Chapter 268: Flee Far, Flee Fast, And Do Not Look Back

The roar of the approaching army shook many of the defenders. Even the spirits, who placed all their trust in their Spirit Sovereign, were shaken by the sudden attack, but they were not afraid.

Saelunith remained upon the walls, staring at the approaching army before turning her gaze toward the distant horizon as though searching for someone who was not there.

“Sovereign, where are you? Your people and your servants can only hope that you are safe. We pray that our deaths will not bring you too much pain. Until the last one of us falls, we will continue fighting.”

Her eyes shifted toward Valeria in the distance. The Imperial Court commander walked slowly alongside her soldiers, an arrogant grin resting upon her face as she watched them close in on Blackspire. She did not need to speak for Saelunith to understand what that expression meant.

The enemy had already won this war, and even Saelunith knew it.

“Get down here!” Sigmund roared, signaling urgently with his arm. “We need to meet the enemy at the gates. That is our only chance to make them bleed before we fall.”

Even his words sounded final. By now, every person in Blackspire understood that they would die today. There was no longer any hope for something miraculous to happen or for their king to return in time to save them.

“No. I will remain here and receive the enemy upon the walls while you kill them at the gates.” Saelunith shook her head, refusing to move.

“Listen to me. You are a servant of King Maximus, which means you also serve his kingdom and his people.” Sigmund stepped closer as his eyes darkened. “As one of Voidstar’s family heads, I command you to come down. I have an important mission for you, so listen well.”

This time, Saelunith could not argue with him. She jumped from the high wall and landed gently upon the crystal ground before bowing her head.

“I am at your command.”

“Gather all the women and children, then take them into the skies. Those humans may be capable of trapping a tiger upon the ground, but a dragon is no crawling worm. Once you are in the air, they will not be able to catch you.” Sigmund looked toward the elves standing nearby. “Take the elves with you as well. They may become important to the king one day. As for the rest of us, we will remain here and hold back the enemy for as long as we can.”

Saelunith’s heart trembled at how calm Sigmund appeared while speaking about his own death.

“What are you talking about, old man?” Ilyndessa stepped forward and grabbed his collar with her remaining hand. “You expect us to flee while you stay here and die? Have you lost your mind? What is the point of calling this place our kingdom if we cannot even fight for it?”

Sigmund remained calm beneath her furious shouts.

“The future,” he answered. “That is what we can still hope for…”

His words made Ilyndessa’s grip weaken, and she slowly released his collar with a trembling hand.

“Spread the message, and do it quickly,” Sigmund continued. “We must protect those who can rebuild these lands after we are gone. Blackspire can be reclaimed, but the dead will never rise from the ashes.”

He looked toward the approaching Imperial Court army before raising his voice.

“For Voidstar and for King Maximus, go! Flee the city and protect its future. The men will remain behind and hold the enemy back until our final breath!”

Blue fire erupted from the citadel’s balcony as Agnia glared at the approaching army. Her flames gathered into a massive sphere above her hands, growing larger with every passing second as she prepared to launch it toward the enemy. Rosalia rushed after her, yet she could not find the strength to stop her. A part of her wanted to unleash everything she possessed upon the Imperial Court army as well.

Spotting them from the corner of his eye, Sigmund turned toward the citadel and roared at Agnia.

“Stop, Agnia!”

His voice made her tremble, and she looked down at the serious expression of one of the people she trusted most, a man she considered both her friend and her family. Sigmund immediately took to the sky and rushed toward her. Nobody below could hear the words they exchanged, but the tears that suddenly filled Agnia’s eyes said enough. She shook her head again and again, shouting at Sigmund while the message below spread through Blackspire like wildfire.

“Flee far, flee fast, and do not look back.”

The order was passed to every woman and child, while every man received it as the beginning of his final duty and sacrifice. Almost all of the spirits also chose to remain behind, claiming that it was their responsibility to die for their Spirit Sovereign. Only Saelunith was forced to flee so that she could protect the others, and because every spirit knew that she was the most important to their sovereign.

Even Aika, the second-strongest spirit and the one Max had personally claimed and named, refused to leave. She had decided that she would die with honor today, protecting the woman their sovereign loved most.

“What are they doing?” Valeria muttered as her eyes widened.

Now close to the walls, she watched the enormous gate before her suddenly begin to open. The same thing was happening at the other three gates, the black crystal entrances revealing the defenders who had gathered behind them.

“For Voidstar! For King Maximus!”

A massive formation of dragons rushed into the sky, surrounding the escaping women and children from every direction, while the remaining defenders charged from the four gates with their claws and weapons aimed at the Imperial Court soldiers. The enemy had not expected the people of Blackspire to abandon their defenses and rush directly toward them, and for the first time since the battle began, blood spilled from the Imperial Court’s side.

“Kill them all! Do not let a single one escape!” Valeria roared at the top of her lungs.

Magic rushed into the sky from every direction as the Imperial Court soldiers turned their attacks toward the fleeing dragons. Even the siege cannons were raised, their enormous barrels following the formation attempting to escape above Blackspire.

Every man of Voidstar watched the incoming attacks burn themselves into his vision, yet none moved aside. They gathered their magic around one another and placed their bodies between the enemy and those fleeing into the distance, becoming a living wall prepared to receive every attack aimed at the people they loved.

They were the final true bastion of Voidstar.