It wasn’t long before the enemy’s charge began to shake the ground. From the sounds of it, every single Drakoshi left on the planet was charging us in mass. It made no sense. They were behind solid fortifications. They had their defensive weapons armed and ready and they were charging?"

Our Artillery began firing en masse, though not all of it was here yet, so it did little to staunch the enemy advance. The Phalanx were still hasty to react though. Though we were also not at full strength. If just the Phalanx were here, they would be decimated.

Almost all the way at the bottom of the slope, I was standing alongside Sigismund. As the Drakoshi began to crest the horizon he shook his head. "The Warlord left... He must have been on that ship. Pathetic coward, only delaying its pathetic fate." he spat venomously.

He then nudged me in the ribs and chuckled. "Who would have thought I would have thought I wouldn’t even get to kill one Warlord on a class seven threat... How embarrassing. I think I will have to compensate by killing as many Drakoshi as I can within the next few hours."

"Well, you did say you will be taking credit for my kill right? That still counts as your kill then." I said, looking on ahead.

"You aren’t mad at me about that, are you lad? I’m not trying to poach glory from you, I am-"

"-No, I get it. I am young. Killing a Warlord is a big deal, especially killing one on my own. Political bullshit and other jargon I don’t care about will go on in the background. Do what you have to do, I really don’t mind." I said as I tried to approximate the Drakoshi pouring forth towards us. More than ten thousand for sure, more than fifty considering the amount still pouring forth from the horizon.

I wasn’t sure how many Phalanx were here right now. But I knew the balance of power was in the favour of the Drakoshi, the Phalanx didn’t have enough troops mobilised yet for an even fight.

Fortunately it wasn’t just the Phalanx here.

Hearing some orders being shouted from up the hill, I turned around. Thirty Praetorians were descending the hill, Thespius leading them. Each one of them was carrying a large Hoplon and a Spear.

Thespius approached Sigismund and stopped before him. "Your Grace. To stem the tide and provide a heavy fire kill zone, I offer the Praetorians to perform a hoplite wall a couple of meters up from the base of the slope with all the heavy armour and Psionic elites behind us."

"And our flanks?" Sigismund inquired.

Thespius turned and raised his spear in a circle motion. Eleven of the Praetorians present, including Nerissa and Rhapso, suddenly knelt on the ground, discarding their arms.

They then placed both hands against the ground and the ground began to react violently. I could hear them mumbling something, like they were chanting which caught me by surprise, but I couldn’t quite figure out what they were saying, but judging by what happened next, it was probably to do with that.

The ground around us began to rise. The bottom of the slope began to rise until it reached the top. Dozens of feet

A jagged wall of hardened dirt erected as far as I could see to the north and south, leaving only a single incline left upwards, roughly ten men wide across, where we were standing.

Sigismund let out a hardy chuckle "Haha! Ah, I do love a good Hot gate. You should have led with that. Very well. Form up, I shall relay the Phalanx to prepare firing positions on the ramparts hastily."

Sigismund turned away and began to speak through his internal systems while The Praetorians began getting into position.

As they did, I walked over to Thespius who was surveying the structure of the erected walls, seemingly oblivious to the Drakoshi that were still closing in.

"Thespius?" I asked.

"Hmm? Apollo? What can I do for you? Make your inquiry quick, war is upon us."

"I was wondering if I could join your Shield wall?" I asked, producing my Hoplon, gifted to me by the Order of the guardians and as I did, the Phalanx above us on the new high ground had swiftly gotten into position and had begun firing long distance.

"Hmm." Thespius hummed and he looked me up and down. His vision catching on my shield for a few moments "I wouldn’t usually agree, but you have shown good synergy with our forces. Very well, but I am putting you in the centre. Marnes, Aeteos! Come here!" He shouted.

The Two Nymphs ran over at fast speed and gathered before Thespius. "Brothers, Apollo wants to join the Shield wall. Can I put him between the two of you?"

The duo looked between each other and even though they had their helmets on, I could tell they were smiling. "Are you kidding?" Marnes asked.

"That sounds like a blast! Come on, Apollo. Let’s get you in line. Here, I’ll give you my backup spear." Aeteos followed up.

