Arc 4 Chapter 10 : Battle of Regium City

[Ezio POV]

Five giant beasts had appeared in the middle of the city.

They immediately began rampaging through the streets, slaughtering the soldiers around their landing site.

Damn it! Those Wizards were seriously troublesome! They always seemed to have a way to break through our defenses.

"Fire! Don't let them get any closer!"

Elsewhere, our archers and Musketeers were firing at the Imperial soldiers who had begun advancing after the five monsters started wreaking havoc inside the fortress city.

"Ezio, I think we need to get down from here," Marcela said, pointing toward the giant monsters.

Two of them were heading straight for us.

The giant Gorilla and Bear seemed intent on destroying the artillery and the marksmen stationed atop the walls, allowing their soldiers to enter the city with as few casualties as possible.

—ROAAARRR!

Both monsters unleashed deafening roars.

My heart began pounding faster under the sheer intimidation radiating from the two enormous beasts.

"Fire at those damn monsters!" ordered the leader of the marksmen stationed atop the wall.

The thunderous sound of gunfire erupted from above.

Everyone began firing their rifles at the two monsters charging toward us.

Yet even after being struck by countless bullets, the monsters didn't slow down.

The giant Bear reached us first.

It raised one massive arm and swung at us, its paw bristling with razor-sharp claws.

"Get down, Marcela!" I shouted as I desperately tried to evade the Bear's attack.

The monster's massive hand swept over me.

A horrifying scream rang out nearby.

I glanced to the side.

Two unfortunate soldiers hadn't managed to get out of the way in time. Their bodies had been impaled by the Bear's claws.

—ROAAARRR!

The giant Bear and Gorilla went berserk, smashing our cannons and slaughtering the marksmen stationed atop the walls.

"No, no, no! Don't—"

The body of one of the marksmen was crushed beneath the Gorilla's massive hand.

The horrifying sight shook me and the other soldiers to our core.

It made us realize that any one of us could suffer the same fate at any moment in this war.

—Clack!

Suddenly, a ladder was propped against the city wall.

The Imperial soldiers had already reached the base of the wall. They had managed to get this far with ease because we were too preoccupied with the two giant monsters.

"Quick! Climb up! Let's take this city as quickly as possible!"

The Imperial soldiers began climbing.

I immediately rushed toward one of the ladders and tried to push it over.

But it was incredibly difficult.

Several soldiers had already climbed halfway up.

Still, I refused to give up.

I poured all my strength into pushing the ladder, determined to prevent them from reaching the top and seizing control of the city wall.

"Arrrrgh!"

With one final, desperate shove, I finally managed to knock the ladder over.

Horrified screams erupted from the soldiers as they fell from the wall and crashed into the ground below.

"Die! You'd better go home and never set foot in our territory again!" I shouted at the fallen soldiers.

I turned around.

Suddenly, I saw an enormous hand descending toward me.

I instinctively jumped without thinking.

Only after I was already in the air did I realize that I was falling from a height of fifteen meters.

A fall from this height could seriously injure me.

I immediately pulled a rope from inside my pouch. A hook had already been tied to its end.

I threw it toward a wooden beam that served as a handhold on the wall ladder.

My body swung through the air before I landed safely on the city street below.

"That was close..." I muttered as I thought about what had just happened. "If I'd been even a few seconds slower, I wouldn't have gotten away with only minor injuries after falling from that height."

I looked upward.

A large number of enemy soldiers had already climbed onto the walls and seized the upper section.

If this continued, the enemy army would be able to enter the city with ease!

I climbed onto the roof of a nearby building so I could get a better view of the situation.

The giant Dog and Bull monsters were rampaging through the eastern district of the city.

But I couldn't see the giant Tiger monster anywhere.

"Fall back! We're moving to the second defensive line! Head for the city square!" one of the soldiers ordered.

The second defensive line was the position where we would have the greatest defensive advantage after the city walls were destroyed or the enemy succeeded in entering the city.

The remaining soldiers around the walls began retreating while fighting back against the enemy forces that were now pouring into the city.

