Time for more action.

Chapter 66 – The Rose-Colored River, Part 2 (Lone Moon)

Acheron watched in shock as two new explosions erupted from the main watchtower. The first one exploded outside of the structure, showering nearby soldiers with stone fragments. The second explosion was in the second viewport of the tower, wrecking another ballista and starting another fire.

"Impossible!" said Acheron. "How are they–"

Unable to finish his sentence, the Weathervane growled angrily as another explosive shell from the Church's artillery blasted the tower. Men were now fleeing the tower, with some screaming as they caught fire.

Realizing the Church would soon push forward, Acheron shouted, "Stop those Church dogs! Attack! Don't let them get past the barracks!"

Near the barracks, three Imperial battalions of heavy infantry began to push forward, numbering 300 strong. But as they advanced toward the Church's shield wall, the ballistae behind Alois and Brigitte's formations opened fire, sending large bolts toward the Imperials. Even with their heavy armor, the Imperials cried out whenever the bolts struck, overwhelming their defenses. This was then met by Cia, Lysithea, Annette and Dorothea, along with other Church mages, unleashing spells upon the Imperials.

It didn't take long before the Imperial soldiers found themselves unable to advance. They were too exposed by trying to move around the barracks, rather than using the structure for cover. Within moments, they had lost over 100 men without causing a single Church casualty.

As another ballista bolt smashed through one of the Imperial Fortress Knights, one of the men shouted, "Fall back! Fall back!"

Acheron saw this and, infuriated by his men retreating, shouted, "What are you doing, you idiots?!"

"Sir, the enemy's firepower is too great," said one of Acheron's officers. "We cannot–"

"Was I asking for your opinion, Lieutenant?!" Acheron interrupted.

"Having trouble with the garrison, Acheron?" said a familiar voice, one that clearly enjoyed seeing Acheron losing his nerve.

Knowing he had to preserve his image, Acheron did his best to curb his anger as he turned to Lorenz and said, "I have this under control, Lorenz. The enemy hasn't beaten me yet!"

"Do not delude yourself," said Lorenz. "You are no match for Byleth Eisner."

"And you think you can do better, Gloucester? Ha, that's rich! Let me remind you that I'M in charge of this garrison!" Turning back to the battle, Acheron shouted, "Release the beasts! Let them trample our enemies!"

Soldiers moved to two of the Demonic Beasts on the bridge, which were bound by chains in order to restrain them. The soldiers unlocked the chains and backed away as the Demonic Beasts broke free of their bonds, snarling and roaring as they looked for the enemy.

When one beast turned toward the south side of the bridge, Acheron shouted, "No, not that way!" He pointed toward the Church as he shouted, "THAT way!"

Lorenz, knowing Acheron was going to be a liability, left the Weathervane's presence and moved to give his own orders to some of the nearby Imperials.

…

"Let me go!" Fleche shouted at the corporal who led her back to her quarters. "I have to avenge my brother!"

"I'm sorry, Fleche, but you heard the captain," said the corporal. "You're not ready for–"

"I said LET GO!"

Fleche suddenly wrenched her arm free of the corporal's grip and swung the back of her hand at the Pegasus Knight. The corporal shrieked as she was bashed aside in a show of unnatural strength. The Imperial woman hit her head against a stone wall and slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Fleche was silent for a moment, surprised at what she'd done. Then, realizing the source of her newfound strength, she looked down at the amulet that Odesse had given her, which was giving off a faint red glow.

Emboldened, Fleche rushed off to find her Pegasus and join the fight.

…

As the Imperial infantry ran away from the defensive line set up by Alois and Brigitte, Byleth shouted, "Felix, Catherine, take the barracks! Alois, Brigitte, move the line forward and cover them!"

"We're on it!" shouted Alois. "Move it up, men! Archers, close behind!"

"Wait for me, guys!" Raphael shouted to Felix and Catherine.

"Good luck in there, Raphael," said Ignatz. Raphael responded with a brief thumbs up.

Catherine led 200 of House Daphnel's infantrymen to the barracks in the middle of the bridge. Almost immediately, Imperials within began emerging with blades drawn and crossbows loaded. Catherine dodged a bolt fired at her and rushed at an Imperial lancer, slashing through him with Thunderbrand while an arrow from Shamir killed the archer that fired on her. Felix dodged a blow from an Imperial swordsman before delivering three quick slashes, followed by another slash through the chest of another Imperial fighter.

