Chapter 25: Four-Fanged Defense
Ike stood greeting a familiar couple in Pherae as they were about to depart. Wil, Rebecca, and Dart went to greet their folks before they left for Bern. Dart decided to go with Ike's group, feeling it was a more adventurous route along with Bartre, who believed taking on a assassin organization was a greater challenge.
"I'm glad we got to see you again after you headed for Laus. We were worried that you might have trouble against their forces." Natalie spoke as she smiled at the young mercenary commander. She then stroked her stomach. "I hope our child grows up to become as strong as you and my husband."
Ike became happily surprised that the Natalie conceived a child. Dorcas nodded towards Ike with a smile.
"Congratulations." Ike replied. "I'm sure the two of you will have a healthy child." To which the couple gleamed in happiness.
Dorcas looked at familiar faces that were present and waved to him. "Feels nostalgic. I can't believe it's already been a year."
Now it was time to depart. Maybe one day, they'll arrive to Pherae to have a big feast like at the annual harvest festival. However, given the circumstances, it was ill-suited to hold such a celebration.
"It's been good to see you again, Natalie. Dorcas. Until next time." Ike smiled back to the couple.
"Dorcas!" Bartre called out. Dorcas already sighed out in exasperation of his former fellow mercenary. "We got to spar again! I've gotten much stronger since I've lost 58 times against you and won 57!"
Ike was surprised Bartre kept track. Then again, he was the type to probably keep a record of battles... aside from everything else (not counting the unintelligible family warrior record).
"Forget it..." Dorcas breathed out, shaking his head. "You win, I'm retired. I'm staying a family man."
The man who made a challenge looked offended, just as Bartre was about to protest, Dart called out to his fellow axeman.
"Oi! Chum-for-brains! You're coming with us!"
It seemed as though Dart was done with greetings and farewells with his father. His sister would go with Wil to fight alongside the Lycian army while Dart and Bartre would go with the Greil Mercenaries (minus Erk) to fight with the Black Fang (Sonia/Nergal's side).
With all the fliers, Renault, Anna and Jake (after splitting the convoy by obtaining another carriage in which Merlinus tearfully waved goodbye at the assistance and temporary 10% of profits), Dart, Canas, and Bartre (all of whom effectively promoted with items). Speaking of the convoy, there was something rather big stuffed into the new carriage that Jake and Anna brought in from who-knows-where... Well, as long as there was some room for the group to store their items and weapons. Apparently, the couple anticipated arriving in Pherae before reaching Bern and ordered a specially made carriage (with some levers connected at the rider's seat) with supplies right before leaving for Nabata. In any event, Ike's own group was relatively secure.
"Let's head out!" He announced.
Putting aside all doubts from that night, Ike knew he had mission to accomplish.
"Man, with Pa and all those villagers clamoring around me... I'm a pirate! I've got a reputation to uphold as a mate of the Davros." Dart protested while walking with the group on foot.
They were heading to the valley where Lloyd and Linus was expecting them. At this rate, they would reach there within a day.
"You sure about leaving Rebecca on her own, Dart?" To which Dart shrugged at Ike's question.
"Eh, squid-bait has got her back... and lately, I saw her speaking with magic-man's wife. Y'know, the pretty one."
He was referring to Louise. Ike was curious to wonder why Rebecca wanted to speak with the Countess.
"Why?" Ike inquired. To which Dart snickered while shaking his head.
"'To be a proper lady' she says! Hahaha..." Dart laughed out. "Ha... she doesn't need to do that. I think squid-bait has been a bit oblivious to her lately..."
So he pretty much accepted Wil as her partner? Given how much he butt heads with the archer (one-sidedly), Ike expected a little more resistance to the idea. Then again, he was reminded of Mist. She was 14 by now. He wondered who she would like in the end... Just as spiky haired middle brother with green hair was about to emerge in Ike's mind, he was snapped by Dart's grumbling.
"Anyways... next thing you know, some of villagers ask me, 'Why are you playing pirate, Dan?'" Dart gritted his teeth at his recollection. "I'm Dart, pirate of the Davros, enough of them scallywags!" His shout caught the attention of Fiora, who was riding with her pegasus on the ground.
"You and the Davros crew don't seem like most pirates. Do you even steal or pillage from people?" Fiora queried to the corsair, who then grinned.
"Of course we do!" Dart exclaimed proudly, to which even Ike was visibly surprised. "We fight rival ships on the sea, plunder from the merchant ships. In fact, the one shipping company we like to mess with whose head is the leader of the merchant guild in Bulgar, and-"
"You dastard!" Fiora shouted out, alarming everyone who was traveling, including her sister, Florina. Everyone halted upon Fiora's outburst.
