"BROTHER!" "FATHER!"

  The shot duke was caught by his family where he dropped. It wasn't the first time he'd been hit by an arrow, there were plenty during a monster tide depending on its composition. And even in this battle, a few errant projectiles bounced off his plate.

  However, he knew instantly from the force of impact and the shape of what was stuck in his arm, it was no bow- it was a crossbow, likely a portable one unlike those mounted on the wall. A rarity outside the eastern regions of the empire- and a valued tool for the likes of assassins.

  If that wasn't enough suspicion, then the poison he could feel coursing through his blood was confirmation enough.

  "Assassin," he hissed out to his fretting sister and daughter. "G-get out of sight!" Gregori sputtered out, working through the pain lacing his veins. It was like a deep chill settling in his bones, cold to the point of searing hot- enough to likely make any other pass out.

  But the vampire lord had suffered through greater pain- lived through it even. Once when he lost the love of his life, another when his first son had died doing his honored duty. He would not fall so easily!

  Vio immediately understood and barked a command. His shocked bodyguards instantly acted, moving to shield the main line of House Cordis with their bodies and dragging him back, into the inner keep. Their last line of defense should all else fails. The Magia acolyte was with him every step of the way, trying her best to use [Heal] to stave off the poison. She was trying her best- but she wasn't powerful enough to expel it with that single spell alone. [Cure] could've been more effective, but that was a spell out of her reach.

  His consciousness swam and he saw his son's face now. His firstborn morphed into the secondborn, and with fury, he gripped his heir's arm. "What are you doing? You cannot abandon the fight!" he rasped, roar coming out weakly. "Hide among your guards, and drive them out of our home!"

  Teodor hesitated, then jerked in understanding. "My lord- father, it will be done. But I've lost sight of Petula-!"

  Oh foolish daughter of his, where had she gone now?!

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------?

  The assassin found a new spot and was fortunate enough to catch sight of somebody darting to join the group dragging the duke in, breaking away from the fight briefly to fret. Ah, that likely was the son then- what luck. The defenders wavered for a brief moment at the absence of their leaders and the attack surged, reinforced only by Eifer entering with his own complement. It wasn't a moment too soon as finally, the gatehouse was retaken and the portcullis dropped back down, crushing some unfortunates following behind. There would be no further reinforcements getting through.

  That was irrelevant now- there were enough attackers inside the castle to pose a serious threat to the beleaguered and wavering defenders. Fighting first against the mercenaries and house troops without break or respite was taking a toll. They were about to break, which House Cordis would naturally never allow.

  Meaning that heir was going to emerge back from the keep. The perfect time to hit him with a poison bolt and call the job complete-

  The assassin's instincts screamed at them and they threw themselves back, just in time to avoid the sword slash at them. They were too slow though with their crossbow and one of its strings was cut through, ruining the implement. The masked figure checked and cursed- it wasn't irreparable, but they needed time and focus to do so.

  Something that the angry lady in front of him was unable to do. "I saw you," she spat and raised her blade into a ready stance. "When you leapt off, I caught the edges of your cloak. And I know this castle better than anybody else in my family, so I know where you'd want to go next if you wanted to kill more of us. But I won't let you!"

  They almost went to use [Knife Fan] to rid themselves of this nuisance, only to freeze in realization. This had to be the young daughter his employer had specified to remain unharmed, which was an issue. They'd use up all their knives with sedative toxins earlier to open the gates by knocking out the guards.

  All they had now were their backup knives of monster venom that surely would kill. Angrily, they took one out and immediately wiped away the toxin with their cloak, but they wouldn't have time to apply the sedative instead before she was upon them with an angry shout. They hastily deflected and began to backpedal, eyes widening behind the mask when they realized they were losing, badly.

  Whatever happened to House Cordis' focused strength on [Blood Harvest]? They should not have anybody capable of this swordplay among them-!

  Snarling, they turned and fled to try and lose a very furious Petula upon them.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------?

  Teodor emerged out and took stock of the battle he'd foolishly abandoned in the middle of it. He felt angry, both at his enemies and himself. His father was right- what was he doing, looking like he was leaving the defense! He paused when he realized somebody was following along and turned to see his aunt coming along, her robes dragging along as her staff rapped against the ground. "Shouldn't you be with the duke?"

