The clash between the Alewine Army and the Royal Army goes on for a few minutes now. Though the Alewine Army also suffered many deaths and injuries in just a short time, the Royal Army still exceeded them in that.
After all, they could never compare with the Alewine Army!
"We are at a disadvantage, Your Majesty!" Derin said to the King who was still on a horse beside him. General Trevor lead the fight and Zaro Aventine was observing it.
The confession that Iria tried to make a while ago completely occupied the King's mind. Clenching his fist, he tightened his grip on the rein. "Bring forward the archers," he commanded and Derin quickly complied.
"What do you want to do?" Derin asked the King once the archers were ready. They were ten of them.
The King remained quiet for a while before he shifted his gaze to Iria. "Shot down Commander Iria. If their Commander is gone, the soldiers will give up."
Derin's eyes grew wide when he heard the King's order! Did he just gave an order to kill Commander Iria?!
The King's nonchalant face told Derin that he was serious. As such, he could only comply with the order and instructed the ten archers to target the Masked Commander who was busy fighting.
It wasn't hard to avoid a single arrow but to avoid ten will be hard for even someone as skilled as Commander Iria!
It proved that the King was determined to end her.
The archers took aim and released their arrows towards the Masked Commander in unison! Iria Alewine saw this and managed to avoid them but the arrow shot down some of her soldiers and even the soldiers of the Royal Army! Then... the Commander understood what was happening.
Zaro wanted to kill her. Just as she predicted, he had no limit anymore!
Some of his soldiers died from the arrows that were released in his order but... Zaro Aventine didn't even blink an eye! With a hard of stone, his face was still devoid of any expression.
It seemed like the King haven't changed his mind, so Derin told the archers to go for a second round. With that, ten arrows were released towards Commander Iria again. As she was fighting the soldiers, it was hard for her to avoid the arrows all the time. As such, two strike her but both was on her left arm.
Rion saw what situation his Commander was in. Without losing any time, he rushed to Iria who was holding her arm. "Commander!" he shouted and quickly cut down one soldier who was about to attack Iria. "I will assist you," he said to her.
Iria Alewine didn't remove the arrows to avoid losing more blood but she cut the arrows to make it easier for her to move around. With two arrows planted on it, it was becoming hard for her to use her left hand. As such, she had to rely solely on her right hand yet...
Zaro Aventine was still not satisfied as the archers were already taking aim for the third round.
Many of his soldiers were already dead due to the arrows. Were their lives nothing to him?!
Iria Alewine rushed towards the place where the King was with the archers and some of the soldiers. As there was a long gap between them, Iria knew that it wasn't a wise action but... she was left with no choice. She didn't even know that Rion was following her!
Once the archers released the arrows, she suddenly pulled one soldier from the Royal Army and shield herself with the soldier's body. Five of the arrows landed on the soldier's chest and abdomen and he died due to the wounds right away!
However, just when she let go of the soldier's body...
"Watch out, Commander!"
Rion rushed forward and stood before her. Before he could even move his hand, one arrow was planted on his right chest immediately!
Iria Alewine glanced at the front and saw Zaro Aventine who was holding a bow. It was him! She clenched her fists but... Rion who just collapsed in front of her was enough to turn back her attention. Seeing Rion lying on the ground shook Iria Alewine to the core and it almost rendered her paralyzed!
Narrowing her eyes at her right-hand man who was even more precious than a family to her, a tear rolled down her face. "Rion... " she muttered. She bent her knees and quickly hold him.
The Commander holds his wound but Rion coughed and blood came out of his mouth. The arrow hit the most vital point of his chest and it was impossible to survive such a wound but... Iria Alewine couldn't believe it.
"Please stay with me, Rion," she pleaded. "Don't leave me. Please." She had never felt as desperate as she did now and the strongest fear she had never experienced before was swallowing her from the inside but...
"Your Majesty!" Derin called out when the King still had no plan to stop.
The King will regret this and Derin know that. He wanted to stop him but... the King completely ignored him.
Right now, the soldiers from the Alewine Army come to know the situation. Seeing their most capable General on the ground, they were overwhelmed with rage in a split second!
"Rion... " Iria Alewine called out, looking at Rion who was barely awake.
"Co -Commander," he muttered in a very low voice. "Please s -survive. I already t -told you t -that I won't allow y -you to die earlier t -than me."
The Commander couldn't think of anything else anymore! She didn't even saw another arrow coming in her direction and it landed just below her right shoulder! However, the fear of losing Rion completely overshadowed the pain caused by the arrow!
"You can't leave me!" she cried out. "How will I manage the army without you?"
Commander Iria didn't even know that her soldiers were charging towards the King and the archers now. The soldiers shielded her from the arrows and though many met their demise in those arrows, they managed to keep her safe.
"I'm s -sorry. I... " Rion couldn't mutter any more words as he succumbed to his wound. Seeing his hand falling to the ground, the Commander felt numb for a split second!
"Rion!" she called out and shook his body but... there was no response. "Don't leave me!"
She bent down and hugged his dead body as tears rolled down her face. No matter how much she called or begged, it was futile.
Rion wasn't there to respond to her anymore.....
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