Under Mitsuko's command the preparations were made by nightfall. Archers proper equipped with ammunition lined up on the wall along with a unit of Mitsuko's top soldiers along with Mitsuko herself and LingQi stationed over the gatehouse. Pang Tong was also stationed on the wall, wanting to get a good overview of the battlefield. He was guarded with his spectral warriors he christened as the shadow guard. Diamondback and Gyuki was stationed behind the gate along with a large portion of the troops. There was some concern for most of Mitsuko's soldiers don't seem to be well, suffering from fevers. As a result the bandit queens forces stayed behind them, having distance between them. Some were stationed in the forest along with Lu Zheng. The forest hid their forces well. Her oil traps were also spread out across the front field in front of the wall covered with a lot of fallen leaves. Everyone was eager to engage the enemy and so they waited in anticipation for their arrival. The only things that could be heard was the occasional shift of position or more commonly the breathing of their colleagues next to them. The moon shone brightly along with various stars under the night sky. Everyone was on edge before suddenly they started to hear distant footsteps.
They were heavy and at first there was only one heavy set before more could be heard. And more. Before suddenly they saw the amalgamation with its quadruped hind legs holding a mighty double-bladed trident with one hand while the other holds something like a ball of some kind. Each step it took shook the ground as the thuds got closer and closer. Behind this behemoth was soldiers, armed like an actual army thanks to Zhang yans connections with Han warlords. Wave upon wave of troops flying Zhang Yans banner came into view for those stationed on the walls. Some began to get nervous at the numbers seeming being endless. They marched upon the though the first line stopped just before the oil traps unbeknownst to them. One line after another they stopped in front of the wall. The amalgamation stops at the centre, a clear charge to the gate is formed. Troops mainly equipped with many swords and spears though Mitsuko noticed a lack of siege weapons aside from ladders which are carried on the flanks. Even if there is a giant on their side, they would prefer to at least something else as a backup right? Mitsuko darted her eyes from the seemingly endless waves of troops to find only a few of them stood out from the crowd. The commander that is the only one mounted on a horse while she only saw about 3 teal coloured uniforms. She expected far more mystics than that. Though she supposed the amalgamation can be enough for some she guessed.
The horse stops just behind the front lines and looked like he was examining the wall. He then leant down to a more veteran soldier and whispered something to him. He walked up past the front line and stopped. Mitsuko motioned one of the archers by having her right serpent arm hiss at him and slither their way down the line of archers. He understood and started to burn the tips of the arrows one by one as he grabbed a torch next to him attached to the wall and walked along it. All apart from LingQi's who also is equipped with a bow and arrow though her normal polearms were on the ground next to her in preparations for when hand to hand combat would start. The archers didn't draw their bows but did prepare them as they lowered their weapons below the wall so they could not see the flickering embers. Suddenly the speaker cleared his throat and started to speak.
'Defenders of the bandit queen. By the order of Yu Du, supreme commander of the forces of Zhang Yan demands your surrender. If you surrender your lives will be spared. Zhang Yan does not wish to harm you and will spare your lives if you pledge your loyalty to him. He only asks this of the bandit queen herself.' The speaker in question began to list the conditions of the surrender. Mitsuko was already bored of his speech as she leant through the embrasures of the castle walls and glances to her side to see LingQi readying an arrow.
'So…how accurate are you with that thing?' She questioned with a mischievous grin on her face. LingQi gave her a confident smirk in response as she pulled the arrow back.
'Where do you want it?' Mitsuko pondered this for a moment as her left serpent jaw held her chin.
'Lets say…his right eye without grazing his nose.' Mitsuko challenged. LingQi silently accepted as she waited for the perfect chance. When she saw it she released the arrow. It zooms past everyone and interrupted the speaker as it penetrated the right eye. The arrowhead didn't graze the nose as the speaker was silenced. The body fell to the ground landing on his back, the entire battlefield was silent. Zhang Yans frontline looked at the body in surprise.
'Nice shot.' Mitsuko said to LingQi before yelling with a booming voice to make sure the enemy can hear her as she moved to the middle of the gatehouse.
'That's all well and good but I have an even better idea. How about you fuck off and you get to live? Sounds like a fair deal to me.' Mitsuko sarcastically yelled before she chuckled demonically. The enemy started to look at each while whispering to each other before the commander walked his light brown steed forward before stopping right before the trap.
'Ahh, you must be the serpent we heard so much about. I must admit you're not like what I expected' Yu Du responded.
'What gave you that impression? Was it the snakes?' Mitsuko rhetorically questioned as the snakes hissed aggressively at him.
