Chapter 258: Siege on the Azarin Empire’s capital (V)
The siege of Radiance City continued relentlessly through the week. The forces of the Xaos Kingdom kept up their unyielding assault, launching massive explosive boulders, flaming spears, and metallic pillars at the white walls of the Azarin Empire’s capital. Each strike consumed more and more of the city’s energy.
The Xaos forces would bombard the walls throughout the day, rest for only a few hours during the night, and then resume their barrage with renewed vigor.
Inside the city, Richard and the other generals worked tirelessly to find a solution. Though they hadn’t yet discovered a way to stop the barrage, they had made progress in bolstering their forces. With the emperor’s support, Richard convinced Pope Jerom to lend some of the Church of Glory’s warriors to the war effort.
It hadn’t been easy, requiring delicate negotiations and numerous concessions, but finally, five hundred Paladins and one hundred Priests joined the Azarin Empire’s military ranks.
These were not just ordinary soldiers. Everyone was a Champion, equipped with the finest weapons and armor the Church had to offer. Their presence brought an immediate boost to the morale of the Azarin soldiers. The Paladins, with their shining armor, stood like giants among the ranks, their swords gleaming with divine energy. The Priests brought with them powerful healing and protective magic.
Richard allowed himself a moment of relief as he observed the Paladins and Priests integrate into the troops. He knew that relying on the capital’s walls would not be enough. The city’s defenses, though formidable, were draining too quickly under the constant siege. They would eventually need to fight at close range, and the addition of the Church’s soldiers gave him hope that they could gain the upper hand in battle.
Just as the generals began to formulate new strategies, something unexpected happened. The barrage of siege attacks stopped as soon as the sun set, earlier than previous occasions, casting a tense silence all over the city.
Richard’s instincts flared. His pulse quickened, and before he could fully process the situation, a voice rang out from the direction of the Xaos Kingdom’s southern legion.
The voice was powerful, authoritative, and unnervingly calm. It cut through the stillness, reaching every corner of the capital. There was a cold, somber edge to his words, carrying with it the weight of an ultimatum.