Zeke’s gaze traveled over the arrayed formations. Both sides had shown up in force.
On his side, there were Cairnwyc and his band of Fleshshapers. Stella Eventide and her elite Space mages, and finally Karas Skarn and his army of Summoners.
The Legion had brought their standardized ground troops led by Archmages, a few destroyer-class airships, and a large number of smaller frigates. It was the first time since the start of the war that he had seen the true capabilities of the Empire’s aerial combatants.
It felt like a challenge, as if they meant to declare that they would not surrender the sky so easily. However, from his perch on the command deck of the Alexandria, it was hard to take them seriously.
Any of them, really.
They all looked like ants, and the entire battle looked like nothing more than a petty squabble. Zeke took a deep breath, immediately crushing such thoughts. This was the Blood talking. The dragon talking.
He turned to the beautiful woman standing next to him. “The stage is yours.”
Akasha glanced back at him. “Instructions?”
Zeke shook his head. “I have faith in your abilities. But try to avoid assigning me a role if you can. I’ll act on my own when I feel the time is right.”
"Understood."
A moment later, Zeke heard Akasha’s voice again, but it didn't come from the woman standing next to him; it was projected straight into his mind.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Akasha, second in command of the Hohenheim Mercenary Company. As agreed, I will serve as overall commander of this battle. Please follow my instructions as closely as possible to ensure the highest chance of victory.” There was a brief pause before she continued. “May fortune smile upon us today. Glory, or death.”
Zeke looked at Akasha with a hint of surprise in his eyes. Not only had the Spirit tried to make her speech more inspiring, she had even invoked the words of his house. It was a remarkable change from her previous demeanor. It seemed he was not the only one who had grown since they had separated.
However, he did not have time to marvel for long, as the battlefield began to move almost immediately. Clearly, not only his own troops, but also the enemy, were receiving their orders. Looking at the orderly movement of troops from high above, it almost felt as if he were watching a board game being played, a contest of strategy and cunning.
***
A beast that looked like a giant bat approached the head of the armada of summoned creatures. On its back stood a woman who looked up at their leader with furrowed brows and crossed arms. She was the second Archmage of the battalion sent by House Skarn.
She spoke the moment she came within earshot. “Is this really okay?”
The bald man riding atop his favorite summon looked back at his second-in-command with an impassive gaze. “What are you on about?”
The woman’s frown deepened. “Don’t play coy with me now. I mean the orders from our new ‘commander’.” She uttered the word like a curse. “I never even heard of this woman until a few days ago, and from what I remember, she was not even at the meeting. Why are you willing to trust her to oversee the entire battle?”
The bald man remained silent for a moment, his gaze locked onto the monstrous fortress looming oppressively above the battlefield.
“...During the lead-up to today,” he said eventually, “I have not dealt with Ezekiel even once.”
The woman scoffed. “So? He’s arrogant. We knew that already.”
Skarn shook his head. “Arrogant, yes, but not a fool. And if he left the entire plan to this woman, it means he is comfortable entrusting her with all he has. Now tell me, how competent must someone be for such an arrogant person to take a step back?”
Those words managed to silence her for a moment, but it was clear the woman was not done arguing. Before she could continue, Skarn cut her off.
“Listen. It does not really matter if they send some unknown woman, a child, or a talking dog to lead the battle. Out of all of us, only the Hohenheim Company has the prestige to lead. So either fall in line, or back out.”
The woman’s scowl deepened for a second before ultimately turning into a sigh. “I get it, I get it, okay? I just do not like placing my fate in the hands of a stranger. One who does not even have the decency to show up in person. Doesn't sit right with me.”
Karas nodded slowly. “You are wise to feel that way. But I suggest that you continue putting your faith in my ability to get us out of trouble, should the situation spiral out of control.”
That finally managed to put a grin on her face. “Business as usual, then?”
Karas nodded grimly. “Business as usual.”
***
On the deck of the largest Legion airship, a young woman stood at the railing. Her gaze was drawn upward to the massive fortress blotting out the sunlight.
The Alexandria.
That had been the name of Maximillian’s ship. Viola had been aboard it countless times. Back when she was still a child, her grandfather and Maximillian would tour the countryside for weeks on end aboard that luxury vessel.
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It had been on those rare occasions that she could escape the pressures of her family, away from the dozens of eyes watching her every move. She had felt truly free then. Truly happy.
Those were some of her fondest memories.
But now, looking up at the flying monstrosity hovering above them, not even a shadow of the ship from her memories remained. This was a tool of war. A beast whose claws were aimed at her very throat.
“...Zeke,” she murmured weakly. “What have you done...?”
***
In the center of the battlefield, two Archmages stood side by side, watching the shifting formations. They were Captain Cairnwyc and Stella Eventide.
“...Wouldn’t it be better to retreat first and face the enemy once my people are at full strength?” Cairnwyc asked after hearing the orders from the overall commander.
Stella shook her head. “There is no retreat. Not for you.”
Cairnwyc looked at her with a raised brow. “...Not for me?”
Stella nodded coolly. “The Space is already locked.” She motioned toward the formation of destroyer-class airships and the large caravan following the Legion infantry. “Either from up there, or back there.”
“Then aren’t you trapped as well?” he asked.
She gave him a small smile. “The Empire doesn’t have the means to trap me, but that does not mean I could bring your people out with me. Not unless we destroy their siege arrays first.”
Her gaze turned upward. “If our new commander is worth her salt, she’ll know that too.”
Cairnwyc nodded slowly. “What do you think her strategy will be?”
Stella remained silent for a moment as she scanned her surroundings. Her eyes settled on the cliff behind them. “Defense, most likely.”
