On the western bridge in the exterior sector.
The battle went on.
"There are so many of them."
Lamperogue displayed a strategic move by holding out his two Cerulean-ranked shortswords as he retreated to back Archibald.
While not possessing any unique names, the shortswords' value was in its mana core which supported elemental mana, this made it a refined weapon in battle.
[It is recommended to consider the practicality of a weapon's mana core when choosing a weapon for combat.]
"Any ideas, Archibald?"
"Yeah Rogue, and it's an easy one too... We'll take down everyone of their miserable hides!"
"Well said."
Heading in opposite directions, Archibald and Lamperogue charged towards the soldiers.
Lamperogue's movements were swift and unpredictable, making it impossible for the soldiers to keep up with him.
He attacked them with lightning orbs that exploded into blinding light, leaving the soldiers incapacitated.
Then, he finished them off with a precise strike of his shortswords, resulting in instant death.
"More of them?"
He noticed more soldiers making their way across the bridge.
----------
In the eastern sector preceeding the Great Forest.
At the destroyed eastern bridge of Rivelune, the soldiers attacking the place utilized Handlers equipped with flame cores to cause destruction.
[Handlers] :: Popular nomenclature for magical firearms. It may also come in form of bows, crossbows or cannons.
The once lush and sparkling place was now filled with thick smoke, making it difficult to breathe.
Fatima and a small number of Magi were left to defend the bridge against the attackers.
To keep more soldiers from entering the city, Magi with with affinities for earth came in handy.
Their job was to create an earthen rampart.
This gargantuan rampart minimized the number of soldiers making entry.
"This is terrible."
Fatima stood atop the rampart.
A beautiful silver haired lady with charming blue eyes.
She wore an attire akin to a witch, it covered very little skin.
One would declare her most prominent feature to be the hat she wore on her head. It was similar to the ones worn by witches.
In her grasp was <
It had a voluminous green manastone at the tip of the stave.
"How's it going here?!"
Rushing into the scene, Rolo screamed from the foot of the rampart.
He was on the side opposite of the attacking soldiers.
"Rolo, you and your men need to get over the wall and suppress the gunner soldiers, now!"
Fatima instantly took charge.
"Alright, I like your style! Me and my men will handle the frontlines!"
Small openings were made in the rampart for Rolo and his man to cross over to the other side.
They jumped down into the waterway painted red with blood.
To put it simply, the now destroyed bridge normally spanned the waterway.
As such, it led to the Great Forest. But, with said bridge destroyed, the battle took place in the waterway.
This made it hard for soldiers to get into the city from the eastern bridge, because, after the waterway was sturdy rampart.
Now, the eastern defenders had the help of melee combatants like Rolo to take down the rangers who used Handlers.
Still there was a lot of fire in the Great Forest opposite the rampart.
Some stray flame bullets had also made its way into the eastern sector.
Basically, it was a wild fire.
The fight went on for about two minutes, the gunners didn't have a chance to project flame bullets.
Rolo's forces covered their distance quickly, as such, their only advantage was gone.
"Alright, now's the time.."
Fatima gripped her stave tightly, this caused the large manastone to emit waves of energy.
'The smoke is a problem. First, I need to focus on gathering as much cold air as possible, and then...'
She practicalized her words the moment she thought of them.
Holding out <
"Th-The colour of the sky... It's changing!"
"What is that?!"
A number of Byzan soldiers in the waterway were amazed and afraid.
They didn't know what to expect.
First, the sky's colour changed into an uncomfortable dark blue.
Then, stormy clouds blanketed the entire eastern region, burying the sun's radiance.
These dark and ominous clouds that appeared indicated a coming storm.
"Impressive!"
After dispatching another soldier, Rolo gazed at the skies.
The storm clouds assumed a swirling pattern which absorbed all the pungent smoke in the vicinity.
Then, with a swing of her stave, Fatima called forth rain.
A barrage of water droplets attacked the uncontrolled fire.
Slowly but effectively, the fire was extinguished.
It rained cats and dogs. Still, it took a surprisingly longer period of time to vanquish the flames.
"Phew, that's one bridge crossed... Pun intended."
A sigh of relief followed Fatimaʼs statement.
"As expected from someone of her caliber!"
Rolo smiled.
"They've got a powerful Water Magus on their side! We kill her first!"
A random soldier suggested amongst the majority.
They all roared in agreement.
Then, they had their handlers pointed at the top of the rampart, aiming directly at Fatima.
"Filthy soldiers! We won't let you lay a finger on her!"
The eastern defenders roared in agreement and charged forward to subdue the soldiers.
They ensured the gunners didn't have the chance to attack Fatima.
"Time for the main course."
There was enough space for Fatima to end things.
Indeed, Fatima was a powerful Water Magus.
But she also had another element up her sleeve being a Bi-elemental.
[Bi-elemental] :: Individuals who possess affinities for two elements. Not especially rare.
Fatima raised her hands to the skies.
"Great conqueror of the seas and spirits that worship the clouds' might, bring forth your guidance and cover this land in your ominous grace!! Answer my call, bring down the might of water and lightning! For your water washes away the transgressions of the ignorant and your lightning brings down the proudest mountains!! Surge forth, the imperial lightning beyond understanding! [Thunderstorm!!]"
She chanted the spell with the utmost precision and clarity.
The spell lasted for over a minute, during which time the surroundings turned dark and a rain heavier than before washed the lands.
Violent winds sprang up around them as lightning appeared in the midst of the dark clouds.
Among the sounds of the catastrophic rain, streaks of white lightning ran through the clouds, causing loud thundering sounds.
The lightning's power increased the more it charged in the skies, and the air itself expanded.
Fortunately, Rolo and his men were able to make their way out of the waterway and to the safer side of the rampart.
The lightning struck the earth with a resounding:
CRASH!!
The entire area was bathed in a glorious white light.
After the rain and lightning stopped, the entire army attacking them were reduced to smoking corpses.
Some were most likely clinging on to the little life they had left.
Surely, Fatima had proven her worth as a Magus.
[Thunderstorm], was an Amber-ranked spell.
--- Status ---
Name: Fatima Nuvelia.
Age: Women don't talk about it enough.
Title: Granddaughter of a previous Water Emperor, Graflus Nuvelia.
Magic: Grand Water Magus, Senior Lightning Magus.
...
Possessing an elemental affinity for Lightning meant she was a Deviant.
[Deviant] :: Individuals who possess magical effects outside the normal mana phenomenon branch.
There were six general elements —— Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Dark and Holy.
Lightning was outside these six.
Which also explains Lamperogue being a Deviant, as lightning was also his deviant element.
Archibald was a Deviant, as he could also use lightning.
Deviants were somewhat rare.
"D-Did we... Win?"
A random eastern defender asked.
The silence was deafening.
Only the laborious breathing of Fatima could be heard. She was exhausted.
"H-Hey! I think we did! We won!"
"This is good news!"
"We can catch a break now!"
Numerous praises and words of relief flew back and forth amongst the eastern defenders.
Depleted of energy, Fatima fell off the rampart.
"Fatima!"
Rolo rushed to her aid and caught her before she'd go splat on the ground.
Fortunately, she fell backwards.
It'd have been a disaster if she fell in the direction of the waterway.
------
Back at the western bridge.
Successfully, Larc assisted by Archibald and Lamperogue alongside a handful of defenders had subdued the Byzan soldiers.
The situation was more focused on healing the wounded.
They'd survived another day of facing the Byzan Army.