The great general climbed the city wall, issuing orders to the soldiers and striving to raise their morale.

  He instructed them that the four siblings were now unit commanders and that their orders were to be followed.

  Eshiel moved into the center of the archer corps, while the other siblings walked to positions of their choosing.

  From the temple, one high priest and more than a hundred priests were dispatched to support the battlefield.

  They were apostles of Enlil, the god of air and wind.

  As the night deepened, a heavy darkness settled over the land.

  Relying on torches and moonlight, the soldiers watched the enemy slowly advancing.

  When Eshiel waved his hand, several flaming birds burst forth from his gesture.

  As the birds flew through the air above the enemy, the battlefield was illuminated.

  Tens of thousands of Uruk soldiers revealed their might.

  They were advancing their catapults.

  Azael looked at Ella and spoke.

  “Ella, this is a time of war. We need Riana’s help.”

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  Ella nodded and closed her eyes.

  When she opened them again, she had become Riana.

  Riana—within Ella’s body—stepped to the center of the wall and extended her hand into the air.

  A pure white aura spread in all directions, enveloping each soldier one by one.

  Wrapped in the light, the soldiers’ fear gradually faded, and strength began to well up within them.

  Eshiel stared across the archer corps and spoke.

  “All units, focus.”

  At once, the archers’ eyes turned toward Eshiel.

  He raised his bow and began to speak.

  “The ones who dominate the battlefield are us, the archers.

  The tips of our arrows pierce the enemy’s heart and become the shield that protects our homeland.

  Do not hesitate. Become cold, resolute reapers of death!”

  The archers raised their bows in unison in response.

  The siblings smiled at Eshiel’s unexpected talent for rousing speech.

  “Seriously, his way with words…”

  “That was impressive, Eshiel.”

  When the Uruk army completed its preparations, drums began to beat.

  The thunderous sound of drums echoing from all sides was overwhelming, but under Riana’s blessing, the soldiers of Kish did not waver.

  The Uruk army prepared dozens of fire frames made by binding together dried wood.

  They coated them heavily with bitumen and set them alight, and the frames roared with flame.

  Soldiers pushed them forward with poles, rolling them toward the walls of Kish.

  With their view of the wall now lit, the Uruk army began their bombardment at once.

  Massive stones flew and struck the wall, causing it to shake violently.

  Boom! Boom!

  The great general shouted, bolstering morale.

  “The walls of Kish are the strongest. They will never fall to mere rocks like those!”

  As Eshiel gripped his bow and focused his power, a gigantic flaming arrow took shape.

  The arrow streaked through the air like a meteor and struck a catapult.

  With an explosion, sparks flew upward, and the catapult crews were engulfed in flames, screaming.

  Eshiel fired relentlessly, causing every catapult to explode without exception.

  The soldiers of Kish erupted in cheers.

  On the opposite side, the Five Great Generals of Uruk, who had been observing the battle, stepped forward.