, but then, Stryfe noticed something that would give him and his friends the edge. The real Sandora Elite always gave off a shadow while the illusions did not. As they clashed again, Stryfe clashed with one of the illusions before yelling to Dart that the one engaging Lavitz was the real Elite.

Catching the illusion off guard, Stryfe destroyed the illusion he was fighting and continued to fight the one that Dart was battling while Dart went after the real Sandora Elite. While the Sandora Elite was still distracted by Lavitz, Dart quickly thrusted his broadsword through the soldiers chest, cutting clean through his chain mail and armor. Destroying the last illusion, Stryfe saw the Sandora Elite plunge to the ground lifelessly as soon as Dart pulled his sword out of the stab wound, but the battle wasn't over yet.

Looking back down upon hearing a soldier yell in pain, Stryfe saw a giant man wielding an axe silently and slowly approach the wounded soldier.

Lavitz: What is that giant!?

Soldier #4: It's a Gi, Giganto!

Stryfe: What!?

Dart: Giganto?

Stryfe: Come on!

Racing down to help Lavitz, who ran on ahead to fight the giant to buy the injured soldier time to escape, Stryfe and Dart arrived just in time to help. As Stryfe made eye contact with the Giganto, he felt a shiver run down his spine, as this monster looked big enough to snap his head like a watermelon.

Lavitz: I heard about them, but I still cannot believe they're real! The ones who fought him so far were no match for him!

Dart: Well, he still isn't a Dragon!

Stryfe: That's right! He can be defeated if we find a way! LET'S GO!

Charging at the Giganto, Stryfe, Dart and Lavitz clashed with the brute blade and spear to axe as the battle continued to rage around them. Although the Giganto was quick to protect himself from their attacks, Stryfe noticed that he still had to use two hands to fully use the axe, as it was bigger than a normal combat axe. Taking advantage by waiting until the Giganto slowed down while raising his axe for a strike, Stryfe unleashed a barrage of quick slashes that cut through the Giganto's skin until finally the Giganto threw his axe aside to fight them in hand to hand combat.

Now that he no longer wielded the axe, the Giganto was more nimble and more deadly. Avoiding his punches and striking at any openings the Giganto had, Stryfe knew that any slip up would mean instant death. Although the Giganto was eventually beginning to slow down after exploiting his openings, Stryfe was beginning to lose strength as he had not been able to rest up earlier before the attack began.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Stryfe did his best to keep up with the Giganto until finally, the giant was knocked back by a powerful blow from Lavitz's lance. As Stryfe charged in for the final blow, he realized too late that the Giganto still had the speed to keep up with him, knocking him back.
Flying into the ground at a high speed, Stryfe began feeling wounds from his skin beginning to bleed out.

Just as it seemed like the Giganto won, however, Stryfe suddenly saw a strange light approaching the battle from the sky...