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The Devil's Tears
Chapter 9 - Rebels Retreat

Chapter 9 - Rebels Retreat

Jacob had lit a firework that burst in the sky with a lovely blue flame. It was a signal to his comrades who were scattered all around. Their priority was to protect Sinnet nobles who were now sheltered in the fort. With the firework signal, every restriction on the usage of their relic was lifted. They were free to use any means necessary to complete their mission.

Although, one of their comrades, Amelda Nevarthalises had already engaged the enemy and was already using her relic beforehand. She’s the daughter of the commander of the knight order, Cecelia Nevarthalises. She had her mother’s recklessness in her genes. She had a similar personality of not obeying orders and doing things on her own accord. Like mother, like daughter.

Although, Nina and Ruth were on standby and waiting for this signal.

Nina was the first one to notice the signal.

“That’s the signal. Are you ready?” she asked.

Ruth was on a meditating posture as she slowly opened her eyes.

“Yeah, I am ready. Three relic wielders at the west side, two at the north, and one at the east. Also, one at the fort who already battling with Amelda.” informed Ruth.

Nina patted Ruth’s head,

“Good job. Well, I might forgive you for dozing off on duty,” she said with a smile.

Ruth looked at her with dog puppy eyes,

“Could you please not write the report then? Pretty please?” she pleaded.

Nina looked at Ruth with a disappointed look,

“Sorry, that I cannot do. Not reporting would be equal to false reporting. As an upstanding I must-”

“Tch. Meanie!’ replied Ruth as she leaped from the roof on to the ground. She landed on her feet without any problem and stood in the middle of an empty street. Thankfully there were no rebels around the vicinity.

“Hey, be careful.” warned Nina, “Listen up, although Amelda might take care of that relic wielder they are still outnumbered. It would be any minute any of the rebels might get past the soldiers and if that happened, all will be for nothing.”

“I know! I know! I’ll head go to the fort to assist her. Although, she might not like the idea of teaming up.” replied Ruth with a nervous smile.

“Well, I’ll try to go near the fort to a high vantage point and give you two cover fire from a distance. We must defend it until Jacob and Zara can back us up.”

“Yeah, yeah! I know. Don’t treat me like a kid.’ replied Ruth as she pouted agitatedly.

“One more thing…”

“Now what?!” asked Ruth as she glared angrily at Nina.

“Don’t die,” said Nina with a concerned look for Ruth.

Ruth smiled and equipped daggers from her back pocket,

“I don’t plan to. Snipers are more vulnerable, okay! You must worry about yourself being. Later.”

Ruth started running towards the fort armed with double daggers. She gained tremendous speed in the first five seconds that it was almost a blur before disappearing in front of Nina’s eyes.

Ruth Esklowia, she’s a magic knight from Fiery Lion’s squad. She’s short and looks quite young because of her favorite twin-tailed hair but she’s 22 years old. She’s also an Elder class knight, which is the third-highest post in the knight order.

She’s also a third-generation mage with an ability to sense mana of mages or relics alike at the 5 kilometers of her range. Her weapon of choice is using knives, a regular weapon. Although her enchanted relic is her boots. Ruth’s boot gives her a crazy boost to her feet, almost the speed of lightning.

Ruth sprints across the field at a high speed that the rebels didn’t even notice her. Thanks to her small light body with the addition of the lightning speed, the enemy could see nothing but a blur.

She maintained her high speed and slipped by the rebels without alerting any of them. She had already targeted other relic wielders who were the other Lieutenant ranked rebels in the revolutionary army.

First, she heads to the east side, where there was one relic wielder leading the east wall siege. Ruth maintained her lighting speed and got past by all the rebels standing at the ground and approached the lieutenant.

Nobody could stop her or even knew that there was an enemy lurking inside their own men.

Ruth sprint across the rebel lieutenant and he didn’t even notice her presence. The next second the lieutenant throat split open and blood gushed out. He fell to the ground wailing in pain and agony. The rebels around him were shocked and puzzled as they tried to understand what just happened but it was already too late.

Ruth then sprinted to her next target, she approached the other two relic wielders at the northern side of the fort. There she closed in the two lieutenants the same way. She went past by the two lieutenants and they didn’t even see her coming.

The next second, both the relic wielder lieutenants’ throats were cut open as they fell on the ground. The rebels were confused as they started doubting each other for the assassination of their lieutenants.

Chaos started amidst the rebels.

Ruth continued to approach now her last targets at the west.

Without even minute has passed by and already three of the relic wielders fell to Ruth’s blade. The lieutenants had their guard down as they never expected an attack of such a degree. Ruth was an experienced magic knight and a skilled assassin of the Fiery Lions squad.

As the rebel’s top-ranking officer was being hunted, the battle on top of the fort was getting mucky and muckier. The rebels were still flooding in numbers and almost the entire battalion of the soldier was being wiped down. Only a few dozen soldiers were left and the rebels were still pouring through the ladders.

