Town bells chimed. Citizens of Fenza'il were in utter chaos.
The townspeople were all fleeing, running back to their homes.
Cries of children echoed upon every direction.
Infantrymen ran towards the main gate - southwest of the city.
This was the sight they had seen once they stepped out the estate.
Sigmund just stood there, not even moving an inch. He couldn't. He was shocked of what he was witnessing. It's as if it had happened before.
Because it did.
It was the same thing that happened in Lyndal.
"It's the undead.." Sigmund whispered.
"Damn it. You really weren't kidding." Duke Fracas said.
The Duke drew out his sword and charged to the city gates.
"Lord Sigmund, what are your orders?" Harlan yelled.
"Gather our own men. We must defend Fenza'il at all costs!" Sigmund replied.
"I'm on it." Harlan said before he ran to the lodges.
After Harlan left, the young baron rushed towards the gates.
On his way, he saw the young sorceress who he met earlier beside him.
"It is too dangerous for you, Miss Glyphstein. You must stay behind." said Sigmund.
"The Arcane Order anticipated the encounter with the effects of the dark magic. I'm ready to face whatever it may be." Eupheria replied.
"Besides, magic can deal with magic, right?"
They arrived at the entrance, where the attack was occurring. Sigmund quickly went into the fight.
He drew his sword and stroke a ghoul's head.
"There's too many of them. Where are the others!?" said Sigmund.
The undead were restless. There was no doubt that they were outnumbered.
Fortunately, a powerful force was on its way that will aid them greatly.
The soldiers felt the lands shake as series of shockwaves toppled the numbers of the skeletons and ghouls by the entrance. It flattened nearly the entire wave of undead.
Sigmund's eyes widened when he saw what remained of the undead army. When he turned around, he saw Eupheria's eyes glowing a bright light.
He was surprised.
She then gazed at Sigmund, the light in her eyes began to fade.
"Magic can deal with magic."
...
"We were able to wipe out the remaining undead from the attack." the Duke said.
"This victory would not have been possible without the great display magic you have shown us, young sorceress." he added.
"I thank you for your--"
"There is little time for pleasantries, your Grace." Sigmund interrupted Duke Fracas.
"If I know the undead, that attack would not be their last."
Just as after he said it, loud growls were heard in the distance.
"Seems like they're already here.." Sigmund uttered.
A horde of undead creatures were visible in the distance, marching towards the city gates.
"Soldiers, on your guard." Duke Fracas said.
Legions of ghouls and skeletons were scattered in every direction.
Enormous vampire-like bats soaring through the air, hungry for human flesh.
Monstrosities, fiends, and abominations trampled everything in their paths.
All of them against the armies of Fenza'il.
Sigmund glared. He was already furious by the sight of them. His grip over his sword tightened.
Duke Fracas was taken aback. He's never seen such an army. "Just what are they?*
"No matter what they are, we have no other choice but to fight." Sigmund told him while looking ahead.
Then it suddenly started raining. It's been raining really frequently these days.
Is it the rainy season? Or does the earth know when its creatures cry.
The undead grew closer. Each step can be heard by any people nearby.
"Here they come.."
A ghoul leapt forward, attacking a soldier.
With a single strike, the soldier's head fell. It beheaded the man with its sharp claws - now stained in blood.
The soldier's body fell. It's head rolled on the ground, spewing blood.
It was clear that things will not be pleasant onwards.
...
"Ragh!"
Sigmund cut off an abomination's leg, making it fall, and stroke through its head.
They have already fought and defeated the first attack. Yet, another will take its place.
Most of the soldiers were already tired. Others fell in battle, fighting the undead. Some rose and fought to kill them as well.
Nevertheless, Fenza'il's forces were thinned.
However, the undead still continue its march towards the city.
"Is there even an end to this?.." said the Duke.
Sigmund replies, "These attacks won't cease if the dead keeps on standing back up."
"To capture and eliminate the necromancers involved here is our goal." he added.
"But..."
"There's too many undead.."
Sigmund looked at the living dead closing in.
"I'm tired of this." he uttered.
He held his sword up high, and stared up at the clouds.
A yellow glow emit from Sigmund's sword, reaching the tip of the blade.
Afterwards, a golden aura surrounded the soldiers around Sigmund. It healed their wounds and relieved their exhaustion.
They felt new.
Suddenly, the corpses at the front began to move. They all shook violently.
Then they almost immediately stood up and looked at the soldiers behind them.
A soldier saw his friend among the corpses stand up. He was in tears.
"M-Marcus.." he uttered.
The corpses, now staring at them gave the soldiers an uneasy feeling. It was surreal.
"Assume defensive positions! We shall not fall!" the Duke shouted.
"Yes sir!" the soldiers exclaimed as they created a shield formation, defending the entrance.
Marcus had stared at the soldier blankly. Its clothes and body were covered in blood.
"No.. you're not him. He's dead." the soldier exclaimed.
It then began to screech aggressively, followed by the other corpses, and attacked the guards.
They were already in a tight spot. For each ally that falls, an enemy rises.
But suddenly..
*thud*
Marcus was hit by a flaming arrow, setting him ablaze.
Soon, the other corpses were burned as well.
Burning rocks flew through the skies and crushed the undead closing in.
The guards were shocked and confused. When they looked back, the sight made them rejoice.
Sigmund looked back, and was overjoyed.
"Sorry for the long wait, my Lord."
It was Sir Harlan.
"Our men are assembled. We await only your command."
Sigmund snickered. "Harlan, your timing couldn't have been better."
Some of the men that came with Harlan approached Eupheria,
"Greetings, Miss Glyphstein. We are reinforcements sent by the League." said an alchemist.
Eupheria was delighted. "They must have known of the great danger ahead. Thank the Light."
"Good to see you, mages. Ready your spells, make haste."
...
"How are the injured?" Sigmund asked.
"They are being healed by the conjurers, Lord Sigmund." Captain Shal replied.
"And the barricade?" Sigmund asked.
Captain Shal replied, "Sir Harlan took control over the construction of the barricade, my Lord."
"All right, good work. You may go now." Sigmund said.
He then went to Duke Fracas, who was talking to a soldier.
"The artilleries are now ready, your Grace."
"We are expecting another undead strike. Prepare yourselves." said Duke Fracas.
The Duke then faced Sigmund.
"Are you alright, Sigmund? You have been pale since the fight." Duke Fracas asked.
He nodded. "I am. Just exhausted, that's all." Sigmund added.
"Maybe you should rest. You don't look too well." The Duke asked with a concerned look.
"I said I am fine." He replied.
"... well then.. if you need anything, just tell me." Duke Fracas remarked before leaving.
*sigh*
Sigmund sat down the fountain infront of the entrance and held his head.
Then, someone approched Sigmund.
"Are you alright, Baron Sigmund?" the person asked.
He raised his head and looked at the person. It was Eupheria.
"Being ill-tempered won't be of any help right now." said Eupheria.
Sigmund brought his head down again. "Apologies. It wasn't my intention. I'm just.. really drained."
In a second's time, Sigmund fell to the ground.
The mage panicked over and immediately called for shouted.
"Help! The Baron collapsed!"
...
Meanwhile, somewhere in the woods..
"Hm.."
"They're showing better frontier this time around..."
A terrifying smirk formed on its face.
"...How about something interesting?"
The mysterious person waved its hand in front of him. A green glow began to emit from his hand..
"Let's see how they handle this."