Faith and Riu moved swiftly through the dense forest, their path lit by the faint glow of the moon. The night air was cool, and the silence was broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves.
As they continued to the portal gate, Riu could hear many footsteps approaching not far from them. She gave a nod to Faith, and she then put on a red cloak. They then hid behind a rock right before the footsteps came closer.
The kingdom's army would march in front of them towards the portal gate, unaware of both of their presence. The captain who led the march was riding on a horse-like creature, marching from the front and directing the men. Riu's eyes then widened when she saw the captain.
"Is that..." Riu muttered.
Faith noticed Riu's sudden change of expression "Who are you looking at?"
Riu points to the captain "The one leading them. That's Shigeoka Kenji. The captain of the king's elite guards"
Faith's eyes widen as well, and then she looks at the captain "Seems Priad has drawn a lot of attention" She then clenches her hands "Damnit. Priad won't stand a chance. I can't let him die by someone else's hands"
An Armenthian soldier was then seen riding toward the captain on horseback. She gave a bow to the captain and began talking with him.
"Captain. The Akadian soldiers have just reached the portal and are trying to destroy the barrier"
Kenji was taken aback by the news "This quick! How did they find out where it is?"
"I don't know. Our garrison there is currently engaging them, and they have also reported that several Armenthian rebels are aiding them"
"Hmph, in that case, we must make haste to the portal. Shinaka, prepare..."
Suddenly, an explosion could be heard, but from a certain direction. The soldiers panicked, yet remained professionally composed and prepared themselves for any kind of attack.
"What...Where was that explosion?" Riu muttered quietly yet worried.
"That wasn't an explosion" Faith replied, then turned to look at Riu "It was a cannon shot"
A projectile could be seen in the sky, flying over all of them and landing on top of a cliff not too far from where the army was marching, just before it exploded. The explosion then causes a landslide that's heading straight towards all of them.
"Everyone, out of the way, now!" Kenji ordered.
However, it was too late. The landslide had already reached them and most of the army was swallowed away by the rocks that were headed toward them. Kenji, Shinaka, and several soldiers were able to jump away safely to a nearby solid ground, but all of them ended up on opposite ends of the stable ground to one another.
Riu and Faith were unfortunately also caught in that landslide, but thanks to Riu's quick thinking, she was able to carry Faith out of the landslide's path.
"Geez, that was close" Riu said as she put down Faith.
"Looks like Priad isn't completely powerless after all. That means we still have a chance" Faith replied, then started running in the direction of the portal "Come on. We can still kill the bastard before them"
Riu chuckles a little, before following Faith. A little amused at Faith's unwavering spirit to accomplish her vengeance. She then stops when she suddenly hears a familiar sound. A sniper fire coming from a certain direction.
When she looked back, one of the surviving soldiers fell to the ground. The others then quickly form a defensive magical barrier around them, as they scramble for cover. Riu's eyes then glowed up, as she seemed to be happy.
"Hey, Riu. Hurry up!" Faith calls from afar.
"Oh, right"
Riu returns her focus to the present and continues to follow after Faith, leaving the army behind them. They both quickly ran as far as they could, away from them. Yet, Riu's attention seems to return to the sound of the sniper shot. Wondering if he was also there.
Sometime later, they would reach the portal gate. Both of them were exhausted but were still in high spirits as they were getting closer to their goal. Faith gasps for a moment, before looking at the portal gate happily.
"Finally. He's on the other side" Faith clenches her hands "All I have to do is cross this portal and kill him. We're almost there" She then turns to Riu happily "Riu, come..."
Faith pauses, as she sees that Riu is looking back at the disaster they were just in. She then remembers that Riu fought a trooper who was using a sniper rifle. Faith doesn't completely understand what Riu is feeling, but she knows that Riu seems to be anxious about the trooper that she fought back then.
After a while, Riu turns to Faith with a regretful look "Faith, I know I promised to help you, but..."
Faith cuts her off with a sigh "Go. That trooper isn't going to kill himself" She replied with an annoyed tone before she looked back at the portal.
Riu gave a thankful smile to Faith "Thank you" Then she looked back, away from Faith "Good luck, partner"
"Hmph. It's not like I needed your help to begin with" Faith replied before she stepped inside the portal.
Faith is now gone, leaving Riu alone. She could then hear more sounds of explosions and gunfire from where she was looking. She smiled excitedly, before deciding to run toward it. Hoping she would meet him there and have a rematch.
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Kenji reorganizes the army as they continuously come under fire by the Akadian snipers. The magic users who formed the defensive barrier couldn't protect the entire army, and some of the men died thanks to the shots. Kenji then looks at Shinaka who is on the other side of the stable ground that is separated by the landslide, along with several soldiers.
"Lieutenant Mori!"
Shinaka looks to Kenji "Captain, hang on. We'll be right there to help you"
"No. I need you and your men to go through the portal and help the garrison. We'll come after you as soon as we deal with the Akadians. Go!"
"Right!" Shinaka gave an affirming nod, before looking to the men beside her "Let's go!"
Shinaka and her men continue on to the portal as fast as they can. Leaving Kenji and the survivors to stay and hunt down the Akadians. Kenji took out his sword and raised it up in the air.
"Let's go. Show them the might of Lamria. Follow me!"
The kingdom's soldiers screamed in high morale. They then charge towards the Akadian snipers alongside Kenji. Even on foot, their speed was on par with a horse, as they made their way through the forest to the cliff in the distance. Sniper fires kept coming towards but this time, none of it seemed to be able to hit the running soldiers. Yet they kept on firing, regardless, trying everything in their power to stop them.
When they were near the cliff, several Akadian troopers could be seen on top of the cliff. They started shooting their automatic rifles towards the approaching kingdom's soldiers. But it did little to stop them as they climbed the cliff quickly and easily.
The troopers and the soldiers began fighting in close combat, and it was clear that the troopers were outmatched by the kingdom's soldiers' fighting skills. Several of the troopers who were holding sniper rifles were running away from the combat, as the other troopers who were using melee weapons continued to hold them back.
Kenji quickly dashes through the melee troopers, then jumps high towards one of the retreating troopers "I got you now, Akadian scum!"
"Not so fast!" An Armenthian warrior quickly blocks Kenji's sword with her spear. Standing between the targeted trooper and Kenji.
Kenji widens his eyes as he jumps back, away from the Armenthian "Y...You're..." he then regains his composure and use his battle stance again, preparing himself to face the warrior.
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Riu goes into her battle stance as the kingdom's soldiers stand beside Kenji and prepare themselves for battle. The trooper behind her, 553, then pointed his sniper rifle at her.
"So, you came after all"
Riu smiled as she gave a lurk at 553 "I couldn't miss out on our rematch after all"
"Well, you picked the worst time for a rematch. Then again, whose side are you on?"
One of the soldiers dashes towards her, but Riu quickly disposes of him "For now, yours. I can't let anyone interfere with our rematch"
553 returns the favor by shooting another soldier to her right "Weirdo" he said before running away to gain some distance between him and the attacking soldiers.
Trooper 553 then stopped next to several other troopers who were firing at the kingdom's soldiers. One of them stood next to 553.
"Is that the Armenthian warrior you were talking about?"
"Yup"
"She's pretty wild, huh"
"You don't say" As 553 said that, a soldier was sent flying away thanks to Riu "Keep supporting her. If everything goes well on our end, then 117 shouldn't have any problems bringing down the barrier"
"Right" The trooper gave an affirming nod.
The battle continues as both side seems to be equally powerful now. Riu, lent her strength for the troopers to fire on the kingdom's soldiers from afar. Kenji also simultaneously fights Riu while commanding his men.