(During Issue 12: WITCH and Elyon enter the Palace)
"Abandon hill! Abandon hill!" Eric yells across the hilltop as the rebels follow his command and run and flee down to the other side of the hill to meet Jolras' men. Ferroris takes their flag, which symbolizes their determination to defend the hill to the very end, is now lowered and descends down.
The overwhelming fourteenth siege was no miracle just as the recent one. Though they delayed the incoming attack from the foothills for a mere twenty minutes of pushing down wagons and rolling down stones, the soldiers were never tricked twice as they handled the situation effectively. "Attack! Ours is the hill!" They then charge the uphill once again at all sides with overwhelming numbers. Phobos' men were doubled than the recent attack as men from all the three corps rejoined and cooperated to finally end the lasting siege.
"Retreat!" "To Jolras' men!" the rest of the rebel men cry out as Eric and Ray are the last ones to follow the retreating rebels from behind.
"Is that all of them?" Ray asks as he surveys the hilltop and sees no one left on the hilltop.
"Yap! That's all of them." Eric replies as he too gazes around the area. They then race down the hill as the enemy line draws nearer to the hilltop with their royal blue and white flags and blue armors charges and leaps over the toppled stone wall earlier.
Ray and Eric runs down the hill with caution as they avoid the trees and the thick bushes along the way. "You think this is fine, to let them take their position for a while?" Ray turns around to see an increasing number of soldiers on the hilltop. A hundred feet away from them, Phobos' men hurrah and cheered for joy when they finally landed on the cold plateau hilltop. After a hard fought brutal and ensuing fourteen sieges, their mighty flags wave with pride across the hilltop and helmets are tossed to the air.
"As long they don't know what we're up to!" Eric replies as he follows Ray from behind. They then hide themselves behind a tree and observe the celebrative victory.
"Jehan!" Eric says as he notices the tired and injured Jehan who runs towards Eric and Ray, who carry the injured into the wagon. It was after they spoke with Cpl. Jhaoully pushed another wagon down the hill that news below arrived. "Any news?"
"Good news, Jolras' Corps has already crossed the river and is now in their positions to reinforce us and to lead the counter-attack…" Jehan replies.
"And what positions are they taking up?" Ray asks. "Shouldn't they be marching towards here and reinforce us?"
"He wanted a surprise attack against Phobos' men." Jehan points to the thick bushes and large stones down the foothills with Jolras Corps behind it. "As far as he's concerned the enemy still doesn't have the slightest idea that our rebels crossed the river, with the Fourth Corps recalled to the other side of the hill. The watchmen from the Phobos castle also can't see the south side of this hill. And there's the fact that their three corps against our corps isn't enough to fight off the enemy."
"So he wanted a surprise attack to counter their overwhelming numbers." Eric says.
"Yet you said it's a three-to-one corps battle, could we even win this one like we did for the hilltop?" Ray asks.
"He says he still doubts our numbers, so he entrusted the success of the Calluna men and the arrival of Commander Lamarcus Corps, but until then we must hold off our positions in place once more."
"So what does he want us to do then?" Ray asks.
"He asks for the remaining rebels here to bait and lure them on the hilltop. When the next siege arrives, he wants you to call a retreat down the foothills and hide. When the soldiers celebrate their victory as they take up the hill, you, Atlas call in for the charge of Jolras' men to counter-attack."
"And when will I know if it's the right time to call in the charge?" Eric asks confusingly.
"It depends on your intuition, Jolras says." Jehan explains. "The more vulnerable they are, the better chances of overwhelming them. It's up to you Atlas."
"Now!" Eric commands out to the rebels below him after a survey of the hilltop of a joyful atmospheric acclaiming victory. He presents himself above his hiding place and points his large sword to upward once more Jolras' rebels suddenly appear from the rocks and the trees as they quickly arise from their positions and rush towards the hill.
"Charge!" "Onward!" the rebels pull out their clubs and swords and emerge from their hideouts and rush and toward the cheering enemy.
"It's the rebels!" "We've been countered!" "It's a trap!" Disrupted and confused by the rebels' presence, the soldiers almost take flight down the hill by the shocking rebel numbers that appeared, the others take up arms again and are ready to fight the counterattack.
"Don't be fooled! We have the higher ground!" One of the officers commands to the front line as the soldiers form defensive line. Jolras' men clash against the soldiers and another on the hill ensues.
In the meantime, the known Lyndon Corps rests behind the rocks and the trees as they were ordered by one of Jolras messengers. While they rest, Eric and Ray continue to navigate the east. "How's the situation?" Eric asks Ray who uses his Farsight.
"So far I only hear distant explosive noises on the north side of this city." Ray says as he points north to the foggy silhouette of Meridian kingdom walls and echoes of distant explosions. 'It must be Nigel and Calluna's.'
"And how about Vathek and Alborn?" Eric asks as he brings his map out analyzes the battle once more.
"With Frost's Corps leader being washed off to the sewers, I think the rest of their reduced numbers are soon falling apart by the rebels. The Annihilators, handled by Vathek and his men, are still on stale as neither sides give ground." Ray says as he points on the location of the forces on the map.
"As long as they hold their lines, I don't think that won't be a problem for now." Eric explains as he analyzes the map. Eric crosses his arms as he rests his tired body on large stone. "Yet if those Annihilators were not destroying the city, I think it would be better if they should aid the Calluna's."
