I reached the first floor of the building, my breath ragged from the effort. The challenge wasn't over – there was much more to overcome before I could reach the castle's tower, but Norah's words echoed in my mind.

"Let's go MANIFEST VERCILIUS!!" My chant again gave me a boost of my already equipped energy."

With newfound energy, I charted a path toward the pinnacle of the tower, the castle drawing nearer on the horizon. But my advance was abruptly halted as an enemy dragon slayer swooped down from the skies, landing with a fierce roar. My stance shifted into one of readiness, every fiber of my being prepared for the clash.

Before the heavily armored enemy could fully regain his footing, I seized the moment. Closing the distance between us in an instant, I struck with precision. However, his response was swift – he unleashed another thunderous attack from his massive sword, propelling himself into the air once more. His movements were calculated, his intent clear: to keep me off balance and at bay.

He soared above me, a threatening presence that circled and taunted, descending with crushing force whenever I attempted to close in. His strategy was effective, leaving me little room to maneuver or counter. As I made an attempt to approach, he deftly landed nearby, his sword crackling with electricity as he aimed another attack directly at me.

Dodging his strikes became a dance of survival, each evasion executed with split-second timing. Amidst this chaos, a second dragon slayer emerged from the fray, mirroring the tactics of the first. But this time, fate intervened. The new enemy crashed headlong into the office building, his impact creating an opening for me to exploit.

Seizing the opportunity, I leaped into the hole created by the collision, landing amidst the debris and shattered glass. My sword was an extension of my will, guiding me as I zeroed in on the stunned dragon slayer. Before he could fully comprehend what had transpired, my blade found its mark, piercing his head with lethal precision.

Leaving the fallen dragon slayer behind, I moved forward through the library. Its shelves of books seemed untouched by the chaos that raged outside, and I couldn't help but marvel at the stark contrast between the serene stillness within these walls and the frantic battle beyond.

As I advanced, the windows lining the wall caught my attention, offering a view of the ongoing clash both in the skies and on the land. The sky was alive with the spectacle of dragon slayers engaged in combat, their movements a dance of elemental power and strategy. On the ground, the chivalry and mages fought valiantly against their enemies.

"All units, we've learned that the enemy has their own dragon slayers. Our mobility is compromised, making it difficult to reach the tower. Dragonslayers, it's up to you now to breach their defenses and make it to the top. Piers out."

"Hello, Mr. Piers! Actually, I can reach the top of the tower. I don't know if I can make it on the first try, but I've got a plan."

There was a moment of stunned silence before Piers responded,

"What? Master Aries, you can?"

I affirmed with confidence, "Yeah, I can. I'm actually quite near the tower. Just give me some time, and I'll get there."

Piers' tone shifted from surprise to encouragement. "If that's true, then, Master Aries, I'll inform all units to hey, wait. Hayes, I'm talking... Master Aries, are you alright?"

I blinked, momentarily taken aback by the interruption, before responding. "Miss Hayes? Yeah, I'm fine."

Her voice held a tinge of concern as she pressed further. "Master Aries, where are you right now?"

"I'm in the office's library," I replied.

Without missing a beat, Hayes relayed the information to the units. "All units, assist Vercillus! He's in the office's library! He can reach the tower, so give him all the support you've got!"

The eagerness in Hayes' voice was unmistakable. I couldn't help but offer a grateful response. "Thanks again! I appreciate it."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I moved forward. The tower, once a distant goal, was now within reach, and I was determined to overcome whatever challenges lay ahead

Norah:

With a resigned sigh, I wiped the blood from my wand. The pungent scent of blood mixing with the remnants of the dragon's skin was an unpleasant experience.

Amidst the stench of blood, the voice of Miss Hayes crackled through the communication device once more. "All units, assist Vercillus! He's in the office's library and on his way to the tower. Give him your full support!"

I couldn't help but chuckle softly to myself, "Heh, I told you, you could do it, you dummy," I muttered under my breath, addressing the doubts that had lingered within me earlier.

