Night had fallen over the capital of Rimuru, casting long shadows across the fortified walls. The city, once vibrant with the life of its citizens, now braced for war. Torches flickered on the battlements as soldiers prepared for the inevitable onslaught from Galdros. The air was thick with anticipation, a silence broken only by the distant sounds of marching footsteps echoing through the darkness.
Padrino stood on the wall, surveying the land before him. The enemy was close—too close. In the distance, the faint outline of Galdros' forces appeared like a dark tide, creeping ever nearer. He turned to Marko, who stood beside him, eyes fixed on the approaching army.
"They'll reach the gates soon," Marko said quietly, his voice tinged with unease. "Are the preparations complete?"
"As much as we could manage," Padrino replied. "The walls are reinforced, the traps are in place, and our people are ready. But the numbers… their army is vast."
Marko nodded grimly. "We'll hold. We have to."
Padrino's gaze swept over the city below. Archers lined the walls, their bows ready. Every able-bodied person had been mobilized for the defense, from the youngest recruits to the seasoned veterans. The citizens had fortified their homes and businesses, creating barriers in the streets to slow the invaders if they breached the outer defenses.
As he looked back out at the enemy, Padrino's mind turned to Hinata. She was somewhere in the city, preparing her own defenses. Her magic would be vital in holding the gates, but even she couldn't hold off the full might of Galdros on her own.
The First Assault
A war horn echoed through the night, its deep, mournful sound sending shivers down the spines of Rimuru's defenders. The enemy was here.
"Archers, ready!" Padrino shouted, his voice carrying across the walls.
The soldiers on the battlements raised their bows, arrows nocked and waiting. Below, the gates creaked under the weight of reinforced steel and wood, but even they would only hold for so long.
In the distance, Padrino saw the first ranks of Galdros' army emerge from the darkness, their banners fluttering in the wind. The enemy soldiers marched in perfect formation, shields raised, weapons glinting in the torchlight.
"Steady…" Marko muttered, his eyes narrowing.
As the enemy drew closer, a tense silence fell over the wall. Every archer waited for the signal, muscles tensed, eyes locked on their targets.
"Now!" Padrino shouted.
A volley of arrows soared through the air, descending upon the advancing soldiers of Galdros like a storm of death. The front lines faltered as the arrows struck, but the army continued to push forward, undeterred by the losses.
The second volley followed, cutting down more of the enemy, but still they came. The sheer number of soldiers was staggering, and for every one that fell, it seemed two more took their place.
Marko cursed under his breath. "They're using their frontline as fodder."
"Typical Galdros strategy," Padrino said through gritted teeth. "Keep applying pressure until the defenses break."
As the first wave of soldiers reached the base of the wall, the sound of metal on wood echoed through the night. Siege ladders were raised, and the enemy began their ascent. Padrino drew his sword, ready for the fight to come.
"Prepare for close combat!" he shouted, and the soldiers along the wall braced for the inevitable clash.
The Gates Under Siege
At the gates, the situation was growing dire. Galdros' forces had brought with them massive siege towers and battering rams, designed to tear through even the strongest of defenses. The ground shook as the ram struck the gates again and again, each impact sending tremors through the walls.
Hinata stood at the front lines, her staff glowing with light as she prepared to unleash her magic. With a single gesture, she sent a wave of brilliant energy crashing into the advancing soldiers, sending them reeling. But even her power had its limits, and with every passing moment, the pressure on the gates grew stronger.
"We can't hold them forever," one of the captains shouted, his face pale with fear.
Hinata's eyes narrowed. "We don't need forever. We just need long enough."
She raised her staff again, drawing on her magic. Light exploded from her, forming a barrier of pure energy that pushed back the enemy for a brief moment. But as the wave of soldiers pressed forward, cracks began to form in the barrier, and Hinata knew it wouldn't last.
A Dangerous Plan
On the walls, Padrino fought with everything he had, cutting down enemy after enemy as they swarmed over the battlements. His soldiers fought bravely, but the sheer weight of the enemy was beginning to take its toll. The walls were being overrun.
"Marko!" Padrino shouted, slashing through an enemy soldier. "We need to change tactics. We can't hold the walls for much longer!"
Marko ducked under a swing and countered with a precise strike, dropping the soldier in front of him. "I know. If they breach the gates, it's over."
Padrino's mind raced, searching for a solution. Then, a thought struck him—a dangerous plan, but one that might just work.
"We need to lure them inside the city," Padrino said, his eyes blazing with intensity.
Marko turned to him, frowning. "Inside? Are you mad? If they get through the gates—"
"We let them think they've won," Padrino interrupted, his voice urgent. "We pull them into the streets, where their numbers work against them. We've already set up barricades, traps, choke points. If we fight them in the open like this, we'll be overwhelmed. But if we fight them in the city, we can use the terrain to our advantage."
Marko hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "It's risky, but it might be our only chance."
Padrino wasted no time. "Signal the retreat. Pull everyone back into the city."
The Final Stand
As the retreat signal echoed across the battlefield, Rimuru's defenders began to fall back, leaving the walls behind. Galdros' forces, thinking they had broken the city's defenses, surged forward with renewed vigor, pouring through the gates in a flood of steel and blood.
But as they entered the city, the streets became a maze of traps and narrow alleys. Barricades slowed their advance, while Rimuru's soldiers, hiding in the shadows, launched guerrilla attacks from the rooftops and windows.
The battle for Rimuru had entered its final, desperate phase. Padrino knew the fate of the kingdom hung in the balance. The enemy was within the walls, but so too was their doom.
As the night wore on, the capital of Rimuru became a battlefield like no other, a place where the fate of kingdoms would be decided. And Padrino, with his people beside him, stood at the center of it all, ready to defend his home to the last breath.