[ Narrative:
"The Byzan Army has appeared in the Neutral Region, led by General Vorkalth, a tyrannical dictator. Their intentions are to destroy Rivelune and rule over the entire region. It is imperative that immediate action is taken to defend against this force of darkness.
The army is well-equipped and highly trained, making them a formidable opponent. They also possess the aid of monsters on their side. But, the water spirit, Undine, has done her best to recruit able-bodied adventurers to join the defense effort, strategic plans have been put in place to counter their advances. Failure to act swiftly and decisively could result in catastrophic consequences for the Neutral Region.
As a result, Archibald and his party are traveling to Rivelune to ensure they can help however they can
The goal is to protect Rivelune, rescue the water spirit and prevent General Vorkalth from acquiring the power of the Aquos Chronicles." ]
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Archibald and his party successfully crossed the Rabastines and arrived at Rivelune, a large blue city surrounded by sparkling water and lush trees.
They traveled in a cart pulled by a land crawler, a more favorable option than a horse.
Lobo, a white wolf, joined the group as a new member.
Warriors dressed in red armor triumphed over the sword-wielding men of Rivelune village on the intricately designed bridge made entirely out of water and ice.
Both sides fought valiantly, causing sparks to fly and blood to spill.
"What?!"
Archibald and Lamperogue witnessed the battle from a distance, displeased by the sight.
"Hurry!"
They urged the land crawler to hasten its pace.
Rivelune's unwelcoming reception was a disappointment to them.
At Rivelune.
"Don't let a single one of them through!"
The leader of the Vanguard Forces, Rolo Gromtite, clad in armor and sporting an eyepatch, commanded his troops to prevent any opposing soldiers from entering Rivelune.
With a colossal sword in hand, he motivated his defending soldiers with a war cry.
As the commander, his duty was to ensure the number of opposing soldiers entering Rivelune was kept to a minimum.
In a separate area of Rivelune, a deafening explosion occurred, causing the opposing forces to scatter.
The blast sent numerous soldiers hurtling through the city like discarded toys.
This was the result of a woman who possessed explosive magical abilities.
Despite her innocent appearance as a young girl, she was a fearsome figure known as "The Crimson Witch." Her actual name was Felinela Grender.
"This is too easy, explosion is the only way!"
She said with an enthusiastic voice.
In the exterior sector of Rivelune, a man with brown hair and yellow eyes clad in dark red armor fought against the Byzan soldiers.
He displayed immense physical strength, spinning his spear multiple times before hurling it on a rectilinear path.
However, the spear suddenly curved, piercing the chests of six soldiers and throwing them off the bridge.
The man was surrounded by an array of weapons including swords, pole-arms, lances, and hammers.
"I only make the best weapons."
He said with a smug look. This man was a master blacksmith, Larc Salvatore.
The battle raged on in several parts of the city.
So far, no one really had the advantage. But to speak optimistically, the defenders of Rivelune had the upper hand.
"I beseech the grace of the Red Dragon's fury, that it may wash away my enemies with a grand wave of smoldering heat, [Crimson Detonation]"
Felinela, the Crimson Witch, aimed her staff, <
The resulting explosion eradicated twelve soldiers.
"With thy might of creation, I summon before me an axe!"
Larc used alchemy to create a large axe, which he used to slice about four enemies in half.
His mercilessness was necessary in battles like these.
"Nice work Larc! Let's send the heads of these soldiers back to their General!"
Rolo was grateful for Larc's timely assistance in the battle. He had been in dire need of it.
Rolo wielded a colossal sword with a crimson red blade and intricate designs. The sword had a golden hilt with a gem at the handle.
With one powerful swing, he shattered the chest of an incoming soldier.
Another soldier ambushed him from behind, but Rolo was quick to react and sliced off his leg instantly.
Despite having only one eye, Rolo was well-aware of his surroundings due to his experience in battles.
"Dammit!"
