"If this fort falls, everything perishes," the General said.
"Grand master are coming with reinforcement. Hold the line until they get here."
Orion saluted. "As you command, My Lord."
Day 1
The first wave hit like a storm. Hundred of monster tried to climb the walls. Arrow blocking the sunlight. Monster corpse piled up in front of the wall
Orion's sword was covered in blood. His voice was louder than the war-horns.
"Shields up! Spears ready! Hold the line! Archers, loose!"
500 men were slain. By the sun set, things became silence.
But the fort still stood.
Day 2
The second wave came at dawn. Giant monsters threw boulders at the walls. They started using human tactics.
"IT'S A RAM! GET THE OIL READY!", a soldier scream at his top of the lung.
The north tower fell. The main gate cracked.
"HOLD THE DOOR! DON'T LET THEM COME!"
Orion fought even with his eyes drowned in monster's blood. He fought until he coughed blood. He had no divine power, Only a fire inside him that would not go out.
*BOOM
The gate breached, monster poured in like a flood.
"HOLD THE LINE! LET THEM SEE WHAT WE ARE MADE OF!"
When the sun set, only half of his men left.
But first wall was breached, teared down to the ground.
Day 3
Morning came, it was, silence. For a moment, Orion hoped the enemy gave up.
Then the walls shook. Cloud of dust seen moving closer faster than autumn wind.
The main horde came. It covered the entire horizon.
"Holy Mother...guide my blade and my soul to overcome this!", said one soldier kneeling with his banded trembling.
His men's morale was not good. His men had lost their light.
But Orion had not.
He stepped forward, sword high, and shouted
"With me! The goddess are watching! Let's give them a show worth remembering!"
They followed him not because they thought they would win.
But because Orion was the one who lead them.
Suddenly, huge shadow darkened the sun. Ten... no, more.
Massive boulders flying closer.
The whole gate exploded
The last wall breached.
The Final Defence
The day felt like forever.
No help had come.
Orion looked at his men, no, his brothers still fought with all they have.
Broken shields, bloodied faces, some even biting a goblin to death.
He raised his damaged sword one last time.
"Reinforcement are near! Raise your blade once more! Make them pay for ever setting foot here!"
He lied.
He didn't believe the Grand Master would ever come here.
But did it matter?
Orion fought like a man who fear nothing.
His sword cut a path through the monsters.
They all fought with nothing left but honor.
They fought like a dead men of Osowiec.
Then, through the smoke, he saw it.
Not far from them, a thundering wind broke the sky.
Kael, the Grand master, was there. One punch blew away a hundred monsters. A swing decapitated the reality it self.
Next to him was Flame, the War Saintess. Her banners blazing with divine sigils, Just by her presence, you could feel the Goddess embrace.
Help was here.
But too late for him. His sword shattered.
"I'm sorry for not believing you, Kael.
Just like back then. I wasn't there when you needed me." Orion whispered through the air as if they could hear him.
His bones snapped in weird ways, his chest tore up by monster claw. Dragged by goblin like a piece of meat.
The world went dark.
Orion fell. His last thought was not fear, but regret.
If only I was stronger.
If only I could hold a little longer.
Then, only dark was there.
He woke up screaming.
Not in a healer's tent.
In a small bed. Familiar tiny room that he almost forgot.
His hands were smooth, small, no calluses.
The smell of spring breeze
Time before everything went wrong.