The Roman army on the city wall moved suddenly and attacked a dozen centurions, tribunes, and nobles who were at the top of the wall.
Sertorios had a sharp instinct for danger that he had developed over years of military career; in comparison, the betrayed Roman nobles did not have his foresight of danger and consequently suffered a calamity.
Nasica gave orders to his trusted subordinates, and the city gate slowly opened.
Sulla observed the events at the top of the wall with indifference, without showing surprise. Septimus's actions had left two options for the Scipio family.
To join Sulla and survive, or to continue resisting with the city of Rome and perish.
General Sulla fully trusted that Nasica's decision would lean toward the survival of the Scipio family.
The torture and humiliation that Septimus inflicted on the former consul Lucius Scipio demonstrated to all Romans that the members of the Scipio family were not untouchable.
Sulla's army quickly entered through the city gate like an avalanche, with their rhythmic steps.
The centurions of the Scipio family dedicated themselves to calming the defending soldiers and maintaining order.
General Nasica had only communicated his surrender to Sulla to the members of the Scipio family.
To avoid leaks of information, the majority of the soldiers of the legion did not know the plans of their commander Nasica.
The defending soldiers were left stunned as they watched thousands of legionaries enter through the city gate.
There was no one who could stop the advance of Sulla's army.
The tribunes and centurions who were loyal to the consuls were killed by members of the Scipio family at the beginning of the siege.
The soldiers who defended the city obeyed the orders of the officers of the Scipio family without protest.
To protest or ask questions meant death, and the example of the dozen dead centurions and tribunes could be seen with the naked eye.
Sulla's army that entered the city of Rome divided into groups, spreading throughout the city.
Sulla had no intention of supporting Septimus and preferred that his legions be worn down by the siege for as long as possible.
On the other hand, the wall controlled by Catiline also represented a similar situation.
Catiline did not have as much influence as the Scipio family, and his more direct approach was to control the soldiers who guarded the city gate.
The soldiers loyal to Catiline suddenly attacked the legionaries who guarded the gate.
The tribune who protected the gate was stabbed in the back several times, dying without having the opportunity to speak.
With Catiline's soldiers taking control of the city gate, the siege became unnecessary.
The gates slowly opened, and under the horrified gaze of the defending army, thousands of Sulla's legionaries entered the city once again.
The officers who realized the situation quickly abandoned the wall and scattered in all directions.
Some legionaries also abandoned the wall and headed to their homes with the intention of escaping the city with their families.
The fall of the city of Rome would mean a bloodbath.
Panic quickly took hold of both sides of the city and spread uncontrollably throughout the entire city.
On the other hand, Septimus's clone army continued to be engaged in an intense siege.
The clone soldiers were like hyenas searching for opportunities in the defenses of the city wall.
The two sides of the city wall that were being attacked by the clone army were led by Marius the Younger and a general named Gaius Carrinas.
Both generals were relatives or supporters of the ideas of Marius.
A total of 6 legions were defending against the intense siege of 8 clone legions.
From the beginning of the siege, the combat became bloody.
The Roman soldiers threw javelins or rocks at the great black mass of clone soldiers who only raised their shields over their heads.
Arrows became useless against shield formations and heavy armor, leaving as the only option for the Roman army the use of javelins against the clone army.
The clone soldiers who climbed the siege towers were like fireflies approaching a flame without any fear of death.
No matter how many clone soldiers died, the pace of advance did not stop.
The Roman army also suffered casualties from the suicidal attacks of the clone army.
The consuls Norbanus and Carbo were observing seriously the siege that would determine the victory of the war.
Septimus had demonstrated with his actions that he was a hateful enemy, and willing to sacrifice thousands of soldiers for victory, he was a more troublesome enemy than Sulla.
In comparison, General Sulla, since his landing in Italy, most of his actions, although no less brutal, were justified by his desire for revenge.
Septimus's brutality against the upper class of the region of Campania could not be justified. It was a simple act of greed for the wealth and lands of another person.
The intense combat continued to progress.
Suddenly, a mounted messenger with an expression of urgency was stopped by the personal guards of the consuls.
The panic of the messenger could be noticed with the naked eye, and the guards stopped him as a precaution.
"I have an urgent message, let me pass!" shouted the messenger angrily.
The centurion, after confirming the identity of the messenger, allowed him to enter the consuls' tent. To detain a messenger with important news for too long would have serious consequences.
The consuls' tent was located at the top of a relatively discreet tower and with a good view of the wall.
The location had a tent to provide basic protection from the sun and the wind while they could enjoy delicacies and observe the battle on the wall.
Consul Carbo, after reading the papyrus that the messenger brought, sat in his chair as his expression turned pale.
On the other hand, Norbanus threw his cup of wine to the ground with red eyes from anger.
Catiline had led his loyal soldiers in the legion to surrender to Sulla, and even members of the reserve had followed him. This angered Norbanus so much that he almost vomited blood.
Nasica Scipio had been even more shameless and had surrendered his entire legion after assassinating generals loyal to the city.
Norbanus did not stop cursing Catiline and Nasica, calling them despicable, shameless, and ungrateful.
Sulla's army had managed to enter the city of Rome.
The effort to resist Septimus's army was completely useless.
Norbanus left the tent without looking at Carbo.
On the other hand, Carbo remained seated in the luxurious wooden chair without knowing how to process the terrible news.
The news spread quickly among the generals who protected the city wall.
Some of the generals decided to die protecting the wall, but the vast majority looked for excuses to withdraw.
No one was foolish; it would be better to seek an opportunity to flee with their families than to die protecting a city that was about to be conquered.
The defending soldiers also realized the absence of their generals, and panic began to take hold across the entire wall.
The first soldiers to desert realized that no one punished or reproached them.
More and more Roman soldiers abandoned the wall and headed to their homes.