Arc 4:

Rise of an Empire

A week later, the generals gathered in the war room. Darius, Nefarious, and Spero were among them.

"Our silent revolt against the Medes is no longer an option. Astyages sent a messenger to summon me to his court in Ecbatana," Cyrus reveals

Parsa voices his concern, "Did the messenger disclose the reason for the summons?"

"He wanted to congratulate me as the new King of Anshan. I declined his summons; it was obviously a trap,"

Ashkan adds, "Especially after his men tried to ambush my platoon during my last mission, that solidifies his suspicions."

Cyrus nods before continuing, "With this new information, we have to push our assault sooner than expected. I have already instructed our couriers to send out messages to other tribes. Now, we will distribute the dwarven weapons."

Spero had secured vital information from the dwarves on how to use these weapons in advance. Five servants walk into the war room, each carrying one of the weapons. As Cyrus states who gets which, a servant hands them the weapon.

"Ashkan will receive the hammer. Basir will have the ax. Parsa, the mace spear. Darius, the sword, and I will possess the shield."

Five servants enter, each bearing a weapon. As Cyrus allocates the weapons, a servant dutifully hands them out to each recipient.

Amongst them, Darius is handed a sword, which draws a surprised reaction, "Why am I being entrusted with one of these weapons?" he inquires, peering at the blade in his hand.

Cyrus turns him towards his nephew. "Your dedication and prowess in swordsmanship throughout the years have not gone unnoticed," he begins, "Combine that with the magical training under Nefarious's guidance, and you possess the skill set needed to wield this mana sword to its fullest potential."

As Darius examines the sword, his eyes fall upon a circular shape near the cross guard, a large white pearl center hinting at where the potent mana is housed. Engrossed in the gravity of the moment, Cyrus divulges the intricate details of the forthcoming battle plans to the assembled group, who diligently ready their supplies in preparation for the impending expedition

******

After a long journey, they finally arrive at the outer kingdom of Ecbatana. As they survey the area, the tribes of Sagartians, Derusiaei, Mardi, and Dai lurk around, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

The leader of the Pasargadae, the royal Persian house of the Achaemenid, sought an audience with Cyrus. "King Cyrus, it is great to see you. We were lucky to receive your letter, we are all ready for the assault. I was able to persuade a few other tribes to join our cause. The Panthialaei, Germanii, and the Maspii will be arriving later."

Cyrus responds, "That is wonderful news. What of the Maraphiia and Dropici?"

"Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in recruiting them."

Cyrus furrows his brow slightly. "Missing one of the great tribes is upsetting, however, we have most of the tribes present here. I thank you for your efforts."

The tribal leader quickly rides back to his army, and Cyrus turns to Spero. "Get to your position now, we need to know the status inside the walls before we begin."

Spero nods stealthily and makes his way toward the walls. Approaching them, he spots vigilant archers scanning the surroundings.

Archers? There shouldn't be any soldiers watching the outside of the walls. What happened to revolt within?

Spero climbs the towering wall, eluding the watchful eyes of the guards as he maneuvers his way to the summit. From this vantage point, he navigates stealthily across the rooftop terrain, effortlessly blending into the shadows. Amidst the maze of buildings, Spero's sharp eyes catch sight of billowing smoke and the lingering scent of charred debris drifting towards the focal point of the city. He presses forward, guided by the faint murmurs of conversation. Drawing closer, Spero is met with an unfortunate scene - a group of soldiers held captive in the plaza. His keen observations reveal a fortified perimeter around the plaza, with guards stationed at every crucial juncture. Spero silently retreats from the precarious situation, retracing his path back to the rendezvous point with Cyrus and the assembled generals.

"Our first plan has been exposed, Harpagus's forces within have all been captured." Spero relays.

"Damn, was Harpagus imprisoned as well?" Cyrus asks.

"I did not see him. If he followed our plan, then he should still be undiscovered."

The generals all whisper among themselves.

Spero continues, "They've increased their guards patrolling the city and several archers at every vantage point, on the other hand, all civilians have already been evacuated from the kingdom."

Cyrus rubs his fingers through the curly strands of his beard for a few seconds. "Our plans will have to shift. We will need to deal with their scouts before we rush the main gate. Ashkan informs our messengers and has them send word to all the tribal leaders. With the civilians out of the way, we have more room to improvise."

The information spreads like wildfire, everyone rapidly assumes their positions for the impending battle. Spero sneaks back in once more from his familiar patch, neutralizing a few archers with quick strikes. Meanwhile, some tribes boldly charge into the fray, their archers unleashing enchanted arrows that streak toward the sandy terrain.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Billows of smoke clouds rise and explode. The median troops recognize the threat and sound the alarms, but it's already too late. The tribes and Ashkan's squad pour in, and a relentless tide of cavalry and foot soldiers trample the field. Over the deafening clatter of hooves and carriages, the soldiers' unified battle cries echo through the surroundings. They press on amidst a storm of flying arrows and magical blasts, some falling from their mounts while others valiantly push forward.

