After the conversation with Sunny, the remaining days before the Siege passed quickly. In those days, only one thing was done, and that was planning. Everyone's roles were defined, along with the attack plans and what to do when someone was no longer in a position to keep fighting and had to retreat.
Thanks to the previous trip to analyze the area, a map was drawn marking where each person would be positioned and where the healer posts would be in case of injuries. It also showed where each attack line would advance and where each machine created to assist them would be placed.
All of that planning was carried out by ten Sleepers, while the rest had only one mission: to become stronger.
The way to achieve that varied. Some had to saturate their cores —although they were the minority— others had to acquire memories that suited their needs, and others simply had to keep training. Gemma took charge of training as many Sleepers as possible in close combat, while Kai was responsible for training all the archers and those who used long-range memories.
Faced with such unity, Arthur couldn't help but smile, but just as quickly as it appeared, it faded when he saw the expressions of the others.
The atmosphere remained determined, but he noticed something was wrong, and that was the fear embedded in the bones of the Sleepers. Fear that was impossible to avoid knowing what they would face in just a few days.
The nervousness was visible in their eyes.
The anxiety that drove them was visible in their bodies.
Their movements were stained by nerves impossible to ignore.
Even so, they continued with their routines, because there was something that frightened them even more.
The possibility of never seeing their loved ones again.
The possibility of failing and not achieving their goals and ambitions.
The possibility of dying.
Finally, the last day before the Siege of the Crimson Spire arrived.
Standing on the plaza in front of the enormous castle stairs with the sun barely rising and chasing away the cold of the night were nearly seven hundred Sleepers together. Among them, bonds of friendship and trust had formed that would have been unthinkable four months earlier.
Many of those friendships were owed to the figures standing a few steps above them. The reason those Sleepers stood in that distinguished position was because of their actions on this Forgotten Shore. Each of them, in one way or another, had managed to stand out above the rest, but at the same time, they had not allowed themselves to be corrupted by power.
The first figure was the leader of the Artisans, Kido. Much of the preparation for the Siege was thanks to her group and the excellent work they carried out under the new leadership.
Next was Gemma, the leader of the hunters under both mandates, responsible for training and preparing all the Sleepers as best as possible during this time.
The next figure did not stand out explicitly for remarkable actions, but for commitment and loyalty — regardless of whether his future actions might change that fact. It was, of course, Caster.
Many of the designed plans and tactics were conceived by the next figure. Her way of analyzing the future battlefield and taking into account details others would surely forget, solidified her as a presence of vital importance. She was Cassie.
There was no way to speak negatively about him. Completely beloved by everyone stood Kai, but his cheerful side should not be taken as definitive. Beneath that smile that lifted spirits was a monster with terrifying capabilities.
Something similar happened with the next figure. Effie always showed her cheerful personality that drew smiles even in difficult moments, but beneath that was a warrior with years of experience living alone and hunting creatures for fun, or hunger.
The next shared none of the traits mentioned before. It was impossible to understand what went through his mind, but in the same way, no one would want to find themselves on the other side of his sword. Obviously, few knew this fact. Sunny personally made sure to deceive everyone.
Sylvie was next. Someone who placed on her back the responsibility of bringing hope into the hearts of most of those present. Everyone knew her and everyone knew who she was. In the same way, and without realizing it, that very fact caused her to grow stronger each time her sense of self increased.
Next stood Seishan. On her shoulders rested the responsibility of maintaining a castle with seven hundred Sleepers inside, arranging accommodations so that everyone felt comfortable, and she never complained. Her handmaidens ended up becoming the most well-known group within the Dark City, because working under her command did not feel like work, but like an opportunity.
Then stood Changing Star, or Star of Ruin. She was the one who started all the change, the first to oppose Gunlaug, the one willing to bet that all of this was possible and that if they followed her they would not live as slaves. They would be free to choose their fate, and if that was their will, who would stop them?
And finally stood, with his hands behind his back, Paragon of Purity, or as he preferred, Arthur Leywin.
The one responsible for so many lives still being present, for so many stories not having tragic endings but instead ending with promises of a future. A future that was uncertain but better than having none. He did not let himself be crushed by the old system and brought certainty and confidence to the hearts of the Sleepers.
That very Paragon stepped forward and cleared his throat before speaking to his people. A moment later a silence settled over the plaza.
