The Second of the Seven Divine Weapons (2)
"Hellfire: Is that really possible?"
"Me: You say your growth has slowed since founding the kingdom? Then when are you gonna catch up and pull ahead? Don't we need to take a gamble at least once to close the gap?"
That was the reason I'd managed to tempt Hellfire, who had planned to play it safe and focus purely on defending his five castles this siege season.
Taesung currently held three prime castles, and after suddenly absorbing Amazon, they'd jumped back to five. Phoenix, meanwhile, had reached five castles in the last siege, but only Dumein Castle was a real keeper—nothing compared to Taesung's holdings. But if they succeeded in snatching Kaljen Castle this time, Phoenix would hit six, dropping Taesung to four. Even with Taesung's superior castles, that would narrow the gap at least a little for the next month. After all, the more dedicated hunting grounds a guild had for growth, the better.
"Me: Sticking to the status quo like this? We'll never catch Taesung. The only way is to steal their stuff piece by piece. And this Kaljen siege? With me on board, it's totally doable. What do you say? Wanna give it a shot?"
"Hellfire: ...What would the cost be?"
"Me: Deal! Since I'm the one proposing it, even though the difficulty's way higher than Rozentas last time, I'll charge accordingly. Call it a fire sale—total steal!"
Phoenix was already stretched thin just defending, so scraping together numbers for a sixth castle seemed tough. Especially against a Taesung defense. But that was just the fixed mindset of players who'd only ever done titan-less sieges. I pitched an unexpected strategy exploiting that blind spot.
"Me: Final point—Phoenix targeting Kaljen has to stay top secret. Taesung probably won't commit big numbers to defending it anyway. We don't wanna poke the bear and draw reinforcements, so no guild member hears about today's plan until ten minutes before siege end."
"Hellfire: Like last siege... Sandro, you were born for this stuff. If this works, it'll be the first siege tactic debut in Tayen."
"Me: You're too kind. It's only possible 'cause I've got the only titan around. So let's milk it while it's just me."
Sieges vary by castle traits, but most follow the same pattern. First, a war of attrition to breach the inner gate. Once that's down amid the chaos, you clear out the scattered ranged units while pushing forward. Sure, sometimes you'd ignore them for a speed run—but only if you could handle the firepower from the rear while hitting the obelisk. Standard play was to methodically wipe ranged squads, even if it took time, then dismantle the barricade formations around the obelisk. All in under an hour, so battles raged non-stop from the jump, dense and brutal. Some castles held out the full hour without even breaching the inner gate. NPCs alone made it tough; player defenders? Nightmare. So if the gate held till ten minutes to end, defenders usually popped champagne early.
That's the prejudice I planned to exploit max this time. Phoenix's five were all tough nuts but low-value—Rozentas aside, they'd defended them forever, so no fresh challengers. If today's defenses went smooth as usual, they could thin out numbers late without worry.
"Me: When ten minutes remain and a castle's gate is unbreached, pull 10% from each. Even short-handed, you can hold the obelisk for ten. Send everyone to Kaljen."
"Hellfire: Three castles minimum? Maybe 200. But mustering and porting takes five minutes fast. Leaves five to breach and cap obelisk... You sure?"
"Me: Like I said, my titan won't guerrilla this time. We'll smash the gate together, push straight to obelisk in five flat. With your Phoenix squad at the gate!"
Who was it that said games aren't over till they're over? This siege would prove it true.
With my mercenary gig locked in, Hellfire invited me to join Phoenix proper. Easier coordination and buffs that way, sure. But after recent drama, I'd learned the hard way: in Tayen, trust no one fully. Better to eat a stray hit than risk party/guild exposing my moves or stealth. Solo guild allied up kept me safe from friendly AoE—not the worst.
"This Kaljen siege ending boring as hell?"
"Waited for something epic, wasted time. After a wild month, back to Taesung's arms."
Siege tourists chattered as I scouted. With no more show, some headed elsewhere. Minutes from end at Kaljen's gate—Tiess flags on walls kept it dead quiet. Amazon's Taesung merger was hot news, spreading fast to siegers. Just a few tryhards and no-guild gawkers.
I'd swept the quiet interior in 8-star stealth, mapping Taesung's forces exact.
Total around 500. 200 at inner gate, 100 ranged scattered on main keep and walls. 200 barricaded at plaza obelisk!
Castle I'd owned a month—nobody fitter to lead this than me. Routes and sniper spots burned in my brain. Showtime neared.
"Me: Time to roll. Order participants to inner gate ASAP. No more than five minutes."
"Hellfire: Got it. Relaying via officers."
Seven to end. Pre-warned stragglers ported in. Even at this foolproof timing, 200 Phoenix-marked players warping en masse? Hard to miss. But with minutes left, Taesung wouldn't call backup—they'd just stall for win. Had to blitz the gate and nonstop to obelisk in their daze.
"Kieek!"
Six to end. Sharp, menacing cry split the sky. Ferari glided over Kaljen. Taesung freaked.
"Sandro's red drake!"
"Shit! He's back at Kaljen!"
"Dropping on obelisk like last time? Eyes on drake, focus obelisk! Won't work twice!"
"Solo? Probably just trolling!"
From ground, they couldn't spot me aboard. Perfect distraction—split their gaze for the gate-crack window.
"Me: 55 minutes exact, I'll crash the knight line at gate. Follow up, smash tanks with me. Gate down? Straight obelisk. Time is life—remember!"
"Hidden Card: Roger. Been too long for a real thrill siege."
Phoenix picked Hidden Card as Kaljen lead—rank 1 holy knight, perfect spearhead. Guild poster boy, trusted veep. He'd punch it through. Guild thought, anyway.
Personality aside... skills are legit. Good pick.
Gate archers/mages peppered Ferari—useless range. Five to end. Eyes skyward, I summoned the siege star: Luitus. Not from air—from gate nose!
Radiant Shield
Glory Sword
Boom! Titan AoE slammed the lined knights. Holy sword-grade normal swings shredded healers behind.
"All forward!!"
"Kill 'em! Breach the gate!"
Titan reveal signaled—Hidden Card's squads charged. I knockbacked regrouping healers sans looking.
Judgment Advance
Melee knights and casting healers—all crumpled from my charge.
Thud, thud! Boom!
Phoenix AoE—air bombs, fireballs—rained. Perfect.
"Argh!"
"Hold! Formation's breaking!"
Titan bursting mid-lines? Formation vaporized like a bomb. Phoenix ranged follow-up, then Hidden Card's melee crashed in.
Glanced up—wall archers/mages poured fire, ignoring ground chaos.
Ferari, come!
Ferari dove. As it neared, I leaped front—bounced off its back to snag the wall rail. Barely.
Thud, thud.
Titan's bulk shook the ramparts. Taesung's shock faces crystal clear—no way they dreamed a titan scaling 20m walls.
"Insane! Stepped off the drake?!"
"Nooo! Can't tank it! Run or die!"
"Fall back to obelisk! We'll lose the castle!"
Tanks/heals couldn't handle; paper DPS? Panic flight. I skipped chase, swept survivors with swings, then vaulted inner side.
Unguarded gate interior. I hammered it merciless—no repair crew, it crumbled fast.
Four to end. Phoenix still mopping tanks—I flung the gates wide, inviting them in.