Civil War 12 - Unbreakable Fortress

Getting the new information from Bolt, the nobles walked to the camp and ordered the knights to settle the infantry. When they got to the main camp, they requested some water and food, at which the officers tasked to overlook the food distribution equally distributed the noble's men rations.

Moving away from the supply camp, the 5 nobles looked at one another and then at the simple food and the water container made of wood.

"What food is this?" asked Baron Dalt, looking at the small pot he received from the soldiers.

"I think it is some food the peasants eat, Porridge or something. I've seen some farmers eat this while I was inspecting my estates." replied Viscount Brune, holding the steaming porridge pot.

"Should we eat this? Won't we get sick from this?" asked the other baron, Belmore

"Do we have any choice, baron? Stop being an annoyance. These people actually feed us warm food. Do you even know how uncommon this is in other places?" replied Rohan, a bit annoyed by how the lower nobles behaved, thinking they were above these soldiers eating the porridge.

When they heard Count Rohan say that, with a bit of annoyance, they shut up and followed after him to their camp. Once inside, they could see the infantry soldiers they brought moving in an orderly fashion toward the Black Army soldiers who arrived at their camp with large vessels full of porridge, steaming hot.

Another part of the soldiers was seated on the ground, eating with a smile on their face, satisfied, saying to one another.

"To think they would have warm food. I thought they would feed us some dried jerky or some pieces of bread, but instead, they gave us a lot of food. How can we not help out these guys in their dire needs, especially when they fight for us too."

"Indeed, we will give everything we got in us to defeat the traitorous nobles." said another infantry soldier, as he was blowing on the wooden spoon full of porridge.

Rohan walked toward those soldiers with his own wooden bowl and slowly sat next to this group of soldiers. They were confused at first, but quickly they recognised Rohan and the other nobles approaching the Count.

"Lord, we will go away, so we don't disturb your meal."

"You don't have to do such a thing, soldier. Relax, I am just like you right now, a soldier fighting for his liege. How is the food compared to back home?" asked Rohan while patting the soldier's soldier, stopping him and the rest from leaving.

"Ahh, My Lord, this is a bit awkward standing this close with you. The food these guys gave us is decent, not something that would make you feel in awe. The food made by my wife is far better, I guess." said the soldier with a slight chuckle, remembering about his family back home.

The rest of the soldiers laughed a bit, only leaving the nobles to stare at them. However, soon Rohan gave a genuine, hearty laugh, making the soldiers feel more connected with him. The other four nobles gave a forced laugh but stopped instead quickly.

Still, it didn't matter to Rohan, who began talking with his soldiers about all sorts of things, from ordinary things of daily life, asking them about their life outside of the battlefield, hobbies and so on.

As he talked, he brought out a more special question for those simple soldiers.

"Guys, you opened up to me about your daily lives, hobbies, family, for which I am deeply humbled by this. I think I failed you guys for not connecting with you as I do with my knights because you, too, are serving me. So, I would like to ask you, what do you think of my rule and my house over the County? Was I fair? Could I have improved other aspects of my administration?"

"Lord, I heard about Sol and its development from the merchants arriving in Medina and how well it has become to live there, but I can tell you this with respect to the other lords. If we strive to follow in their footsteps, we can, too, achieve something similar. You haven't treated us like slaves. While there is indeed the problem of serfs inside the county, I think you will lead us in the right direction."

The other nobles listened to what the commoners had to add concerning Rohan's County and even theirs and could draw a line that they haven't crossed the line acting like tyrants and doing whatever they wanted inside their fiefs. There was also the kindled spirit inside these people that made them want to strive forward.

'Sigh, I think I really have to reform the serf system just like Rohan plans to do.' thought Count Arden when listening to these soldiers.

The same intent was on the other nobles' minds, but they kept it to themselves, eating the porridge that was surprisingly decent for their taste buds.

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Minutes passed, and most of the soldiers belonging to the nobles finished eating and got up looking at the Black Army soldiers who began assembling in rows overlooking the giant walls of the Wisdom Palace Fortress.

They also moved toward their back after Count Rohan assembled them in an orderly fashion, following the discipline of the Black Army.