For a few seconds, he simply looked at them.
Seven hundred people.
Seven hundred stories.
Seven hundred wills that refused to break.
"We started this as strangers." His voice was not raised, but it reached everyone. "We arrived on this cursed shore without knowing where we were, without understanding the rules, without even understanding what we were. Some arrived alone, others came with friends who are no longer here."
His gaze moved across the crowd without hesitation.
"We survived the Labyrinth, we survived hunger, betrayal, the Dark City. We survived a system that told us to accept our place and lower our heads." A slight pause. "And we didn't."
"We organized, we learned, we grew stronger. We turned a castle full of fear into a home. We transformed resignation into purpose." His expression hardened slightly. "Much was taken from us. Comfort. Safety. Time. People who mattered. And even so, you endured every misfortune this Forgotten Shore threw at you. Every wound, every sleepless night, every battle that seemed impossible."
He took a deep breath.
"I am proud of you."
He did not say it like a king.
He said it like someone who had gone through the same as them.
"What we have done so far was not luck. It was an effort. It was the constant decision not to give up." Then his tone changed, becoming firmer. "Now, what I expect from you is simple. Hold formation, trust the one at your side. If you fall, get back up. If you bleed, keep advancing. Do not fight alone. Fight as what we are now, an army."
"We do not need heroes. We need people willing to do what is necessary." A brief pause. "And in the future, when we leave this damned place, I hope you do not forget what we built here. If we learned anything on this shore, it is that fate is not waited for. It is built."
His gaze slid toward Nephis for a moment. "When we leave, follow the one who had the courage to imagine this first. Follow the one who rejected a life of submission as the only option. Follow Changing Star."
He looked at the seven hundred again.
"Because freedom is not obtained twice."
Then he took another step forward.
"We are not victims. We are not sacrifices. We are not numbers in a system." His voice rose slightly. "We are the Sleepers who survived the Forgotten Shore."
"And when we finish this, the world will remember that we existed."
A slight pause. "So carve this into your minds. Do not fight because you are afraid of dying. Fight because you decided to live." He continued, "And today, we begin the siege of the Crimson Spire."
For a second, nothing happened.
Then someone shouted. Then another, and another, until the seven hundred erupted into a unified roar that made the stone beneath their feet tremble.
He let them shout. He let them release the fear turned into determination.
When the energy reached its peak, he slowly raised one hand slightly.
Silence fell.
Arthur smiled, a calm smile. "It is time to make history." His gaze moved across each of them once more.
"Do not even think about dying."
A couple of nervous laughs mixed with tense exhales.
Without saying anything else, the Sleepers turned around. One by one, they began to move, and then they started marching through the Dark City.
Watching the Sleepers march, still standing on the steps, Arthur let out a sigh and slightly lifted his gaze to the sky. It was just dawn and a long journey awaited them to the Crimson Spire. It was impossible to know how many of those Sleepers would arrive alive.
At that moment, he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find Effie looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Damn, I didn't know you were so good at giving speeches, I got goosebumps listening to you," she said.
Before he could respond, Seishan added, "I even felt a chill down my spine."
Arthur laughed softly and replied, "I'm not. I had to practice this for hours with Sylvie."
At that moment Sylvie and Kai spoke at the same time.
"It's true."
"He's telling the truth."
They looked at each other and began to laugh, even Nephis let out a small laugh.
After that, they all began to march, following the rest of the Sleepers. Arthur stayed a few steps behind and turned to look at the castle one last time.
The castle was in perfect condition. There were no longer skulls trying to instill fear, nothing that suggested horrors had taken place there that no one would ever want to endure again.
Remembering Cassie's vision, he did something that for many would be foolish, and even for him it was, but he did it anyway after remembering a phrase he once heard: "Humanity would never have survived without a little stupidity."
'Let's play a little with Fate'
He activated [Realmheart]. Suddenly he felt the runes marked on his arms and beneath his eyes light up with a purple tone, and his vision changed, allowing him to see the particles of Aether.
Around the castle there was a ridiculous amount of purple particles moving at a slow pace. Then he activated [Static Void] and all those particles froze in time.
He deactivated both attributes immediately and that small act of stupidity cost him nearly fifty fragments. The castle was gigantic and freezing so many particles was not an easy task.
