- Assault On The Spire -

Taro stands on the balcony to see the rising sun illuminate the red clouds of the spire. His baby’s first telescope could do little to ascertain the movements of the armies.

“What do you see, Taro?” a voice behinds calls out to him,

“Ah!” a startled Taro jumps, “Oh it’s you Akari. Did you send the message to the Serpent Lord,”

“I did,” she sighs and sits on the railing of the balcony, “Do you think we can do this?”

“I’m sure.” Taro says not moving his sight from the towers. “We have to…”

Akari leans her head on Taro.

“We’ve been leaning on you alot…” she says, “But know you have us as well right?... You can rely on us too.”

“Akari…”

“You can cry on my shoulder for a change. Okay? Don’t carry so much on your own…”

“I…”

Interrupting the pair, a knight comes up to the balcony.

“The soldiers are ready.”

“Let’s go.” Taro gets up.

Akari looks at Taro’s solemn back as he walks away.

….

The team gathers up by the city’s gate. The plan was not a full scale attack but a concentrated in and out rescue mission.

A group of fifty men, and 3 trebuchets stood at the ready.

*Bryyuu!

A slime climbs out of Taro’s pack.

“W-Whoa… What are doing? Lil’ shion?!“

*Guuryu!!~

“Let him come with us!” Aoi laughs, “Get some experience yannow!”

“Ahh! Fine!” Taro relents, the slime sits atop his head, “Remember! Duck out when things get hot ok?!”

*Byrruup!!

The slime coos in affirmation.

Lyla stood at the main podium.

“Okay!~ Everyone!” Lyla cheers like it’s a sporting event, “Let’s go!”

And they were off!

The armies begin their march led by Elaine and Aoi. Taro , Akari and Lyla move separately as a specialist team.

Taro’s squad will serve as an essential insertion squad.

Upon reaching a hill overlooking the Spiral. Elaine blows the warhorn to signify the start of the battle.

The near five hundred of the Serpent’s army took notice of the encroaching siege.

“Haha!” an oni jeers, “Look at that paltry campaign!”

Twenty soldiers’ took to the frontlines armed with bows, shields and spears. Thirty men station themselves on the three trebuchets in the rear position!

“Launch Arrows!” Elaine shouts,

Each archer took 5 arrows each and launched the arrow rain attack.

“Pathethic!” an orc commander laughs, “Shield’s up!”

The enemy front lines raise their shields. After the initial barrage they lower their shields, only to look up to see another barrage of flying projectiles.

*Boom! *Boom! *Boom! *Boom! *Boom! *Boom!

A veritable barrage of artillery decimates the front lines. A wounded soldier crawls from the aftermath. He sees a shard of the artillery and reaches towards it. Grabbing it he discovers that it is a roof tile with runes laden upon it.

“Huh?!”

*Boom!

The trebuchets launch a large bundle of tiles wrapped in a large cloth made to open in the air and spread mines to the battlefield.

The barrage of arrows and roof tile mines continues. The arrows sometimes set off the runes. The mages try to shoot the larger flying projectiles, only for it to splinter and spread out more tiles onto the battlefield. Trying to advance on the invading army became an arduous task due to the left over trap tiles. Any that slips through the cracks, are met with spears and shields. With the great filter it was a small matter to dispatch the reduced numbers.

The armies of the spire rescind deeper and deeper towards the tower.

“Bah!” the orc cries, “Foolish humans! If we can’t advance they can’t either!”

“They’re just making a no man’s land!” another oni cries, “I don’t get it?! This area doesn’t hold any military importance does it?”

Just as they say that. A solid rock hits the spire tower.

“Gahaha!” the orc laughs again, “They’re trying to take down the tower! Stronger kingdoms have tried! There’s no way they can penetrate it from that distance.”

“Look another one!” The oni points, “It’s… hollow is it?... Wait… There are people in -?!”

“INFERNO-!”

*FWOOOMMMMM

……

“Agh!” Taro groans from the altercation.

Akari was holding both Taro and Lyla under each arm like sacks of potatoes.

“Did we make it?” Taro asks deliriously,

“Yeah we’re in.” Akari confirms,

“Ok let me down…”

Taro was set down and Akari pulled the still incapacitated Lyla in a piggy back.

Some incapacitated oni lay on the floor. Taro and Akari pilfered the armors off the bodies. Akari was able to amicably disguise herself, however Taro was another matter. Taro felt a surge of deja vu.

With tears he picks up a chain off the ground.

“Akari…” Taro calls her,

“Huh?...” she looks confused,

……

The pair continues into the tower. They overhear soldiers talk about the new shipments of captives. From there they follow the trail to the lower levels of the spire.

There they find a grand structure being made under the surface, droves upon droves of slaves toil in building the spire from top to bottom.

“It’ll be impossible to find David from all of this.” Akari turns to Taro,

“Yeah… All those poor people…” Taro admits, “We need to find a manifest of some kind. If they even keep one…”

“How can we know where to find that?”

“If I were a power hungry slave driver…”

Taro looks up to a structure overlooking the site.

They sneak into the entrance of the overlooking structure. Opening the door a lone orc scribbles into his notebook.

“Bah!” he shouts “I told you not to disturb me!”

The orc throws his drink back at the intruders!

“Grahh! Now you’ve made me spill my grog! Get me more, grub!”

The orc turns to see Taro and Akari.

“Gahah!” he laughs, “Is this kappa a gift for me?!”

“Tie 'em by the post near the door!”

“... Akari.” Taro says,

“Yeah yeah…”

*Bonk!

While the Orc was incapacitated they look through the manifest. The worker’s list was long and extensive. Names were not assigned to the workers but were instead assigned numbers as well as a physical description or trait of the prisoner.

Taro fingers descriptions for a good while until something sticks out to him.

0018 

- Prisoner is a good hard worker, however he spends too much time on his hair 

- cut rations

“That’s him for sure.” Taro points,

“David?!” a shrill voice from behind calls.

It was Lyla, she had woken up from her nap.

“That’s him right?!” She excitedly yelps,

“It’s a good chance, yeah…” Taro explains,

“There’s no time!” Lyla shouts! “Cell 14, Row 386! Got it!”

Before either of them could say anything she bolts out of the room and rushes to see her lover.

“WAIT FOR ME DAVEEeeee….!!”

They hear her voice trail off.

“W-Was that ok?!” Akari asks,

“Uhh.. probably, despite what we see, she’s pretty strong. We know where to meet up when it's time anyways,” Taro says

Just at that moment a slip falls out of the pages. It was the structure plans for the tower. Taro looking over it briefly turns his blood cold.

Large sludge pits with unseen halls, death chambers with multiple sniping positions and long bridges intentionally made for destruction.

“These… These are my traps…” Taro says