As Medrauta expected, getting to the shield tower was easier said than done.

With the shield tower standing stoically behind the still-advancing cannonspawn, Medrauta and Viviane had been forced to maneuver around their enemies, the two of them quickly discovering that climbing back up the mountain was a lot more difficult than simply coming down. The fact that the cannonspawn continued firing at them during their attempted ascent didn’t make it any easier either.

“This isn’t working, Vivi!” Medrauta shouted over the roar of cannonfire.

The knight leapt off the rocky crevice she was clinging onto, landing solidly on the ground before holding her hands out to catch Viviane. The noblewoman dropped from above as well, falling into Medrauta’s waiting arms.

“We might’ve been better off with Eris and the knights,” Viviane agreed. “It seems the cannonspawn are paying a lot more attention to the flanks than the knights tearing through their ranks.”

“You mean they’re paying a lot more attention to us.” Medrauta said. It was a suspicion she’d had several minutes ago, but hadn’t confirmed until now.

After she and Viviane advanced into the range of the cannonspawn once more with Eris and the knights, the latter group had immediately taken to engaging the tubular witchspawn in direct combat, yet the majority of cannonfire had been directed toward Viviane and herself instead of the group that constituted an immediate threat.

Either the commander’s desperate to prevent anyone from reaching the tower, or they’ve marked me and Viviane as priority targets. Medrauta thought it was a rather valid strategy from the commander given how she’d single-handedly wiped out the brunt of the witchspawn advance force three days ago and recently caused a rockslide that completely destroyed their formation, but if that were true, then their chances of making it to the shield tower alone were slim.

“...Maybe.” Viviane said. “But we’re a bit too far from them now, and we’d have to fight our way through the cannonspawn to get back.”

Medrauta sighed, nodding begrudgingly. “Only one way to go, then.”

More explosions rocked the air, causing the large rock formation shielding the pair to shake violently. Though it still held strong against the latest bombardment, both Medrauta and Viviane could see that the thick slab of stone was slowly becoming more brittle as the number of craters in its surface increased.

“I think we might just have to make a straight run for it,” Medrauta said as she drew her sword. Viviane merely nodded in response.

She took a quick peek around the corner of their cover, spotting a row of cannonspawn preparing to fire. The familiar crimson glow in the center of their barrel-bodies was a dead giveaway, prompting the knight to quickly duck back behind cover as a volley of shots pounded into the stone formation once more. As it stood, the rocks would likely be able to take one more volley before being pulverized into dust.

“Alright, time to go.” Medrauta took Viviane’s hand, the two of them bolting out of cover immediately.

With Medrauta’s Crest-enhanced strength, Viviane could barely keep up with her knight even after focusing all her efforts into enhancing her speed. Her lady on Medrauta’s mind at all times, the silver-haired knight quickly noticed that Viviane was lagging behind, causing her to slow down as she deflected several cannonballs with expert skill.

Although the volleys had been slightly terrifying at first, she had now dealt with them so many times that the lightning-fast cannonballs were now starting to become slow. So slow, in fact, that she felt like she could pluck them from the air if she desired.

Regardless, Medrauta still treated each bombardment with the utmost caution, refusing to allow her confidence to drive herself and her beloved lady into a dangerous situation. She turned to look at Viviane as the two continued running toward the shield tower which laid at the exit of the mountain pass.

In response, Viviane caught Medrauta’s eye and nodded, smiling to indicate that she was alright. Though she was still having a bit of trouble keeping up with her knight, Viviane decided to continue pushing herself until they had reached the exit of the mountain pass at the very least. After all, she knew slowing down any further would endanger them, and there was still one last row of cannonspawn waiting for them at the exit.

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They were lined up in a neat row across the width of the pass, their barrels glowing a bright red as they prepared to fire upon Medrauta and Viviane the moment the pair came into range. Despite the ominous row of red lights, Medrauta continued driving toward the firing line, her sword at the ready as she stared confidently ahead of herself.

The cannonfire from the rear now began to fade as they drew closer to their destination, the writhing motions of the black substance coating the shield tower now clearly visible. Medrauta’s muscles tensed in preparation as she and Viviane prepared to enter the firing range of the cannonspawn who were waiting for them ever since the beginning of their dash to the finish line. Viviane concentrated as well, focusing on maintaining her Crest more than ever.

