"THERE ARE TOO MANY ON THE LEFT SIDE!" - Frank
"LOTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE AS WELL! HEY, YOU! SWITCH WITH THE SECOND LINE, GET TO THE KREPOST TO HEAL" - Gopopo
"USE YOUR SHIELD!" - Frank
"DON'T LET UP! KEEP ATTACKING!" - Gopopo
"THRUST, STAB, SWING, ANYTHING, JUST KEEP ATTACKING!" - Frank
"ARCHERS, KEEP FIRING! DON'T STOP! IF THEY COME CLOSE USE YOUR KNIFE!" - Gopopo
I hear Frank and Gopopo constantly giving feedback and commanding the surrounding troops, while I take care of the center. Each attack I do, each skeleton I slay, another appears in seconds and slowly. Ever so slowly, they creep closer. Glancing to the left and right, I see that the skeletons were already pilling onto each other, closer to Frank's and Gopopo's area, whereas the skeletons near me still had a small gap before they reach the wall.
"KINGSTON! THEY ARE ATTACKING THE LEFT SIDE NOW!" - Kaede
"THEY HAVE STARTED TO COME AROUND TO THE RIGHT SIDE AS WELL" - Ken
While I couldn't see the whole situation, with everyone shouting out the information I was able to get a clear image of the situation. However, the brunt of the attack is still on this side of the wall, and I wasn't sure how much longer Frank and Gopopo will be able to handle this. I have to make a decision and fast.
"GIBING, DAVID, I NEED THE BOTH OF YOU ON THIS SIDE! KEN, KAEDE, HOLD OUT! ONLY SOME SKELETONS ARE COMING YOUR WAY!" - Kingston
My booming voice reaches both Gibing and David and in response, they charge over.
"I'll help Frank. Gibing, go to Gopopo." - David
"On it." - Gibing
With the two of them joining in the fight, I was able to see how breathless everyone else was on the wall. The fighting didn't even last for that long, but it was intense and without any breaks. David coming to help Frank, allowed the rest of the troops to calm down and their attacks became more precise. Their attacks hit the skulls more often, killing the skeletons in one blow rather than missing and attacking the body a few times. David, with his copper ax, slashes a couple of skeletons at once, destroying more than anyone with a single swing.
Turning away from David's side, I observe Gibing as he helps out Gopopo's side. Gibing had become an aggressive individual in fights, attacking and rushing into battle but, it doesn't mean he was doing it recklessly. He attacks aggressively the moment he finds a weakness and does his best to exploit the weakness to defeat his foes. Right now, he was unable to exploit anything. A small crease is formed between his eyebrows, as he uses his copper ax to kill the skeletons.
"Gibing! Are you okay?" - Kingston
As I stab a skeleton, I shoot him a question.
"Not sure if okay is the correct word. These things break so easily, but there are too many of them." - Gibing
"I'm having the same feeling as well. My ax cuts through 3 or 4 of them, yet it feels like there is no resistance. They are just moving towards us like water flowing down a river. Like they have no purpose other than to die." - David
"Regardless there are a lot of them, and they have started to pool around the sides as they climb up the slope." - Kingston
"There is no end to them. We can't just keep doing this, our stamina will deplete before we kill them all." - Gibing
"I agree, either we do something drastic now or slowly wear them away." - David
"It has only just begun, stop complaining. I know there are a lot but it is not like everyone here is weak. Take turns, rotate, we just need to last longer than them. Maybe the situation changes as time goes on." - Kingston
"KINGSTON!" - Yor
In the middle of my train of thought, Yor's voice pierces through. I snap my head back to see him rushing towards me.
"What's wrong?" - Kingston
"Stellar's group has arrived along with the Zivotinjas, which means the forest is lost. Right now, she is defending inside the forest helping others escape towards us. I have opened the gates, letting in the Xabarils as well as the Zivotinjas that have arrived and Stellar's team." - Yor
"WHAT! The event just started what made her retreat?" - Kingston
"According to the goblin assassin that has made it back, it was the pillar of light that erupted out of the ground near the mountain on the other side of the forest. Stellar had been stationed in that area, and once the pillar of light appeared, the ground burst open and a skeleton dragon appeared. However, I believe it is a wyvern since the wings are attached to the arms, but nonetheless.