  "If my [Heal] can't get the poison out, then it's entirely up to him and the physician," Vio grimly said. "I won't be of any use just...standing around. Better I at least contribute to the battle."

  "He ordered you to do it, didn't he," her nephew quietly guessed and her grip tightened around her magical foci.

  "Yes."

  "Then I'm counting on you, Lady Vio," he ordered and strode out raising his voice. "HOUSE CORDIS! We are the defenders of the west, the guardians of the empire- be it from without, or within!" the heir roared, his mere presence already restoring the faltering morale. "Show the dogs of Viszal that we do not give so easily to their trickery! [Rallying Cry]!"

  The breaking line instantly reformed and all thoughts of cowardice vanished as the skill briefly washed over them. Now, it was the turn for the attackers to falter when they beheld soldiers of a lineage that has held the wall against countless tides of monsters. They realized too that with the gates now lowered- there was no way for further reinforcements to reach and assist them. Desperation was beginning to overtake the mix of loyalty and righteousness, unease seeping into their shaking weapons.

  Which was of course was why their leader had no choice but to step forward himself too to intervene.

  "Oh, you mercenary dogs," Eifer intoned sorrowfully, his bodyguards smashing their shields together to herald his announcement. "Is it not enough for you to butcher and abduct the survivors of House Cordis? You pilfer and defile their noble name too! This, I cannot stand! No...the gods would not stand for it too!"

  The fighting seemed to draw to a lull when the heir of Viszal emerged, making a show of him putting on his helmet and drawing his sword. "So I shall be their righteous, holy blade!" Eifer declared, shrugging on his own shield. "I shall strike down the pretender and restore House Cordis- in partnership, of course!"

  "What madness is this?" Teodor growled from where he stood, hands flexing. "Why does our neighbor claim to be our savior while invading us-!"

  "Hah! See how they duel with words, not purpose!" the zealot crowed, pointing his sword at the stunned, legitimate heir of Gabion. "Would the real defenders of the wall not answer my challenge with their might? No, watch them try to weave more of their subversion now that I have laid their faults bare!"

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  The man hesitated, realizing then the trap Eifer had set out. He had heard of the supposed martial prowess that the man had, some even whispering he was blessed by the gods as a paladin so. In contrast, Teodor was taught to fight against monsters with [Blood Harvest], with no weapon but his own hands. He...could try, but he wasn't sure if he was strong enough. The duke certainly could maybe, but he was poisoned!

  A familiar hand squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Allow me," Vio whispered, stepping forward for him. Her hand reached into her belt and pulled out one last enhancement potion that she gulped down, filling her with the necessary energy to point her radiating staff at Eifer. "[Fireball]!"

  A massive gout of flame was belched out from the foci and it flew straight at the unbothered target. He raised his shield and chanted out a skill of his own, putting all his devotion and faith wholly in the protection from the gods. "[Noble Aegis]!"

  His shield suddenly glowed brightly just in time for the spell to impact straight into it...and vanish, leaving him still standing. Slightly singed and battered- but unbowed. Gasps and mutters filled the air from both sides as Eifer stood up straighter, prouder, fervent. "See! The gods favor the just!" he hollered into the air, giving open thanks in raw, genuine belief. "I withstand wickedness!"

  "Impossible," Vio gasped to her worried nephew. The acolyte was bent over in exertion, thoroughly spent, so none noticed the tears welling up in her eyes. From pain, disbelief, or hurt, she couldn't say. "That...that was my strongest spell. How could just a single skill block that!"

  Teodor glanced about and noticed that this was it- the tipping point. The morale of House Cordis was crumbling faster than it ever could've had this been a long, drawn out fight, the effects of [Rallying Cry] fast fading away. Though they may not be overtly religious, the defenders weren't entirely ignorant of faith. And with how their invader was apparently blessed by the gods enough to overcome magics...then perhaps there was truth in those words.

  Perhaps they had no hope.

  The vampire heir could also see the fire light up in the eyes of the attackers, even without the use of such a support skill. They believed themselves just, and would fight even harder now. He hated the idea of it, but...surrendering and offering terms might be for the best. His father needed treatment, quickly too. Teodor was faced with making a shameful admittance that would have embarrassed his great ancestor, but save those still alive. A difficult decision, one that maybe only a few could have the resolve to make.

