Chapter 58 – Shiropolis's Last Stand
PRINCE RAFFLESIA AND MINISTER EDMUND ONAGERIA went to the throne room where the king and some of the guests who failed to go outside were taken for their safety to ask the king for the immediate all-out assault after the incident that occurred inside the kingdom.
Rafflesia argued that many citizens were stricken with fear when they saw hundreds of soldiers with small bruises, knocked out, and shivering from cold, from the attack from the border. They also feared the Rogue Archers that managed to get inside the kingdom, and even inside the castle.
“Father, not only did they abduct the princess, they infiltrated our kingdom! They attacked our men and even managed to take down three Royal Knights. The life of our guests was threatened! We have to retaliate now and show that we are not just letting these kinds of things happen!”
“Your Majesty, as the minister of public service, I second the words of the First Prince. This is the least that I can do for the safety of our people!”
“Father! They have Cattleya and Kiana! We have to save them!” Prince Dionaea insisted.
The king was still undecided, even though he already has the support of the signatories until Captain Nat entered.
“Your Majesty,” said Captain Nat.
“Why are you here again, U.A. dog?!” insulted Rafflesia
“Your Majesty, I believe it is time we go inside Shiromori.”
“There you go again, always saying not to---Wait, what?”
“You are right, Prince Rafflesia. The people of Shiromori are out of hand. I was wrong to think that they will not attack. As a Captain of the United Alliance Navy, I shall protect the member of the United Alliance. That is also our duty.”
Rafflesia cleared his throat. “I, uh, thank you, Captain Nat, for that sentiment. Father, we now only await your command.”
* * * * *
The king has ordered a full-scale assault on the hidden village of Shiropolis and declared martial law in all three arcs of the kingdom.
Soldiers were dispatched to keep peace and order, especially in Sandersonia Arc where the people started to attack the soldiers in support of the Rogue Archers.
It didn’t take long as well for the army to be organized. After all, Emergent Kingdom was always prepared either to defend or siege at any given time.
Many of the soldiers were already wounded due to the infiltration of Robin’s rescue team, but as far as the kingdom was concerned, they didn’t know that the princess was inside the kingdom all along. All they know was that they were infiltrated and attacked by Rogue Archers. Those that are still capable to fight were ordered to join the invasion.
Prince Rafflesia led the left flank. Prince Dionaea led the right flank. And Captain Nat led the United Alliance together with Jack.
The mobile towers that were being used now were different from the ones that Siegfried destroyed. The front of the towers was outfitted with rotating blades that were capable of cutting down blancipresses.
All they were now waiting was for King Daffodil’s order. As the sun came up and the light from the sun shone on the army, King Daffodil ordered the army to move forward.
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The towers continued to the forest and the rotating blades cut down the giant trees. The fallen trees were moved aside and the heavy tracks crushed the stumps. The towers effectively created a path for the soldiers to walk on.
“Captain Nat, I thank you once again for joining us. I really do hope you understand why we’re doing this,” said King Daffodil.
“Of course, Your Majesty. We have failed to trap them inside. So, the only option left was to bring the battle to them.”
“And I thank you, young elf, for telling us exactly where the people of Shiropolis are.”
“I just confirmed their location, Your Majesty. Your son, Prince Rafflesia, already managed to locate where they are.”
* * * * *
A few hours earlier, Riku and the rest managed to reach Shiropolis as quickly as possible thanks to the Rogue Archers that were waiting for them inside Shiromori. And thanks to the self-proclaimed "Keepers of Shiromori", Mirana and Siegfried that is, they managed to escape from the kingdom with Princess Cattleya safe and sound.
Siegfried carefully put down the unconscious Cattleya on the bed. Robin approached her and held her face, all dirty because of the smoke from the explosion. She brushed her hair; some were even scorched a little. Robin could not help but softly laugh.
As she stood up and looked back, the whole Princess Retrieval Team, the Rogue Archers, and even Percethal were looking and smiling at her.
“What? Shut up!” said Robin.
Robin saw the people from the mining tunnel which Fergal, Lancea, and Drancei managed to save and escorted to Shiropolis. She also saw the people that they managed to save, all being taken care of by the people of Shiropolis.
Some tearfully reunited, others laughed like old friends. Some were sobbing, uncertain of what might happen to the families they left behind inside the kingdom in Sandersonia Arc.
But time's running out. Robin took the attention of all the people around her. “Everyone! We have to leave now! The Emergent Kingdom's army will come and we stand no chance against their strength and number!”
The people stubbornly refused.
Robin looked around. The members of the Rogue Archers and the people of Shiropolis were all determined to protect their homes.
All their lives, Robin and the Rogue Archers were there to protect them. Now it was their turn to protect Robin and the Rogue Archers.
Several Rogue Archer recons came back to Shiropolis and notified Robin about what he saw; hundreds of soldiers amassing at the border of the kingdom and mobile towers designed to cut down blancipresses.
Robin sighed. “Fine. Everyone! Battle stations!”
Everyone in Shiropolis quickly moved as they only had a few hours to prepare.
Riku gave the Dragonspear back to Lancea. Upon activation, the Dragonspear elongated, almost five times the original length then reverted back to its original size.
Robin handed over the Twinstar to Drancei. The chakrams acted like a boomerang that returned to Drancei's hands perfectly after it has been thrown at the target.
From the treehouse where Daisuke and Brunnhilde were resting, Thoras came out and went over where everybody was busy.
“Thoras! Why are you up?!” asked Robin.
Thoras was still unable to move his right arm, but that didn't stop him from trying to help. “I may be old, Robin. But I can still fight.”
Robin didn't argue. She handed him his sword, the Liontooth.
Thoras used his left hand to wield the sword. As he activated the ability of Liontooth, the blade lit up. He blew on the blade and dandelion-like seed heads scattered.
“You are getting old, but that sword never gets old,” Robin commented as she laughed.
The Liontooth can both save or take a life. And Thoras will not hesitate to take lives if needed.
The Rogue Archers armed themselves with bows and arrows went to their respective positions and waited for the Emergent Kingdom forces while the citizens and the escapees from the mine armed themselves with any weapon they can hold on.
It was their last stand.
* * * * *
When the light from the sun made the dew on the leaves of the blancipresses shine, they knew that it was time.
They could now hear the engines of the mobile towers roar and see the black smokes that were being ejected by those towers. The sound of the trees as they fell to the ground can also be heard and the beasts below were all scrambling.
“Robin,” said Fergal, holding his bow tightly. “It is an honor to fight with you.”
A few more minutes and the soldiers should have already reached Shiropolis. The people of Shiropolis waited, and waited, and waited.
Instead, they heard shouting and yelling from the distance. Then, they saw one tower fly up in the sky and exploded after a green light hit it. They saw actual soldiers below Shiropolis running away from the giant beasts caught and preyed on. And more towers exploded midair.
Riku’s necklace started to glow. “Oh no…”
“Hey, guys!!” shouted Raijin as he came running with Brunnhilde behind him.
“Raijin! What’s going on? Where's Daisuke?”
“Yeah...It's about Daisuke...” Raijin answered.
“He's gone...I don't know where he went,” said Brunnhilde.
Siegfried went to her and helped her stand on her feet.
“We’ve got to stop him,” said Riku. “He might actually kill everyone! Including himself!”