Chrysalis

The appearance of the Blademasters on the field changed the situation dramatically. Grand Marshal Cicera considered the scene that spread before her with a pensive frown. Centurions had been hunted down in the confusion and chaos of the battlefield, disrupting the chain of command and leaving a quarter of the legionaries sent over the bridge blowing in the wind.

It was a deceitful, cowardly strategy that relied completely on the element of surprise and the unique abilities the Blademasters possessed. It was also clever, and effective. Had the Folk announced their presence and stated their intention to defend the Tree, Cicera would have brought another four legions to ensure the job got done.

Her centurions would have also been more hesitant to stand apart from their troops. It was a standard strategy to assassinate officers in the field and the Abyssal Legion prided itself on its record for preserving the lives of not only its officers, but the rank and file legionaries as well.

To do such a thing was close to a declaration of war. There would come a reckoning for this.

For now, her focus had to be on the mission. The tree would fall, there was no doubt of this.

"Focus the barrage on the left side of the trunk," she ordered. "Tell the Praetorians to find and assist the leaderless soldiers. They must be guided and absorbed into the command of existing groups."

The commanders passed her orders and within minutes she could see the results play out before her. The constant barrage of artillery and magic continued unabated, but this time focusing on one side of the trunk. The already burning wood began to crack and splinter under the weight of the assault. Thick clouds of smoke already billowed around the tree, rising to the canopy and drifting out into the vast open spaces of the fourth stratum.

She could see glimpses of the soldiers regrouping in the distance. Her superhuman vision allowed her to pick out the determined faces as they reformed their lines and began to advance once more. The praetorians had been notified of the presence of the Folk in the battle and already they had come to blows.

Of course, despite their incredible skill, not even they could stand up to the finest the Legion had to offer.

"The Folk are retreating whenever they see a praetorian approach. They don't want to engage directly."

"Not surprising," Cicera remarked dryly. "That's not a fight they can win."

the Blademasters spent their time running from the praetorians, then they weren't interfering with the

of more forces from the Folk appearing.

Marshal frowned. They were bringing a larger contingent at this point of the battle? Why? The tree was crippled, success was

ordered. "It's time

more unanticipated factors were allowed to influence the field. She would commit her reserves and deal a decisive strike before things could tilt out of

rolled down the line quickly and tens of thousands of soldiers prepared to deploy. The auxiliaries were a potent fighting force in their own right, overshadowed by the legionaries they served beside, but competent

they who served in the medicus and managed supplies. No fighting force in the Abyssal

were also more specialised soldiers among

came. They had waited so long, watching as their brothers and sisters of steel had fought on the front line. Now

forward, over the bridge and threw themselves into the fight with wild abandon. They smashed into the front lines like a sledgehammer, rolling back the tree creatures all the way to the trunk in

with detached interest as the first

abnormal strength allowing them to cover

the stuff would do little, but when ignited, it would burn with

reached them easily over the distance. Black, oily smoke billowed from the trunk as

mounting an offensive, more

now," Cicera said with

the artillery barrage continued overhead. The tree and its children continued to fight, but they were a spent force. The tree

their armour scorched and blackened in places, but otherwise unharmed. The army gave way as these titans of the battlefield

responsibilities below that could not be allowed

she saluted back, fist to heart, and then