Later that day, just as sun began to dwindle. The couple emerged from the ground. Before they were allowed to leave, the guard Yonie pleaded them to pat snow onto his head.
Once they fulfilled their promise, they turned their attention to where they came from. Traces of their footsteps leading deeper into Green Jaw assisted their arrival.
Where Suth and Valentine inspected their warriors. Making sure everyone was prepared for the attack. Beast masters fastened heavy crates of explosives onto Cemtrin backs.
Beasts were up and lively, waiting for their instructions. Cold winds brushed over their bodies, sending not even a shiver down their spines.
The Variants weren't as lucky. They felt the Eteni wool starting to lose its warmth after so many hours outside in the cold.
Warriors stepped aside, making way for the tip of the arrow and his partner. Each one nervously watched their stride, hoping this time they would lead them to victory.
Right when they got to the front, Ophus was fully prepared. Their warriors, keen on survival. Air exited their lungs, carrying their fear with it. <
Encur arrived shortly after. Shoulder pads, chest plates, and knees decorated with fur proudly paraded as they walked. Tinzor gave the rest of the siege a thumbs up.
Telling they were ready. Ideo patted Ether's shoulder while walking away, gesturing it was their time to depart.
As he walked away, Ideo pointed at Ukaley and Reveria with two fingers while directing his hand up the right side of the mountain. Telling them they were in a team.
He did this on purpose, knowing there was romantic tension between them. Not for malicious purposes, but because he encouraged them to get closer.
Being alone with his battalion, Ether turned to look at them one final time.
"Don't fight for Digon. Fight for your families," he ordered.
Several minutes later. The first Sky Beasts took off. Hundreds of Infinus warriors lifted up to curse the skies above Frosticus' corpse with flying fury.
Warriors grabbed fistfuls of Sky Beast feathers, so they wouldn't fall off. As they flew higher up Digon, they quietly spread stories of those they've lost.
Ether overheard those that rode with him. The tales they said, the battles they fought. Onum Fall, Quill's end, the assaults, even the previous attempt for Digon. All fights where lives were lost.
In his mind, he carefully crafted perfect apologies for each one. But instead of saying them, he kept it to himself. He wanted to prove they would survive.
Once reaching a favorable height, Sky Beasts stopped. They began circling above. Perfectly camouflaging with the world snow around them.
-Ophus' perspective-
Hundreds of bows drew back. Hundreds of archers felt the tension in their strings. And shortly after, hundreds of arrows lit up the skies orange.
Burning hell directed its ugly head towards the unexpecting city below. Each arrow dug itself a grave while setting what it could on fire.
Instantly, Frosticus was alive. Warriors climbed up the walls and focused their attention on the attacking forces. Shock took over their withered minds as they watched both parts of the blade advance.
Without hesitation, they began to unload what they could. Explosives and arrows rained down in return. Evening skies hid the falling arrows under a blanket of darkness.
Right as they were going to land, shields shot up. Blocking the vast majority of arrows from piercing their skin. Except for the unlucky few.
Those that couldn't react in time found themselves injured, with an even smaller amount seriously injured. Regardless of who was struck, they were keen on winning.
"GIVE THEM HELL!" Ideo screamed.
On command, Cemtrin cocked their hands back then launched their explosives at full speed. They effortlessly traveled through the battlefield, until they reached near the walls.
Several large explosions rocked the walls. Light warriors fell to the ground as they were struck with the shock-wave. Shards of the explosive containers dug themselves deep into ground and barrier.
To their opposite side, Reveria drew back her arrow before letting go. It cut through the open air like a knife through paper, before piercing a warrior's skull.
In response, the Light Legion unleashed an even bigger barrage of arrows. This time in waves. The first wave went out, descending from the skies above.
Digon roared with frozen winds as it bragged its might. Silently watching from above as the arrows collided with shields.
While they were putting up defenses, the second wave took to the skies. This time, no one was expecting it. Just as the blade was lowering their shields, the second wave struck.
