Chapter 41 – Thorn Cross Legion

“Bastards!” shouted a soldier. “All of them are demons that could not stop seeking death!”

“Shut up!” howled another one. “We’ve enough of them! Just don’t annoy us! Damn it! What are these bastards taking that made them act like men unhinged?”

There was clamor on top of a ship. The men saw the nameless soldier’s maddened crazed. The way he dashed to his death, was exhilarating and outright that of mythical tales. Not to mention the single balloon that contained only five figures, doing this much damage to the armada of the sky.

“Where are the Cagan native fools!” hollered a soldier. “I thought they are with us here! Comrades in arms, bah! I spit on their furry features! We are taking the front yet they are touching themselves behind our backs like cowards!”

A soldier took a deep breath. He was pulling a rope to adjust the balloons of the ship. “Damn it, who thought of it as a good idea to take the front! The Vanguard Ship’s fucking down!”

There were many soldiers complaining about their situation. They’ve seen the display of recklessness that their enemy has shown. And the nameless soldier who fought to his death only to be put down madly by rifles was something they’ve feared.

It took one man to bring fear. And it took five just to set ablaze the front guard of the armada of the sky, forcing them into a dire situation. The ships were also subdued by this harsh sulfuric smell that made those with weak stomach vomit and goes limp. It was not poisonous but it made them limp just by smelling it.

“Captain!” a soldier called while running. “Sir, I think we need to change directions. There are embers flying around that might put embers on our balloons! I suggest that we change course or else we’d be put down like the Vanguard ship!”

The Captain glanced at the soldier. He tapped his fist on the steering wheel before howling. “Brave men! We are changing course!”

The Captain held the steering wheel with both hands. With a twist, he made his flying tilt to the side as it then avoided the embers flying around. It made the other ships behind them wonder, but seeing the falling Vanguard ship and the amount burning ships in front of them. They followed suit only to make chaos up in the sky.

The Vanguard of the Ship led them to this place. Yet it was now going down like a meteor that caught fire from the sky. The sight of the giant warship was visible to everyone. It was clearly seen and the people down this narrow mountain path saw it clearly.

“By the Gods, they’ve summoned flying vessels just to invade the City.” a man said in plate armor. He wore a gray tunic and on his body were bandoliers and bombs. Behind his back was a rifle, and on his waist was a sword. His great helm shone as the fires of the flaming armada ship glowed brightly. Behind him were legions of men with the same outfit or less. Wearing Great helm, with swords and rifles on them, their surcoat was painted with a cross with a crown of thorns that coiled around the structure of the cross.

They were riding mountain horses that were clearly bulky and strong. They were able to climb this passable mountain with thick shrubs and steppe path because of these horses. The horses had armor on them, they had saddlebags but the horses acted like it was no big deal.

“Looks like we aren’t just fighting them.” said the man with a spyglass. “Those ships flying in the rear must be the Cagan sky army.”

A man spied on the sky too. He said. “Yes, that animal bared flags they fly. No doubt about it. Where are the sky griffons?”

“There should be on their way Sir.” said the soldier. “But are we sure our griffons can fly that high Sir? Even before this absurd scene. We haven’t flown that high, not even when that hill-like barbarous dragon came and attacked the Holy Midland thirty years ago.”

The man pocketed his spyglass. “It doesn’t matter. In the name of God, we shall purge the invaders that threaten our allies. We must not fear. We must not adhere to the fear of the sight before us. The people of Avilla City are outnumbered and we’ve heard the booming sounds that ravaged their city. Yet look at the skies! They are torn and their ships aflame, clearly by the hands of those people.”

The man then turned his head to the soldiers behind him. “Knight Templar’s of the Thorn Cross Legion! We must fight the enemy! We must bring them to heel! Assist the City of Avilla! Bright forth their knees to the ground and let them know, not even their ships can save them from the wrath of this legion!

“HORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“Men of the Thorn Cross, rally behind me! Artillerymen! Ready the four-legged dragons and point our guns at the demi-human fleet. Chase them! Bring them down! My Templar’s! Follow me! We shall now join the people of Avilla in their fight! Execute the invaders! Show no remorse! Show no pity! Show them the might of the servants of the God of Light! PURGE THEM ALL!”

‘HORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

The men behind him shouted. A series of booming stomps came inside the forest as hundreds of mounted rider’s gallops out of the forest. Behind them was an army of four-legged dragons strapped with giant cannons behind their backs. Despite the size of the cannons, the four-legged dragons were able to keep up with the fast horses of the Templar’s.

There was a cloud of dust that formed the field. And distance away from this field of dust, a woman with drill-like blonde hair smiled devilishly at the sight of the Templar’s that came from the Midland at her behest. A simple note she gave made these fanatical Templar’s appear carrying flying griffons and a battalion worth of dragon artillery.

“My lady was this truly necessary?” said her servant.

“Of course it is. With this, I doubt the Warlord of Avilla can refuse the favors that I, Alva of Dolce did for her. Even if she hates it, she will owe me and I’ll be able to plant seeds for my horrendous family there.”

She smiled. The maidservant nodded her head as she watches the Templar’s of the Thorn Cross Legion charge their enemies.