Thousands of Ashbourne soldiers in a neat formation marched into the plains of Tiberias. The shield-bearing infantry were at the frontline, and the Ashkelon knights were 20 yards to their left, also at the frontline.
Behind the Desolate Wolves were the Goshen Longbow Archers. Behind the Ashkelon knights were the Stormbringer Markswomen. Each troop had their leader before them. Behind the 20 yards of space were the Bladebreakers, and behind them were the mages and priests/priestesses.
Meanwhile, 5 yards ahead of the frontline were Asher and his personal troop.
Alex held a massive black flag with the white symbol of a wolf in his right hand. The moment Asher raised his hand, signifying that the march should come to a halt, Alex slammed the bottom of the flagpole into the ground, driving it several inches deep!
In a matter of seconds, the entire troop came to a halt. The radiance of the sun fell upon them, making the troop more visible than before when they fought during dawn or nightfall.
Their cloaks, red for the Calvary, black for the elite Desolate Wolves and Ashkelon knights, white for the average Desolate Wolves, and blue for the King Swordsmen.
Asher turned to Alex. “Are the trebuchets in position, Alex?” “They are milord.” Asher veered toward the back, his eyes narrowing upon the sight of 250 trebuchet soldiers manning the huge siege weapons.
Nodding, he turned to Aquila. “Do it.”
The mage nodded. As she began to chant, the white clouds slowly darkened with lightning crackling intermittently.
The dark clouds grew to the extent that they hid the radiance of the sun, plunging Tiberias into darkness.
Although it wasn’t too dark, the heat of the sun was gone. All that remained was the cold breeze, wheezing through the gaps of their armor and making their cloaks flutter.
On the walls, Sofia frowned deeply. “They have a powerful water mage.” Slade, who stood beside Liya, said solemnly. Liya chuckled. “Not while I’m around.” Her eyes flickered, and icicles fell from the clouds, slowly making them disappear.
Sapphira looked up, the azure icicles reflecting in her violet eyes. Lifting up her right hand, she opened her palm wide, and a massive barrier enveloped the troops.
Bam! Bam!
The icicles slammed the barrier and shattered, sliding down to the ground without causing any casualty.
Seeing how Sapphira effortlessly deflected her spell, Liya’s expression darkened. Slade leaned forward, Sapphira’s flawless face reflecting in his eyes. Desire sprouted within him, causing him to clench his fingers when he saw the golden-armored knight seated atop his mount.
‘She belongs to him?! The bastard!’ “Prepare the trebuchets. Keep firing until that priestess falls.” Sofia’s eyes flashed.
In no time, large boulders flickering with flames were launched into the air, hurtling down towards the Ashbourne troops. Boom! Boom!
It slammed the barrier but couldn’t even make it ripple. “Why are they not moving towards the wall?” Viscount Syria, clad in chainmail, questioned with raised brows. He tightened his grip around the handle of his clutch.
“They want to fight in the fields.” Slade scowled. He turned and walked down to the thousands of armored infantry below the wall. At the frontline were the Night Swordsmen infantry, the personal troops to the heir of the Dukedom of Nubis.
All of them held a heavy black sword and also wore black armor. Their weapons and armor were made from a special mountain in the Dukedom of Nubis.
Spikes protruded from the top of their helmet to their backs. Slade climbed his horse, and along with a few hundred heavy cavalry, he approached the gate.
“Open it.” When the Tigris army was some hundred yards away from the walls, Asher turned. “Fire.” In the next moment, thousands of arrows from the Stormbringers, who shot lightning arrows, and the Goshen Longbow Archers, who shot flaming arrows, were released into the air.
Following them were large brimstones!
“Charge!” Slade bellowed. His troops, over 20,000, charged toward the Ashbourne troops that were still in one spot. The arrows and brimstones were deflected by Sofia’s barrier. It was Elf against Fairy.
Dust rose in the wake of the Tigris army’s fearsome charge, grass flying and some being trampled upon.
“Aquila, bring down their morale.” Asher ordered. He knew the secret about Tiberias’ wall, which was why he drew the battle into the field.
30 earth mages teleported to the frontline along with 10 fire mages. They began to chant; at first it lacked harmony, but as time went on, the chant seemed to come together and become one.
At the same time, they all slammed the bottom of their staff against the ground, and instantaneously, the earth burst out.
Lava burst out of the earth as it moved towards the Tigris army like there was some beast underneath the earth.
Just when it was about to collide with the Tigris army, a mage appeared and placed her palms on the ground.
Ice spread out, negating the spell. “That was a complex gold rank spell. To be able to negate it so easily shows that Liya is definitely a high-ranked mage.” Aquila remarked. Currently they were at a stalemate. The long-ranged attacks did no damage to either party, and the melee soldiers would soon clash.
Shing!
Asher unsheathed Euodias. A white and blue light flickering with lightning hovered around him before transforming into a giant white wolf with ravenous, vengeful eyes. Awoo!
Its howl caused a wave of dust and grass to sweep outward.
Liya’s eyes trembled. “What in the world has Asher transformed into?” Slade furrowed his brows. “A wolf is merely a dog to me. House Ashbourne, you are dogs!”
Asher tightened his grip around the sword and kicked his horse’s abdomen.
Rumble!
Instantly, it shot into a hot sprint, racing for the incoming Tigris army. When the gap was less than two hundred yards, the Bladebreakers hurtled javelins while the Stormbringers shot without stopping.
Tigris infantry, even with their heavy armor, began to fall one by one.
But the Night Swordsmen were not affected. Even the lightning from the arrows couldn’t harm them. Eventually, both armies collided.