Orario was on fire.
Imperial forces were inside the city with trebuchets raining down artillery fire down on the city.
Along with their archers raining arrows down upon civilians and adventurers who couldn't make it into cover in time.
The arrows were so many and so tightly packed together that the streets became more arrow than stone. Blood already bathed the streets, and more was yet to come.
"Raul, the east gate has fallen!" Aki yelled.
Raul currently stood over a table placed on a map. "Good, have our forces pull back and meet at the rally point. Once there, they'll know what to do." Raul calmly ordered.
Aki relayed the orders to a runner while Raul moved chess pieces into place. Aki turned back to Raul while the city burned behind him.
"Are you sure this will work? We're giving up a portion of the city to them." Aki asked.
Raul finished with his chess pieces as fresh black smoke filled the air. "I can only hope so. If not, our people on the ground will have to manage and make a new plan."
Ali nodded as more plumes of smoke filled the air. Orario's eastern district was burning. A scorched earth tactic to not allow the Empire to use any of the buildings or supplies located in Orario's east.
Some may call it stupid. Others may call it unnecessary destruction. But in war, none of that matters. If Raul can starve the enemy out of supplies and shelter, he'd have a higher chance at winning this battle as a whole.
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Artemis and her archers waited inside buildings. Windows shut, and their mouths closed. Then, she could hear multiple footsteps running past, with many more following behind them. She heard the sound of a sword swinging and ice rising, along with a shout.
"Now!" Cruz yelled.
The windows flew open, and Artemis and her archers began to rain hellfire on Imperial troops. Their arrows easily pierced their lightly armored bodies to drop to the ground.
Imperial soldiers were dressed in grey clothing with a lion as their insignia. They wore leather armor painted grey and brown combat boots. Their weapons were an assortment of spears, maces, axes, and archers to act as ranged support.
"It's just levies, no knights!" Artemis yelled.
Levies were the level ones, twos, and threes of the Empire's forces. Lightly armored and making up the backbone of Imperial forces.
"Doesn't matter. We've taken a group out." Rethusa responded.
"Alright, reposition! We need to get another ambush ready!" Cruz ordered.
The group began to reposition as a shadow clouded the street.
"Shit, incoming!"
A boulder slammed into a building nearby, and Artemis felt a few of her blessings disappear.
Some of her children were dead.
"Move! Move! Get out of there!"
More and more boulders hit the buildings around them, and Artemis felt more of her blessing disappear. But no matter how much it hurt her heart, she had to move.
Once out on the streets, the barrage had stopped, and the ice wall made by the magic sword had been destroyed. Once the dust cleared, more imperial soldiers could be seen.
"Shit, we've got Imperial Knights!" Someone yelled.
Imperial knights were the level fours and fives of the imperial forces. While not as many as Orario's, their training and better armor made up for their lack of numbers.
Artemis was quick to pull her bowstring and fire an arrow. Only for it to bounce off the black armor. Being little more than a fly to the knights.
"Shit, pull back to the second rally point!" Cruz ordered.
Artemis and her familia began to pull back while Cruz and his squad of level fours and a few level fives held back the knights.
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Riveria and Lefiya, along with a group of mages, stood guard at the Loki familia Manor. They were projecting a barrier around the Manor, protecting it from spells and projectiles.
Stocked with hundreds if not thousands of mind potions and stamina potions, they were meant to last a while.
This would be the main headquarters for the defenders. With Raul and Aki leading the defense and coordinating their forces. Along with Hedin to provide them with other solutions as well.
The place was practically a fortress where both Loki and Freya resided.
"Never thought I'd see you dressed like that again," Loki commented, looking out her window.
"How so dear? It's a battle, and I'm wearing my armor. You haven't forgotten that I'm a goddess of war, have you?" Freya cooed.
Freya was dressed in her battle armor with a silver chest plate covering her body. She wore gauntlets on her arms and greaves on her legs. Attached to her back was a round shield made of adamantite, and a sword attached to her hip.
"Yeah, but you haven't worn that since the Aesir-Vanir war. Surprised you put it on again."
"Hush, Loki, the children shouldn't know about that." Freya chided.
Loki shrugged. "Eh, who cares, chance we're about to die anyway."
"So pessimistic."
The two remained silent, watching as the city burnt and battles raged on.
"Do you think he'll make an appearance?" Freya asked.
Loki allowed a small smile to grace her lips. "He will, he's been kept away from everyone for three months. He'll fight his way back to us."
