(Brutalus POV)
After days of setting up the siege of Elphael and pushing the misbegotten to the hidden city, I came across the strange barrier walls that sealed our march towards Malenia's city in the Haligtree. My men had struggled to make any progress in passing through and we were here for a few more days since then.
"Alright Alright…" I said as I walked through the crowd of my soldiers, "Step aside men….someone give one of those loudhorns."
As I stepped in front of my army, I extended my hand outwards, expecting someone to hand me one.
"Of course, my lord." I heard a soldier say as he handed me one
"Ahem…." I said as I put the loudhorn in front of my mouth, "Refugees of Elphael!! I am Lord Brutalus, Elden Lord and Husband of Queen Consort Marika The Eternal!! I am not here to lay ruin or cause bloodshed of the innocent nor am I here to waste time on a pointless siege!!!"
I saw that nobody was responding to this; no movement through the pearly white barrier walls. I was starting to get annoyed.
This chick is a real pain in the ass, huh?
"As you may know, my first decree as Elden Lord was to reshape the Lands Between anew, into something better for the people!!!" I continued, "But your defacto Leader, Malenia, defied my decree and declared herself the True Heir to the Elden Throne. She believed that since Miquella was gone, she must follow in her Father's footsteps, but that is FOOLISHNESS!!! I defeated Radagon and Godfrey, two Elden Lords!! What the fuck does she know of being the true Heir? It is I who sat upon the Throne!! If she dares to defy her Lord's wishes, send her forth!!!! We shall settle this in battle!!!"
As I said that, my entire army shifted in nervousness. They didn't expect for me to show up and make a speech like this.
There was still no movement.
"Tch." I said while looking at Kristoff, "Have the Golems pierce the wall. After the walls are down, send the Bloodhound Knights while the trebuchets bombard them. Show no mercy."
Kristoff nodded, "Yes." He said as he turned to the men, "You heard His Majesty, Lord Brutalus has spoken!!! Begin the assault!! Golems, open fire!!!"
I walked away as the entire army began to mobilize. The Golems began to fire their massive great-arrows at the walls, causing immense shockwaves that shook the walls.
I reached a platform where there was a massive seat, I sat on it. From the seat, I began to watch as the massive volleys of Golem great-arrows began to hit the walls and causing loud thundering noises.
I leaned on my side as I scoffed, "She'd rather hide than come out here and face me, the coward." I said, "Hey, Siluria."
Siluria, the Spear-Wielding Crucible Knight, looked at me, "Yes?" He said
"What do you think are odds are if we stay here any longer?" I asked him
He looked back at the onslaught, "I am not sure." He said, "I think its best if we resort to something else if we don't want to drag this out for much longer."
I raised an eyebrow, "Like what?"
"May I speak my mind?" He asked
I nodded, "Speak."
"We have powerful magic users, do we not?" He said, "Using pure force on a powerful barrier like that is not ideal."
I shrugged, "We do." I said, "But using this display of force is necessary."
"How so?" He asked
"I don't really intend to slaughter innocent civilians." I said, "But constantly bombarding their strong barrier without relenting....It'll show them that we might just do that...."
"You want them to fall to the bluff?" He asked me
I nodded, "Something like that." I said, "If they surrender before we even breach the walls, that'd be great."
"If they don't and we do breach them?" He asked me still
"I will do what I must." I said, "I know what I'm getting myself into."
"Very well." He said, "I will obey your commands always."
I looked over to a squire in the distance, "Bring me and Siluria food and drink." I commanded, "And bring a table."
The squire began to scurry around.
"What for, My Lord?" Siluria asked
"I'm bored." I said, "We play chess."
"Okay..." He said
I then heard a loud crash and explosions.
"Sire!!!" I heard a soldier call out
I looked over, "What?" I asked
"They opened the barrier at a side and released several Ulcerated Tree Spirits!!" The soldier shotued
I stood up and saw that he was correct, to the side, an opening had been made and about four of those annoying fuckers had emerged from them, rampaging about.
"Shit." I said, "Well have the Golems focus the fire on them, then! Now!"
"Yessir!!" the soldier shouted
"Where did they get so many?" Siluria asked
"I don't know." I said
Suddenly, I saw a massive shockwave as a knight on horseback was slashing through the rows of soldiers and knights. I recognized her, Loretta, she was swinging her Halberd and cutting through my fodder soldiers like butter.
"Tch." I said with a scowl
"Someone breached through our lines, too?!" Siluria said as he stepped in front of me, "Where is Kristoff?!"
I looked off into the far distance and saw several bolts of Dragon Lightning where the Spirits were, Kristoff was fighting them as several Bloodhound Knights aided them. I also noticed that through the opening, several Haligtree Forces were marching out.
This was their counter-attack.
Loretta jumped over dozens of rows of my soldiers in a single leap and made her way towards me.
"False Lord!!" she shouted, "In the name of Malenia, I shall cut you down!"
She swung her halberd at me only for Siluria to deflect it with his spear. I saw as Loretta's landed next to us, her horse's landing causing a shockwave.
"Foolish Knight." Siluria said as he stood in front of me, "You dare raise your weapon on Lord Brutalus?! Your Elden Lord!!!"
Loretta pointed her halberd at me, "He is no Lord." She said, "Lady Malenia is the true heir!!!"
She waved her halberd, casting her Glintblade Phalanx as she charged at Siluria.
"Such impudence!!!" Siluria roared as he reared his spear back, "It must be punished!!!"
In an instant, Siluria lunged and pierced Loretta's horse, injuring the beast as Loretta was flung from its back. Her glintblade was able to launch and hit Siluria, but his armor bounced the magic projectiles off.
The Knight landed on her feet and immediately charged for me, "No matter!!" She bellowed, "I shall avenge Lord Radagon!!!"
I smirked, "Heh." I said as I waved my hand, "Get the fuck outta here."
In an instant, she was blown away and sent crashing to the ground. I had used Force on her.
Siluria then lunged at her, kicking her in the chest and caving in her breast-plate as he reared his spear back, charging up its skill; Siluria's Woe.
"Aghh!!" Loretta exclaimed in pain
"Your foolishness must be studied by Carian Scholars, Knight of The Haligtree." Siluria growled, "What are your last words?"
"M-My Lady will never bow to a False Lord..." Loretta said as he clutched Siluria's foot on her chest
"Very well." Siluria said
I saw as he was about to plunge his spear down but he was sent flying away by a powerful slash.
"Huh?" I said as he crashed right next to me, "What the hell?"
I saw as a massive portion of my army had parted, making way for a massive lone figure walking towards me. I felt an immense and powerful aura that distorted the air around us. I could tell why my soldiers and knight were being wary of this newcomer.
It was Her; Malenia.
"Aggh...." Siluria said, "My apologies, Sire.....I was caught off-guard."
I looked at him, his armor was compromised; showing a massive gash in its middle.
"For her to ruin a perfect-looking armor..." I said, "How fucking annoying..."
I raised my hand and cast Heal on him, immediately healing his wounds and using another spell to reverse the damage on his armor.
I then turned to see Malenia next to Loretta as she faced me.
Her tall and imposing figure was unsettling. She was holding her blade to her side, almost as if she wasn't that hostile.
"So." I said, "You're the unruly Demigod, huh?"
"Malenia."