"That's why their called the 'Annihilators' am I right?" Ray chuckles as he also takes a breather from the fight. "Besides as long as they hold them off, it won't be a big deal right?"
Eric analyzes and scratches his head. "Call on Jehan or Ferroris, I think we should have Vathek hold the Annihilators and the soldiers off and recall Caleb's corps to support Nigel."
"You sure about that? Vathek may lose ground if you send Alborn to northward." Ray asks.
"Yet the outcome of this battle lies on the success of Nigel and the Calluna's. If they don't make it then we won't survive this war, no matter how were able to endure the enemy's attacks. We could at least send another group to win by the numbers."
(During Issue 12: WITCH and Elyon travels inside the Palace)
Meanwhile, behind the alleyway, Grantaire and Martin watch the battle scene unfold. They are the ones left when the men charge and follow in and followed Nigel's hesitant charge. "This isn't going well." Grantaire dissatisfying describes on the battle scene.
"You saying?" Martin asks as he too watches the battle from afar.
"Fifteen minutes has passed and our rebels haven't reached the gates. I supposed the rebels have lost their advance and are losing ground." Grantaire says as he and Martin continue to watch the battleground. He continues to analyze the situation and the strange explosion patterns that occur beyond the battle. He believes that Nigel's strange engagements affect the present performance of the rebels. "Nigel's in trouble."
"Nigel's—what?" Martin gulps. "And you're going to leave me here?"
"Stay here and don't follow!" If something bad happens run away from here!" Grantaire instructs and fixes his hood. "You understand?"
Martin quivers and nods frightfully and Grantaire leaves and dashes away from the alleyway, though still not recovered from his injuries, limp toward the fight. "Erebo First Technique: Submerging Shadow!" his body soon melts to the walls like goo and crawls through the battlefield to find Nigel."I hope 'they' didn't meet yet!'
"Arrgghh!" Nigel's body flings out to the air and lands his feet on time on a solid bricked wall and lands on the ground. Meanwhile, a kilometer away from the alley, Nigel rubs his face as dirt and sweat get in the way. "Never knew he could take such a bold move against me again." He says to himself.
Not before long after Nigel surprise attack, they almost defeated the Meridian's Second Corps and almost reach the gates but the unexpected Second Corps' general enters the battle and puts a quick halt from the rebel advance.
As the dust and smoke clears out, he then sees amidst the fight is a familiar stern and strong looking figure on front of him. "My my, what a scornful display you behold young legionate." Thenard dauntingly and intimidatingly mocks on the beaten Nigel. Surrender young legionate."
'Flames! Not good! If I keep this unsightly appearance to the rebels their morale isn't going where it should be!' Nigel says as he notices at the background of the fight. His rebels are not in good shape as they look on their beaten leader for the first time. He stands up once again and thrusts his staff at him. "Then make me!" he yells at him and lurches and dashes his legs toward him. 'Second Technique—!'
"I see." Thenard clenches his metal fists and quickly, in a mere second, is now only inches away from Nigel's lurch and passes by his staff. 'First technique: Jab Fist!' he chants as he prepares another blow on Nigel. "You never learned your lesson."
'Now!' Surprised by Thenard's quick movements, Nigel quickly pulls out his other hand and thrusts his hand finally unto his body. 'Third Technique: Touch Blast!—Arghh!' Suddenly, an explosion abruptly explodes between them, yet at the same time he also feels another punch on the face at the same time and body pushes backwards.
"Urrgh!" Thenard also too bellows as he is blasted away from the sudden blast but is still back on his feet from the shock. "You think such a blast could stop me?!" he mocks.
"Figures! It doesn't!" Nigel yells back as he staggers to point his staff at him, who is now meters away from him. "Fourth Technique: Succession Discharge!" Random fiery fireballs suddenly continuously shoot out from his staff and flies toward the enemy. 'I just need to keep this distance before he could go near me and—what?!'
Out of nowhere, Thenard is once again now inches away from Nigel. As if he passes and misses the Nigel's random shots in seconds. "It doesn't really, Second Technique: Hook Cross!" he launches his fist sideways and crosses his attacking arm on Nigel.
'No way! He just dodged my attacks that easily!' "Arrghh!" Nigel yells as he feels a sideway knockout directly hits his face. Yet amidst the shock Nigel still manages to pull off a spell. 'Fifth Technique…'
Suddenly another explosion blasts before him 'Boomm!' "Arrgghh!" Thenard pulls out his arms over his face from the sudden blast. Still with his feet in the ground, backs away from the dust and dirt from the cause of the explosion to take a breather.
He then dodges amidst the dust cloud are fast shots of sparks shooting at him as it fizzles through his clothes which almost hit him.
'He's persistent! like any other Vanguard—!' he acknowledges as the dust slowly fades and glances at the beaten Nigel who leans on a wall and continuously and aimlessly fires at him. He dashes toward him and prepares for another stunning blow at him. "I know what your objective is, young legionate, and I assure you! You, Jolras and Caleb and you're rebel army will crushed within and Lamarcus' Corps will be next!"
"But you'll have to get to me first!" a voice calls out and a black magic spheres shoots out from the ground but Thenard manages to dodge the slow surprise attacks.
"You've gotten slower lizard!" Thenard says to the black shadow that finally forms to a lizard-like appearance before him. "And it seems you can't take me down this time with your injuries still fatal!"
