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

"Don't let those bastards onto the roof!" Tucker roared with all of his might. He tightened his grip around the enemy soldier's neck and with a sharp twist, snapped it. Their body spasmed for several moments, but before Tucker could let go, he kicked one of the ladders down from the stone ledge.

The wooden frame came crashing down with a thunderous bang. Numerous soldiers who were still on it cried out in agony, but the sound of drums drowned out their screams. Tucker glanced over at Nemo and Jones. They were still holding their own with the veterans. But the sheer amount of soldiers rushing the building was far beyond what they had expected.

Wilfred kicked open the door leading to the rooftop, carrying a crate full of circular magic crystals with various engravings etched onto the surface. "Sir! I brought the explosive crystals!"

Tucker glanced over his shoulder and yelled at the top of his lungs. "Good! Soldiers at the front, hold the line!"

The men raised their shields and pointed their spears at the Empire's soldiers. Their weapons clashed, battle cries erupting from both sides. Tucker felt the ground shake, but quickly rushed over to the crate. He stared at the crystals and narrowed his eyes. They were just like the ones used in the trip mines. All of them had a magic circle engraved on one side and a small iron needle strapped to the surface. From afar Tucker could see the words "Ignis" inscribed in the center with each character overlapping one another.

A single scratch was all that was needed to complete the circle, and once that was done, they had ten seconds to throw it. Tucker gathered spirit essence around his fingertips. "Those who are available grab the crystals and throw them on my mark!"

The soldiers who were nearby hurriedly rushed over, grabbing as many crystals as they could.

Tucker channeled the essence carefully in his hands, forming a bow made of wind. He solidified the strand of spirit essence around hundreds of tiny green needles. In an instant, he released the bowstring holding back the arrow and sent it soaring into the air. It arced downwards from the top of the rooftop, raining down thin green arrows on the rows of foes storming their building.

They cried out in pain and desperately tried to shield themselves from the attack, but before they could form a steady line of defense, Tucker yelled, "Now!"

The Everheart soldiers etched the final markings on the magic crystals one after another. It hummed and glowed a bright scarlet color, and before the mana could complete its circulation, they threw it towards the Empire's forces. The ground violently shook as explosions erupted one after another. Blood, dirt, and fragments of metal rained down from the sky, and a look of fear filled the enemy soldier's eyes.

"Forward!" Tucker drew his sword, rallying the men behind him.

They all released a deafening battle cry and marched forward, shields raised before their bodies. With each step forward, their foes fell back. Further and further towards the stone ledge of the rooftop. The soldiers climbing the ladder cursed at their comrades. Only for it to fall on deaf ears.

Tucker glared at the enemies clustered together. They could hardly move in the cramped space, and before the Empire's forces could siege the other sides of the building. The Everheart soldiers desperately needed to push them off. With a single swing of his blade, countless foes fell. Blood painted the floors, and spears were driven forward, piercing the vulnerable gaps between their enemy's armor.

The floor was slick from the fallen bodies, and though they were winning, Tucker couldn't help but worry about the forces below. Were the knights holding their own? There was no way for him to tell. The only thing he could do was trust in Brian to unite the men.

His sword met another and trailed along the spine of his foe's blade. Before the soldier could even react, a streak of blood sprayed into the air, staining Tucker's face in a crimson hue. He needed to conserve his strength, but the longer the battle continued, the more his worries grew. He glanced at the Everheart soldiers by his side. Their shields intertwined with one another and formed a crescent around the Empire's forces.

With a thunderous voice that echoed throughout the area, Tucker roared, "Push!"

The men followed his command and yelled at the top of their lungs. Their shields slammed into the enemy soldiers with a resounding crash. Screams erupted as their foes' arms shattered from the sheer impact. Despite the bright aura flaring up from the Empire's soldiers, it was pointless before the mass of strength that pressed onwards.

"Stop moving back!" the Empire soldier cried out, but it was too late. The surge of panicked comrades slammed into him, shoving him off the rooftop with a voice filled with fear.

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One by one, they fell into the chaos below. Metal and flesh splattering on the hot stone bricks. Yet, no matter how many they killed, more came from below. The men on the rooftop did whatever it took to win. Nemo threw one man off the ledge while caving another's head with a helm he picked up from the ground. While Jones twisted the arm of his opponent back towards their neck. Right before hammering the hilt of a dagger through their throat. A blood-curdling plea escaped the soldier's lips, but Jones held firm.

"Captain!" Jones shouted, his voice strained from the repeated warnings. "More are storming in from the side!"

Tucker glanced at the east side of the building. His men were driving their opponents off the southern end with their backs to the inner walls. There was only one row of houses blocking them and their allies, but it felt like miles.

