Gan Ning could see what was happening on Xanthippus side before the messenger had been dispatched to Sun Ce. The flow of enemies in front of him had began to thin as they found an escape route through the gap that Leotychides had left. A smart move Gan Ning thought to himself. However the flow of enemies leaving wasn't as thick as it should be as a group headed against the those leaving and in the other direction towards Xanthippus and the Athenians.
Gan Ning didn't fully understand the reason behind the quests that they went on or the fact that they seemed to travel through time to random historical battles. But, he was beginning to get an understanding of the rewards mechanism. The better they did in a battle, the more buildings, units and resources Lord Lazarus would receive, which in turn strengthened them further. Every resource was key, as it made the new home that he was creating with his new friends, and hopefully in the future his own family, a safe one.
He also understood that there were other people like Lord Lazarus in the world, such as Andrew and Kai, as well as others that they had seen in this battle and at the previous one when they fought alongside the wider Sun Family. The crowd that was charging towards Xanthippus currently was that of mainly people like Andrew and Kai, and Gan Ning realised that their goal was to take down the Athenian General for better rewards, rather than survive and escape such as the Persian's who this battle originally included.
"We need to save Xanthippus." Gan Ning ordered Centurion Octavian who had returned to his side for this part of the battle, separate to the order that had been sent to Sun Ce.
"Idiots, they should be fleeing!" Octavian spat as his own men continued to stab at the enemies in front of them that didn't have the opportunity to flee yet.
"They have different goals and like us, they do not need to worry about death in this battle." Gan Ning replied as he looked across the men around him to try and work out a plan.
"I trust Lord Lazarus with my life, but I will still not take the risk with my own men." Octavian replied, willing to die for his Lord regardless of the order, but not willing to take the risk that they wouldn't die as he had seen men die in many battles since arriving in Riverside.
"I'm taking eight men and will head straight for those attacking Xanthippus, get word to Lord Lazarus for reinforcements for me. If Meng Ai can come, that would be ideal." Gan Ning ordered as he shouted towards some of the Legionaries in the third and fourth row by name.
"I'll get a message to him, he should be able to see it himself though from his position." Octavian replied as Gan Ning looked towards the raised platform where Dom was stood with Pericles and Archidamus. Octavian was correct as Dom was also pointing in the direction of Xanthippus, men around him currently running to his orders.
"Meng Ai isn't with him." Gan Ning grumbled, "I'll head there now, hopefully we get there in time!"
Gan Ning began to move away, pushing back through his own men to those who he had shouted. They had already rotated backwards themselves, preparing to head towards Xanthippus position and support the Athenian General. He reached the third line himself when Octavian shouted him to stop.
"General Gan Ning, go to Lord Lazarus now!" Octavian shouted, some worry in his voice.
...
After dispatching the Legionary to order Sun Ce to support Xanthippus, Dom turned to watch the Persian's break through the gap left in the Ionian lines. GiantWrangler had already left with Centurion Meng Ai and Dom could see some opportunities to capture some more Persian's if possible. He looked around him and saw that for once he was mostly alone of his own forces, and only had his guards and the two young Greek Heir's with him.
"Archidamus, I need you to head down and take some of the men and support GiantWrangler, see if you can get some of the Persian's to surrender. I'll make sure you are rewarded handsomely." Dom ordered the future Spartan King, his own Spartan's fighting in the lines in front of them.
"Yes General." Archidamus replied with a smile and the involvement, before turning to look towards his grandfather in the battle again and commenting proudly, "That will be me one day."
"What is happening over there?" Pericles asked, his eyes squinting in the distance to a group of men that seemed to have broken free from the enemy lines and the surrounding fort that was aflame, towards the back wall under the mountain on the opposite side. Dom looked as well, trying to see the shapes, before a realisation hit him.
"Move Pericles!" Dom shouted, pushing the young Athenian to the side as an Arrow flew towards him and caught him in his armoured shoulder. He stumbled for a second, before Actumerus angrily grabbed him and held him straight so that he didn't fall and weaken the morale of their forces, another Batavi Guard also quickly stood in front of him. Dom could feel the pain shoot across his upper body as the arrow lodged itself in his shoulder pad, piercing through and tearing in to the flesh below.
"Lord are you alright?" Actumerus asked, his tone showing a tinge of worry, whilst Pericles stood up and looked towards Dom in shock who had just pushed him out of the way and taken the Arrow.
"I am fine, I won't die. Now get my shoulder armour off and this arrow out of my arm! Pericles keep watch! I want a unit to engage the enemy Player Archers who have targeted us, before they aim for any of our allies!" Dom replied, calmly but wincing as the Arrow felt heavy in his shoulder.
