The initial volleys from the catapults hit their marks with resounding crashes, sending clouds of dust and debris into the air. The walls of Silverhaven shuddered under the assault, and the possessed forces atop them were thrown into disarray. Aurelius watched the destruction unfold, the rhythmic thud of the catapults echoing through the air like a grim heartbeat.

"Keep firing!" General Alaric shouted, his voice cutting through the din. "We need to create an opening!"

Because, in this battle, the High Elves were the attackers, they could dictate the pace of the battle. Given that the primary goal was to keep casualties at a minimum, the General and Aurleius had agreed to keep a slow pace. As such, the catapults would continue to fire, while the rest of the force watched, until they felt like they had delivered enough damage to the possessed to signal the advance to the rest of the army. With that in mind, Aurelius got comfortable atop his vantage point, content to watch the siege unfold and look at the boulders as they whistled through the air.

It took nearly an hour, but as the catapults continued their relentless assault, the walls of Silverhaven began to crack and crumble, creating openings for the High Elven forces. From his vantage point, he could see the possessed scrambling to regroup. Their movements were erratic, a mix of desperation and a strange coordination. The possessed, thrown into confusion by the bombardment, scrambled to reinforce their defenses. Aurelius could see the dark, twisted forms of their enemies darting about, attempting to regroup and mount a counter-offensive.

General Alaric continued to bark orders, his voice maintaining a steady authority. "Shift targets! Aim for the gate and the weaker sections of the wall!"

The catapults adjusted their aim, launching another series of boulders towards the designated areas. The gates of Silverhaven, already weakened by the initial barrage, began to splinter under the relentless assault. Aurelius felt a flicker of satisfaction as he saw chunks of the gate crumble, knowing that each hit brought them closer to breaching the city's defenses.

Aurelius, Valen, the Headmaster, and Instructor Donovan remained close to General Alaric, ready to move at a moment's notice. The tension was palpable, every second stretching into an eternity as they waited for the right moment to advance.

"Catapults, keep firing! We need to maintain the pressure!" General Alaric ordered. The massive siege engines continued their work, sending more boulders crashing into the city, weakening the walls further and sowing chaos among the possessed.

Aurelius took a deep breath, his mind racing with thoughts of the battle to come. He knew that once they breached the walls, the fight would become far more intense. They would face the possessed in close quarters, where the true battle would begin

"Valen, Headmaster, Donovan," Aurelius called out, gathering their attention. "Once we breach the walls, we need to stay together. Our combined strength will be crucial in cutting through the possessed and reaching key points within the city."

Valen nodded, his expression serious. The Headmaster, his eyes sharp with determination added, "We'll need to move quickly and decisively. The longer we linger, the more time the possessed have to regroup."

Instructor Donovan, ever stoic, simply grunted in agreement, his grip tightening on his weapon.

As the sun continued its descent, casting long shadows over the battlefield, the catapults finally began to show the results of their relentless assault. Sections of Silverhaven's walls had collapsed entirely, creating sizable gaps that would allow the High Elven forces to enter the city.

Aurelius watched as boulder after boulder crashed into Silverhaven's defenses. The rhythmic cadence of the catapults offered a stark contrast to the eerie silence that had once permeated the abandoned city. The walls, once a formidable barrier, were slowly being reduced to rubble, and the disarray among the possessed forces was becoming increasingly evident.

The catapults continued their relentless assault, and the soldiers maintained their readiness, eyes trained on the walls of Silverhaven, waiting for the signal to advance.

General Alaric surveyed the damage. "Another few volleys should suffice," he murmured to Aurelius, who stood beside him. "We want to ensure the defenses are sufficiently weakened before we send in our troops."

Aurelius nodded, his gaze fixed on the city. "Agreed. We need to be thorough. We can't afford to leave any surprises."

The once formidable barrier was now a ruin, providing a breach through which they could launch their ground assault. As the final boulders flew through the air, the catapults fell silent, and an anticipatory hush settled over the Fourth Army. General Alaric raised his hand, signaling for the advance.

"Prepare for the advance!" General Alaric's voice was clear and commanding. "Archers, cover our approach. Infantry, form up and be ready to move through the breach. Mages, prepare your spells."

The archers took their positions, nocking arrows and aiming at the walls where the possessed were still attempting to regroup. A volley of arrows arced through the air, striking down several of the enemy and further disrupting their attempts to organize.

"Mages, now!" General Alaric called out. The mages stepped forward, chanting incantations and weaving spells that crackled with arcane energy. Bolts of fire, lightning, and other elemental forces streaked towards the possessed, adding to the chaos and destruction.

"Infantry, move!" With a final, decisive command, General Alaric signaled the infantry to advance. The soldiers surged forward, their movements disciplined and coordinated. Aurelius and Instructor Donovan led the charge, their weapons at the ready.

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The ground began to tremble as the infantry made its way down to the breaches within the city walls. As they advanced, the archers continued to provide covering fire, their arrows finding targets among the disarrayed possessed. The mages, positioned strategically behind the infantry, unleashed waves of destructive spells, thinning the ranks of their enemies and creating openings for the soldiers to exploit.

As they reached the broken walls, the true scale of the devastation became evident. The ground was littered with rubble, and the air was thick with dust and the acrid smell of smoke. The possessed forces, though thrown into disarray, were regrouping and preparing to defend the city.

Aurelius led his group through the breach, stepping over fallen stones and debris. The possessed were already surging towards them, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. Thinking quickly, Aurelius activated his mana blade, the weapon humming with energy.