Amidst the chaos, Ashkan, dismounts as his soldiers secure the gate guards. Racing towards the towering entrance, he grips his dwarven hammer tightly, bracing himself as blue energy crackles at its core. With a mighty shout, Ashkan swings the hammer forward with a resounding impact, the reverberating smack echoing through the air as the hammer meets the gates with a forceful blow.

BLAST!

An explosive burst of energy detonates, shattering the obstructing stone and metal in their path. Allies surge forward to join the fray. Parsa positions himself at the left flank of the imposing gate walls, guiding his men as they climb and scour for the elusive entrance on that side. With a powerful blow, they break down the door, propelling themselves toward their primary objective - the armory.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Meanwhile, Basir and his gallant companions embark on an expedition to the right side of the city walls [https://img.wattpad.com/7de60dcde0cc5e69c6a14225458d84f53faef1b6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5933536d6e6b5a76435a4a6d6d673d3d2d313531333838373030382e313831656439303063383832646236383734373039393333303437312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Meanwhile, Basir and his gallant companions embark on an expedition to the right side of the city walls. Spero previously informed that a narrow crack through the stone walls was present, enabling them to slip inside. Wiping away the dust and grime, they outlined in search of the stables.

As Cyrus and Darius make their way into the city, Nefarious issues are a reminder. "Once we enter the main streets of the city, their magi will know our exact locations. Nevertheless, I will receive the same knowledge of their whereabouts. They have a handful of enemies in each alleyway and stationed on every third rooftop."

Amid the previous meeting with all the tribes, Nefarious managed to manipulate the sigils left behind by the magi. This granted him access to the same valuable information as their elusive enemy.

"I will rescue those who have been taken captive. Men, with me!" Cyrus declares boldly, they race towards the narrow alleyways that lead to the heart of the central plaza.

Meanwhile, Darius, accompanied by a band of soldiers, steered their course towards a designated rendezvous point with Spero on the right side of the battlefield, where they had convened during their prior visit. As they weave through the labyrinthine alleys, Darius takes the lead, his sword poised and ready, with Spero following closely behind and the soldiers trailing in formation. Spero reaches out and taps Darius on the shoulder, prompting him to halt abruptly. Darius extends his sword towards the center circle and infuses it with a surge of mana. The pearl shimmers with silvery energy, as a vortex of wind begins to swirl around its gleaming edge.

WHOOSH

A gust of wind shoots out, sending rags and clothes flying in a frenzied dance. While the cloth is flung away, hidden adversaries are unveiled, poised to strike. From the far end of the narrow passage, an archer aims, releasing an arrow in an instant. Spero intercepts the projectile with a swing of his blade, protecting Darius in the nick of time.

"Now!" Spero shouts.

They hunker down, advancing. Spero deflects incoming arrows, while a fellow soldier at their rear retaliates with a well-aimed shot that hits the enemy archer. Another pair of soldiers veer off, scaling the buildings to confront the adversaries lurking on the rooftops. The rest of the group presses onward. Their footsteps thunder down the dirt and stone alleyway until they reach a crucial intersection, where they gather around Darius, forming a protective circle. Darius activates his sword once more. He quickly raises it, wind swirls around the group blocking a flurry of arrows that come at them from all directions - left, right, and even from above. Meanwhile, their allies positioned above neutralize the enemy archers with arrows of their own. The soldiers surrounding Darius, now free from the rain of arrows, turn their attention towards the remaining enemies on the left and right flanks, taking aim and eliminating them one by one. Suddenly, a clatter echoes from above.

BLAST

SMACK

An Anshan soldier lands in front of Darius, his comrade tossed off the roof and gruesomely splats on the floor below. Mages hover above, casting wicked spells down upon them. Darius sends a powerful blast of wind toward one of the mages, interrupting a deadly fire spell just in time. Spero, quick on his feet, darts to one side of the wall, then jumps to the other side and ascends upwards to the rooftop. On the roof, he spots a rag and snatches it. He flings it toward the mage, covering their face before making a series of lethal stabs. With a glance around, Spero notices enemy reinforcements heading their way. Spotting a bow and arrows near a fallen comrade, he seizes the opportunity, grabbing hold of the weapon. As he pulls back the string, the feeling of tension builds in his muscles. The side of his index finger rests against his cheek, he looks down at the tip of the arrow, and his eyes blur in and out. His focus sharpens, and his eyes fixate on the enemies entering the alleyway below. Spero releases the arrow, feeling it soar past his ear and hit its mark.