I needed to find the other members of the Squad.

Unfortunately, Marcela and I had been separated by the attacks of the giant Bear and Gorilla.

Running and leaping from one building to another, I made my way toward the city square while searching for my comrades.

However, when I reached the commercial district, I spotted a man and a woman fighting a heavily armored Knight armed with a sword.

I recognized them.

The man was Renalo, while the woman was Valentina.

Both were members of the Cavalier Squad.

They were struggling against the Knight.

I had to help them.

I ran to the edge of the building and once again pulled out a rope with a hook attached to its end.

I threw it toward a metal fixture at the edge of one of the buildings ahead.

Then I jumped.

My body swung toward the building where Renalo and Tina were fighting the Knight.

The Knight appeared ready to decapitate Tina with his sword.

I released the rope and immediately swung my blade toward him.

He noticed my presence.

The Knight twisted his body, redirecting his sword toward me.

—Clang!

Our swords collided.

But thanks to the magic enhancing the Knight's body, his strike was far more powerful than mine.

The impact sent my body flying backward until I crashed into the wall of a building.

"Ezio!" Tina cried out in concern.

I tried to get back on my feet.

Renalo lunged forward with a thrust toward the Knight, but the Knight easily evaded it before kicking Renalo in the ribs.

Renalo was sent flying and rolled several times across the ground.

Is he using Accel?

According to Captain Siena, that magic could accelerate a person's bodily reactions.

"Arrrgh!"

I heard a woman's scream.

After kicking Renalo away, the Knight turned his attention back to Tina.

He attacked her again and managed to injure her leg.

I rushed to help her, swinging my sword downward from behind at the Knight as he prepared to finish off my female companion.

But the Knight noticed my movement again.

He turned around and launched a Backhand Slash.

However, I had already anticipated his movement.

I ducked beneath the attack and thrust my sword toward his abdomen.

"Repel!"

The Knight shifted to the side.

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My attack still managed to graze his abdomen.

—Bam!

But by making that attack, I had left my defense wide open.

The Knight took advantage of the opening and kicked me directly in the face with tremendous force.

I was sent flying backward once again and slammed into the wall of a building.

"Ugh..." I groaned, clutching my stomach where the Knight's kick had struck me. "He still managed to evade what should have been a decisive attack."

I looked toward him.

"Still, at least he's wounded because of my attack."

But when I examined the Knight's condition, I was shocked.

There wasn't even a scratch on his abdomen.

Yet my attack had been aimed directly at the opening in his armor.

All right.

Focus.

Remember what Captain Siena taught me.

A Knight possessed magic that could strengthen their body's defenses. It was called Repel.

I was fairly certain I'd heard that Knight utter the spell just before my thrust connected.

The Knight then began muttering another incantation.

This time, flames began enveloping his sword.

This was the first time I'd ever seen someone use elemental magic!

"Fire Fox Slash!"

The Knight swung his sword.

The flames surrounding his blade shot toward me at incredible speed.

I instinctively leapt sideways to evade it.

But suddenly, the Knight was already standing exactly where I was going to land.

He swung his sword at me again.

—Clang!

I tried to block it with my sword.

An explosion erupted upon impact, sending my body flying backward once again.

I rolled several times across the ground.

My entire body was screaming in pain.

My sword had begun to melt, while both of my hands had turned red and blistered from the burns caused by the Knight's attack.

But that wasn't the only bad news I received.

Four more Knights had arrived.

It seemed the area around the southern section of the city walls had been completely seized by the enemy.

"Hey, Maren. Finish him off quickly and advance toward the city square," one of the Knight's companions said. "We've been ordered to eliminate the marksmen and archers so the main army can advance without significant resistance."

"Understood."

The Knight turned his attention back toward me.

He drew his sword and began running toward me.

I pulled out a revolver and tried firing at him.

—Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Knight zigzagged across the street, effortlessly avoiding every shot I fired at him.

Damn it!

Magic users really were unfair!

They could even dodge bullets from this new weapon!

The Knight reached me.