'It was more your general behaviour but I do not think you are unreasonable, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.' He attempted to reason with her, if she's able to draw her out it would be easy for them to take the castle.
'Oh yeah, I'm sure we can. For example if you stay where you are while I give the order of grazing the left cheek slightly and going between the eyes of the second line.'
'What are you-' Yu Du started however he was interrupted by an arrow grazing past his left cheek while the arrow landed between the eyes of the soldier on the 2nd line behind him. The corpse fell backwards as the person behind it freaked and pushed it forward and slumped forward before eventually falling to the side. Yu Du looked at the corpse and then touched his face and saw blood on his hand. His blood. He looked to Mitsuko demonically smirking at him. He clenched his fist in anger as blood was slowly pouring out from the bottom of his fist.
'I told you. We're not interested in dying or surrendering. Killing you on the other hand will be our pleasure! So Fuck off or die.'
'With respect commander, the serpent is not one to be negotiated with as she's an agent of chaos. We will bring her back to the palace alive as I'm sure she will be make a fine prize for you as well as this castle.' Grus said as he approached him.
'Tch, I merely wished for her to open the gate and let our forces in, I would've granted them a swift death, but now it looks like hers will be painful.' Yu Du declared as she looked at Mitsuko with a furious look on his face.
'Do not worry, her death will be painful.' Grus stated as he pointed towards the serpent in anger.
'You hear me serpent! You will die just like those that serve you! Your reign of chaos will finally come to an end!'
'Oh is that so? Well unfortunately for you I think we're just getting started. Isn't that right!?' Mitsuko asked. Every soldier cheered in response, eager for vengeance for the shameful opportunist.
'You see? I have a garrison full of soldiers who want to tear each and everyone of you all apart.'
'Is that so? Well then we'll show you what we'll do to your so called allies.' Lyra announced as the behemoth threw whatever he was holding over the gate. All heads watched as it landed behind the gate between Mitsuko's soldiers and backline of Zheng Jiangs forces. Instead of landing with a massive thud there was only a loud squelching sound. Mitsuko walked closer to it while staying on the wall to examine what was the object. It was human corpses! She suspected it was the lookouts that quickly blew the warning horn before being silenced. The creature crushed them together to make a human ball. The human soldiers look horrified by the sight. Blood started to seep through it as it started to dismantle now that the grip of the amalgamation wasn't holding it together. The stench was overwhelming for the soldiers of the ground, enough to make a couple vomit on the ground. Mitsuko looked at the pile and started to demonically laugh as she went back to her original position. The forces looking at her perplexingly. What is there to laugh at?
'Did you really think that pile of corpses you crushed together is enough to lose everyone's motivation? If you did then wow, you're more stupid than I thought you were. You really thought everyone behind me that's eager to shed your blood would just call it a day because of a few bodies!? Ha if anything it would motivate them more. They are my soldiers, they are bandits that fight for the bandit queen! They're not easily intimidated by a few bloodied bodies.' Mitsuko stated. The bandit queens started to realise that she had a point. They fight for the bandit queen, they're not afraid to get their hands dirty. They're bandits. They're the fists of the bandit queen! They weren't going to take what they did to their comrades lying down.
'You want our heads, come and get them.' Mitsuko goaded as she grinned sadistically as she held on to the wall with her serpent jaws and leant forward past the embrasures.
'Gladly. All forces advance! Slay them all for lord Zhang Yan!' Yu Du gave the order as he raised his sword high in the air and pointed it forward towards the wall. The infantry yelled loudly as the flanks grabbed the walls and began to spring towards the wall. Mitsuko couldn't help but laugh sadistically.
'HA they took the bait! Archers! Rain hellfire upon them!' Mitsuko ordered as the serpents roar before they regurgitate their respective weapons. The archers gladly obliged as they raised their fire arrows and fired at the ground. The oil was set alight, the fire quickly spread, engulfing all of the first wave in a bright red fire. Yu Du's horse neighed as it stood on its hind legs while the troops behind the oil trap stopped in their tracks as they heard the screams of agony, afraid to go into the fire. Yu Du pulled the reigns on his horse to calm it down. Suddenly another volley of arrows was set loose upon them. Those with arrows could protect themselves however not all had that luxury as arrows pierced their flesh.
'Don't just stand there, advance! We stay out here we'll just be put down. You!' Yu Du looks at Grus.
'Get your oaf through the gates!' He pointed at the gate, Grus became annoyed at his order.