He couldn't afford to divert anyone from the southern end. With a single step forward, he turned towards the east side. Ladders were leaning against the stone blocks, one after another. The Empire's soldiers would soon overwhelm them, but such a thing wouldn't happen. Not under his watch.

"Go, go, go!"

Shouts from below entered Tucker's ears. He heard the wooden ladder creak, boots thudding against each step. Spirit essence enveloped his blade. The howling wind surged around them, pulling on the seams of their cloaks. Tucker twirled his sword in the air to gather the surrounding currents. With one decisive swing, he cut through the space above the ladders just as the first wave climbed over.

An emerald gust of wind tore through the soldiers who stood on top of the wooden steps. Their bodies cut clean in half as their torsos fell. The armor that protected their bodies shattered, and the stars within Tucker's body resonated with his soul. One that was fleeting, like a candle in the wind. Yet, slowly, the force was growing stronger.

But as Tucker cut down one foe after another, he knew it wasn't enough. Against a knight like Igneel, he almost died. Their battle would have ended in mutual destruction. Both of them would have died there if Brian and the other knights hadn't intervened.

A flash of silver snapped Tucker back to reality. His blade traced through the air, intercepting the strike mid-swing. Sparks burst as their auras clashed, and with a twist of his wrist, he redirected the blow to the side. He could see it. Lines of silver gleaming in the clouds of dust. Each one tracing the sword path of his attackers.

Tucker closed in on the soldiers, striking at the vulnerable gaps in their armor. His blade cut through them with ease, narrowly avoiding the protection engravings on the metal plates. They were slow, far too slow compared to Igneel, and the weight behind their blades was non-existent.

He conjured the surrounding currents and pulled them, knocking down the ladders on the eastern side in an instant. As their bodies came crashing down, Tucker gritted his teeth and stared at his trembling hand. There was far too much resistance compared to before. He hadn't fully recovered from his fight with Igneel, but to think the side effects would still be this strong was beyond his expectations.

Tucker's gaze shifted to the other Everheart soldiers. They had regained their ground, and the enemy soldiers were falling back. After a two-hour-long battle, they had won, but at a terrible cost. Tucker stood as the echoes of battle faded into the rasp breathing and metallic clatter of dropped weapons. Blood still dripped from his sword, but all that remained was the suffocating silence of the fading battle.

"Wilfred, what's the situation like inside?" Tucker asked, his voice quieter than before.

"Last I checked, we were winning, sir," Wilfred replied.

"Good, those fuckers really thought they could best us?" Nemo grinned and spat on the ground. "It just goes to show that they'll need ten times their numbers to win."

"Well said, Nemo," Tucker smirked, but soon raised a brow at Jones' troubled expression.

"Captain Welford, there's something you need to see downstairs." Jones held the door open for Tucker. "Captain Morgan called for you."

Tucker looked over his shoulder at the other men. They had everything under control, but that didn't mean he could let his guard down. "Make sure to stab the enemy soldiers in the heart to make sure they're dead. Otherwise, keep an eye out and notify me if anything happens."

"Will do cap." Nemo gave a simple salute, causing Tucker to smile.

It's nice having dependable subordinates, but as Tucker stepped down the stone stairs, the muffled sounds of grief and exhaustion echoed from below. The Thirty-First had become far more reliable than he had ever expected, and seeing their growth was rewarding. But that was barely enough to ease the pain of losing his comrades. He tried to focus on the victory, on the strength his men had shown. Yet no matter how hard he tried, the faces of those who had fallen still haunted him. If they had just a few more months—no weeks of training then Tucker was sure they would have been far more prepared for the war.

But such thoughts were pointless, and constantly thinking of them did no good. Yet, as Tucker saw the fallen Everheart soldiers, he thought of Alfred, who died in his arms. A kid who had yet to see more of the world and prove themselves to others. Someone who deserved more, but had it all taken away in a blink of an eye.

Too many had died, and it felt like only those who perished saw the end of the war.

Tucker clenched his hands as he made it to the second floor. The men were all gathered around, and the bodies had been cleared out. His eyes fell on the blade marks etched in the floor, but the majority of the chamber was still in mint condition.

"Captain, is everything alright?" Jones worriedly asked.

Tucker slowly exhaled. "Yeah, what did Captain Morgan need me for?"

Jones hesitantly froze for a moment, focusing on the Everheart soldiers on the first floor. The furious shouts from the other men and fierce gazes burned holes in his composure.

He quietly gulped. "They… they caught an enemy soldier, a knight to be exact."

Tucker stood still, looking over his shoulder in disbelief. "A knight?"