Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

The sharp clang of the alarm bell echoed through the camp, reverberating off the castle walls and amplifying the urgency.

"Positions, men! The Vond forces are advancing, ready yourselves!" John's voice boomed, cutting through the mounting tension.

Around him, the soldiers and mages exchanged brief glances, the air thick with both resolve and a touch of apprehension.

Aiden grinned, spinning his sword, Ignis Magna, in his hands, its edge glinting in the dim light. "Let's show them what they're up against!" he shouted, his confidence infectious.

"Get that thing ready!" John commanded, pointing toward the fortified wall where the enchantments had been laid.

Those gifted with mana: Morigan, Rey, Rosa, Aiden, Elora, and several others, moved swiftly to their designated locations along the wall where Cedric's enchantments had been etched. The soldiers looked on with a mixture of awe and apprehension as the mages and warriors prepared to pour their mana into the barrier stones.

Without hesitation, each of them began channeling their energy into the stones, their eyes narrowing in concentration. One of the soldiers, watching with bated breath, whispered, "So, we just pour our mana into this thing, right?"

The others needed no further encouragement; power surged into the stones, setting off a radiant, bluish barrier that hummed to life, shimmering as mana coursed through it. The air around the wall grew charged, the shimmering shield casting an ethereal glow that reflected off their determined faces.

Just as John had warned, Vond's forces began their assault from a distance, artillery rounds screaming through the air. But Cedric's barrier held steady the projectiles crashing against the protective field, their force deflected harmlessly.

John seized the moment. "Alright, men, this is our chance!" He took a battle-ready stance, his eyes locked on the enemy. "All those with ranged attacks, fire now!"

Arrows and magical projectiles erupted from the walls, streaking toward the enemy lines. The Vond forces reeled, caught off guard by the sudden, unified counterattack that rained down upon them.

*****

Asher arrived at the wall, his eyes scanning the unfolding battle below. From where he stood, he could see that things were going remarkably well; the enemy's artillery had been effectively neutralized by the barrier, their rounds dissipating on impact.

Cedric's work had paid off; Vond's forces were struggling to find any opening in the castle's defenses.

"Looks like they used the same attack strategy as before," Asher muttered to himself, watching as the enemy forces fumbled under the relentless counterattack.

"Was I…wrong?" He couldn't shake the lingering doubt, though.

The scene was almost too smooth, the enemy losing ground quickly and without resistance. But even as he questioned his own suspicion, he kept a wary eye out, his instincts on high alert.

As Asher stood atop the wall, his gaze fixed on the battlefield below, a voice sounded beside him. "Looks like you were wrong after all," John said, his tone steady but slightly teasing. Asher glanced over, finding John's expression surprisingly calm in the midst of the unfolding conflict.

John crossed his arms, studying the battlefield for a moment. "Honestly, how do you think you would've felt if there really was a traitor among us?" he asked, his voice dropping to a more serious note.

Asher took a deep breath, letting the question settle. "Relieved," he finally replied, surprising even himself with the answer. "Relieved to know what we were really up against, but…" He trailed off, then added quietly, "Yeah, I'm glad I was wrong. It's better this way."

John nodded, the hint of a smile breaking through his serious demeanor. "That's good to hear," he replied. "We've got enough to worry about without turning against our own. But for now," he said, shifting back to their immediate concerns, "we need to keep the pressure on Vond's forces. If they're not breaking through, they'll probably try flanking or regrouping."

Asher nodded in agreement. "Then we should focus on fortifying the weaker points along the perimeter," he suggested. "And if they try something new, like storming the walls directly, we'll need people ready to counter any surprises they throw at us."

John looked thoughtful. "Good plan. Let's spread out some of the heavier hitters to those points, reinforce with those who can work as shields, and keep the mages stationed for ranged support."

With a final nod, the two men turned back to the battlefield, each of them with a renewed sense of purpose. "Let's end this, once and for all," Asher murmured, his resolve hardening.

Asher watched the distant horizon intently, something nagging at the back of his mind. 'Now that I think about it…' he mused, his gaze shifting to the far side of the wall. 'I know it's just a hunch, but...'

With swift determination, he approached Seraphina, Matthew, and Finn, adopting an air of authority. "Captain's orders," he said firmly, keeping his tone serious so they wouldn't ask too many questions. "I need the three of you to come with me."

As expected, they agreed immediately. Seraphina gave a quick nod, Finn shrugged, and Matthew sighed but followed without complaint.

As they moved, Seraphina turned to Asher, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "So where are we going?"

"The other side of the wall," Asher replied as he picked up his pace, making it clear they needed to hurry.

"What!?" Finn groaned, rolling his eyes. "It's going to take us forever to get there."

"And why?" Matthew added, glancing over his shoulder at the sounds of the ongoing battle behind them. "The fight is literally back there."

"Just a routine check," Asher replied casually, though his brisk steps suggested urgency. "Don't worry, we'll be there in no time."

The three exchanged puzzled glances but followed, picking up their own pace to keep up with him. Asher led them to a stone platform set against the wall's inner structure, somewhat hidden among other supplies. Without hesitation, he motioned for them to step onto it.

"What's this?" Finn asked, eyeing the platform skeptically.

"You'll see," Asher replied with a smirk as he activated the mechanism, and in an instant, the platform transported them to the far side of the wall.

As they arrived, Finn blinked, visibly surprised. "How did you know this was here?"

"Thank Jett," Asher replied, recalling their previous exploration. Jett had insisted on mapping the entire area, noting even the hidden transport points. 'Was he thinking about this too, or maybe just pure coincidence,' Asher thought with a faint sense of gratitude.

*****

At first, there was nothing unusual. The stretch of wall was quiet, the sea's waves crashing far below them. But Asher felt uneasy. "Let's hold here for a bit," he suggested, scanning the surroundings.

Moments later, Seraphina stiffened, her sharp hearing picking up faint sounds. She signaled for them to stay silent as she crept toward the source, peering carefully over the edge. Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted shadowy figures scaling the outer wall: enemy soldiers stealthily making their way up.

'Oh, this is bad,' Seraphina thought, her eyes widening as she turned to signal the others, a sense of urgency flashing in her gaze.

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Surprise attack?(☉｡☉)!