As they exited the underground building, they were met with a surprising sight: a massive battle between soldiers from Nessa's army. Given the scattered military forces, according to the officer's report, it made no sense to Acheron. Could it be a rebel counterattack?
With no time to waste, they hurried to find safety.
"Let's go, stick close," Acheron urged. In the dim light, they moved towards the southern gate, catching the attention of humans and demons who had fled the underground facility.
Facing unexpected enemy attacks, they focused on survival, cutting down any threats.
Among the fallen bodies, Acheron recognized some he had freed, including a giantess.
They found a chaotic scene approaching the gate: humans and demons locked in combat from both sides. Outsiders tried to enter the city, while former prisoners sought to escape.
Humans slaughtered the demons that used to be their captives; the Nessus soldiers rushed to their people's defense.
The Nessus army had not anticipated encountering more of its captured people here, as it was focused on other fronts. The main gate was heavily defended, and most of its soldiers were occupied elsewhere. Yet the ones in Sigilla were driven by a need to avenge their fallen comrades.
"What do you think you're doing?! Standing around!," a voice bellowed behind the startled demons. It was the elderly woman with sheep legs, the same one Acheron had spoken to in the dungeon's depths.
"Our escape route is that way, and you're just standing here waiting to die," she scolded.
"Are you losing your mind, old woman? Can't you see the battle before us?" one demon retorted.
"Do you seriously expect us to march to our deaths?" another protested.
Several others voiced their objections, but the old lady remained resolute.
"Listen up! I'm scared, too, but I can't ignore what I witnessed down there. I saw my son, his wife, and even my grandchild butchered before my eyes. I won't leave until I've sent some of these monsters back to hell where they belong." With a fierce resolve, she grabbed a nearby weapon and charged at the enemy she despised.
Silent disbelief hung in the air until someone grabbed a weapon and followed her lead. Soon, others joined the fray, driven by their losses and a lack of purpose in life.
Eyes widened as more individuals entered the battle, each carrying their burdens of grief and anger. They had nothing left to lose and everything to gain by seeking vengeance.
Witnessing the demons and newfound allies engage in battle, the enemy forces prepared to join the fray, spurred by the unexpected events that allowed the group to approach the south gate.
The humans attempting to hold the gate were caught off guard as a pincer attack swiftly dismantled their defenses from within the city. Unaware of the demons' breakout coinciding with the invasion, none of the humans at the gate were spared. This allowed the surviving remnants of Sigilla to breach the city walls while the fleeing demons headed in the opposite direction.
Timidly, the group encountered another force distinct from the one they faced in Sigilla. This group stood firm, indicating they might be reinforcements or the central unit led by the commander.
**************
"Commander, we've identified a crowd approaching our position," a messenger reported as several officers gathered in a tent for critical discussions.
"Are they enemies? How many are there?" the commander inquired.
"No, sir. They appear to be captured citizens," the messenger clarified.
"What!? Instruct our troops to treat them fairly and guide them to the designated area near the water source. Check for any potential spies among them. I will join you shortly," the commander ordered.
Following the directive, the escaping residents were escorted to a secure location. Upon the commander's arrival, a thorough search for spies was conducted.
"Have you gathered information about these people?" the commander inquired, seeking to understand the situation.
"They claim they were all taken from homes near the slums," the messenger informed.
"How are their injuries?" the commander inquired.
"They've all suffered injuries and appear to have been injected with something. Our doctors are working on treating them, but progress is slow with our limited resources," the messenger replied.
The commander directed, "Ensure that severe injuries are addressed first, focusing on anything hindering their mobility."
"Should we provide them some of our food?" the messenger asked.
"Allocate a portion, but be cautious not to deplete our supplies," the commander cautioned.
"Understood, I will follow your instructions," the officer acknowledged before departing, leaving the commander to observe the proceedings.
Walking among the wounded citizens being treated, the commander, Spoken, noted the grim scenes that had become all too familiar since the war began. However, the involvement of civilians in the conflict was a new and troubling development.
Among the injured, Spoken noticed a boy barely clinging to life, his records revealing a week without food and signs of severe abuse for one so young.
A distant commotion caught the commander's attention, prompting knights to rush towards it. Sensing urgency, Spoken decided to investigate personally.
"I'm no enemy. I'm a hybrid, resembling them," a voice protested.
"Sure, we'll believe that," came the skeptical response, setting the stage for a tense encounter.
"You must have blended in with the citizens who arrived here."
"Not true; Aayam was helping everyone here to escape. He's one of us," a voice chimed in.
"There's no way this guy is an enemy spy."
