Dust swirled between the screams and the pounding of boots. The sky, once clear, had turned grey with smoke and volleys of arrows. Bima sprinted through the gaps in formation, his cloak tattered and stained with blood—some from his enemies, some from his comrades.
To his right, Togar deflected a sword blow with his large shield. Metal clashed with metal, echoing sharply as Togar drove his shield forward, forcing the enemy back before slashing across their midsection with his sword.
"Bima! They're trying to swing around our left!" Togar shouted, holding back two attackers with his bulk alone.
Bima glanced left. Rano was locked in fierce combat—small and agile, he darted between legs, thrusting his spear and slipping away just as quickly. But more enemies were coming. Their formation was close to breaking.
"Gito! Get back on that rock! We need elevation!" Bima called out.
Without a word, Gito climbed a nearby boulder, dropped three arrows at his feet, and began shooting. Each arrow hit true—throats, necks, and temples. He never missed.
Bima turned just in time to parry another strike, elbowing the attacker down. Blood and sweat stung his eyes.
They were being pushed from three directions—front, side, and even their rear was closing in. The Livasol soldiers were relentless, trained, and coordinated.
"Stay together!" Bima shouted. "We move as one!"
Their small unit fell back slowly, regrouping. Togar was the shield, standing front and center. Bima and Rano guarded the flanks. Gito remained behind them, releasing precise arrows from elevated ground.
Togar bashed aside a cluster of soldiers with a massive shove of his shield, then ducked as Bima leapt over him, cleaving through two opponents in a single, spinning strike.
"Clean move," Togar grunted.
"Those drills back in the village paid off," Bima replied through gasps.
But the pressure kept mounting. Livasol troops were surrounding them. Korasium soldiers nearby were scattered and morale was failing.
From the haze, a Livasol officer emerged. Tall, cloaked in dark purple armor, dual swords in hand, he moved like a blur.
"He's their unit commander," Rano said quickly. "If we take him out, their formation might crumble."
"I'll draw his attention," Bima said. "Be ready to hit him together."
Bima stepped forward to face the officer. The two warriors circled. Then without warning, the Livasol officer lunged. Bima blocked the first strike, retreated one step, then countered—but the enemy was fast, too fast.
Togar slammed his shield into the officer's side, knocking him off balance. Rano leapt in, driving his spear into the man's thigh, and Bima followed with a slash to the shoulder.
Wounded and outnumbered, the officer retreated. The surrounding enemy troops began to falter.
"Now!" Bima yelled. "Drive them back!"
Their team surged. Togar, like a living wall, smashed through the front line. Bima and Rano dove into the gaps he created, while Gito fired from the rear, arrows striking exposed necks and joints.
Blood, dust, and screams filled the air.
They pushed toward a small hill on the right—one Bima had noticed earlier. From there, they'd have elevation, visibility, and perhaps, safety.
Fighting through layer after layer of soldiers, they reached the slope.
Gito took position atop the hill, raining arrows down on Livasol forces trying to close in. Togar held the narrow path like a gatekeeper, sword and shield flashing with every movement.
Bima stood in the center, scanning the battlefield.
He saw it. A weak point—where Livasol had just split their reserves to attack Korasium's flanks. It was vulnerable.
"Salvius moved his reserves. There's a gap at the junction!" he shouted.
"So we attack from here?" Rano asked.
"We hit hard and become the wedge. If we strike there, our main force can regroup!"
Gito lowered his bow briefly. "We're just four."
Bima looked downhill. A few surviving Korasium troops were dragging themselves toward the hill.
"Not just us. Look—they need direction."
He raised his sword high and roared, "To the junction! We strike together! For Korasium!"
His cry echoed across the field. Wounded soldiers looked up. Some ran toward the hill. Others followed, lifting weapons and charging with renewed hope.
Bima led the way. Togar beside him, shielding against incoming arrows. Rano and Gito supported from behind, flanking and firing. They slammed into the exposed line, disrupting Livasol's flow just as Lieutenant Rubeck's reinforcements arrived.
The Korasium right wing rallied.
Once again, the tide began to shift.