Kadden, though battered and bloodied, managed to reach the gates of Cloudgate Town, but only a fraction of their original force survived the battle, if it could even be called one.
All along, Kadden had been aware that this was Wain's intended plan, but that knowledge didn't ease the heavy burden of betrayal he felt towards those who had placed their trust and admiration in him. The weight of responsibility for the staggering casualties bore down on him, making every step towards the town gates feel like a mile
How could he willingly do something like this? He regretted his decision now, wishing to be dead instead, when he watched his trusted companions, desperately fighting to protect him.
Perhaps he should never have left Riverwood Village. In his heart, he acknowledged that he wasn't fit to be a hero. While he had longed to escape the shadow of being a nobody and the torment of Jadon's bullying, the current circumstances were no better.
Jadon is dead as well! He suddenly realized, drowning in the sense of guilt.
"I'm so sorry," Kadden murmured weakly, his voice filled with embarrassment for everything his naive dream of heroism had caused.
Blaine, who was supporting Kadden by his shoulder, overheard the apology. He couldn't help but feel for Kadden, knowing that he must be feeling horrible after so many of them died because of his decision.
However, Blaine firmly believed that it wasn't entirely Kadden's fault. After all, without Kadden, there would have been no one to stand against Azztar Echo, and their hopes would have lost all hopes long ago! They had all placed blind trust in him, and their overconfidence had played a part in the tragic turn of events.
Blaine understood the weight on Kadden's shoulders, and he couldn't even begin to fathom the extent of it, especially with the entire town's hopes resting upon him. It was given that one would make a wrong decision under all the pressure.
…
Panic had gripped the town, and the impending disaster was clear to everyone. Despite their lord's earlier warnings, the townspeople had blindly put their faith in Kadden and chose not to evacuate, which might cost their lives now.
However, no one blamed Kadden for the catastrophe that had unfolded. All of them believed that he did his best and his enemy was simply too strong, which only deepened Kadden's embarrassment and self-loathing. He couldn't help but blame his own weakness. If only he had been stronger, he could have faced Wain head-on. But even after all this time, he was still only at level 5.
Why did he have to be such a coward? He cried as they reached the center of the town, where the town lord was waiting in full armor, together with his personal guards and Sylvie.
"Why am I such a coward?" Kadden whispered to himself as they reached the town center, where the town lord, clad in full armor, stood with his personal guards and two beauties. Seeing them, Kadden couldn't help but hang his head. "Lord Swail, I'm so sorry... You were right," he acknowledged, his voice heavy with guilt, realizing he had chosen his own life over the lives of everyone he knew.
Lord Swail let out a weary sigh, but there was no anger in his eyes. "Kadden Langley," he said, his voice filled with surprising compassion. "We all make mistakes, don't blame yourself." This unexpected comfort left Kadden shocked. After all, he was the one responsible for the destruction of Lord Swail's town.
How could Lord Swail be so calm and understanding? In that moment, Kadden found himself admiring the man. He had been too self-centered and had never truly appreciated the amazing people who surrounded him.
"Don't worry, Cloudgate Town won't fall so easily," Lord Swail continued, his tone filled with determination. "This old man still remembers how to fight, and reinforcements are on the way." He looked towards the horizon, determined to fight for his town.
"I'm sorry that I can't be of more help," Kadden said, his head still bowed. Even if he hadn't been wounded, there was little he could do. Yet, Lord Swail didn't hold it against him.
"You don't have to apologize," Lord Swail reassured him. "I only ask one last thing of you. Please escort Lady Alson and my daughter to safety." He gestured to the two charming ladies beside him, and Kadden suddenly regained his determination.
"Don't worry, Lord Swail," Kadden declared with newfound purpose. "I won't let any harm befall them."
It was only at that moment, when he realized this still wasn't the end. The fall of Cloudgate Town was inevitable, but if he had already joined the side of evil, then he could at least use his position to protect those he valued! Wain would probably let him escape, so the two beauties were safe as long as they stayed by his side.
"Thank you," Lord Swail expressed his gratitude and felt a weight lift from his shoulders. With his daughter safe, he could now head off to defend his town with renewed determination and focus. With a final nod to Kadden and the ladies, he turned and walked away, followed by his loyal guards, who were resolute to stand by his side even if it meant their death.
"Blaine, are you coming with us?" Kadden turned to Blaine, hoping to travel alongside his friend as long as capable adventurer, but Blaine shook his head in response.
"I have to find Ellen," he explained with an unexpected smile. "This is my chance to be her hero." With these words, Blaine left, and it was time for Kadden and the two ladies to depart as well.
"Please follow me, ladies," Kadden said, offering them a reassuring smile as they made their way through the hidden passage beneath the town walls.
Kadden didn't know what fate awaited Lord Swail or Blaine, but at least Sylvie and Lord Swail's daughter would be safe and with his newly found purpose, he will try to save more people in the future.
…
As the night slowly surrendered to dawn, the sky on the horizon began to blush with shades of blue, although the sun had not yet graced them with its light.