Seeing the large group of possessed charging towards him, Aurelius took out one of his eight mana bombs from his spatial storage and threw it at the approaching force. The mana bomb sailed through the air, its trajectory flying true. Upon impact, it unleashed a brilliant explosion of energy, engulfing the front ranks of the possessed. The shockwave sent bodies flying and disrupted their charge, buying the High Elven forces precious moments to push forward.

Aurelius didn’t pause to watch the aftermath. With his mana blade glowing, he charged into the fray, slicing through the disoriented possessed with precision. Guided by his Blade Dancer class his movements were fluid and lethal, each strike finding its mark.

The ground assault began in earnest as the High Elven forces poured through the breaches in disciplined waves, engaging the possessed in desperate hand-to-hand combat. The mages continued their barrage of spells, providing support and keeping the enemy at bay. The streets, once lively with the bustle of city life, were now the stage for a brutal battle. The possessed, though disorganized, fought with a frenzied determination, their dark forms clashing violently with the advancing High Elves.

Aurelius fought with focused intensity as he carved his way through the possessed ranks. The battle was fierce and chaotic, the air thick with the clash of steel, the crackle of magic, and the pained cries of combatants. He stayed close to Instructor Donovan, their group cutting a path deeper into the heart of Silverhaven.

The battle in Silverhaven raged on with a ferocity that matched the intensity of the battle for Alerial. As Aurelius and the High Elven forces pressed deeper into the city, every street and alley became a battleground. The possessed fought with a relentless frenzy, making the High Elves fight for every inch of the city.

The mages continued to support from a distance, their spells weaving through the air with devastating effect. Bolts of lightning crackled, arcs of fire engulfed clusters of enemies, and barriers of force protected the High Elven soldiers from counterattacks. Despite the initial chaos, the High Elves maintained their discipline and pushed forward methodically. They advanced street by street, clearing out pockets of resistance and securing key points within the city.

From somewhere behind him, Aurelius could hear General Alaric call out commands and direct reinforcements.

"The western gate is breached! Secure the outer perimeter and establish a defensive line," General Alaric's voice echoed through the chaos. The High Elven forces responded swiftly, tightening their grip on the newly conquered territory as they prepared for the next phase of the battle.

Aurelius fought alongside Instructor Donovan and the others, their movements synchronized as they pushed deeper into Silverhaven.

As they advanced, Aurelius kept a keen eye on their surroundings, wary of any ambushes. It was clear now that the High Elves' superior numbers and tactics had turned the battle clearly in their favor. However, the battle was far from over, and Silverhaven still held many dangers within its labyrinthine streets. The possessed, though outnumbered and disorganized, fought with a savage determination that made every step painful.

Just then, Aurelius could hear General Alaric’s voice ring out again.

"Secure the central plaza! It's a key strategic point," General Alaric's command cut through the din of battle, rallying the High Elven forces to focus their efforts on the heart of Silverhaven.

Aurelius relayed the order to Instructor Donovan and those around him. "Central plaza, move out!" he shouted over the sounds of combat. The group adjusted their course, cutting through the resistance with renewed purpose as they made their way toward the designated target.

The streets narrowed as they approached the plaza, debris and fallen bodies littering their path. The possessed, now driven into a defensive stance, fought with desperate fury. Spells continued to flare overhead as the mages unleashed their power, keeping the enemy off balance.

As they entered the plaza, Aurelius could see its importance. Before the battle, the High Elven leadership had discussed their strategy and concluded that taking the central plaza was of paramount importance, swinging the battle in their favor. It served as a crossroads, with several streets converging upon it, making it a crucial point for controlling the city. The possessed had fortified their positions here. To his surprise, he even saw makeshift barricades. He stored that thought away for now and refocused on the battle.

Aurelius gestured for the group to fan out, flanking the enemy positions. "We need to break their hold on the plaza," he called out, his voice commanding and steady despite the chaos around them. A group of High Elves moved to the left, engaging a group of possessed archers, while Instructor Donovan, with his group, charged straight ahead, his shield deflecting incoming spells.

Aurelius, meanwhile, circled to the right, his mana blade weaving through the air as he engaged with more possessed soldiers. He took out another 2 mana bombs and threw them into the plaza. These were 2 of his remaining 4, and he really hoped they would be put to good use.

The mana bombs soared through the air, trailing arcs of energy before detonating with a thunderous boom. The plaza erupted into chaos as the explosions tore through the possessed ranks, throwing bodies and debris into the air. The shockwave rippled outward, shattering makeshift barricades and disorienting the remaining defenders.

Seizing the momentary advantage, Aurelius and the High Elves around him pressed their attack. With a coordinated maneuvers, they exploited the confusion among the possessed. Aurelius spun, his mana blade slicing through dark forms with deadly efficiency. The battle in the plaza became a whirlwind of steel and magic, with High Elven forces gaining ground with each passing moment.

Instructor Donovan's group held the center, their shields forming a stalwart defense against counterattacks. Behind them, mages continued to rain down spells, further disrupting the enemy's attempts to regroup. The possessed, though resilient, were overwhelmed by the High Elves' relentless assault.

As the battle raged on, Aurelius could feel the tide turning. The possession's forces, once menacing, now faltered under the relentless onslaught. With each enemy struck down, the High Elves inched closer to securing the plaza and achieving their strategic objective.

"Keep pushing!" Aurelius called out. "We're almost there!"

Aurelius knew that the possessed would never retreat from a battle unless ordered to. They were literally unbreakable in that sense. As a result, he knew that if they wanted to capture this plaza and this city as a whole, he would have to kill every single one of them.