Freya smiled and looked over to Alfia, who was coordinating with Zald and Raul on Zeus familia forces.
"She'll be happy once he's back. It's been a while since they've seen each other." Loki pointed out.
"He does know what giving her that sword means, right?" Freya asked, referring to Dark Sister.
"Nope, and don't tell him yet. It'll be funnier if he finds out on his own." Loki said.
"Well, how will he find out if no one tells him?" Freya asked.
"Leon will probably give him a book on his family history." Loki shrugged.
All of a sudden, the door to the war room busted open, and a runner was panting.
"Report!" Raul ordered.
"Cruz and the Artemis familia had to pull back to rally point two. Narvi and her group have pushed back a combined group of Evilus and Imperial troops. Also, Bell Cranel has been spotted engaged with Honor Guards near Eastern Main." The runner reported.
Zald and Alfia looked at each other. Alfia's eyes were full of hope.
Zald shook his head. "Can't take on the leaders, so he takes on their bodyguards. Sounds like him."
"Zald- Alfia began.
"Go, we'll manage fine here without ya. But save the mushy stuff until after the battle is over."
Alfia quickly ran out of the war room and into the streets. Fires burned on rooftops, and arrows littered the street. Some were buried into bodies, others laying discarded on the stone paths.
Alfia kept running, her legs barely touching the ground as she was running to Bell's location. After crossing a corner, she nearly ran into Delta.
"Alfia?!" Delta confusedly shouted.
"Delta, come with me!" Alfia ordered.
Delta didn't respond. Instead, she followed Alfia. Delta had been mainly on her own, looking for any knights or high-value targets to take out. But her search had proven mostly fruitless.
The two kept running for another minute until rounding a corner and seeing Bell kill the last of the honor guards.
Honor guards, much like knights, wore pure black plate armor. But these were level sixes and above with a spartan-like training regime. They were also hand-picked by their General or War Chief and given a special insignia of their lord's ranking.
These particular knights wore the symbol of the omega. The symbol of the War Chief.
Bell panted as the last one fell. There were only four of them, but they were expertly trained in teamwork. Bell wondered why they were out here.
"Bell!" Alfia yelled.
Bell's head quickly shot up, and a smile broke out on his face.
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Bache and Mikoto, along with their group, were currently fighting in the streets. Bache was dealing with the knights, while Mikoto and the others were dealing with the levies.
Bache was using her fists as her kukri's wouldn't do much against armor. But with her level six strength, her fists would be enough.
She brought her fist down upon a knight's head, causing his helmet to crumble. She then threw his body at another knight.
Their bodies collided and fell to the ground while Bache snapped another knight's neck. Their body dropped to the ground.
She ducked under a sword before grabbing their wrist and breaking it with ease. The knight screamed in pain before Bache pushed them to the ground and caved their head in with her foot.
She then walked over to the other knights and caved their head in as well before turning around and seeing Mikoto struggle against an opponent.
Bache stood by her and watched as she struggled with a levy. Her katana engaged with his spear. Meanwhile, the battle raged among them.
"You're doing it wrong," Bache said, her arms crossed.
"What?!" Mikoto asked.
Mikoto jumped back and dodged a thrust from the spear. She swung down, but the levy blocked it.
"You're not fighting to kill." Bache pointed out.
She dodged an axe aimed at her face before disarming the woman and driving it into her face. She lazily tossed the body aside as Mikoto still struggled against her opponent.
"I won't help you with this. Either you kill him, or you die. However, I'll keep the others off your back." Bache stated.
Mikoto sidestepped the levy and slashed down, aiming for his shoulder. He elbowed her in the nose, causing her to stumble back. The levy then aimed his spear at Mikoto's gut.
Acting on pure instinct, Mikoto slashed down and cut the spear in half. The man looked stunned but couldn't react before Mikoto slashed down across his chest.
Once Mikoto opened her eyes, she watched as the man dropped dead. Her eyes widened in horror before she quickly had to block an axe aimed at her face.
"That's it! Do it again, Mikoto! These people won't hesitate to kill you!" Bache cheered.
She punched some poor levies head off before throwing it another one.
Mikoto didn't have time to react or respond as she was too busy in a fight for her life. She could worry about the consequences of her actions later.
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Ryu and her familia were out on the streets helping evacuate civilians to safer locations. Right now, they had established two safety points with a third well on the way.
Those being the guild and the other being the Stardust Garden so far.
