Stick War: Inamorta and beyond

Chapter 19: Aoks City part 2

3rd February 1074, 7.08pm

Recon team has settled down around their came and are discussing about their current plan.

"So? What are we gonna do?" Ace asked impatiently.

Everyone is in a dilemma, whether they should try entering the city, risking to be captured and tortured? Or stay at their current position and somehow find a way to contact the Order Empire for support.

"Hmm, I think we should enter the city." Mark said.

"I don't know about that Mark, my people may try to kill you all. Especially after that attempted siege. They might think that you are spies." Grace replied.

"Grace has a point. We should contact the empire." Elizabeth requested.

"True, but how are we supposed to contact the Empire?" Ace asked.

Kim sat and started thinking hard, whether to advance forward or wait for help.

"The Sqordwrath will return for another siege. And it seems that the Archidons may not be able to hold much longer." Elizabeth pointed out.

"ARGH! That's it! I'm enough thinking! I'm going to bed!" Mark shouted, annoyed and stormed off to his tent to rest.

"You dimwit! Don't you know the situation we are in?! And you still have the urge to sleep!" Grace insulted.

Mark ignored her and just entered his tent.

"Well, that ruined the mood. So I'm gonna turn in too." Ace said and yawned loudly.

Grace glared at him but he simply ignored and walked off. The three warriors sat in silence until Kim broke it.

"Elizabeth, can you summon Lucifer now?" Kim asked.

"Yes, I can try. But what do you plan to do with him?" Elizabeth asked.

"Alright, I have a plan. But it needs to start now, when it's still dark. Grace, wake Ace and Mark up. Elizabeth, focus on summoning Lucifer. It's time for us to act." Kim commanded.

The two girls nodded and followed their leader's commands.

"WAKE UP IDIOTS! AN ENEMY ATRACK!" The blond haired girl shouted at the top of her lungs.

"What? An enemy? Where?" Ace jumped out of his tent in his sleeping wear, holding his sword.

Mark meanwhile was still dazed, confused at what just happened.

"You mongrel, you wanna die?!" Axe shouted, angry at the blond girl who woke him from his peaceful sleep.

"We're moving, grab our stuff and go." Grace commanded.

"You don't give me orders mongrel! Who are you to order me?" Ace insulted.

"That's my order, if you still refuse, I shall put that under disobeying." Kim interrupted.

Ace gritted his teeth.

"Know your place mongrel. You know that I am still the prince of of the Order Empire right?" Ace said.

"But now, I am your leader and I am ordering you to pack our stuff. We are moving." Kim commanded once again.

"Tsk." Axe remarked and proceeded to pack his stuff.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth is summoning Lucifer for Kim's plan.

"All hail the holy spirits, help me in this age of desperate times. Serve me with pride and loyalty. Come to me and join me in this world, I hereby summon thee, the destruction of worlds!" Elizabeth chanted once again and a summoning circle appeared, summoning Lucifer into the world. He then appeared in the middle of the circle.

"You called me once again, Master?" Lucifer stated and bowed down to Elizabeth.

"Yes Lucifer, you wait until I receive any other commands." The hazelnut haired girl commanded.

"As you wish." Lucifer said.

9.24pm

"Alright, we are a set. Let's go to Aoks city." Kim commanded and recon team marched to the ruined walls of the city.

When they are getting nearer and nearer to the city, they could smell the decomposing flesh and the scent of the burned down arrows, scattered the battlefield.

"This is horrible." Elizabeth stated as she stared at the dead Swordwrath soldiers.

"No shit. This is war alright." Ace said.

As they got closer tp the city walls, it happened. A warning arrow was shot by an Archidon soldier, overlooking the aftermath.

"Identify yourself!" He shouted and took aim at recon team.

More soldiers showed up and took aim onto the team.

Recon team kept their arms in the air, showing that they are not here to fight.

"We are the representatives of the Order Empire. We wish to speak with your queen, Queen Apricot!" Kim stated.

"You peasants! We will not listen to the lies by the likes of you!" He shouted again.

"Hold your fire soldier! What he is saying is true! If not, why would Elder Kochisuke ordered me to escort them?!" Grace shouted. 

"Hold your fire men! Don't kill one of us. Let them in." Another soldier, probably their superior commanded.

"But my liege, they may be spies from those savage Swordwrath! The same soldier protested.

"Let them in! That is an order!" They superior commanded.

"Yes my liege." The soldier answered and proceeded to open the city gates.

"Enter! Men of the Order Empire!" The superior shouted.

Recon team heeded his orders and entered Aoks City, their objective is in sight. However, the city inside looks terrible. Dead soldiers covered with a white blanket lined up. Injured soldiers were carried around and doctors trying to treat their wounds. Civilians lined up at the rationing area and received only a small loaf of bread. There was obviously insufficient supplies for both civilians and soldiers. Recon stared at the poor sight and walked with a soldier, leading them to the castle.

"How many men did the Swordwrath mobilize?" Kim asked the soldier.

"It was estimated that about 3 million soldiers were deployed by the Swordwrath to take this stronghold." The soldier stated.

"How many men do you have?" Kim asked again.

"We started out with about 2 million, now we have approximately 1.2 million left after 5 attempted sieges." The soldier answered.

"That's insane. Your troops must have been exhausted and lack daily needs. While the Swordwrath and easily add in new troops to take this stronghold." Kim further said.

"Yes, once the battle starts, everyone just wanted to survive. Not caring about anyone else." The soldier said in a sad tone.

Recon team then entered the castle and in the courtyard, there it lays, the race statue. Once that statue is destroyed, the race is annihilated. They continued walking and reached their rooms.

"You will rest here for the night, you will meet Queen Apricot tomorrow morning." The soldier said and walked away.

"YES! MY OWN BED! IT'S BEEN SO LONG!" Mark exclaimed and dashed into his room without warning.

Everyone then entered their own room and rested for the night.

"Hey Elizabeth." Kim stopped her before she went into her room to rest.

"Yes leader?" Elizabeth asked.

"I have a job for Lucifer." Kim stated.