He raised his sword above his head, gripping it with both hands.

I closed my eyes.

I didn't want to see the end of my life.

—Clang!

But just as I prepared to face my death, I heard the sound of two swords colliding.

I opened my eyes.

In front of me stood the back of a woman with long black hair flowing in the wind.

She swung her sword toward the Knight before her, sending him flying backward toward his four companions.

"Captain Siena..." I called weakly to my savior. "I'm sorry I look so pathetic like this, Captain..."

Even though Captain Siena had trained me and taught me how to fight Knights, I still wasn't capable of matching them in a real battle.

Hearing my words, Captain Siena glanced back at me.

Her distinctive orange eyes stared at me without the slightest hint of emotion.

"The Knight you were fighting wasn't an ordinary Knight, Ezio," Captain Siena said before turning her gaze back toward the battlefield. "They are Senior Knights, possessing far greater experience and technique than ordinary Knights."

I see.

So that's why their battle instincts were so incredible.

They had likely experienced countless life-and-death battles.

"You've already done remarkably well to hold that Knight off, Ezio," Captain Siena said.

A faint orange glow began emanating from her hands and feet.

"This time, leave everything to me."

Captain Siena then shot toward the five Knights using Acceleration magic.

No...

This was even faster than the Acceleration she normally used while training the Squad members.

"She's a Knight too!" one of the Knights exclaimed.

Captain Siena began attacking all five of them.

Her swordsmanship was clearly superior to theirs, judging by how much difficulty they were having against her combinations of attacks.

However, whenever Captain Siena attempted to land a fatal blow on one of the Knights, another would immediately cover their comrade.

Their teamwork made it difficult for her to kill any of them.

"Fire Fox Slash!"

The Knight who had fought me earlier attacked Captain Siena with another fiery slash.

But instead of evading, Captain Siena blocked the flaming attack with her sword.

The Knight's eyes widened in surprise.

Captain Siena immediately surged forward and thrust her sword toward his neck.

But suddenly, another Knight rushed in and attempted to punch Captain Siena.

His fist was surrounded by streams of blue electricity.

This forced Captain Siena to halt her attack.

However, she didn't retreat.

Instead, she twisted her body to evade the enemy's punch and kicked him away, sending him crashing into the Knight wielding the flaming sword.

"Die!"

The other three Knights attacked Captain Siena simultaneously.

But the black-haired woman read and evaded their attacks with ease.

Captain Siena attempted to counterattack, but the Knights' teamwork was exceptional.

Whenever one of them attacked, the others immediately protected them.

Captain Siena eventually leapt backward, retreating to where I was standing.

It seemed that even for Captain Siena, defeating five Senior Knights at once wasn't something she could accomplish easily.

"Spatial Magic..."

Captain Siena muttered something under her breath.

The bodies of the five Knights suddenly began glowing.

Their swords became enveloped in the magical elements they each wielded.

It seemed they were preparing to unleash a finishing attack against Captain Siena.

"Blade of the Future!"

The instant Captain Siena uttered her spell, the heads of all five Knights were suddenly severed.

Their heads fell and rolled across the ground.

Their bodies collapsed moments later, blood splattering across the battlefield.

"What... actually happened just now...?"

I had no idea.

Their heads had suddenly been severed even though Captain Siena hadn't appeared to move at all.

"Ezio, let's move to the second defensive position!" Captain Siena ordered. "We need to get there and protect the marksmen from the Knights targeting them!"

She immediately began running toward the city square.

I nodded.

I then approached Tina, who was unable to stand because of the slash wound on her leg.

"Ezio... your hands..." Tina muttered.

"It's fine. Come on, let me help you walk," I said as I helped her to her feet.

I supported her as we made our way toward the city square.

Explosions could be heard everywhere.

Everyone was fighting to defend this city.

"Did you see Renalo?" I asked Tina.

She simply shook her head.

Earlier, my male companion had been sent flying a considerable distance after being kicked by that Knight.

I hoped he was all right and had merely lost consciousness.

