Chapter 29: Just a little more...
Let them go in peace. Make sure you thank them for their assistance.
Very well, Septimus.
That leaves us with the Fomorian province.
We cannot negotiate with those kind. Prepare my army.
At once, milord.
The officers leave Septimus' quarters. Septimus rose from his seat and quietly makes his way to his wife's chambers. She stood there, eyes unblinking, towards the afternoon sky.
Naevia.
She turns around at the mention of her name and nods.
I'm leaving soon, my love.
Yes, Septimus.
Septimus gave her a farewell hug. He broke the hug to don his helmet, but was stopped by a sudden warm touch on his face.
Music:
United We Stand
Naevia?
Her porcelain white fingers traces the contour of his face, before finally stopping on his right cheek. Silently, she undoes her black ribbon and ties it on Septimus' right wrist.
Septimus. Please, give this back to me.
Naevia...I...I shall return soon. Do not worry.
Septimus dons his helmet as they broke the kiss.
I promise we won't be apart once this is over.
The Sulla army marches onward...
Scores of demon-kin stands in their way. Three armies in all stands between them and complete control of Northern Britain.
Glory awaits us! Death welcomes them! CHARGE!
Sulla Heavy Cavalry prepares to ride towards the sides of the oncoming army as the flying talonkins were shot down from the skies.
They've got forest cover! Pull back and await my signal!
The Sulla Legion do as their told, the Undying Legion shrugging off the oncoming arrows with barely a shout of pain.
They're out of the forests! NOW! Advance!
The thundering hooves of the Sulla cavalry starts the finale.
Scores of demons in all shapes and sizes charges forth, only to be met with undying determination and steel.
Septimus' cold magic disabled scores at once.
The brave Publius Carbo leads the charge as well.
Storm rages, nullifying any archer advantages.
The Wolfbreed trasnforms as they defeated another infantry. Their beastial form gaining an increase of speed and ferocity.
The Balor army is swept aside.
That's one down. Two more to go. Send the assassins after the giant leader.
Alas, they've failed.
Doesn't matter. Let us attack!
Time is of the essence. Every 200 seconds spent, means an additional hell spawn emerge from the gates.
The Sulla army needs to cast away all caution and strike.
A dead man's crossing through the river, followed with a frontal assault.
Archers! OPEN FIRE! LEGIONS, FORM THE WALLS! DO NOT FALL BEHIND!
It was chaotic, the Sulla archers tried their best, but they simply could not deal with the winged beasts before they descend upon the archers themselves.
We're about to lose our archers.
It can't be helped. The giants are priority. Cavalry! INTERCEPT!
The three unit strong cavalry smashes at the advancing giants, but the massive foes remain standing. It will take a
while to overwhelm them.
Their archers are still alive! Drive swords through their heart!
Meanwhile, the flanking Celeres Light cavalry makes its way to seal the hell gates.
Good, now we grind our way to victory!
The Sulla archers are doomed.
Publius Carbo takes on the Giant leader.
Publius! Stand strong!
Septimus! We need something to deal with the archers!
I'm on it!
Gritting his teeth, Septimus grabs Hadrian's Wreath and invoked its terrible power of the Crimson Mist.
The engulfed demon archers fell dead in seconds.
The Sulla archers were wiped out. The winged beasts no longer have any soft flesh to devour. Septimus Sulla casts a freezing spell to shatter the remaining beasts before they can do more damage.
The Sulla army completely lost its archers in their second battle.
The Sullas are too deep within the enemy territory to retreat, and the third Balor army beckons.
This is it! We'll finish this here!
In the snowy plains, three Shadowy shrines will bear witness to the Balor's final charge.
We need to remove their archer advantage! I shall invoke the Crimson Mist!
The enemy rains lightning bolts as the Crimson Mist absorbs the Sulla's Magic Shield.
But the Dead Legion holds fast.
And the enemy is soon overwhelmed.
Well done, my Legion!
We've lost a lot of good men today. But we now hold the whole northern provinces.
Do not forget the threat of the Picts...we must return to Hadrian's Wall and gather our strength to meet them head on. This time, you will not fall, Septimus.
Yes, my friend. I shan't.
Winter passes, final preparations are made...
Yes, my Emperor.
Septimus tightened the black ribbon on his right wrist. He did not return to Eboracum after that Balor campaign, but surely Naevia would understand. There is much at stake here. Once the Picts are beaten back, he will always be by her side. Those blue eyes ...they will shine even brighter.
Milord.
Yes, Valerius?
They come.
Music:
Strength of a Thousand Men
Commander, give me the word, and I shall charge with my retainers. The archers will then rain a thousand arrows upon my enemies, till none remains.
No. Publius, do not be reckless.
We've no choice Septimus! There's no end to their onslaught!
Emperor's Will preserve us.
Septimus. I hear you.
Scores of soldiers have given their lives here. Isn't that enough?
If that is the price of keeping the province safe...I offer my own blood.
No, that is madness! There has to be another way!
A body to inhabit?
You cannot win this without sacrifices! So CHOOSE! I will lead this war myself if I have to, or you will spill the blood of the innocents for the Greater Good!
...the price...is...
Septimus removes his helm and gaze at his surroundings, scores of his men, both mortal and ghosts held the line, just barely as waves and waves of Pict hordes crashed against their defenses. Another legion is trapped and is being decimated slowly by arrows and blades. Thousands more approach beyond the walls. His eyes caught sight of the black ribbon on his right wrist. He will have to choose. What will be his sacrifice?
Naevia...