Smoke from the earlier fire still clung to the air, drifting in thin, bitter lines across Ridgebrook's walls. The flames were mostly out now, but their scars remained—scorched planks, blackened stakes, and the lingering smell of burned earth.
The villagers worked with frantic urgency. Buckets of water sloshed, sand scraped, shovels struck dirt. Every face was drawn tight with fear and exhaustion. Even the children were silent, watching the field with wide, trembling eyes.
Liam stood on the wall, staring at the aftermath of the second wave. "We barely held that," he whispered.
Sun Tzu stood beside him, drawing new diagrams in the soot on a plank. "Barely is enough," he said calmly. "But only once."
Leonidas and Orin drilled the Shield Core below, though their movements were slower than before. Every strike echoed with fatigue. Orin's hair was still singed at the ends, and her shield hand trembled each time she lifted it.
Vlad perched on the upper beams, watching everything with lazy amusement. "They will break," he said cheerfully. "The question is when."
Liam glared up at him. "Stop saying creepy shit at 9 a.m."
Vlad shrugged. "When should I say creepy shit?"
"Never!"
"Impossible."
Sun Tzu wiped the soot board clean. "Chief, they are preparing for the next wave."
Liam stiffened. "How do you know?"
"Weak armies panic. Strong armies adapt. This one… is adjusting to us."
He pointed across the field. The Rank 3 captain stood with several officers, directing soldiers to reposition planks, move equipment, adjust shield lines, and rebuild fire carriers with new defenses.
Leonidas approached, sweat dripping despite the cold. "He is not resting," he murmured. "He is sharpening."
Liam rubbed his face. "Let me guess. Next wave is worse."
Sun Tzu nodded. "Far worse."
Orin walked over, wiping blood from her cheek. "We need a break," she said quietly. "The Shield Core is shaking. My hands won't stop…"
Her voice cracked. She quickly straightened. "But we can keep going."
Leonidas studied her grip. "Your stance is weakening."
"I know," she snapped.
He didn't scold her. Instead, he rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Weakness is a moment. Not a state. You stand until you cannot stand, then stand again. That is battle."
Orin exhaled shakily. "I… will stand."
Lira rushed up the stairs, her apron soaked with blood. "We've used half our clean bandages. If this keeps up, we'll have to cut sheets."
Liam felt something cold crawl into his stomach. Supplies shrinking. Defenses burning. Soldiers dying. And the Rank 3 captain had barely begun.
"The bastard's smarter than Ferric," Liam muttered.
Sun Tzu didn't look up from his diagrams. "Ferric was a brute. This one is a strategist."
Vlad tilted his head. "Like him?" He pointed lazily at Sun Tzu.
Sun Tzu smiled faintly. "Not nearly."
Leonidas watched the captain across the field, narrowing his eyes. "He carries himself like one who has seen many battles."
"And won them," Sun Tzu added.
Liam felt the pressure like a stone on his chest. "Can we actually win this? Be honest."
Sun Tzu answered first. "Yes."
Leonidas answered second. "Yes."
Vlad answered last. "Depends on how fun it is."
Liam rolled his eyes. "Not helpful."
Sun Tzu tapped the soot board. "The captain is planning a pincer movement. He will split his forces—one group will pressure the gate, while another tries to burn the eastern wall."
"That's… bad," Liam said.
"Only if we fail to predict the pivot," Sun Tzu replied.
Leonidas cracked his neck. "The Shield Core strengthens with repetition. But they are near their limit."
Sun Tzu glanced at him. "And you?"
Leonidas' fingers curled. "I have not reached my limit.
Liam noticed something in his posture—his breath coming faster, muscles twitching, qi stirring under his skin like a sleeping beast waking with hunger.
Leonidas was close to a breakthrough.
But close was not enough.
Not yet.
A horn sounded from the field.
Not the drumbeat this time—something sharper, more commanding.
Sun Tzu's eyes snapped toward the forest line. "They move sooner than expected.
The enemy lines shifted again—archers forming forward arcs, shield bearers taking flanking positions, soldiers carrying ladders toward the edges of the field.
Liam felt his heart slam into his ribs. "Shit—tell me that's not what I think that is."
"It is," Sun Tzu said. "A multi-front assault."
"Why now?" Orin whispered.
Leonidas looked at her. "Because we hurt them. Now they answer."
Vlad cracked his knuckles. "I like answers."
The captain strode forward, his armor gleaming. He raised his spear high, his voice carrying across the field—
A chilling, commanding roar.
The drums answered with a faster rhythm.
Sun Tzu exhaled. "There. That tempo. That is a killing rhythm. This is no test. This is meant to shatter us."
Liam felt his legs wobble. "Positions! Everyone—MOVE!"
The village snapped into motion.
Archers scrambled to the walls.
Militia rushed to the eastern flank.
Shield Core formed quickly, but several shields shook in trembling hands.
Orin bit down on fear until blood touched her lip.
Leonidas stepped in front of the Shield Core.
His presence alone steadied them.
"LISTEN WELL," he roared. "Today you do not fight for glory! You fight so your homes stand! So your families live! So your bodies do not decorate their spears!"
He lifted his shield.
"You fight beside me. You do not break. We hold until the world breaks before us!"
The villagers shouted, a raw, ragged cry that wasn't courage but something close enough to pretend.
Sun Tzu leaned toward Liam. "Stay near me. Your presence steadies the people. Leonidas will hold the line. Vlad will thin the edges. I will shape the field."
"And me?" Liam asked hoarsely.
"You," Sun Tzu said, "must not fall."
Liam nodded, forcing down nausea.
The Rank 3 captain lowered his spear.
The entire enemy front surged forward.
Archers. Ladders. Shield groups. Fire chains.
The third wave had begun.
Liam checked the Ledger instinctively.
[NEXT SUMMON: 27 DAYS]
He shut it fast.
No help was coming.
It would be Ridgebrook's battle alone