Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 172

Chapter 172

As the Hittite forces advanced, the allied troops in the center immediately retreated. However, not all soldiers could evade. Those in the front line could not avoid close combat. The infantry of Kish, clashing swords with the Hittites, were engulfed by the marshes and mud.

“Archers, attack!”

At Medeus’s command, the archers of the 3rd Division on the left side simultaneously loosed their bows. The cry was echoed by Gufan-Uu on the right and Gumutahn from the watchtower. Hundreds, even thousands, of arrows soared then arced down upon the Hittites trapped in the swamp. The enemy’s frontline collapsed.

The troops in the center fled to the walls and spread out sideways. The advancing soldiers fanned out like wings, forming a semicircle in front of the archers on both flanks. Medeus, holding a spear and shield, shouted,

“Left flank, charge!”

Gufan-Uu to the right shouted,

“Right flank, charge!”

Nataek pursued Medeus as he charged, swearing to protect his back and aiming his bow downward.

A sharp sound chimed as the system’s notification appeared; Nataek’s eyes widened as his bowstring slackened:

[Hittite] ■■■■■■■■■■■■

[Kish Gates] ■■■■■■■■■■■■

Gage bars appeared denoting the status of Kish’s gates and the Hittite army center, green for Kish and red for the Hittites, marking the arrival of the decisive battle.

For Nataek, the Kish gate was the portal of escape from the ancient civilization; naturally, the green bar drew interest, but his gaze never left the red bar hovering above the enemy.

The Hittites’ survival meant Medeus’s survival. The longer the red bar held, the more at risk Medeus became. Nataek took a steady breath and drew his bow again. The vivid image of their peril deepened his resolve, and he fixed his gaze where Medeus was, aiming his arrows nearby.

I must protect Medeus at all costs.

Kish infantry advanced in the center, swinging swords and spears. Due to marsh traps, the front Hittite soldiers floundered in the mud. While enemies were trapped, Kish archers relentlessly rained arrows, guarding their comrades.

Nataek watched Medeus, swiftly shooting at foes lunging for him. The canal trap was more effective than expected but not for long. As wounded and corpses piled in the mud, space on the swamp surface gradually appeared. The Hittites seized the opening, treading over bodies to press forward.

“Open flanks on both sides! Advance the rear!”

Hittite charioteers at the rear surged forward.

Clack, clack, rumble, rumble!

The charioteers cracked their reins with force, but the muddy ground and obstacles shook the chariots.

Clack, rumble, rumble, screech, thud!

With a neigh and flailing, a konka tangled with men, the chariot tipped sideways. Cries and chaos erupted as the northern gate became a scene of carnage. Trampling bodies, the enemy forged ahead. Some bore huge logs like battering rams, pounding the gates.

“Defend the gates!”

Gumutahn on the watchtower shouted. Nataek began shooting arrows at the log-bearers.

[Hittite] ■■■■■■■■■■■■

[Kish Gates] ■■■■■■■■■■■□

But then, clattering sounds came from the sides. The enemy was climbing the walls with grappling hooks.

Damn it!

Archers fired at the Hittites scaling the walls.

“Aaargh!”

One soldier was shot and fell, but others climbed atop the fallen as stepping stones, voraciously scaling the wall. Half the climbers fell or were injured, but some succeeded in reaching the battlements. Though few in number, their iron weapons fought with the strength of a hundred.

Clang!

Kish soldiers’ swords broke in combat. Archers struck by enemy blades fell one by one below the walls. Nataek yelled,

“No close combat! Keep distance!”

He fired arrows frantically while shouting. In front, Gumutahn’s sword snapped with a sharp crack. Startled, Gumutahn dodged as enemies charged but skillfully knocked them down the walls. He gawked at his broken sword. Nataek yelled louder.

“They use reinforced weapons! Close combat is no good!”

Finally realizing the situation, Gumutahn drew another sword and shouted,

“Keep your distance from the enemy!”

His order shifted the battle back to ranged combat. Nataek watched the enemies climbing walls while focusing on the center.

[Hittite] ■■■■■■■■■■■■

[Kish Gates] ■■■■■■■■■■□□

Frustration!

The lines blurred with mud and blood, friend and foe mixed in chaos, but the gauge bar informed Nataek of the battle’s tide.

Thud! Thud!

Sounds of the gates about to break vibrated beneath. Nataek furrowed his brows, quickly drawing his dagger to cut a rope attached to a new grappling hook by his feet. But the twine resisted cutting. A climber reached halfway up the wall. Nataek resumed shooting.

Whip!

“Argh!”

The climber hit by an arrow fell.

Did we make a mistake conquering Ur?

Foolish thought flashed; Nataek glared at Medeus. Suddenly, he felt responsible for throwing Medeus into this hell.

“Crack!”

We must win this war. We must win. Fear of losing Medeus crashed like a wave over him.

“Ahh!”

My only guide, my irreplaceable protector.

To protect, to save, to hold you again—I must win here.

[Hittite] ■■■■■■■■■□□□

[Kish Gates] ■■■■■■□□□□□□

Suddenly, Nataek’s vision zoomed onto Medeus’s back. A Hittite spearman raised his spear, aiming for Medeus.

That bastard!

Nataek gritted his teeth and drew his bow swiftly.

Whip!

Though afar, the arrow struck true. Nataek’s mind cleared. He must not lose here, for Medeus’s sake.

Thud. The ground vibrated. Nataek glanced around, teeth grinding. The red gauge bar moved about, creeping toward Medeus. He realized the bar hung over the enemy commander’s head.

He thought the red bar indicated the enemy’s remaining forces, but could it show the leader’s condition instead? He recalled such strategy from his game, where killing the commander ends conquest.

A conviction grew in Nataek.

That’s him—the one we must catch!

Whip!

Another arrow flew. Nataek alternated aim between the gate and Medeus’s direction. The gauge dropped again.

[Hittite] ■■■■■■■■■□□□

[Kish Gates] ■■■■■□□□□□□□

Damn! The gates are about to fall first!