With that done, he turned around and caught up with the group.
Their journey through the Dark City had just begun.
***
In the light of dawn, seven hundred Sleepers advanced through the streets of the Dark City like a silent and unstoppable tide. The fog slid between the ruins, and the echo of hundreds of firm steps resounded against the stone that formed the streets. Some Nightmare Creatures, attracted by the movement, descended with hungry screeches. But any attempt at an ambush died within seconds. Spears pierced carapaces, arrows perforated skulls, swords shone.
They were not the same youths who had arrived months or years ago confused and frightened. These seven hundred were, without a doubt, the strongest Sleepers history had ever seen. Most had their cores completely saturated; all possessed Awakened rank memories, and not a few wielded weapons or wore Ascended rank armor. Their movements were precise, economical, trained to exhaustion.
They did not advance with fury, but with discipline. They killed everything that stood in their way without breaking formation, without slowing their pace, as if the city itself no longer had the right to oppose them.
When they finally reached the western wall and began to climb it, the sun was already rising over the horizon. From above, the Castle could be seen in the distance, imposing and silent.
For a moment, before starting the journey, several contemplated the idea of setting it on fire, of reducing to ashes the place that had been both prison and refuge at the same time. The resentment was still there, buried beneath time spent surviving. But Arthur spoke before the idea could take shape. He reminded them that it was not worth it. That the castle was stone and memories. That if they wanted to release their rage, they should direct it toward what truly mattered. Toward what awaited them beyond.
Arthur remained a moment longer atop the wall, looking toward the west. Beyond the Labyrinth, there was a world he had not seen in almost nine months. His family. A home that was beginning to feel distant, almost unreal.
He allowed himself that thought for only a few seconds, then he descended.
The rest were already moving.
There was no doubt in their steps.
Only one direction.
To lay siege to the Crimson Spire.
***
For the past week, the seven hundred of them had traversed the Labyrinth to reach this place.
Some had perished along the way, but not as many as Arthur had expected. For that short journey, luck had been on their side.
In these days, they had slaughtered countless Nightmare Creatures and somehow managed to avoid attracting the wrath of the dwellers of the deep. They had seen the headless statue of the Lord that stood halfway between the Dark City and the Crimson Spire, and many other wondrous and terrible things.
And now, they had almost reached their goal.
In the cold light of dawn, a gargantuan crimson tower was rising from the Labyrinth.
The crimson coral streamed from its walls like the blood of gods, spreading out from the base of the Spire to devour all of the Forgotten Shore. The tower itself seemed to stand on an island, which was surrounded from all sides by black water.
Even though the sun was already climbing up, this part of the cursed sea did not disappear.
Turning away, he glanced at the camp of the Dreamer Army.
People were busy preparing for the battle. The dread they had felt at dawn, after looking at the Crimson Spire —which was now so close— turned into grim determination and resolve. Everyone was making final preparations. Some were checking their armor and weapons for the last time. Some were hurriedly building makeshift fortifications.
Some were praying, begging the dead gods to save their lives.
The only ones who were inactive were Sunny and Arthur. Both were sitting facing the Labyrinth a few meters away from the fire where the others were discussing the battle plan for the hundredth time.
That was because both of them already knew their roles and did not need to listen to the rest.
Eventually, after a few minutes, Sunny said,
"This is very strange, don't you think?"
Arthur took his gaze off the Labyrinth and looked at him.
"What?"
"It's just that if someone had told me nine months ago that today I would be witnessing all this, I would have told them they were crazy, and yet here I am."
Arthur looked forward again. "Yes, you're right. You've come quite far, Sunny."
Sunny looked at him. "And you?"
Arthur asked, "What about me?"
"You've also come far. Defeating Gunlaug, becoming the King of the castle, changing the perspective of all these people, and surviving six months in the Labyrinth with Sylvie." Then he added, "Hell, even I thought I was crazy living almost three months alone in the Dark City."
Arthur laughed and slowly stood up while saying, "Let me tell you a secret, Sunny." When he was halfway up, he touched Sunny's shoulder and in a low voice said, "I was actually alone for five months. I only met Sylvie in the sixth." Then he walked away with a faint laugh to check a few last things.
Sunny was left with his eyes completely open.
"Damnation."
