He pointed toward the front approach, the only viable path an army could take without going through uneven terrain and natural obstacles.
"We don’t have a choice," Rhett added. "If we want to take it, we go head-on."
Caelus didn’t respond right away.
His eyes weren’t on the terrain anymore.
They were on the town itself.
More specifically, on the figures moving beyond the walls.
"...But still," he said under his breath, "I can’t believe what I’m seeing right now."
Rhett followed his gaze.
Even from this distance, it was clear.
Those weren’t people.
However, they behave like normal citizens.
"...What are those creatures?" Caelus muttered.
For a mont, neither of them spoke.
The wind passed quietly over the hill.
Then Caelus spoke again, more thoughtful this ti.
"Our region..." he said, almost to himself, "is just a speck of dust compared to the rest of the world."
Rhett gave a faint nod.
"I’ve heard the stories," Caelus continued. "Different races. Beings that live alongside humans... or against them."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"But I’ve never seen anything like this."
Rhett crossed his arms, his expression serious.
"Sa here," he said. "You hear things, sure. Rumors. Tales from travelers."
He paused for a mont, then added,
"But actually seeing it..."
He shook his head slightly.
"...That’s different."
Caelus exhaled slowly.
"...Makes you wonder."
Rhett glanced at him. "About what?"
Caelus’ eyes stayed locked on the town below.
"What kind of information the top forces in our region are sitting on."
Rhett didn’t answer.
Because he was thinking the sa thing.
----
The next morning ca with a heavy kind of silence.
No one said it out loud, but everyone felt it.
This was the day.
The camp was already alive before sunrise. Soldiers tightened their armor, checked their weapons, and gathered into formation. rcenaries stood off to the side, quieter than usual, each lost in their own thoughts.
They didn’t really know what they were walking into.
To most of them, this was just another job.
A dangerous one, sure but still just a job.
"Probably just a strong bandit group," one man muttered as he adjusted the strap on his sword.
"Yeah," another replied. "Two towns wiped out... must be a big one."
Rhett, standing nearby, didn’t say anything.
He just glanced toward the distant hill.
He knew better.
But saying it wouldn’t change anything.
Soon, the army began to move.
Lines of warriors marched forward, the sound of boots pressing against the dry earth echoing in unison. Dust rose behind them as they advanced toward the town.
Step by step.
Closer.
And closer.
Until, the walls ca into view.
At first, it was just a shape on the horizon.
Then it beca clearer.
And clearer.
Until the entire structure stood before them.
The front lines slowed.
Then stopped.
"...Wait."
"What the hell is that...?"
Murmurs spread quickly through the ranks.
"That’s... a town?"
"No way..."
The walls towering before them were nothing like what they expected.
Thick.
Smooth.
Massive.
They weren’t just wooden barricades or hastily built defenses.
These were stone walls, solid, imposing, and far more refined than anything they had seen in nearby settlents.
One soldier swallowed hard.
"...Those walls are better than Virel City’s..."
Another nodded slowly, eyes wide.
"Yeah... way better..."
Even the rcenaries fell silent.
On the hill behind them, Caelus narrowed his eyes.
"...So this is what we’re dealing with," he muttered.
Rhett didn’t respond.
He was staring at the top of the walls.
Because sothing else had just co into view.
"...Look," he said quietly.
Caelus followed his gaze.
And then, they saw them.
Figures standing along the walls.
At first glance, they looked like soldiers.
Standing still.
Holding weapons.
But then, The details beca clear.
Bones.
Exposed.
Empty sockets staring down at them. Skeletons that’s holding bows.
For a split second, no one moved.
"...What..."
"...Are those...?"
"That’s not funny..."
A man in the front staggered a step back.
"...Those are skeletons..."
"No... no, that’s not possible..."
"They’re holding bows!"
The disbelief turned into unease.
Then into sothing heavier.
Fear.
One of the rcenaries let out a dry laugh, trying to brush it off.
"...Alright... who’s ssing with us?"
----
Aiden stood atop the wall, looking down at the army gathered below.
From this height, he could see everything clearly.
The confusion.
The hesitation.
The way their formation had loosened the mont they saw what was waiting for them.
"...So that’s them," he murmured.
Thousands of humans, lined up in uneven ranks. So still gripping their weapons tightly, others glancing at each other like they weren’t sure what to believe.
Beside him, Carrion stood in silence, his massive cleaver resting against his shoulder. His hollow gaze was fixed on the enemy below.
"My lord," Carrion said, his voice low and steady, "should we attack now?"
Aiden didn’t answer imdiately.
He studied the army for a mont longer.
Then he spoke.
"...Yeah."
Simple.
Calm.
"Let’s start."
Carrion gave a short nod.
No hesitation.
He turned slightly and raised his arm.
That single motion was enough.
The undead responded instantly.
On the walls, the skeleton archers shifted in unison, lifting their bows. The faint creak of bone echoed as they drew their strings back.
Below, movent rippled across the field.
The hidden undead, the ones lying in wait beyond sight, began to stir.
Aiden’s eyes swept across the battlefield as everything fell into place.
Sixteen bronze-grade undead.
Each bronze-grade undead are far stronger than the body tempering practitioners below.
On the other side.
"...Twenty-four," Aiden muttered.
He could feel them.
The Body Tempering practitioners among the human army. Their presence stood out like flas in the dark.
The rest?
Just normal warriors.
Fodder.
----
Below, the human army was still trying to process what they were seeing.
"Those things... are they really—"
"Don’t tell we’re fighting—"
"Get into formation!" soone shouted, trying to bring order back.
But it was already too late.
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Thrum.
Then, a rain of arrows.
"Incoming!"
The skeleton archers released in perfect unison. Bone-crafted arrows whistled as they tore through the air, descending on the army below.
"Shields up!"
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