Thousands of monsters broke through the walls, and soon the entirety of the city was engulfed by screams of utter terror. Soldiers retired to the northeast of the city towards the plaza, planning to immediately escape towards the citadel. Wails filled the streets as monsters stormed the city, doors, and windows shutting down as humans clutched their children under the cover of flimsy barricades.

Human soldiers were struck down and butchered on spot by the savage beasts, making the situation even more confusing for the terrorized civilians who were not being hunted or hurt by the sudden invaders. Why had such a thing suddenly happened? If the enemy had the capacity to invade from the beginning, why didn't they?

"Follow me!" Thom yelled mightly at the front of the charge, followed by a thunderous roar that came from behind his back. He looked at a section of his army and smiled, right before taking off in flight towards the western side of the walls where one of the gates would be. Orcs and hobs followed him closely, running over buildings and on the cobbled streets of Pontya. Clung was carried by one of the orcs as he stared up with a smile, seeing the crimson trail that their lord left behind. It had truly been a spectacular entrance.

Djolk saw his cue to move and roared mighty enough to shake the ground, followed by his orcish brethren. They headed in the direction of the eastern gate, moving their gigantic bodies across the streets while their hands carried scimitars and axes ready to slash away at the enemy.

A section broke through the dusty air, carrying their weapons in hand and warcries in their throats. Erina walked back slowly while holding Suu's hand, and then, when the timing was right, she flung Suu several meters up into the air, putting her in the spotlight. "This way guys! There's a long road ahead!"

Red and black hobgoblins rushed towards the girls' side and chanted before beginning a trot through the city towards the southern gates. Suu didn't hesitate to carry Erina in her arms, seeing her face flushed red from how extremely tired she was. A force made up of monsters ran strong towards the far side of the wall, with two girls in their front.

Then, through the remaining bits of the wall several orcs crashed through, and a beam of dazzling light broke through the dark skies as if marking a path for the army to follow. The crystal girl accelerated through the air as Valta held onto her neck, speeding towards the plaza. The woman looked at the empty plaza where only monsters had begun to gather, and her eyes narrowed.

"They went straight to the citadel." Valta said in a cold voice as her cheek pressed against the girl's head.

"I believe miss Erina can bring that gate down, or I could try myself." The crystal girl replied.

"Hmph." Valta let out a slight scoff. "Not yet."

Bam!

Hundreds of soldiers shut down the gates to the citadel behind their backs, while Miel and his closest officers guided the citizens that had also gotten inside. The general's hairs were a mess and his eyes had the look a madman would give, accompanied by a face that had seen better days. It was not strange, of course, but the sudden collapse of a wall that seemed indestructible made him irremediably mad, especially because of how lightly he had taken the matter before such chaotic entrance. It was something that could have been avoided, he couldn't help but think.

As if it was going to make a difference, soldiers began piling up crates, hay rolls, and other heavy objects against the gates, praying to the gods that it wouldn't be attacked again. It was true that the high position and urban disposition of the citadel's gates made it a harder target for a mob of mages, but if they broke the walls down, then they could barge in just the same.

How was it possible that monsters could have such destructive power? Had it ever been recorded in the history of the kingdom that something like that had happened? Those who knew it was a one-in-a-kind occurrence were even more worried. How were they going to deal with that? Right now Miel felt incredibly humiliated, but furthermore, he felt confused. For what purpose had there been skirmishes and upfront battles before?

"My duke..." Chamgue tried to reach for Miel, but he slapped his hand away.

"This is absurd..."

"The situation may seem dire, but we know full well that mages take quite some time to recharge their energy. We can count on our allied forces to storm the city while we wait. The enemy will be surrounded and there will be little for them to do. At that time we can come out and attack."

"I know that much, dumbass." Miel bit off the edge of his nail. "That would be the case if we weren't dealing with him."

"You're talking about... Thom Arburson?"

"That man is a box full of ass-pulls and he ain't running out. What bullshit is that? 1000 mages the level of an elder mage just planted in our door? And they were living in the forest just like that?"

"Maybe he taught them..."

"In the passing of a season, yes, of course he did." Miel pressed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. As he stopped talking, the sound of his people being murdered outside of the citadel became clearer and clearer. The terrified silence of those who had managed to get in was even worse, but soon wails and crying began to spur from the civilians that had also gotten in, mitigating the lack of noise. Miel couldn't say he was pleased by it.

"We need to take people out and call the king. You may not like this, duke, but it's our best bet."

"... Right. Get me Loposia." Miel closed his eyes.

"Yes, sir."

Chamgue turned back hastily and start running towards the castle, where Loposia would be hiding away. He burst through the door and ran upstairs to the second floor, looking at the occasional servant standing petrified in front of a window with a face full of terror. Their everyday lives had been crushed mercilessly, he understood that much.

