A Royal Obligation
Chapter 259: Tortoise in Hiding

Chapter 259: Tortoise in Hiding

Julian’s laughter echoed over the battlefield, a sharp, almost unnerving sound amidst the carnage. He ducked under an enemy’s clumsy swing, driving his dagger into the man’s gut before shoving him aside. "This is almost too easy!" he called out, his grin wide and unrepentant. "Do these fools even know how to hold a sword?"

Lucian, ever the quieter of the two, rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a faint smirk as he dispatched another soldier with a clean thrust to the throat. "Focus, Julian," he muttered, though his tone lacked true admonishment.

Julian sidestepped another attack, spinning on his heel to bring his blade across the throat of an unsuspecting soldier. "Focus? Oh, come on, brother! Where’s the fun in that?" He spun around again, his movements quick and precise, his blade finding its home in the chest of yet another Mbuzuorian soldier.

Kaelix watched the twins for a moment, their chaotic but effective fighting drawing the attention of the enemy. He allowed himself a brief smirk before throwing himself back into the fray. His sword moved like an extension of his body, cutting down any who dared approach. A soldier lunged at him with a spear, but Kaelix sidestepped effortlessly, slicing through the shaft before driving his sword into the man’s chest.

The momentum of their assault was undeniable. Mbuzuoria’s soldiers faltered under the relentless onslaught, their lines thinning and breaking under the pressure. Theron had pushed forward, his strikes growing fiercer as he saw the tide of battle turning in their favor.

"I’ll give them this," Theron remarked, his voice calm despite the blood staining his armor. "They die stubbornly."

"Not stubborn enough," Lucian replied, driving his sword through a soldier’s ribcage before pulling it free in one fluid motion.

Julian, meanwhile, seemed to be reveling in the chaos. He ducked a blow aimed at his head, his laughter ringing out once more. "You’re all too serious!" he called, his grin feral as he drove his sword into another soldier. The man crumpled at his feet, and Julian placed a boot on his chest to pull the blade free. He turned, blood-splattered and grinning, and whistled at Kaelix.

"After this battle," Julian declared, his tone light despite the carnage around them, "you’ll remarry our brother for coming up with these plan!"

Theron chuckled, his lips twitching in amusement despite himself. Lucian shook his head but allowed a faint smile to cross his face.

Kaelix glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of Julian’s antics. He smirked as he cut down another soldier, his blade moving with deadly precision. "Focus, Julian," he retorted, throwing a dagger with unerring accuracy at a soldier creeping up behind his brother. The blade embedded itself in the man’s throat, and he crumpled without a sound.

Julian turned, his grin widening as he noticed the fallen soldier. "Ah, you ruin my fun, Kaelix," he quipped, but there was a gleam of respect in his eyes as he nodded in acknowledgment.

Kaelix didn’t respond, his attention already back on the battle as the tide turned fully in their favor.

The clash of swords and cries of battle rang out as Kaelix and his forces continued to carve their way through the Mbuzuoria soldiers. The Zephyros and Valeidio armies worked with deadly efficiency, their training and coordination making them an unstoppable force. The Mbuzuoria forces, already outmatched and demoralized, fell like flies under the relentless onslaught.

Kaelix continue leading the charge with Eirik’s brothers, Theron, Lucian, and Julian, close by his side. His sword moved like a whirlwind, cutting down every soldier foolish enough to stand in his path.

An Mbuzuorian soldier lunged at him with a spear, but Kaelix sidestepped, slashing the man across the chest in one fluid motion. Another soldier came from his left, swinging a heavy axe, but Kaelix parried with ease, spinning and driving his blade into the man’s throat.

Theron fought with a calm, calculating precision. His movements were deliberate but no less lethal. He deflected a flurry of strikes from three soldiers at once, his sword flashing in the sunlight as he dispatched them one by one. "Mbuzuoria’s best, they said?" he muttered to Lucian, who was nearby. "I’m not impressed."

Lucian smirked, skewering a soldier with his blade before pulling it free. "Perhaps they sent their worst just to amuse us," he replied, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Julian, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of energy. His laughter rang out again as he dispatched another soldier with a flourish, his sword dripping with blood. "This is almost too easy!" he exclaimed, sidestepping an incoming attack and driving his blade through the chest of his assailant. "They’re dropping like leaves in autumn!"

