Words of Despair
Note: This Fanfiction is loosely following the game, DW4. Some events might not even happen. Once again, this is a yaoi Fanfiction. Here is a style name list you might find used in this Fanfiction:
Zilong = Zhao Yun
Kongming = Zhuge Liang
Boyue = Jiang Wei
Prologue
Different kinds of cry in battle, death cry, and a cry for live… Zhao Yun has heard it all. Each time when he sinks his spear, Fierce Dragon, in to the chest of a random soldier, he remembers the cry, groan, and all the emotions that have left the body, which itself has been a living being like the experienced tiger general. Sometimes, he felt sorry for the soldiers he had killed, but this is a war. He has no choice, but to fight. Sometimes, he would tell himself that it is not his fault, these people raged against them. Not his fault. Rebellions, there is countless of them, yet this one was the one that made his life change.
"Jiang Wei!" The tiger general cried out as he parried another weak blow from a noticeable teenager. He hated to thrust his spear in to kids that was force to fight. Without consideration, he did a swift blow with the other end of his spear, the blunt part. Effectively, he knocked the young fighter out, "Jiang Wei!" Zhao Yun yelled again, finally the young strategist under the teaching of Zhuge Liang acknowledge his call as he jabbed his pole arm through a random soldier, face turned to Zhao Yun.
"Is there something that I am needed to do, General Zhao?" Jiang Wei replied in loud volume, loud enough for Zhao Yun to hear. Soon, he was running toward Zhao Zilong, parrying every singular blow that the followers of Zhang Jiao dared to make. Not a single scratch was been inflicted to the former Wei general though.
"I need you to hold of these hordes of men, I cannot concentrate on Zhang Liang in this situation!" Zhao Yun parried another blow, as he felt the presence of the younger pole arm user.
"You needn't to yell, Zhao Yun." Jiang Wei simply grimaced, as if Zhao Yun's loud voice has made the strategist deaf. "Prime Minister should arrive shortly." The young strategist added as he let out a small grunt as a follow up.
"That is indeed good to know." Zhao Yun whispered quietly under his breath, and was already heading to where Zhang Liang is, mocking at the Shu's generals. If it was for anyone Zhao Yun doesn't want to give mercy to, it would have been the Yellow Turbans. Many times, Zhuge Liang would ask about how Zhao Yun felt in battlefield, and the reply would be the same old shrug. Zhuge Liang is a smart person though; he can tell when his fellow comrades are lying. There was not a need for Zhao Yun to ask Zhuge Liang, kindly, to not ask about this question, as the Shu strategist already have figured it out long ago.
Barely any generals or soldier stopped his approach toward Zhang Liang's position, which made Zhao Yun suspicious, it did not stop or slower Zhao Yun's pace though. All the sudden, the thunder roared its loudest roar that Zhao Yun have ever heard in his life. He knows that Zhang Liang, Zhang Bao and Zhang Jiao all had power and control over nature's elements. It was needn't to be surprised if he was to be struck down by a mere thunder.
Soon enough, the closer he approach, he hears a girl, weeping.
'Only some foolish tricks Zhang Liang is playing in my head.' Zhao Yun simply spoke softly in his mind.
"Well, well, well… A lone little dragon tries to look for someone here, is it not?" Zhang Liang spoke behind him, Zhao Yun did not edge with the urge of panic though, according to his ears, Zhang Liang is a bit too far away from him to make a strike against the Shu general. He did turn around in order to have his target in sight though, and was glad that his ears did not leave a flaw in its hearing ability.
"Such worthy warrior to be wasted by the heavens, you surely would make a good warrior on the heaven's side." Zhang Liang observed, not noting on how Zhao Yun's expression was. Inside deep in the tiger general's heart; he is smirking at the mage, wondering if he was being feared.
"I have to indeed apologize, I have pledge my loyalty to Shu long ago and I would not retake my words of honor from Lord Liu Bei." Zhao Yun stated, as he readied his trusty spear for a fight. His experienced and well-trained senses told him clearly that there was no enemy visible in range.
"You dare to defy the heavens? The heavens that created you and that will to fight and that loyalty you now have?" Zhang Liang did not throw away to ploy, trying to make Zhao Yun deflect, even if he had known in his heart that Zhao Yun would not change his mind.
***
"Lord Jiang Wei!" A soldier panted, not allowing exhaustion to conquer his will, as he did a quick bow to Jiang Wei, who was busy fending enemies' thrust and slashes, "Prime Minister has arrived!"
"That is good to know," Jiang Wei nodded, as he did a 180 degree slash, knocking most of the major enemy away from him, "You may now dismiss." A nod from the messenger was the reply, and soon he was running back to the base camp.
