When they finally reached the top, only small Winged Clams summons were passively resting there, they were Iron Rank and didn’t seem likely to attack if the garden plants weren’t damaged...
The view was completely worth the effort.
From the Sky Tasty tower rooftop, they could see practically the entire combat zone.
And what they saw left them speechless for a mont.
"My God," Larissa whispered after so seconds passed.
The scope of the destruction was beyond anything they had imagined. What they could see from ground level had been only a fraction of the true chaos unfolding across the battlefield.
The war was at its maximum height, and the Goldcrests seed to be losing quite badly. The chaos was indescribable, soldiers running in all directions while attacks ca from the flank opposite to the one the children were observing from.
The coordination that should have characterized a professional army had completely broken down. Instead of organized formations, there were only scattered groups of soldiers trying to respond to threats from multiple directions simultaneously.
But the most shocking thing was the golden glow.
"The spores," Ren murmured, feeling horror yet so fascination.
The visual confirmation of his weapon’s effectiveness was both satisfying and deeply disturbing.
In the chaos of the attacks, soldiers had dispersed the spores Ren had sent throughout the formation. Already practically more than 60% of the army glowed with a sickly golden radiance, infected soldiers moving with increasingly erratic movents.
The infection’s spread was terrifying in its efficiency. What had started as targeted strikes had beco a systematic contamination that threatened the entire enemy force.
"There’s only one large section at the front of the march that doesn’t glow," Luna observed, pointing toward where the bridge would be. "It’s separated from the rest, but it seems caught up in a furious battle too."
The isolated section represented either exceptional discipline or desperate containnt efforts. Either way, it suggested that so part of the enemy force remained combat-effective.
Ren studied the battlefield, processing the information ’Mooshito’ provided. "We can’t do anything yet," he finally murmured. "Not until the battle calms down a bit."
The reality was harsh but undeniable. Entering an active battlefield would accomplish nothing except getting them killed or captured.
"What does that an?" Liora asked, though from her tone, Ren suspected she already knew the answer.
The small mushroom erged from Ren’s head to share what it was discussing ntally with the boy, so the girls could hear it too. "It ans you’ll have to witness up close the sad reality of one of the worst evils of your species... While we prepare to reduce the casualties from infection that will present themselves at the end of the altercation."
The mushroom’s perspective was simultaneously clinical and sowhat compassionate, acknowledging both the necessity of their action and its tragic consequences.
"Isn’t there a way to stop this?" Larissa asked, though her expression suggested she already knew the answer.
Ren shook his head. "Not with the power we have now. If we want to change things we need much more..."
"But don’t think about that and do what you can," interrupted the small mushroom, "if you let the city’s logistics handle this alone, maybe thousands of lives that can be saved will be lost, no? Focus on what you can do..."
Mooshito erged completely from his hair, its small eyes directing toward the distant battlefield. When it spoke to them, its tone was unusually serious.
"I know it seems sad to you," the small mushroom said, "but many organisms are like this. Constant fighting is part of what most living beings are... That may never change."
The ’philosophical’ observation carried a perspective that transcended human concerns about morality and justice.
It paused, as if considering its words.
"At least don’t worry about the infection. I can go alone to recover it when this is over. You don’t need to expose yourselves to danger."
The offer was generous, but it misunderstood the nature of their commitnt to this mission and to each other.
Ren sighed deeply, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. "No," he said finally, both to Mooshito and to the girls who had heard the conversation. "I decided to send the spores. It’s partly my responsibility, so I’m going to accompany you as soon as we can enter."
"We agree too," Larissa said imdiately, speaking for all three. "We ca here together, and we’re going to finish this together."
Her royal training had instilled in her a sense of duty, a commitnt to seeing important tasks through to completion.
Luna nodded silently, her wolf materializing partially as a protective shadow.
"And if sothing goes wrong," Liora added, her Will o’ Wisp pulsing with determination, "it’s better to have backup."
Ren looked at his friends with so concern. "This is going to be dangerous," he warned them.
"We know that about following you," Larissa responded firmly. "But we also know that if we don’t do this, a lot of innocent people are going to die."
Mooshito pulsed with what Ren interpreted as resignation and respect. "Very well," it communicated. "But when the ti cos, follow my instructions exactly."
From their privileged position in the tower, the group settled in to observe and wait. The battlefield stretched before them like a tapestry of chaos and destruction, dotted with the golden glow of spores they would soon have to face.
The waiting was perhaps the hardest part, watching events unfold while knowing that their mont of action was yet to co.
Then, in the distance, the earth split in two at the hands of a prince, an expert in earth magic, separating Kharzan’s soldiers with new walls. And from behind him, the woman destined to unleash even greater chaos erged.
♢♢♢♢
A bit earlier...
Julius observed the battlefield from his elevated position on the earth tower he had created, evaluating the perfect mont to launch the decisive attack. Beside him, Selphira adjusted Sirius’s ring on her finger, feeling how the additional power flowed through her system.
"Are you ready?" Julius asked, though he already knew the answer.
The question was more ritual than inquiry, a final confirmation before crossing the point of no return. The weight of command demanded such monts of clarity before committing thousands of lives to action.
"I’ve been ready since that coward betrayed our kingdom. I just needed an acceptable reason to tear his head off," Selphira responded coldly, her eyes fixed on the enemy formation where she knew Kharzan was hiding among his troops.
Julius nodded and turned to the section commanders who had gathered around him. The faces before him showed so determination but more nervous energy, mostly young soldiers about to lead their first major engagent.
"6,000 soldiers against 15,000 plus 5,000 on the way. On paper, we should be crushed."
In any conventional engagent, their forces would be systematically overwheld and destroyed. But this was far from a conventional battle.
"Yet we’re not fighting against 20,000 soldiers in normal conditions."
The chaos that the golden spores had created in enemy ranks was enormous. Kharzan’s soldiers moved erratically, constantly examining themselves and their companions for signs of infection.
The paranoia was as effective as any weapon, turning allies into potential threats and transforming organized formations into suspicious clusters of isolated individuals.
"Paranoia is eating them alive," Julius murmured, watching enemy soldiers flinch away from their own comrades.
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