Cairnwyc’s gaze followed hers, but his brows furrowed when he saw the cliff. “Usually, I would feel more secure with a wall at my back, but against these guys,” he motioned toward the Stoneshapers, “I’ve learned not to trust that instinct.”
Stella nodded. “For your sake, I hope this woman does not turn out to be an imbecile.”
Cairnwyc smiled at that. “My people and I made peace with death days ago. Every minute we continue to breathe is just a bonus.”
At that moment, the next set of orders came, projected directly into their minds, one directed at Stella and the other at Cairnwyc.
Their expressions changed several times as they continued to listen. Afterward, both of them fell silent for a moment.
It was Cairnwyc who spoke first. “Son of a bitch... no wonder she insisted we make it here before fighting.”
Stella nodded quietly. “A Voidiron vein right below our feet... That will cripple the Legion’s ability to assault this position.” Even her gaze toward the cliff at their backs had changed. “That means our rear is as secure as it can be.”
Cairnwyc nodded, a bit of color returning to his face. “Maybe it was a bit early to plan your retreat, eh?”
Stella’s face remained expressionless. “It is never too early for that. But I suppose I’ll stick around for now and see how it goes. If you would excuse me...”
With those words, she strode toward the Legion position and began barking orders. “Levit, Joron, Malak. Perimeter. There, there, and there. Ten men each. The rest of you start preparing the second great defensive array. I want it up and running in no more than 15. Hop to it!"
Layla watched her leave as she slowly walked up to her captain. “...What orders did we get?”
Cairnwyc tore his gaze away from the quickly growing spatial barrier that was beginning to take shape like an invisible curtain separating them from the rest of the world.
“Take the men who are in the best shape and head for the edge of the barrier. We are going to be the shield for our side.”
Layla shook her head. “I don’t think we can handle that. The men are... in rough shape.” What she really wanted to say was that she too was in rough shape. Any combat now would see them all collapse like wet cardboard.
Cairnwyc met her gaze head-on. “We won’t be alone in holding the line...”
The earth rumbled as though a mountain had collapsed. The vibration traveling up her legs made Layla buckle. She had to brace herself against her captain to keep from falling.
Instantly, her gaze darted around in search of the source of the tremor, and then she simply froze.
“Sweet mother of...”
In the center of their defensive position now stood a woman. She was unlike anyone Layla had ever seen. She had long, braided hair and a powerful build that made her appear almost masculine. Most importantly, though, she was the size of a hundred men stacked atop one another.
“Is that... a fucking Titan?”
Beside the giant woman, dozens of trees were beginning to grow. They only reached up to her waist, but still towered to the height of thirty men. Then, they began sprouting arms and legs before taking a few halting steps. Where they had come from, Layla could not say. As far as she could tell, they had simply sprouted from the ground.
She heard her captain’s voice beside her. “Watch your tongue. Or do you fancy holding the front alone after all?”
That managed to snap Layla right out of it. Titan? Tree-men? So what if they were? At that moment, she would take cover behind a mangy dog with rabies as long as it stood between her and her enemies. Her gaze settled on the majestic form of the female Titan once more. Now that she was looking at her more closely, the more pleasing this Titan was beginning to look.
Maybe she should put on a bit of muscle as well? It looked so cool and reliable on her.
Her strange fantasies were interrupted when another host arrived, all of them diving from the sky as if they did not fear the fall at all.
No. On closer inspection, those were not people at all. They had humanoid upper bodies, but their lower halves resembled those of snakes. Each of them carried between three and five spears slung across their backs. These were clearly beastbloods, likely the famous Bloodguard of the Hohenheim Company.
Layla had to admit, seeing them fall from the sky like arrows aimed at the ground perfectly matched the intimidating rumors she had heard. Fearless. Dauntless. Unafraid of pain or death.
That meant the woman at the front with the white hair was... Zelkara. Rumor had it that she was the pureblood daughter of a Progenitor Beast.
Alongside them, other Hohenheim elites also arrived. She knew many of them by name. Especially prominent were the three Archmages. The shadow Mage: David. The Healer: Raileh. And the native Nature Mage: Irisen. They had all landed within their formation, but they would not be the last.
Just before the shimmering dome of spatial distortion closed above them, Karas Skarn and his summoners dove through the final opening.
That meant all allied forces had now gathered in one place.
This... this was not just your average defensive formation. This was an all-or-nothing turtle shell strategy, with their combined backs literally against a wall.
The Spatial Barrier closed with an audible sound, like an airtight seal snapping shut.
At that moment, the only force that remained outside their perimeter was the massive flying airship sailing overhead. That, and the entire Legion armada.
Layla’s observations ended as she reached the barrier and took her place at the front of her own people. She had arrived there almost without thinking, simply following the convenient voice in her head.
But now that she looked around, she could see that not only she, but all their forces had arrived in perfect formation.
To her left stood the ordered ranks of the snake-like Bloodguard. To her right stood an assortment of other Beastbloods, some resembling wolves, others striped cats, and still others lizards.
Directly behind her stood the few dozen tree-men and the Titan.
Once more, she heard the soft voice of the woman who had earlier introduced herself as the overall commander.
“Stand tall, Sergeant Layla. Your men are looking up to you. They rely on your strength to find their own.”
Layla froze for an instant. But she did not turn. She knew it as well, the gazes that had to be directed at her. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her back and put strength into her legs.
Meanwhile, her gaze hardened into a murderous glare aimed at the approaching formation of Legion troops she could see on the other side of the shimmering haze of the barrier.
But for some reason, Layla felt no fear in that moment. She felt only a quiet sense of anticipation as the earlier words she had picked up still echoed in her mind.
Glory, or Death.
Layla smiled. Glory or Death. One or the other surely awaited her today.