Blaze sniffed and looked at Jasper. He patted him on the shoulder. “Pass our Alvan recommendations on to the recruiters. I will disseminate the information to the branch heads and the guild members.”
“What will this mean for the guild?”
Blaze cocked his head to the side. “If we go to the dungeons, there will be a lot of our members joining Alva with their families. The guild will change; we will not be a free entity. It changes the dynamic. We will have a clear backer to our guild members.”
Blaze sighed. “Always thinking ten steps ahead.” He looked up at the tent’s roof. “First, we get them to safety, then we figure out what to say.”
“This is a big risk. It could reveal Alva,” Jasper said.
“It comes down to a single question. Do you trust the council, Erik, and Rugrat?”
“Yes,” Jasper said without pause. “But—”
Blaze waited, but Jasper twisted his mouth, his following words failing as he frowned. He opened it twice, but his arguments were countered before they left his lips.
Blaze smiled and patted his shoulder. “So simple, but that’s the heart of it. I can see steam coming out of your ears. Don’t need to think that hard.” He grinned.
Jasper’s furrowed brows released and smoothed as he smiled, laying down a weight upon his mind.
“Come, we have a lot of work to do and not much time to do it.”
“Yes, Guildmaster.”
“Will you stop that? Have we not known one another for long enough?” Blaze growled.
Jasper laughed and patted Blaze on his shoulder. “Very well, my friend, as you said, we have much to do.”
42
Movement
Three days went by in the camp. Lord Salyn spent his time in the meeting tent planning with the other lords and ladies. Most were making deals and trade alliances or talking about other lords and ladies and the latest gossip.
Few talks were about the enemy or the Beast Mountain Range. In their minds, it was already owned by the Willful Institute. There was no way the enemy would be able to hold.
The only thing that had really changed was the fact that all the outposts were emptying. People were either fleeing the range or heading deeper, going toward King’s Hill.
Salyn swirled his wine, looking at the table as a commotion broke out at the front of the tent.
Several aerial beasts had landed. They wore dressage with the Willful Institute’s emblem sewn on.
A group of eleven people walked into the tent. Three of them pulled off their helmets. A clean-shaven, expressionless young man led the group. A younger woman with a bob cut stood to one side, and an older, scarred man on the other. The rest kept their helmets on and stood at the entrance. Their guards? Four men followed behind them, carrying chests.
Lord Ikeda stepped forward to greet them.
“My name is Juri Kostic. I have been sent as a representative to oversee things here. You are Ikeda?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Good.” Juri waved the chests forward. “Weapons, armor, and items to assist your endeavors. You will attack in no more than two days. I expect good results.”
Ikeda took the hint. “Yes, My Lord; you are most gracious. Do you want to see the map, or I can show you to your quarters that have been prepared?”
“I have seen your plans already. I will retire to my quarters. Lead on.”
Ikeda guided them out of the meeting tent. Salyn and the other Shikoshi representatives looked at one another, moving closer to the chests. They milled around them with placid smiles and steely eyes, like wolves guarding their kill.
Aras clapped his hands once and rubbed them. “Good! Now it really starts. We have but two days to set our plans into motion and show our glory to the Willful Institute!” He walked to the table, drawing everyone with him. Even those that were there simply to add numbers suddenly seemed to have become military savants, discussing their plans intently.
“The Stone Fist Sect and their allies in the lower realms are ready. Our combined forces have started to move and are teleporting into position.” Elder Cai Bo read the message to Head Foster.
The latter studied the scene outside his window, looking at the Henghou city beyond. “Good. the Stone Fist Sect has good eyes. Depending on how they do, we can see how our partnership will go. What about that force you created for the First Realm?”
“They have been fully mobilized and are heading to attack the enemy cities as we speak. We have coordinated forces in the First Realm to lead the attack and soften up the enemy. Once our forces secure their objectives in the Second and Third Realms, we can funnel the resources and loot into our treasury to pay for further expansion and draw others into our sect and alliance.”
“Good. Very good. Increase their abilities in the First Realm fighting, use them as support and bodies to fill our needs, and add relief in the Second and Third Realms. There are always so many people in those lower realms. It surprises me; they’re like human rabbits.” Foster snorted and shook his head.
“How are things in the Fourth Realm?”
“The Associations have reached out to the two parties to mediate the situation.”
“Bah, they just want more resources without offending anyone. Are their defenses that strong?” Foster peered at Cai Bo.
“Marco believes that only a combined attack in the air and on the ground will allow him to break into the city anytime soon.”
Foster looked out of the windows at something only he could see.
“Now it is a race to see if we can get the aerial forces that we want, or if the associations strong-arm us into mediation.”
“You think Vuzgal will go for it?”
“Do they have any other option? They are alone with no support. The Associations are in their corner—for now. With the new contract, they’ll lose some wealth and control, but they have proven that not even major sects of the fifth Realm can breach their walls.” Head Foster went silent. “Use external recruiting. Offer rewards to people to join the fight. Specify aerial forces. And offer recruitment into the Institute.”
“That will burn through our resources.”
