AN: So here I am...a year later or something. It's been a while and I seriously do apologize for that. Life has been so chaotic, so so so so busy with the prospects of going to college and the stress that's brought me, etc. But here I am now. I'm going to try and finish what I started, before my schedule REALLY gets cramped. I wanna try to at least get more in, to finish this damn story. It's so long overdue. But here we go, chapter 28 finally.
The retreat was underway, all of Ashfield's forces were falling back with Theoden's vikings as well, trying to escape the ensnaring trap that was Apollyon's trap- a vicious flanking force of Blackstones and Barbarians that would trap them and have their forces surrounded, ensuring their victory.
Tristan glances over as they march in a full sprint, spotting the army through the seam in his helmet. They were losing time fast due to how quickly the barbarians covered ground.
"Keep moving men! Don't stop running!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, trying to spur them along before all hope was lost. Jacklyn ran at his side, along with Morgan and Cross. Mercy and Stone weren't far behind.
Ashfield's hopes were counting on this army's survival- and it was so close to being snuffed out.
That is, until from the side a detachment force from their army suddenly struck the Blackstones from the side. They recognized their banners – the Regal Legion!
"Daubeny, what the hell is he doing?!" Jacklyn exclaims, Tristan could only look on in bewilderment and agreement with her equal confusion.
They had no time to debate it however- time was running short and they needed to keep moving or they'd lose their army. Daubeny's action couldn't be for naught.
…
Daubeny's Legion crashes into the oncoming Blackstone and Barbarian forces in a blindside charge to hinder their progress. "ATTACK MEN!" he howls out, raising his sword and diving into the dray, impaling a Blackstone Man-At-Arms on his longsword.
His Conquerors and Lawbringers lead the charge with their forces, him being the only Warden present without any Peacekeepers. His captains (now upgraded to Centurions due to the changes Tristan had committed them to months ago), led his own Men-At-Arms into the fray but they were quickly being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers the combined forces of the two armies had as opposed to his Legion alone.
The few archers he had fired their arrows, several volleys from their powerful Longbows sinking into the unarmored flesh of Barbarians, sinking into wooden shields, finding exposed spots in armor from the Blackstone warriors.
Daubeny spun his blade around and sliced the leg off of a Barbarian, before swinging back to thrust the blade through a Blackstone's gut. "Fight on men, FOR ASHFIELD!"
"FOR ASHFIELD!" His men all shout together.
…
Back at the breach, they fought hard to hold back Apollyon's forces, but without the strength of numbers Helvar's line of Marauders and such was quickly being broken and pushed back- despite making the Blackstones pay for the numbers they fell.
Helvar span into action, his axes repeatedly slicing into an unfortunate Peacekeeper's lacking-in-armor torso and a Man-At-Arm's neck, blood quickly covering him as he slew foe after foe.
Sic was beside him as they fought- driving both of her axes into a Lawbringer's throat beneath his helmet, relishing in the injured screams he made as she ruthlessly slaughtered him.
"Hold your ground warriors! If any man even thinks of running-!" he roars, striking out at an oncoming Warden.
That was- til his axes were immediately stopped- this Warden was different...her armor brown and black…
"Apollyo-!" he was cut off as a blade hilt struck his jaw, knocking Helvar out instantly.
"Helvar-GAH!" Siv cried out as a sword was plunged into her back by another Peacekeeper, the assassin reaching around to slit her throat. The Berserker fell to the ground dead. Without Helvar standing his warriors were quickly overwhelmed.
"Take him...I have other plans for this one." Apollyon says simply to a couple of her warriors, quickly hoisting Helvar up to carry him away.
…
Daubeny's forces wouldn't last much longer. He fought off countless Barbarians and Men-At-Arms as well as many fighters Apollyon sent with this force.
He swung his blade and nearly cut a Tribseman in half before swinging back and impaling a Man-At-Arm on it, and then spins back to use his sword like a mace and drove the blade down into a Peacekeeper's throat- the blade digging into their throat from the strength behind it as well.
