Chapter 77: Surrender or End
The dragon rider continued examining the fortress until the invading army entered the range of its weapons. He then removed one hand from his knee and slowly rose upon the dragon’s back.
Across the plains, the entire invading host halted with him. Soldiers stopped between steps, siege beasts lowered their raised limbs, and countless flying creatures held their positions above the ground without a single command being spoken.
The sudden silence unsettled the defenders more than the approaching army had. Archers kept their bowstrings drawn, artillery formations continued tracking the largest creatures, and the fortress commander raised one fist before anyone could release an attack.
"Hold your positions and wait for my command." His order travelled through the formations embedded within the battlements, steadying the soldiers stationed across the surrounding walls.
The dragon rider stepped away from his mount and stood upon the empty air. Dark energy gathered beneath his boots as he looked across the fortress barriers, then he took another step and disappeared with a thunderous explosion.
He reappeared directly before the main battlement, separated from the defenders only by the overlapping barriers.
The force of his arrival bent the outermost layer inwards and sent violent waves of pale light rushing through every connected tower.
Cracks spread across the battlements as the formation struggled to endure his presence. Although the barriers prevented him from entering, the pressure surrounding his body passed through them and descended upon everyone standing along the walls.
Weaker soldiers collapsed or dropped onto one knee, while several armed residents lost their grips upon their weapons.
The ancient shield units immediately closed ranks around them and reinforced their positions despite the weight pressing against their bodies.
At the centre of the battlement, formations blazed across the commander’s armour. The stone fractured beneath his boots, but he remained upright with his spear held firmly beside him.
The dragon rider watched him for several moments before speaking. "Defenders of the Last Sanctuary, every stronghold beyond these walls has fallen.
Your roads have been buried beneath our armies, and no remaining force can answer your call for aid."
His voice travelled through the defensive formations and reached every wall, courtyard, and street within the fortress.
"Lower your barriers, open the Inner Sanctum, and surrender the final relic. Those who cast aside their weapons will be permitted to live."
The pressure weakened enough for several fallen soldiers to force themselves upright. The man waited until they could hear him clearly before continuing his offer.
"Your god has abandoned you and left your prayers unanswered, renounce the faith that has already condemned your people, then become one with us beneath the eternal will of—"
The divine name entered the fortress as several distorted voices speaking at once. No recognizable word reached the participants; instead, fractured symbols appeared within their minds as ⟬𐍂̷𐌀̴𐌄̶𐌕̸𐋏̵–𐌖̸𐌋̷⟭, but every mark twisted apart before they could understand or remember it.
The ancient defenders clearly recognized what had been spoken. Their earlier fear gave way to anger as soldiers straightened their backs, priests raised their staffs, and the shield units tightened their formation around the commander.
"This is the Last Sanctuary of the Nameless One," the commander answered. "The relic within the Inner Sanctum belongs to Him, while every person standing behind these walls remains under our protection, we will surrender neither."
The dragon rider’s expression remained calm as his pressure continued weighing upon the fortress.
"Your Nameless One remained silent while every other sanctuary burned, this fortress will share their fate, yet you would sacrifice everyone within it to protect what remains of Him."
"We know that no miracle is coming." The commander turned his spear and drove its base against the battlement, sending a pulse of metallic light through the surrounding defensive formations.
"We did not gather here expecting our God to descend and fight this battle for us. He entrusted this sanctuary to our people, and we will defend it with the strength He left within our hands."
Weapons struck shields across the main battlement, and the response spread towards every other section of the fortress. Soldiers waiting in the courtyards joined the rhythm, followed by the armed residents stationed throughout the inner streets.
The dragon rider allowed the sound to continue before looking past the commander towards the cathedral.
"Your barriers are already weakening, and your soldiers can barely withstand my presence, refuse this final mercy, and the people behind you will die alongside them."
"You surrounded their homes with an army and came here to slaughter them." The commander raised his spear and pointed its blade through the barrier. "Do not call it mercy merely because you offered them the opportunity to kneel first."
The dragon rider stared at him before releasing a quiet laugh. Every creature waiting upon the plains lowered its head in response, and the sound of the fortress defenders gradually faded.
"Truly stubborn," he said, turning his gaze towards the soldiers behind the commander. "Since you have chosen to resist, death is all that you shall receive."
The pressure covering the fortress disappeared as he turned away from the battlements. Another explosion tore through the air, carrying him back across the plains before he landed upon the dragon without disturbing a single scale.
The commander immediately ordered the formation masters to repair the damaged barrier and move the fallen defenders away from the walls. Shield units closed the openings they left behind, while fresh crystals were driven into the strained formations.
Upon the dragon, the enemy leader returned to his seat and extended one hand towards the fortress.
The vast host separated into assault formations as siege engines advanced between the ground troops and winged creatures spread towards every wall.
The fortress commander raised his spear in answer. "Artillery formations, prepare to fire. Archers will wait until the first wave enters range."
Mana flooded the surrounding towers as cannons rotated towards the enemy lines and thousands of archers raised their weapons. Across the plains, the dragon rider lowered his waiting hand, and the entire invading army resumed its advance.