The rebels wore ragtops and some skinny leather clothes for protection, compared to the fully armored soldiers at the fort. Hence the soldiers were able to slay a number of invaders but they were exhausted from mind and body. Not to mention the rebels had more flexibility and maneuverability compared to the full metal armored soldiers at the fort.

Their captain however maintained his men to stand their ground and giving the rebels a tough fight. Despite being injured, he stood in the frontlines with his men pushing the rebels.

Meanwhile Amelda and the Lieutenant of the rebel army, Kriger were on a full out battle.

Kreiger and Amelda both enhanced their blows with equivalent mana force behind each strike. Although, they managed to block and evade each other’s blade from harming their vitals.

Kreiger’s double-sided lance was long but thin and lightweight giving him easy and quick maneuverability. He almost had the same speed as Amelda who was using two short swords.

The two relic wielders swords emitted sparks in every time their blades collided. Their each other's strikes were fast that the other people present only saw their arms in a blur.

Although, the two were equally matched Amelda was more flexible than Kreiger.

She jumped around and used the environment around to her advantage. Meanwhile, Kreiger would get pissed and chased her around.

This caused a lot of standing by rebels who were cut down by the clash of two relic wielders.

The two relic wielders wreaked havoc when they exchanged blows. They already killed any of the rebels or soldiers who mistakenly came between the two relic wielders.

The rebels and the soldier were equally avoided to get in between the two relic wielder’s fight.

“You bitch!” shouted Kreiger, “Stop your jumping around! I am tired of your shenanigans.”

Amelda glared back with a wide grin,

“You needn’t worry about that, I will end it soon enough.”

Saying so Amelda once again rushed with a frontal attack. Krieger blocked her attacks with lance and was once again pushed back.

Kreiger looked frustrated,

“This is pointless! I already wasted a lot of time. I shall end this very-”

But as soon as Kreiger tried to take a step, he fell to the ground on his butt.

“What the… What’s happening?” he shrieked out.

Amelda approached him and stood tall while looking down on Kreiger.

“Oh my! What’s this? Have your legs started feeling giddy, huh?” she asked with a taunting tone.

“What did you do to me!” asked agitated Kreiger.

He tried to stand up but wasn’t able to do so. But just when he realized his leg joints were dislocated.

“Well, you did it to yourself, okay? Trying to use two relics at a time.” Amelda mocked with a wide grin on her face.

“What the heck do you mean?!” asked the confused Lieutenant.

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Amelda sat on her knees while still looking down on Krieger,

“Listen up, you already were armed with your weapon type relic which already made you quite strong. On top of that, you also used enchanted gloves type relic meanwhile increasing your overall attack power, did you not?”

To that Krieger just sat on his butt and remained silent.

Amelda continued,

“But you forgot about your lower body meanwhile empowering your attack prowess. Meanwhile, you tried to attack with your relics, the recoil put quite a strain on your legs. And even though you successfully blocked my attack, It still exerted pressure on your legs that you weren’t aware of. Which in the end, resulted in you sitting on your ass to be easy pickings.”

Amelda Nevarthalises, the daughter of Cecelia Nevarthalises, the leader of ‘Fiery Lions’ Magic Knight squad and the commander of the Knight Order. She’s an Elder Class Knight, like Ruth. She’s also a third-generation mage but her abilities are to boost her physical strength, similar to that of her mother. As you can already guess, she loves to fight and boast her strength in pursuit to surpass her mother.

Kreiger could do nothing but sit there laying on the ground motionless.

‘This cannot be! Dying in the hands of some crazy girl.’ thought Kreiger to himself as he bit his lips.

Just when Amelda tried to get up but she suddenly fell on the ground on her butt as well.

“What the-” mumbled surprised Amelda.

Even Amelda was exhausted and her body also suffered the repercussions from the aftermath of the battle.

Kreiger saw that and laughed,

“Ha! Talking that you would have the last laugh, what a load of crap!”

Amelda smiled back in response,

“Well, it's been so long that I had so much fun that I overexerted myself. How embarrassing.”

Kreiger reached out to his pockets and took out a small bottle with a red liquid in it.

“I’ll be the one to have the last laugh.”

Amelda stopped smiling as soon as she saw that bottle,

“A battle potion. How cowardly,” replied Amelda with a frown.

A battle potion is a magic potion that gives anyone that drinks it, some magical abilities for a limited time. These types of potions are usually used by non-magic users to get a certain buff during a battle. Although these potion’s buff comes at a price, the user gets painful after-effects to their bodies depending on the magic used in making that potion. Sometimes even causing its users to lose their life. Hence, there are certain restrictions on these potions, that only allow soldiers to use as their last resort.

