Rako and Tuko returned, informing that there is a sturdy building capable of withstanding a Homa attack. Judging by its interior, the building was a town hall where they gathered and voted on elder's decisions that disapproved of. The large building had survived Homas attack with only the left side slightly damaged.
"Are you sure it's safe there?" Glok asked to confirm.
Rako nodded. "Tuko and I have already gone inside and checked it. I'm sure the building can be a temporary shelter while we fix the hole in the protective dome," he explained.
Ailord returned, bringing two adult men who were holding onto him like frightened children. He set them down with the other elf residents, scanned once more to make sure nothing was missed, and faced the others. "How? Have you found it?"
Glok nodded. "Yes, the building is sufficient as a temporary shelter. What worries me is how they will protect themselves in there if we all leave."
Ailord racked his brain, considering various possibilities. However, he needed everyone to help him close the hole or they would be overwhelmed.
"I'll stay and guard them," Tuko said suddenly, surprising them.
"Are you sure?" Glok asked to confirm.
Tuko nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. I'll stay and protect them. You can go and close the hole. Besides, my expertise is in close combat, not long-range. I won't be much help there, but I can protect them in the building."
Glok was silent, thinking for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. "Alright, we'll take them there, then go to the wall."
Without further delay, they all ran following Rako and Tuko while protecting the kingdom's residents who kept looking around with mixed feelings. The sight of Homas flying above them, the fire now consuming every building, the sound of explosions and blasts, and the bodies of their fellow elves—all of it made the elves clench their fists, vowing to avenge this someday.
On their journey, they encountered only three Homa attempting to annihilate them. But instead of achieving victory, they faced death, destroyed by fire and left abandoned without anyone coming to their aid.
For some reason, most of the Homa bypassed them and sped toward the blessing area, causing them to worry about the elders and the mixed forces. They could not delay any longer.
Once they arrived at the building with three main protruding sections, where the left part of the building already had a large hole in the roof reaching halfway up the wall, the residents hurried inside after expressing their thanks. Tuko stood at the entrance, pulling out two brass knuckles from his inventory and putting them on.
Teena approached, casting magic on the building, providing it with protection and reinforcement spells that consumed a significant amount of mana. Her breathing was slightly labored when she finished, smiling as she saw the building now capable of protecting the kingdom's residents.
Glok quickly approached, transferring his mana to Teena through a handhold, surprising her and earning her thanks.
"Take good care of them, we trust you," Glok said, patting both of her shoulders several times, encouraging her.
"Certainly, I will do everything I can to keep them safe," he replied confidently.
Glok nodded once more, stepping back and looking towards the wall where several explosions were happening. "We will go now, hold out until we finish and stop this war, understood?"
"I'll be fine, Glok."
Without saying anything more, they began running towards the wall, leaving Tuko who still watched them while waving. Ailord looked back one last time before finally increasing his running speed to arrive faster. The system had informed them that quite a few Copperhaven knights were already on the wall, and Ailord wouldn't let them take over.
Reyn looked back again, surprised to find them already blocking the path to the hole with three rifles aimed at them. Several Homa were also seen hovering not far behind, standing there, waiting for them to come out. He clicked his tongue in frustration, much preferring if the Homa attacked them instead of waiting like this.
"They're smarter than we thought," remarked one of the elf soldiers.
"Of course, they are the main forces of Copperhaven. There's no way they could conquer the dwarves if they didn't have brains. Competing against the dwarves is a sign they have good strategies or a good leader," responded another elf soldier.
"A good leader to kill, yes."
"Reyn, what should we do now? We could shoot arrows through the open top," Heyla suggested while preparing her arrow.
Reyn thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, we can't. Our arrows are running low, and I'm sure those Homas will deal with any arrows that come their way. That's why they're daring to leave the top open like that. I believe they're trying to deplete our arrows, then finish us off," he explained.
"Then what else can we do? Use close combat? We'll be destroyed facing their new weapons. How did they find those weapons anyway?" asked an elf soldier, frustrated.
"How do you think? By enslaving the dwarf race, of course. Without them, there's no way those humans would have the capability to create such terrifying weapons."