He reached the third floor at last and approached Loposia's door, decorated with fine markings across the edge of the door and a pommel made of gold. The knight knocked hastily on the door three times, but got no response.

"..." He stayed silent and his hand froze. He was sure that Loposia was inside. He could feel his lone presence fluttering inside the room, like a weak flame. Why had there been no response?

Willing to give it a second try, he knocked twice more, with his other hand already gripping tightly the hammer on his back. It wasn't necessary, however, as the man's voice came from the other side.

"Come in!"

Chamgue clicked his tongue as if annoyed by the late response and quickly turned the pommel while pressing his shoulder on the door. The hinges creaked as the opulent door swung, but before Chamgue could inform the strategist about the situation, his eyes opened wide at the scene.

"Halt! Enter and close the door!" A rough but womanly voice demanded.

"Do as it says! Quickly!" Loposia cried in reply.

A pale humanoid figure was standing on top of Loposia's back, grabbing his head with a foot as if making of it a hand. The other foot pressed against the strategist's back, pushing him down, and a pair of arms held a long pike with a reddish metal acting as the head at the very end of it. This monster was undoubtedly a hobgoblin, at least so thought Chamgue, but the paleness of its skin made him doubt. It was a stunning sight that almost made the man ignore Loposia's words.

"Don't unfold!" Loposia cried out with extreme anxiety. "Just enter! Enter, by the gods' mercy!"

Chamgue tardily noticed that the pike was pointing at Loposia's head, and part of it had already inserted itself on the bone itself. Blood was oozing from the wound, which seemed deep enough to have penetrated a good part of the skull. His face went red with ire and impotency, but the chief of guards simply took a step in, and then closed the door behind him.

"Say your last words, monster."

"Not in the position to say that, big boy." The hobgoblin snarkily retorted with a smile. "They told me you were a real pain in the ass. But it was easier getting you to cooperate than entering your lousy army."

"How did you..."

"You guys really can't tell the difference between a human and descendants of Aguur-Nilaan unless you're seeing their faces, hm? Covering your face with a cloth and saying that you're pale because of the cold is all it takes to get a good day's rest at the infirmary. No questions asked."

"Out from here!" Chamgue swung his arm. "Unhand Loposia and fight me head-on. Obey and you will have a quick death! Otherwise you'll suffer a painful execution, if it is that you can feel pain, monster!"

"Swift death?" The white-skinned hobgoblin simply smirked.

A flash appeared in front of Chamgue's eyes, prompting him to step back and crash his back against the door of the room. He blinked once and then looked down, in time to see his belt cut off and fall to the ground. He felt liquid dripping down his face, and tracing his fingers across it, he found that blood was now oozing from his cheek.

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"Swift enough?" The hobgoblin smiled. "You don't seem to be aware of the situation. I could have already killed you if I wa—"

She stopped talking and jumped upwards as a firebolt erupted from the hand of the man, and then she quickly spun in midair to deflect the war hammer coming from the right side to crash against her skull. She pushed away from Loposia's body, giving Chamgue enough time to pick the man up, and fire yet another firebolt that missed the mark.

"Hey!" Her monstrous feet clasped against the wall for a second before she launched back with the glimmering-red pike going for Chamgue's head.

Crack!

The head of the pike went through the door as Chamgue evaded, and then headbutted the woman down to the ground. He backstepped with all his power and broke the door down, then threw Loposia to the side while he yelled in pain. Another swift attack came from below and towards his groin as the monster stood up and resumed her attack, making him tilt his body with great mannerisms. The woman took the chance, and while the pike was still traveling, her foot landed a square on his chest, throwing him off-balance.

With a clackering sound, Chamgue's body hit the floor. The pike was coming for his head, but he raised his arm and slid the blade against his gauntlet, sending sparks flying about as a clanking sound echoed in the hall. He grabbed the grip of the pike and pulled back, and at the same time, cast a firebolt against the monster's midriff.

"Ha!"

Bam!

Her abdomen was hit and she stumbled back, her clothes burned away and her charred skin exposed. Gritting her teeth, the pale hob supported herself on her weapon, holding the wound, and slowly stepping back. Her steps stopped when she found there was no more corridor behind, only a glass window that showed the far walls of the citadel. She clicked her tongue, and looked back at Chamgue.

"T-That's it, Chamgue!" Loposia yelled almost from the stairs of the third floor. "Get that freak!"

Chamgue stood up without heeding the strategist's words, breathing heavily. He grabbed the hammer with both hands, reinforcing his stance. "I had never faced a goblin so problematic."

