Gunmage
Chapter 54: Mortars

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Mortars

In the midst of all-consuming flames, under the direct command of Major General Lovainne, the elite Ophris troops shattered through the defensive lines of Heieg in rapid succession.

Numbering no more than 3,000, every soldier had to pull their weight, no matter the rank. That was why the Major General himself fought dangerously close to the frontlines despite his higher station.

His presence alone was enough to rally the troops, but that was not the true reason he was there. Encircled by four magic-wielding gunslingers, Lovainne served as bait.

A tantalizing lure for the enemy mages who were sure to emerge the moment they realized an enemy commander was within striking distance.

A few hours had passed since the initial assault, and in that time, the flames spread like a merciless plague. They devoured everything in their wake, monuments, buildings, ancient oaks, and sprawling gardens, reducing Drakensmar to a city of ash and ruin.

The fire twisted and roared, casting flickering silhouettes that danced like phantoms within the chaos, instilling an unshakable terror in the hearts of Heieg’s soldiers.

There was a reason the soldiers of Ophris were called demons.

Their infamous Hellspawn strategy had been thought a thing of legend, a tactic reserved for only the most desperate of situations.

And yet, here they were, igniting the very heart of Drakensmar, a city of immense cultural and historical significance.

It was an act of sheer recklessness, the final gamble of a kingdom pushed to the brink. A wild beast backed into a corner was the most dangerous.

In a matter of hours, more than half of the northeastern sector had fallen under Ophris control, but as the initial shock wore off, the resistance stiffened.

Heieg’s forces regrouped, and the advance slowed.

Lugh stumbled forward, a strangled gasp escaping him as debris from a collapsing bridge crushed his puppet into a mess of blood and mangled limbs.

The connection severed instantly, yet the remnants of terror clung to him tightly.

He might not have felt the pain, but he felt everything else, the sheer dread, the fleeting heartbeat before the end, the overwhelming fear of death.

"Lugh! Snap out of it!"

Lyra’s voice cut through the din of battle, sharp and commanding. She always had a way of pulling him back from the brink.

"Have you found them?"

Vaelith asked, her tone laced with urgency.

"No, not yet."

"They" referred to the enemy mages. It made no sense. Hours into the assault, and not a single one had made a move.

"Could they be planning to stay hidden?"

Lugh muttered, but even as he spoke, a sinking feeling took root in his gut. The image of Emrys flashed in his mind, and his blood ran cold.

He was about to voice his suspicions when a crushing wave of energy washed over him. It was gone as soon as it came, but for that brief moment, he felt as though the world had split open beneath his feet.

"It’s them"

He whispered.

Lugh’s gaze darted around, no one else seemed to have noticed, no one but the mages in their group.

Xhi raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk playing at her lips.

"Oh? They’re pretty strong."

Lugh’s fingers curled into fists. As far as he knew this was the first time the priestess had ever called someone strong.

Vaelith trembled beside him, her usually steady voice wavering.

"What is a mage of that caliber doing here?"

She murmured.

"I’m afraid to say this, but our chances of winning are... close to zero."

And yet, they had no choice. Allowing someone of such strength to run free would be a disaster beyond reckoning.

Lugh’s face darkened.

Amid the clash of steel and the howling flames, the Prince took notice.

"What’s wrong?"

He asked. Lyra wasted no time in explaining.

An open challenge. When pressed about the location of the mana signature, they all pointed to the towering gothic cathedral that loomed over the burning cityscape.

"Alright then"

The Prince decided.

"They want a fight? Let’s give them one. Move towards the cathedral. In exactly ten minutes, we’ll provide fire support, that should shake them up a little. Use the chaos to breach the building. The rest is up to you. Renshaw leads the team as usual. Good luck."

"What about you?"

Lugh asked, hesitating. Without them, the Prince would be vulnerable.

"Don’t mind me"

Lovainne interjected.

"If the enemy is as powerful as you say, then you’ll need all the help you can get."

"But—"

Vaelith started clearly reluctant, only for the Prince to cut her off.

"People like this, people who wielded such immense power, are usually prideful"

He said.

"They won’t resort to underhanded attacks. They’re part of the magical civilizations after all. No other race has such an overinflated confidence in their abilities. Now go. Ten minutes."

Without further protest, they moved. Darting away from the main army, they stuck to the darkness of the streets. The city burned, embers swirling in the air like fireflies of destruction.

"One on the roof. Take him out"

Renshaw ordered.

A gunshot rang out, quick and precise, its echoes lost in the cacophony of battle. The sentry collapsed, falling lifelessly from the rooftop.

Xhi’s accuracy was unnerving. She took too much pleasure in these kills.

For secrecy’s sake, they still wore the visored helmets of the elite Hellborn Shock Troops. The design, inspired by the ancient Ophris Knights, was both archaic and terrifying, an eerie contrast to their modern military gear.

Built from specialized alloys, the helmets provided insulation against the blistering heat and ample protection against shrapnel.

They wove through the ruins, ducking behind crumbling walls and darting through alleyways. They flattened themselves against the ground as a platoon of Heieg soldiers passed, moving like wraiths through the night.

Finally, they reached the cathedral. It loomed above them, a silhouette of defiance against the inferno.

Lugh exhaled sharply. The fight ahead would be brutal.

They took up positions, ready to storm the building at a moment’s notice.

"One minute left"

Renshaw whispered. All signs of his usual intoxication were gone.

"Soo..."

Xhi drawled, her voice laced with amusement.

"How exactly does Lovainne plan on providing ’fire support’?"

Long accustomed to her lack of respect for titles, Renshaw answered simply

"Mortars."

Lyra stiffened. "Mortars? They’re using mortars in a city filled with civilians?"

The night stretched in silence for a moment too long. Then the first shell screamed through the air.

The battle for Drakensmar had only just begun.