Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 171

Chapter 171

News of the Hittite advance stirred unrest in Kish. It wasn’t 24 hours, not even 10, barely an hour had passed when the event unfolded. There was no need for Nataek to shout about responsibility; if he had known the enemy would cross the border so swiftly, they wouldn’t have attempted to capture the scouts. He felt he had only upset Medeus unnecessarily.

Footsteps approached from the northern gate, and soldiers were seen running in formation from afar. Nataek bit his lower lip.

The day of the final battle has come.

“I should inspect the watchtower,” Medeus said, confirming the formation and stepping ahead. Following Medeus, Nataek gestured to the soothsayer.

“Get the Umma forces on standby!”

The soothsayer nodded decisively. Nataek was certain he wouldn’t see the soothsayer again before the battle with the Hittites.

Burning with resentment at having been brought this far, Nataek resolved to rely on the soothsayer until the most dangerous moment. The thought that the soothsayer might pull back again like last time with Umma infuriated him quietly.

He needed to command something as during Umma’s conquest… Wait.

Suddenly, a memory struck Nataek, and he stopped.

During the conquest of Umma, the soothsayer had surely lowered the difficulty significantly.

Umma was the third city conquered by Nataek. The ease of that conquest was certainly due to the soothsayer; he believed so for there was no other explanation.

Nataek quickly turned and ran toward the soothsayer, who looked bewildered.

“What? Why?”

“How many conquests has this been?”

“Huh?”

“How many conquests have you been part of?”

“Why ask suddenly?”

“Quickly.”

Pressured, the soothsayer counted off.

“Umma was the first, then Ur.”

Compared to Nataek’s long journey through Delam, Uruk, Umma, Ur, and Kish, the soothsayer had only passed two proper quests.

Perhaps with the soothsayer’s involvement, the battle with the Hittites might go easier than expected; at least less difficult than Nataek alone. Nataek grabbed his arm.

“You also must participate in the Hittite battle.”

“What?! What are you saying? I don’t know how to shoot or wield a sword!”

“Do something! You have to join!”

“No way! How could I participate?”

“Like during the canal construction,”

Nataek paused. He chose the canal construction technique from new technologies—that was his quest. Yet during his absence, it was the soothsayer who actually led the work. Nataek shook him.

“You worked on the canal. Help somehow. You being there might lower the difficulty like during Umma.”

The soothsayer looked at Nataek with trembling pupils.

“Me? Me?”

“The easier conquest of Umma was probably thanks to you. It was the first city you actively assaulted and that helped. No other explanation fits.”

“Really?”

“We can’t fail now. We must try everything, right?”

Persuaded, the soothsayer gulped and muttered “last, last…” while clenching his fist.

“Alright. I’ll check what help I can give with the canal. But I absolutely won’t fight! I’d just die without doing anything!”

Nataek took a deep breath and continued.

“I don’t expect you to jump into battle, just participate in some way. Don’t run away.”

The soothsayer grimaced but nodded vehemently.

The sounds of soldiers rushing north grew louder. Nataek tapped the soothsayer’s arm twice and ran after the quickly departing Medeus. The soothsayer dashed out the gate.

Keeping pace with Medeus’s faster and longer strides required Nataek to jog lightly, like a soldier. Only now did he understand why the soothsayer hurried after him.

Nataek silently ascended the northern watchtower, awe-struck. Beyond, the Hittite army swarmed like ants.

“At this point, there’s no choice but to believe us…”

The force was clearly not something brought in a day or two. Kish’s army surged out beyond the gates. The Kish soldiers only stood on flat parts among the marshes, guarding the traps set carefully so they would not be revealed prematurely. Fortunately, the enemy did not suspect the allied troop lines.

Nataek breathed deeply and looked at Medeus.

“Will they attack immediately?”

“They may try negotiation, but will ultimately demand the gates be opened.”

No fool opens the gates to the enemy—it meant battle was imminent.

“Teresi, stay here.”

