"This is the Gusang Palace right in the middle of Goushun Kingdom," stated Jiryuu while pointing his index finger at the darkest brown shade on the light brown map which was laid on the table.
"The demon might arrive a few days earlier than we do, therefore we enter the city from the south where the gate is further away from the targeted gate. In addition, I know a shortcut to the South gate so we can reach there earlier before the demon does," Yamamura added with confidence.
General Gokubo leant back and stroked his beard. Jiryuu nodded; he agreed with her utterances followed by another samurai warrior beside him. Yamamura dragged the tiny red cones from the top part of the map to the lower part. She pointed to the South gate while moving one of the tiny cones, indicating the manoeuvre of their soldiers.
"We will split our armies into four sections where each section need to enter from each gate; South, North, East and West gates. I will lead the North, Gokubo-sama the West, Jiryuu-dono the South and for the East gate, Tojo-sama," Yamamura explained and stomped a tiny black cone on the North gate.
Jiryuu, Gokubo and the samurai warrior, Tojo, stared at her incredulously. Why did she have to lead the army to the North gate when it was equivocally perilous; high chances for the demon to enter from the aforementioned gate.
"We might lose more soldiers if we use that gate and why do you have to lead when you know the consequences might be risky?" Gokubo interrupted and his hoarse voice could be heard rising in tone.
"I must lead even when it's risky! It may be uncertain but I can only induce a few men with me to the North. I'll be moving very soon and, Jiryuu-dono, use the Kuro Wood route. The nature may be living but it's the shortcut to the South gate. Gokubo-sama," Yamamura glared into Gokubo's cold and sharp eyes, "the West gate may be the furthest gate, follow the Kuro Wood then enter the Kinjiri forest. That's the shortest route I've known so far."
Gokubo nodded without further objection. She embraced Jiryuu and immediately left the tent and invited Tojo to follow her since they shared the same routes. She shouted in front of the series of soldiers; they stomped their feet ten times and it ended with a loud 'ha' roar. Yamamura glared ahead and roared.
"Brave soldiers! Listen! We will soon plunge into the battlefield and sacrifice ourselves for the sake of our beloved family, future generations and, for the sake of humanity to survive in this world. We will take our oath and vows as a warrior for the sake of fighting, to defend and to protect what's relevant and important in our life. We were born weak but grow up stronger, don't let our pride and our dignity as a human be weakened by the soulless demon. Together-" Yamamura dragged her samurai from its hilt and raised it to the air, "we fight and retrieve our glorious victory!! For the sake of humanity!!"
"For the sake of humanity!!" Roared the soldiers in response to her spirited speeches.
Yamamura lowered her samurai and demanded seven archers and five swordsmen to join her troop. She left the fortress camping arena without any words accompanied by twelve bold men and Tojo's hundreds of soldiers. Her red cape waved in the breezy air as she marched forward.
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Ansel who mounted a white horse glared ahead at the horizon nervously. He put on the white with a golden pattern helmet on his head and raised his right hand to the air. The soldiers could hear the distinct roaring and clackity sound of heavy armours getting louder and louder beyond the horizon.
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Frederick stood on the balcony from the cathedral and witnessed the series of hundreds of soldiers hundreds metres away from the wall of the city and a series of archers on the battlement, led by Jerome in white metallic armour. He offered himself to enter the battlefield but refused by Ansel as he was too young to fight. He saw black shadows moving towards the city. There were hefty and tall figures about 2 metres amongst them. He clasped his silver rosary with a ruby in the middle and prayed for the soldiers. Maternal and weak women, children and the elders faced a huge golden cross on the choir and prayed.
Ansel clutched his fingers then rain of arrows flew above them and rained over the enemy's large troop.
"Chaaaaaaaarge!!!!" Ansel roared and marched forward with his horse, followed by the soldiers.
The whole manoeuvre marched forward to the vampire and the war began. Ansel pulled out his sword and swung it to any vampire nearby his horse, turning them into dust. The vampires had hundreds of thousands of soldiers but this wasn't their reason to give up their kingdom.
On the battlement, Jerome aimed his sword at the vampire and shouted as an order, sending more arrows to the enemy. Seven mages in white robes stood on seven balconies at the cathedral and raised their crosiers. Their crosiers glowed and formed a golden translucent barrier of light which then engulfed the whole kingdom.
On the vampire's side, tree trunks with shaved pointed ends were inclined 45 degrees from the horizontal, forming a temporary barricade with javelins sticking out from any gap. They japped any humans who surpassed the frontal formation with the javelin. Ansel looked at the barricade aligned into huge arcs. Within the barricade, ten catapults were launched, throwing huge stones to the air. The huge stones crushed into pieces as they hit the surface of the golden glowing barrier.
Ansel swung his sword horizontally then vertically, striking every vampire who tried to drag him down from his horse. His horse ran quickly then jumped high in the air, passing over the barricade. He cut off every vampire's heads behind the barricade and hijacked one of their javelins. Curitis saw his son surpassed the barricade and drew his horse to the barricade. Ansel marched forward with the javelin aimed to the front and his sword swinging and striking the vampires. He saw the vampire leader with white long hair in black armour, pointing his sword to Ansel. A group of gigantic vampires appeared from behind him and jogged heavily to him.
Ansel shouted and marched forward. His horse neighed and stood then stomped the ground, forcing Ansel to hold onto her tightly. Curitis managed to cross the barricade and accompanied Ansel behind. He japped his javelin and swung them to the right and to the left. Jerome saw his father and his brother fighting within the arch barricade and launched a rain of arrows at the gigantic vampires. The vampires roared and jogged past the barricade and charged to the wall. They hit the tough wall with their huge clubs.
The barricade fell down then the human soldiers marched into the vampire's lair, slaying more vampires. The vampire leader threw his sword like a javelin to Ansel's horse, impaling its neck. The horse neighed and jumped around, forcing Ansel to unmount her. Ansel fell on the ground, he took his sword and saw his father who unmounted his horse and lent him a javelin. He pulled his hand to stand and immediately exchanged glances. They nodded and charged to the vampire leader.
The vampire ran to them while showing off his long and pointed black nails. He struck his hand through Curitis's thick armour and penetrated his heart before he could swing his javelin. Ansel numbed and watched his father who then vomited blood. Tears began to flow on his cheek, he glared at the vampire and swung his swords randomly even though his attack was dodged many times. The vampire smirked and watched Ansel fighting him weakly with tears. With wretchedness and sorrow, Ansel cut the vampire's legs with the javelin as he jumped, dodging his attack. Ansel struck his heart and cut off his head with his sword.
The vampires retreated as their leader died and their number decreased to more than half. The human soldiers raised their swords and javelins to the air as the vampire left in fear and they gained their victory. Men and women soldiers cried happily and hugged each other. Jerome smiled and watched the archers, one of them was the old woman's grandchildren, the girl he admired. The young woman smiled at him then he blithely kissed her and embraced her with no shame.
Sword and javelin fell on the ground from Ansel's hands. He sat beside his father and hugged his dead body. He bawled and wailed over the death of the former king.