“Nastro, do you have a minute?”

My companion turned his body in my direction, his lengthy hair swishing about.

“What is it, Linark?”

Nastro spurred his steed into action, urging it forward as it galloped towards me. I swiftly retrieved the small handheld communications device that served as our vital link to Warlord Bazark. He had made it explicitly clear that we were to notify him prior to beginning our strategic siege upon the formidable stronghold of Arago.

“We must contact Warlord Bazark beforehand. Don’t tell me you have forgotten?”

“Stop spouting nonsense and get on with it already. Our men grow weak and weary with every passing hour. Supplies are running low. This siege must be successful, or it is the end of us.”

“No need to state the obvious, dear friend.”

Once Nastro had no more to say, the communications device activated almost immediately.

“Warlord Bazark, this is Linark. We will now begin our siege against the Marauders. Although it is unnecessary to remind you, I will reiterate. The distribution of their defenses is significantly disproportionate, with the majority of their forces stationed in the northeast of Arago. You should be able to breach their defenses easily on the east and south wall. That is all.”

The device that hummed with dazzling blue lights was now dull. Satisfied that the message was sent, I stashed it away safely. Nastro strutted near my side, eyeing me closely.

“If you wanted to remind Warlord Bazark of our plans, why not remind him of the blood deity's wishes? That seems important, no?”

I shook my head. “Our leader, above all, recognizes the importance of pleasing the gods. He is the last person on Earthiens to forget such a crucial detail. Why would he let such a sliver of hope escape from our grasp? It’s unheard of for one of them to even converse with us demons. This is a once in a lifetime chance, Nastro.”

Nastro shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, Linark. Something seems off. If supposedly this is a one in a lifetime chance, then why did a blood deity decide to speak to Warlord Bazark? And out of nowhere, she orders us to construct some kind of ritual using the blood of Arago?”

I gave Nastro a piercing look, anxious about his thought process. “Are you saying she is planning something nefarious? Mind your tongue, Nastro. What if the blood deity or Warlord Bazark heard such words? They might even cut your tongue.”

“Nothin’ wrong about being cautious, right? It’s what allowed me to live.

“There’s a time to be cautious, and a time to be an idiot,” I said with a sigh.

Wanting to forget Nastro’s worries, I looked up at the moon. Its bright and peaceful brilliance had nearly ascended to the pinnacle of the heavens. Averting my gaze from it, I glanced at our men, standing proud and ready. They all stood resolute, eyeing the indestructible walls of Arago. The city was deemed a fortress that none could breach, bearing the scars of countless battles that had been waged against it. The marks of previous adversaries were etched upon its surface, a testament to the resilience of its defenses. Straining my eyes, I peered up at the towering parapets, where a distinctive glimmer caught my attention. The unmistakable shimmer of golden armor adorned the figure standing proudly atop the walls. I knew instantly who wore it.

“Nastro, you see that gold armor on top?”

Nastro followed my line of sight and nodded. “That’s Warlord Rex, I presume? Why is his armor so flashy? He’s practically begging us to slay him.”

“And slay him, we will. The person next to him must be the One-Eyed Belmo. I heard he isn’t an easy foe to beat. Nastro, I believe we will have to deal with them ourselves.”

“Of course! Our troops are merely fodder against them. I’ll deal with Warlord Re-“

I held an arm up and frowned. “No, I will fight him myself.”

He gave me a bewildered look. “Have you lost your mind? You know I’m a better fighter.”

“Says who? Bah, we don’t have time to argue. I’ll fight Warlord Rex. You deal with Belmo. We can’t stand around arguing until sunset.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“…Alright, fine. I’ll concede just this once. If I see you struggling against him, I’m stealing him away.”

I chuckled and said, “What is he, your wife? What would Primina think about your adultery?”

“…You’re a disgusting man, Linark.”

Leaving the scowling Nastro, I trudged over to the determined men of the Liberators. Nastro reluctantly followed along and was by my side as we faced them.

“I’m going to keep this simple for you. Arago is a city constructed into a hexagonal shape. It has six sections, and each of them has one gate. We are on the northeast side, meaning there are two gates for us to breach. Nastro and I will lead our own troops and attack from separate sides. Once there, we will begin The Rupture. Nastro, are you prepared?”

“Let’s get on with it already. Primina has waited long enough.”

Nodding, I unsheathed my matorenite sword. “We will now begin our siege against Arago! Let us fight and destroy our enemies together!”