Aayam had traveled with Nessus soldiers, a group that had encountered other humans and recognized Aayam as one of their own. Thanks to Acheron and the other prisoners vouching for him, Aayam was spared from being taken elsewhere for interrogation.
"I know for a fact these men here resemble the enemies I faced in the front lines of Sigilla."
"This man claims to be a hybrid; he can speak and understand our language, unlike the attackers."
Tensions rose, hinting at a potential confrontation, but a figure of authority intervened before matters escalated.
"Cease this quarrel at once."
"Commander Spoken!" The commander's name echoed through the area, prompting the soldiers to halt their arguments and focus on him.
"What is happening here? Is there an issue?" Spoken inquired.
"Well, sir, we discovered a man we suspected to be an enemy spy among the civilians," a soldier explained.
"Is that so? Show me this person," Commander Spoken requested.
"He's right here," a soldier replied.
As Commander Spoken and Aayam locked eyes, a moment of recognition passed between them.
"Aayam, Aayam Ajax," Spoken exclaimed.
The onlookers were surprised. How could the commander be acquainted with someone suspected of being an enemy spy? Unbeknownst to them, Spoken had led a covert team that Aayam had been a vital part of.
"What happened, Aayam? You stopped sending intel. Did something happen to you?" Spoken inquired.
"The enemy discovered my actions and captured me, placing me in an unknown location," Aayam explained.
"I see, that explains it. Sergeant!"
"Yes, sir," the sergeant responded.
"This man is not an enemy spy; he's one of our intelligence agents," Spoken declared, dispelling the suspicions.
The crowd was astonished by Aayam's true identity.
Aayam requested a private conversation with Spoken, hinting at sensitive information that couldn't be shared publicly. They moved to Spoken's tent for privacy.
"What is it that you need to disclose?" Spoken inquired.
"Firstly, are all the members of the Medical Unit safe?" Aayam inquired. Spoken revealed a small smile. He knew about Aayam's friends who were in the medical unit.
"You don't need to worry, Aayam. I had the medical unit and your friends stationed far away so they wouldn't get close to the battlefield."
Relieved to hear they were far away and unharmed, Aayam let out a sigh of relief, knowing his friend was safe.
. "What have you discovered?" Spoken asked eagerly.
Aayam describes everything he learned before he was captured and what the researcher told him. When Spoken was listening to Aayam's report, he first looked stoic, but when he heard about the enemy's plan and what they were doing to the citizens of the country, his emotions broke.
Spoken's voice quivered slightly as he processed the troubling information shared by Aayam. "This is beyond reprehensible. The depth of their depravity knows no bounds. We must act swiftly to end these abhorrent acts and ensure the safety and well-being of our people. Aayam, your bravery and determination in uncovering this truth are commendable. We must rally our forces and devise a plan to confront this grave threat and protect our homeland from further harm. Together, we will stand against this darkness and fight for justice and peace for all."
"Yes, also, there is a group of young individuals who took down three bases," Aayam added about his classmate. Intrigued by the revelation, Spoken also said something about it. "We suspected this but lacked confirmation due to missing scouts."
"I can confirm there are at least 16 of them," Spoken expression growing serious.
"Spoken, what's wrong?" Aayam asked.
"Before we struck Sigilla, we dispatched units to other locations," Spoken explained, realizing his strategy was paying off. Aayam's classmates reinforced those areas, helping ease their assault on Sigilla.
"That's great news! We can strike a significant blow against them," Aayam exclaimed. "We must also consider rescuing any remaining captives," he suggested.
Spoken shook his head. "Our priority is to weaken their forces and retaliate," he stated firmly.
"But we can't ignore the potential hostages they might use against us," Aayam argued, emphasizing the urgency.
Aayam relayed the same information on what the enemy was doing to Nessus citizens, noting the anger and determination in his voice.
"Is that all, Aayam? What they are doing to our people is indeed Vile and evil. However, we are short on supplies, and our forces are dwindling. We have to retreat and plan our next attack," the voice inquired.
"I found the person I was seeking, but they are among the corpses of the in Sigilla" Aayam revealed through gritted teeth and clenched fists.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Aayam. However, a rescue operation is currently not feasible," Spoken explained.
Aayam's frustration boiled over. "Why not? We must act now!"
"Calm yourself, Aayam. I comprehend your feelings," Spoken reassured. "Our resources are limited, and we cannot risk depleting them on a rescue mission at this moment."
Acheron had allocated their resources strategically for the mission, and diverting them for a rescue would jeopardize their chances of success.