"That man and his merchant guild brought us Ilians food after a bad year of crops! How could you be so proud of robbing such good people!? I thought you pirates were of good character, but it looks like I was wrong!" She spat out, causing widened eyes within the vicinity, including a concerned expression from her youngest sister. Even her pegasus was slightly nervous.
Canas was also a native of Ilia, but he seemed to look at the situation with an open mind. Legault, however, rubbed his chin at the mention of the merchant guild in Bulgar. At any rate, everyone was expecting a response from Dart. Unfortunately for Fiora, Dart snorted while rubbing the back of his neck, further exacerbating the ire from pegasus knight.
"'Good people' eh? That man should be lucky the cap didn't make him walk the plank..." Just as Fiora was about to give a rebuttal to his words, Dart continued: "Just to clear the air between us on this trip, do you know what a galley is?"
Fiora looked puzzled at Dart. Ike knew there was something more to this conversation. Legault, however, seemed to be catching on, raising an eyebrow at the mention of the type of boat. At one point, the Black Fang had heard some unsavory reports of a shipping company whose owner was also the head of the merchant's guild in Bulgar, Sacae's capital.
"They're boats where people can row if the winds are not in the favor of a sailor, merchants like to employ em to maintain their schedule. One day, we were sailing and came across a shivering child in the sea about to drown. Poor kid was thrown overboard, forced to work like the others rowing their lives away. We found the ship that threw him which also happened to be the head's family boat at the time..." Dart trailed off, where Fiora began shaking her head.
"No... it can't be..." She muttered while shaking her head.
So they effectively worked people like slaves in ships. Anyone deemed useless would sink into the freezing sea. Not... very kind like Fiora described. Somehow, Ike believed in Dart and Fargus. Despite being pirates, they were honest men.
"Ah, the Black Fang had thoughts about killing that man if he ever came to Bern..." Legault suddenly remarked, to which brought everyone's attention to him. "We heard reports of the merchant guild head in Bulgar employing slave labor in the ships and anyone too exhausted were to sink to the depths of the sea... But it seemed as though there was a sudden change of heart, or rather being scared into submission near Badon..."
Ike gathered a bigger picture of the situation. It seems as though the merchant guild in Bulgar was not as scrupulous as one thought. To think he came across Sacae's capital a year ago with Lyn...
Dart snapped his finger in affirmation of Legault's vouching. "And that is why we like to continue messing with him! Giving that lily-livered bilge-sucker a good reminder never to do things like that again every time we rob him. Heck, I even saw his son just looking at us when the dastard went to get a new freight, just looking at our ship. I think he was jealous..."
Dart mused over the experience, remembering that the Davros ship wasn't the prettiest to look at, but it was their beloved ship that Fargus and the rest of the crew sailed with pride and joy. And that one purple-haired lad from the family whom they robbed just looking at their beaten up ship with amazement.
"Well, let's keep moving. Can't let the Reed family be waiting." Ike announced while marching onwards.
Dart looked to Fiora and called out to her: "Lass, I hate to have sullied the image you thought of the merchants. But I won't lie to others on this trip. No harm, no foul."
Despite the awkward silence that permeated in the vicinity, everyone chose to march onwards. Florina gave a concerned glance back at her sister, but moved on. Fiora marched last, still pondering on the issue.
"Well, if it isn't Nino." Linus remarked as his little stepsister ran up to them.
The 14-year old girl with short-green hair along with a black headband on top of her head beamed with great smile. With a purple cape, a blue top, and short white skirt, she stood before her brothers who smiled fondly at her.
They were within a valley in front of the fort with several villages in the vicinity. What they were waiting for was something unknown to their Sonia and their stepsister.
"Yeah! Lloyd! Linus! What is it? Are you working?" She asked as the two nodded.
"I suppose we are." Lloyd responded with a charming smile. "Are you off doing errands?"
Nino nodded vigorously at her eldest brother's question. "Yup! I'm carrying messages for Mother, so I have to do my best!"
The brothers were secretly glad that Sonia didn't seem to catch on to Nino and had her run errands. While they didn't inform her, it was out of her own safety. So long as that woman was oblivious to the Reed brothers and their father, everyone would remain safe for the time being.
Once their contact arrives, then their counterattack begins. Along with their plan to keep their little sister away from Sonia's clutches...
"Oh, once you're done, try to meet with us. Let's have a family gathering with father. We'll get you another book." Linus told the girl who nodded happily.
They knew their father gave the book to her for introductory reading. Once she gets a proper tutor, she could begin speech to reading lessons.
