Chapter 417: Risky Plan

Octavius ran through the gaps in the shield wall and nearly collapsed. As the wall closed up after letting Octavius and the first wave of defenders through, a loud crash followed as those who gave chase smashed into the line after a few minutes.

Octavius took a deep breath and slowly walked to the distant wall. He could hear the sound of fighting echoing throughout the city walls as Magnus and his men tried to inch their way in and cut off the path of retreat. Octavius didn’t bother giving commands for the second defences, as he heard Ramiel nearby giving orders. Instead, he slowly walked and regathered his breath. After he did, he started to jog towards the part of the wall that they still held.

Mangnus’s men desperately thought along the wall, smashing into the defending lines, trying to complete the encirclement above. It was a brutal battle above the city, where each side threw everything it had to gain an inch on the other.

Octavius sighed and slowly climbed up the staircase to the top of the wall. His legs ached, and with each step, he felt as if he were collapsing. Resting his hand on one of the steps, he reached into his pouch hanging from his back. Reaching in, he pulled out a few herbs and clicked his tongue as he pulled the pouch off, seeing a hole in it.

Without delay, he stuffed the herbs in and ground them down with his teeth before climbing the steps again. His initially heavy steps became lighter after a few minutes. The pupils in his eyes expanded, and his heart began pounding even without fighting. Taking a few deep breaths, the men protecting the gate controls aluted towards Octavius.

Waving them off, he stood by the edge of the wall and looked around. In the distance, he saw Magnus’ men flooding into the city from the open gates. Tapping the stone blocks in front of him, he watched the battle in the city. His men held every vital choke point in the area, not a single gap being free from them.

Around them, his skirmishers hid in the dark corners of the city. Some of them had engaged the enemy, slowing them down, but most still waited for the fighting to intensify. Taking his eyes off of his own men and focusing on Magnus’s, he carefully watched, trying to see what they were doing. Sitting above the wall, it felt like he was playing a game of chess, watching every piece, with Magnuis in the distance as his opponent.

’They’re attacking every segment of the defence at once.’Octavius nodded, expecting this. Scanning the city, he watched carefully for any sudden changes in strategy.’There’s a gathering on the right. Distracting every front whilst focusing all they have at our weakest point.’Octavius smiled seeing that.

Looking out of the city, he saw his cavalry circling the city walls. Their heavy armour shone in the sunlight, but Octavius knew what it meant for them to not be fighting.’Magnus has launched everything he brought into the city.’Looking into the far distance that Magnus came from, he knew that there were some forces waiting in reserve, but by the time they could arrive and support the battle, it would be over.

Octavius smiled and looked behind him, out of the city. In the distance, a good ten-minute march away, part of his reserve force waited. They existed to put pressure on Magnus so he couldn’t complete the encirclement of the city whilst he and Julius were inside, but he couldn’t help but get an idea.

’Think outside the box is what Julius said.’Octavius smiled and grabbed the torch hanging on the wall. Looking up at a lifted segment of the wall, he threw the torch up and lit the bonfire that was prepped in advance.

The smoke slowly built up and rose into the sky. After a few minutes, the distant army saw it and began to move. Octavius smiled and turned to one of his men. "Open the gate for me"

"General?" The soldier questioned the order, but being stared at with a pair of sharp eyes, could only do as told and slowly open the large gate below. Octavius ran down the steps. His men looked towards the gate, wondering why it had been opened, but without paying them any mind, Octavius left the city and waited. His cavalry that circled around the city finally came back around and, seeing Octavius in the open, approached him, letting their horses rest for a while.

"General? Why have you left the walls? The enemy clavery still is around." The leader of the cavalry said sternly as he looked around.

"Commander. I need you to give my order to the reserve forces. Tell them that they are to use the breaches Magnus used and encircle his forces. In the meantime, I need you to protect them whilst they march. I can’t have them stopping because they’re being bogged down by skirmishers."

"Alright." The commander said and saluted towards Octavius. Riding off into the distance, Octavius walked back into the city and ordered the gate to be closed once more. Taking a deep breath, he hoped his plan would work. If it failed, they could potentially be trapped in the city. He didn’t like playing with Julius’s life like this, but he had to remain behind as bait to keep Magnus within the city walls.

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Cassius led the charge against Octavius’ right flank. In front of the spear wall, waiting for them, he couldn’t afford to be afraid and plunged into them without a care for his life. Holding his shield up, the spear wall shot out as the gt closed. Cassius felt a heavy weight on him as his arm slammed back into his chest. All the air left his lungs as those less lucky were impaled and killed.

Without hesitation, he and those around him pushed back. Behind him, the weight of his army pushed, trying to break the wall before them. Cassius fell like he was being crushed, and fought his way forward to try and create some room to breathe. The spear wall quickly had to abandon their weapons after their enemies were only inches away from them.

In the split moment where they dropped their spears and switched to their swords, Cassius and many others struck. Desperate to have room to breathe and move, he swung hard through the gaps of the wall and plunged his sword deep into the opening on the shoulder. Kicing forward, he used the body falling to pull his sword out and took a step forward.

His body was only free for a few seconds before the pressure from behind crept up and pushed against his back. With a click of the tongue, Cassius looked at his enemy, "SHEILD WALL!" Shouting out the command, those closest to him copied his moves and lowered their sword, lifting their shields. "SHEILD WALL!" Cassius cried out again, his order being carried down the line of men.

"PUSH!" Cassius gave the order, and in between the fury of attacks thrown at the wall, they pushed as a unit, those behind throwing their weight to help. Some stepped directly into the blade of an enemy falling on the spot, but Cassius didn’t acknowledge it, their place in the wall being swiftly replaced. "PUSH!" Giving the order again, he slammed himself into an immovable object. "PUSH!" Once more, he had the order and threw himself at the wall before him.

"PUSH!" Once more, he ordered, this time feeling some movement. "THERE WEAK! PUSH!" Cassius ordered and pushed again. Once again, he felt himself move an inch forward. All he needed was one mistake from his enemy. One man to tumble. Once it happened, a chain reaction would start.

Some of his men died, as their enemy found gaps in the shield wall to attack through, but the formation held firm. Counterattackers were thrown, but many focused on Cassius’s order, understanding what he wanted: "Push!" Casius shouted again. Feeling the man before him move back, Cassius pushed him again without shouting.

Not expecting the sudden attack, the man stumbled and tripped over the man behind him. Losing his balance, Cassius acted quickly, "PUSH!" With his cry, he pushed forward. Those near Cassius pushed with all their might, seeing a crack in the wall. They angled their push to shove their enemy into the person-sized gap Cassius had created, and without someone to catch them, quickly lost their balance and opened up the shield wall.

Cassius and his men lowered their shields. He didn’t need to give them the order as they swarmed into the opening before it could be plugged. "SPARE NO-ONE!" Cassius yelled, stabbing out and killing the man he had first made fall.