Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 311

Chapter 311: A Flag in the Wind

[Lavinia’s POV — March to the Black Wall — Dawn]

The first light of dawn crawled across the horizon like a blade cutting open the sky.

Hooves thundered beneath us. Armor rattled. Banners snapped in the cold morning wind as the Elorian army surged forward in disciplined waves. The forest swallowed our columns, torch after torch extinguished as sunlight broke through the trees in fractured gold.

Ahead of me, the Black Wall rose like a scar across the horizon.

A fortress carved into the edge of the Frostplain cliffs—jagged, towering, impossible to mistake. Even from miles away, it radiated the kind of silence that promised violence.

"Your Highness," General Arwin called from beside me, his horse keeping pace with mine. "Scouts report no movement yet. No Meren banners. No activity on the battlements."

"Which means they’re watching," I replied. "Just hidden."

Sir Haldor rode on my right, quiet but alert, his hand never leaving the hilt of his blade. Osric on my left, Solena perched on his arm, scanning the skies with sharp, knowing eyes.

The air felt thick—not with fear, but with the weight of something inevitable.

We were close.

Too close for Meren to pretend to sleep now. A messenger galloped ahead, breathless. "Your Highness! Sighting ahead—five hundred meters—"

His words cut off as—

SWOOSH—!!

An arrow whistled past his ear and buried itself deep into a tree trunk.

Another.

Then another.

Then an entire storm.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Arrows descended from the sky like rain, sharpened to kill.

"SHIELDS UP!!" I shouted, raising my arm.

In a heartbeat, rows of shields flew upward, snapping into locked formations. The air filled with the sound of THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! as arrows hammered against steel.

A few pierced through gaps. A soldier grunted beside me, another cursed, and Marshi growled low, his fur puffing out like flame.

"Haldor!" I called.

"Already on it."

He kicked his horse forward, his sword slicing an arrow out of the air with terrifying ease.

Osric pulled his mount closer to mine. "It’s them. The Meren snipers. They’ve seen us."

"No..." I narrowed my eyes at the cliffs. "They’ve been waiting."

And then—CLANG—!!!

Something heavy hit the ground ahead.

A spear. Black-tipped. Twice the length of a man. It had been thrown. Thrown from the top of the Black Wall.

A low hush fell over the front ranks.

General Arwin exhaled sharply. "Monsters. They’re using their cliff warriors."

"Good," I said, calmly drawing my sword. "Then we make our entrance."

Osric glanced at me sharply. "Lavi—"

I smirked. "What? Should I knock politely?"

His jaw clenched. He knew better than to argue now. I lifted my sword skyward.

"EVERYONE—SPREAD OUT! MOVE ACCORDING TO THE PLAN!"

The command cracked across the battlefield like lightning. In an instant— Haldor and the Iron Battalion peeled toward the western gate, shields raised.

General Arwin led the eastern flank, siege-breakers rolling behind him.

Osric surged toward the southern entrance, Solena exploding upward in a storm of feathers and light.

And I—I rode straight toward the north main gate.

"Let’s go, Marshi."

ROAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR—!!!!!

The roar shook the earth. The divine seal on his body flickered awake—golden markings igniting across his fur like living fire.

Arrows rained down from the top of the Black Wall.

Hundreds. Thousands. They smashed against our shields. Ricocheted off armor. Buried into the earth like black rain.

We moved anyway.

Step by step.

Sword by sword.

*CLANG!!

My blade caught an enemy spear, pushed it aside, and sliced clean through his chestplate. Another soldier lunged. Marshi leapt—snarling, divine energy rippling across the battlefield—and crushed him with a single sweep of his paw.

Blood splattered the stones.

He was a beast made for war. And he made sure everyone saw it. But the arrows— The endless, merciless arrows— My soldiers shielded me, but even the strongest formation couldn’t withstand this forever.

Men were falling.A few at a time.Then more.

"They’re shooting from above!" one shouted.

"No opening—!"

"They’ll kill us before we reach the gate—!"

I looked up through the chaos. The archers weren’t on the battlements. They were higher. Hidden in the cliff towers carved into the stone itself—just like Arwin suspected.

A vantage point no ordinary soldier could reach fast enough.

"Someone needs to get up there," I muttered. "And stop those arrows before they tear us apart."

The sky darkened with another volley.

"MARSHI."

He landed beside me with a thunderous thud, golden eyes blazing. I pointed upward—toward the jagged cliff openings where the enemy snipers hid.

"There," I said. "That’s our goal."

His fur bristled. Divine energy pulsed. Then—

ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR—!!!

The air vibrated.

And Marshi leapt.

Higher than a beast should. Higher than a horse. Higher than physics ever intended. Up the cliff face, claws digging into the stone as though it were soft earth.

Arrows shot at him—He ripped through them. Destroyed the archers like they were made of paper.

"AAAGHHHH!!!!!!"

BOOM!

BOOM!

CRAAAAAACK—!!

The gates exploded inward, iron splintering like bones under a giant’s fist. And then—ELORIA POURED IN.

The chorus that followed was a symphony of dominance—the roar of my army, Marshi’s divine scream from above, and the thunder of boots hitting stone.

We had breached the Black Wall.

General Arwin’s voice boomed behind me: "PROTECT HER HIGHNESS!"

THUUNK!!!

BOOOOOOOMMMMM—!!!!!!!!

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