Kreiger held the potion to his lip ready to drink.

Amelda tried to move but she couldn’t move at all.

Crap! If he drinks that, this fort is done for, thought Amelda as she tried to reach out for her swords.

But just when Ruth appeared out of nowhere and kicked Kreiger right at his face with all her strength. The bottle of potion flew past and landed on the ground into broke into pieces. The red liquid spilled on the ground and went soiled.

Ruth scratched her head,

“Oops, I meant to kick the bottle, my bad.” she apologized.

Although, Kreiger had already lost consciousness and laid on the ground motionless.

“Hey, there!” called out Amelda seeing Ruth.

Ruth noticed Amelda’s voice and searched for her for a couple of minutes.

“Down here!” exclaimed Amelda.

Just when Ruth noticed Amelda lying on the ground.

“What’s the matter with you? What happened?” asked Ruth as she rushed to Amelda’s aid.

“Hey, glad that you are here. But watch out for the rebels behind you,” warned Amelda.

Ruth immediately turned around and knocked the two rebels out.

The rebels had surrounded the two magic knights.

“How dare she kick our lieutenant like that! Kill this brat!” screamed angrily rebels.

“Hey, be careful!” warned one of the rebels, “She’s wearing that scarf worn by Rublor magic knight dogs. Be on guard everyone.”

Magic knights wear a scarf around their neck with the insignia of their squad embroidered on it. They don’t have a proper uniform like the other militaries. Uniforms tend to hinder relic wielders, especially armored type, knights. Hence they use a scarf instead, which is pretty handy.

Ruth quickly raised her guard and readied to fight,

“Hey Amelda, I need your help here. Stop taking a nap!”

Amelda giggled as she glanced at the sky while still lying on the ground,

“If the nap queen is saying so, then we must be really in a pinch, huh.”

“Stop calling me that! I told you to wake me up if I happen to fall asleep on the roof. But you had to just abandon us and go straight into the heart of the chaos.” argued angry Ruth, “Now get moving already. We are already surrounded!”

“Sorry, no can do. I overused my relics, so count me out. You are on your own.”

“What! I am an assassin, not some muscle brained warmonger like you.”

“Just try to survive until backup arrives.”

The rebels attacked and although Ruth was trained in close combat. She quickly dodged their attack and subdued the rebels with a counter-attack. She couldn’t use her relic for speed as the fort was quite crowded, limiting her moment.

“Where the hell are those two (Jacob and Zara) anyway,” mumbled Ruth angrily.

More rebels were still incoming from the ladders and the only handful of soldiers remained.

Just when a volley of arrows came flying down on the rebels. These arrows were made of icicles that froze the rebels part of a body where it pierced, hindering their moment.

Ruth noticed and cheered in glee,

“About time Nina makes her appearance.”

The magical arrows were fired by Nina from a high vantage point outside the fort.

She’s a third-generation mage too, who has the ability to spot an ant from a mile away with ease only if there’s no obstacle blocking her view. Her enchanted relic is the bow where she can shoot icicle arrows that can freeze its enemies for a short period.

‘Oh crap! The rebels are here gotta move.’ thought Nina as she saw a group of rebels searching at her location.

She quickly leaped from one roof to another and ran away from the rebels. She’s a sniper hence preferred to avoid close combat, although she was still well trained for such situations.

Just when Nina spotted Zara, running towards the fort.

“Hey, Zara! Where were you, all this time!” asked Nina.

Zara stopped and turned around to see, Nina approaching her way.

She waved her hand at Nina and smiled cheerfully.

“I was worried for you guys. Thank goodness, you two are okay… but where’s Ruth? Wasn’t she with you? And did you find Amelda?” muttered Zara with a smiling face but in a very low voice as usual.

“I don’t get what you are talking about, but Amelda and Ruth are up at the fort. The rebels have almost captured the fort and Amelda must have over-exhausted her relic usage. No doubt, I don’t spot her fighting up.”

“This is bad. We must do something,” replied Zara.

“What? Could you speak louder?”

“Leave it to me.”

“Huh?”

Zara quickly equipped her Hammer in her hand.

‘Oh, I must get back to safety’ thought Nina as she backed away.

Zara started chanting a magic incantation while holding her hammer tightly in her grip. The mana stone embedded in the hammer at the handle started glowing.

Just when a group of rebels spotted Zara standing with her hammer in the open street.

The rebels charged armed with spears and swords to attack Zara. But she stood calmly and continued to channel her mana in the relic.

Just when the rebels were getting almost close, Zara quickly opened her eyes and swung her hammer on the ground with her full strength.

The swing was so powerful that the earth started shaking the ground. The rebels lost their balance and fell on the ground. Quickly, a crack opened up in the earth where Zara hit the hammer and it started stretching across the street. The crack widened and created a rift that continued to stretch towards the fort.

