Capítulo 46: Chapter Fourty-Six: The Breach
The aftermath of the oil strike was a brief reprieve, but the enemy was far from finished. Elyra watched as they regrouped, pulling back to reassemble their rams and assess the damage. The fortress walls were slick with blood and oil, and the air was thick with the stench of burning flesh. It was a horrifying scene, but there was no time to dwell on it. The enemy was relentless, and Elyra knew they would be back with a vengeance.
"Archers, ready your bows!" Elyra commanded from her position on the battlements. She could see the enemy ranks shifting, their mages moving forward to protect the rams with powerful shields.
As the enemy advanced again, the sound of drums filled the air—a slow, rhythmic beat that sent a chill down Elyra's spine. This was different. The enemy was preparing something new, something more dangerous.
Garret's voice crackled over the comms crystal pinned to her armor. "Elyra, they've broken through the north wall. We're holding them back, but we need reinforcements."
Elyra clenched her fists. "I'll send what I can, Garret. Hold the line as long as possible."
The north wall was breached, and the enemy was inside the fortress. It was the worst possible scenario, but Elyra had to keep her focus. She turned to the nearest officer. "Send half our remaining reserves to the north wall. Garret needs every available soldier."
The officer saluted and sprinted off to relay the orders. Elyra felt a pang of guilt—every soldier she sent away from the gate weakened their defense here. But if the enemy broke through the north, it wouldn't matter how strong their defense was at the gate.
As the archers fired another volley of arrows, the enemy rams reached the gate again, now protected by shimmering magical barriers. The arrows bounced harmlessly off the shields, and Elyra knew the oil trick wouldn't work a second time.
"Prepare to fall back!" she shouted. "If the gate falls, we retreat to the inner courtyard and make our stand there."
The soldiers around her nodded grimly. They all knew what was coming. The gate was strong, but it wouldn't hold forever. And when it fell, the real battle would begin.
The enemy rams pounded against the gate with renewed fury, each strike sending tremors through the fortress. Elyra felt the vibrations in her bones, a constant reminder that their time was running out.
A sudden explosion rocked the fortress, and Elyra's heart lurched as she realized the gate was giving way. Cracks spiderwebbed across the wood, and the iron reinforcement bars bent under the strain.
"Get ready!" Elyra shouted, drawing her sword. The soldiers around her followed suit, raising their weapons and preparing for the inevitable.
The next strike shattered the gate.
With a deafening crash, the massive wooden doors splintered and flew inward, sending shards of wood and metal everywhere. The enemy surged forward, a tide of steel and bloodthirsty warriors pouring into the fortress.
Elyra met them head-on, her sword flashing in the dim light as she struck down the first enemy soldier to cross the threshold. The sound of battle erupted around her, a chaotic mix of clashing swords, screams of pain, and shouted commands.
The enemy was like a flood, overwhelming and relentless. Elyra fought with everything she had, every movement precise and deadly, but there were too many. For every soldier she cut down, another took their place, pushing her back step by step.
"Fall back to the courtyard!" Elyra ordered, knowing they couldn't hold the gate any longer. The soldiers obeyed, retreating in an organized manner, covering each other as they moved back.
Elyra stayed at the rear, holding the line as best she could, buying time for her soldiers to regroup in the courtyard. The enemy pressed in, eager to overwhelm her, but Elyra fought with the ferocity of a cornered lioness. She was determined to give her people every second she could.
As she retreated toward the courtyard, she saw Thorne rushing to her side, his broadsword cutting a path through the enemy. "Elyra, we need to fall back now! They're pouring in too fast!"
Elyra nodded, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Get to the courtyard! I'll hold them here!"
Thorne hesitated, his eyes filled with concern, but he knew better than to argue. "Don't be a hero, Elyra. We need you alive."
With that, he turned and sprinted toward the courtyard, barking orders to the soldiers along the way.
Elyra watched him go, then turned back to the enemy. They were still coming, relentless as the tide. She knew she couldn't hold them much longer.
"Retreat!" she shouted to the remaining soldiers at the gate. "Everyone, fall back to the courtyard!"
The soldiers obeyed, pulling back in an orderly retreat. Elyra was the last to move, her sword flashing as she cut down the last few enemies blocking her path. She turned and ran, her heart pounding in her chest as she raced to join the others in the courtyard.
As she reached the courtyard, she saw that the soldiers had formed a tight defensive line, their shields locked together, swords and spears at the ready. Thorne and Garret were at the front, directing the defense, their faces grim but determined.
"Close the inner gate!" Elyra shouted as she reached them. The massive iron gate to the inner keep began to close, the chains rattling as the soldiers heaved it shut. It was their last line of defense, and once it closed, there would be no more retreat.
The enemy poured into the courtyard, a relentless wave of soldiers eager to crush the defenders. The clash of steel on steel echoed through the air as the two forces collided, the defenders fighting with everything they had to hold the line.
Elyra joined the fray, her sword a blur as she struck down one enemy after another. The battle was brutal and desperate, but the defenders held their ground, refusing to give an inch.
As the inner gate slammed shut behind them, Elyra felt a surge of determination. They were cornered, outnumbered, and exhausted, but they were not defeated. Not yet.
"We hold the line here!" Elyra shouted, her voice carrying over the chaos. "This is our last stand! Fight for your kingdom, fight for your home, fight for your lives!"
The soldiers roared in response, their spirits lifted by Elyra's words. They fought with renewed vigor, pushing back the enemy with sheer determination.
But even as they fought, Elyra knew this battle would not end easily. The enemy was powerful and relentless, and the defenders were growing weaker with each passing moment.
Still, Elyra refused to give up. As long as she could draw breath, she would fight. And if this was to be their last stand, then they would make it one the enemy would never forget.
The Fortress of Shadows would not fall without a fight.
Not while Elyra and her soldiers still stood.
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