Fred and Otto ran through the halls as the palace rumbled from artillery fire. Chunks began to fall from the ceiling. Walls cracked from explosions, glass shattering, and floor began to crack. Fred stared at the wounds on the palace. He became angry this very structure his family's crowning achievement to only see it destroyed. 'The Heart Stone should of been healing the damage as it was designed?' He threw his bag down leaning against the wall. Otto looked confused, "Come on we got to get out of here?" He protested to this defeat. "What's the point Otto? We helped these events unfold we were willing to sacrifice souls to that sloth of a king? And for what?! Karma has seen fit to make us suffer! Look around this place is falling apart we won't make it to the secret passage we're gonna die here!" Fred exclaimed angrily. "So you admit defeat before we even try?" Otto slumped his bag over his shoulder. "Come on you miserable goat! Let's escape!" Fred shook his head. "No! I'm sorry old friend. I can't let this place fall. The King Slayer crippled this palace we saw that ourselves. I must save this structure from destruction it's my purpose!" Otto sighed in annoyance at Fred's proclamation.
"Fine! What do you want to do then?" Otto asked. "Grab our tools and we head to the Heart Stone! It's the only way to save the palace. We have to save the people in this palace!" Fred stated with conviction in his voice. He needed to regain his honor. He then rummaged through his bag and pulled out a tool belt and clasped it to his waist. He lugged the big bag over his shoulder and began to run towards his goal to save the Heart Stone.
Otto stood motionless in shock. He buried his face into his hands. "Son of a bitch will be my death…to hell with it!" He then ran to catch up to Fred.
/////////////////
Cornelius stood looking at the fireballs coming down on the roof of the palace. He and everyone stood staring out. The oculus over the gate. "Sword King has come for his bounty…Red Demon was right. We have no defenses the palace is crippled." He stated the obvious and became angry, he was watching his men fight and die at the gate. "I need to get out there…" he said turning to the rest. Old Lord and his sons sat staring at a map with the nobles, and the Pride Chief. Whistler sat in the corner with one of his mercenaries.
He was sipping a drink nonchalant. "Well seems you got yourself into this mess? Easy to take the palace it seems, but you lack the power to keep. Anyone else find this ironic?" He stated with a smug tone. Old Lord scoffed, "My aren't we chatty now that your head has inflated. You really think your walking out of here alive as well? Seems this incursion shows where we all stand in the eyes of the Void Faction!" He spit through gritted teeth. "Oh please! I'm not worried. The King needs me to make his plan work. And even if you killed me here wouldn't change what happens? You all need me! My city produces the power to help you cultivate. Besides the nobles here all in this room are a warrior that use chi. And therefore slaves to the addiction of the stones. So yes my head as swelled!" Chirp took another sip of brandy. Cornelius said nothing as he approached the table. "So what should we do?" He asked. "Simple. We use what we have. Ballistae's are able to be manually used. And we put Flame users on the roof sending back a volley. While we gather our remaining forces at the gate. Just assume they breach it. The forces out there outnumber us all. So we use a narrow battle ground on the bridge. We use the sides to help thin them out creating a bottle neck" Cornelius nodded. "Okay we could put archers behind us and rain arrows on the ones who are lucky enough to breach further thinning them before meeting them on the bridge?" Cornelius suggested. Old Lord nodded. "We also need arial support. I'll have Gust and Bolt user Bird Folk fly above and raining down attacks. Do you have any Terra users?" Chief nodded, "Quite a few. Most back home are Terra users. I brought at least ten with me. What do you have in mind?" He asked Cornelius. "We make false ground around the sides of the bridge. It would be tricky to pull off. It has to remain solid till the earth is made to collapse?" Cornelius explained. Chief scratched his chin. "It could work. I would also suggest we reinforce the walls then as well with spikes in case they climb over? My men are versatile with spells and can easily forge anything from earth. Their very experienced in combat I trust their judgement on what would work and what won't" Chief explained. Cornelius nodded. "Alright well we do what we can. If anything perhaps they also provide artillery boulders towards the army" Cornelius scratched the bottom of his beak. Old Lord spoke up breaking his train of thought. "No one is coming to help us. Remember that. I have no way to get my army here nor does he. We have to make do with who and what we have. Which brings me to your friends. We could use their help here" Old Lord protested clenching a fist. "No. Red Demon was right he was here to kill the king. If helps then we look weak. They can't be the solution, but we must be. We prove something today that this realm is its own. Fuck the Void Faction! Can we agree we want independence?" Cornelius asked the ones present. All pause. He felt that this needed to be said. Betrayal was a certainty with Chirp. Cornelius needed to know where they stood.
Old Lord and Chief Pride nodded as they all looked a the nobles. They merely nodded, "Let's go!" Shadow Cat broke the silence. They then left the study and headed to mobilize. Chirp remaining seated and poured a drink for himself and his man. "Fools. They will all surely die. After you finish that drink I want the men vigilant. They should make ready for betrayal from either them or the Sword King. You might be looking at the new king here if we play our cards right!" He said toasting to himself before draining the glass.
Cornelius and the others got mobilized taking the lances, shields, and arrows from the armory. Cornelius put on a helmet and gathered his men. Archers took positions as the rest made a line of shields. They pointed the lances forward and waited. Cornelius called his men from the gate that remained. Chief ordered the Terra users to make preparations. They molded the earth to extend to the palace where the archers were. The earth they created was thin but stable. Bird Folk with elements of Bolt and Gust flew to the roofs. Old Lord's men capable of using Flame were on the roof as well making ready with laying out quivers and bows. To use in the event of conserving chi.
Cornelius stood in front of the mixed raced army showing unity that he longed to see the realm become. He looked at them all in their eyes giving them all a nod. He turned back held up the shield completing the shield wall. The make shift gate started to splinter. And then exploded.