Nagao

Corporal Emmerich checks his rifle's lock for the last time. He already had the quartermaster replace the nipple, can't embarrass himself in front of his comrades by his gun failing to fire when he just went on a 20 minute rant about each soldier's responsibility to look after his arms.
The wait is agonizing. The enemy reportedly landed just 2 days ago. There are already hearsays of attack behind the lines, but Emmerich is sure those are just spied and agents the opposing armies planted long before they launched the invasion. To move such a big force all the way here isn't exactly easy to hide, the allied forces gathered here had already prepared for weeks before the enemy even started to set sail. He is sure they will stop their tracks on this plain. Emmerich, as the only literate private from his section was chosen for this role precisely because he had read about the foes they are about to face. And the corporal knows they have the advantage, time to dig in, better morale, numerically superior, having a fort just 8 miles away to support them if needed... The enemy is, or was a defensive army, no way they can break through the grand army made out of the finest troops from all over the continent, hardened by the various wars they were just fighting amongst themselves mere months ago, returning to the continent's normal that was only broken by an exceptional man. Emmerich looked over to his right, over the other soldiers from his unit, at the finely dressed guardsmen. Although they are of shorter stock, Emmerich can recognize good soldiers when he sees one. With such inspiration besides them, he's sure the line wouldn't break.

---

Corporal Emmerich looked over the glacis and the trenches in front of him, he can see the enemy gathering. Not by some faint figures he can squint just over the horizon, but the giant tree tops that are moving in formation. The enemy are gathering for the assault. Within minutes, the shells started raining down on the defenses. The corporal took cover and braced his helmet while also calling his subordinates to do the same. The drills and books did nothing to prepare him for the sheer shock of the unrelenting fire. Shells exploded in the air, raining down shrapnel on the trenches. A rocket just missed its mark and exploded behind the company of Imperial Guard. Emmerich was somewhat bewildered by their creation, or the lack thereof. As he looked at the back of the lines, it hit him. They weren't aiming for the trenches in the first place. Half of the battery behind their section of the line was decimated by the 8 minute long cacophony of explosives. How the hell did they even know where the guns are?

But there was no time to think. Beyond the trenches, the Pomeranian can hear bagpipes, drums and loud thuds... the trees are marching. As he raised his head from the reinforced earthworks, the barrage started again.

---

Minutes that felt like hours passed, the soldiers in his unit has somewhat gotten used to the sound of whizzling shells... Emmerich can hear it. This time the sound is different.

An orange shadow embeded itself into the earth just next to a trench not too far from him. Another followed. And another. The strange shells resemble candles on an alter, with the soldiers as the center. Before long, the metal obelisks hissed, and released a strange gas. Everyone was shocked by these strange objects, even the guardsmen. But they soon realized what the yellow substance the containers do, roughly. Men started to get on their knees or back, they cry for help, tears rolling down their faces but their chests can still be seen moving as if still breathing. Some are so shocked by the scenery that they started deserting, only to be shot by the officers or forced back to the line by their sergeants at sword point. Emmerich scrambled to instruct his men to get a wet towel over their faces, no matter the source of water. In truth, he had no idea what to do in the face of this situation, but a good soldier needs to stand their ground, and they need to hold to the last man unless the sound of retreat was sounded.

As the enemy inched closed, more soldiers fall. The air is unbearable now. Despite none of the canisters landing near them and a slight wind change bringing most of the substance back towards the enemy, Emmerich's section still had 6 men collapsed and seemingly choked by the gas... Or was it driving them mad? Emmerich could make out some faint cries of "Mommy" whenever a soldier collapse. The battalion commander's shout and the drums from his lines brought him back from his train of thoughts. They could see the opposing side's colors now, and the walking trees that tower over the flags. Before the commander could yell ready, he was shot. Followed by a sergeant of the guardsmen. It's the trees! The corporal can see figures climbered onto the tree branches and shooting down on their line. There's no time to wait and mass their fire. As the lieutenant was wounded in the shoulder, the Pomeranian looked at his sergeant and the NCo nodded back. Fire at will! Looks like different leaders from the line had made the same decision. The two armies exchanged fire. The opponent had to march over open grounds for 300 odd more yards in order to reach the first trench. They can beat back the first wave by whittling them down. What few remaining guns also loaded canisters and blasted at the advancing wave of men. Some fell but it somehow seemed like more of the defenders fell. The enemy was able to put out more bullets than them. Why is that? Emmerich looked at one of the enemies at the front, working his gun with a flick of his hand. He had seen one of those in a fancy book with paintings.