Reyn stared at her sharply. "Copperhaven, Nola. Not all humans are like them. They are traitors ungrateful for peace. Don't lump them all together."
The reprimand made the female elf fall silent and nod. She didn't mean to generalize humans, but seeing what had happened made her despise them.
Reyn understood that. He also wondered what they had done to deserve this. However, when it came to the Copperhaven kingdom, there was nothing to question. All they needed to do was hold out, then strike back so that kingdom wouldn't repeat its actions.
Suddenly, there was an explosion behind them. They looked back, shocked to find an iron Construct that made Reyn and Heyla's eyes widen. They knew Ailord had been able to move since they saw him jump out of the wall, but seeing how he fought directly, easily destroying the Homas, they realized Glok's words were true.
Ailord grabbed one of the Homas and threw it at another Homa. As he landed on the wall, he deliberately slammed down, creating a massive shockwave that pushed back the shield knights, causing two of the riflemen to be crushed by the heavy, large shields. Their helmet armor couldn't withstand it, shattering and crushing their heads as the shields hit them.
In just a moment, the Copperhaven knights who had been giving them trouble were dealt with by Ailord.
He walked towards Reyn and Heyla, with Reyn shouting for Ailord to dodge.
The last rifleman pulled the trigger, hitting the back of the iron Construct with a triumphant smile on his face. However, when he heard the heavy footsteps, his eyes widened with fear. The orange light turned towards him, approaching as he stepped back, cursing his rifle for taking too long to reload.
When the rifle was finally ready to fire again, Ailord was already right in front of him, just a few centimeters away with the rifle's muzzle pressed against his chest. The knight couldn't pull the trigger, trembling at the sight of the unfamiliar Construct that wasn't supposed to be possessed by any other race.
"W-who are y-"
Without being able to finish his sentence, the metal fist struck his face, sending him flying backward and off the wall, disappearing below. The elf soldiers stood in silence, unsure if this Construct was a friend or foe. Only when Reyn stepped forward and said, "Ailord! Didn't you say you couldn't move?" did they realize he was an ally, and a collective sigh of relief escaped their mouths. They hadn't noticed they were holding their breath since the beginning.
"Its energy was replenished by the previous cannon attack," Ailord replied as he approached.
"So you took that hit and still survived?" Reyn asked incredulously. That cannon strike should have been able to destroy a monster at the Golden Core level instantly, but it didn't destroy the Construct in front of him? Reyn grew more suspicious, wondering if Ailord could be a secret weapon from Copperhaven used to gain their trust.
"I'm still standing before you, aren't I?" Ailord responded, looking ahead at the Copperhaven forces, which seemed more numerous than before. Fortunately, their Constructs had been destroyed, visible from the wall, lying helpless with flames still consuming them fiercely. "They're still moving," he muttered, observing how the Copperhaven soldiers continued to advance despite being decimated by Elven's Heart, as if they had no fear of death. "Are they truly alive?"
Reyn stepped beside him, observing the horrifying scene. "That's Copperhaven for you. A group of people who don't value their lives, all with the same goal: to conquer the continent. They fear other races will enslave them again, which is impossible now. We've long since made peace and won't return to those dark times." A heavy sigh escaped his lips. He turned to Ailord and asked, "So, will you side with us? After all, they are your race."
The elf soldiers were shocked and immediately drew their arrows, which Reyn quickly stopped.
"Save your arrows. None of us here can harm him."
Hearing that from Reyn, the prospective leader of the elf forces, made them feel weak. If this Construct planned to kill them, there would be no point in resisting.
The images of dead civilians, the beautiful buildings now ablaze, the war filled with blood, smoke, explosions, screams, shouts, and cries, all flooded his mind. Even behind his helmet, he could still smell the horrific stench. Ailord clenched his fists tightly, staring intensely at the forces ahead. "This is no longer about race or which side we are on. It's about the safety of those suffering in this so-called war. No matter who they are, I will save them, even if they are part of the enemy."
Reyn smiled. "That's enough for me."