He looked around and saw his men being overrun by the numbers- only able to look in dread as the men under his command were slaughtered. He turns around and a long blade thrusts into his gut. He grips it before the Warden that stabbed him pulled their sword back.
He coughed blood through his helmet before the Warden, Vellick, span around and cut Daubeny's head clean off.
...
(The Myre)
Okuma was starting to lose his fight against Drakken, the man was faster than he was and strong to boot. He was losing ground fast. He swung his club down but again the man dodged to the side, but before he could drive his blade into Okuma's back the Shugoki brought his large right arm up to push the blade aside before backing into the Barbarian with a backwards headbutt.
He swings his spiked club back and finally lands a devastating strike to Drakken as the man gets sent back a few feet and onto his back. But the Barbarian general wouldn't stay down long before he was right back on his feet.
"Nice hit..." He spits out some blood. "I can't wait to show your head off to your allies once we knock down their final gate.
"That's where you're wrong, Barbarian." He grunts, slowly getting back to his feet.
"I may die...but the Dawn Empire will persevere. It shall survive, and so long as the Dawn falls upon the Myre, so too shall the Empire last." He growls, raising his club.
As Drakken was about to lunge at him, a horn blew in the distance.
The very sound made the ground bellow in it's wake. Every Barbarian's glance turned to the jungle it came from. And once the horn fell silent, there was an eerie break in sound, as everyone waited to see what had occurred.
From the jungle thousands of footsteps could be heard- and from the brush an army emerged! They were men and women clad in light and limited armor, helmets, buckler shields and long weapons.
"Chaaaaaarge!" Varrus emerged and shouted. The three-thousand Gladiators had arrived and charged the Barbarian ranks. Almost instantaneously the Barbarians were being overwhelmed by the mere ferocity the Gladiators fought them with.
Left and right Tribsemen fell to the blades of the Gladiator army. Varrus charged into the mix and impaled a Reaver's skull on his trident.
Okuma looked up- Drakken was distracted by watching his forces be completely slaughtered by the new army from Ashfield.
"Impossible...my victory..." he gasps, his helmet falling from his head. Immediately Okuma lunged and grabbed him, hoisting him up high.
"Let me go you oversized oaf!" he grunts, unable to escape.
"I told you the Dawn Empire would sustain...and your time has passed!" with a roar Okuma lifts Drakken and pulls him over his back and pulls him down with his unbelievable strength. An audible snap could be heard as he broke Drakken's spine over him, before tossing his lifeless corpse away from him.
Okuma sighed with relief...his words carried merit. Help had come for them and their people would be saved.
…
Hattori, Ayu, Seijuro and their forces were preparing for their last stand within the Emperor's Chamber of the Imperial City.
They heard marching from outside- an army approached.
"Men, get ready!" Seijuro called out readying his Katana. Several warriors were at his side within moments. Hattori and Momiji raised their weapons. Ayu and the rest held up the rear.
But then they heard a voice bellow from outside. "OPEN THE GATE!" came a voice they knew.
"...Okuma?" Hattori lowered his blade.
Everyone else looked equally surprised. Okuma wouldn't tell them to do that with an opposing army outside.
"Okuma! Are you alright?!" Hattori calls from their side.
"Yes! Help has come!" Okuma's voice returned.
Moments pass before Hattori looks to Seijuro. "Open it...it would come down eventually, even if this was a trick. We're as prepared as we can be..."
The gates swung open as the counterweights were lowered. They were shocked to see the Gladiator army from behind Okuma, an unfamiliar figure at his side- Varrus.
"The Imperial City is saved, the battle is OVER!" Varrus says triumphantly as his army cheers and howls.
...
Hattori sighs, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion as he falls forward a bit, Momiji quickly on his flank. He just looked over the Imperial City and admired the beauty of the evening sky and how it cascaded over their vast city.
"We're saved..." he says simply.
"But it's not over til Apollyon is dead." he then adds.
"We will stop her...but this time, we won't be alone." Momiji smiles, her hand intertwining with his.
