That night we all ended up asleep on the floor or on the couches. Meridia had a restless look on her face, so I assume she really wanted to leave, but I guess it made her uncomfortable to be wrapped up in all this, either that or she felt solidarity with Azumi.
However, we all got up, the sun had risen and we had to work, the enemy army was approaching and the number of soldiers they had was worrying.
Ashley, Mason, Meridia, Jane, and I went to where the prisoner they had found at the nuclear plant was being held. It's interesting to see that they used the same principle as a nuclear power plant. While they didn't use it to make electricity, they did use it to use another type of energy, in this case steam and heat, to melt metal.
The puppets had completely stopped moving. This had to do with the defeat of the fire god, and it confirmed Jane's theory. He was no longer a god; he was saving his energy to fight me. What I sincerely don't understand is why he would wait in his palace as if he were the boss of a game. The most logical thing would be for him to magically protect the army he had just been loaned.
"Maybe he knows we're going to win," Jane thought, and that could be true, but he had also been badly wounded by my spears, he needed time to heal, so he was saving his strength.
He had managed to escape using a technique called "Phoenix Ashes." Jane was familiar with this technique from her studies as a young woman. It's not very complicated to perform, but it does require a human sacrifice. We didn't see his son either, so we can only expect the worst.
Once we arrived at the room, I asked the kind man for some information. Obviously, he refused, and so the second phase of the interrogation began: torture.
Ashley left because she said she could hear too loudly now, and the yelling would cause problems, Meridia didn't say anything and just left, Jane admitted she wanted to leave too, but there was no point if I was here.
Mason looked like he'd been given a new red dirt bike with gold flames for Christmas. I'd be surprised if I hadn't met a couple of downright sick torturers during the war. The strangest thing is seeing them behave like complete gentlemen after witnessing them capable of committing the greatest atrocities known to humanity.
Fortunately, the poor man didn't last long and ended up spilling all the beans. Unfortunately, he wasn't good enough to negotiate, so that wasn't an option either.
Five hundred thousand cavalry, ten thousand field guns, five thousand monitors, everything else was foot soldiers, that would leave 1,450 infantry. It was absurd, I smiled, our artillery technology was infinitely superior, we were already developing advanced charges and field guns under Tech's direction.
The problem is that they had too many troops, just enough to just keep going and wait for us to run out of bullets, and while at least a good percentage of the army can simply create more, there is an obvious limit to their endurance.
However, the walls gave me a horrendous advantage, an advantage that should have been completely obliterated with a real siege, but they didn't. These walls are too strong, so strong that even a nuclear bomb would have trouble bringing them down; after all, the bastard was alive.
I sat down with Jane and Ashley to plan our defensive strategy. According to our calculations, we had four days. We would wait for them inside the city; the civilians were forced to protect them inside the bastion in the city center because it was dangerous to take them anywhere else. In fact, we didn't even build a train. We prepared for a full siege.
We were going to position all the artillery on the walls. The Gunners' House and the grapeshot serfs would be in charge of defending it under Ashley's command. We would collapse the entrances to the wall as soon as they arrived, so once this happened, they would be completely alone. The wall defense itself had also been divided into sections, so we could have a fight on top of the wall.
We would wait for them with the gates open, we would wait for them with numerous machine-gun positions. To do this, we would have to demolish buildings. But if one of the fronts failed, which was clearly going to happen, the duelists would wait for them in the buildings using guerrilla tactics. We would use the tanks as mobile defense during the attack. The planes were assigned several missions, one of them being to wipe out the enemy cavalry and artillery.
We had a plan, but the problem was how long we could sustain the constant struggle.
Preparations were underway, the army's morale was very high after the victories and the arrival of the Archadians, however six hundred thousand soldiers against two million was too much for a single battle.
The reason I couldn't fight several battles and give away Archadia was the same: the enemy was so large that it would be very difficult to escape; besides, my army's morale would plummet. I was forced to fight.
During the day, everyone worked very diligently. Azumi withdrew and secluded herself in one of the rooms in my new office. That day, we all slept like idiots on the floor, but there really were enough beds for everyone.
Given the stress of the battle eve, the only thing that took the pressure off for a few moments was Ashley, who would subconsciously do something stupid or discover new abilities. Azumi stood by her side, trying to explain what she was experiencing; the problem was that since she didn't know the difference between the two, it was a little difficult for her to put herself in Ashley's shoes. Still, she did her best; it kept her distracted, which was good.
On the other hand, my burden as a strategic leader was completely lessened. Jane helped tremendously with the knowledge she'd gained, and although we couldn't talk to each other and practice merging, we talked a lot inside our heads. I'm still not used to that feeling, but at least she stopped hitting me when I had murky thoughts in my head.
In fact, she started doing it, so I think I hurt her a little. I'm not sure if it's my fault.
As night fell on the last day of preparation, a heavy rain began to fall. We stood atop the wall, surveying the state of the city. It was a shame to have transformed such a beautiful city into a prepared battlefield riddled with traps. However, our contemplation was interrupted by the rain, and we returned to my office.
Ashley and I went to bed together at the same time, mentally exhausted, preparing for the big mental fight.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
—I'm sure we'll win. I'm not terribly afraid of it, but the body changes are certainly bothersome. It's not that they aren't helpful; in fact, I find them to be, but it's difficult… Even the sensation of touch has changed.
She stroked my hair, which after so much time had passed had grown somewhat longer. I stroked her back; there was a slight tinge, but we didn't pay attention to it.
—Azumi has been avoiding me, but I've noticed that she doesn't leave your side.
"I can't deny that it's been helpful. He gives me little tips that help. He also told me the true purpose of his bite." Ashley looked up, and our eyes met.
—Jane, you know, they used you to make slaves; in fact, Azumi must have some control over you now.
—Yes, but he promised me he'd never do that. —He rested his head on my chest and played with my hand— What will we do when this is all over?
"I think I told you before, I plan to take care of this mess," I replied softly, enjoying his touch.
"That's not what I mean." She looked up again.
She was so close to me that I could smell the soft scent of her hair.
—I've never thought about an aftermath. I've set out to do so, but, to be honest, I can't imagine anything other than war.
—For someone who plans his moves, he's a bit short when it comes to planning a life, huh?
—To be honest, I never thought about it after my goals, but if I'm sure of one thing, it's that I want to share it with you.
But suddenly she stood up and sat next to me.
—Sean... If I die, live your life, don't let yourself be left behind, or I myself won't forgive you.
I was stunned. If he was talking about the danger of war, I think it's pointless, since I'm facing it myself.
—I can also die if I don't…
She interrupted me.
"You're a god, Sean. From now on, you have your own battles. The most crucial one, I've watched you overuse your magic all week, and I understand. Even if it's possible to reach you, I won't make it in time. However, I'm not sad because I can proudly say that I fought by your side as your most trusted companion. But, Sean, I could die, and I don't want her to..."
I interrupted her, kissed her, and gently pushed her onto the bed.
Our lips met and we just enjoyed the moment, there was even a little grumbling when we broke apart.
—It's never enough for me. I want to reach the future with you, but I respect your pride. That's why I let you fight... You drive me crazy and I love you, Ashley, but don't ask me not to suffer if you die, because that day I'll no longer be able to see your beautiful green eyes that fill me with love. I'll lose that smile that, just by feeling it, gently draws a smile on my face too. If you go, I'll lose the warmth of your body, I'll lose your scent, I'll lose the woman who accompanied me on this adventure from beginning to end, the woman who rescued me from myself.
That night, there were complaints, but I didn't listen to them; I completely dismissed them as I stood next to Ashley. I'm sorry, Jane.