Ryu kicked open a door and saw a father and his kids in the corner. The father brandishing a kitchen knife while his kids hid behind him.
"You're safe, everyone's evacuating to the Guild or the Stardust Garden," Ryu said.
The father's eyes widened as he put the knife away. "Sorry about that, Gale Wind, come along, kids. I'll get you to safety."
Ryu stepped out of the way as the father and his kids hurried down the street. She looked down the street and saw Lyra and Nezehe guiding the rest down.
"Lion!" Kaguya yelled.
"Captain, what is it?" Ryu asked.
"Fighting's three blocks away. Was that the last of the civilians?" Kaguya asked.
Ryu nodded. "It is, I've seen to it that everyone's building was clear. I was about to move on to the next."
Kaguya nodded as her ears picked up more fighting. "Good, keep doing that. I'll buy you some time. Also, stay alive. Alise wouldn't want you in heaven."
Kaguya ran off while Ryu chuckled. She took one last look at the civilians before running off to another street.
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Ottar, Gareth, Leon, and Beatrix ran alongside Orario's walls. They had exited Orario from its northern gate and were running alongside its walls to flank around and attack the Empire's artillery pieces and, if possible, their leadership if they hadn't entered the city already.
But the distance was vast, and it was taking them quite some time. Even with their high levels. But they were still making progress nonetheless.
"How much longer?" Beatrix asked.
"A couple more minutes! Damn, never realize how big the city is unless you run around it!" Leon answered.
"Aw, you getting tired, Leon? Needs us to slow down?" Gareth joked.
"I'm more surprised you're even running Gareth." Leon shot back.
"I thought we'd be rolling him," Ottar added, his face remaining stoic.
"Of course, the only time you talk is to make a fat joke, Boaz," Gareth mumbled.
The others laughed as they continued their journey to take out the artillery.
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Bell and Revis, along with some Evilus members, waited in a building near the entrance of the dungeon. Other Evilus members waited in the buildings across from them.
Not a word was said as Bell looked over to Revis, who gave him a slight nod. Bell quickly unsheathed his swords and quickly stabbed two Evilus members in the gut.
Revis cut off another's head before the last five realized what was happening. Bell pulled his swords back and charged toward another two, and their screams of terror didn't leave the room.
Bell quickly slit their throats, and their bodies collapsed to the ground as Revis stabbed one in the head with her sword and snapped another's one's neck with her hand.
The last one fell down and began crawling away. But his retreat was stopped by Bell, who stabbed him in the heart. Once they were all dead, Bell and Revis flicked the blood off their blades and looked to each other.
"One house dead. Now we wait for the signal and kill the others." Bell said, looking toward the window.
Revis smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "Patience, you'll see everyone soon. Besides, our covers pretty much blown anyway."
Bell allowed a small smile to grace his lips. "I'm excited to see Alfia again. But also a little scared since I've been away for so long, and I have to explain our relationship as well."
Revis pecked his cheek again. "Don't worry about how she'll treat me. I like a little pain, remember."
Bell slightly blushed. "Yeah, I remember."
"I don't know why you're blushing. We've been fucking like rabbits since the Hot Spring that we didn't find and turned out to be just a rumor."
Bell chuckled as he scratched his nose. "Yeah, we have. It just makes me a little flustered hearing you say you like pain out loud, though."
Revis went to tease, but a whistle was blown.
"That's the signal," Bell stated.
Bell threw the door open, and dozens of Evilus members funneled out of the surrounding buildings. Dressed in their white cloaks and hoods, they had their dagger and bombs ready
"Hey, where's the rest of your guys!" One of the Dis sisters yelled.
Bell gave the dark elf a smile before shooting a flame from his fingertip. The flame impacted the blaze rock, and a massive explosion rocked the street.
Once the dust settled as that remained of evilus forces was the higher-ups.
"Kind of dumb to put their eggs all in one basket," Bell said.
"Y-you damn traitors!" Dina, the blonde twin, yelled.
"Shut up," Bell said.
The elf twins were filled with fear as the image of a dragon appeared behind him. Piercing purple eyes glared at them as if daring the two to try something.
They threw smoke bombs and quickly ran away before Bell's ice could reach them.
"Shit, we need to go after them!" Bell yelled.
Revis didn't respond and pushed Bell forward into the wall of a building and under its roof. His shoulder slammed into the wall, and Bell nearly dropped Blackfyre.