“Yes, but we are about to take several cities in the lower realms and reclaim some that are ours. But… we must take Vuzgal.”
We were running low on resources before this fight started. With most of their trading routes and partners cut off, they hadn’t been able to replenish anything. They were burning through resources to support the cities in the lower realms, to gather and support armies. The cost of the force in the Fourth Realm was astronomical. Each day they burned as much as a medium-sized city in the Third Realm used in a year. Retaking those cities in the Second and Third Realms, then rebuilding them… Even the cities they took from others would not have enough to increase their supplies.
“Sect Head, we only have a few months of resources remaining at our current rate.”
“I am very well informed on the state of our resources, which is why we need everything we can get from our attacks.”
Win or lose, it comes down to this. Cai Bo’s heart felt like it had been grabbed in her chest. We could collapse and fail. What would happen then?
“Is there anything else that you require, Head Foster?”
“No, continue to keep me apprised.”
She bowed to his back and retreated before turning and leaving the room.
43
Words Meet Action
Salyn assisted in checking the gear contained within the chests after Lord Juri left the command tent and Lord Knight Ikeda returned. The chests were treasures in themselves, spatial chests that could carry as much as forty wagons.
They were filled with high Novice-grade weapons and armor, various powders that could be mixed with water to increase stamina or mana regeneration, and some gear of the mid-Apprentice level. The most valuable were the spell scrolls, mana stones, and mana cannons.
They distributed the goods to the other kingdoms and empires, f
orging stronger alliances and drawing everyone under Ikeda’s command completely.
Salyn rode on his mount, looking at the amassed armies. They had all eaten well last night in preparation for this battle.
Powerful mounts towed mana cannons behind them, and the commanders and noblemen were all wearing Apprentice-level gear.
“So, Lord Salyn, how long do you think it will take to breach the Hunter Frontier outpost?” Ikeda smiled.
“If it lasts until the end of the day, I will be surprised!” Salyn laughed.
“A single day? I doubt it will last more than a few hours!” another lord joked to the laughter of the group.
Salyn smiled with them. He felt good after a clean bed, good food, and good company in the shape of some of the courtesans that visited him in the night. He also wore a new set of low-apprentice armor.
“What do you think, Lord Knight?” the same lord asked.
Ikeda smiled, but didn’t say anything.
“Look, I can see it now,” one of the ladies said, breaking the somewhat awkward silence as she raised a gauntleted hand to her brow.
Soft rolling hills covered the area, most of it farmland that met up with the outpost. It was made to defend against the Beast Mountain Range, not the kingdoms beyond it.
Hunter Frontier Outpost sat at the top of a valley between two hills, creating a U shape toward the Beast Mountain Range.
Towers, used to fire down on beast tides and pick off wandering beasts, dotted the hills.
“Just open for the taking,” a general said.
“Well, about time they showed up,” Lukas said. The large man opened and closed his hand.
“You still feel it?” Pan Kun asked him.
Lukas looked at his hand. “Ah, this? Yeah, sometimes it feels tight. I know it’s all in my head. You know, I didn’t have a hand for a couple of years. Just got used to it and now I have a new hand.”
“Yeah. For the first few months after I got my eye back, I kept my eyelid closed and I would get dizzy with both eyes open.” Pan Kun sighed.
“Aditya’s broken guards.” Lukas laughed.
Pan Kun grinned. “Shit, makes me feel old. Been working in King’s Hill so long.”
“Well, a lot of shit has happened. Feels like just the other day and a lifetime ago you dumped us in the Beast Mountain Range with secret trainers to teach us how to fight. Took the outposts, secured the range, made King’s Hill, and now these dickheads want to take it from us.” Lukas tilted his chin toward the army that was slowly covering the hills toward the Hunter Frontier.
“Too bad for them our training expanded to the Beast Mountain Range Army, and we knew exactly which outposts they were going to attack.” Pan Kun looked behind the defensive wall. Houses had been leveled for the catapults and trebuchets.
Tents were being packed up and secured in groups, the organized rows dissolving as people checked their gear, unpanicked, as if they had done this a million times before.
“Cold as ice,” Lukas said.
“A real military, built with people with experiences from all over who spend their time fighting bandits and beasts.”
“Or in dungeons,” Lukas added.
“Or in dungeons,” Pan Kun agreed. “The poison pots, they all ready?”
“Ready and waiting. We positioned them across the outpost for maximum dispersion. Though if the wind changes, it could get carried in different directions. It is a dust, after all.”
“Ten thousand of our people against a hundred and fifty thousand of theirs. I like our odds.”
“I’d like to be having a beer with a nice-looking lady on my lap, too.”
“Pervert,” Nasreen said as she walked up.
“How are the ranged?” Pan Kun asked.
“Set and ready. We’ll crank them back once they get within a kilometer.”
“Wait for my command. Once they get into range, we’ll open fire, stun the shit out of them. They shouldn’t have mana barriers, but the Willful Institute showed up and gave them a lot of gifts, so be ready for it. We need to blunt them here, hit their morale, and make them fight for the outpost. Mounts?”
