Chapter 46

The air was thick with tension as the defenders of Gondor prepared for the final assault. Every soldier, every archer, and every man able to bear arms stood ready at the battlements. The faces of the people reflected the gravity of the situation; this battle could determine the fate of Gondor itself. As the war drums continued to pound in the distance, John, Legolas, and Aragorn gathered at the city walls to assess their next move.

The sky was beginning to lighten, signaling the approach of dawn. Yet the coming daylight brought no comfort. The enemy army was massing again, more determined than ever to crush Gondor underfoot. In the distance, John could see the massive siege towers being wheeled into position, each one bristling with orcs and Uruk-hai ready to storm the city.

Aragorn stood at the forefront, his eyes scanning the enemy lines. "This is it," he said grimly. "They will throw everything they have at us. We must hold the line until the very end."

Legolas, ever vigilant, nocked an arrow and took aim at one of the approaching siege towers. "They intend to breach the walls this time. We must destroy those towers before they reach us."

John nodded, gripping **Sauron's Bane** tightly. His heart pounded in his chest, not from fear but from the sheer gravity of what lay ahead. "I'll use my abilities to create a barrier," he said, his voice steady. "It won't hold forever, but it will buy us some time."

Aragorn clapped a hand on John's shoulder. "Do what you can, John. We'll give them a fight they won't forget."

---

With the signal given, the enemy began their advance. The ground trembled beneath the march of trolls, orcs, and Uruk-hai. Siege towers rolled forward, protected by heavily armored trolls that shielded them from Gondor's arrows. The defenders loosed volley after volley, but the sheer size and scale of the enemy's war machines made them difficult targets to bring down.

John raised his hands, summoning the full power of his **Summoning Barriers** skill. Shimmering walls of light materialized in front of the siege towers, forcing the orcs to halt their advance momentarily. Arrows and siege projectiles shattered against the barriers, but John could feel the strain of maintaining them.

"Hold steady!" Aragorn shouted to the soldiers. "Keep firing! Aim for the weak points on those towers!"

Legolas moved with fluid grace along the battlements, picking off orcs and Uruk-hai with lethal precision. His arrows struck true, hitting the eyes and throats of the enemy, slowing their advance. "John," Legolas called out as he released another arrow, "focus on the trolls. They're the ones pushing the siege towers forward."

Nodding, John channeled his power into a focused **Light Surge**, directing it at one of the trolls heaving a siege tower forward. The beam of light struck the troll in the chest, searing through its thick hide. The creature bellowed in agony before collapsing, its weight causing the siege tower to tip and crash to the ground, crushing the orcs inside.

Cheers erupted from the walls as the defenders saw the destruction of one of the towers, but the victory was short-lived. More trolls surged forward, dragging the remaining siege towers toward the city walls. The war drums intensified, and the orc commanders barked orders, urging their forces onward.

---

Despite their efforts, the enemy was relentless. One of the siege towers reached the wall, slamming into the stonework with a deafening crash. A ramp extended, and a wave of orcs poured out, charging straight into the defenders. The clash of steel rang out as the battle turned to brutal melee combat on the walls.

John found himself face-to-face with a hulking Uruk-hai captain. The creature swung a massive mace, but John dodged with a quick sidestep, countering with a swift slash of **Sauron's Bane**. The blade hummed with power as it cleaved through the Uruk-hai's armor, the holy energy within the sword incinerating the dark creature from within.

"Legolas, watch your back!" John shouted as another group of orcs clambered over the battlements, aiming to flank the elven warrior. But Legolas was already moving, his twin daggers flashing in the dim light. He cut through the attackers with fluid precision, each movement a deadly dance.

Aragorn joined the fray, his sword swinging in wide arcs as he rallied the soldiers around him. "Hold the line!" he roared. "We must not let them take the walls!"

John used his **Shadow Rend** ability to create a dark chasm at the base of the siege tower, causing orcs to tumble into the abyss below. The move bought them precious time, but the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming. They needed to do something drastic to turn the tide.

---

"John, can you do it again?" Aragorn asked, panting from the exertion of the battle. "Another surge like before, to clear the walls?"

John hesitated. Using **Light Surge** on such a scale required an immense amount of energy, and he wasn't sure if he could muster the strength for another full-powered blast. But they were running out of options. "I'll try," he said, steeling himself.

Summoning every ounce of power he had left, John raised **Sauron's Bane** high. The blade glowed brighter than ever, casting a radiant light across the battlefield. He closed his eyes, focusing on the energy within him, letting it build until it threatened to overwhelm him.

"Now, John!" Legolas urged, his voice carrying over the chaos.

With a roar, John unleashed the **Light Surge**. A wave of blinding light exploded outward, sweeping across the battlements and engulfing the orcs and Uruk-hai in its path. The enemy forces screamed as they were incinerated by the holy energy, their dark forms disintegrating in the brilliance.

The surge pushed the enemy back, forcing them to retreat from the walls. For a moment, silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the labored breathing of the defenders. John collapsed to one knee, exhausted but relieved. The walls of Gondor still stood, and the enemy had been repelled once again.

---

The sun began to rise over the horizon, casting a golden light over the city of Gondor. The defenders looked out over the battlefield, now littered with the remains of the enemy forces. They had survived the night, but the cost had been great. Many soldiers lay wounded or dead, and the walls bore the scars of the fierce battle.

Aragorn helped John to his feet. "You did it, John. You bought us time."

John nodded wearily, looking out at the enemy camp. The forces of darkness had been pushed back, but they would return. "This isn't over," he said. "They'll attack again. We need to prepare."

Legolas joined them, his expression grim but determined. "We've shown them that Gondor will not fall easily. But you're right, John. We need to fortify our defenses and regroup."

Aragorn turned to the soldiers gathered on the walls. "We have fought bravely, but this war is far from finished. Rest, tend to the wounded, and ready yourselves. The enemy will not wait long to strike again."

The defenders dispersed, preparing for the next phase of the battle. John looked out at the enemy camp one last time, his eyes narrowing. They had held Gondor for now, but he knew that the coming battle would be even more challenging. The forces of darkness would not give up until the city was in ruins—or until they were defeated once and for all.

As he sheathed **Sauron's Bane**, John felt a surge of resolve. They would not let Gondor fall. Not while they still had the strength to fight. The final battle was coming, and they would be ready.