'You do not get to order me let's get that right!...But we are on the same side. Destroy the gate!' Grus yelled at the amalgamation and roared as it slowly advanced. The next wave of Zhang Yan also advanced as some held the ladders again. They sprinted past the flames as fast as they could before they were peppered with arrows or the flickering embers caught fire on their clothes and start to burn them. However for some soldiers the places they steppes suddenly burst into a fiery explosion beneath them like they stepped on a landmine. The place where they stood suddenly burst into a small black explosion, obliterating limbs completely. This happened all around the fire, some say it was another trap though Lyra noticed after the explosion, traces of blackness ascended from the ground before zooming higher in the air towards the wall. She followed it with her eyes and saw that it retreated to the top of the wall and past the embrasures of the wall she spotted Pang Tong with his Black Phoenix Guard.
'Grus look at that one over there. They have a dark sorcerer in their midst.' She quickly made her way to Grus to point out Pang Tong.
'What!? Didn't we slay them all though?'
'Apparently we missed one, either that or one of the demon tomes made their way to that one before it was destroyed. That one must be a priority for us to destroy. Deal with him.' She ordered as she heard arcane explosions and screams of their human "allies."
'I think I'll wait until they setup the ladders.'
'What? Are you not aware of what sorcerers can do?'
'He's just a human, what can he do?' Meanwhile as they debate on what to do with Pang Tong he noticed them as she pointed at him. He chuckled.
'Oh, they must be talking about me. I'm flattered. I think we should give them a warm welcome, if one of you can change your weapon to a bow and arrow and give them a greeting I think that would go a long way for them.' Pang tong ordered. One of the phoenix guards changed their sword into a bow and arrow as the spectral quiver appeared on his back filled with ghostly arrows. The spectral warrior fires their arrow at the Mitsukai. The spectral arrow flies through the battlefield. Grus grabbed the shaft of the arrow before the tip pierced his eye. The arrow disappears into the wind as Grus locked eyes with Pang Tong.
'He's a dead man.' Grus stated as he begrudgingly made his way to the frontlines. He didn't want to be ordered to do so if it wasn't Jinzha doing it however as Pang Tong is being a pest he is willing to make an exception. As the frontlines were being peppered with arrows while others were burning the rear guard was wondering what was going on as all they can see is faint flickering flames along with the stench of burning oil. They were waiting for the lines in front of them to move up so they can start advancing and get into the fray. However a few of them noticed something quite small in the sky. They wondered what it was, though as it started to get closer and larger they quickly realised what it was. The curiosity turned into horror as the large boulder got closer as the previously calm and eager rear guard quickly quaked as they tried to scatter out of formation. Though it was too late for some, the boulder landed on the unfortunate soldiers. They found another boulder careening their way and did they're best to scatter and get out of the way.
'Damn they have catapults too? How did they prepare all this so quickly!?' Yu Du demanded to know as he gritted his teeth and snarled viciously.
'Get that gate down now!' he yells. The amalgamation makes its way towards the gate, ignoring the oil trap completely. Even stepping on an ally without any thought for him. Archers began to fire at the amalgamation. Many arrows stick out of its flesh as golden blood it looks like seeps from their wounds, though they are still ignored as the trident is raised high. Mitsuko lips turned upwards at this.
'Heh let's see if they're giant is a match for mine. Open the gates!' Mitsuko ordered. The controller of the gates did as he was instructed. He turned the wheel as the gate slowly creaks open outwards. The amalgamation stopped in its tracks. Its tilted its head slightly in confusion, wondering what was going on. As the gate were open enough Gyuki swung his club underhand, catching the amalgamation in its chin. It staggers backwards in surprise, not expecting the attack. It shook its head quickly as the gates open to reveal Gyuki standing there menacingly before he roars and lunges in for another attack. Trampling any enemy soldiers that stood in his way. The amalgamation blocked the attack this time with the right trident blade and roars back towards him. Yu Du could only look upon them both in awe while the fire still burning brightly around them.
'They have their own giant as well!? Damn them for not informing us about this. No matter! Don't worry about the giants just get through this wall and take this city!' He ordered. The next wave did as instructed. They attempted to avoid the giants and leave them enough room to step so they would not get crushed. As they approach the gatehouse, they spotted Diamondback on the frontlines with his back being guarded by Mitsuko's soldiers. They knew they had to keep on running, less they wanted an arrow piercing their heart. Diamondback grinned widely, revealing his sharp, serrated teeth as he sprinted towards his enemy. As he was close enough he leapt up in the air and threw his halberd at them. Piercing their stomach. The momentum forced them to crash to the ground. As Diamondback landed, he quickly withdrew his halberd from the corpse and quickly swung it with force around him, the decorated spikes piercing and cleaving through their torso before he roared. Signalling the soldiers behind him to lunge forward, eager to spill blood. The siege has begun.