Chapter 305 Reignite The Broken Heart

I sank down onto the soft grass beneath the tree's shade, my back resting against the rough bark. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves overhead, the rustling of which was the only sound besides the distant murmur of my army. I shut my eyes and let out a deep breath, my mind momentarily calm.

A shadow fell over me, and I opened my eyes to see one of my intelligence variants standing there, awaiting my orders. "Water and food for my horse, and something for me as well," I said, gesturing towards my tired mount. "It's been a long ride." The intelligence variant nodded and hurried off, disappearing into the throng of soldiers and mounts.

I leaned my head back and took in my surroundings, my thoughts drifting to my partner, Chloe. She had always been there for me, a constant presence in my life. But she was gone now, and I missed her more than ever. Lunch had always been a time for us to reconnect and share our thoughts, and her absence left me feeling lonely.

But even as I thought of her, a flicker of anger rose up in me. She had been the one to encourage me, to push me towards my destiny as a ruler. And in doing so, she had awoken something dark within me, something I had always known was there but had never dared to unleash. Was it her fault that I now reveled in the carnage and bloodshed of battle? Perhaps not entirely. But it was her encouragement that had given me the courage to embrace it, to become the monster I had always feared I was.

The intelligence variant returned with a simple meal, and I ate alone, lost in thought. It wasn't until my stomach was full and my mind at ease that I rose to my feet and signaled for my army to move out.

As we approached the first city, I could see the people working in the fields outside the gates. They looked up as they heard our approach, and fear flickered across their faces before they turned and ran inside. I ordered my soldiers to advance, and the sound of clashing metal filled the air as we attacked the city.

It was a brutal and bloody battle, and I reveled in the chaos and destruction. The crops were destroyed, the buildings burned, and the people slaughtered. And as the screams of the dying filled the air, I knew that this was what Chloe had wanted for me, what she had always encouraged me towards.

But even as I stood amidst the carnage, something within me stirred. A small voice that whispered of regret and sorrow, of a life and a path that could have been different. I pushed it down, drowning it out with the sounds of war, and vowed to never listen to it again. For I was a king, and kings did what was necessary to protect their people.

As the minions charged forward with their weapons, the air was filled with the sounds of screams and the clashing of metal against metal. The people they were attacking were defenseless and caught off guard, unable to comprehend why they were being attacked so mercilessly. The minions showed no mercy as they ruthlessly slaughtered anyone in their path, leaving a trail of destruction behind them.

Amidst the chaos, some of the minions began setting the crops on fire, sending flames soaring high into the sky. It was a sight to behold, as the flames illuminated the night sky with a fiery glow. Meanwhile, I watched the destruction from afar, taking in the sheer power and brutality of my army.

The minions continued their march towards the city, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. However, they were met with resistance from the enemy archers who launched a barrage of arrows at them. Ten of my minions fell to the ground, their bodies riddled with arrows. The rest of the minions were forced to retreat and regroup with the army, leaving the crops burning and the people of the city in a state of panic.

From the vantage point of the city walls, the archers watched as their crops burned to ashes. They knew that they were in trouble as their food supply had been decimated. I could see the fear in their eyes, and I knew that their spirits had been broken.

As the sun began to set, I signaled my army to approach the city. The army was massive, consisting of 10,000 soldiers, and I led them myself for the first time. I could feel the power coursing through my veins as we approached the city walls.

I ordered the archers to ready their bows and aim at the top of the walls. The archers obediently loaded their crossbows, waiting for my command. I gave the signal, and they released their arrows into the air. Some arrows found their mark, while others missed their target. I was pleased with their performance, but I knew that we needed more firepower.

I called for the ballistae, and they were brought forward. These machines were capable of firing 20 large-scale arrows at the same time, and the enemy had nothing that could match their power. I could see the fear in the eyes of the enemy as they realized the extent of our firepower.

I ordered the catapults to be readied, knowing that they would be the key to breaking through the city walls. The enemy walls weren't very thick, and I was confident that we could break through them. I positioned my magic minions at the back lines, keeping them safe from enemy attacks.

As the catapults launched their projectiles at the city walls, the ground shook with the force of the impact. I could see cracks forming on the walls, and I knew that victory was within our grasp. The minions charged forward, their weapons at the ready, ready to conquer the city and claim it as our own.

As I stood on the battlefield, watching my army prepare for the attack, the air was thick with tension. The sound of soldiers shouting orders, the clanging of weapons being readied, and the whirring of catapults and ballistae being prepared for battle all mixed together, creating a cacophony of sound that echoed through the surrounding hills.

I watched as the Brute Earth magic minions loaded the catapults with large rocks, their muscles bulging with effort as they lifted each stone into place. The intelligence variants set the aim, their eyes focused on the weak points in the wall, ready to strike with deadly precision. And then, with a loud thud, the first stone was launched, smashing through the wall and causing rubble to rain down onto the defenders.

The enemy troops, caught off guard by the sudden attack, scrambled to respond. They rushed to the weakened section of the wall, desperately trying to repair the damage, while others took up positions behind their shields, preparing for the next wave of attacks.

But I wasn't finished yet. I ordered the catapults to halt, and turned to the commander of ballistae. "Aim high," I told him, my voice low and steady. "We're going after the people behind the wall."

He nodded, understanding my intentions, and raised the ballistae, the creaking of the wooden frame filling the air. And then, with a whooshing sound, the arrows were launched into the sky, soaring high above the wall before raining down onto the enemy troops below.

With a signal from me, the intelligence variants launched another attack, their magic crackling through the air and causing explosions to rock the city walls. The defenders were thrown off balance, their attempts to regroup and launch a counterattack stalled by the relentless assault.

For a time, we continued the assault, the sound of battle ringing in our ears. But I knew that we couldn't keep this up forever. We had to strike quickly, before the enemy regained their footing and turned the tide against us.

And so, with a final order, I signaled for my army to charge, the ground beneath our feet shaking as we advanced towards the city gates, ready to claim victory or die trying.