The hooded Witch appeared on the rooftop like a sudden gust of wind. With a flick of her staff, she hurled several massive comets of magical power straight down at the Cuckoo soldiers flooding through the breach in the city wall.
Comet!
As screams rose from below, Sellen lowered her gaze and looked toward the opposite side. From her commanding vantage point, the cavalry formations beneath her stood out clearly.
She tilted her head slightly, then stepped forward. Her body dissolved into brilliant blue particles and vanished.
Miriam's Vanishing!
Nolan snapped back to himself as an arm wrapped around his waist. He turned his head and saw Sellen seated behind him.
"Teacher."
"When you're riding, keep your eyes forward. Don't look at me."
Sellen reached out and gently but firmly turned her clumsy apprentice's head back where it belonged.
"I knew you wouldn't leave. So we'll go together."
Nolan paused at her soft words, then nodded heavily.
"Alright."
The one who truly understands me is my teacher.
Master and apprentice charged toward the city gate with dozens of cavalry in tow. From Sellen, Nolan learned that the gate had already been breached.
Looking ahead, he could clearly see the southern side of the fortress. Soldiers from both sides were locked in brutal combat before the gate.
From the very start of the battle, magical light had never ceased, spells weaving and flashing relentlessly through the air.
Raziel wielded a massive greatsword. Every sweeping strike cut down soldiers in clusters, and from time to time he launched magical blades over his shoulder, skewering sorcerers hiding in the rear.
Elsewhere, another Carian knight, Bols, was being swarmed by several Trolls. Some carried giant hammers, others massive greatswords.
Though similar in size, their strength was on completely different levels.
With a single casual slash, Bols could knock those towering brutes to the ground, their enormous bodies crushing soldiers behind them into pulp.
Yet the Trolls were only part of what he faced. Soldiers pressed in layer after layer. One wave was flung aside by his greatsword, only for another to surge in.
Arrows and spells never stopped. The Troll knight was already riddled like a hedgehog.
Fighting raged as well at the breach blasted open in the city wall.
Led by their knight commander, dozens of Cuckoo Knights charged forward like an arrow driven into flesh. Shields were raised in formation as Cuckoo glintstones flew in all directions.
Opposing them was a mixed force of Carian cavalry and infantry. Knights who could wield sorcery hurled spells, while those who couldn't threw every kind of jar and alchemical device they had.
In an instant, flames collided with ice. Poisonous fumes and raw magic spread unchecked. Every manner of lethal thing rained down on the Cuckoos.
A unit of Lazuli Conspectus sorcerers stood farther back with staves in hand, casting whatever spells came to mind. They cared about nothing else, so long as they didn't hit their own side.
The scene was pure chaos. Corpses lay piled high before the gate and along the walls, blood soaking the ground. Nolan took in the situation at a glance.
At the moment, Caria was at a disadvantage. The Cuckoos had more cavalry and even more infantry.
Fortunately, the patrol's earlier battle had driven off the enemy forces attempting a rear ambush, securing their back lines for now.
If two champions were to suddenly appear behind them, leading several hundred enemies, no one could say how many would simply abandon all resistance in despair.
Nolan didn't hesitate. He glanced at the two heads hanging at his waist, patted Torrent beneath him, and switched the greatsword in his hand for a Heavy Greatshield.
Clang!!
Knightly blades slammed together in a violent clash, sparks bursting out in a brilliant spray.
The shockwave of wind that followed made the surrounding soldiers recoil in fear. Not one dared step closer, terrified of being dragged into such a fierce duel.
The two knights each retreated several steps. They locked eyes, and there was no respect between equals in their gazes, only naked, boundless killing intent.
A savage grin spread across Kercius's face as he saw several knight commanders rushing in with their reserve troops. The sight filled him with smug delight.
"Raziel, you won't hold this line today. You'll die here as well."
He shouted the words loudly, his voice brimming with provocation and arrogance, utterly convinced that victory was already his.
"And yet the full moon's radiance still shines upon me. You traitors will be punished sooner or later."
Raziel tightened his grip on his sword hilt. No matter how composed he appeared, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
The Cuckoos' movements had been blatant. He had noticed their intentions long ago.
But with manpower stretched dangerously thin, sending a few dozen men to guard the rear was already the limit. There were no more troops to spare for reinforcement.
"Hah. Traitors? We're mercenaries. We get paid to do a job. No need to grovel like loyal dogs."
Hasn't Ingram received the signal yet? Why hasn't he shown up?
Kercius instinctively glanced past the Carian knight, then waved his hand, signaling the surrounding Cuckoo Knights to attack together.
Four Cuckoo Knights rushed in at once, greatshields raised, polearms and long weapons thrusting in a flurry.
Exposing themselves fully before such a powerful opponent would have been suicide, so they chose the safest, most conservative way to press the attack.
"Hmph. You people are nothing but ungrateful curs. Your smug cleverness is laughable. Do you really think you'll meet a good end?"
Raziel sneered. With a single shield bash, he knocked aside the weapons crashing into him, forcing the Cuckoo Knights to stagger backward.
"I'd like to see how long you can keep running your mouth. Cuckoos, keep attacking. Kill every last one of these Carians. They won't be able to hold!"
Kercius ground his teeth, cruelty flashing through his eyes. He swung his clenched fist, ordering the soldiers to close in.
Before the Cuckoos could react, a sharp whistling tore through the air. A streak of cold light cut across the night sky like a blazing meteor.
A spear!
A war spear tore through the air and pierced straight through a Troll's skull. A series of heavy impacts followed, along with screams that rose one after another without pause.
Immediately after, a rain of arrows fell from above, slamming into the southern formation. Soldiers dropped like brittle stalks of straw, one after another, collapsing into pools of blood. The scene was horrifying.
"Sir, look! What is that!?"
An anxious knight shouted. Kercius hurriedly raised his head to look.
A group of knights clad in heavy armor was charging in from the direction of the north gate. Their momentum was fierce enough to make his pupils contract.
Caria still had reserves? Then why hadn't they been deployed earlier? Why wait until the gate had been breached?
Could it be… a trap?
The thought flashed through his mind, but the next instant, he realized the Carian army he feared hadn't appeared.
There were only a few dozen knights. They were covered in blood, their armor shattered and battered. They looked like remnants of a routed force. His heart relaxed at once.
"They were driven here by Ingram and the others!"
Kercius made his judgment, excitement surging uncontrollably in his eyes. The rear of the royal domain had already fallen. Victory was close at hand.
But his thoughts were abruptly cut short by the rapid thunder of hooves. As the figures grew clearer, the Cuckoos locked in combat looked up in shock.
A silver-armored knight charged in from behind Raziel. The greatsword in his hand skewered several knights in a single thrust. His other arm was raised high, holding two severed heads bound together with rope.
"Are these the ones you were looking for?"