As Gilgamesh cut down the High Prefect and toppled the great solar-banner, the Imperial forces surrounding the camp collapsed like a house of cards. With their commander dead and his legendary guard reduced to broken plate, what reason did the rank-and-file have to keep fighting?
Once the Immortal Battalion had finished off the last of the Retainers—who had fought with a fanaticism that defied the shattering of their morale—the rest of the Imperial regulars broke. Some fled into the night in a panicked rout, while others simply dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, begging the golden giant for mercy.
"Now is the time! All units, move out of the camp to support the King and the Immortals!" Siduri shouted from atop the gate, her voice cutting through the din of the dying battle.
"As you command!" the rebel generals replied in unison. Heartened by the sight of the fallen Imperial banner, they accepted the order with a roar that shook the very ramparts.
"The Lord Commander is truly a master of both wisdom and valor," Enkidu-Sa murmured in awe, watching the once-mighty legion surrender in droves. "To break such a powerful army by his own strength alone... it is as if he dictates the very laws of physics."
"Alright, Enkidu-Sa, let's go regroup with Father!" Siduri laughed, clapping him on the shoulder with enough force to rattle his new ceramic armor.
---
"Screen these prisoners carefully," Gilgamesh commanded from his saddle, his golden plate splattered with the dark ichor of the High Prefect. He watched as his men processed the surrendered troops.
"Those willing to join our Auric Reclamation are welcome. As for those who only wish to return to their homes, disarm them, give them enough for travel expenses, and send them back to the Alluvium. I have no need for captives who do not share my vision."
"Understood, King," the generals replied. This was a law Gilgamesh had established from the first day: no unnecessary cruelty. He did not kill for the sake of killing; he killed to clear the path.
Accompanied by Siduri, Enkidu-Sa walked up and bowed deeply to Gilgamesh. "Lord, I never imagined you could truly repel a whole legion single-handedly. Standing on the gates, we were awestruck. It was the stuff of legend."
"Haha, you hold me in such high regard? Well, I suppose I'll accept the compliment from a man of the academy," Gilgamesh chuckled. His expression soon turned somber as the heat of battle faded. "However, even though we've won this day, we must begin our withdrawal. Pass down the order: once the prisoners are handled, we move out immediately."
"Lord, where else can we retreat?" Ur-Namu asked, looking perplexed. "Every time we find a place to settle, the Empire mobilizes nearby units to surround us, just like they did today. We are a body without a heart."
The other generals turned their gazes toward Gilgamesh, seeking an answer. Siduri, however, shared a knowing smirk with her father and looked toward Enkidu-Sa, waiting for the scholar to speak.
"Men, do not worry," Gilgamesh announced loudly, his voice carrying to the furthest edges of the column. "Enkidu-Sa, who has just joined our cause, has pointed out a clear path: we migrate to the Southwestern Mountains. The terrain is a labyrinth of stone that the Imperial heavy cavalry cannot navigate, and the Court's control there is a mere shadow.
"More importantly, those lands are home to the Demi-human tribes. The Empire has been brutal toward these mountain people; we needn't fear them colluding with the government. In fact, if we treat them as equals—as fellow citizens of Babylonia—they will surely join our Reclamation!"
"Lord, have you lost your mind?" Ur-Namu blurted out. "Aren't the Demi-humans just bedtime stories? Do they actually exist?!"
The other generals echoed his confusion. "Yeah, aren't they just myths used to keep children from wandering into the woods?"
"Ur-Namu, that's not the case. They are very real," Gilgamesh explained. "Enkidu-Sa's mentor confirmed their existence. The Court treats them as slaves, often sending expeditions to raid their tribes for women with the ears of foxes or cats."
"The King is right," a veteran soldier spoke up tentatively, stepping forward from the ranks. "I used to serve in the capital's docks. I saw wealthy merchants and High Lords keeping girls with fox ears as pets in gilded cages. I was confused back then, but now I realize... those were the beastmen."
"Precisely!" Gilgamesh shouted, his rubicund eyes flashing. "The beastmen exist, hidden in the Southwest to escape tyranny and taxes. That is our next target. Only there can we escape this cycle of daily encirclements and find a moment to breathe. We will wait for the world to fall into total chaos, and then we shall strike back into the heart of the Alluvium!"
The generals fell silent for a moment before kneeling as one, their armor clanking in a singular, rhythmic movement. "Lord, since you are determined, we follow. Lead the way; no matter how dangerous the path, we are yours until the stars fail!"
"Good! Pass the order: prepare for the march!" Gilgamesh nodded.
Under the watchful eyes of the King, Siduri, and Enkidu-Sa, the soldiers set fire to the camp structures they couldn't carry. Great plumes of black smoke rose into the Babylonian sky, a funeral pyre for the old life they were leaving behind.
"We should go, Father," Siduri advised, looking at the towering pillars of smoke. "Fires this large will act as a beacon for the next Imperial wave."
"You're right, Siduri. Pass the word: the whole army is moving out! Target: the Southwestern Mountains!"
Gilgamesh drew his sword and pointed it toward the distant, jagged peaks on the horizon. And so, the great migration of the Auric Reclamation began.