Cecily's attention shifted to the building I just escaped. "There might be other enemies hiding in the houses too," I warned. "We gotta move before we get surrounded. There might be more in other houses."
Corporal Vincent, chimed in with a chuckle, teasing. "But hey, hey, how did the mighty god of war end up stumbling to the ground?"
Cecily's gaze shot to Vincent, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It's not time for that childishness, Vincent." She swiftly shifted her focus back to the situation at hand, She ordered the battalion's mages into action, their wands aligning with their targets.
As spells came together, a cacophony of magical energy erupted, building into a power storm. The focal point of this magical assault moved to the structure in front of us. Mummer of devastation resulted from the magicians' combined incantations. They coordinated a motion to cast their spells, and the building burst into pieces.
But the aftermath was far from serene. Gunshots rang out, Soldiers staggered, the force of the enemy's counterattack catching them off guard.
I struggled to my feet, the pain still radiating from my injured knee. Two soldiers rushed to my side, supporting me as I stood. The agony was sharp, but I knew it was not the time for vining.
"Cover! Cover! Get into the houses fast!" Cecily's command cut through the disarray. Soldiers moved some diving for cover, others rushing toward nearby houses seeking shelter from the storm of bullets and arrows.
In the midst of the confusion, enemy soldiers started to emerge from houses' interior hiding places. They ambushed soldiers who were trying to find cover, slicing through the air with their blades. Rounds fired from improvised vantage points above the houses erupted in gunfire.
A complex dance of chaos and survival erupted on the battlefield. Cecily, her lieutenant, and her private formed a barrier around me in the midst of it all. Soldiers defended us from arrows and gunfire with shields and weapons, adjusting their formations as they made an effort to protect us from the deadly attack.
Cecily's voice crackled over the comms, "Headquarters, Cecily here. We're in trouble, it's an ambush. We might not survive until help arrives. Do something fast!"
"Acknowledged. Sending all available forces towards your location."
The promise of reinforcements was a glimmer of hope amidst the fight. We were battered, surrounded, and outnumbered, but we had to make our next move fast.
Cecily's voice stood out in the midst of the commotion. "Mages, build an ice barrier! "Soldiers at the front, advance!" Our only option was to advance constantly as enemies closed in from both the rear and from vantage points above.
The Mages wasted no time in weaving complex patterns in the air with their wands. A towering wall of ice made of frost materialized, acting as a formidable barrier to the bullets and arrows. the wall was strong and thick. As we started to move behind the protection of the ice wall, soldiers formed a protective circle around us.
But despite our best efforts, the enemy's constant firing on us left a trail of bullets and arrows along the wall. The enemy had a clear advantage due to their position, and although our soldiers fired back, most of their bullets appeared to be deflected before reaching their targets.
We moved as one, a tightly knit unit, the ice wall providing precious cover as we navigated the treacherous road in front of us.
A brief break in the seemingly endless barrage was provided by the railroad line, which loomed ahead. We had a chance to reorganize and plan here because there were fewer houses and more open areas. In order to use the alleyways beyond as potential counterattack routes, our objective was to get there.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The sound of an approaching train was audible along with a ground tremor as we got closer to the tracks. As we became aware that time was not on our side, panic swept through us. We were held back by the enemy soldiers' elevated shooting, which made it difficult for us to advance as the train drew menacingly close.
The train's rumble intensified with each passing second. We fought on despite the terrible circumstances, though. I gritted my teeth and entered the fray with a borrowed rifle, my bullets finding their targets amidst the chaos.
The train approached as we were moving. Some of the front-line soldiers advanced, with Cecily leading the way forward. Quick action was necessary. Corporal Vincent tried to help pull Private Margaret away from the railroad tracks and some soldiers with him did the same as it was better than going backward than being crushed by the train. However, time was not on our side, and some soldiers were still wedged between the rails with Lieutenant Eric.
"Move forward quickly!" Cecily shouted the order, pleading with the soldiers to clear a path for those ensnared in the dangerous situation. Her voice was tinged with desperation. All other sounds were drowned out by the train's mechanical roar as it plowed down on us.
My heart raced as I desperately tried to pull soldiers from the tracks, sweat mingling with my pain. Yet, despite our efforts, it wasn't enough. The train surged forward, its metal bulk striking the soldiers in its path with merciless force.
The environment was a nightmare r. The oncoming train's weight crushed the bodies as they were flung into the air. The momentum of the train propelled it forward, and the groan of metal and screech of brakes marked its grinding stop.
The devastating loss served as a reminder of the brutality of war as our team was utterly destroyed. One-half of our forces were on the opposing side of the train, and some of them were injured in the collision's aftermath. The line of fire from behind the enemy had been cut off, but the relief came with a tragic price.
As we came together, motivated by the need to survive, grief and tenacity coexisted. We moved forward once the path was briefly clear, using the opportunity to retaliate against the last few enemy soldiers who tried to confront us from their homes.
Even though the chaos persisted, as we advanced, a glimmer of hope appeared within us. The back alleys called out as a possible route to change the course of events. We couldn't afford to fumble right now. If we get there then we can attack the enemies unguarded.
"Mam!" My voice was ragged, breathless my words were. "The alleyways!"
Cecily's response was swift, her command cutting through the chaos. "Right, soldiers, head towards the alleyway. We have to retreat for a better plan." The order was met with immediate action as the surviving soldiers began to navigate their way toward the alleyways.
As we approached the corners of the alleyways, hope flickered. But that hope was swiftly dashed as we discovered the alleyways were barricaded, and gunmen awaited us. Desperation gnawed at the edges of my consciousness as I realized we were screwed.
The enemy's onslaught was unrelenting. The gunfire was fierce and deadly, bullets whizzing past us. Our attempts to shield ourselves were met with limited success.
A new wave of enemies entered the fray, emerging from the alleyways with ferocious intent. Their presence only deepened the sense of hopelessness that had settled upon us. Despite our efforts, our numbers dwindled from 11 to a mere 6.
The intensity of the firefight was almost overwhelming, bullets brushing past my ears like whispers of death. The desperate need to find cover drove us forward, inching closer to a lone house that seemed to offer a last refuge. But even as we neared it, our assailants showed no mercy.
Five mages in red robes leaped from the first floor of the opposite house. A spell was cast, and instinctively, we raised our shields. But it was a trap, an explosion spell that detonated upon contact. The force of the explosion was immense, the shields disintegrating in a cascade of shrapnel and smoke. We crashed right into the house behind us.
I was engulfed in chaos. Smoke and debris clouded my senses, the searing pain of burns radiating through my hands. My vision blurred, and the world around me seemed distant and surreal. All I could hear were the echoes of soldiers' footsteps.
As the haze began to clear, I saw it – a silhouette of figures approaching. Some held swords, others had wands. Their intent was clear, and the situation was dire. I braced myself.
But then-