Nataek reflexively wanted to go with him, but closed his mouth. Unlike previous stealth and ambush tactics, this battle mainly involved close combat, and he could not play a proper role with his bow.

Clenching his fist, he said,

“I will cover here. You must come back safely.”

Medeus smiled brightly.

“Yeah.”

Watching Medeus descend toward the line, Nataek felt a weight in his chest, tightness that made it hard to breathe. The Hittite war was suddenly approaching. It was expected; warfare in this civilization came suddenly and unpredictably. Nataek was sure of the situation but felt a more intense anxiety than ever. Sending Medeus alone down there squeezed his heart.

Don’t get hurt. Come back safely.

Medeus must return—not for any “true ending,” but for Nataek. He had imagined many times separating from Medeus, but never losing him on the battlefield. The sudden arrival of this moment made him nearly frantic.

Watching Medeus retreat, Nataek ran forward and grabbed his wrist. Medeus turned with wide eyes.

Nataek said firmly,

“Winning matters, everything matters, but above all, you must come back alive. You must keep the promise to travel east with me, so…”

Please come back to me alive.

The words barely spoken passed through Nataek’s fingertips. Though he tried not to show fear, his faintly trembling voice betrayed him. Medeus held Nataek’s cheek and softly kissed him. For that moment, neither cared who was watching. Medeus smiled gently.

“If I’m gone, someone else will desire you; I won’t let that happen. Don’t worry. I’ll come back.”

Medeus descended the stairs and headed to the left flank.

They had endured many conquests before. By now, it should have been familiar, but perhaps because this was the last battle, cold sweat broke out on Nataek’s hands.

As Medeus reached the formation, the Hittite army halted.

Gumutahn stood on the central watchtower and shouted,

“Why have the Hittite soldiers come this far?”

A commanding figure pushed through the soldiers.

“I know you captured our men.”

“Kish responded naturally to defend its land.”

“Natural response? This is a clear provocation toward the Hittites!”

The Hittites brazenly stepped forward. Gumutahn sneered and shouted,

“The real provocation is your troops crossing the border!”

The Hittite insults continued relentlessly.

“We have long guarded the troubled southern lands, but can no longer tolerate your endless provocations, so the Hittites will lead this land on the right path!”

Nataek clicked his tongue. As the saying goes, “If it fits the nose, it’s a nose ring; if it fits the ear, it’s an earring.” The Hittites’ words were mere excuses. The answer was already decided: the Hittites would assault Kish’s city no matter what.

The Hittite general shouted,

“If you open the gates peacefully, bloodshed can be avoided. Otherwise, you will pay dearly!”

Upon his shout, Gumutahn drew his sword and shouted,

“Kish is the city blessed by Inanna. Not one step shall filthy northerners take!”

As expected, negotiations collapsed. Gumutahn called out to his troops,

“For our land, our Kish, fight with glory! We shall defend this land with our own hands!”

Soldiers drew their swords and shouted loudly. Nataek swallowed, drew his bow from behind, and armor creaked as archers simultaneously aimed at the enemy. A bright alert appeared in Nataek’s vision.

“Hittite forces approaching front.”

Thud, thud. Infantry adjusted stance.

Kish troops formed ranks.

Clang. Spearmen drew their spears and pointed forward.

“Battle begins in 5.”

Clack. Infantry drew swords and took stance.

“Battle begins in 4.”

The system flickered numbers down.

“Battle begins in 3.”

“Victory to Kish!”

“Battle begins in 2.”

“Glory to Kish!”

“Battle begins in 1.”

“Charge!”

The loud cry of Gumutahn echoed.

Battle!

Waaah!

The Hittite army surged forward. The system sounded a lively fanfare over the wave of death.

[Final Battle] quest begins.

Footnotes:

1. The Battle of Kadesh (circa 1274 BCE) was a major conflict between the Egyptian New Kingdom under Ramses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II, marking one of the earliest documented large-scale battles in history.