Journey to Become the Zenith

The Charge of the Redcliffe Family

Clara who was now deeper inside the enemy formation had lost a large portion of adventurers. As the adventurers died, Clara and those that were left would immediately incinerate their bodies before they were turned into undead. Also even though they lost a lot of adventurers, Clara and the others were still able to destroy a majority of the undead mages. Now that her mission was complete she wanted to retreat, but unfortunately, their escape route was blocked by the swarm of undead.

The battlefield had become a sea of shattered bones, scorched earth, and black smoke. Corrupt mana lingered in the air like a poisonous fog, making every breath feel heavier than the last. Everywhere Clara looked, skeletal warriors continued advancing without fear or hesitation, stepping over the remains of their own comrades as if they were nothing more than broken tools.

The adventurers surrounding her were no longer the confident warriors who had charged out of Fantom City’s gates.

Their armor was dented.

Their shields were cracked.

Many carried deep wounds across their arms and shoulders, while others limped as they fought.

Yet no one complained.

Every survivor understood that stopping meant death.

Clara tightened her grip on her sword and glanced toward the distant city walls.

They looked so close.

Yet between them and safety stood thousands of undead.

Taking a deep breath, she raised her sword high.

”Everyone we need to break through the enemy ranks to get back to the wall! If you want to live stay in formation and destroy any undead in front of you! We need to retreat back to the wall!”

”Yes!”

The surviving adventurers answered almost instinctively.

Though exhaustion clouded their eyes, the determination in them had not disappeared.

The shield bearers immediately moved to the front.

The swordsmen and spearmen guarded both flanks.

The mages gathered at the center while the archers protected the rear.

The formation tightened.

Like a single living creature, they advanced together.

”Forward!”

The first wave of skeletal warriors slammed against the shields.

Boom!

The impact echoed across the battlefield.

”Push!”

The shield bearers drove forward with everything they had left.

Spears thrust through the narrow gaps between the shields, piercing skulls and ribs before withdrawing just as quickly.

Swords flashed.

Axes roared through the air.

Magic exploded behind them.

One veteran adventurer swung his battle axe in a wide arc, smashing apart three skeletal warriors before another undead buried a rusted spear into his side.

He staggered but refused to fall.

Instead, he grabbed the skeleton’s neck and pulled it close.

”Burn us both!”

A nearby mage understood immediately.

Holy flames erupted.

The skeleton and the dying adventurer disappeared together beneath the brilliant fire.

No corpse remained behind.

No new undead would rise.

Clara witnessed everything but forced herself to look ahead.

There would be time to mourn only if they survived.

She cut down another skeletal warrior before spinning to block a second.

The clash sent vibrations through her exhausted arms.

Her breathing had become uneven.

Her muscles burned from overexertion.

She had already killed hundreds.

Still...

The undead never seemed to end.

Every skeleton that fell was immediately replaced by another.

The endless tide swallowed every opening they created.

”Don’t stop!” Clara shouted.

”If we stop moving, we’re finished!”

The adventurers clenched their jaws and continued fighting.

Several mages released bursts of fire, clearing a narrow path through the enemy ranks.

The group advanced another few meters.

Then disaster struck.

Dark fire rained from the sky.

The remaining undead mages, hidden farther behind the battlefield, launched another barrage of spells.

Explosions erupted among both skeletons and humans alike.

The battlefield descended into complete chaos.

A stray bolt of dark magic pierced through one adventurer before exploding behind him.

Another warrior barely avoided an ice spear only to be dragged down by skeletal hands emerging from beneath a pile of bones.

The undead didn’t care who their magic struck.

They simply continued advancing.

That lack of fear made them terrifying opponents.

Soon...

Only a handful of B-ranked adventurers remained around Clara.

Every one of them was breathing heavily.

Their armor was stained with blood.

Their movements had noticeably slowed.

One swordsman lowered his weapon for only a heartbeat.

A skeleton lunged immediately.

Before it could strike, Clara cut it down.

”Stay focused!”

The man nodded gratefully before forcing himself back into formation.

If this continued...

None of them would reach the city alive.

Clara gritted her teeth.

Just a little farther...

She stepped forward and smashed another skeletal warrior apart.

At that exact moment...

A second undead slipped through the gap she had created.

Its rusted sword thrust forward.

Clara noticed it a fraction too late.

The blade pierced straight into her shoulder.

”Ugh!”

Pain shot through her entire body.

Warm blood quickly soaked her armor.

Her sword nearly slipped from her grasp.

The nearby adventurers immediately surrounded her.

”Captain!”

”I’m fine!” Clara growled through clenched teeth as she snapped the sword free.

”Keep moving!”

Even injured, she refused to slow down.

Her resolve alone kept the formation together.

’This doesn’t look good... Am I really going to die here?’

For the first time since the battle had begun...

Doubt entered her heart.

Then...

Above the sounds of clashing steel...

She heard it.

Clip...

Clop...

Clip...

Clop...

The unmistakable sound of galloping horses.

Her eyes widened.

’Damn it... are Dullahans here!’

Her heart sank.

If headless undead cavalry had joined the battle now...

Everything would truly be over.

The surviving adventurers instinctively turned toward the sound.

What greeted them...

Was something entirely different.

Human cavalry.

Dozens of armored riders burst through the smoke like a storm.

Sunlight reflected brilliantly from polished armor and raised spears.

At the front of the formation, a proud banner fluttered violently in the wind.

Its emblem...

A spear piercing through the body of a dragon.

Clara instantly recognized it.

The Redcliffe family.

The once-glorious warrior family that had fallen from nobility.

”They came...”

Hope returned to her tired eyes.

...

Leading the cavalry was a young woman clad in full plate armor, her long spear pointed directly toward the enemy.

This was none other than Ramona Redcliffe.

Her green eyes burned with unwavering determination beneath her helmet.

Without slowing her mount, she lowered her spear.

”Charge!”

The cavalry crashed into the undead ranks like an avalanche.

The impact was devastating.

Skeletons shattered beneath armored horses.

Lances pierced through rows of undead before the riders drew their swords to continue the assault.

The proud warriors of the Redcliffe family laughed fearlessly as they carved a bloody path through the enemy.

For years they had endured humiliation.

For years they had carried the title of a fallen noble family.

Today...

None of that mattered.

Their blood boiled with excitement.

This was the battlefield they had longed for.

If they survived...

Their family would rise again.

If they died...

They would die as true warriors.

Ramona thrust her spear forward, crushing another undead before pulling it free in one smooth motion.

Her eyes became moist.

’Finally...’

’Finally a chance to redeem our honor!’

She drove her spear through another skeletal warrior.

’I will not be the sinner that led the family to eternal shame!’

She raised her weapon toward the sky.

”My people’s, my brothers and sisters my bravest warrior! Show this undead swarm the might of the Redcliffe family! Show them the fierce might of true warriors! Show them our strength so the bards may sing praises of our valiant charge!”

”FOR REDCLIFFE!”

The cavalry roared together.

Without hesitation...

Ramona led her warriors to charge once more into the endless army of the undead.

...

Lane who was watching at the walls showed a slight smile.

”So they finally made their decision.”

Her calm black eyes followed the charging cavalry as they smashed through the undead ranks with fearless determination.

’I now see why Victor wanted them as his subordinates.’

’If they’re able to survive this ordeal...’

’They might become a sharp blade for Victor to use.’