---

Only 2 minutes have gone past since the lieutenant lost his consciousness, but the battle already seems hopeless. Corpses line the side of the wall of wood and earth, and only the gods know how many were buried by the earth, thrown up by the constant barrage of the guns. By now they could see the faces of the enemy clearly, they are wearing strange masks like the trunked creatures in the north. And some individuals wearing robes accompany the sharpshooters riding the tall trees, hands on the bark as if commanding it. The first to break was surprisingly the Guardsmen. Another wave of loud whizzing nears and embedded more of the orange canisters Overwhelmed by the hopelessness, some abandoned their weapons while they sprinted to the back, hoping to get out before the melee begins. Alarmed by the situation, an officer near the batteries drew his sword and tried to yell at the running soldiers, now also accompanied by others including some dragoons and various other soldiers of the alliance. As they ran, they stopped just in front of the officer who drew a sword. A few others also started approaching to corral the troops back. They don't yet realize what is happening behind them. The ground started to break with spike like roots growing out of the ground, surrounded by thorned root hairs. The troops started to turn back, not because they miraculously regained their composure but because their only route of escape had been cut off. The officers looked with surprise before realizing their shared fate with their men, which compelled them to redirect their swords to face the enemy, some of whom are already within pistol range. The enemy wasn't affected by the gas. While they stormed the first lines of trenches and engaged in bayonet fighting with the few remaining holdouts, the trees ignored the trenches and wreaked havoc on the built up defenses. The guns blasts at the trees' pillar like legs but they aren't as effective as the allies hoped. The grueling fighting continued. But the opposing force wasn't able to break into the 3rd trench, in fact, they might be stalled. Many of the masked troops were lying prone and exchanging fire with the defenders meaning the glacis. A tree was felled as its legs were blown off, spewing a mix of strange green and red liquid, crushing a number of riders on them and having anyone who survived encircled by the defenders. Bombardments from the opposing side ceased a while ago. There might yet be hope! Emmerich squeezed all of his faculties that remained while under the influence of the strange gas. He wanted to cry and just give up but his pride as a proud soldier of Pomerania wouldn't let him lest he fails his goddess and the great general that came before him. He fired shot after shot, struggling to bit open his cartridge and rummage his cap box. They can do it, just a little longer! Emmerich cocked his rifle as he noticed a feather falling from the skies. His vision was filled by these people that came down from the heavens, the strangest thing he saw this day yet. And it was cut off right as he felt a short, sharp pain from his chest.

---

A soldier rolled on his back, turning his face to the skies. He mustered all his strength to open his eyes. The sky is tainted grey by all the gunpowder and smoke, ashes fell from the burning wreckage of ammo caissons and destroyed fortifications. The weak soldier can make out a pair of thin, flicking blue lines that cut the skies, preceded by some kind of object. Recalling all the things he saw it is perhaps the least strange sight he saw today. It somehow reminded him that one time he visited Selenium and witnessed a dragon fly past. How many hours have passed since he blacked out? And who was with him on that trip again? He can't think. Fighting the oncoming drowsiness, he looked to the column of smoke emanating from beyond the field. He recalls that's roughly where the fort is. Feeling the center of his abdomen, he now no longer feels any pain. The warmth that he felt in that area as he initially fell on the ground was no longer there. The man looked in the direction of the fort again, the series of faint, red glow over the horizon made him feel warm despite the cold taking over his body. If he could only just lay here for a few minutes more before rejoining his comrades and merrily march back home...