Aries:

In a swift dash, I surged across the library, my eyes fixed on the far end where the gate was opening. Hope surged within me as I anticipated the arrival of my allies, but my optimism was swiftly shattered as a relentless hail of bullets rained down upon me.

"Shit, another blockade," I muttered under my breath, It seemed that the tide of battle was unpredictable, turning allies into enemies with little warning. Fire spells were conjured and hurled at me in a parabolic trajectory, each projectile aiming to engulf me in searing flames. In a desperate attempt, I wielded my battler lance, attempting to deflect the projectiles, but my efforts were in vain. The flames consumed not only the dangerous spells but also the precious books that adorned the library, heartbreaking collateral damage that stung deeply.

"At least leave the books, you bastards!!" I yelled in frustration. But my words fell on deaf ears as the barrage continued unabated. The enemy was relentless, deploying a range of attacks to corner and overwhelm me.

As if the situation couldn't worsen, the windows of the library shattered, allowing three dragonslayers to descend upon me.

Amid the battle, a thought crossed my mind – a suspicion that the communication lines were compromised, leaking our plans to the enemy. But time was a luxury I couldn't afford to indulge in at that moment. One of the dragonslayers surged forward with the speed and fury of a raging storm, breaking through the window and soaring outside in a relentless pursuit to end my life.

Two of the dragonslayers chanted incantations, summoning bolts of lightning that crackled with raw power. Their precision strikes targeted not just me, but the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The chandeliers, intricate and ornate, held beauty and danger in equal measure. With a deafening crash, the lightning-imbued bolts struck the chandeliers, sending them crashing down toward me. They knew my movements were swift – too swift to be directly targeted – and thus they aimed to catch me off-guard with their calculated strategy.

But I wasn't about to be outmaneuvered. I leaped towards another chandelier, determined to engage the dragonslayers head-on. I ascended higher, making my way to the middle chandeliers. Seeing me approach, the dragonslayers took to the air, breaking the chandelier in their path, but I had anticipated their movements.

Grappling onto one of the dragonslayer's armored handles, I maneuvered their massive form like a skilled matador guiding a charging bull by its horns. The forceful collision was a devastating spectacle, the dragonslayer's head smashing into a sturdy pillar with a bone-shattering impact. As the dust settled, only silence remained, broken only by the groan of metal and stone.

The other dragonslayer, witnessing their companion's fate, fled from the scene, crashing staight to the ceiling window. In the aftermath of the clash, I caught my breath, my pulse racing.

Amidst the relentless fires that raged around me, I was gripped by a realization – my fever had taken hold, casting a haze of weakness and discomfort over me. The pounding headache and the vertigo-like dizziness seemed to be another obstacle. My vision blurred as if a veil had been drawn over the world, and no matter how hard I tried to focus, the clarity I sought remained elusive.

I was enraged, and it showed in the fruitless punches I threw at the impervious ground. My eyes started to tear up as a result of my frustration and sense of helplessness. I couldn't, however, afford the luxury of time. The fever's hold over my senses continued to cause the environment around me to appear as a warped blur.

Through the haze, a familiar voice pierced the disarray

"Aries! Aries! It's Deniz."

My attempt to respond faltered, my voice a mere rasp. "Agh - ah."

"We're at the library. Leave the dragonslayers in my unit. Beep"

Another voice followed, Vincent's, a mixture of gratitude and awkwardness. "Vincent here. I heard you needed help. I saw some gunmen entering the library, and I'll hold them back. It's... just my way of thanking you for that one time. Don't get the wrong idea."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes internally, a sigh escaping my lips as I thought, Shut up, Vincent. I know, I know.

In those moments, my perspective shifted. The realization hit me that I wasn't alone in this struggle. Warriors from different factions were united in this fight, all working towards the same goal – protecting our land and our people. We were a collective force against the imperial legion.

"Thanks, Vincent. You've already helped me just now," I replied,

"Let's go Again! Manifest!"