"I'm looking forward to it! I'm glad father got me that book! I'll see you both soon!" And thus, she ran off to commit to her duties.
She was to deliver some messages into the next town with a port. The village was currently having preparations for Prince Zephiel's coming-of-age ceremony.
As they watched her go off, their expressions turned sullen.
"Poor lass, she has no idea..." Lloyd muttered.
"I know... It will be hard to convince her with just us and father..." Linus added.
Unbeknownst to the pair, a hooded figure smiled coldly with her blood-red from a distance having eavesdropped on every word between the siblings. As expected... but what was surprising that her "husband" was defying her... For her, it was the job of the mother to keep her "family" in line.
'How perfect' she thought to herself... For she'll be rid of the Reed family at last. Along with her "daughter" who was still oblivious to her real nature. Then the Black Fang and the Reed family's quintessence will be in the palms of her lord Nergal...
"We're here..." Ike announced as he heard clamoring in a nearby village. "It seems as though despite being in a remote part of Bern within a valley, the people still are preparing for the ceremony which is ten days away."
The stood in the valley seeing their destination from a distance. Rath, Lucius, Raven, and Guy looked at the valley and villages with a sense of nostalgia. Heath peered out from his cloak to get a better look at his surroundings, as he remained a fugitive. They all had to wear cloaks to avoid as many eyes given their state as targets for most of the Black Fang forces.
"It's been a while since we've arrived here..." Raven pointed out.
"Indeed. We've cleared the bandits in this valley one time. Glad to see the villages are doing well." Lucius added.
Rath nodded quietly at the pair's statements. Holding fond memories as they traversed through the mountains and fought the marauders that plagued the villages. They even entered arena that was at the foot of the mountain, which was currently closed for the time being for the festivities.
Unbeknownst to them, two armored individuals peered out from a house north of them a few paces away from the arena. One man's eyes narrowed at a wyvern rider amongst the group, as if scrutinizing the figure in a brown cloak based on his wyvern. Getting a closer look at the face that peered out from the cloak, his eyes flickered in recognition of a former soldier. A wanted one at that. He wondered why such a group was within this valley given a few hours ago, he was informed by a mage that was the adopted son of Count and Countess Reglay to meet with the Greil Mercenaries.
"Well boss, hope we still have time to get some supplies..." Guy then pointed to a rotting thicket to the East. "Maybe we should break down the tree over there to cross the river."
There were two armories and two vendors situated across the river. Perhaps they could get some supplies for the convoy.
"I also have my sister nearby! Should be near the northern fort." Anna added from inside the convoy while Jake took control of the horse carriage. They would never understand the location of some of the places that Anna merchants set up shop.
"Very well, let's get some supplies in the meantime before we meet the brothers." Ike declared to the group.
The axe wielders began their work on the thicket to create a makeshift bridge. Ike turned to Legault who was peering out to the Northern fortress.
"So the Reed brothers should be within that fort, right?" Ike inquired to which Legault nodded.
"They should be awaiting us. I did let them know that some fancy magician would teleport us near our destination." He replied in a playful matter. "Funny, I wasn't privy to the headquarters of the Black Fang until recently when the Reed family reached out to me... Can't let them down now if they're counting on me."
Ike stood silent before Legault's surprising determination. He felt similarly, as he wouldn't let the Reed family down.
Unbeknownst to pair, Lloyd and Linus watched the group with a smile from the thickets not too far away from the group.
"Well, that was fast... and all the way from Nabata." Lloyd remarked with a grin.
Linus also followed suit with a smile. "And we just got the message two days ago... must be a good sage they found. Well, let's greet them..."
The brothers came out from the woods and were noticed by Ike and Legault. Just as they were about to share greetings, they heard footsteps from a distance approaching them. A man with spiky blue hair that looked oddly familiar to Ike (AN: Igor is a palette swap of Glass with blue hair) came to the Reed brothers.
"Commander Lloyd! Linus!" Linus's subordinate, Igor called out while sprinting to the brothers with two partners at his side. "Bad news!"
"What happened, Igor?" Linus asked with the same concerned expression as his brother. Ike and Legault were also worried watching the scene play out.
"The base we set up with Jan, it's overrun!" Igor reported which alarmed the brothers. "Not only that, the Northern fortress! They just ambushed it! Traitors!"
Everyone's eyes widened at the news. The others were off gaining supplies in the East, unaware of the news while Anna and Jake were still present. Jake nodded at Anna and went inside the carriage while Anna took the reins.
"What!?" Linus exclaimed with a furious expression.