We finally caught sight of the defensive barricades surrounding the city square.

"Hey, you! Get over here, quickly! The enemy's main army will be here soon!" one of the soldiers stationed at the barricade shouted.

I helped Tina through the barricade.

"Find a medical team for her. She has a fairly deep wound on her right leg," I told one of the soldiers.

"What about you? Your hands don't look so good either," the soldier said.

"I can still fight. I think I'll help out here," I replied.

He nodded and took Tina farther into the city square.

Not long afterward, I heard the footsteps of a large number of people approaching.

I looked ahead.

The enemy's main army was already visible, approximately one kilometer away from the barricade.

"Prepare yourselves!" shouted the marksmen's squad leader.

All the Musketeers stood and prepared their rifles as they watched the Imperial main army approach.

"Aim!"

Everyone raised their rifles toward the approaching enemy.

They were still approximately seven hundred meters away, outside the effective firing range of the Musketeers' weapons.

"Hold!"

Six hundred meters...

Everyone continued holding their fire, waiting for the right moment to maximize the number of Imperial soldiers they could kill with each volley.

"Hold!"

Five hundred meters...

The enemy continued advancing.

Unfortunately, the effective range of my revolver was no more than one hundred meters, unlike the rifles used by the Musketeers.

"Hold!"

Four hundred meters...

The Imperial soldiers were now entering the effective firing range of the Musketeers.

Yet the squad leader still ordered them to hold their fire.

"Fire!"

—BANG! BANG! BANG!

When the enemy's main army reached three hundred meters from our position, the squad leader finally gave the order.

Loud gunshots echoed across the battlefield, while clouds of smoke from the rifles began filling the area.

The first and second ranks of the Imperial army collapsed.

Panic spread through their formation as the soldiers scattered toward the surrounding buildings for cover.

However, their commander shouted orders, forcing his soldiers to continue advancing despite remaining within the firing range of our Musketeers.

"Reload!" ordered the squad leader.

The Musketeers loaded black powder and paper wadding into their rifles along with round bullets, then rammed everything into the barrels using thin wooden rods.

"Ready!"

The squad leader gave the command to prepare for another volley.

Hearing the order, the Imperial soldiers hesitated.

But their commander, standing behind them, ordered them to keep advancing toward our position.

"Aim...!"

This time, even more casualties would fall.

The enemy was much closer than before.

"Fire!"

—BANG! BANG! BANG!

This time, three entire ranks of Imperial soldiers were devastated by the simultaneous volley.

Their morale shattered.

Many of them instinctively turned and fled without heeding their commander's orders.

"Damn it! Call the Wizards over here and wipe out those Republic dogs!" the Imperial commander shouted.

The marksmen continued targeting the Imperial soldiers hiding around the buildings.

For the moment, we were able to keep them from advancing any farther and taking the city.

But suddenly, I noticed several robed figures leaping from one building to another as they approached us.

"Fire Ball!"

A massive ball of fire was launched by the Wizards toward us.

"Take cover! Take cover!"

—BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOMMM!

Explosions erupted as the fireballs struck the barricade where the marksmen were stationed.

Several Musketeers were even set ablaze by the Wizards' attacks.

"Return fire!" the squad leader shouted.

The Musketeers began firing at the Wizards standing atop the buildings.

But the Wizards suddenly stretched their hands forward.

The sound of bullets striking something rang out clearly.

Sparks erupted in front of the Wizards' palms.

Our bullets weren't even reaching them.

It was as though an invisible barrier was protecting them from the Musketeers' gunfire.

"Fire Ball!"

The Wizards launched another barrage of massive fireballs at us.

I and the Musketeers had no choice but to scatter and seek cover to avoid being struck by their magic.

"Advance! Advance!" shouted the Imperial commander.

Because the Musketeers were being targeted by the Wizards on the rooftops, they could no longer fire freely at the Imperial soldiers advancing toward the city square.

Damn it!

Was there really nothing we could do?

If this continued, we would be forced to abandon the city!

But suddenly, I saw several figures leaping from one building to another, moving toward the Wizards.

