"Glok!" Reyn called out as they arrived.
Glok took a deep breath after climbing more than fifty steps. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this exhausted. His entire body ached and was numb. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on, despite saying he could still fight earlier. But he had to appear strong, didn't he?
However, it wasn't just him. They all looked fatigued. The weariness was evident on their faces, and seeing the vast Copperhaven forces added to the weight on their shoulders several times over.
"How are we supposed to face all of them? We're not even a thousand, and they have over a hundred thousand," Rako said, leaning on the parapet with both hands to support his nearly collapsing body.
"That's why we can't let the kingdom's wall fall into their hands. Only by holding this can we survive and have a chance to win," Reyn replied, already preparing an arrow on his bow. Several Homa emerged from a large airborne vessel shaped like a capsule, with visible machine parts on its body. Hot steam billowed from the four large copper pipes on the left and right sides.
Seeing this, Reyn's resolve hardened. "We can't afford to lose hope now. If we stand our ground, we can protect our people and our home."
As Ailord joined them, his presence brought a glimmer of reassurance. They might be outnumbered, but with Ailord's strength and determination, they had a fighting chance. The elf forces braced themselves, ready to defend their kingdom to the last breath.
There were two propellers located within the wings, spinning rapidly with a noise that could be heard all the way to the wall, drawing their attention to the large ship painted in a mix of white and brownish-gold. The emblem of Copperhaven's main forces was prominently displayed on the front deck of the ship.
A sound like metal clashing emanated from the now wide-open cargo bays on both the left and right sides, where Homas emerged and flew toward the breach.
Ailord stood silent, wondering if there might be someone else from Earth. If Copperhaven had truly developed these vehicles on their own, they needed to capture the inventor to prevent the creation of even more powerful and terrifying vehicles. This development was too rapid for a magical world that had never seen advanced technology.
However, there was something odd. He couldn't see the airship of the last Commander. That airship seemed to have vanished, completely absent from the front lines.
"We have to get there before they get in!" shouted Reyn, already running towards the breach with Heyla and the other elf soldiers.
Glok had run several steps but stopped when he saw Ailord standing still, staring ahead. "What's wrong?" he asked. He couldn't see Ailord's face, but he could guess what Ailord wanted to do. "You want to destroy it, don't you?"
Ailord turned to him. "How did you know?"
"Because whenever you arrive on the battlefield, you always face the threats that could become significant dangers," Glok replied with a grin. "Go ahead, we can handle this. Besides, that's why you're here: to deal with those we might not be able to." Glok then continued running to catch up with the others, leaving Ailord still standing, contemplating the system notification that indicated there were over a hundred souls aboard the large airship.
He weighed whether he truly had to kill them all. But recalling what had already happened, Ailord prepared to leap. Suddenly, his body was yanked backward and thrown into a pile of carts filled with food supplies. From the left, a large knuckle made of copper retracted back to its owner, connected by a long chain.
Ailord looked in that direction and saw a figure he hadn't expected to appear and stop him.
"So, you really are our enemy..." He said softly, with a bitter expression hidden behind the helmet. He rose to his feet, meeting the gaze of the same beautiful pair of eyes that still managed to make his heart beat faster. However, now his feelings were mixed with a desire to help Veyrain or listen to his feeling.
"Sorry, I can't let you do that," she replied, looking as if she didn't want to be there. Her fists clenched tightly in front of her body, ready to confront the figure before him. But not with her heart.
"And what? Allow the elves to suffer? While they have never done anything to us, humans?"
"You don't understand! They will enslave us again like before! We have to stop that before the human race suffers again," she explained, sounding so desperate to convince Ailord. If possible, she didn't want to fight him at all.
Ailord began to step closer. "Where do you know that from? The past? Why are you still trapped there while the world has been moving forward? Aren't you worried that your actions will only invite it to happen again? Because let me tell you, being trapped in the past is the most tormenting thing." With one stride, he appeared in front of her, pulling his right hand back and swinging his fist straight into her face.
The girl closed her eyes, bracing herself for the blow that nearly killed her brother. But all she felt was a strong gust of wind. She opened her eyes to see Ailord holding his hand in the air, then lowering it.
"Go back there, I won't disturb or try to stop you. In return, don't interfere with what we're going to do here," Ailord said, turning away and walking towards the kingdom's wall.
The copper knuckle tightened around his hand again, its chain elongated and visibly taut, ready to pull him back.
He stopped in his tracks, taking a deep breath. "Are you sure?" He turned around, walking towards her with intimidating steps that made her take a step back. He continued until he was just inches away, lowering his face towards hers, where he could now clearly see those beautiful eyes. There, Ailord could see, there was no desire for a fight, only a tumult of emotions. "If you really want to stop me, hit me now."
Ailord waited, truly hoping she would do it so that he could severed something they both felt towards each other. He also didn't understand why he could feel it when they had just met, but one thing was certain: these feelings were not good for two people from opposing sides.
Before either of them could do anything, several Copperhaven knights came from behind her, while several elf soldiers came from behind Ailord. Each had been ordered to assist them, which soon resulted in Copperhaven knights shouting, "Help the Vice Captain! Kill the elves!" Followed by the elves shouting, "Help the Iron Construct! Eliminate the Copperhaven knights!" And a large battle ensued.
Amidst it all, the two of them still stared at each other, silently watching each other with increasingly tumultuous feelings in their hearts. With the assistance, they were even more unsure of how to act, especially because they didn't want to be seen as traitors. This was especially true for Ailord, who for now was still a stranger. Just a small mistake and he would be more suspected.
Therefore, the girl kicked him away using body strengthening magic. Even so, it still made her legs feel numb, as if kicking a large and heavy stone. At least they had to make it look like they were fighting to avoid suspicion, but seeing Ailord kneeling not far in front of her made her worry.
She looked to where Walker's armor was, finding his body still black with the same crust. Her eyes widened, realizing that Ailord had not fully recovered and was only slowing the spread of Death's Touch. She wanted to run there, give him a healing spell to alleviate the pain he was now feeling. But the Copperhaven knights were still around, cheering to assist him, which only made her feel more pressured.
Reluctantly, she ran over, delivering a strong blow to Ailord's chin, causing him to stagger backward with the knights cheering, "The Vice Captain successfully pushed back the Iron Construct!" She winced in pain, hoping Ailord was okay, grateful that her blow sent him into one of the buildings, where they would be more hidden.
"Ailord, are you okay?" she asked as soon as she arrived.
But Ailord twisted his body and tripped her, causing her to fall down. Ailord rushed closer with his right hand clenched tightly, ready to strike the face that was currently enduring pain. "You've finally made a choice, because honestly, I didn't have the courage to do it."
In his mind, he had already struck her face with her fist, but in reality, his hand remained in the air, refusing to come down. Especially when he felt magic flowing in through Walker's damaged part. Ailord glanced in that direction, finding the hand he remembered so well, feeling soft and warm as it delivered healing magic. A faint greenish light could be seen, softly glowing with beautiful particles floating around them.
"I'm sorry, I had no choice. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to heal you," she said with a smile.
Ailord's forehead furrowed, his chest feeling as if it were tightly entangled by thick iron chains. "Why?"
"Because I, too, am incapable of doing it."
At that moment, the roof of the house collapsed, startling them, with Ailord immediately shielding her, ensuring that none of the debris from the building fell on her, that felt so heavy and painful.