Caspar, seeing the action taking place, was about to move to help Catherine and Felix when Byleth shouted, "Caspar, stay with our artillery!"

"But there's–"

"Don't leave them exposed!" Byleth interrupted. "We don't know how many fliers the Imperials might have."

Knowing the Archbishop was right, Caspar grit his teeth for a moment and said, "Right, got it."

Caspar moved back to defend the Onagers when a loud roar caught Byleth's attention. She whipped around to see two of the Empire's Demonic Beasts charging toward Alois and Brigitte. One of the ballistae fired at it, but the projectile glanced harmlessly off, blocked by a bronze helmet that guarded the monster's head.

"Alois, Brigitte, pull back! Move!"

Alois, who had been planning to stand his ground against the monsters, watched as one of them smashed through one of the stone pillars of the barracks as if it were glass.

Realizing his men couldn't stop such strength head-on, he shouted, "Fan out! Don't bunch up!"

Alois's men quickly moved to get out of the path of the first Demonic Beast, but Brigitte stood her ground as the second one rushed toward her and her men.

"Bring it on, ugly!" shouted Brigitte as she readied her war hammer.

"Brigitte, don't!" shouted Anna, but it was too late.

The second Demonic Beast swung its head at Brigitte's shield wall, sending four men flying and knocking back many others. Brigitte, realizing her mistake, snarled as she rushed at the monster. She shouted as she began her swing, only for the beast to hit her first with the back of its hand. Brigitte was sent tumbling along the bridge for a few meters as the Demonic Beast stomped on two of her men. The others, now aware that they could not match the monster in strength, scattered as they tried to surround it.

Anna drew her Levin Sword and rushed toward the second Demonic Beast as Alois and his men tried to fend off the first one. As the beast struck down two of House Daphnel's archers, Anna darted in and slashed at a gap in the creature's armor, only for her sword to clang off it harmlessly.

"Oh, crap!" Anna said as she realized she now had the beast's attention.

A Miasma Δ spell from Lysithea hit the Demonic Beast, but her spell fizzled out against its armor. Anna dodged back as the Demonic Beast tried to devour her while arrows pelted the beast harmlessly.

"Their armor is resistant to magic," hissed Lysithea.

"Ignatz, use one of those exploding shells on them!" said Cia.

"That's too risky," said Ignatz. "We'd end up hitting our own people, and I don't know if they'd even work against that armor."

"Well, do something, would you?!" Cia snapped.

Before Ignatz could respond, the Church soldiers heard the chorus of the Imperials as 500 men began charging in at them, unafraid of the Demonic Beasts they were following. Within seconds, the Imperial infantry reached the Church's line, and the two sides began a brutal close quarters fight.

Dodging away from the second Demonic Beast, Anna whirled around and slashed an Imperial Fortress Knight with her Levin Sword, electrocuting him through his armor. She then dodged two swings from another Imperial before a Miasma Δ from Cia blasted him to the ground. Arrows from Bernadetta and Shamir streaked through the crowd, finding their marks and claiming two more kills. Brigitte, who had recovered from her earlier hit, roared as she smashed her hammer into another Fortress Knight's helmet, crushing the woman's skull. Alois, meanwhile, grimaced as a crossbow bolt hit one of his pauldrons, wounding him. However, he still swung his axe into the torso of another Imperial before backing up, knowing he'd need a healer.

Raphael, seeing the brawl that was taking place, shouted to Felix, "The others need a hand!"

Aware of the situation, Felix replied, "Go. We'll handle this."

Felix slashed through another Imperial as Raphael led his infantry to join the fray. The Beast of Leicester punched one Imperial in the head, knocking him out before a bolt of lightning fried another one close by. Raphael kept his mind on the battle as Dorothea readied another Thoron spell. An arrow from Leonie and a javelin from Ferdinand flew into the melee, with Leonie's shot wounding an Imperial and Ferdinand's javelin missing entirely.

Dorothea was about to shout at Ferdinand for missing when the sound of hoofbeats interrupted her. She could not see the source, but Byleth made out a force of 150 cavalrymen rushing toward the barracks, intending to pass by its east side. Several of them bore the standard of House Gloucester rather than the Imperial standard.

Byleth cursed herself at this moment. She hadn't expected so much cavalry from the defenders, and her infantry were dealing with the attack on the west side of the bridge. This attack could deal devastating damage to them if they weren't dealt with.

"Ferdinand, Constance, they're flanking on the east side! Stop them!" shouted Byleth.