The moment I commanded Gaza to turn and gallop, the ear-splitting cries of the Liberators filled my ears. From behind, half of the troops placed under my care marched forward as I zipped through the rugged terrain of Talik Gorge. To prepare for this decisive assault, each infantryman under my charge was tasked with safeguarding the crucial machinery hidden within our ranks. Armed with sturdy shields, they formed a protective barrier, shielding themselves from volleys of arrows and other projectiles launched by the defenders. Meanwhile, the rear guard assumed the vital responsibility of safeguarding the operators manning the formidable siege engines, ensuring their uninterrupted operation.

The Marauders entrenched within the walls of Arago had devised a cunning strategy. Rather than meeting us head-on, they opted to engage in guerrilla warfare, exploiting the vantage points of the city’s parapets to harry our forces. It was a calculated move, designed to whittle down our offensive capabilities and exploit any weaknesses. However, their plan overlooked a critical factor, one they failed to address, one they found no solution for.

In a matter of minutes, we had already reached the moat encircling the city. Gaza accelerated with great force and agility and effortlessly leaped over the moat. As we soared through the air, a dark barrage of arrows descended upon us, launched from the defenders stationed atop the parapets. Time seemed to slow as I assessed the imminent threat, my instincts honed from years of battle guiding my actions. Holding the hilt of my matorenite sword with a tight grip, I unleashed a precise and fluid swing.

In a mesmerizing display of skill and precision, my blade connected with the volley of arrows, effortlessly cleaving through their lethal projectiles. The lethal arrows, previously intimidating and ominous, were rendered fragmented and their potency eliminated. Gaza roared in protest from the assault, but pressed further once we reached the ground. I had to hold on to dear life unless I risked falling over from the bumpy ride.

“Good boy!”

Arago’s daunting walls loomed over me as I reached my destination. I was met with more arrows. Instead of slicing through them, I commanded Gaza to avoid them. It was feasible for the steed because of its unmatched speed. It zig-zagged through the instruments, kicking up plumes of dust that had me hacking. Soon, the walls were a few meters away. The fun part had just begun.

“Now!”

At my order, Gaza propelled itself relentlessly towards the towering wall. To an outsider, it might have seemed as if the horse had forsaken all reason, intent on smashing itself against the unyielding stone. Yet, those familiar with the enigmatic nature of demon horses understood the truth. Demon horses, renowned across the Demonic Continent, possessed a trait that set them apart from ordinary horses.

The majestic steed latched its hooves onto the stone walls and ran along it as if it was sliding on ice. Like a skittering spider, it raced along the edge, reaching the top in a matter of seconds. Upon arrival, I leaped off and rolled onto the parapet, successfully landing between two archers. They regarded me with utter disbelief at the audacity.

“W-What the fu-“

With a swift spin on my heels, my blade cleaved through the air, severing the necks of the enemies that dared to stand in my way. Their heads, separated from their bodies, soared through the air in a gruesome dance, while crimson blood sprayed across the grimy wall behind them. Before the remaining foes could regain their wits, I charged forward. With each strike of my blade, I dispatched the archers who had unleashed their volleys of arrows at me. Their bodies fell like broken marionettes, their weapons useless in the face of my relentless assault. But my focus was unwavering, my eyes locked on the figure clad in resplendent golden armor- Warlord Rex.

“I have already set Belmo to face Nastro! To think you would so boldly split your forces in front of us!”

Once every man in front of me was dead, I jumped forward and tried to cut away at Warlord Rex. He brought up his sword and defended against the blow relatively easily.

“Hmph! As expected of a Warlord!”

Scowling, Warlord Rex shoved me away a great distance. After I regained my footing, we faced each other.

“You Liberators dare trespass in my city? Killing my citizens? And you’re doing this all for that whelp Xalan? How laughable!”

Warlord Rex brought the blade upward, pointing the tip at my neck. “You should know you're outclassed, Linark. I am a Warlord of considerable renown while you lick the dirt off Warlord Bazark’s shoes. You dare face a Warlord?”

“I don’t see the problem. You Marauders are a sickness we Liberators will get rid of. Warlord or not, anyone who doesn’t bow to the gods will fall to our blade.”

The leader of Arago shook his head solemnly. “Then you are a fool if the Marauders will sit by. Arago is one of many. In the slimmest chance you raze this city to the ground, more will sprout like seeds in the wind. You cannot stop what has been set in motion.”

“…We will see about that, Warlord Rex.”

Eager to take the lead, I launched myself forward and crossed blades with the Warlord. The night was filled with the echoes of our weapons as we started our battle on the parapet.