Chapter 356: Breaking the Gate
The heavy oaken gate slammed shut with a resounding boom, echoing through the empty streets like a death knell. Orion cursed under his breath, his eyes scanning the towering walls for any sign of weakness.
"They’re buying time," he muttered, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. "We need to get through before the army collapses in on us."
Without waiting for a response, he dashed towards the gate, his powerful legs propelling him forward with incredible speed. The rest of us followed close behind, our hearts pounding in our chests as we prepared for the inevitable clash.
The gates were massive iron-bound panels of wood, reinforced with sixth-level enchantments. Several squads of soldiers stood before the gates, perhaps fifty in all, a mix between mages and melee combatants. Archers and more mages lined the parapets above, and the unfamiliar magical siege weapons were aimed directly at us.
"Take them!" Orion shouted, leading the charge.
Luxxa kicked off the ground, launching herself across the outer courtyard. She chanted as she flew, completing her spell the moment she smashed into their ranks. Vines exploded out of the ground once more, tying up and distracting over half of the soldiers beneath the gate. Korra lunged right behind her, slipping through the entangled soldiers, fists lashing out with various Arts. Before the soldiers stationed on the wall could react, water dragons coiled through the vines, ripping and tearing their comrades apart. Gith and Janna picked off those who managed to escape, rapidly dropping their numbers.
Fable slowed as the rest of our companions engaged, hanging back several dozen feet from the battle. There was nothing I could do in the fight except get in the way, and even trying would strain my body to its limit. Instead, I looked up to where the defenders were finally reacting to the sudden assault.
The captain of the units atop the wall cut down with hand. "Fire!"
Close to fifty arrows and spells leaped from the ramparts, raining down on the party in a furious onslaught of light, fire, and lightning. The wave of attacks was indiscriminate, with just as many striking their own as landing on my companions.