"All exit routes, basements, and secondary bridges must be checked."
"No one attacks without orders."
"Our goal is not to kill all the Cindari."
"Soldiers who surrender will be taken as prisoners."
"Only kill when necessary to protect yourselves or others."
"I didn’t like the last part, it would have been better to kill all of them," Ethan said under his breath.
"That’s why you’re not the commander," Marcus answered.
"The conflict could start at any moment, so from now on, Ashfall Ward is the humans’ defensive zone," Rindo continued.
The Awakeners scattered.
Some went toward the warehouses.
Some put on their full armor.
Groups positioned themselves at the entrances, and movement began on the rooftops.
Ashfall no longer looked like a temporary shelter.
Warriors placed boxes and metal plates as barriers on the bridges.
Mages marked suitable positions for using long-range Skills.
Summoners called their creatures near the entrances.
Healers prepared the central medical center.
The humans who had been monitored guests of Vhalaris until that moment were turning the district into their own fortress.
Rindo came down from the platform and returned to the council building.
When he entered the room, Lian, Seraphina, Seris, Liana, Marcus, Ethan, Cassian, and Aren were gathered around the table again.
"Everything is ready."
But before he could continue, the sound of Vhalaris’s alarms changed.
This time, the warning tone was shorter and harsher.
The red veins around Ashfall Ward lit up with more intensity.
From outside, the sound of bridges closing and defensive structures moving was heard.
Then the sound of footsteps began.
Not the sound of a few soldiers, but the sound of hundreds of armored feet moving on the bridges and surrounding streets.
One of the human guards rushed into the building, his breathing heavily elevated.
"President!"
"What happened?" Rindo turned toward him.
"All the district’s entrances are surrounded."
"They have placed forces on all three bridges, archers are on the towers, and they have brought two Ballistas facing the main entrance," the man continued.
"Of course they did," Rindo closed his eyes for a moment.
"They organized a siege this fast?" Lian moved away from the table.
"You beat their prison head and destroyed the Rootspire prison, a quick reaction is not strange," Cassian said.
"Finally, the interesting part begins," Ethan also smiled.
Seraphina fastened her sword to her waist, Liana summoned Shadow Wolf, and Seris went toward the door without a word.
The entire group left the council building.
The central square of Ashfall was no longer calm.
The Awakeners were taking formation according to Rindo’s orders.
Warriors and Tanks were behind the entrance barriers, archers were kneeling on the rooftops with arrows ready.
Mages stood at specific distances from each other so their Skills wouldn’t interfere.
Summoners kept their creatures in the alleys and beside the walls.
Healers prepared the central medical center.
On the other side of Ashfall’s border, the Cindari army could be seen.
The front line was made up of Rootbound Wardens.
Their black and gold armors shone under the red veins’ light.
Their tall shields covered almost the entire width of the main bridge.
Spearmen were behind them, archers were stationed on high platforms and surrounding buildings.
Two large Ballistas were placed on the main bridge.
Thick Mana bolts were forming inside their bodies, aimed directly at Ashfall’s inner square.
The Cindari forces had not come from only one side.
All three main entrances of the district were surrounded.
Even the narrow upper paths were under the soldiers’ control.
In the center of the army, Kael stood.
This time, he was not wearing light commander’s clothes or simple border armor.
Full battle armor covered his body.
Black and red plates were on his chest, shoulders, and legs, and his racial veins flowed throughout them.
The Ember Vanguard spear was in his right hand, a compressed and calm flame moving on its tip.
The veins on his face and neck were lit with intense light.
Anger was clear in his posture.
But behind that anger, something heavier also existed.
Disappointment.
In less than a day, he had brought Lian into Vhalaris as a guest.
Then he had been forced to fight him on the Rootspire bridge.
Now that same human had escaped from prison, freed the accused murderers and infiltrators, and fortified himself with dozens of Awakeners in Ashfall.
Kael struck his spear on the ground.
A wave of heat spread across the bridge.
His voice was amplified with Mana and heard throughout Ashfall Ward.
"Lian!"
All eyes turned toward Lian.
He calmly walked through the line of Awakeners and stood in front of the main entrance.
Seraphina, Seris, and Liana stood a few steps behind him.
Rindo came to the other side.
Marcus, Ethan, and Cassian were also ready.
Aren remained near the council building due to his weak body, but watched the scene from a distance.
He couldn’t help, so it was better if he didn’t cause trouble.
"You broke Vhalaris’s laws once," Kael fixed his gaze directly on Lian, and his voice echoed among the buildings.
"You attacked military zones, wounded our soldiers, and violated the Rootspire’s security."
The veins on his armor became brighter.
"But now you have attacked the Rootspire for a second time, freed military and classified prisoners."
"You destroyed the lowest part of the prison and killed many soldiers!"
The soldiers behind him gripped their weapons tighter, angry and furious that their comrades had been killed.
Lian said nothing for a few seconds.
During the escape, he had deliberately tried not to kill anyone.
But the battle was brutal.
In such a battle, it was normal for his enemies to be killed... so what was he supposed to do?
Wait for them to kill him? Of course not.
He had only defended himself.
"Aren’t you the border commander?" He then looked at Kael’s full armor and asked calmly.
Kael frowned, not understanding where this human was going with this question.
"Why haven’t you gone back to the border?"
"Are you forced to interfere in everyone else’s business?"
"Or is it that the city is short on soldiers, so they keep sending you?" Lian then added with sarcasm.