"That's right..." A familiar voice called from a distance while on a horse with a red armor. Ike seemed to also recognize this man with the same face as the Laus general, Bauker (AN: another palette swap but Pascal has black hair). "Isn't that right? Lloyd and Linus?"
Linus gritted his teeth and spat out: "Pascal, you blackheart! You escaped your restraints!?" Lloyd readied his silver sword while peering at his surroundings. It seemed as though more enemies were approaching the valley from the North and East.
Pascal Grentzer of Landskron, the Beast. Brendan was sure to lock him away for his brutality. But it seemed like he escaped, with a spear in hand. A pair of knights eavesdropping on the conversation who emerged from the house undetected frowned at the mention of the former count. That madman was here?
Pascal snorted. "Not quite. Brendan's lovely new wife had me sent here to finish a job that I couldn't refuse..." He then grinned mischievously in front of the brothers. "I wonder how Brendan will appreciate his children's head on a platter? Oh the face he'll make... Too bad I won't be able to watch it, for she will finish the job."
Pascal mused as he ignored the menacing glare from Linus, Lloyd, and even Legault.
"Sonia..." Lloyd muttered. "So she found us out..."
"Indeed." A woman's voice called out. Two magic rune appeared before the group. And from it, came the hated woman with another familiar face, with long brown hair and a demented expression. "Hello sons... did you miss me?"
"Sonia! And you, Jerme!" Linus barked out to his stepmother and the Death Kite.
So it was likely Sonia released Pascal. Jerme stood with an unsettling smile towards the brothers.
"My blade shall feast well tonight. I can't wait to return to the Four Fangs now that there's two vacant spots. If only I could cut down that Jaffar as well..." Jerme muttered as he held a light brand at his side.
"Jerme!" Sonia called out. To which Jerme responded while rolling his eyes: "... I know, I know!"
Sonia then turned to Ike who held his weapon at the ready and smirked. "To think you were consorting with the enemy... I should have known when you defended that mercenary commander." As she spoke, she then turned to Legault who sported a deadly glare at the morph. "And it seems as though Hurricane also joined your little ploy. Well, you shall all become harvested for quintessence. Rejoice, for the Fang's judgment shall be delivered."
"You won't be accomplishing anything. You and Nergal's plans will end here and now." Ike responded having already brandished his blade at Sonia to which she scoffed.
"Heh, children like you playing mercenary should be obedient. You'll be in Lord Nergal's palm soon enough, along with the siblings." Sonia declared as she smiled coldly at the mercenary commander. "I won't let a puppet take all the glory." To which earned a raised eyebrow from Legault.
Ike became alarmed that he was also a target, most likely for Yune's powers. It was likely that he will be in the same position as a target like Nils and Ninian. Nergal maybe wanted to use Yune's power for something related to the dragons. But he wouldn't allow any of it to happen on his watch.
"The Fang is not yours to claim, Sonia!" Linus bellowed out while holding his silver blade at the ready along with his shield. Lloyd also nodded with his brother, while seeing enemy reinforcements of dragoon platoons, pegasus knights, brigands, and a plethora of assorted enemies come out in droves. They were outnumbered even with Ike's forces along with their subordinates.
The others who went shopping took notice and quickly ran back to Ike. Renault in particular narrowed his eyes at Sonia upon first glance at the morph.
"Hahaha! Don't you realize it?" Sonia suddenly cackled and gave an unpleasant grin. "The Fang is no longer yours. It belongs to Lord Nergal. I knew you both never trusted me. And I know that your beloved father is in on it. Now I will finally be rid your miserable existences once and for all! And don't worry, I'll be sure to send your beloved stepsister to keep you company once I'm done with her..." Pascal and Jerme grinned at her statement, as they would enjoy the new Fang under Nergal. Going as far as to kill their former superiors to retake their former spots.
That was the last straw, as Linus quickly grabbed his hand axe that was holstered to the side, and threw it at the morph. Lloyd also rushed towards their opponents with blinding speed. Unfortunately, the hand axe only hit thin air and Lloyd slashing away at nothing upon the trio of enemies warping themselves away.
"Blast!" Linus yelled out while Lloyd clicked his tongue. The pair looked to the North with Pascal situated at the fortress alongside Jerme in a nearby fort. It seems as though Sonia left them to finish the job.
The enemy forces were closing in on them. At any rate, it was about a hundred enemies that were coming into the valley. Lloyd and Linus had their subordinates huddled together by their side.
"Stay close, everyone! We'll have to remain in defensive positions!" Ike announced. The Reed brothers and their men came closer to their allies.
