97 Blood on the walls (1/2)
Seeing the Guild Master and a few of the elite soldiers of the garrison accurately dismantling the catapult and carefully carrying the bombs, Seron could only look around at the incoming skeletons.After his orders were given, the numerous waves of skeletons that were swarming the foundation of the ramparts were no longer reduced to only a few groups. Only white could be seen, and not a single patch of grass was visible from the tall walls of Archet. Whether it was thinking about the ground or not, but Seron quickly realized he had forgotten something.
”Damn it, stones! We didn't prepare a single projectile, are we such fools? Too late anyway, it will be even more exhausting for the men to pick up a heavy stone and throw it rather than just swinging their swords. Too late, too late.”
The surrounding guards could hear him mumbling something, but they were far more focused on the moving bones that were clumsily climbing the stone walls. By now, many of the archers were replaced by guards wearing a more appropriate outfit. It didn't mean that those that were leaving the walls will be slacking off, but arrangements were already made since the beginning. Unless the ramparts fell before they came back from the main garrison, whether they were present or not will not make a difference.
Because none of the gigantic skeletons had managed to reach the city, the situation on the battlefield was still immensely favorable to the side of the humans. Allowing them to use more efficient ways of managing their troops, albeit with a far bigger risk in case of an emergency. Looking at a new recruit near him, Seron could only be sorry. Because the first wave will be the less dangerous, most recruits were part of the first batch of soldiers.
Many veterans were mixed in, but it was not difficult to find a young man barely old enough to have a kid. The fact that they were not already running in fear was a feat in the eyes of many, but they couldn't really rely on them. The more they will fight and the more they will lose their innocence and be more composed. There was still the risk of the breaking down completely, but such a thing was not important right now.
CLANK
CLANK
Dozens of bony hands gripped tightly the battlements, only to be destroyed instantly in so many ways that it seemed to be a contest in that regard. Swords, axes, pikes, halberds, gauntlets, and even reinforced boots pushed back the undead as quickly as they arrived. The only relief the human side had was the fact that none of the undead had any sort of equipment.
This provided relief to a lot of those fighting directly with them. Sometimes, they were grabbed by a skeleton, and could only praise the blacksmith that built their armor for the fact that they suffered no damage. The initial worry and fear were replaced by excitement. They were facing an enemy that couldn't attack them, while each of their slashes killed one of them. The stalemate held for a few minutes until a panicked scout came running toward Seron.
”Captain, captain, the northern side has run out of ammunition for the scorpions. A giant is approaching. He should already have reached the wall.” Before Seron could even react, another scout arrived from the South, bearer of a message extremely similar. The rate of healing of those giants was too terrifying, needing only a minute without interference to be completely formed.
This caused a constant barrage of projectiles on them, just to stop it. Unfortunately, while the undead seemed innumerable, each time a ballista fired meant one less shot in the future. Shortly after, everyone could hear that the usual resounding of a siege weapon's shot was no longer audible. The crossbowmen and the few marksmen that were still up looked with worry at the giants that were beginning to walk once more.
Even when focusing on them, they could only barely slowing them down, not having the firepower to truly maim it. Those that were fighting too close from those larger foes could only begin to slowly step back a little. Unfortunately, that proved to be a disaster, allowing the skeletons to finally put a foot on the walls. The intensity of the fights was greatly increased since the two fighters were on an equal standing. It was no longer just pushing back the undead, but truly destroying them for good.
ARHOOOOOOO BUMMMM
The gigantic foes slammed down their arms on the ramparts, crushing a few guards that were unlucky enough to be on their path. It was the first time, the side of Archet first had a casualty, and it was such a gruesome one. But only a few seconds after, at the same time many were trying to rescue those that were only immobilized under the massive bone arms, legions of undead began to descend the massive bodies.
Instead of desperately trying to climb a smooth and nearly intact wall without any good ways of doing it, the undead began to use the bones that composed the body of those giants as ladders. From the beginning, dozens and dozens of skeletons had killed themselves just when trying to reach the top of the ramparts and injured those under them.
Another issue that arose was the fact that the flow of people that could walk on the ramparts was disrupted. The arms of the giants blocked the way, and the scouts and officers were having a harder time transmitting information from a side of the wall to another. A few portions of the walls were even completely cut out off any reinforcements, not having any access to a stair. Without any choice, the soldiers in those situations were forced to jump off the ramparts, sometimes injuring themselves in the process.