"It's time to start advancing," said Ged, the black cat, his voice brimming with determination. "Alright, follow me, use your shields and… charge!" he commanded, raising his head toward the sky.
All the cats followed him toward Rufalus's army, moving like a dark wave under the fading light of dusk. "Well, I think they're coming for more," muttered Troba, observing the battlefield where several feline bodies were scattered after the first assault. The landscape was desolate, but there was no time for mourning.
Rufalus exchanged a glance with Tejod, who closed his eyes for a moment, as if weighing something. "Rufalus, you know what to do," he finally said.
"Yes, my lord," Rufalus replied with a respectful bow.
But among the enemy ranks, tension could barely be concealed. "How boring! We're not fighting yet?" complained Blajon, distractedly sipping water.
"My lord Blajon," interjected Blaget with a crooked smile, "I wanted to join the battle too, but I think it's going to end faster than expected."
"Always so impertinent," growled Ribras, cutting in with his usual cold tone. "You just want to oppress and see blood, typical of you. Meanwhile, I prefer to analyze things to provide better data and strengthen the army."
Blaget let out a mocking laugh. "Ah, always so predictable, Ribras. Just like that useless Bleko, they're left guarding the city."
"There's no comparison, you fool," Ribras snapped, glaring at him with disdain.
"I'm going to…" began Blaget, but Blajon raised a paw calmly, interrupting the dispute.
"Quiet. There will be plenty of things to smash very soon," he growled maliciously, licking his lips in anticipation of the coming chaos.
The feline army returned this time with greater force, using shields to protect themselves from arrows and organizing into strategic teams. "With me, my dear feline friends!" roared Ged, leading the advance with unstoppable energy.
The cats surged forward, clashing once again against the enemy army. Both sides fought fiercely, repelling each other blow for blow. However, Rufalus did not hesitate to employ the same strategy as before: unleashing a rain of arrows upon their opponents.
"Now!" shouted Ged, giving the order to use the shields as a great parabolic barrier to block the arrows. While the rest maintained the formation, he emerged from the center, his sharp claws gleaming under the sun, accompanied by five warriors as strong as he was. "Destroy the bows and crossbows," he ordered, before launching into the attack.
Again and again, they broke through enemy lines, destroying weapons and quickly retreating to the safety of their improvised shelters.
"Damn cats!" roared Rufalus, furious as he saw his strategy faltering. "Send in the cavalry!"
A group of mounted soldiers emerged then, striking their swords against shields to create an earsplitting clamor. At first, it worked: some cats dropped their shields, disoriented by the noise. But they quickly regrouped, reinforcing their defenses even further.
Frustrated, Rufalus changed tactics. Ordinary arrows were replaced with flaming ones, and a contingent of soldiers armed with bombs began launching explosives that sent the shields flying through the air. Ged's strategy—based on running fast, destroying archers, and retreating to cover—was no longer viable.
From the sky, a torrent of birds appeared, launching their feathers like deadly darts. But these were no ordinary feathers—they were magical. Each one transformed into devastating weapons: some burned with fire, others shimmered with ice, some hardened like rocks, and others cut like razor-sharp blades.
"We've arrived!" announced an enormous heron as it descended majestically to stand beside Ged's army.
"Flyco, how good it is to see you here!" exclaimed Ged, visibly relieved.
"A magical aerial assault…" muttered Rufalus, seething as he watched his troops begin to crumble under the unexpected onslaught.
"Greetings, Ged. Well, I'm not alone this time. We must finish them," declared Flyco, the avian general, her voice resonating like wind through the mountains.
Suddenly, from all sides, more armed animals belonging to Avocios's army began to emerge. Agile foxes, loyal dogs, fierce wolves, stealthy snakes, swift iguanas, cunning otters, mischievous ferrets, comfortable dragons, scaly lizards, resilient turtles, and other allies flooded the battlefield.
"They're surrounding us, my lord," said one soldier to Tejod, who remained impassive.
"You'd better watch your tone in front of Lord Tejod," another guard replied sternly.
At that instant, the soldier who had spoken out in turn was turned into red jade before the horrified eyes of his comrades. The others recoiled, trembling, and assumed their combat positions.
"Well, the action has arrived," purred Blajon, licking his teeth in anticipation.
"It's time to fight," added Blaget, unsheathing his claws with a dangerous gleam.
All divisions of the Shadows prepared to meet their enemies. Mejod, seeing a group of massive crocodiles approaching, let out a disdainful snort. With a simple wave of his staff, he reduced them to dust. "Bah, useless. I'll turn them into accessories. Oh! Can you make me some too?" Troba asked with a mischievous grin.
"No! Besides, your charms don't work on me," retorted Mejod, continuing to face other adversaries.
"Spoilsport," murmured Troba, then used his power to control nearby wolves, forcing them to fight against their own allies. "Go fight, fools! I'm not doing everything myself. Defend your mistress!" he ordered his faction of yellow shadows, who obeyed immediately.
"Well, I don't like fighting much, but with R.U.B.Y., I do better," said Trebolg from his floating sphere, launching sharp spears and explosives at the enemy.
"I'll take care of it, my lord," affirmed Yaco, along with other soldiers who pulled out strange weapons emitting laser-like beams, striking their targets with deadly precision.
"Take this—and this!" roared Mejod, striking left and right with rapid, accurate movements.
"Leave some for us, my lord," interjected Tredus, leading a group of soldiers, including Zor, who charged into battle with renewed ferocity.
"Bah! Scum," growled Tertrol, dodging his enemies with elegance while wielding his sword with lethal skill. "Perhaps a little magic will refresh them," he added, summoning Opal.
Opal emerged from the shadows, casting electric spells that repelled the enemy, leaving the air crackling with blue sparks and the smell of ozone.
The battlefield became a chaotic and dazzling spectacle. Both sides fought with ferocity, neither yielding an inch of ground. "Protect the cargo!" Tertrol ordered his soldiers, referring to the load containing Meloc and Ribras, who seemed to be crucial pieces in the conflict.
"They're very skilled… and there are too many of them," said Blue, a pristine white fox, addressing Roged, a caiman turtle whose shell gleamed under the sun. Both were generals in Avocios's army.
"Do not despair; we can still hold our own," replied General Ute, a robust Siberian tiger whose voice carried authority.
Avocios's animal army was being repelled by Tejod's team of rodents, who fought with almost mechanical efficiency. Curiously, Tejod remained on the sidelines, observing everything from his strategic position as if waiting for something.
Massive explosions lit up the battlefield, followed by bursts of magic and the hum of strange weapons. The air was thick with energy, the smell of gunpowder, and ash. Every movement, every attack, seemed choreographed amidst the chaos.
"Toco-Toco, you must go to Lord Golden. Everything here is chaos; I cannot hold them off for much longer," said Ged, his voice deep but firm.
"But, Father?" protested Toco-Toco, looking at his dad with eyes full of concern.
Ged simply handed him a sealed letter and gently pushed him back. "Return to the palace and deliver this to Lord Golden. It's important."
Reluctantly obeying, Toco-Toco ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Upon reaching the palace, he found Lord Golden, a golden feline with piercing eyes, seated on his throne. "Lord Golden, there's trouble on the battlefield. The enemy is pushing back our forces. They seem too strong and are using strange weapons," reported the young cat, panting from the effort.
Golden unfolded the letter Ged had sent and read it silently. Then, with a resolute gleam in his eyes, he stood up. "Calm down, friend. It's time for me to join the battlefield," he declared, preparing for combat.