…
(Valkenheim)
Victory seemed distant and fleeting for the combined army of the Vikings and the Ashfield Legion. Their army was poised into a combined defensive position but was nearly surrounded by Apollyon's army.
She steps forward alone, her sword in hand. "STIGANDR! Come before me. Let's have a talk..." she got quieter as her words dragged on.
Minutes later, Tristan and Stigandr stepped forward together with Theoden.
"Ah...the traitor leading fellow traitors. So fitting for you Tristan...I should have severed your head from your shoulders when last we met."
Tristan remained silent simply, unwilling to trade word with her.
She then looks to Stigandr.
"You are the Jarl of this tribe...the Warborn. I demand a duel to the death before I crush your pitiful army." They were shocked by this.
"You...why?! Why not just finish it?!" he huffs, sword and shield in hand.
"Because...I heard so much of your conquests before I drove your people's resistance into the ground years ago. I want to finish what I started...you're a wolf, but one who won't accept the path I laid out for many."
"Why should I accept your challenge Apollyon...you've no damn honor to earn such a thing from me." He growls at her behind his helmet.
She looks over her shoulder and waved a hand. From the crowd behind her a couple of soldiers drag out Helvar.
Stigandr looked concerned. "Damn you...let him go!" he grunts.
"Fight me...or he dies."
"Don't to it Stig!" Helvar says loudly before a gauntlet-clad fist met his jaw.
"Damn you Apollyon..." Theoden growls.
They waited for several minutes for Stigandr to respond. He just sat there, staring between Apollyon and Helvar, trying to decide what he would do. An eerie silence continued as they awaited the Jarl. Theoden watched on, just wishing to drive his axe into Apollyon's neck.
...
Stigandr finally looks to Apollyon. "I have a new offer. If I agree to fight you- he goes free. If win...your army leaves Valkenheim...if you win...the battle will proceed and you have my corpse you apparently want."
Apollyon actually laughed.
"Deal..." she hisses before drawing her sword.
Stigandr readies his sword and shield, seeing Helvar get freed and sent forward. Theoden and Helvar stop Stigandr. "Brother...you don't have to do this..." The Oberjarl told his friend.
Stigandr was silent for a moment before looking up at Theoden, a shield-clad hand grasping his shoulder. "My friend...lead our people well if I fail. I believe in you." He pats his shoulder before turning to look upon Apollyon.
He slowly advances and raises his shield. "Let's do this Blackstone...let's see how well a wolf fights an old bear."
With that the two charge each other- two cultural titans about to strike each other. With a cataclysmic clash her sword meets the Jarl's Shield.
With admirable strength he pushes her off and swipes at the Blackstone with his short-sword. She dodges backwards before swinging her sword upward in a devastating overhead strike. Her barely blocks in time to absorb the impact. He grunts before shoving her back again.
A true fight to the death.
…
From over the mountainside above the battle below, a huge line of horse riders appears. Each one was adorned in gold and silver armor, each had wings on the backs of their plated torsos. Each had a silver-face mask attached into their helmets.
The great Chevaliers of Tala'raan had arrived to the aid of the Ashfield Legion. Sergeant Oxford stepped to the front of the force. "Let's send these Blackstones back to Ashfield..." he growls. To the side of the Chevalier a small army of barbarians arrive, the Stonewolves...and an army of...women?
"It was good of you to join us." The Stonewolf Chief looks to the lead woman.
"The Shamans can't ignore what our Barbarian fellows have done...their wrongs must be righted." she hisses, raising her dual weapons.
"MEN!" Oxford yelled out. "LET THE BATTLE BE JOINED!" he chanted, raising his lance.
Closing Notes: So...here we are. This chapter was condensed as hell. Basically, I'm trying to finish this story. I'm so sorry this took so long to be made but I hope you all can understand that. I'll try to finally wrap it up within the coming month(s), and hopefully not get bogged down again. We'll see. Let me know if you liked it, if you read this actually.
Deus Vult.