Lord Swail stood guard atop the walls of Cloudgate Town, surrounded by two hundred loyal soldiers who had survived and chosen to stand with him in the defense of their home. The town's citizens had evacuated, and Lord Swail was determined to buy them as much time as possible. This was his town, and if it had to fall, he was resolved to go down protecting it.
The stillness of the pre-dawn morning was shattered by the approaching clamor of a massive army of monsters. The moment they had all dreaded had arrived.
The time has come!
However, in comparison to the defenders, the attacking horde possessed significantly superior numbers. It was clear that any resistance would be futile, but the defenders remained unshaken, fully understanding of their inevitable fate.
"Brave men of Cloudgate Town," Lord Swail addressed the soldiers who had chosen to stand by his side, a sense of pride welling up within him. Perhaps he wasn't as improper a lord as he often thought.
"I know I haven't always been the best lord, and for that, I want to apologize to each of you. I'm truly grateful that you stand with me today, despite everything I've done. It's an honor to have you by my side in this battle."
The soldiers chuckled at his words. While it was true that their lord's decisions weren't always the right ones, they knew he was a good man. They were thankful for his presence on this fateful day.
"Today will likely be our last, but before we draw our final breaths, let's show these monsters that our town isn't so easily defeated, and its defenders are brave men unafraid of death!"
"Aaar!" The soldiers roared in agreement, their spirits ignited. However, they had little time for revelry, as their enemies were already entering the range of their archers.
"Arche-!" Lord Swail was on the verge of command to start the fire, when suddenly the whole walls shook and huge tentacles erupted from the earth on both sides of the walls, menacingly wrapping around the fortification.
What kind of monster is this?! Lord Swail was frightened the moment he saw Octader. He had heard tales of it from his subordinates following a previous battle, but witnessing the monstrous octopus with his own eyes was an entirely different experience. Each tentacle stretched a staggering fifteen meters in length and was as thick as two men standing side by side. Moreover, they were now adorned with ominous black scales.
The tentacles acted with startling swiftness, winding themselves around the fortifications, attempting to crush them with an unstoppable force.
"Cut them down, quickly!" Lord Swail commanded, rallying the soldiers who had momentarily lowered their guard. They hastily drew their weapons and attacked the monstrous intruder.
The soldiers raised their weapons and relentlessly attacked the creature, their strikes landing with all their might. But to their astonishment, every blow they struck was deflected, and not a single scratch appeared on the black scales that protected the tentacles.
"Run!" Realizing their attempts were futile, Lord Swail commanded and hurled himself off the wall just as the defenses crumbled beneath the tentacles' crushing power.
Lord Swail managed to land safely with a roll, but many of his soldiers were not as fortunate and found themselves trapped amidst the ruins of the fallen wall.
Furrowing his brow, Lord Swail quickly realized the direness of their situation. Their defenses had been breached, and they now faced an overwhelming number of monsters.
He hadn't anticipated their defense would crumble so easily.
"Quickly, get into formation! Seal the gap!" he commanded, but before his soldiers could react, they came under a barrage of dark fireballs that rapidly diminished their numbers.
"That must be Azztar Echo," Lord Swail murmured, his gaze locked on the nightmarish figure leading the onslaught.
However, even in the face of this hopeless situation, Lord Swail was determined to go down fighting. He raised his sword and charged at the enemy with a powerful roar, masterfully dodging the dark projectiles.
Yet, as he collided with the first dark fireball, he was instantly overpowered, and sent flying dozens of meters backward. The difference in strength was staggering, and even as a seasoned warrior at the peak of the 2nd-grade, Lord Swail had no chance against the dark magician.
"I will be taking this town from you, Lord Swail," Wain declared as he entered the town through the breached wall, sending his army to claim the town.
The soldiers made futile attempts to attack him, but their efforts were in vain against his overwhelming power. Wain advanced like a grim reaper, leaving destruction in his path. It was a terrifying sight.
But at least his daughter and Lady Alson safely escaped with Kadden and he had bought some precious time for the remaining civilians, and with this thought, he could meet his fate with a sense of peace.
Unbeknownst to Lord Swail, Wain had foreknowledge of the evacuation path chosen by the citizens. Through Judah and Kadden, he received all the information necessary and deployed half of his forces to lie in wait, ready to ambush the fleeing townspeople.
Even though Ollios had instructed him to conquer Cloudgate Town, Wain had accepted the task of destruction and slaughter as his primary objective in life. He had no intention of allowing anyone to escape with their lives. They were precious Chaos Points after all!
After he kills Lord Swail, his mission would be fulfilled, and he could proceed with the next chapter in his dark plan, a chapter that would bring devastation to the entire Mossgarde Kingdom!
Wain summoned his dark flames to accomplish his goal, when suddenly, several figures in white robes appeared around Lord Swail.
"Fortunately, it seems we aren't too late," a man in a white-gold robe, bearing a greatsword, stepped forward and frowned as he observed the state of the battle.
It was none other than Raven Morton, the lesser inquisitor from the Order of Light!