“Secure and ready. We have them under cover so if the enemy flies beast scouts or uses viewing spells, they won’t be able to tell.” Lukas pointed at the buildings close to the gate leading into the Beast Mountain Range.
“Healers?”
“They’re set up and ready.” Nasreen glanced at several buildings that had been thrown up; they dotted behind the wall with large openings on each side.
“Got casualty points. Then we’ll feed them into the field hospital.” She pointed to a squat, sturdy compound. “Mana barriers and the works over it, just in case. Teleportation formations to take them off to the Alva Healing House in King’s Hill. Got charges on everything so if we can’t pull it out, we can blow it to nothing.”
Soldiers moved up onto the wall, taking up places among the guards that had been standing there.
Behind the defenses, oiled leather was removed from the siege weapons and team leaders began checking the machines with their people. Ammunition of stones and pots were moved into position from cellars. Archers and mages marched into position; the mages circulated their mana, and the archers strung their bows. Runners carried baskets filled with arrows.
Others circulated with warm soup and bread. People ate and chatted with one another.
Everyone was served before Lukas and Nasreen, then Pan Kun.
Lukas made appreciative noises as they ate their soup.
Pan Kun soaked his bread in the rich broth before taking a bite.
==========
Stamina Regeneration increases by 5% for 6 hours.
Agility increases by 3% for 2 hours.
Strength increases by 3% for 2 hours.
==========
“That’s some damn good soup! Have to get seconds after we’ve dealt with these assholes,” Pan Kun said in a loud, clear voice, heard easily in the quiet outpost, making some grin and laugh.
“Wish they’d hurry up then! I need thirds,” Nasreen replied, getting chuckles and cheers among the troops.
Tea was handed out as the soup bowls were taken away.
==========
Calm mind 10% for 3 hours
Increased mana regeneration 5% for 6 hours
==========
Pan Kun finished his tea, and the cup was taken away.
“Well, that was a good breakfast! Now, let’s get to work, shall we?”
Spears and yells agreed as Pan Kun laughed freely. His gaze sharpened on the approaching army. “Looks like they’ve already formed up a little, and they brought their new mana cannons.”
“They’ll want to hold them back. The cost in mana stones would pain them,” Nasreen said.
“Shooting all of them would cost the same amount as most of the lord’s cities make in a year.”
Wooden siege weapons pulled by beasts captured Pan Kun’s attention. “So, trebuchets and catapults, range of three hundred, maybe four hundred meters.”
The others nodded. Well within our plans. They hadn’t had anything to do but look at the information Evernight had gathered and battle out what we to do against one another.
The trio watched the oncoming army.
“Six armies all accounted for,” Lukas said.
“Still spread out from marching from their main camp. They’ll need to form up again before they can attack. Put half of our people to rest in place,” Pan Kun said.
The minutes ticked by as the ranged archers and siege weapon teams started to shift around. Those on the wall could see the enemy clearly now.
“What’s that, six hundred meters?” Lukas asked.
“Stand to!” Pan Kun frowned. “Something is weird. I’d expect them to stop at eight hundred meters at the most.”
“You think they’ll charge?” Lukas asked, bewildered as he looked at Pan Kun and then through his viewing glasses.
People moved back to their positions, fee
ling the growing tension in the air.
“Looks like they’re forming up,” Nasreen’s voice rose. “And not slowing down.”
“Load!” Pan Kun barked.
Wood creaked and team leader voices rang out as gears were engaged, drawing back the catapults and trebuchets. The archers pulled arrows from baskets and laid them along bows. Mages sped up their circulation of mana.
“Wait,” Lukas warned “they’re speeding up. They… They’re charging!”
Yells rose from the field as hundreds and then thousands of voices rose in bloodlust.
“Prepare to fire!” Pan Kun didn’t remove his field glasses.
Shaped rock was loaded into the Beast Mountain trebuchets.
Flags were raised in front of the siege weaponry by each Trebuchet commander. They worked the same way as the Alvan artillery units.
“Ready.” Nasreen tapped his shoulder twice.
Pan Kun looked for the marker stones. He felt the rumble of the charging enemy through the ground.
Their formations barely had time to rebuild before they charged.
Pan Kun watched the range markers out in the fields beyond. He knew he was trying to ease his mind. “Be ready on the wall!” he yelled.
“They have ladders and ropes with them,” Lukas said.
The leading edge rushed past the five-hundred-meter mark and kept coming.
Come on. Pan Kun gritted his teeth, looking from the marker to the approaching human tide. The ground rumbled and the yell of men grew louder.
They crossed the marker in a wash.
“Fire for effect!” Pan Kun yelled. Nasreen repeated the order as they were drowned out in the creak and whump of siege weaponry; the order rippled down through the lines.
Pan Kun raised his viewing glasses; the teams behind him worked to crank their weapons back into position and reload them.
He scanned the enemy lines and checked markers.
Nearly three hundred meters.
The siege weapons’ payload of stone balls crashed into the enemy, leaving bloody trails as they threw up dirt from their initial impact and bounced, crushing more men and armor.
Seventh Realm Part 1: A LitRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 8) Page 50
