Battle Cries

An epic story by: BigLipBubba52

The dark and gloomy coast line loomed before the legions of Rome, their boats swaying violently in the dark and black sea. The Roman legion’s order was to expunge the Greek fort of all Greek rebels. The emperor, Julius Caesar, had grown tired of the rebellion against his Empire. He wanted the rebellion totally crushed with every rebel laying dead on the ground.

Marcus Julius, second in command of his centuria, and Vexus Maximus, the leader of that same centuria, stood next to each other in one of the many Roman galleys. Marcus’s head dripped with sweat as he wondered if he and his friend would survive the night. Flashes of lightning flew across the sky as though Zeus was throwing them. The Romans knew their gods could kill the Greek gods. They knew Jupiter would beat Zeus. Also fighting that night was Ares and Mars, the gods of War of Greece and Rome. The main fight was between Neptune, Roman god of the sea, and Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. Waves crashed into the galleys of the Roman legions throwing some soldiers overboard.

On the other side of the fort, a second Roman attack force was prepared by Mark Ceres. He commanded at least ten thousand Romans to attack the fort from behind. He knew that the two forces would utterly crush the Greek savages. They could hear a loud horn echo from the other side and knew the attack had begun. They marched toward the bleak fort with confidence.

The Roman galleys’ slave crews rowed forward toward the coast. “Finally,” Marcus said with excitement, “we get to spill Greek blood.”

“Just make sure it’s not your own,” Vexus humorously warned.

Arrow shafts began to fly past them, some making contact with a limb. “Take cover!” Vexus barked. All the Romans immediately took cover under their shields. Their boats hit the moist sand, and they began the assault.

Mark Ceres’ group was met by a few sentries, who they immediately killed without mercy. They continued toward the field where the real fighting would emerge. When they arrived at the field and on looking at the fort, they were met by swordsmen and pike men. Ceres’ army was reinforced by Vexus’ army who surrounded the first pack of frenzied Greeks. The Greeks kept ramming into the bright red Roman shields like many battering rams, but the Romans did not give way. Within fifteen minutes of intense fighting, the Romans had cleared most of the counter assault. The beach was covered in a dark reddish blood. They had taken the beach and were now ready to join the onslaught on the Field of Strife.

As their legions regrouped, a fast moving flaming rock was hurled at them, instantly killing four Romans. Vexus shouted out in pain as a flaming piece of shrapnel lodged into his flesh. He tore it out and continued the fight.

“Are you alright, Sir?” Marcus asked concerned for his friend.

“I’ll live,” Vexes replied. “Now we must get into that fort and take it.”

“Yes Sir,” Marcus obeyed saluting before going to tell the others.

Drums began to beat, as the Romans marched forward to greet their hosts. Arrows flew down upon them from the sky, which was made black from the arrows. Many men fell to the arrow volleys, but the Romans kept marching forward with Vexes and Ceres at the front.

Ceres looked godlike, carrying his mighty sword, crafted by Vulcan, the Gods’ blacksmith. Vexes seemed to be possessed by Mars, the god of war. Vexes slew any in his path. Thunderbolts came down upon the fortress. The Romans knew Jupiter was throwing these flaming bolts of power. Rocks came crumbling off the fort, as lighting made heavy contact with it.

As the Romans drew closer to the fort, the Greeks tried to make one last stand, with what seemed all of them charging against the assaulters. The Romans drew their swords and braced themselves for the oncoming onslaught. Vexes jumped out from the many legions, appearing like Mars and attacked all the Greeks. He slew many when he shouted, “ATTACK! Show no mercy!”

Both sides attacked with brutality. Many were slain and the ground was covered with the bodies of the dead. Then, from out of the dust, a gigantic man came out of the many Greeks. He wielded a two- handed ax that looked to be crafted by Mt. Olympus’s blacksmith. This man seemed to have the power of Ares himself.

The "giant" and Vexus engaged in combat. The fight was brutal and killed many unfortunate enough to get in the way. The swings dealt heavy blows to each of the two, but finally with a blow to the giant’s head, the Greek man fell to the ground with a thud. Vexus was victorious, and he took up his foe’s deadly two-handed ax. He then charged into the rest of the fight, killing many more.

Ceres, with his godly sword, was slaying many, when an arrow was fired into his chest. His armor somehow blocked the blow as he said, “Thank the gods that my armor protected me from the blow.” He then heaved himself back into the battle. Dawn finally came, with Apollo, the Greek god of the Sun, flying across the sky with his chariot and four horses providing light on the bleak battle scene.

Marcus did not look up at the light but kept killing the Greeks. The Greeks were losing many men, but so were the Romans. Marcus was slowly fighting his way away from his Legion and soon he was outnumbered and surrounded. He tried to slay his way through the Greeks, but they kept coming at him. He felt a quick spark of pain fly through his stomach, as he realized he had been stabbed. Another jab from behind made him shout out in pain. Knowing it was the end, Marcus kept fighting through the bitter pain. Another quick jab from a sword entered his flesh, making him drop his shield. The many Greeks kicked his shield away leaving Marcus defenseless. Marcus drove his sword deep into the forehead of an attacking Greek. He began to feel dizzy from the loss of blood.

Marcus yelled out with pride, “Rome will kill you rebellious scoundrels! It’s just a matter of time!” He was about to continue when a Greek drove a spear into Marcus’ chest, knocking the wind out of him. He took the spear and drove the other end into the Greek pike man. He spat out blood onto the ground, feeling the end was coming. He then took the spear out, yelling out in pain. He was losing a lot of blood and was becoming very dizzy when Vexus stepped next to his friend and killed all the Greeks around them.

Marcus was then struck in his back by an arrow, which splintered through his armor and into his skin. Four more arrows made contact with him, which were the final blows. He fell to the ground gasping for his last breaths. His last words were, “Rome will conquer all.”

Vexus saw his friend’s body and went into a blood frenzy, killing any Greek who stood before him. He ran into the mass of Greek Legions chanting battle cries that made the Greeks run away in fear. He leaped into the Greeks, killing many before a spear was thrust into his back and he too fell to the floor. He staggered back up, and leapt back at the Greeks, but now the Greeks started to run in disorder. Vexus looked back to see reinforcements arriving from the sea. He cheered aloud chanting, “We have won the day!” Then, he spotted Marcus’s corpse and sobbed for his lifelong friend.

Ceres’ legion was in the way of the retreating Greeks. He knew there would be more bloodshed on this Field of Strife. The Greeks slammed into the fatigued forces of Ceres. The Romans killed many, when from behind, Vexus’s legion slammed into the rear of the last of the savage Greeks. The Greeks all lay dead within half an hour. The Romans began their praises and prayed for the dead, knowing they had won, but at a heavy price. Many men from both Greece and Rome had fallen and were ferried across the River Acheron, in the Underworld by Hades’ ferryman, Charon. In the realm of Hades, no one can hear their great Battle Cries.