"Finish this." That was what Hall last heard from the General as he fell. He looks up at the ground, his head moving up to see the full height of his creation.
Spikes reaching up to three meters. A great obstacle if he ever saw one and yet, he hears the sounds of the thunderous charge, intent on taking them out.
If so, it could only mean that this was planned. A plan to bait the general out, he looks up again, a plan that he could understand.
"Colonel! The men have finished looting everything!" As he nodded, the soldier ran up to him, his eyes still closed. The men depositing the rings on his side.
He then shakes himself out of his stupor. "Tell everyone to regroup and retreat."
The soldiers around him lock eyes. Hall just looks towards the hill to see infantry retreating and if he's right, that means those same men are advancing on their positions.
"All men, follow my commands! We retreat to the hill at all costs!" He shouts as he looks to his left, ten thousand infantry advancing on their positions, bayonet raised. They'll be slaughtered.
And with the cavalry on their right, hot on their trail. The only right choice was to push through the smoke and hope they meet an ill-prepared regiment.
"Bring the general! Protect him at all cost!" The men's eyes flash, his testament of sacrifice and power still stood, towering beside them.
The men congregate to his position, holding him as their center and so, with that done. Hall shouts "Break through them all. Our objective is the general's survival!"
"Yes, sir!" the men shouts in response as they thundered through the plains, leaving behind the carnage of dead mages, the blood flowing through the land.
"Sir! An infantry battalion up ahead!" A man shouts at my side. As I look up ahead to see an array of infantry, muskets aimed and raised.
"Protect the General! Charge them down!" Shields were then put up as gunfire explodes from their lines. Hall's men dying beside him as they thundered through.
Slashing and ripping their way through the lines as the world around them turns into dust and smoke, Hall's hand ache as he slashes his way, the shouts of his men and enemies coalescing into a murderous cry as he rips through the chaos, blood dripping off him and his saber.
"How is the general!?" He shouts behind him, his men wounded and battered as the men hold Damien in their arms. Their shields crackling under pressure as a five thousand infantry regiment appears before them, in grand lines, with bayonets raised with ammo loaded.
Hall just glares as he raises his saber up, "All men! Charge!" The men behind him roar in response, their thunderous charge drowned out by their screams as they smash against the lines.
Hall slashes down and a man screams, his shield cracking at the edges as a bayonet stabs against his barrier. He pierces him in his throat as another runs to his side.
He looks around to see his men unable to pierce through, locked in a fierce chaotic battle as Osterian cavalry pierces through the smoke, catching up to them as they slam against their rear.
"Fuck!" Hall shouts, his eyes surveying the field. Their charge halted and their rear compromised. The situation felt hopeless, but all he needs is to bring the general back.
"Cover me!" He shouts, an idea coming up to mind.
Only for a soldier to grab his shoulder, Damien in his arms as he says. "Victory and Glory."
Hall just looks at him, understanding filling his form as he takes Damien from his arms with a nod. "Victory and Glory."
The soldier the charges in through the battle, his ring lighting up in as he reddens his hand forward as he shouts, "Victory and Glory!"
With a single phrase, fire engulfed the Osterian line. The man falling off his horse as Hall and his men takes the chance, Damien in his arms as they charge through.
Taking whatever respite they had as he pierces through the chaos, his smile wide. Only to be met with another line of soldiers, muskets raised as they unleash a cacophony of gunfire.
Hall falling on his horse as it dies, arms around Damien as he rolls. Lines of gunfire erupting before him as his men die by the dozen, cracks crawling over his shield as he holds the young general in his arms.
The sounds of advancing soldiers erupt all around him as musket balls pierce through his shield, shattering it like glass.
"Fuck! This is it!? Dammit!" Another round of gunfire erupts, as it pierces through everywhere, his mind filled with nothing but pain as he loses consciousness. His last thought, the boy in his arms.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"Colonel! Infantry up ahead!" His adjutant shouts as Volk trembles, "Kill them all! Leave no one behind!" He pierces through the firing infantry, their sudden arrival leaving them unprepared as they cut through them like butter.
Volk, slashing and ripping his way through, arrives at the sight of chaos and carnage. His eyes redden at the sight as he shouts, "Save our soldiers! Leave no Osterian alive!"
The roar beside him was all he needed as he and his men charge through, leaving behind a sight of death and carnage as they slam his shield, ricocheting any fire against him as he rides.
Arriving at a Drissian officer, battered and wounded, holding onto a young man. He looks around the carnage as he steps down.
His men taking care of whatever soldiers were left.
His friend then arrives at his, "Shit, are we too late?"
Volk shakes his head, "No, the General is still breathing, Colonel Hall is severely wounded, his legs shot massively." He then stands up, Damien in his arms as he spoke. "Take all the magical rings on his horse. We'll need the loot."
Simon salutes, "Got it." He glances at Hall and Damien, his hand gesturing to his horse. "I'll take both of them with me. Get them patched up."
Volk acknowledges it as he hands over Damien, his smile ravenous as he steps over his horse, "I'll finish up the battle here, get them to safety."
"Got it." Simon nods before riding back the hill. A barrier around him.