He realized no matter how much they protected the exterior sector, soldiers still found their way in.
He was frustrated, and the situation was slowly looking hopeless.
They could win this battle, but their main goal was to minimize damage.
Archibald descended from the skies with impressive acrobatics and drew his sword, <
With swift movements, he sliced through the armor of four soldiers, inflicting deep cuts on each of them.
He dispatched a fifth soldier with a single stroke, leaving the unconscious body on the ground.
It was worth noting that Archibald was careful not to kill any of his opponents.
Lamperogue successfully ambushed four soldiers who were running towards him in a straight line.
He used his shortswords to brutally slice off their heads, arms, legs and even cut some in half, resulting in a quick massacre.
Unlike Archibald, Lamperogue did not hold back and stained his face with blood.
His eyes flickered between their usual appearance and one resembling that of an animal.
After this, Archibald and Lamperogue nodded at each other.
"Boys! Who are you guys?!"
Running towards them amidst the chaos, it was the first thing Rolo said.
"We were sent here from the Tempest Fall guild in Pantoran, by Undine. I hope we're not too late," Archibald placed his sword back into its scabbard.
"What's our status?" Rumia asked.
"The eastern bridge is down and the outer walls are in shambles. But fear not, we've got a trustworthy defender holding down the fort near the Great Forest. However, we can't let our guard down just yet." Rolo replied.
"How can we help?" Lamperogue asked.
"We need to reinforce those walls and find a way to rebuild that bridge. The city's safety depends on it. So let's get to work and show those invaders what we're made of!"
"Alright!" Archibald balled his fist, "Let's do this!"
Rumia and Lamperogue immediately went in opposite directions. The former heading east and the former west.
About to depart, Archibald halted.
He noticed Lutessa was incapable of moving, what had her so incapacitated? The sight of blood.
"Tess! Are you okay?!"
"N-Not really, I-I-I can't..."
"You can," using his forehead, Archibald slammed it against hers.
"Ouch!" She cried out.
"Get your head in the game! A number of people need your help with recovering, your support magic will come in handy here!"
"Y-Yeah! I'll do that Sir Knight!"
She was greatly motivated by his words and actions.
Lutessa, motivated by Archibald and her desire to aid the wounded, joined the Support Magi.
During a recent attack on the western bridge, ten additional soldiers rushed into the exterior sector.
Archibald, utilizing his [Burst of Sound] technique, quickly eliminated the threat.
He did so with minimal harm, opting to incapacitate his targets through chest wounds or thumb removal.
Rolo and Larc observed Archibald's fight with the soldiers.
"One of Undineʼs recruits huh? The kid's got spirit," Larc expressed admiration for Archibald's strength, "Yes. But he's still a child, I'm not comfortable with letting him fight," while Rolo expressed discomfort with allowing a child to fight.
Meanwhile, Lutessa tended to the wounded, and Rumia supported the Rivelune warriors with revamp spells to enhance their abilities.
It was important to prioritize the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in combat situations, especially those who might be more vulnerable due to their age or experience level.
Therefore, it would be necessary to reassess the involvement of certain individuals in future battles.
Lamperogue jumped from one roof to another, and subsequently caught sight of four soldiers on the ground.
In response, he swiftly darted from the roof towards them in a surge of lightning, which made him appear as a zigzag streak of light.
The soldiers, on the other hand, witnessed a flicker of light which temporarily blinded them.
Lamperogue then proceeded to decapitate two of the soldiers and electrocute the remaining two with enough voltage to inflict third degree burns.
"We'll handle things here," Larc assured Rolo.
"Okay great, I'm counting on you."
Then, Rolo turned to face the remaining twelve warriors he had at his beck and call.
"Get ready men! We're going to help Fatima out!"
It was imperative that they proceeded with haste.
Their assistance was required by Fatima, who, despite her considerable strength, could not single-handedly safeguard the entire sector preceding the Great Forest.
The battle had just begun.