Are They Insane

"Now it is the time for you to… Ahhh!!!!"

An arrow pierced its way through the air above the deranged and lawless street filled with the cruelty of mankind, finding gaps through helmets and blades, flying finally into its intended target.

The Ottoman commander made the most fundamental mistake a villain can make – he talked way too much, which gave him his death sentence.

The arrow penetrated his neck, smashing his throat tearing his vein and artery, then it seems like suddenly the world turned black and upside down for him. All of this, although seems to be an eternity for the unnamed Ottoman commander as he approached the very end of his destiny, happened in a split second. It just seems like Julian is just about to have his throat slit by the Ottoman Kilij high in the air when the Ottoman commander suddenly tilted his head, staggered for a while, dropped his blade on the ground and finally collapsed before the petrified Julian.

Julian heaved a deep breathe to regain his consciousness and courage, then picked up the Ottoman commander's ferrous Kilij and stabbed the Ottoman commander's corpse several times making sure he is dead, then looked back at where the arrow came from just now. It is no doubt that the arrow came from his trust worthy pal by arms, the old but reliable Anjelo. The two men nodded at each other before Julian rushed back into action with the Ottoman ferrous blade and Anjelo hurried down the roof top to prevent seeking attention from Ottoman archers, he is not like some foolish unexperienced snipers that stays in the same position and get shot into hedge hog.

On the walls, Mauro and his band of merry men ran frantically scaling the bricks and tiles of the century old walls, totally unlike the agility of a man in full set of armours which almost weigh one quarter of his total body weight. He bounced onto the ground and continued running with his feet kissing the bricks. Normally it is dangerous having the idea of running fast on a battle field as it would attract attention, but Mauro cares no more. As probably the most battle experienced Veteran in this area, he knows very while what the situation is, if they do not close the gate on time, the Ottoman reinforcements will be gushing in and by then they will have the initiative of the attack. Meaning one thing, the walls, the area of Blachnarea, and the city, is lost.

Mauro and his men took down the men guarding the stairs and hastily climbed up to the Barbican tower where the centuries old Roman portcullis mechanisms are located. Then Mauro grabbed hold if the mechanism and started using all of his might to push the wheel.

"Did the Greeks forget to apply lubricant on this shit even older than me?"

Mauro groaned while pushing, the sounds of blades clashing against each other can still be heard through the arrow slit. Julian who are well aware of friendly forces have successfully taken control of the walls, kept an eye on the where abouts of Mauro made a perfect tactical corporation by pushing the Ottomans to the walls shoving them to the sides, successfully separating the Ottoman Janissaries and Yaya infantries into two segments preventing them from supporting each other or trying to stop Mauro's operations.

Everything seems to be going fine, the last hope of breaking the encirclement is doomed and all struggles by the trapped Ottomans are to no avail as time passes by.

"Quick, Julian! It is time to call them to drop their arms and surrender!" Anjelo screamed out loud as he continues pulling and releasing the recurve bow's string which drained most of the grey beard's strength, with blood flushing onto his face turning his face from pale white to a vibrant red that of a youth.

However, Julian being Julian, another illiterate pir… privateer, made things out of control sooner than Anjelo has expected.

"Aye brothers! We got them trapped like a peck of sheeps inside a sheep fold!" Anjelo laughed as he took off his helmet, thrown it onto the ground and spitted in the direction of the enemies, then raised his blade with his already shaking arms and exclaimed his order. "O'right lads! The time has come! Kill 'em all! Leave no bloody enemies alive today!"

The Ottoman warriors, seeing that there is no hope of gaining the chance to have a peaceful surrender to survive, all went into a state of madness as they started to fight even more frantically than ever. Together they wield their blade with such an immense force that it almost seems like they have endless strength and energy.

One Ottoman soldier, who already has several slashes and cuts on his shoulders and arms, did not lay down his weapon, instead when his blade is finally bent beyond use, the young man used his last bit of strength to leap onto a Roman guard and sunk his teeth deep into the poor fellow's neck. Although the Ottoman is instantly stabbed to death by several other blades, but he managed to accomplish his objective. The Roman soldier ended bleeding to his demise as the bite mark sunk way too deep for his blood vessels to handle.

This indeed gave a shock to the surrounding Romans as it is the first time they see someone with a fighting spirit like this. The pure cruelty, insanity and disturbance received from the sign of blood gushing out like a fountain from the man's neck further demoralised the Romans and boosted the spirit of Ottomans. The Ottomans who have either spoiled or lost their weapons in the fight started to learn the example shown by this man, following the lead they jumped down the buildings and walls one after another right onto the heads of ignorant Roman guards crowding beneath and crushed them to death, with their own life perishing in the process.

"What is wrong with them! Are they insane?" Julian exclaimed anxiously. It is the first time in his life that he sees someone fight like this, as in his past years of combat history, his foes on the ships will just kneel down on the wet deck shivering begging for mercy, non of them have the courage and valor like the Ottomans to fight back like lions facing death, actually from the perspective of some of his men here, the Ottomans now is even more terrifying than lions, with their faces dripping blood leaping onto people tearing their faces and bitting their necks, just to bring another enemy with them on the road towards death.

Mauro, who just realised what is happening, ran out of the Barbican tower aborting his mission to close the gate and sighed.