61 Chapter 61 - Facing Annihilation (2/2)
With Warden Company's arrival, the walls were finally fully manned. Kenji continued to raise ghouls below while the distant land became drenched in dark squares. Monsters, Fauns and Satyr marches in vast numbers, and of a callibre completely different to the fodder sent previously. Their banners of skinned creatures fluttered like a moving Forrest, several teams of goblins needed to pull each siege tower forward while ogres lumbered afterward with slingshots in hand.
Against their entrenched positions Kenji had fooled himself into thinking his plan really possible, but as the sheer quantity of the enemy bloated out the grass from the land he was no longer so certain. Worried, he realised this could be it, Kenji had a very strong chance here of dying for good.
”Knights of the Silver Swan, activate your [Fortified aura]!” shouted Lord Swan, pressing his greatsword into the ground and enjoying a brilliant aura of strength. Across the walls each Silver Knight became a beacon of strength, their auras overlapping as the entire human army became enveloped.
Armour shined brighter, rusted antiques became good as new and new steel felt lighter and stronger across every body. Leather hardened, skin stiffened and shields were doubly sturdy as the aura fortified all allied bodies in range.
Seeing the shining weaponry of humanity rattle and their warriors roar, the enemy general responded in time. Dark magicians sent ploums of dark blue smoke to choke the skies, while rank after rank of the enemy lines bathed their spears in hellfire.
Then came the scream. In unison the entire enemy army roared, so loud the ground trembled and the people quaked. As the lines of enemy warriors marched forward flaming weapons in hand, Kenji feared the defenders of Tariak would buckle from the sheer terror of the sight .
”Fear not men, we fight with the Three's protection!” Jack roared, casting [Golden Heart] to stiffen the resolve of those closest warriors. Along the line priests cast lessor blessings to boost morale back up, yet the lack of the inquisitors priests blessings made a serious blow to the plan, several areas of wall left dangerously vulnerable to the enemy aura of fear.
But as the great battle for Tariak was about to begin Kenji forced such thoughts aside and turned to his companions.
”Tenko, Violet. All ready?” he said, Tenko having spent the day coordinating with the Headless Hunters Guild while Violet remained largely hidden with a great many layers of cloth.
”Ready Kenji! Goldbeans and Grey are safe for now too, they are going to help with the Headless Hunters!” Tenko said, her roguish friends sticking their tongues out when Kenji looked.
”I'm a bit nervouse...,” Violet admitted, stepping forward to hold Kenji's hand. She didn't seem to mind it was that of Dana the Damned, Kenji's touch enough to calm her racing heart.
”It's ok, just stay out of the fighting while you can. Focus on your task,” Kenji said trying to reassure her. But he could emphasize with her fear, Violet's role the arguably most important of any. And not just the people of Tariak, but the whole Sun Elf species might depend on her success too.
”But what if I mess up? I got captured last time even though all my friends helped me escape, what if that happens again?”
She was trembling now, lilac eyes filled with wet and worry beneath her layers. Turning her to face him, Kenji wrapped his army around her and held Violet tight.
”You'll do great, and soon you'll have a family again. Focus on that, ok? Focus on that happy bright place in your future.”
Her head nestled into Kenji's neck, her hair brushing his nose and her sniffles coming to their end. After a few more moments she pulled away.
”Don't die Kenji, ok? Don't do it,” she whispered before speeding away to where she would wait for her part in the plan.
”Tenko you too! Don't just-”
”Tenko knows Kenji! Tenko is going with her friends now, see you later!” as if she didn't even realise the fire situation they were in, Tenko bound away in her beast form with the orphan child soldiers in her back .
”They grow up so fast,” Kenji muttered, and received a knowing nod from Lord Swan. Before both turned their attention fully back to the battle.