[The Seventh Citadel]
Thousands of bodies burned in piles engulfed in golden-red flames. The Golden Blood Knight, standing on an elevated surface, watched as the Granians killed the remaining mercenary clones swiftly.
Because of his efforts, the enemy was left with only eight thousand or fewer clones to deal with, allowing them to easily wipe them all out.
As soon as the remaining bodies were piled, looted, and prepared for disposal, Jim made his way to the fortress where he was met by the Granians who transported him to the Citadel.
The Blood Knight, confused, looked at the Granians with a questioning expression while waiting for either of them to speak.
"If there is anything you have to say to me, say it quickly," he commanded. But they remained quiet for a while. It was only when he reverted to his normal state that they spoke to him... nervously.
"We... we’ve salvaged all that could be used, gathered all of their ships, and dismantled the parts that could be used on our own ships. We’ve also tasked the laborers with gathering more supplies since this Citadel is the richest in minerals...."
"Anything else?" he interrupted. "Anything else that NEEDS my attention?"
"Well..." the Granians stuttered nervously again. At first, the Golden Blood Knight thought it was his tone and expressions that made them react that way, so he made himself more approachable, but that didn’t work either.
"Well, what?" he asked softly. "Is anything wrong?" This update ıs available on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Our communication connections to the First Citadel have been severed which can only mean that they’re under attack." one bravely replied, hoping that the Human would have a solution for them. "What would you have us do?"
"Why are you asking me?" Jim asked. "I’m not the one who gives you orders."
"But you are the one who led us to victory, Blood Mutant," the one from earlier spoke again. "For as far as we know, you are the one who is strong enough to lead us to the next step. Lord Grim, Grand Master, and Gravax have not answered their communicators. We cannot speak to the other higher-ups because they are too distant from us, and creating communicators with that range will take quite some time. That is why we came to you to find out what we can do."
Jim thought long, hard, and quietly as he analyzed his current situation. If he and the Granians on the Citadel moved to the First, they stood at risk of leaving the Seventh defenseless. If they didn’t and a larger threat was at the First, they could still stand at risk of losing it.
If they did leave the Seventh with all soldiers, there was the possibility of the laborers rebelling and escaping—that was if all the ships weren’t taken with them.
"I will go alone and understand the situation. If it’s anything that needs your attention, a signal will be sent. I do not know how we will send one but I’ll surely find a way but keep in mind that it will not be so necessary. If the other Blood Mutants have been told, we won’t have any need for your intervention. Have you informed the others?"
"The Blood Mutant with red hair, Lord Grim, and Gravax are currently on their way to the First Citadel. The female Humans have been informed, and we hope that they will make their way there as well. You were the last to be told."
"Very well," Jim replied and ordered for the ships to be prepped. In a few minutes, the Golden Blood Knight departed from the Citadel and united with the others before collectively making their way to the First Citadel.
As soon as it was within range, they witnessed a battlefield covered with an enemy they had not expected to encounter so soon, an enemy they were ready to fight but not at that exact moment.
"Ethisians?" Jim questioned, surprised by the sight of Ethisian soldiers fighting alongside the mercenary clones. "Why’re they attacking the Citadels so early? Have the others faced them yet?"
"No," the Granian answered. "If I am correct, they’ve only attacked the First Citadel."
"How many do you count?"
"They’re... not more than... thirty?" The Granian was too stunned to believe it. Such few Ethisians were on the battlefield, and yet they had inflicted so much damage. "Twenty-one to be precise. I’ve used the scanner three times, and the number’s the same. Twenty-one."
A Granian ship landed on the First Citadel, and from it emerged the Blood Bishop and a few more Granians who came to offer Grand Master assistance.
Shortly after, Lord Grim and Gravax arrived from the second and third Citadels, each ready to help the Grand Master with a thousand units strong.
Upon arrival, they were welcomed by the scene of enemy ships bombarding the Citadel with air attacks, mostly bombs dropped on its fortress. If it wasn’t for the forcefield acting as a temporary line of defense, the fortress would have been nothing but a pile of rubble, flames, and ash.
Aside from the air attacks, hundreds of ships were arriving in fleets of ten. From them came mercenary clones, each ship delivering approximately eighty clones.
The Granians, at first, didn’t take the threat too seriously but they didn’t louse either. Using the cannons on their ships, they blew their enemies out of the sky, but their fleets were too many to counter quickly.
With increasing fleets and more troops arriving each minute, the Grand Master and his forces were soon overwhelmed and slowly outnumbered. Without strong enough reinforcements, the best he could do was stand his ground in the fortress and send all remaining soldiers and laborers to the safety of the fortress walls.
That decision, at first, seemed effective as the clones were falling gradually. However, all of that changed when the enemy deployed their Mechs, and unlike the ones on the other Citadels, these came with hundreds, all marching to the walls intending to break through.