Castle Jouragen sat atop the borders of the central region and the north. With never-ending plains to the south, west, and east, it also harbored an uphill forest to the north.
Before the siege officially began, Otto's army split into three in hopes of encircling the castle.
The east was left to the commander in charge of the Cossa-Yuri clans, Friedrich Yuri, On the western flank, the general's war concubine, Adelaide Zekiel, oversaw the preparations of the Go-Go raiders Though a concubine by title, she carried herself like a commander, and the men obeyed without question as her words were just as important as Otto's direct orders.
South, though, the back of the castle to avoid stretching too far, was left open.
Some moments after Otto gave his orders for the complete siege to begin, the first trumpets, though not barbaric, accompanied by war drums and united singing, shook the ground near Adelaide's side whose gaze immediately turned away from the castle.
A white haired barbarian rode up beside her "Miss." his gaze locked onto the rising dust. "Something's coming." She raised her arm, "Akiel, take command of the Go-Go clan on our flank." He nodded and rode out -
"General—" an officer beside Otto said, his gaze fixed on the rising dust forming beside and behind Castle Jouragen.
Meanwhile on the southern and western castle walls a murmur rippled through the wall guards as they were anxious for what's coming. When suddenly someone noticed the rising dust and one pointed at it "Hey, look- Isn't that?" Glint of steel flashed between the plain fields under the burning sun.
Something shifted in their rhythm of murmur, heads turned voices faltered for a heartbeat. Then without a fault one soldier screamed.
"WE'RE SAVED!"
The cry rippled down the wall, catching like wildfire.
Guards leaned forward over the parapets, hearts pounding as the distant column of steel grew clearer with every heartbeat.
The governess climbed the tower, followed by her two advisors, so fast she nearly stumbled, hands trembling as she pulled herself to the top.
She looked out—
and her breath caught.
The castle guards were already celebrating as if they have won- They threw their spiked helmets into the air shouting. "AVE, AVE, AVE, AVE ETERNUM VERMILLION! GLORY AND AVE! GLORY AND AVE!"
Riding at the head of a steel-bright column, banners streaming blue straps of current behind him, was a young man in dazzling aqua-blue royal armor.
"GLORY TO VERMILLION!"
Her mind froze before her lips moved.
"Prince Aldren…"
Behind him, thousands of Vermillion soldiers marched in perfect formation, their arrival shaking the very air with their united war-song.
"HOO~NOR, GLORIA. VIGOR, POTEN~TIA! IMPERATOS POPULUSQUE ET VERMILLIONIS."
"Sir Otto—" an officer began, staring at the open plain below the forestry.
"How many?" Otto demanded.
"It's hard to tell," the officer replied, eyes scanning the banners. Blue banners with half-full moon symbols pierced through by a spear. "Those are the famous aquatic private guard. Or at least it appears so."
Suddenly, another officer, his face hidden by white cloth soaked in red, interrupted: "Meaning, a royal finally stepped forward?"
Otto's eyes glistened with a smile. "A royal? So finally, after months of invasion, only now—when your dear south is threatened—have you sent relief. It seems, from Adelaide's side, we will be struck first?"
The relief army stopped in its steads, dust raised as messengers ran from left to right. Their screams echoing through the chants of the castle guards. "FIRST WAVE, PREPARE!"
"It appears so," said the first officer, wearing a black uniform unusual among the half-naked others, seemingly stolen from someone of the Vermillion side.
"Send a messenger to Friedrich. His eastern army will go around and encircle them. After that, it's a free bloodbath. As for Adelaide, raise the green fire. She'll know the signal - she holds until Friedrich strikes."
"Sire." One officer retreated, Otto's plan to surrender the newly arrived army was semi-rational, gambling that the new army wouldn't match his numbers.
"And us, general?" the red-soaked officer asked.
"Of course, start the siege. The aquatic guard shouldn't number more than five thousand. The rest would probably appear to be no different than ours. Levies, Friedrich's and Adelaide's forces will overwhelm them. You focus on the castle, Konrad."
He'd be right—had it not been for one thing.
"Understood." He raised his arm, and the barbarians ran forward downhill, ladders in hand, ready to begin the siege.
"THOSE BASTARDS!? EVEN AS A RELIEF ARMY HAS APPEARED, HAVE YOU NO SHAME?" one of the advisors beside the governess yelled, puffing his stomach out while she dazingly stared toward Friedrich's army.
From the relief army, a voice echoed:
"VIRIBUS VERMILLIONIS, IMPERIO INVICTA!"
Finally, the Vermillion army stretched across the open plain—a sea of armor and banners. No levies whatsoever, no peasants in sight. Something which Otto, from his position couldn't quite see.
From the left to right, each squadron captain raised his voice, the chant echoing and swelling
"INVICTA! INCITA! VERMILLION!"
Trumpets blared, drums shook the air, and the wind carried the sound straight to the barbarians' ears.
"ETERNUM GLORIAM"
The Vermillion army pressed forward in disciplined formation. The first order of two thousand five hundred knights struck hard against the still-unprepared barbarians, sending men sprawling and shields clattering. Wooden splinters flew as axes met armor; screams rang out as spears found gaps between shields. Horses reared, shields shattered, and the air filled with the roar of battle.
Following closely behind, the second order of three thousand spread out thinner, slicing through the chaos. Barbarians swung axes blindly, some connecting, others meeting polished armor with a clang that echoed across the plain. Men were knocked down in the mud, shields splintering under repeated blows, the clash of steel and wood creating a cacophony of death.
Somewhere in the center of the western barbarian army, a command rang out, sharp and guttural, Akiel's voice commanded as he rode to meet the charge with his personal cavalry guard.
"FORM SHIELD WALL! RIGHT FLANK, FACE WEST! HOLD THE LINE!"
Wooden shields slammed together, spears braced, and men shoved their way into position as best they could, struggling to turn the tide before the knights could break through completely.
The third order surged forward, banners streaming blue and gold. At its head rode the second prince himself, voice ringing above the clash:
"INVICTA! INCITA! VERMILLION!"
The first wave now shattered across the battlefield, calling the horsemen of Akiel's personal guard in. Instead he ordered a stop to his charge. "GO-GO CLAN, STOP!"
As the way opened the third charge appeared in front of them, led by Aldren, his head hidden behind an iron skull, an black helmet dazzled with two red horns from its sides, his spear rising into the sky, his voice commanded slaughter.
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!"
Without having time to brace for what was coming, Akiel turned in panic.
"TURN AROUND, GO-CLAN! RETREAT! RETREAT!"
The Knights hit them like a living wall of steel. Bare tattooed torsos were thrown aside as the riders plowed through, spears splintering and shields shattering where they existed. Men screamed, bodies knocked into one another, masks flying off in the impact.
Akiel's mask caught the glint of steel as a knight's lance slammed into his shoulder. The impact threw him off balance, staggering and tumbling from his horse. He hit the ground hard, rolling to one side — but even as armored riders thundered past, he swung his axe in a wide arc, catching two of the knights who were too close. A third he knocked aside with a desperate kick, sending them sprawling into the chaos.
Around him, the rest of his cavalry scattered, screaming in panic. Yet even down on the plains, Akiel was a whirlwind of defiance, his white eyes glinted at the sight of blood, with a grin he opened his arms "RAARGH, COME COME AT ME, IMPERIAL DOGS!" trying to slash and strike down the weak points of the horses all while dodging being stomped to painful and shameful death by the armored tide which surged forward, unstoppable and relentless.
The south-western line wavered. Otto's eyes widened as he realized the central flank was collapsing quicker than he anticipated.