Spiritbound [Spirit Magic, Military, Progression] (Book 1 Complete)

A man with a long white braided beard stood still, overlooking the burning city as smoke rose from every corner. His crimson eyes and long hair swayed in the wind. Behind him were his trusted advisors, yet none dared to utter a word. The sun was setting, and soon the first day of the siege would come to an end. His soldiers were pushing into the bastion, gaining ground inch by inch.

However, a sense of uncertainty lingered in the back of his mind. Their progress was slow, far too slow, considering the resources allocated to their plans. On the first day, they only breached one section of the fortress, and because of the elaborate design, the fortress could still defend against the Empire's forces while holding the other bastions.

His gaze fell onto Igneel, and a look of disappointment flickered in his eyes. "You failed to kill the watchmen, and not only that—you failed to avenge your captain?"

Igneel's emerald eyes stared at the ground. His brown strands of hair fell down the side of his face, and the golden tips shimmered beneath the torchlight. He couldn't find the words to describe the shame in his heart, but even if he did, General William Falcone wouldn't hear it.

"Do you have no words to explain yourself, Sir Igneel?" William focused on the silver knight with his hazelnut eyes. Losing the golems in combat didn't matter. Losing the standard infantry was the same. However, to lose Sir Alexander was a crucial blow to their military prowess.

Six-star knights were difficult to replace, and the void left behind greatly impacted their operations. If he were to follow protocol, then Igneel would be made the new captain of the twelfth order. But how could he do such a thing? There was no honor in letting your foe escape and failing to avenge one's comrade.

He gazed at the six metal knight figures surrounding the Aegis bastion and then the Stafford bastion. They had three days to take the fortress city, and with how the situation was unfolding, it would be a miracle.

"What are our current losses?" William asked.

Sir Philip stepped forward and placed his fist over his chest. "Currently, we're estimating it to be roughly three thousand dead."

"And how many injured?"

"A couple hundred with minor wounds."

William stood there and considered their next move. An all-out assault was the easiest way to claim the fortress city, but it would come at a staggering cost. Afterwards, they would have to sweep through every building, uprooting any soldiers lying in wait. It was a tedious but necessary process. He tapped the wooden table and stared at the other knights.

"Assemble the men. We'll set up a defensive perimeter around the breach and garrison in the empty buildings." William gave his orders with a stern voice. "I want the first to third divisions to start clearing out the nearby area for any vermin. No prisoners, kill every Everheart soldier or citizen you see. Do I make myself clear?"

"Your will is our command!"

The men all placed their fists over their chests and replied in unison. Yet Igneel remained hesitant at the General's words, flinching for a split second.

Even the women and children?

Igneel kept his head down and simply nodded, not uttering a single word as his comrades marched off. Their unwavering acceptance of such orders left a bitter taste in his mouth, but they were professionals. Soldiers who carried out orders regardless of how diabolical they were—even if it meant slaughtering civilians. Yet, he felt his heart sink and an emptiness fill his mind.

.

.

.

Smoke and flames continued to rise over the fortress walls while a heavy guilt pulled down on Tucker's heart. Everywhere they went, it was the same: buildings were crumbling one after another, and dead bodies littered the streets. Their city was falling. It felt hopeless, but Tucker couldn't reveal his thoughts. The men behind him needed a leader.

The sound of footsteps hammered in Tucker's ears. He kept his gaze forward and sprinted down the alleyways of the fortress city. Beyond the archways and grand stone structures forming the city's outer perimeter, a shadow loomed over them. One that Tucker wasn't sure they'd be able to escape.

"Over there!" the Empire's soldier shouted with all his might as a group emerged before them.

Tucker clenched onto the hilt of his sword. "We're breaking through! Nemo, Jones! Follow my lead!"

"Yes, sir!" Nemo and Jones responded in unison as they raised their shields.

Tucker gritted his teeth. He had used too much spirit essence and aura in his fight with Igneel, so the only thing he could do now was trust that his men could finish the soldiers off once he opened the path. A flash of silver traced through the air as his sword knocked the blades aside.

In an instant, Nemo and Jones rushed forth. Their blades cut through the air, leaving streaks of crimson on the wall. The Empire's soldiers collapsed with bloodcurdling screams, only to be shoved aside by the men of the Twenty-Eighth.

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"We need to take a left!" Wilfred shouted.

Tucker nodded, reaching into the leather pouch hanging on Nemo's shoulder. He pulled free a javelin and faced the fork ahead. One path kept going straight and another cutting to the left. With the last of his strength, he hurled the javelin forward. The sound of flesh being pierced entered their ears as blood spilled across the ground.

Yet the Empire's forces were relentless. They pushed through the pain and rushed at the men funneling through the alley. But before they could even get close, five men from the Twenty-Ninth met them head-on. Shields collided and weapons clashed as steel met iron. Tucker looked over his shoulder, watching as flashes of aura filled the alleyway.

A soldier of the Twenty-Ninth roared at the top of his lungs. "Go! We'll meet you there!"