"Leave it to me," said Ferdinand. He then briefly turned to Dorothea, who had just finished sending out another Thoron spell, and said, "Dorothea, support us."

"What? Hey, I'm busy here!" Dorothea snapped, having not heard Byleth's order.

Dorothea realized as she said this that Ferdinand was already riding off to meet the Imperial charge with 100 Church cavaliers and Constance in tow. He had evidently not heard her.

"Ugh, typical Ferdie!"

Seeing this, Lana said, "Dorothea, Ferdinand wanted–"

"Not now, Lana! Those two can handle it!"

Lana, knowing Dorothea wasn't going to listen, turned back to her job of healing the wounded.

In the chaos of the battle, Byleth did not hear Dorothea's exchange with Lana, but the sight of her not moving to help Ferdinand and Constance worried the Archbishop. But as she heard another Daphnel soldier cry out in pain, she knew she had bigger problems to worry about. The Church was taking casualties, though at least another 500 Imperials and three more of the Demonic Beasts were being held back.

Ferdinand and his cavaliers steeled themselves as they saw the approaching Imperials, who outnumbered them two-to-three.

"Follow me, men!" shouted Ferdinand. "Do not let them through!"

As his men began to shout and roar for battle, he suddenly heard wingbeats to his left.

Ferdinand turned just as a flight of 50 Wyvern riders swooped up from below the bridge toward his cavalry. They had been out of sight and waiting for this moment to strike.

"Wyverns! Constance, watch out!" shouted Ferdinand.

Constance, surprised by the Wyvern riders, pulled back on Syrene's reins and barely avoided having her head taken off by an axe. As two other riders streaked toward her, Constance snapped Syrene's reins, knowing she had to put some distance between herself and the enemy.

Further back, Byleth turned to see the Wyverns ambushing Ferdinand.

"Leonie, Ferdinand's in trouble!" she shouted to the Sauin rider.

"I'm on it! Follow me!" Leonie shouted, leading her cavalry archers to assist.

As she watched Leonie rush to help Ferdinand, Byleth considered using the Divine Pulse. However, she decided against it upon realizing she couldn't divert anyone else to stop the incoming Imperial cavalry. She hadn't committed her whole force of 3,000 men to the attack, knowing it could end disastrously since there wasn't enough room on the bridge for all of them. Much of her force had established a perimeter on the north side of the bridge to guard against any attacks from the north, waiting to be called in if needed. But even if she used the Divine Pulse, her reinforcements would not be in time to stop the Empire's cavalry.

Then, she heard Judith shout, "More fliers! Right side!"

Byleth whirled around to see the Imperial Pegasus Knights rising from below the bridge, with 50 riders moving to attack Ignatz and his siege engineers.

"Defend yourselves!" shouted Ignatz as he drew his bow and darted back.

Caspar immediately rushed in at one Pegasus Knight and cut the woman and her mount down with his axe. Bernadetta shot down another as the woman tried to dive in on Caspar from behind, sending the rider toppling off her mount. Yuri, meanwhile, sent a Wind spell at another one, while Judith dodged another rider's lance before stabbing the mount in its heart. Another rider tried to attack Judith, but she and her mount were bisected by the Sword of the Creator as Byleth turned her attention to the fliers.

Nearby, Ferdinand grimaced as he thrust his lance into an enemy rider's torso, breaking the weapon in the process. He drew his sword and blocked the blade of another rider before slashing the man's neck.

Looking back briefly, he saw the Pegasus Knights attacking the Church's position.

"Pull back!" he shouted. "Pull back to – AAGH!"

At that very moment, one of the Imperial Wyverns struck, raking Ferdinand with its talons and sending him toppling off his horse.

"Lord Ferdinand!" shouted one of his riders.

Within seconds of hitting the ground, Ferdinand von Aegir blacked out.

Oh noes! Ferdie!

Despite the incompetence that Acheron shows, I don't want this battle to be a cakewalk for our heroes. Again, making things too easy would lessen the impact of victory. As such, don't expect our heroes to get out unscathed.

I also think I'm messing up with army numbers again. I may need to correct it later. It's harder than it sounds to get it right.

Just to note, I made a change to Chapter 63 that is meant to reinforce Dorothea's attitude in this chapter. Her refusing to help Ferdinand might seem a bit out-of-character, but it's necessary for some character development I have planned. I also realize I probably should've done more buildup for Dorothea's animosity toward Ferdinand, whether in this part or pre-timeskip, but hindsight isn't gonna help me here.