Priscilla, Lucius, Renault, and Canas (who just promoted) readied their staves while holding their tomes, while the rest of the ground troops held their weapons at the ready. Heath, Fiora, and Florina were ready to fly with their wyvern and pegasi with javelins.
Just as a rival wyvern and pegasus platoon was about to engage with the group, a loud sound came from inside the convoy of the Greil Mercenaries.
"Now, Anna!" Jake shouted out from inside the carriage.
"You got it!" Anna winked as she replied, and pulled a lever at the front, which unveiled the convoy of the carriage as the bows and covers pulled back. And with it, revealed Jake holding a lever next to a ballista that used the carriage as its base. With the ballista loaded and aimed straight at the platoon that was about to approach them, Jake and Anna held a grin.
"Fire!" Jake announced as he pulled down the lever, and the drawstring released, firing the ballista bolt at the wyvern knights who were caught by surprise.
The bolt pierced both a wyvern and its rider, causing the pair to fall. Everyone looked at the convoy with stunned eyes while their enemies held grimaces at the contraption mounted onto the carriage.
How on earth did they manage to fit that thing? And where did they put the rest of the supplies?
"Man, I've missed using this thing!" Jake celebrated with a rare change of tone as he hit his mark. He then turned to Igor and the pair of subordinates. "Hey, I'll need your help to rotate and load this thing!"
Igor turned to the brothers who nodded, and quickly went into the carriage to assist Jake alongside the others. They would rotate the ballista while the carriage was moving and reload when necessary.
"Where did you get that toy, Jake? You'd best not be hiding them from the captain!" Dart remarked with an excited grin.
"Just a little prototype... we'll have em on the ship eventually!" Jake responded to his fellow mate. "For now, let's show them what the Davros and the Greil Mercenaries are made of!"
"""Oooooooohhhhhh!"""
With a large battle cry, Ike then announced to the men at his command: "Fliers, keep the enemy fliers at bay! Avoid the bolt when they come your way! Ground troops, protect the convoy and healers! Magic users! Attack from a distance while healing anyone! The Reed brothers, Legault, and I will lead the charge!"
Lucius, Renault, and Priscilla were experienced stave users to use the physics staves, so they could heal from a distance as the combined effort of everyone else could fend off their attackers while not being defenseless.
"""Yes, Sir!""" They responded with gusto.
"Oh for the love of..." Legault sighed out as he shook his head in exasperation. "At least it feels like the old days..." As he spoke, he narrowed his eyes at the enemy forces that approached while holding his pair of daggers behind him.
"Already have cold feet, Legault?" White Wolf called out to his old friend. Mad Dog also added his piece while grinning wildly: "If you'd like, join Igor and the others."
Legault then snorted in response. "And miss out on a family outing like this? I don't think so." Twirling his daggers and lowering his knees in a stance. "Time to clean house, I suppose."
Ike nodded at the trio's determination and shouted: "LET'S CHARGE!"
Meanwhile, the villagers who witnessed this skirmish within their fences realized who the people fighting were.
"Is that the Black Fang?" "Why are they fighting with the Greil Mercenaries?" "I think I see the White Wolf and Mad Dog fighting alongside the Greil Mercenaries!" "My... White Wolf is as handsome as the rumors say!"
As both villages had their inhabitants clamoring within their gates and fences, one hooded figure with short blonde hair underneath stood watching within the northernmost village. He observed the situation, contemplating on what to do.
Moreover, another hulking figure with heavy purple armor and short blonde hair stood alongside his fellow underling, watching the skirmish unfold several paces away from the closed arena. He was wondering why multiple wyvern riders could be heard from a distance. And what is with the infighting amongst the group? The reports of significant portion of their own dragoon troops being used by an infamous (amongst the corrupt nobles up to a year ago) assassin group seemed to be true. What deal was made between their military and the Black Fang? For now, he was going to wait for the opportune moment.
Pascal and Jerme clicked their tongues at the situation. Despite having an overwhelming advantage in numbers, their enemies have cut down about a third of their forces. They only had 70 or so left in their army.
Each time a platoon would swoop down, the opposing fliers would launch their javelins or sometimes loop themselves midair before speeding straight at a pegasus or wyvern knight, stunning them to fall to their deaths. That, or be impaled by a ballista bolt that was constantly firing while in a moving carriage. Not to mention their forces were being pelted with arrows and spells, one of them unlike most dark tomes, in which it was more accurate than an Eclipse tome and quickly replaced by the convoy. The dark spell was cast from a long-distance by the purple haired druid and emitting a dark miasma whenever it hit their own troops. In any event, they lacked impressive mobile long-range options compared to the enemy, in which their own archers manning ballistae suffered.