***
Very soon, the sun rose higher, and the dark whirlpool surrounding the Crimson Spire became a little smaller. Several bridges of red coral rose from its depths, connecting the island to the rest of the Forgotten Shore. And out there on the island, countless silhouettes suddenly began to move, crawling out of the crimson mounds. They were the Nightmare Creatures guarding the cursed tower.
All kinds of horrors were among them. There were members of the carapace legion: scavengers, centurions, and demons.
There were colonies of carnivorous worms, giant centipedes that secreted corrosive oil, and eerie vines that crawled on the ground like snakes. And many more that Arthur had never seen, fought, or could describe.
All of them moved together in strange harmony, devoid of the usual territorial aggression that forced the Nightmare Creatures of different tribes to fight each other. They were subjugated by the Crimson Terror and now served to guard the Spire.
Like a terrible wave, the horde of monsters rolled over the bridges of crimson coral and flowed toward the human army.
From his position, Arthur could clearly see how the bodies of his fellow Sleepers began to tremble and some even took a step back. Seeing this, he stepped forward.
Obviously Arthur would be in the first line.
What kind of King would he be if he did not lead by example?
How could he ask the rest to sacrifice their lives for the common good if he did not do the same?
Initially Nephi's plan was that the two of them would join once the first line began to show weaknesses and their intervention would change the course of the battle. But why wait until hundreds of Sleepers had died to get involved?
Maybe it was foolish to do what Arthur was doing. Maybe he should stay back and watch as the rest gave their lives so that he could survive, but no, he would never do that.
Thinking this, he could not help but let out a small laugh while watching the wave of creatures running toward them.
The Sleepers around him looked at him with a raised eyebrow and in the distance Effie shouted,
"What are you laughing at, handsome?"
He replied, "I just thought we must taste very delicious for so many creatures to want to eat us."
Effie looked at him and said, "Oh, I see, you completely lost it"
"What? I'm completely sane." Arthur replied.
She let out a sigh and said, "Yeah, whatever you're a masochist."
That caused a slight laugh among the surrounding Sleepers and the fear that had taken hold of their hearts paused.
A moment later, however, it was drowned in the cacophony of the approaching horde.
The battle for the Crimson Spire had begun.
Arthur already had his armor and Dawn's Ballad summoned. After that, he sent three augmentations to strengthen his body and finally one to the sword. Even though it was already Ascended rank and most of the creatures were Awakened with a few scattered Fallen, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Moments later Effie shouted, "First mark!"
The shout was followed by Seishan commanding the second line, and then it would reach Kai in the third.
The battle plan was simple. The first line would make contact with the monsters and try to break their momentum. There were four generals, Caster, Arthur, Effie and Gemma, in that order.
Once the momentum was broken and they grew tired, they would switch places with the second line, while the third line would eliminate as many creatures as possible from a distance.
From the third line, Kai's voice gave the order and suddenly twelve heavy metal spears, nearly two meters long, flew over their heads. The machines that launched those spears were built by the Artisans and were supposed to pierce through the greatest number of Nightmare Creatures possible, at least those that were not Fallen.
The sound of the spears cutting through the air was heard and seconds later the twelve impacted the horde of creatures. Numerous grunts were heard and limbs and blood were seen flying to the ground.
"Second mark!" Effie shouted.
At that moment a rain of arrows and projectiles fell upon the monsters, killing some and wounding others. Among them was Sylvie creating Mana projectiles, accompanied by other Sleepers who, with their Aspect Abilities, launched all kinds of projectiles.
Even so, there was little reaction from the creatures, they even seemed more frenzied.
Then a second rain of arrows fell and twelve new metal spears. Now even Effie began throwing Zenith Shard.
Her bronze spear pierced the body of a creature and she dismissed it immediately, then the rest of the Sleepers began doing the same. All those memories were being empowered by Nephis using Crown of Dawn, some reaching Ascended rank.
The first row of Nightmare Creatures that withstood the barrage of attacks ended up falling into a trap the Artisans had made an hour earlier, but even so, the ones behind simply stepped over the fallen bodies and continued moving forward.
But finally, the speed of the horde was diminished, if only by a little.
Even so, no one had time to form another thought before the first wave of monsters collided with the humans.
And their world was consumed by nothing but madness, havoc, and death.