"That's... Captain Siena and the other Senior members!"

The Wizards noticed their approach and immediately launched several fireballs at the Seniors.

However, the Seniors performed agile maneuvers, effortlessly evading the fireballs aimed at them.

Realizing their attacks had failed, the Wizards attempted to flee.

But the Seniors were faster.

They had been trained specifically to match the speed of Knights.

"Cavalier Squad! Attack the Imperial Wizards!" Captain Siena shouted.

The Seniors immediately began slaughtering the Wizards who were unable to escape.

With the Wizards no longer interfering, the Musketeers were once again able to fire freely at the Imperial army.

The tide of battle had shifted in our favor.

Slowly but surely, we began forcing the Imperial soldiers back toward the city walls.

However, in the distance, I suddenly saw dozens of armored figures leaping from building to building, approaching us from the direction of the northern walls.

"Our Knights have arrived!" the Imperial soldiers shouted.

"Don't be afraid! The Empire's spearhead has arrived to reinforce us!"

The newly arrived Knights immediately engaged the Seniors of the Cavalier Squad.

Although the Seniors couldn't use magic, they were still capable of matching the Imperial Knights in combat.

I still had so much to learn from them.

The Seniors were truly incredible...

"Ezio! So you're here!"

Hearing someone call my name, I turned around.

A tall man with dark blue hair was approaching me.

It was Valentino Calguera—the Vice Captain of the Cavalier Squad and Valentina's older brother.

"Vice Captain, where have you been!?" I asked him. "I've been looking for you this whole time!"

The Vice Captain then explained that he and the other Seniors had previously been fighting the giant Tiger monster that had been rampaging through the city.

After defeating it, they were finally able to help the soldiers fight against the Imperial Knights.

I suppose that was why I hadn't been able to find the Tiger monster earlier.

"I also just checked on Tina—my younger sister, whose leg was injured earlier," the Vice Captain said with a smile. "Thank you, Ezio. I heard from Tina that you were the one who saved her from an Imperial Knight."

"Even so, I still couldn't match those Knights in a real battle!" I said.

"Don't worry. You're still young, and you have plenty of time to grow stronger," the Vice Captain said, trying to keep me from becoming discouraged. "Just watch our battle. I'll go help the others!"

I nodded.

Vice Captain Valentino then headed toward where Captain Siena was fighting.

But from a distance, I saw a Knight wearing green armor and possessing blond hair suddenly shoot toward Captain Siena.

She was currently fighting three Knights at once.

The sword of the green-armored Knight began to glow.

He then launched a diagonal slash toward Captain Siena.

Sensing the Knight's presence, Captain Siena blocked his attack with her sword.

But the sheer force of the strike still sent Captain Siena flying backward toward us.

The leader of the Cavalier Squad dug her feet into the ground and planted her sword into the street, using it to stop herself from being dragged any farther by the force of the attack.

But the green-armored Knight didn't stop there.

He immediately charged toward Captain Siena again, his glowing green sword raised in his hands.

This time, Captain Siena's body was enveloped in an orange light.

—Clang!

Their swords collided.

Captain Siena didn't get knocked back this time.

She had activated her magic.

The ground trembled.

The surrounding buildings began cracking beneath the pressure generated by the magic of the two fighters.

That green-armored Knight was clearly no ordinary Knight.

"So the rumors were true," the Knight said with a smile. "There really is a descendant of the Venetian people capable of using magic!"

He looked directly at Captain Siena.

"You are Siena di Reginossa—The Miracle of the Republic Venetia."

The Miracle was the title given to Captain Siena by the people of the Republic of Venetia.

She had earned it by producing miracle after miracle through her brilliant innovations.

"And you are Danilo de Asturias—Knight of the Rising Sun—the youngest Grand Espada of the Aragon Empire," Captain Siena replied, staring sharply at the Knight.

Grand Espada...

If I remembered correctly, that was the title given to the seven strongest Knights in the entire Empire!

Was Captain Siena really going to fight him here?

Right now!?