Chapter [B4] 28 — Battle of Azure City
The time of battle arrived soon, and there was nothing left to do but to engage. I sat in the royal palace, the entire place nearly empty except for me. I’d sent everyone away, those who could fight were all stationed to fight. Those who could not were ready to help the injured or give support and protect the children and the elderly. Nearly everyone who lived within the city was contributing in some manner. This was life or death, not just for them, but for the entire empire, and they understood that as well.
I remained on the floor of the royal palace, this entire massive place now empty. I’d not set defenses around it. If the army could make it there, the war had already been lost. I had no intention of running away and trying to rebuild, no dreams of such. We won here, or we died fighting. Those were the only two options available to us.
I sat in the chamber, meditating upon Harmony, it flickered at the edge of my awareness, not quite present, not quite absent, in a state of in between that I’d come to understand as a powerful place in all things. And so, I found my mind’s eye expanding outwards, watching over the entire capital city as I did.
I watched the soldiers move, I watched men walking in lines, I heard their murmurs and whispers, of their encouragements and resolves. The demon army was coming from the northern end of the city, and so the civilians had all been moved to the south, behind the castle in the centre and as far away as possible from the demons.
If the demons took the capital, I intended to fight for as long as possible to let as many people get away to the south. I’d given instructions on where they’d need to move and how they could avoid being all caught by the demons.
It’d likely be my last act in this world, but it’d be something I’d gladly do, if it meant that I could protect people.
The demon army had stopped its march just a little ways outside of the capital. They did not not do anything like set up camps. Though I knew well enough that it was partly a facade, but their movements and actions were a reminder of the nature from which they were created.
Yet, despite that, the army loomed, standing in formations, clearly making its own preparations. And now the demons stood, lines with weapons, wearing armors and standing in rank and file.
There were soldier on our side. The northern end of the capital had been fortified with hefty formations and traps and many soldiers moved through those walls and walked atop. Cultivators filled the ranks, but for every cultivator there was, three mortals walked around, carrying rifles, explosives and the weapons that I’d had made to let them fight, to let them participate in this battle for their freedoms as well.