"Guys, we shall be the supporting hand of the Black Army. Follow their conduct and never get out of the line. They are the main force of this war." called out Rohan, to the assembled soldiers, before moving forward to where Bolt and the leading officers were.

"Colonel Bolt, I haven't seen Her Grace Selentes. Did anything happen to her?" followed up Rohan with a question for Bolt after arriving next to him.

"Ohh, Count Rohan, did we disturb your break with the formation? My Lady has moved on her own ways, most likely looking for a way to enter inside the fortress. Don't worry about her. She is far stronger than you since she got trained by His Highness the most out of the officers." responded Bolt in a calm tone while focusing on the great walls.

"I see, then I will not follow this subject. Do you intend to start the siege?"

"In about two minutes, so have your men ready for any sudden attacks."

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Nodding his head Rohan and the nobles took up their arms and prepared for the siege.

Meanwhile, Bolt took out a pocket watch engraved with the name of a woman Elisabeth, he checked the time, and when he had to wait before ordering, his men were tense for him, however, once they passed in a silent atmosphere, his voice shook the skies.

"OPEN THE FIRE, BOYS! LET THE CANNONS ROAR TO THE SKIES!"

From inside the fortress, the cold voice of a man also could be heard ordering his people.

"DON'T WASTE ANY TIME AND START THE FIRING ASSAULT! DON'T SPARE ANY CURSED PEASANT THAT TRIES TO TAKE OVER THE FORTRESS!"

From the top of the walls facing Bolt, 3.000 guys appeared and began shooting at them using their guns, yet what awaited them was the marksman battalion led by Olmon in Sofiya's absence welcomed the appearance of those 3.000 marksmen and began shooting back.

"COLONEL BOLT, YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR MEN TAKE COVER OR PROTECT THEMSELVES. THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE HIT PEOPLE!" yelled Olmon toward Bolt while shooting with his sniper rifle one guy from the wall.

Bolt heard that warning and ordered his men to shoot the cannons they brought from Patrick before the war started to shake the walls. The ones tasked with this job moved quickly, visible instructed on how the cannon worked, and with a yell from the officer charged with the cannons, that alerted the ground men.

"COVER YOUR EARS, YOU BASTARDS, OR YOU WILL SUFFER!"

The Black Army soldiers who had experienced with the guns covered their eardrums, followed by most infantry from the nobles.

Suddenly after some seconds, there was a world-shaking explosion that had the ones who didn't cover their ears drop on the ground, screaming in pain while covering their ears.

The cannonballs exited the muzzle and moved with incredible speed toward the walls, hitting it creating a blast that shook the fortress wall.

"Good, it hit. Let's see how this wall fares compared to the target dummies." said Bolt, staring at the wall covered in gunpowder smoke, dirt and dust.

"Colonel, look at the walls. There is no sign of the cannonballs causing any damage!" cried out an officer who protected himself from the shower of bullets.

"No way, you must be dreaming, those cannonballs can destroy entire buildings." said Bolt, not believing what he just heard from the officer, yet quickly he found out the truth.

The walls looked as if they were never touched by any significant impact. They towered over the soldiers with their grandness while also offering protection to the enemy soldiers who got out from their hidden cover to shoot at the soldiers.

"SHOOT AGAIN! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A STONE STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF RESISTING CANNONBALLS!" roared Bolt toward the cannoneers.

The soldiers stationed at the cannons could only act quickly, clean the inside of the muzzle and safely prepare for another barrage. Only after one minute, they roared again, signalling the soldiers to protect themselves.

"FIRE!"

*CANNONBALL EXPLOSION*

Another thunderous roar came from the cannons positioned so that they would hit the entire front of the wall.

"ARGHHHH"

The screams of pain and the sound of bodies dropping on the ground could be heard after the cannon explosion.

"Let's see if this round did any effects on the wall." said Bolt to one officer who quickly got to the walls close enough to inspect it.

There was a mark on the walls this time, but that was all this fire barrage could achieve.

"Damned walls. Which cursed fuck constructed those walls to be so strong, were you expecting Ragnarok to hit you?" commented some officers, frustrated by the stagnating siege.