Not to mention the 4-man group approaching them from a distance, about to reach the northern fortress anytime soon. Lloyd swiftly dispatched his enemies with unparalleled speed while Linus ended fighters with a single stroke of his blade with a mad grin. Befitting the title of White Wolf and Mad Dog. And their old friend, Hurricane was no slouch either, as he made nimble movements to perform lethal cuts to the neck and stabs to the hearts with dual knives. All the while, the young mercenary commander held his own with heavy swings without leaving any openings for enemies to exploit. With the mercenary group's melee troops and long-range fighters slowly advancing, it was a matter of time before their own troops were decimated. Lastly, none of the Greil Mercenaries nor the old Fang numbers have dwindled since the battle.
"It seems as though their defenses are quite formidable... Would be a shame if their attention was diverted, wouldn't you agree?" Pascal gestured to Jerme who smirked.
"Of course. Wouldn't want to ruin my sword's appetite with getting the nasty ones. Let's have them scatter... if not, watch their morale fall..." Jerme responded as he turned to the wyvern troops that were on standby.
"Dragoon platoon, lay waste to the villages! I know those brothers have got bleeding hearts, might as well use that to our advantage!" He yelled out, allowing their enemies to hear what they were saying. The old Fang and Greil Mercenaries widened their eyes in horror of what their opponents wanted to do.
The wyvern platoon looked at one another and gave a reluctant nod. They had to obey their superiors that was backed by the king. Even if it meant cutting down fellow civilians. The wyvern forces hovered in the air, and began their advancement to the North and South villages, while out of the range of the enemy's siege weapons and tomes.
"No! You dastards, leave the villagers out of this!" Linus growled out while cutting down a cavalry that approached him. His brother Lloyd also shouted: "You'll pay for this if you lay one finger on the civilians!"
Lloyd and Linus quickly kept slashing away at their enemies, but were powerless to stop the fliers from moving to the villages. Ike and Legault leading the charge were looking for any opening to cut a path for their allies to head to the villages.
Villagers witnessing the battle began to panic, and quickly close the gates and run back inside their homes. All except one man within the northernmost village, who narrowed his eyes and went to ready himself for battle.
"No! You can't! You're all Bern's wyvern regiment! You can't do this to your own people!" Heath desperately pleaded. But his warnings were not heeded, as they kept advancing towards the villages, ignoring their former ally. It was just like the time he and his wingmates witnessed defenseless villagers at the mercy of the ones meant to protect them.
It was then that the purple-armored general readied his weapons within the sea of trees as his subordinate saluted and ran off to meet his other squadron.
"Hurry! We can't let them harm the villagers! Split yourselves into groups if you have to!" Ike announced.
The Greil Mercenaries were still engaged with their enemies to rush to the treacherous wyverns. They had become too preoccupied with the swarm of enemies in their paths, who kept blocking them from reaching the nearby villages or attack the platoon. The mercenary fliers were too far into the Western mountain to fly and deal with the wyvern platoon that was too far away for the long range tomes or ballista to reach. Heath in particular was frantically fending off wyverns and pegasus knights trying to head East to stop the riders. Unfortunately, the ground troops already near the villages nodded to one another and ran to the village barriers. The Southern and Northern village was about to be approached with lit torches, and everyone's expression were filled with dread. Some of the ground troops wanted to rush across the pair of bridges across the river but were surrounded by the countless enemies that were blockading their path.
Pascal and Jerme's faces filled with glee as they would enjoy the anguish of their targets who were scrambling to protect the innocent villagers.
"I'm reminded of the old times before my title was stripped from me..." Pascal spoke with nostalgia. "How I loved raining death on those miserable citizens in my castle... as well as killing all those villagers during my work. History will repeat itself once again, and I sure love my work."
Pascal's remark earned a murderous glare from the opposing leaders of the charge.
Two men holding a torch were about to throw it at a home in the Northern village. Everyone's eyes widened in horror helpless to stop the attack as the wyverns were also reaching their destination, with javelins at the ready to attack helpless villagers needing to get outside from the flames unleashed by their comrades. Even the Southern village was about to follow suit with their own forces having arsonists closing in.
"I think not." A voice called out from the house.
With that announcement, a hatchet was thrown from a window into the Black Fang's chest, instantly killing the man and causing his fellow partner to stagger in fear. A blonde man clad in blue-green armor with spiked spaulders emerged from the house and rushed to plunge his sword into the stunned partner's chest, felling his foe. He then pulled out his sword and hatchet from his fallen foes and pointed them at the surrounding enemies.