"Ha..." The monster smiled. "I'm not just a goblin, dipshit. My name's Pulung."

"Ahh... A named monster. I now see why this battle has lasted so long." Chamgue's expression turned grim. "But no more. Monsters are the enemy of humankind! All which is impure is objective of Periphia's hatred, and shall be cleansed in her name!"

"Aye, yeah, fuck off captain!"

"Hyaaaargh!"

Chamgue charged forward like an enraged bull without protecting his face or his chest, immediately throwing Pulung into a state of alert. He was charging without a guard against someone with a polearm. His stance was wide open.

What?! His head! I must go straight for the neck! Or wait, is he baiting me?! Shit, no time!

Pulung threw a violent stockade towards Chamgue's head, with enough power to even burst the armor if she missed.

"Hah!"

Chamgue jumped upwards while conserving his momentum, letting the spear glide against his armor and tear a long wound across his side. He clasped it between his arm and chest, and still falling forward from the jump, he dropped a heavy elbow check on her chin as he gazed upon her face full of surprise and despair all the same.

Crack!

"Agh!" The sound of broken glass came together with her pained voice as shards of glass bore themselves into her skin. She knew she was about to fall, but knowing her priorities, the hobgoblin pulled from the spear that the man was still holding onto, and tore it away from him. As she began to fall only her arm threw itself back, and a glimmer shone in her eye. The image of that man confidently staring at her from above enraged her, and with the last breath, she yelled:

"[Power Throw]!"

The pike left her hand like an arrow shooting away from a bowstring, breaking the air as it traveled towards Chamgue's chest, whose eyes opened wide before he could even react.

A wet sound accompanied the shrilling echo of the metal tearing apart, the announcer of Chamgue's heart exploding after being pierced by the crimson spear. His lung filled up with blood and a cascade exploded from his nose and mouth, dying his beard a pure red. He immediately fell back to the ground, face-up. His last gaze was upon Loposia's petrified expression, and the face of a servant who slowly approached Loposia from behind. Chamgue could only smile, embarrassed of himself.

"... A knight's... Death?" Chamgue's eyes slowly became cloudy as he let go of a deep, meaningful sigh, and his chest escaped the grip of his hand.

"How...!" Loposia was about to run toward's Chamgue, when a hand suddenly grabbed him from behind and turned him around. What he saw was the face of a servant who seemed to tremble with fear, holding a dagger on their hand. "What are you-"

He didn't get to ask, because soon enough, a blade bore deep in his midriff, and then was twisted around. His eyes opened greatly, staring at the wound on his abdomen that now bled profusely. "Why... why?" he asked.

The servant sniffed and let out a tear, then removed the dagger. "Th-They told me... That, that they knew my brother...!" The servant cried out. "He's a knight, mister Loposia." With those words, the servant pushed Loposia to the ground, and stabbed him again in the chest, making him splurt out a mouthful of blood. "They gave me his name and his face, mister! I, I had to do it! They said they would keep him alive if you died, so please, die! Die already!"

A dozen, a hundred times. Between tears and splatters of blood, Loposia's body adorned with a hundred cuts that went from the top of his neck to the bottom of his abdomen. By the third, he was already dead, but somehow, the servant kept going. As if it would ensure the survival of whom they loved dearly. Something inhuman, surely, and born from desperation.

"Huff....!"

Outside of the castle, Pulung had begun running with a broken arm and a split ankle. The information Valta had given was accurate, so she had full-heartedly followed her instructions and descriptions about the fortified citadel even after escaping the castle. She was now heading to the northernmost area, hoping that the servant she had intimidated had already begun doing their job.

"Hah... Hah..." As she reached the wall, the lack of soldiers surrounding it became even more apparent. She stood in front of one of the main towers and sighed, ready to open the door. For a second she dispelled the [Hide Aura] skill she had borrowed from Thom Arburson, checking for anyone inside. There were about four soldiers inside the tower.

No matter... What I've got to do is reach the top and then drop. Valta left it very clear. The walls are very easy to climb down!

She made her entrance as she broke the door open with her knee, welcomed by the shriek of the soldiers inside. She didn't pay them any mind, however, and began hastily going up the stairs in all-fours, like the beast she was once. The soldiers tried to keep up with her, but with chain mails and weapons on them, they were incapable. She reached the top and opened the door, only to find herself in front of a boundless prairie dominated by the winter wind and the melting snow.

She smiled and shut the door behind herself, then approached the edge of the wall. She looked down, and her stomach went almost empty. What was that drop? At least 30 feet from the wall to the rocky slope, and then another hundred at the very least. If she fell down she was dead, no question.

