"ENOUUUUUUGH!!!!"
ZZRRRRMMM!!
A ball of light blasted into the town wall, burning through the timbers and evaporating half a dozen guards.
"STAND PROUD!!! STAND PROUD!!!" Unfazed, the men and women never stopped their chanting. Their only reaction was the drawing of weapons.
"FIIIIRRE!!" ordered Darton, launching the first shot directly toward the god.
A rain of arrows fell from the sky, all reaching the invading force. It wasn't volley after volley. It was one continuous storm. The archers fired in three groups, alternating one after the other, offering time to draw the next arrow while continuously pressuring the angels.
Ronner let loose as well. He hurled one javelin after the other, tearing through the rack of ten in under a minute. But his aim wasn't the god, but the angel captains with the golden emblem on their chests. The all too familiar sight filled him with disgust, triggering too many war memories to count.
"The orders haven't changed! Show them our mercy!" bellowed Iskar, casually swatting each arrow sent his way.
Grunting in response, the angels guffawed. Those holding the lanterns didn't bother moving. It was only half of the angel battalion, a mere twenty foes that charged ahead. Those with lanterns poured energy into the lanterns to create barriers of holy light, burning away all arrows that neared them.
The charging angels unsheathed their swords and bolted forward. With the energy of light, they sped past the trajectory of all arrows and reached the wall in seconds.
Expecting this, Darton and Ronner shouted in unison, "NOW!!"
BOOM!! BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!!
Just as the angels had grabbed the wall, readying their climb, the timbers exploded. All around the gate, patches of the wall became blazing infernos.
"Oh? They set their own barricade ablaze?" Iskar chuckled. "Blights will be blights, after all…"
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!! …
But the explosions continued. Plumes of smoke and burning wood rocketed into the sky from behind the wall. One after another, the town's many buildings were going up in flames.
"They… They dare–"
"YOU WILL FIND NO RESOURCES!!" Darton howled with laughter, "YOU WILL FIND NO CONVERTS! The townspeople have long abandoned their lives and homes, and we've all agreed to leave you with nothing! Only a failed campaign!!"
"You.. You PESTS!!!!"
"NOTHING!!! That's what you deserve, and that's all you'll get!" Launching another arrow, Darton leaned over the growing flames beneath him. "STAND PROUD!!"
"STAND PROUD!!!" The guards roared as they charged out of the flaming walls to confront the angels head-on. Ronner lept off the wall, leading them into battle as he took the nearest angel captain one on one.
Before Iskar could shout in response, he noticed something was off with Darton's arrow. It was too high. It fell perfectly behind the last row of lanterns and stuck into the dirt road. And once Iskar noticed what was different, he broke out in laughter.
BOOM!!
The charges tied to the arrow went off, finally dealing damage to the enemy lines. Though it was minimal, every archer on the wall shouted with the success.
"So? Is that the best you can do?!" Iskar cackled. "You've denounced me too many times.. Now I'll show you my mercy, personally!"
Darton had already shot three more explosive charges and was readying the fifth. However, the mad god suddenly disappeared from his sight.
"Huh… too bad." Dropping the bow, Darton drew two long daggers and slashed behind him. But both arms were instantly caught. And Darton's strength was nowhere near enough to free himself. "At least now…"
Ptoo. "... I can spit on you personally."
"BLIIIGHT!" Enraged again, Iskar swiped his leg into Darton. Bright light consumed Darton's armor as the kick beamed through Darton's torso, separating his body into two halves. "You… have wasted enough of my breath. Now perish, just as you pests deserve."
"I… stand proud..."
As Iskar let go, Darton's upper body toppled over the wall and into the inferno. Infuriated to see the man's legs still standing, Iskar kicked them over as well.
"DAARTOOON!!"
Iskar looked to his side, spotting a fully armored man climbing up over the wall. "You're second in command? Good. Now bow, and–"
"CRUX YOOUUU!!!" Ronner roared, disregarding his grave injuries. With greatsword in hand, Ronner charged, already knowing how it would end. "STAND PROOOOOUD...."
Ronner's sword never reached its target. Iskar was already behind him, carrying only Ronner's head.
"You heathens never learn. How dare you bite the hands of we deities!" Starting with a bellowing growl, Iskar roared into the night sky well lit by the blazing town. "DIE!! You shall all die! Only death can cleanse such sins!!!"
"YES! YOUR HOLINESS!!" The angels shouted in unison, finally letting loose. Those with lanterns drew their swords and joined the charge.
No quarter. No captives. Only death. All townspeople fought to their last breath, each standing proud in their own right. And they all smiled in the face of their killers, letting death be the first and last warmth they had felt that night.