  Somebody that only a duke could do.

  He had to, there was no other choice. "We surren-"

  "Watch how now they fall before the wrath of the gods!" Eifer yelled, before Teodor could finish making the offer, and brought his sword down. "[Holy Ray]!"

  A beam of energy leapt from the glowing sword and rushed straight for House Cordis.

  Teodor grabbed his aunt and tried to pull her behind him, hoping to take the most of the blow-

  And a shadow rose up in front, forming into an armored figure that took the skill head-on for them.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------?

  Mordred recognized the two of the approaching mercenary bands immediately. How could she not, they'd been her first taste of city life even. "Huh, weren't you the lot that tried to rob me?" she mused, scratching her chin with an idle hand and frowning. Despite being told all their equipment had been confiscated, they now looked quite well armed. Did somebody give them replacements, better ones at that?

  She shrugged off the thought and turned over to the final group included in this approach, frowning. They tickled a memory and it wasn't until she laid eyes on their apparent leader that it clicked. "Ah, you're the ones who wanted to take on that idol recovery job that we did first!" the dragon recalled, snapping her fingers. "You don't look very happy to be back at the shrine though."

  "We're just here to collect on that payment that we should've owned," they sneered. Their eyes then fell on the soot-covered mercenary next to Mordred and they jerked back like they'd seen a ghost. More than a few of the group did. "Gunther?! You're still alive, after we set that fire-!" another exclaimed.

  "I don't die so easily," the man mockingly revealed and glanced over in the distance. "Looks like you took good care of my lads and lasses though, huh?"

  "Oh, you should've heard them," one of them taunted, recovering the shock. "Begging and pleading for us to let them out, as the fire cooked them alive! Ah, we might've if they promised to join us-"

  "You're lying," Mordred flinty accused, her eyes hard. "I've worked with them, hunted bears with them, told them off about partnering with me- they would rather die on their feet that do anything close to embarrassing the Eber Marauders."

  "Guess that they fought like wild animals themselves huh? Fighting so fiercely that you had to do the same thing with me- back out, barricade the exits, then set a fire, am I getting close?" Gunther hotly mentioned. "You can't even match up to us when you have more numbers and better equipment- so just let the elements do the work for you, right?"

  "Shut up!" one of the mercenaries howled and readied their weapon, a motion copied by their comrades. "This city's ours now, and we're going to take what we're owed- including your life! So go back into that shrine and pray to the goddess of death- she'll be carting you off real soon to join your friends!"

  A cruel laugh escaped their throats at the idea and it was taken up across the group. Under the noise, Mordred quietly stepped closer to Gunther and explained her idea. "Hold the shrine door, don't let anybody through. There's only way in and out, so they have to come at you through there.

  "I'll handle the rest."

  He hesitated, experience warring with trust, before giving a grim nod. The man stepped back and retreated until his back was touching the door to the shrine. There he stopped and drew his new blade, nearly dropping it at how light and airy it felt. Something that normally one associated with a weapon that was quite weak and crumbling.

  But Gunther had a feeling that from how brilliantly this simple iron sword shone beneath the moonlight, it would hold.

  Meanwhile, the mercenaries advanced forward, those with longer weapons like spears and glaives taking the lead until they surrounded Mordred with in a loose ring with those weapons. She let them do so, her eyes busy studying and marking each present. They were her prey.

  And her kind were the apex predator.

  "Skewer this bitch!" an eager voice roared and, as one, they all thrust their polearms forward.

  Her own struck the ground and, using it for leverage, Mordred leapt into the night sky to land on top of the shrine. She balanced herself at its spire point with one leg down, one leg raised, staring down at the mortals down below with her lance loosely held at the ready. When heads turned around to stare at her with a moon at her back, some of the more religious mercenaries would've sworn they saw something different in a brief, fleeting moment.

  That instead of their hated enemy, there stood perched there instead was none other than the goddess of death. Belle herself glaring down at those who would desecrate her place of worship, baring visible fangs with her scythe at the ready. The hallucination soon faded to reveal it was just the woman glaring at them, with fury that could unsettle a dragon-

  And she jumped, lance swirling around to point at them. "[Dragon Dive]!"

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------?