Approaching the end of the war

As the deafening explosion subsided, smoke and dust filled the air around the now-crumbling main gate. The guards were disoriented, to say the least, men could be seen sprawled out on the floor, with rocks lying where their heads should've been, soldiers on the wall painted the previously grey walls red as men littered the ground, some burned beyond recognition and others with holes in their stomachs leaving them in a state of shock, the scene wasn't for the faint-hearted. A man fell from the roof of a nearby structure startling Phillip who was slightly better off than those around him suffering from a broken arm that was slightly charred. Looking at those around him he felt lucky, but more than that he felt the desire for revenge. His gaze then turned to the city lord's mansion.

The advancing army wasted no time and surged forward; their determination was fueled by the opening created by Seraphina's devastating spell. Led by Lucius, a contingent of infantry soldiers stormed through the breached gate, with ruthless efficiency, they cut down any remaining resistance in their path, their movements coordinated and merciless. The defenders at the main gate stood little chance against the onslaught, their ranks were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer force of the advancing army. The invaders made their way up the walls, engaging in one-sided skirmishes with the soldiers stationed there.

After taking care of all five thousand soldiers at the main gate, Lucius, his steely gaze fixed ahead led his warriors towards the western gate hoping to decimate their forces.

As they approached their target, the defending soldiers caught sight of the advancing army

"Enemy Soldiers on our left" a capatian soldier exclaimed.

"Quick form a blockade" ordered their commander.

"Commander Vi-Chen there's too many we can't hold on here"

"No shit soldier, but I'd rather die than surrender to a f***ing Brizian, and I know the rest of my men feel the same!!,"his words were followed by loud cheers of acknowledgment from his men, after which he issued more orders

"Archers fire at the enemy on the wall, mages take care of those below, don't let up!"

Arrows flew through the air, finding their marks in the first few ranks of Lucius' forces.

Shouts and battle cries erupted as the clash of swords and shields reverberated through the air. The defenders fought valiantly, their backs against the wall, but the odds were stacked against them. Forced to fight on two fronts, their defenses began to crumble under the relentless assault.

Lucius, his battle-hardened instincts guiding his every move, coordinated his troops with precision. They moved in unison with their shields in front forming a shield wall and swinging their swords through the gaps to wound the enemy. With each swing, they pushed the defenders back, gaining ground inch by inch.

Despite their best efforts, the defending soldiers grew weary and their lines began to falter. Overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and unwavering determination of Lucius' warriors, they found themselves losing the battle. The onslaught proved too much to bear, and one by one, they fell under the merciless blades of their adversaries.

As they broke through the last line of defense the soldiers were greeted by a powerful burst of energy, the soldiers at the front felt as if they would die if they stepped forward but there was one man who didn't stop Lucius.

The man who was the source of the energy was no other than Commander Vi-Chen, the defeated commander looked at Lucius who showed no signs of backing down, seeing this he said

"So, Brizian looks like you're the only one who's strong enough to face me. What's your name?"

"I am afraid I don't see the value in telling my name to someone who'll be dead in a minute, get ready to fight" Lucius coldly

As he uttered the last word he summoned his aura and darted forward and thrust the blade of his longsword towards the heart of his enemy which was blocked but that didn't discourage him as he noticed Vi-Chen was using a thin-bladed long sword, so he focused on overpowering him and breaking the blade with pure strength.

Lucius increased the amount of aura emanating from his body to that of a 4th-tier aura user, signs of him struggling could be seen on Vi-Chen's face as Lucius increased his aura so he jumped back but Lucius gave him no room to breathe as he immediately jumped to where Vi-Chen landed swinging his sword downwards, intending to break his sword he could only guard by placing his sword above his head and supporting the blade with his other hand.

Lucius increased the rate of his striking as he swung his sword five times in the span of a second with each swing being more powerful than the previous one, prompting Vi-Chen to defend gracefully but his sword couldn't handle the force of one of Lucius' diagonal strikes resulting in Vi-Chen's sword being shattered and a large cut spanning from his shoulder to his navel.

After he fell Lucius scoffed and looked around only to see the once-imposing defenders at the western gate reduced to a scattered and desperate few. Their resistance waned as exhaustion and despair took hold.

In the aftermath, the air was heavy with the stench of blood and the echoes of victory. Lucius and his victorious warriors stood amidst the fallen, their breathing heavy and their bodies marked with the signs of battle. They took a moment to honor their fallen comrades before regrouping, setting their sights set on the eastern gate.

The western gate now lay open, a gateway for the invading forces to press deeper into the heart of the city. Lucius, unaffected by the victory rallied his troops. They would not falter nor relent.

Meanwhile, Prince Cedric, his eyes locked on Seraphina, wasted no time. He swiftly approached her, bringing her horse alongside him. With a nod of understanding, Seraphina mounted her steed, her magic now replenished after the toll taken by her last spell, and she along with Cedric who was accompanied by a group of 500 soldiers quickly set off.

Prince Cedric and Seraphina raced through the chaotic streets, their small contingent of soldiers keeping pace. They weaved through the city, avoiding pockets of resistance and obstacles along the way. Their destination was clear - the city lord's mansion.

As they neared their target, the clash of battle grew distant, replaced by the clamor of chaos and destruction. The sounds of crumbling buildings and the cries of frightened civilians filled the air. With steely determination, the small group pushed forward, reaching the grand entrance of the mansion. They disposed of the men who dared to stand in their path and made their way to the target.

Inside the mansion, the 'city lord', Marcus Izard, awaited their arrival. His face betrayed a mix of surprise and unease as he saw Prince Cedric and Seraphina, flanked by their soldiers, entering his domain.