***
The duel between Zhao Yun and Zhang Liang has already started, without either dueler knowing it. Soon, it was sword clashing at the spear, as Zhao Yun blocked every strike that Zhang Liang did with a normal looking sword, not knowing that the thunder is now roaring louder then before. Soon, he had known what Zhang Liang was smirking about during the entire fight. A small thunder bolt struck the ground, which barely missed Zhao Yun's foot. Zhang Liang is controlling the nature's force.
The Shu general found leap back and away from Zhang Liang's horizontal slash was the best option, unless he have a death wish to follow. Another bolt seared through the skies and nearly struck Zhao Yun's escaping position. Zhang Liang came near to the Shu general before Zhao Yun can regain his balances and kick himself off to another position. A vertical slash was being made, but Zhang Liang soon sees that his sword was no longer in his hands. In fact, his sword was lying far from him. Zhao Yun has knocked the weaponry out of the mage's hand. His muscle was not needed to be commanded, it has command itself to thrust the spear in to the fatal point of any human bodies exist; the heart.
A second passed without being taken notice of. Both generals remained at the same position before Zhao Yun withdraw his spear from Zhang Liang's now dead body, it's eyes open, the final emotion to be seen was surprise. Shocked by the fact of how he got defeated by a talented general. Zhao Yun watched as the blood spread to the yellow robe. A sigh escaped from Zhao Yun's lips, not aware of someone coming near him.
"Lord Zhao Yun, Zhang Jiao has escaped from battle, his brother Zhang Bao has already been defeated by Ma Chao and so are other generals. Prime Minister has ordered all generals to return to the camp." A messenger reported, as Zhao Yun slowly took notice of him and acknowledges the messenger's message with a nod.
"What are the casualties?" Zhao Yun asked, just before the messenger rode his horse back to the base camp.
"Our troops have 4,000 casualties and the enemy's force was almost being wiped out, sir." The messenger immediately replied, hearing his superior's demand.
"Okay, you may now dismiss." Zhao Yun sighed again, as he watched the messenger depart. But in a second thought, Zhao Yun realized that he had forget his horse and have simply rushed across the battlefield and have slew Zhang Liang without a thought. He looked around desperately for an enemy horse, if there was one, he'd be lucky, which he supposed he is lucky after all, especially when he heard a sound of a horse's hooves clicking against the solid ground. He immediately turned himself toward the sound, which happened to be Zhuge Liang riding his very own white steed and was leading Zhao Yun's steed back to his rightful owner.
"I believe that you are looking for something, my friend, is it not this?" Zhuge Liang asked, smiling slightly. Zhao Yun was rather surprised by how brilliance is his fellow friend is.
"I thought we were supposed to return to the base camp?" Zhao Yun asked, as soon as he mounted his trusty white steed and has regained most of his senses. There were still remains of old thoughts that Zhuge Liang can easily read upon Zhao Yun's eyes.
"I am currently looking for clues of where has Zhang Jiao escape, he might cause more hassle then what have just happened." Zhuge Liang replied, fatigue can easily be hinted through Zhuge Liang's voice. Not only that, weariness was hinted in his features as well.
Zhao Yun observed Zhuge Liang's status before making a comment of his very own, "I would advise you to rest, but you wouldn't, will you?" The reply was a small chuckle from Zhuge Liang, which alone already caused trace of a smile at the corner of his lips. It was rare for the stressed Prime Minister of Shu to laugh anymore, it was usual for Zhuge Liang to educate Jiang Wei the art of war and then studying plans for the coming battle.
"Indeed that I have to rest, my friend." Zhuge Liang said tiredly, he gave a short shook to himself in order to regain consciousness, "You should head back to the base camp, I should be back shortly."
Zhao Yun nodded, as he started riding off toward the camp, "Do not fall asleep while mounting on the horse, Kongming." Zhuge Liang smiled slightly as he found it amusing that how his friend was trying to boost his spirit, it was probably not much of an attempt, but it had already lighten the stressed strategist, he took a glance at Zhang Liang's corpse before heading deeper in to the plains.
***
The tiger general soon found himself approaching a familiar looking camp, not before approaching the masked officer in Shu, Pang Tong.
"Pang Tong, it is surprising to find you here, I thought you would be at Luo Castle." Zhao Yun made a small comment, before managing to find him listening to the angered and cold chilling voice of his former friend.
"You traitor!" Pang Tong cried as he raised his staff, pointing directly at Zhao Yun's face.
"What nonsense are you speaking of, Pang Tong?" Zhao Yun was surprised at the sudden words… traitor. The word that almost tore his defense down, words of disgrace it was.
"Leave, Zhao Yun! You are a disgrace to my lord! Leave or face me in battle!" Pang Tong cried, waving his staff at Zhao Yun, clearly signaling him to leave. Those words were what it took for Zhao Yun to fell in oblivion. His grips tighten at the ridges he hold while riding his steed. He took no time to consider what have Zhuge Liang said to him previously and just rode away, thoughts messing up Zhao Yun's once-strong mind.
***End of Chapter***