I am back from my lovely vacation, I had fun and cake… no really I had cake, it was celebrating my birthday with the other side of my family that lived in Illinois, my real birthday is on the 15th so a bout five to four more days, so yeah, but enough about my life, you came here for a conclusion to that cliffhanger and so you shall have it. Also you may think Byzantium is unstoppable, but I will have this be kind of realistic, so prepare for a shocker.
Chapter 7: Long Live Empire, The War of Reclamation part 2
The wind was soaring threw the lands as Byzantium stood outside the walls of Jerusalem waiting, watching, and preparing for the glories that await him at victory. The strike force that was sent to dispatch his army had been crushed, but it had left a mark not in the numbers of his men, but in their courage and morale. They would constantly be checking to see if they would get attacked, always waiting, never letting their guard down, to say the least it was demoralizing.
On the second day the gates still would not open and the army though well trained was used to taking castles in a day since they usually didn't keep the city tact. "I have had it time for some subterfuge men." Several men disguised themselves and snuck into the city and after a few hours the men blew open the gates.
"Men charge into the city take it back from the heathens and make it a city of god once more!" Byzantium shouted as he charged into the city sword brandished with a pistol in his other hand. The garrison of the city moved into the streets spears forming an impenetrable wall for calvalry. The gunmen moved up to position to fire. The tension as they raised their guns was as strong as steel. The first shot fired following more in a line ripping threw the air as they penetrated the bodies of those who guarded the way to the palace in Jerusalem. From the side roads came a flanking maneuver from left over Mamluk cavalry. The infrantry was devastated as it was sandwitched in between two large forces of cavalry. The infrantry quickly disappated as they screamed and ran from the blood thirsty Egyptian hordes. On top of the palace watching down was The Mamluk's himself waiting and preparing for the worst. The sweat on the brow of his golden brown skin was enough to show that he was concerned that he may lose, but if his men held stead fast he may keep them away long enough to build up a strong enough force to hold them at Cairo.
Byzantium looked up and eyed the Mamluk's, he would have his land if it would be the end of him. The next regiment marched forward bayonets at the ready and charged the cavalry, they screamed as they stormed forward toward the block of men who charged back at them both hitting with the same intesity, men dieing left and right. The bayonet equipped Byzantine rifles manged to beat the Mamluk horsemen, but only bairly the remaing troops had to fall back and tend to the wounded. The next troops that came in to fight were none other than the fabled Byzantine grenadiers. Their purple uniform marked with many awards and the royal ensignia on their right shoulder, they marched toward the palaces cutting threw anything that was thrown their way. As they Mamluks charged their way toward them they only lost more and more men as the troops would either fire their muskets or cut throw them with their swords as they marched throw the streets covered in blood with not one injury on their bodies. What no one knew besides Byzantium was that the first row of troops were actually his major cities, everyone but Constantinople. The rest were his best troops personally trained by him.
As they marched on they finally met the palace of the holy city. The troops stood out there as the Mamluks himself came out to fight Byzantium in one on one combat, ready to stall for time at this grand city so that he may have a chance to win the war.
"Come fight me." Was all the Mamluks said before Byzantium stepped forward with a sword brandished and a shield. "Bring the best you've got." Byzantium said before he charged right at him with his sword raised high. The Mamluks reacted quickly and pulled out two scmitars and blocked Byzantium and kicked him back. Byzantium fell to the ground but rolled back bairly dodging the two curved blades that came down on to the ground. Byzantium then charged again and rammed the Mamluks with his shield knocking him into a wall. He than ran up and stabbed his sword only to have it miss and stick in the stone of the palace. The Mamluks quickly took advantage and kicked the sword breaking it in two, Byzantium pulled back and threw his broken sword to the ground and rammed the Mamluks with his shield again pulling back. The Mamluks charged him and swept at his feet with one of his swords only to have Byzantium jump landing on it knocking it out of the Mamluks hand. Byzantium quickly picked up the sword and slashed at the Mamluks drawing first blood on him, cutting his face. The Mamluks spat at him as he staggered back breathing heavly. He went in for another attack, but this would be a mistake as Byzantium side stepped and stabbed him straight threw the chest pushing him to the ground. "This is the end." Byzantium said as he pushed him away. The Mamluks however was not done yet he got up bleeding heavly and pulled the sword out of his body throwing it at Byzantium hitting him in the back of the head. The blade stuck into Byzantium's head and as it did he feel to his knee's and felt the back of his head, when he felt it, it was warm and wet, and as he brought his hand back it was crimson red. The next thing that happened was that he snapped, he stood up with a blank stair ripping the sword out of his head. He slowly walked toward the Mamluks with no weapons, but his fists. The Mamluks was also heavly injuried and not thinking straight, he walked forward as well no weapons either. The two meet up in a brutal fist fight. Byzantium threw a right hook and landed, but was meet by one from the opisit side that knocked him out along with the Mamluks being knocked out by his punch. The battle was a draw, but with Byzantium with the more dominant victor. A week later Byzantium came back with a larger army and took the city of Jerusalem.
I didn't say he would lose today did I.