While Medrauta’s blade still glowed a bright silver, the power of the Lake was still one that she hadn’t yet completely mastered. It was only through the infusion of the Lake’s mysterious energy that the steel of her knight’s sword was capable of clashing against the mana-forged ammunition of the cannonspawn so many times. Should she falter for even a moment, it would mean certain defeat.

Viviane’s grip around Medrauta’s hand tightened as they entered the cannonspawn’s range at last, giving her knight a slight nod as the two of them darted forward. In response, the cannonspawn plunged them in a sea of fire, their barrels howling with the calamitous sound of thunder. Positioned in a straight line across the entire width of the mountain pass, the roar of the cannons echoed powerfully, reverberating against the rugged mountain slopes in a cacophony of chaos and destruction.

Yet, Medrauta did not falter even for a second.

In her right hand, she held her trusted sword that had carved through countless witchspawn and deflected hundreds of cannonballs thus far. In her left, she held the most important person to her. There was absolutely no way she could lose.

With a confident flick of her wrist, Medrauta issued the first sword stroke of many that would drive away the relentless waves of cannonfire so desperately directed toward her. Though the setting sun dyed the sky a deep crimson reminiscent of blood, her cerulean eyes blazed brightly with the color of daytime.

The deep blue that she had adored ever since she was a child. The azure shade of freedom.

Like an impenetrable shield, the glowing silver of her blade whirled in mesmerizing patterns as she continued her steady advance toward the firing line, their shots growing quicker and more desperate by the second. The closer she walked, the faster the cannonspawn began to fire. Yet, Medrauta did not panic, for those shots were futile and meaningless.

Sacrificing power for speed, the cannonspawn reloaded with only inferior ammunition now, firing as rapidly as they could in an attempt to score a lucky shot against the knight’s seemingly impenetrable defense. They aimed primarily at Medrauta, though they sometimes fired at Viviane in the hopes of distracting the knight, an effort that only caused Medrauta to hasten her advance as her fury rose.

Every cut of her blade was exquisite, her accuracy unmatched even against the smallest and fastest of pellets. Again and again, the silver wheel of Medrauta’s sword cut through the air with lightning-fast precision that saw her closing the distance between herself and the firing line until she had finally reached her destination at long last.

She stopped merely several feet from the closest cannonspawn, the embers of victory bright in her eyes.

“Viviane!” Medrauta roared.

Viviane nodded in response, closing her eyes and raising her hand in the air as she tapped into the mysterious power of the Lake. Though her knight had only said her name and nothing else, she understood Medrauta’s intentions intrinsically.

As the symbol on Viviane’s hand glowed brightly, Medrauta felt the power of the Lake rush through her like never before. It was violent and powerful, but much more controlled and concentrated than all the previous iterations.

She channeled it to her blade with ease, gripping tightly though the weapon no longer felt as if it would fly from her grasp. With a single swing, she unleashed a wave of silver energy toward the firing line. Shaped like the crescent moon, the wave of energy sliced through the air with a barely audible hum, decimating the entirety of the cannonspawn that stood in their way before it vanished into the air.

At last, the way to the shield tower had been cleared, but their journey hadn’t ended yet.

The Spire towered over Medrauta and Viviane more than ever, their proximity to the capital now mere hours away. The black-cloaked shield tower stood ominously ahead of them, and before its gates stood the man who had once defeated Medrauta.

The black-clad knight pulled his immense greatsword free from the earth as Medrauta and Viviane approached him confidently.

“It seems we are ill-fated to meet again,” the Walpurgisknight intoned.

“...So it seems.”

Medrauta pointed her blade toward the knight even as he leveled the tip of his weapon toward her. Viviane nocked an arrow to her bow, ready to fire at a moment’s behest.

The Walpurgisknight stepped aside, and the gates of the shield tower spread wide open.

At that very moment, Medrauta stumbled. Viviane’s eyes grew wide.

“...No. It can’t be,” Medrauta murmured, clutching her head with one hand.

The Walpurgisknight advanced.