Aayam struggled to persuade Spoken to aid the remaining trapped citizens, but before he could find the right words, sevral bloodied demon rushed into the tent, drawing the two's attention. The demon, clearly in distress, bore signs of battle damage on his armor.
Before Spoken could address the situation, a knight stepped forward urgently. "Reporting in! The units at the captured fortress are retreating due to unexpected enemy strength."
"What is happening out there?" Spoken demand.
"From the Dropping town, the Soudan Cove unit has lost contact and is retreating to the Bridgestone town," another knight reported.
"Units in the Bridgestone town are struggling and seek reinforcements," came another report.
"The unit in the ruins requests permission to retreat to safety," reported another knight.
"In the Dark wood town, the enemy has set the area ablaze, forcing our units to regroup with the Ashcroft force," another message echoed.
"From the Ashcroft town, our unit has engaged the enemy in the tunnel with uncertain outcomes," another report detailed.
"Bagwind village is under attack by hordes of monsters," the last report concluded.
As the reports streamed in, Spoken realized that the situation had deviated from his original plan. The enemy's tactics of attacking multiple locations had strained their forces, dispersing reinforcements across different fronts instead of concentrating on Sigilla as he had anticipated.
Spoken had not anticipated the enemy's trump card due to the lack of detailed information, a fact that Aayam highlighted during their discussion.
In the midst of the chaos, another figure entered the scene - a young woman in her teens with long brown hair styled in twin braids. It was Lessly, a close friend of Lilith.
"Emergency report! The enemy is attacking the medical and rescue unit!" Lessly announced, sending a wave of concern through the group.
The medical and rescue unit consisted mainly of healers and non-combat, leaving them vulnerable in the face of direct attack. That was the last bite of information that made the commander to move, Spoken knew immediate action was necessary he quickly left the tent to organized a response.
Concerned for Lessly's safety, Aayam approached her. "Are you alright, Lessly?"
Surprised by Aayam's presence, Lessly responded, "Oh, Aayam, you're here too?"
Relieved to see her unharmed, Aayam moved to embrace her, only to be brushed off by Lessly's sudden reaction.
Realizing Lilith was not with Lessly, Aayam inquired about her whereabouts. Lessly explained that Lilith had chosen to stay behind at the medical and rescue unit to assist those in need.
Aayam blood drain from his body, this cout come is something that fite Liliths character but this was a emergency. Aayam quickly went after Spoken, hoping for swift assistance to save Lilith and the others in the medical.
Outside the tent, Spoken was issuing orders to his men, instructing them to cease their assault on Sigilla and retreat 50 miles from the south gate.
"Why are we retreating, sir?" questioned one of the soldiers.
"Follow my orders without question! Just do as I say!" Spoken commanded firmly, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Aayam approached Spoken from behind, seeking clarity on the plan of action. "What are your intentions, Spoken?"
"With everything unfolding, retreat is our only option," Spoken replied solemnly, causing Aayam to react with disbelief. "Will we assist the others as we withdraw from the battle?" Aayam inquired, his concern for Lilith evident in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Aayam. By the time we regroup and respond, it will be too late. Retreat is our best course of action," Spoken explained, prompting Aayam to reject his decision and storm off in determination.
Despite Lessly's efforts to catch up, Aayam was already well ahead, making his way towards the rear where the supplies and horses were located.
Upon reaching him, Lessly questioned Aayam's actions as he prepared for a hasty departure. "Aayam, what are you doing?"
Frustrated and determined, Aayam expressed his resolve. "I'm not just going to stand by! I'm going to rescue Lilith!"
Concerned for his safety, Lessly urged Aayam to reconsider. "Please, Aayam, don't risk your life like this."
"What do you expect me to do, Lessly? Leave Lilith to perish out there?" Aayam's voice quivered with emotion, his determination unwavering.
"Let's appeal to the commander and convince him to reconsider," Lessly suggested, hopeful for a change in Spoken's decision.
"That won't work, Lessly. Spoken mentioned it would take time to regroup, and Lilith may not survive until then," Aayam explained, the weight of the situation sinking in.
Taking a moment to compose themselves, they shared a silent breath, attempting to steady their nerves.
"Lessly, I found Balder, Lilith's father, earlier," Aayam revealed, causing Lessly's eyes to widen in surprise. Before she could respond, Aayam continued, "He was imprisoned in Sigilla, and although I couldn't save him in time, he entrusted me with caring for Lilith. I cannot abandon her now. I have to go."
Recognizing the resolve in Aayam's eyes, Lessly knew she couldn't sway his decision. "Alright, but promise me you'll return safely."
"I promise," Aayam affirmed, and with that, he set off towards the location of the Medical and Rescue Unit.