Chapter 357: The War of Nobles (End) The Quick End
The first thunderous crash of the battering ram against the gates echoed through the still night air, a sharp, decisive sound that signaled the beginning of the final assault. The soldiers manning the ram strained with each swing, their muscles taut as they threw their weight into the motion, driving the thick wooden beam against the iron-reinforced doors. Sparks flew, and wood splintered, but the gates held—for now.
Lyan stood at the forefront, his gaze fixed on the stronghold with cold determination. The air around him buzzed with the tension of impending battle, and his warriors were poised, ready to strike the moment the gates gave way. The flames from nearby torches cast flickering shadows on the ground, dancing like specters over the armored figures that awaited his command.
"They’ll break soon," Wilhelmina said, her voice steady, her staff crackling with magical energy as she prepared for the next stage of the assault. Her eyes scanned the walls of the stronghold, watching for any signs of movement. "Once we’re inside, their defenses will crumble."
"Be ready," Lyan responded, his tone calm but firm. He raised his hand, signaling his archers and mages to advance. The steady hum of energy filled the air as the mages stepped forward, their hands glowing with arcane power, and the archers notched arrows, waiting for the call to fire.
The soldiers atop the walls of Hektor’s stronghold moved nervously, clearly aware of the futility of their situation. They were outnumbered, outmatched, and surrounded on all sides. Still, they stood their ground, loyal to their cowardly lord, who had retreated to the safety of his chambers. Arrows rained down from above, but they were few and far between, an act of desperation more than a coordinated defense.
With a final resounding crash, the gates groaned and splintered under the relentless pounding of the battering ram. The wood buckled, and the iron reinforcements twisted, giving way at last. The gates burst open, and Lyan’s forces surged forward like a tidal wave, their armor gleaming in the torchlight as they charged into the stronghold.
"Archers, fire!" Lyan’s voice boomed across the battlefield, and the sky lit up as hundreds of arrows arced through the air, raining down upon the defenders on the walls. The soldiers atop the battlements scrambled to take cover, but many were cut down where they stood, their armor no match for the precision of Lyan’s trained marksmen.
"Now!" Wilhelmina’s voice rang out as she lifted her staff, her magic surging forward in a brilliant flash of light. Lightning crackled from her fingertips, snaking across the walls and striking the guards with deadly precision. They collapsed in heaps, their bodies convulsing as the energy coursed through them. The mages behind her followed suit, unleashing torrents of fire and ice, their spells crashing against the stone walls and turning the battlements into a cauldron of destruction.
Inside the gates, the chaos was immediate. Lyan’s soldiers stormed through the entrance, their blades flashing as they cut down the defenders with ruthless efficiency. Alice led the charge, her sword carving a path through the enemy ranks, her movements swift and lethal. She fought like a whirlwind, each strike measured and precise, dispatching enemies with cold precision. Beside her, Emilia swung her greatsword with devastating force, cleaving through armor and bone with ease. Every swing of her massive blade sent shockwaves through the ground, toppling anyone unfortunate enough to be in its path.