Pulung shook the thought off her mind, and simply hung from the ledge of the wall. She hadn't heard the steps of the soldiers coming up yet, but well, that was only an advantage. Her mind warped back to Valta's words, telling her to look for putlogs to grab. However, as she was about to extend her hand, she froze.

The entire wall was full of them, yes. The construction of the wall seemed to have been experimental, filled with mistakes. In total, the number of holes that had been left behind after the building was done was enough to swiftly climb down without issues.

That is, if they were not filled up with cement and clay.

"W... What...?" Pulung's voice quivered with despair. "That's not what... she told me."

Suddenly, a great aura appeared in her head. Her already-faltering stomach felt like it was about to turn inside out, but before she could even get her body up to escape, a boot stepped on her hand and pressed down hard enough to break her fingers.

"Ugh!" She yelled.

"Well! If it isn't another pain in my ass!" A man's voice ringed out as if he was trying to choke on his own spit in pure anger. "You think you were clever coming up here, but well! We've learned, ya know? These walls were extremely climbable, weren't they? We hadn't had the chance to test them, since you know, there had been anyone who dared."

The man fit every bit the description that Pulung had been given. Although she wished for it to be otherwise, there was no way she could deny it. It was General Miel himself standing on her hand, ready to throw her to her death.

"Haha..." Pulung smiled nervously. "I suppose I got far enough..."

"What a wrench." Miel narrowed his eyes in disgust. "I guess Thom Arburson would rather make slaves out of you pathetic gross things than real humans. heh, I guess that's worse in a way. Slaving his own kind, you know."

"We're no slaves of that man!" She yelled in retort. "We're fighting for our own good. We're fighting for the mission that the master bestowed upon us!"

"... Oh?" Miel raised his head. "Is your master not Thom Arburson?"

"Our master... I only met him briefly. But I assure you that him... Thom Arburson cannot compare to him. If he wanted to, he would raze your city to the ground! But in his kindness, he left us to do it instead!"

"..." Miel opened his mouth slightly as if he was about to say something, but promptly closed it and let out a long sigh. "It seems this city really is doomed. After everything I did to bring this country to true freedom... It seems like the gods truly do not cooperate unless they want to. Capricious, indeed."

"Hey." Pulung smiled. "Maybe if you had used Thom Arburson instead of trying to murder him... you wouldn't die today."

"Tch."

Miel clicked his tongue, and kicked the monster's hand. She smiled as gravity began to pull her down, and soon enough, her body broke against the ground, becoming a mound of flesh and bones which no longer had an aura. Miel wasn't even able to hear the sound, as he was already turning around when she crashed down and splattered.

"One less issue to deal with." He sighed, walking out of the tower. As he began to walk he sighted for a second one of the servants running from the castle, his robes covered in blood. "Fuck." he cursed in a low voice.

The man ran inside his castle looking for his strategist, but as soon as he reached the third floor, he found the unpleasant scene that the white monster had left behind. His mouth opened and his world shifted, losing the grasp of reality for a second. Loposia, Chamgue, both their bodies were lying sprawled across the ground, and no life could be felt coming out of neither of them.

At that moment, the man understood. The useless skirmishes, the threats to the posts, the massacre at the bait camp they had set up. It all made sense as soon as he set his eyes on those corpses, and the possibility of winning that war dropped down to the deepest of the canyons.

"I see... They really tricked us so easily." Miel whispered, sitting down beside Loposia's cold body, staining his own clothes in blood. "Yes... There's no way to win now., I am nothing but a swordsman, after all. Yes... We have already lost."

From the moment he was left alone, he no longer had cards to play. Without Loposia, who had made every single one of his moves up until this point of his life, allowing him to claim the credit for himself, there was nothing he could do. The brilliant general that had successfully defended the Kuulkiam lands suddenly became just a swordsman, and the war had already been lost.

"Then..." Miel sighed. "If I live I can always try again... so... No." His eyes suddenly glimmered with a dark light, as his mind was lost in a deep thought he had not yet contemplated.

"Right... If that man keeps going like this..." A grin extended from ear to ear on his face. "Then, I should just retreat."

[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/7ceb3309-a93d-43e1-87ae-07f96a36f5ea/deempdm-8c7a9d9c-ebcc-48ef-80cf-c08238804f0f.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvN2NlYjMzMDktYTkzZC00M2UxLTg3YWUtMDdmOTZhMzZmNWVhXC9kZWVtcGRtLThjN2E5ZDljLWViY2MtNDhlZi04MGNmLWMwODIzODgwNGYwZi5wbmcifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6ZmlsZS5kb3dubG9hZCJdfQ.6_XYKTLTXf9ZXtT-efloRQeMas9RcN101zisdeGA_qY]

Pulung

By Me