"Even if I live in disgrace, I made my vows to protect my lord and the innocent as a knight. Although I failed one of them, I will stand to protect the other. And I will die as a knight!" Upon that announcement, he pivoted to turn to a wyvern knight hovering from a distance approaching a village and with great strength and momentum, threw the hatchet from a long distance and into the wyvern's chest, causing both the rider and their companion to fall to their death away from the village. He then readied his shield at the side and rushed to nearby enemies, cutting anyone in his path.
Most of the Greil Mercenaries recognized this man having saw him a year ago when they dropped Dorcas and his wife, Natalie, at Pherae. It was Isadora's fiance and retainer to the departed Lord Elbert, Harken.
"What is Harken doing here?" Ike voiced out while clashing with a cavalry in his way.
"Don't care, he's on our side! Just keep carving a path!" Linus replied as he threw a hand axe into monk.
"Indeed, let's hurry and finish this, Ike!" Lloyd affirmed while making swift slashes to an opposing myrmidon. At any rate, the enemy troops were down to less than half their original numbers. However, Jake seemed to have ran out of bolts, along with the Canas running out of his long-range dark tomes. The convoy was currently just acting its purpose with its workers working to quickly hand new weapons to the people protecting them.
"Tch, no matter. At least they've seem to have run out of long-range options. They won't be able to reach the Southern village." Jerme remarked, peering at the mercenaries who were still struggling to deal with the swarm.
Finally, a path was carved for the axe users to rush down South to the Southern village across the pair of bridges. Dart, Raven, Lucius, and Bartre quickly marched to deal with the enemies that were about to raid the village. But there wasn't enough time, even with Harken joining the fray. One of the Black Fang holding a torch was about to throw it beyond the fence along with some archers aiming for houses using flaming arrows, only for one of them to receive an arrow to the neck. Making everyone once again surprised at a new sudden visitor.
Looking at the one who shot the arrow from further South, it was a slicked-back purple-haired man with a steel bow and killer axe holstered to a fur strap. Wearing a gray vest, he stood at the ready.
"Seeing as how the side attacking villagers are in the wrong, I know which side to pick this time..." The man snorted in amusement and then raised an eyebrow at a familiar face of a pirate. His eyes widened upon getting a proper look at the man who robbed his father's company. "Dart!? Is that you? What are you doing here?"
"Geitz! Speak of the devil! I just talked about ye yesterday!" Dart happily remarked while cleaving a nomadic trooper. Fiora's eyes widened as she seemed to also recognize the wandering warrior.
Indeed, what were the odds? They were just discussing the matter of the company the man's father ran ruthlessly. Was there some sort of cosmic force that led to more strange coincidences down the line?
"Less talking! More fighting!" Raven announced while getting visibly annoyed at archers aiming for him and Lucius, having diverted their attention from the village. Renault sped himself to the archers and twirled his staff like a lance, swinging away the thing as if it were a club, bashing the heads of archers. To the enemy, this man was no bishop. After all, what kind of man in service to Saint Elimine would use their staves used to heal people as a bludgeoning weapon? It was a different fear compared to looking at Kenneth, the Shrike.
Geitz and Dart shrugged and went back to cutting down their enemies. Geitz, in particular, wanted to raise trouble without harming innocents in the process. And what better way than to not get bored by fighting against a bunch of unknown enemies with a guy who once robbed his family's boat?
Meanwhile, Priscilla and Guy some paces away near the northern village fending off some mages and fighters, with Guy blocking some attacks directed at Priscilla with his killing edge while she cast fire spells. Rath had already run out of arrows and had to resort to using a sword, in which he constantly slashed away at enemies while occasional using Sol to recover. However, none of them, brought as much attention as a certain determined axe user in the next moment.
"Uwoooohhhhh! I won't lose!" Bartre bellowed out, as he pointed his axe at a warrior who faced off against him, and jumped up into the air with his axe in hand.
COLOSSUS
Swinging downward with several times his usual strength, the warrior who attempted to block with his axe found it cracking in a single moment with the clash before breaking into pieces and Bartre's axe cutting downward, cutting the man into two. Bartre's slaying of the man petrified some of the enemies with fear, as they began to fear for their lives by this point.
At any rate, both options of dying in battle or by failure weighed heavily onto them. Both options are awful for the members the Fang under Sonia. At least for some of the remaining wyvern riders, they knew a sinking ship. They were only under the command of the Black Fang while still in the military, they were not official members, like Vaida. They believed they still had a chance if they escaped. With that in mind, some of the wyvern troops began to slip past the trio of fliers and fly South where their targets arrived to escape. However, in the next moment, their hopes were dashed as one of the riders had fallen with an axe stuck to their back. The other riders looked to see their attacker, only to become horrified at the sudden intruder who came from the trees near the arena.