She called for Gewari to go to HavenFall with 5 other assassins while the rest is retreating here since the pillar of light is closer to the Krepost. She is currently engaged in battle with the skeleton wyvern with Luna and the other wolves, however, doesn't know what the outcome of the battle will be.
Smaller lizardmen skeletons were also sighted however, they ignored Stellar and the wolves, and are currently approaching us from the forest. The Zivotinjas are holding them off while retreating, but they will approach us very soon." - Yor
"God damn are you SERIOUS RIGHT NOW!? Alright, I'll go to the gate and defend it myself, I want the Xabarils and the Zivotinjas to support me. Yor, tell everyone that's on that side of the wall to come to this side with 2 people going to help Ken and Kaede." - Kingston
"Wait. Are you sure?" - Yor
"What other choice do I have?" - Kingston
"Leave this side to us." - Frank
"I know we might struggle, but don't worry too much." - Gopopo
"Yea, with us 4 here it will be easy." - Gibing
"If anything happens, we can always retreat, and use the buildings as a second layer of defense." - David
"Kingston, I'll be fine on this side. I learned a lot from you!" - Ken
"Same here. Don't worry we can take care of ourselves" - Kaede
"You heard them, Yor. Get everything moving." - Kingston
Stabbing the last skeleton, I turn around and rush towards the gate, nodding my head towards the people replacing me. Celine was already at the front gate, ushering the Xabarils inside.
"Celine, get back. It's going to be dangerous." - Kingston
"No! You are going to be here by yourself. The monsters can only obey simple commands from someone else. I'll issue more complex commands to help you." - Celine
"But still-" - Kingston
"Kingston. Let me help."- Celine
Celine holds my shoulders and stares into my eyes, even though I could easily break out of her grasp I was unable to. Looking into her worrying eyes, the words couldn't come out of my mouth. Every time I came back from hunting in the grassland, I would be greeted with Celine's peaceful smile.
As the sun sets, and the only light was from the torches, conversations with Celine kept me going. Soothing that raging feeling I have deep inside me. I never went berserk ever since that day. She was kind yet determined with every step she took. No matter how dangerous it might have seemed to tame each monster she kept trying.
"Kingston! Do you hear me? Hello?" - Celine
I snap out of my daydream, shaking my head as I do.
"Helllloooo?" - Celine
"Celine, I hear you. Just stay behind me okay?" - Kingston
"Of course, I will. I won't go to the front, no matter what." - Celine
"Yea, and have at least 3, no, 5 Xabarils next to you at all times." - Kingston
"Got it." - Celine
"And cast Prismatic Barrier on you too. Get one of the Zivotinja-" - Kingston
"Kingston. I understand. Don't worry okay?" - Celine
"Listen, when a girl says don't worry, a guy is always going to worry." - Kingston
"Then worry?" - Celine
"I'm going to worry then." - Kingston
"Yep. Look the Zivotinjas are coming back!" - Celine.
Bursting out of the forest was a herd of Zivotinjas. Not one of them was missing, but the blue shield around them was missing.
"The monsters are strong enough to destroy the Prismatic Barrier." - Kingston
"It will be fine, let me gather them here first." - Celine
A high pitch whistle comes from behind me. Looking back, I see Celine's thumb and index finger in her mouth, with her eyes focused on the scene in front of her. The Zivotinjas' ears perk up, and their gaze turns towards Celine. Rushing towards her, they arrive safely within the confines of the walls and not too far behind them, bursting out of the forest was an army of lizardmen skeletons.
Compared to the skeletons on the other side of the Krepost, these were equipped with weapons, shields, and armor. Wielding stone axes and stone spears, as well as wooden shields and simple leather armor, they approach me quickly and recklessly. Blue flame blazing out of their eye sockets and their yellowish-white bones rattle as they run.
A blue shield envelops me, and I breathe out slowly, gripping my spear tightly. I smile as I look at the approaching army.
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" - Kingston
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