"I think they are made of special stone. Have the soldiers prepare the turtle formation and bring their shields." ordered Bolt cutting in halves some bullets targeting him.

"Boss, why don't we jump the walls and open it from inside?"

"We will try this after forming the turtle formation. There are already some guys injured by the first volley of bullets. We shall let Olmon and his boys send those bastards to their maker." commented Bolt moving toward the back of the army, approaching the nobles.

"Have your men retreat back toward the bridge. It seems the walls are special and have insane resistance and defence to attacks."

"That's right, Colonel, I just now remembered a legend about the Wisdom Palace spread out from word of mouth in my family, never to be recorded on paper. The first Vermilion King constructed the Wisdom Palace and the walls surrounding it with magical stone to protect the kingdom from encroaching evil. I don't know what this enchanted stone is, but the Wisdom Palace is as old as Kaysang, seeing the departure of many generations of people." said Count Rohan quickly to Bolt, whose face turned annoyed.

"Tsk, what was in his mind. Even if you surround the island, the Wisdom Palace sits with magical walls. They will for sure not protect you. It is not impossible to jump the walls, or could it be that it has other protection mechanisms. Do you know anything, your Excellency?"

"Colonel, the information my ancestors have passed on in the family about the Vermilions, the Wisdom Palace and the walls are small because my family started as Knights to the first king whose name was lost in history, but who we know as Sun King. Maybe, Her Grace knows more about the walls since the Selentes House was one of the strongest aristocratic families since the inception of Kaysang along with Galeot House, Alderhine House and Lacilet House."

The instant Rohan mentioned Sofiya's noble family, and those stories passed from word of mouth, his eyes shined with energy and said to himself.

"So this is why Grace didn't linger too much to talk with us about her intent. She knows a lot more than she has told us about the Wisdom Palace. But why didn't she tell us about the weakness of the walls?"

"Maybe because such secrets would be harmful to the kingdom if they were known by people who could betray Vermilion House."

"Ahh, whatever, I will understand those secret things in the future, now let's go back and let the marksman and cannoneers disturb those rats hidden in the fortress."

Turning toward his officers, he told them with a serious voice. "Have teams split up and assure the protection of the cannoneers while they operate their weapons."

Olmon turned his eyes on Bolt and the officers talking with the nobles didn't waste time to ponder the problem and shifted his attention on the enemy marksman who would appear on the walls opening shooting at the infantry.

"Tsk, those bastards sure become defenceless rather quickly. Hmm, they seem to be moving to protect the cannoneers and clear out the field." saying that to himself, Olmon would pull the trigger once someone appeared in his eyesight, having him say. "Bullseye."

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With the soldiers' retreat leaving only the marksman, cannoneers and their protectors to act to defend them from bullets, they began shooting at the walls, shaking the ground and the walls, but never truly destroying it.

Bolt, sensing a chance to enter inside the fortress after a break from the cannoneers, moved toward the walls with a squad of officers.

As they were creating a disturbance, a woman with white hair who was in a tunnel turned her head up and sighed, saying slowly.

"It hurts that they are wasting so much gunpowder to blow the walls of the Palace Fortress, but I can't tell them about the secrets of the royal tunnel that safeguarded the Vermilion House for so many centuries. Even I couldn't imagine that such a thing existed if Vlad didn't tell me about the deep networks underground of the island where the Wisdom Palace sits."

Moving with a quick gait in this tunnel, she looked left and right for a way forward. She runs like this until she found a door that was left open.

"This should be the entrance to the fortress, but where would it get me? The Palace or the buildings around the fortress?" asked Sofiya, stepping inside this new route.

What awaited her was a stairway going forward, which she later began climbing fast, along the way picking up the increased sound of people's war cries and curses.

Not being bothered by those sounds, she arrived toward a dead end, a sunk exit that was a perfectly curved rock.

"Hmm, there should be a mechanism for opening this room. Let's see how this wall works."

Sofiya began pressing with her hand the bricks that didn't give in at all to her force, and with each second, she would press about 5 bricks on the wall, until after 3 minutes of pure annoyance, she finally heard a sound of cracking.

