"We only recently learned that the Heroes are real and that the death of one of them was what destroyed Kabba," Mayor spoke out of nowhere, gazing down on the Reyna of Reilaea who's standing next to the window, watching the round moon as it revealed itself from the dark sky. "But, there was one thing I'm not sure of."
"..." Amaya remained quiet before turning her gaze to the mayor.
"Why did you summon them, Reyna Amaya?"
"... I wanted to try and keep it a secret until the heroes are more than ready for it, that is why we summoned them ahead of time," Amaya responded. "But because of what Uruk did, I'm afraid we are way overdue for preparations."
"Why? What are you trying to prepare for?"
Amaya looked back into the night sky, her brows curled up.
"...Invaders."
"...!"
It was a vague answer. But, the mayor could see it from the look in Amaya's troubled eyes. The mayor doesn't know who or whatever these Invaders are, but what Uruk just did—imprisoning the heroes for whatever reason—might have just sealed Reilaea's fate. No, probably the entire world of Alteria to doom.
...
Clang!
Boom!
Raagh!
Explosions, weapons clashing with one another, war cries overlapping left and right. And then, the screams of inescapable death. The attack of Reilaea against the kingdom of Kruule to retrieve the heroes raged on!
Badum!
Boom!
Uwaagh!!
Kael is riding his horse alongside the other Payapas, watching the battle unfold between his eyes. Seeing his fellow Malayas clashing swords with the enemy fired up his urge to join them. It was a natural reaction.
It was precisely the reason why he became a Malaya, he wanted to fight for his kingdom along with the others, not to be someone standing in the back to lead his people to battle. It's just not him.
Kael was about to pull the reins, giving the cue to his horse to move forward to the ongoing battle until one of the Payapas escorting him noticed what he was about to do.
"Kael!"
"Ah...!"
The young knight looked at the Payapa in surprise.
"What's the matter?" He asked.
"Right now, you're not a Malaya." The Payapa replied.
"Our job is to open a path towards the royal castle on top of that plateau." The other pointed her finger to the lonely plateau visible behind the walls of the capital.
"And you're the one who's gonna lead us to it!"
"R-Right! Certainly!"
Once again, Kael tried to assess the situation, putting aside his thoughts to fight the enemies head-on. He took notice of the long-range defenders of Kruule stationed on the ground and on top of the walls next to where the northern gate was.
From the looks of things, the long-range defenders of Kruule, consisting of very skilled archers, magic users, and other artillery units are what's keeping Kael and Reilaea forces from pushing further into the walls of the capital.
"Payapa Irelda! Payapa Onstad!"
"Yes, Kael?"
The two responded respectfully at the young knight at the same time.
"Can I leave the long-range defenders on the ground with you and your units? Relay the message to some other Payapas have their units help you!"
They froze before Kael's order. To them, it didn't sound like a real order from someone with power, rather it sounded more like he was begging them to take care of the enemy long-range defenders.
"Is there something wrong?"
"It's nothing. It's just that..."
The two Payapas turned away, hiding the embarrassed expression on their faces.
"We were used to being ordered so direct and seriously as if the Reyna and the Prinsepe would kill if we fail their demands."
"It's not like we're being weird or anything, it's just that receiving such a gentle request feels kind of strange for some reason. But..."
The two Payapas recomposed themselves as they saluted in front of him.
"Consider your request done, Payapa Kael! Or acting Payapa?"
"Acting Payapa," Irelda interjected.
"Right, acting Payapa!"
With that, Irelda and Onstad broke out of the group as they summoned their troops and began their attack on the ground defenders.
"This is why I'm not cut out to take the lead," Kael told himself nonchalantly. "I would rather be the one fulfilling someone else's orders."
"You may be right," A Payapa beside Kael chimed in. "But that doesn't mean you can't start learning to be above others."
"Payapa Kalasag..."
Right as the Payapa and Kael exchanged words with one another, some of the archers and artilleries who are under Uruk's sumpa caught dozens of Malayas ignoring some Kruule soldiers on the way, approaching them.
"T-They are ignoring our ground troops! They're coming for us!"
"Shoot them! Don't let them get close!" Ordered the high commander standing behind the defenders.
They aimed their arrows, magic abilities, and repositioned their catapults, facing Irelda and Onstad's way.
"Shoot them now!"
The soldiers fired everything they got! But!
"Not so fast!"
"Halt!"
With Irelda's command, the Malayas halted behind her as Onstad stood directly in the line of fire. Onstad began inhaling air.
"Huuuuuuu..."
"T-That guy is..." The high commander worriedly observed Onstad continuously inhaling air, the arrows, and everything else is about to hit him and the others. That is until...
"...uuuuuuhk..." Onstad faced the projectiles as he uttered: "Ha!!"
Whooosh!!
"What?! Uwagh!"
"Waaa!"
Onstad released the air he gathered into a strong pulse of gust, the projectiles lost their trajectory as they got flung everywhere, the ones who are in the direction of the air pulse found themselves hitting their back against the ground, including the high commander who started screaming pathetically over a small, minor wound he received.
"Now!" Onstad shouted!
"Go!" Irelda followed suit, commanding her men and the others to charge, their loud cry echoed. "Immobilize them!"
"Masusunod!"
Onstad watched as the Malayas, and Irelda kept the weapons of the enemies out of their reach, tied their hands with the fabric Lyrica gave to Kael which he distributed to everyone. They found it somewhat against their will, but they were forced to end the lives of a few soldiers of Kruule who appeared difficult to subdue, unlike others.
Shortly after that, Onstad turned to exchange gazes with Kael and the others.
"We'll handle things from here!"
Kael bobbed his head in reply.
"It's time! Everyone!"
"Masusunod!"
The clip-clopping of countless horseshoes began resonating as Kael led the group straight for the northern gate. The long-range defenders atop the walls took notice of their movements.
"Hey, they're heading straight for the gate!"
"Shoot them!"
In response to that, Kael called out another Payapa's name.
"Payapa Kalasag, please!"
"You got it!" Kalasag replied as he took the steel shield hanging from his back. "Let's show them the power of Reilaea, men!"
"Right, Payapa Kalasag!" His men replied as they, too, have taken their shields from their backs.
"O former comrade of the great Reilaea, witness our unwavering loyalty and unbreakable will that protects our kingdom!" Kalasag's shield started glowing with light as he poured it with mana, the same thing was happening with his men. "With mighty shields in our hands, we shall lead Reilaea to victory and return home unscathed!"
They aimed their shields high as the projectiles continued to descend until Kalasag and his men uttered:
"Reilaea Vanguard!"