Being escorted over, I looked at the Praetorians in the vicinity, but Marnes pulled my gaze away from them by snapping his fingers. "Don’t worry about the others. We are going to be twelve across, tightly packed and twelve behind us. The rest, our more Psionically gifted, will be auxiliary, firing off powers and getting rid of the dead."

"When Thespius gives the signal, we are going to interlock shields, Your left side will go over Marnes, My left will go over yours. Apollo. No matter what. You do not lower your shield. Not to attack, not to defend. You keep your shield raised." Aeteos followed up and Marnes then went again.

"I know you favour the sword, but a spear is best in this formation. You are going to hold it like this. Overhand. With your strength it’s going to be like thrusting a stick. Jab in and out. In and out. Over and over."

"You do not worry about the enemy to your left or to your right. Only what is in front. Trust your brothers, Apollo. We shall keep each other safe by focusing entirely on what is in front of us." Aeteos finished.

I nodded my head. Saying nothing. I just listened and absorbed. Aeteos handed me a spear and I gave it a practice thrust. It was like I was barely holding anything. Perfectly balanced.

I then activated my armour, just in time as bullets finally began whizzing from the Drakoshi lines. It was a bullet storm, I feared for the Elites who were forming up behind us as a few Phalanx were already falling from the raised ground, only to be instantly replaced. But I heard a shout from a familiar voice.

"Shields!" Skaja roared as a semi translucent Psionic barrier erected. I recalled the hunt where I ambushed them in their command tent. The barrier held up quite well against my Psionic bullet storm; It held up even better against normal bullets. Thousands of rounds were firing towards us every second. The wall held as the troops got into position. Some, like Alex the knight, had already begun firing at will with their long range capabilities.

I was just loosely keeping my shield raised, I knew from Amberrock that I could tank bullets all day with this shield.

As the Drakoshi approached the last thousand meters, the firefight had gotten out of control. They were not holding back. I think they knew this was a death or glory type battle for them. All or nothing. So they held nothing back and thankfully, neither did the Phalanx.

Disregarding his own safety. King Sigismund suddenly appeared once more in front of the wall. Roughly Twenty meters away from where I was. Without warning the man began to grow, not stopping till he had surpassed over fifteen feet, his wargear and weapon growing with him. He then pointed his weapon at the Drakoshi and his voice boomed over all the gunfire over all the chaos of the battle.

"My soldiers! Today is the day! Today is when Sacrifice meets vindication! Today we purge this planet. This glorious world, Lleon T1 of the filth that calls themselves Drakoshi. Today Spartari Triumphs! As it always has! As it always will! My brave Soldiers Hear me! Your tenacity! Your bloodlust! Your vengeance has achieved the impossible! The Drakoshi fear you all! So much their fear of you is that their leader, Their Warlord, has fled the planet, scared to face you in open battle! What is left of the disgusting race is a suicidal mob of brainless lesser being! So Celebrate! Celebrate your victory with me and kill as many of the aliens as you can! For Spartari!"

"FOR SPARTARI!" A Roar echoed out as millions chanted after their king.

The Drakoshi continued to charge. Those on the frontlines began to drop their range weapons and unsheathe their melee weapons

At Two hundred meters, Thespius Yelled, his voice booming.

"Praetorians! Form Phalanx!"

"AUOO!"

Interlocking shields, I got into a combat position and felt a shield tightly press up against my back armour. Turning my head to the side, I couldn’t see who was behind me, but I heard her voice.

"I have your back." Nerissa spoke, her voice assuring me. I had never been in a formation this tight, this rigid before I was a little anxious, but knowing she was behind me. I felt it wash away.

A hundred meters. The run turned into a Sprint As the Drakoshi let out war cries and hurled insults. Sigismund was shaking for all to see, but it wasn’t fear. I could feel the emotion emanating from his existence. Rage. Hatred. It engulfed him. He charged ahead from the rest of the defence and a bloodbath commenced that was so violent it would make Keyla wet.

I didn’t have time to admire the work, the Drakoshi had still managed to flood around Sigismund towards the line, towards the wall.

Fifty meters.

Twenty.

Ten.

I then heard Thespius’ voice boom again.

"Brace!"