"Revis what the-
Bell's eyes widened in shock as Revis was struck by three arrows. One in her shoulder, another in her thigh, and the last one in her ribs.
More arrows landed around her, but none hit her as Revis dropped her sword and fell to the ground. Fresh blood pouring from her wounds.
"REVIS!" Bell yelled, sheathing Blackfyre.
He quickly ran to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist. He picked her up as Revis weakly threw her arm around his neck.
"Damn…looks like…I'm the hero…for once." She wheezed.
"Hang on, Revis, I'll get you out of here!" Bell stated.
In the distance, Bell could hear laughter and felt divinity nearby.
"Yes, run, Bell, run, little rabbit. Let us hunt you down!" Enyo yelled from the dungeon entrance.
That was when Bell realized Enyo knew all along he was faking. Whether Erebus told him or not, Enyo knew right from the beginning.
He had been played for a fool. Enyo cared so little for the little fish in his organization that he let Bell kill them just to lure him into a trap.
He had played right into Enyo's hand, and Revis paid the price. He carried her throughout the street, not hearing anything follow behind him.
Bell's eyes widened, and he quickly planted a wall of ice behind him and Revis. Dozens of arrows impacted the ice, but none hit him or Revis.
"Looks like…imperial troops were moved….there ahead…of time."
"Just save your strength, Revis. I'll get you out of here." Bell said.
Revis weakly laughed as Bell made another wall of ice.
"Leave me…I'm just…slowing you down." She rasped.
Bell didn't respond and kept carrying her. To where he didn't know. But he wanted to, no had to save her.
"Bell..it's ok..I'm alright with…this."
"Shut up."
Bell took cover behind another wall of ice. Arrows pelted it, but none pierced it. Once the barrage stopped, he kept moving forward.
Revis weakly laughed. "Wow..you must…really like the…sex if you're going…this far for me."
Bell rounded a corner and kept dragging her. "Revis, I need you to shut up. I'm going to get you out here. You're gonna live, and I like you more than just the sex."
Revis laughed again. "How…sweet…such a way with words."
"Bell?!" A voice yelled.
Bell looked up and saw Artemis along with her archers up the street. She quickly saw the other archers chasing Bell and opened fire on them, killing one before the rest of her group opened fire.
The Imperial ones were caught off guard and were quickly killed off, leaving Bell and Revis safe for the time being.
"Artemis, I need help. Their arrows pierced her skin. She's bleeding bad." Bell said.
"I don't have any healers with me. But if we can get her to the Stardust Garden, she can get help." Artemis said, helping Bell hold Revis.
"Bell, who is this, by the way?" Artemis asked.
"Another spy. Made being stuck with Evilus bearable." Bell answered as he and Artemis carried Revis up the street.
Revis weakly laughed again. "And pleasurable."
Artemis glared at Bell. "Bell, what does she mean by that?"
Bell kept his gaze forward. "Now's not the time, Artemis. How much farther to the Stardust Garden?"
"It's still a few dozen blocks away," Artemis answered.
Bell glanced at Revis. "Think you can hold on for that long?"
"Will you reward me if I do?" Revis teased before coughing up some blood.
"Just save your strength, Revis. I promise you'll be fine." Bell answered.
Artemis felt another one of her blessings disappear as one of her children was killed right in front of her by an honor guard.
"Take her. I'll hold them off!" Bell ordered, handing Revis to Artemis.
Artemis didn't protest, knowing Bell's skill with a sword.
"Everyone keep moving! Send a runner to the Manor and inform them of our situation!" Artemis ordered.
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Bell swung his sword down at one of the Honor Guard and was quickly parried. He jumped back to avoid a slash, then ducked.
He shit ice from his feet to make some distance and spun behind one of them. He aimed his sword at a gap in the armor but was kicked away.
Bell landed on his feet, feeling a throbbing pain in his side, but he ignored it. He smiled, seeing all four of them focus on him, and watched as Artemis fled.
"Hmm, it's the boy wonder they talked about."
"Oh, Silence's nephew?"
"That's the one."
"Well, let's kill him and watch our forces wipe out this city."
Bell laughed. "Well, you obviously don't know how dumb that sounds."
"Matters not boy. We outnumber you, your city will burn, and your bitch of an aunt will die."
Bell's eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip on his swords. "I'm going to kill you now."
Bell used his ice and froze two of them. He ran forward and swung down with Longclaw. Longclaw was blocked, and Bell saw a sword aimed at his face.