Spero rapidly releases five arrows, each one piercing a Median soldier. More soldiers pour in, forcing Darius and his soldiers to retreat to the intersection to gain breathing room.

From his elevated position, Spero yells out, "Darius, rule number two!"

Darius analyzes,

When surrounded by the enemy, use their teamwork against them. These are narrow alleyways, they must be careful swinging their weapons, one wild move and they could harm their own.

Darius shoots a blast of wind on the left side of the soldiers pushing them back momentarily. He then conjures a powerful blast of wind that knocks down the soldiers on the left flank. As the enemies close in from the right, Darius thrusts his sword, impaling his opponent before using the cloth attached to his armor to disorient the next adversary. Darius strikes, leaving a deep gash on the enemy's chest. He executes a front kick sending his opponent hurtling backward, and colliding with another soldier. Darius drives his sword forward, catching both enemies off guard and dealing a decisive blow.

Spero leaps off the roof and lands on the enemy below, his feet strike the enemy's face, the impact shattering bones and sending them crashing to the ground. He ducks down evading a slash and sidekicks their knee with a sickening crunch. He swings his sword up and cuts down the perpetrator. The hairs on the back of Spero's head tingle, he turns his head to the left, and a goldish glow reflects in his eyes. He lunges forward just as an enemy mage raises two fingers; gold static sparks sprinkle from her fingertips. Before the magic circle can fully materialize, Spero ruthlessly slices through the mage's palm, severing all five fingers in a single stroke. The mage's agonized cry fills the air as Spero quickly pierces her abdomen. Spero looks up as his senses detect Anshan archers appearing on the rooftops, providing reinforcements and helping to suppress the enemy soldiers pushing through. Darius delivers a powerful punch, sending the enemy hurtling towards Spero, who reacts by raising his right leg and kneeing him in the face. As the enemy is momentarily stunned, Spero turns to see another opponent attempting to flank him. Spero rotates the same right leg back to deliver a fierce sidekick to the foe's ribs. Meanwhile, Darius slices through the soldier who felt the impact of Spero's knee strike earlier.

Spero races towards the enemy he just kicked, changing his grip on his sword to a reverse hold. The enemy attempts a swing, but Spero catches their wrist, and with a rapid motion, uses the bottom of the hilt to disarm the soldier by smacking their wrist bone. He slams him forcefully against the wall, Spero delivers a punishing blow with the cross guard, causing the opponent's face to erupt in a spray of teeth and blood. As the battered opponent staggers, Spero locks eyes with him, his stare firm despite the bruising and swelling. Spero places the blade of his sword against the enemy's throat. He slices across, ending the threat with a fatal slash that cuts the opponent's throat. Blood spurts out onto Spero, staining his clothes as he locks eyes with Darius amidst the chaotic frenzy of combat. Though they were surrounded by enemies, Darius couldn't help but notice the expression on Spero's face. It was the same look Basir had warned him about - a hidden rage simmering just beneath the surface. These actions were not solely for defense or protection; there was something darker at play. A hint of satisfaction gleamed in Spero's eyes, a shy grin sneaking its way onto Spero's face, just a fleeting moment of wicked delight that sent a shiver down Darius's spine. Darius unleashes a fierce fire blast at the enemies closing in from behind him. Spero acknowledges him with a nod of gratitude, but Darius hesitates to reciprocate the gesture.

During the relentless battle, with enemies seemingly multiplying around them, Spero and Darius find themselves trapped in a tight corner of the alleyways. Feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on them, Spero makes a split-second decision to escape with Darius by his side. Just as he was about to share his plan, a mysterious crackling sound echoed from below. Streaks of vivid purple energy surged through the walls, illuminating the alleyways in light.

CRACK

CRUMBLE

Hands burst out, while eerie heads pop up from the ground. Undead soldiers, adorned with glowing purple eyes and decaying flesh, rise from their graves with an insatiable thirst for battle.

Their bony fingers latch onto the Median soldiers, veins pulsating with a violet glow, as they unleash a frenzy of attacks upon their enemies [https://img.wattpad.com/efd3b68ba050c8c8171bcb75ccddb6d2649f89ed/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f344773712d452d536a474c774a673d3d2d313531333838373030382e313831656439306261313238356164663930303739333633383439342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Their bony fingers latch onto the Median soldiers, veins pulsating with a violet glow, as they unleash a frenzy of attacks upon their enemies. Whether it was through vicious bites, relentless clawing, or strategic immobilization, the undead soldiers eliminated their prey. Spero ponders,

That devious necromancer, a heads up would have been nice.

While the undead minions provide cover, striking fear into their enemies and leading to a hasty retreat, Spero and Darius waste no time escaping. They dash through the disordered battleground. They look beyond the fighting and the grand palace stands in the distance. They race towards it, driven by the urgency to rendezvous with Harpagus and strategize their next move.