"I will take the unit myself!" Actumerus stated as he shouted one of the Legionaries nearby to come and support Dom. Actumerus fully trusted Dom and that he wouldn't die at this battle. The other Batavi Guard followed suite as some of the nearby warriors from Riverside approached. Dom stood still and faced outwards to show a strong figure to keep the armies morale high. Internally though he was grumbling, the pain was incredible and overly realistic, he had made a mistake by taking the higher ground to over look the battlefield and allowing Meng Ai to follow Giant Wrangler. His confidence that the battle was won and that he couldn't die had made him overly confident once again.
"You shouldn't have done that." Pericles said to Dom in a serious but grateful tone, "I appreciate you risking your life for me, but you are a General and I am just a Warrior whose father is a General."
"You are much more than that." Dom replied, looking straight ahead as the Shoulder Pad was removed, the Arrow pulling loose with it. There was a deep wound in his shoulder and a Legionary quickly put some material on it to reduce the flow of blood that began escaping. Dom stood up and continued looking forwards, however his head was feeling slightly dizzy.
"Lord, I think you should sit down." The Legionary commented, "It isn't the worst, but we will need to sew it up quickly."
"And how will the men react when their see their commander sit down injured?" Dom asked him, his tone polite but through gritted teeth from the pain.
"The fact you are here fighting with us and not at home is enough for the men of Riverside." The Legionary replied honestly, genuine pride in his voice as Dom fought alongside them like his Legate's of the past.
"General Gan Ning is coming!" Another Legionary stated, as Dom looked and saw Sun Ce's group as well as another both making their way through the enemies towards Xanthippus whose unit was under more pressure. He could also see the large figures of his Batavi Guards grab some Praetorians and Player Forces as they madly charged straight through the enemy lines towards the enemy Archers in the rear.
"Who is commanding the front?" Dom ask Gan Ning as he approached, worry in his face.
"Centurion Octavian, they don't need me there. Sit Down and I will take over here, otherwise Lady Sun and Lady Meritamen will shout at me!" Gan Ning replied, as he looked at Pericles and could see worry on his face. "Don't worry, Lord Lazarus only took a flesh wound, his armour is strong."
"It's an Iron Arrow, not a bronze one." One of the Legionaries commented, clearly showing that it was a Player Arrow and not one of the Persian's.
"Actumerus has already gone after them." Dom laughed, seeing that Gan Ning was about to organise a counter attack. "How is it going?"
"Leotychides has closed the escape route that the Ionian's had open so as to capture some Prisoners, most are throwing down their weapons in surrender. Sun Ce has reached Xanthippus and with the rest of the forces have cornered the unit attacking them." Gan Ning replied after a few moments, Dom now sat on a seat that had been brought for him from one of the buildings not on fire. A Legionary was currently pushing thread through his skin and every now and then he would have to bite down on his arm greave to not shout out. "The fire is getting bigger at the other side of the camp and the Players who attacked you are cornered between that, the wall and Actumerus."
"I think we should look to leave the camp before the fire spread more." Pericles commented, still stood beside and listening in to the conversation, whilst watching the battle unfold.
"I don't think that is a bad idea." Gan Ning replied, "But I advice we head through the East Gate with Leotychides rather than back down that painful path from earlier."
"Let's get moving then, I want to see how many Prisoners we have. Send some more men to Sun Ce and have him make sure the Athenian's all get out of the camp as well, the heat is picking up and there is smoke everywhere." Dom agreed, looking at the state of the Mycale Fort that would become nothing but remains within a few hours.
...
"What a victory!" Leotychides laughed heartedly as the three Leaders gathered together outside the Ionian City of Priene. The City was picturesque, under the shadow of Mount Mycale with fertile lands surrounding it. The Citizens has clearly been worried about the developing situation and whilst the Ionian forces inside had come to Leotychides support, they had still decided to meet outside the walls rather than within.
"With this our homes should be safe from the Persians for many years." Xanthippus agreed, "I would be surprised if they came back at all after such a defeat."
"With the loss here and hopefully at Plataea, I wouldn't be surprised if their wasn't uprisings across their Kingdom now that their forces are so much weakened." Leotychides agreed, his own arm strapped up after some wound he had taken. The Spartan King didn't seem to mind the wound though and joyfully pointed at the group of over a thousand Prisoners that were guarded nearby.
"How is your shoulder?" Xanthippus asked, the General seemingly unharmed thanks to Gan Ning opening his gate and Sun Ce rescuing him. "I believe my son owes you a deep gratitude, as do I."
"It will be fine, but it definitely wasn't part of my plan." Dom smiled, his shoulder throbbing from the stitches underneath, a much more rugged and painful version of those he was used to seeing in reality. Leotychides smiled at the response, patting him on the good shoulder.
"It was a great plan, our losses were minimal and we won a magnificent Victory again!" Leotychides laughed, "But now is the important question, what comes next?"