A trace of sadness filled Tucker's eyes. He gave a firm nod and pressed forward while tapping Nemo and Jones's shoulders. The men continued through the narrow passageways. One after another, groups of Everheart soldiers broke off from their unit and engaged the Empire's men. Battle cries filled the air, and the hammering in Tucker's heart continued. No matter how many lives were lost, Tucker could only continue to move forward, even if he didn't want to.

"How much further?" Tucker asked.

"We'll be there soon!" Wilfred replied. "We just need to keep going straight! Once we enter the main street again, we'll be there!"

Tucker focused on the path before them. He could see the light pierce through the darkness. They were close. Very close to making it out of the alleyway and right as they broke out into the main street. A large building with half a meter-thick walls entered their sights. The windows to the building had metal shutters that were sealed. However, the main entrance was still open, and their kingdom's banners were nowhere to be seen.

It was undeniably suspicious, but with the Empire's forces closing in on all sides, they had no other choice. Tucker stood at the forefront with Nemo and Jones in tow. He charged forward with his sword in hand. If they stopped right there, then the men behind them would only push them forward. They needed to try to secure the storage building even if it cost them their lives.

He channeled every drop of spirit essence he could gather, wrapping it around his blade. The wind surged around them, enhancing their momentum. Each step they took sent ash and dirt into the air. The smoke that blocked their vision cleared, and a silent charge stormed into the building.

Not a single noise left their lips. Only the soft sound of their armor rattling entered the Empire soldiers' ears as they looked up. Some were carrying wooden crates filled with supplies, while others were lazing around in the open. All of them were caught off guard.

A fatal mistake that the Everheart soldiers took advantage of. Before they could even draw their weapons, Tucker swung his blade. Blood was drawn with each swing, smearing his face with death. The droplets trailed down his chin, soaking the fabric of his dark green cloak. Yet none of the Everheart soldiers hesitated. Countless screams filled the building as they pushed further in.

Nemo slammed into one of the Empire's men, driving him onto the ground while raising his shield high before bringing it back down. The sickening crunch of the young man's skull echoed throughout the room, but he didn't stop there. He needed to be sure that the soldier was dead, and until the enemy's finger stopped twitching, he stood once more.

The gruesome scene left the Empire's forces stunned. Their faces were as pale as snow. They had no leader. Someone would have taken control of the disoriented men by now, and upon realizing this, Tucker continued his onslaught while Jones remained close behind.

Every strike aimed at his captain's life was greeted with a wall of steel. The sharp clang echoed as the sword clashed against the raised shield. Sparks burst from the collision like leaves in the wind. Yet Jones stood firm despite the impact that sent shivers down his spine. He held the line until an opportunity appeared, and as the attacker's momentum stalled. He thrust his blade forward, driving the tip through the man's throat.

Inch by inch, they were slowly gaining ground. Swiftly disposing of their foes one after another until finally killing the last of the Empire's soldiers. In a matter of minutes, seventy soldiers from the Avalon Empire lost their lives. Yet Tucker felt the hair on the back of his neck stand.

"Nemo, gather those who can still fight and clear the left side of the second floor. Jones, you do the same, but focus on the right side," Tucker ordered.

"On it," Nemo replied.

"Leave it to me!" said Jones.

Tucker gave a firm nod, gesturing for Wilfred to follow. Around them, the remaining Everheart soldiers tightened their formation, locking their shields in place to form a protective shield wall around the entrance of the building. There were still men outside—stragglers fighting to reach safety, and unlike the gatekeepers, Tucker had no intention of leaving them behind.

Those doors would only close when the Empire forced them to, and not a moment before.

Once the second floor had been cleared, Tucker motioned for archers to position themselves along the railings overlooking the entrance. With a clear vantage point and no threats remaining above, they could solely focus on any foolish enemies that dared to rush them.

Silence filled the building. The Captain of the Thirty-First narrowed his eyes, focusing on what was beyond the gates. Brian had yet to return, which meant there were still soldiers fighting out there. Slowly, the men from the other platoons were trickling in. But Brian was still nowhere to be seen.

"Sir, we need to close the doors!" Wilfred pleaded with Tucker, but the captain refused to listen.

The Empire's forces weren't in sight, and there was no way in hell that Brian would lose. A man of his caliber was someone who wouldn't die to mere foes. If he encountered an opponent he couldn't handle, then there would be some sort of sign. After a few more moments, Tucker saw a small group of figures rush through the alleyway. A handful of men carrying an injured soldier through the flames and clouds of dust.

It was Brian and the men of the Twenty-Eighth. Their tattered appearance and blood-stained armor left a vivid sight. But as they were running, several banners entered Tucker's sight. Crimson banners and dozen of soldiers from the Empire were right on their tail.

They sprinted with all their might. Desperately shouting something that was unintelligible, but Tucker could see from the fear written on their faces that something was chasing them. He signalled for the men near the door to prepare themselves, and as the group of soldiers dived through the opening.

Tucker roared. "Loose!"

The archers overlooking the entrance released their arrows, raining down a volley that struck the Empire's forces with one swift blow. Their bodies were knocked back, and using the brief opening, Tucker followed with another order, urging the soldiers to shut the doors. With a heavy slam, the doors were sealed just as a thunderous bang echoed from the other side, shaking the entire room.