Soon the crack reached near the fort and divided in two, encircling the entire fort. A lot of rebels fell into the rift creating a sudden opening of the ground. Some of the northern ladders finally crumbled because of the appearance of a rift.

Soon the cracking of the ground came to a stop after some time.

“What the hell was that?! An earthquake.” squealed Ruth as she sat on her knees.

Everyone in the fort was puzzled, Rebels and Soldiers alike.

“Kill them!” screamed Rebels as they continued to hunt the soldiers. Even Ruth got up and started to defend motionless Amelda from being killed by rebels.

“Hey, guys! You better watch out. This is going to get a bit bumpy.” said Amelda all of a sudden.

Ruth was a bit confused,

“What the heck are you saying Amelda! Don’t dare to go and die on my watch… Ah, these wretched rebels don’t give up, do they!” mumbled Ruth angrily as she once again defeats a handful of rebels.

Just when the rumbling began and the earth started shaking but more violently.

“What the heck is going on- Kyaa!” squealed Ruth as she tripped on her feet.

The rebels and the soldiers all fell to the ground as the tremors were more powerful and even the parts of the fort started crumbling.

After a couple of minutes, the tremor finally stopped.

All the rebels and soldiers slowly got up and once again began fighting.

Just when a soldier came to the captain in a panic.

The captain defeated nearby rebels and cleared the way for the soldier.

“What’s the matter?!” asked the captain Brian.

“Sir the fort… something happened! You must see it quickly.” replied the soldier in a panic.

The captain soon followed the soldier to the edge of the wall and peeked below down the city.

“What in god's name happened here?” mumbled the captain in shock.

Meanwhile, the rebels that once tried attacking Zara fell into the rift opened by her.

Zara sat on her knees and prayed at the edge of the rift,

“I didn’t mean to kill you. I am really sorry, but there was no other way to help my comrades. Hope your souls rest in peace.”

Nina after the chaos passed away she finally came from the hiding.

She examined the destruction caused by Zara’s relic in awe.

“Wow, you really don’t do things in a small margin, do you?” said Nina as she looks at the deep rift valley that appeared out of nowhere.

Nina peeked at the rift and see nothing but pitch darkness,

“I think the damage that you caused to the city is nothing compared to the rebels.” then her eyes fell on the fort, “Not to mention, what happened to the fort? I am sure there was no mountain there before, was it?”

At the same location where the siege was taking place, now that same very fort was now standing on top of a tall thin rock that suddenly grew from the earth beneath. The fort was standing on top of this

The rebels watched from the ground in dismay as their ladders were now unusable.

Zara got up from her feet,

“I am really sorry but I had no other way to save the fort. Not to mention, I was worried about Amelda and Ruth. So I resorted to using my powers as a last resort. Our priority is to fulfill our mission but saving a fellow comrade is equally important. I am sure the Sinnet nobles could overlook such errors, for saving their lives. That’s the least they could do.”

Nina just let out a sigh,

“Again you should use that very same strength to raise your voice so it could at least be audible. The rebels did a lot of destruction but you just changed the entire geography of this city. You Holy Knight’s don’t do things by halves, do you?”

“I’m sorry,” muttered Zara and apologetically bowed her head.

Zara Elkander, a first-generation mage with the ability to manipulate the earth to her whim. Coming from noble birth, her mana soul capacity is almost equivalent to a captain. Her relic is also a Silver class relic of a sixth tier weapon, the Jacqulass Hammer of the Gaea. She’s in a class of Holy Magic knight, the highest rank in the knight order. Holy knight class only is given to the most formidable knight in skill and power. They are only about 39, such knights excluding the squad captains.

Nina felt a bit sorry,

“Jeez, stop bowing your head. You are older than me! Anyway, how do you plan to reach the fort now?” asked Nina.

“I’ll create another tall mountain to carry us there,” replied Zara.

“No, please don’t. We’ll just climb the thing.” rebutted Nina quickly.

Just when a familiar voice interrupts,

“Oi girls did you miss me!” shrieked Jacob and soon his eyes fell on the fort, “Also what the heck happened to that fort?”

Jacob was back unscathed. He was a Silver class knight, and also the leader of this squad. Zara lacked communication skills, so the next choice to be the leader was Jacob. Although he was the leader at the front, rarely any of the girls acknowledge him as a leader.

“Could someone just explain what happened?!” asked Jacob.

“Let’s get moving, alright. We’ve almost got no time to spare. We have a rock to climb.” replied Nina as she headed towards the fort.

Zara and Jacob followed.

The rebels were finally not able to enter the fort-like before. The remaining rebels were taken down by Ruth, the captain, and his soldiers.

The rebels later realized that their lieutenant along with the commander was slain and soon retreated.

The magic knights of Rublor finally seized control of the fort and saved the Sinnet nobles.