Ukaley couldn't react fast enough, unwillingly allowing the sharp tips to dig themselves into her. Reveria watched as her love interest got struck by various arrows.
"Shields up in front of us! I am not going to lose my Ukaley, not when I only recently held you in my arms," Reveria ordered.
As instructed, shields braced for the third wave. Reveria snapped the arrows in half, leaving the tips inside so her partner wouldn't be bleeding everywhere.
"Does it hurt?" She asked.
"Keep me tight. I'll fall by your side as my last honor to you," Ukaley instructed.
Pained to hear her response, Reveria took it as it was. She hugged her partner tight, lending Ukaley emotional support while they fought this siege.
More explosions from both sides rocked Frosticus' walls. Unlike last time, these explosions were causing structural damage.
Hundreds of flaming arrows brought dawn early as they fell down to incinerate what they could. By now, Frosticus seemed like a bright torch. Burning carelessly as the lurking attackers waited.
Vernair rallied his forces. Light warriors prepared themselves to confront the expected Infinus Legion once again. Unknowingly signing up to die as they got into position behind beasts.
Cemtrin and Yinmars took the lead. Strictly following the plan Struto had planned out, the same one that caused their original retreat. But unlike that siege, this one was to settle Digon's future.
Gates slowly began to open up. The free path down Digon faced away from the chaos of the battlefield. It was there where they would push them back.
Just as the first group of Yinmar and Cemtrin flooded out the massive gates, the shield unleashed fury. They shot arrows directed to the beasts.
Explosives went off again. Sections of the walls shattered. Parts collapsed and archers became buried beneath the debris of old Frosticus.
Seeing what was happening from above, the arrow began circling less and less. Infinus kept their gaze on the structures below. Variants held the other's hand, anchoring them into place.
Those who were standing were the first to fall. Frozen anthems of war rung through Digon down to Green Jaw. Where the hidden family listened.
"This is my cue!" Risk announced. "Hey, you. Guy with the funny-looking skirt, put me in your Cemtras' hand and throw me!"
An Encur beast master turned to look at the random Feral. "This is not a skirt, dammit."
"Well whatever. Just put me inside that beast's hand and tell it I'm a bomb or something!" Risk cackled.
Not wanting to disobey a foreign elite. The beast master obliged. He ordered the Cemtras to open its hand, allowing Risk to climb inside. Once he was secure, the beast master ordered it to throw.
Adrenaline pumped through his body as he flew alongside the arrows. Nearly a thousand arrows took flight alongside him, each and every one found a target and punished them.
Beasts crumbled and Variants ceased to resist. Death followed quick, but so did more forces. Struto and Vernair tried everything they could to fight back the overwhelming forces.
Retreat seemed more viable by the second. Enemy Sky Beasts walked out of their pens before raining flames set them ablaze. Feathers burned to a fine crisp as those that wore them tried to ease the burns.
Zegi and Thawed looked up, dazed by the sudden appearance of a flying Feral.
Risk began throwing his wee little poppers to the confused forces. Tiny yet powerful explosions threw warriors off balance.
Skies parted once again, giving way to more arrows. They viciously tore the warriors apart, beasts included. This was the combined fire from the shield and blade.
While his flight came to an end against a burning building, Risk could feel his blood pumping. The surge of energy he felt in such an unfamiliar place staggered him.
Deep down, Risk wished his pack was there. His original plan included them alongside him. But he couldn't complain since his plan came back in the next siege.
"The walls are almost down. Get ready for descent!" Ether ordered.
Once one last barrage of explosives crumbled their last lines of defenses, Infinus was ready to descend. Warriors jumped off, twisting their bodies into position as Digon guided them.
Snow followed them down the mountain. Winds kicked up, providing more drag weight. Slightly slowing down the descending warriors.
Pearl got up, head turned to her mate. She waved after making sure Ether was looking. Then she jumped. Digon was there to greet her.
He got up and followed his mate. Rapidly approaching the steep ground before shifting his body. Frosticus Revival awaited them.
And so were the heads of Struto and Vernair.