"Ahaa, there you are. I thought I would have to force my way inside and create a mess, but it seems I am patient enough."

The wall in front of her began opening up like a door, revealing a dark room where there were some voices of people.

'There is someone inside, ambushers? No, these voices belong to children. What is going here?' pondered Sofiya as she walked softly inside this room, placing her hand on the rapier hilt, ready to attack.

Going forward while under cover of darkness, she discovered who those voices belonged to. The room inside had many cages that held up kids that all looked down when noticing Sofiya.

Some younger ones even trembled in fear and grabbed the hands of the oldest ones, saying to them. "Could this lady be the bad person big brother has mentioned?"

She fully heard this with her enhanced hearing and got closer to the cages with her hands down, she said to those kids.

"Don't worry, I am not here to hurt you. Instead, I am here to help you."

When she got to the cages, she found out that the locks were opened, which confused and even got her hand on the rapier because this situation was out of order.

"The cages are open. Why don't you get out? Is there someone inside that you fear?"

"Big sister, a kind big brother came inside not too long ago and defeated the evil guys who beat us and placed us in the cages." said a younger kid to Sofiya from the cage.

"Ahem, My Lady, let me explain to you what actually happened." said one girl with crimson hair, walking forward from one cage in a calm manner.

Sofiya turned her head toward that cage and noticed the young girl about 13-14 years old walk forward. She was a bit bruised, but this didn't affect her as she followed by saying.

"Someone who fights against the guards of Duke Lacilet arrived about 10 minutes ago and defeated the ones tasked to watch over us. He told us to remain here since going up would hinder the progress of this person."

"I see. Did this person have a weird cat with an eagle head, looking pervertedly at girls?"

"That's right, big sister, there was such a creature that had red fur, giving orders to this boy." explained the crimson-haired girl to Sofiya.

Hearing this made Sofiya smile a bit and said to the kids. "You should still remain here, soon this war will be over, and you'll be able to go to your parents. Also, if something tragic would be to happen to them, know that you will be taken care of and have the chance to enrol in Solis University, inside Sol."

"Big sister, may I ask who you guys are?" asked Ella, the crimson girl.

"We are the Black Army, serving under the Vermilion House, commanded by Royal Prince Vlad. So you can be at ease because you will be in good hands even if you are orphans."

"Prince Vlad? Who is he? I have never heard of him. Has anyone heard of him?" asked a young kid about 10 years old, looking confused at Sofiya.

The rest of the kids also looked confused until Sofiya, tapping with her fingernail on her black lips, told them.

"You probably heard of a person called Blood, this boogeyman the nobles fear, the one who protects Sol and Kaysang from the nobles is Prince Vlad. As for me? I am just a simple follower, Sofiya."

"Wow, Master Blood is a prince. No wonder he is said to have helped so many people. Big sister, you can't just be a follower. You are this beautiful." replied a younger girl staring with big eyes at Sofiya, who just smiled a bit.

"Okay, kids, no need for more words. I explained to you who I am, but I have to go. We will meet again in the future little kids, so you better remember me the next time we meet." said Sofiya with a slight chuckle before turning to walk after the path carved by Tomas and Aerius.

Moving forward, she noticed the dead bodies of the noble guards, which made her turn cold seeing some of their faces. Yet she continued going forward, climbing the stairs fast, listening to her surroundings as she ascended.

'No one is on this floor. It means Tomas took care of everyone together with Aerius.'

Entering this new floor with her rapier grasped tightly and going to the center she saw some people unconscious, sleeping on the ground with large swellings on their heads. Her first thought when seeing these people was to kill them, but she held back and asked herself.

'There must be a reason why Tomas left them alive, so I will not bother with these guards.'

Turning to walk past them, she got to the next stairway, ascending to a floor that was clear of people, however entering inside, she heard a scream of pain coming from a familiar voice along with a powerful roar from Aerius that shook the entire floor, later a strong wind blowing in Sofiya's face.

"You think you can beat me, Aerius? The King of Gryphons? WEAKLING! EVEN WITH YOUR DEVIL FRUIT POWERS, YOU ARE A NOBODY!"