The Valeidio soldiers advanced in perfect formation, their shields forming an impenetrable wall as they pushed forward. Behind them, the Zephyros archers rained death upon the retreating Mbuzuoria forces, their arrows finding their marks with unerring precision. The combined forces of the two kingdoms worked like a well-oiled machine, leaving chaos and destruction in their wake.

Kaelix’s gaze swept the battlefield, locking onto a heavily armored figure barking orders amidst the chaos, General Walsen of Mbuzuoria. The man was attempting to rally his troops, his booming voice cutting through the din of battle. Kaelix’s eyes narrowed. Walsen’s death would shatter whatever resolve the Mbuzuoria soldiers had left.

"Theron, Lucian, cover me," Kaelix commanded, his voice firm. He moved with purpose, cutting down anyone who dared stand in his way. Walsen noticed Kaelix’s approach and turned to face him, drawing his massive sword with a scowl.

"So, you’re the famed stubborn Kaelix," Walsen growled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Let’s see if you’re as skilled as you are stubborn."

Kaelix didn’t respond. He simply raised his blade and charged. Walsen met him with a powerful swing, their swords clashing with a deafening clang. The two warriors traded blows in a flurry of steel, their movements fast and precise. Walsen was strong, his strikes heavy and deliberate, but Kaelix was faster. He ducked under a wide swing, driving his sword into Walsen’s side. The general let out a pained grunt, but he wasn’t finished yet.

Walsen swung again, this time with more desperation, but Kaelix anticipated the move. He sidestepped and slashed upward, his blade slicing through Walsen’s chest plate. The general stumbled, blood pouring from the wound, and Kaelix seized the opportunity. With a final, decisive strike, he drove his sword through Walsen’s heart. The general’s eyes widened in shock before he crumpled to the ground.

Kaelix didn’t linger. He turned his attention to the remaining Mbuzuoria forces, who were already beginning to break ranks. General Rathorne, seeing Walsen fall, shouted to his men. "Retreat to the palace! I said Retreat to the palace! Fall back now!"

The Mbuzuoria soldiers obeyed, scrambling to escape the relentless assault. Kaelix wiped his blade clean and raised his voice. "Press forward! We’re taking down Mbuzuoria before night fall!"

The Zephyros and Valeidio soldiers roared in unison, their morale bolstered by their overwhelming victory. As the enemy retreated, Kaelix’s group advanced, cutting down any stragglers who dared to resist.

Near the edge of the battlefield, a group of figures approached Kaelix and Eirik’s brothers. Ella and Theo, Eirik’s cousins, alongside Lysander and Draven, Kaelix’s own cousins, looked bloody and haggard but triumphant. Their armor was battered, and their weapons were slick with blood, but their spirits remained high.

"Well, that was fun," Theo quipped, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. "Though I expected more of a challenge."

"They fought like children," Lysander added with a smirk, nudging Draven, who only shook his head in mock exasperation. "Honestly, I think they were more afraid of us than anything."

Julian grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let’s see if their king puts up more of a fight," he said, his tone almost playful. "I want to kill him myself."

Lucian rolled his eyes. "Calm down, Julian. You’re enjoying this battle far too much."

"And why shouldn’t I?" Julian shot back, spreading his arms as if to encompass the carnage around them. "It’s not every day we get to crush an army like this."

Ella, wiping blood from her blade, chimed in with a cold edge to her voice. "This is nothing compared to what they did to Eirik. They deserve worse."

Kaelix turned to her, his gaze sharp. "You didn’t harm any citizens who weren’t soldiers, did you?"

Ella straightened, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence. "Of course not. We’re not savages."

Satisfied with her answer, Kaelix nodded. The group pressed on, their soldiers following behind as they approached the towering gates of the Mbuzuoria palace. The gates were shut tight, their heavy iron frames a formidable barrier.

Julian walked up to the gate, examining it with exaggerated disdain. "What are they? Tortoises hiding in their shells?" he joked, earning a round of chuckles from the group.

Kaelix smirked, turning to his soldiers. "Get ready to break down the gate."

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