Heath in particular widened his eyes at the newest figure that emerged from the house near the arena. He was familiar to the wyvern rider as one of the most respected and powerful knights in Bern who quickly rose up the ranks from a commoner to become a Wyvern General.
"General Murdock..." Heath murmured.
"None of you are going anywhere..." Murdock declared as he put on his helmet and lifted a spear at the hovering wyvern knights. "For your crimes against the citizens of Bern... I sentence you all to death as Wyvern General of Bern."
"General Murdock! Please! We- ACK!" One rider's pleading was cut off with a spear going straight through him and his wyvern. Quickly dying before falling to their doom.
Just as the remaining now-declared renegade wyvern knights were panicking, their fates were sealed as arrows and javelins began to fly from South. It was a small elite regiment of soldiers approaching as reinforcements for Murdock. They entrapped the wyvern knights attempting to flee, allowing none to escape. At any rate, the elite general of Bern has joined the battle.
Pascal gritted his teeth having recognized the upstart who climbed his way into the good graces of the military and people. It was time for them to attack given the two brothers managed to split from the rest to approach them.
"I am Count Pascal Grentzer of Landskron... The man who will cut short your miserable lives." Upon that introduction, he charged with his horse and spear towards the Reed brothers. With Jerme at his side, the assassin brought out his light brand and cast its magic upon Linus, who noticed a Lightning spell equivalent being cast. Shifting to the side, Linus brought up his shield to block the spear wielded by Pascal.
"Linus!" Lloyd then glared at Jerme who stood at the ready to engage with his light brand.
"It's over, Lloyd. The Black Fang belongs to Nergal, and I'll be top dog unlike you pups." Jerme spoke with disdain towards his former Fang associate.
Lloyd then snorted, and breathed in through his mouth and exhaled. Even Linus seemed to join in on the amusement with a smirk, earning a glare from the former Four Fangs.
"Is that so...? You seem to forget why we're feared as the first members who formed my father's elite." Standing upright as he pointed his silver sword at Jerme.
ASTRA
Within a flash, Lloyd slashed upwards jumping into the air, in which Jerme parried the first hit, only to find that Lloyd was right behind him in midair. Lloyd then dropped downwards with his blade, causing a deep gash on Jerme's back. However, as upon dropping to the ground, Lloyd dashed with his blade in a horizontal slash, causing further harm to Jerme, while positioning himself in front of the stunned assassin.
"Gaaaahhhh!" Jerme cried out as he suddenly dropped his light brand. Lloyd's eyes held a glint and swung his blade upward at Jerme, causing a deep gash from the front until finally rounding up his sword arm into one final upwards slash that sent Lloyd somersaulting backwards, further gouging Jerme's frontal wound. Five consecutive total hits within a single breath.
Dropping to his knees, Jerme coughed out: "G-Gwaah... It hurts... These...cuts..."
Falling face forward undergoing the same brutality, he died with agony as his final expression. The act by Lloyd briefly stunned Pascal before giving Linus an opportunity. Bashing away Pascal's spear, he lunged at his horse, causing the man to fall backwards into the ground.
"...Damn..." Pascal grumbled as struggled to recover, only for his eyes widened in horror at Linus somersaulting forward with his weapon in midair. Only to grab it and ready to plunge his blade into the former noble.
SOL
The ground itself crack from the sheer force of Mad Dog's downward swing of his silver blade. All the while, the wounds Linus sustained during battle healed from using the technique. Pascal was still conscious, but at death's door.
"Gahaa...Urrg...gaa...Is this...death? Is this..what I have...wrought so often before?" He muttered before his eyes rolled back, never to awake again.
"Tch... serves you right." Linus uttered before bringing his attention to rest of the battlefield with his brother.
Before they knew it, all of their enemies have been slain. Nothing but bodies strewn about in the valley with no casualties on their side, including their underlings. They've officially cleaned house.
The Greil Mercenaries and old Fang have won the battle. However, did they even have time to clear up the battlefield? Let alone regroup with Brendan? Just as they approached Ike who held a slightly tired expression, heavy footsteps and clanking of armor could be heard approaching them. It was the Wyvern General, Murdock, who came to the trio with a calm face, but scrutinizing gaze. Heath also flew close, but with a concerned expression evident on his face.
"Now then... Care to explain why the Black Fang elite members, a fugitive (Heath), and the Greil Mercenaries have worked together against a succession dispute just now?" Murdock inquired to the leaders.