He blocked it with Blackfyre before kicking him back. He disengaged Longclaw and jumped back.
The first member swung down and aimed at Bell's unarmored torso.
But Bell's dodge did enough to where it harmlessly flew past. The second member aimed for Bell's neck, but he parried that. He kicked the second member away before thrusting at the first one.
He aimed for a gap in the armor near his knee. The first parried the thrust, but Bell flashed with Blackfrye and managed to cut him.
He hissed in pain, and Bell thrusted Longclaw toward a gap near his arm. It pierced flesh and bone and came out the other side. Bell dislodged Longclaw and parried a slash from the second with Blackfrye.
Bell pushed himself back with his ice to fire himself some room. But the first one was already at his side. Bell quickly parried with Longclaw before Blackfyre pieced the gap where his neck was.
The first one was dead, as the third one broke through the ice. She didn't bother to help the fourth one.
Bell used his fire and coated his swords in it.
"Should've used this in the first place." Bell thought.
While Bell was fighting, he had figured out a way to beat these Honor Guard. An easy way to get past their armor was to use his fire to melt through their armor. His fire should burn hot enough.
"Damn, no wonder he's a boy wonder. Two chantless magics."
Bell shot forward and aimed Longclaw at the second. The second blocked while the third aimed their sword at Bell's back.
Bell created an ice wall, causing their sword to be stuck momentarily. Bell then thrusted Blackfyre at the second's chest.
His hunch paid off, and the fire melted through that armor and impaled him. His heart immediately melted, and the man dropped dead.
The fourth one finally broke out of the ice and aimed at Bell's chest. Bell leaned back, but the sword kicked him, causing his shirt to tear and blood to flow.
The third jumped toward Bell and aimed a punch at his shoulder blade. She had discarded her sword.
Bell stepped back, and she missed, causing the ground to crack under her punch. Bell was about to press the advantage, but the fourth was already in front of him.
Bell parried with Blackfyre and aimed with Longclaw, only for his arm to be kicked aside by the third. She then punched him in the face.
Bell stumbled back, and the fourth slashed him across the chest. Bell yelled in pain but pushed through it.
Bell used his ice to slide back and get some room. Once he did, he immediately lost it as the third aimed a kick at his head.
He dodged it and capitalized on this opportunity. Longclaw descended and severed her leg off, causing her to fall to the ground and scream in pain.
Bell quickly finished her off before the fourth could react.
"I'm gonna enjoy killing you, then when your aunt is brought to her knees, I might give her a good fucking before she passes. Or maybe if I like her enough, I'll keep her. Parade her around the Empire as a slave."
Bell's eyes narrowed as anger bubbled up from his stomach. "You're going to die painfully now."
Bell ran forward, his swords still ablaze. The fourth also ran forward as well. Their blades clashed with Bell using his skill to look for a weakness.
He immediately found one. He spit through the Guard's visor, making him blinded for a second.
One second was all Bell needed.
He pushed the fourth's sword down and drove his flaming sword into the man's crotch. The lower half of his body started to melt as he screamed in pain.
Bell pulled his blade back and sliced his arms off before kicking him to the ground. The man continued to scream as he was burned alive inside his armor.
Once the screams stopped, Bell let out a sigh and turned his magic off. He let out a pant to catch his breath and began to wonder why an Honor Guard was all the way out here.
The battle still waged on, and forces were constantly being moved. Bell couldn't rest for long.
"Bell!" Alfia yelled.
Bell looked up and smiled, seeing Alfia's face. It had been so long since he had last seen her, and now they were reunited. She was the only thing he saw. He was the only thing she saw.
"Loose!"
The first arrow hit Bell's shoulder. The second his hip, and the third his heart. Bell's legs gave out from under him as he fell to the cold, hard ground.
"Alfia," Bell said, breathing his last breath.
He didn't feel the fourth arrow hit him. Nor the fifth, nor any after that. Only the cold embrace of death as Alfia let out an anguished scream.
BELLLL!!"
Well, Bell's dead. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I hope I did well with a battle scene. Also been a little sick and still am, so hopefully that goes away soon.
And cat's still alive, for those wondering.
Also, if you're wondering about durability on the adventurers, just know I'm trying to make it more accurate to actual battles, and people not wearing armor will get fucked up by arrows.
Another thing is if you have a complaint saying Orario's walls are like 300 feet tall, artillery shouldn't make it over. That's why they brought trebuchets, and those things are fucking awesome.
Anyway, I'll see ya later.