AN: To note, skill level is skill and power level is how much energy/flow they can control or energy pool.

Still need an eraser...

Words: 2024

Ham-Ham the Wandering Black Hamster

Book 1: Journeys

Arc 3: The Battle at the Eastern Sea, Chapter 17: Discussions and the Next Move

Several hours after the battle and a few minutes before the meeting between Ham-Ham and co.

"Hmm, the clouds are slowly getting darker, it looks like it will rain later at night. This will be a good time to test my new move."

The figure looked at the Oakie ships and turned around and began to walk away.

-Scene shift

Meeting between Rai, Ham-Ham and the two commanders

"Before we introduce ourselves, I just want to say thank you two again. You guys saved us and the town. I never imageined that the Oakies would be so strong, it has been over 100 years since they last tried to invade our country. I am Heptalion and I am the commander of this army. My rank is Captain."

"And I am Myra an elder that controls water. I am the apprentice to Undine the Elder of the Great Depths, the Sage of Water.

Ham-Ham/Rai: "Woah!"

Rai: " And I thought Ham-Ham was the only one, I guess that make you two fellow diciples."

Myra: "Whhhhaaaaat? Which one are you?"

Ham-Ham: "I am Ham-Ham and I am an elder that controls lightening, I am the first and only disciple of Sache!"

Myra: "There is no way fucking way! It is universally agreed upon by all the Elders that Sache is the strongest Elder."

Rai: "We're not joking. Also I am Rai a swordsman/zoologist/biologist."

Myra: "Then, it is wonderful to meet you two."

Heptalion: "I as well, what are you two doing here anyways?"

Ham-Ham: "Well Sache told me to come here. He said that the events here would help me."

Heptalion: "Well it is very good that you two came here then. If you two did not come, perhaps our army would have wiped out."

Rai: "Well before we get to the important things, tell me more about those pigs." Rai got up very close to Heptalion in excitement, a little too close.

Ham-Ham: "Sorry about that, he loves learning things about animals and plants."

Heptalion: "I-It's fine. Anyways those pink pigs are called Oakies. They are the ruling race of a country east across the sea. Those disgusting pigs are very militaristic and are always seeking to expand and capture new races as slaves. It is said that the Oakies have at least 10 different races as slaves so far."

Myra: "That is why they are disgusting. To take away someone's free will." Ham-Ham and Rai both cringe at the thought.

Heptalion: "Right, also this is not the first time that they tried to invade our country. Besides the invastion 100 years ago, they have tried multiple times to invade Ohen in the past 1000 years. However, each time the Oakies were defeated with the help of the elders. This times invasion is different because in the past, the elders that helped the army were in apprentice to intermediate level. At least this is what we have in some of our records."

Myra: "Right that Honkis was strong. Currently, my skill level is at the elder level, but my power level is only adept level. I'd estimate that Honkis is at the master level roughly, which is why we're thankful that you came."

Rai: "Wait, could you explain the levels again?"

Heptalion: "Yea, I'm very confused right now. Hehe."

Myra stares at Heptalion, "Then don't nod like you know what we're talking about idiot muscle for brains. Anyways from lowest to highest is trainee, student, apprentice, intermediate, adept, elder, master, Grandmaster, Druid, Arch-druid, and finally a Sage."

Rai: whistles, "Damn, so that Honkis is pretty strong."

Myra: "Your too naive. There 3 big boundary in the power levels. This is between intermediate and adept, master and Grandmaster, and Arch-druid and Sage."

Ham-Ham: "Oh, I didn't know that."

Myra: "WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWhat! How could you not know! This is something that every elder learns first thing!"

Ham-Ham: "Well Sache is pretty easy-going, he only trained me to use my power and gave me various advice. He wants me to grow on my own through my own experiences."

Myra: "I really feel like punching you."

Ham-Ham: "Please don't." Rai sniggers in the background.

Heptalion: Cough*cough. "Anyways, with you here to deal with Honkis and your friend Rai, this will be easy."

Ham-Ham: "Uhhhhhhh, yea about that. Although my power level is at the master level, my skill level is only at the intermediate level."

When Myra heard that, the water that she was drinking spat out onto the floor.

Myra: "Cough*cough*gurgle. How!" Myra runs to Ham-Ham and grabs his collar and yells at him to explain now.

Ham-Ham: "Well I really just started training 3 weeks ago and my power level is because I got lucky. C-can you please drop me now?"

Myra: "Sigh... Well this battle is gonna be harder now."

Heptalion: "Great..."

Rai: "If I may, could you explain more about the army and our current status?"

Heptalion: "Very well, this could give you two a better sense of our crisis. Please no interruptions before I finish. Our army numbered ten thousand at the start of the battle and the Oakies had 8,000 at the start. After the battle, we're only at roughly 4,600 battle capable, while the Oakies I'm assuming have around 6,000 still battle capable."

The other three listening all cringe. Should the next battle start with these numbers, the hamster army would be annihilated. The difference in numbers show the difference in the strength of the Oakies versus the hamsters. This difference would be even greater if not for Rai helping out the troops.

Heptalion: " Because of the data we had on previous invasion, we only came with a hamster army of infantry. We didn't even bring any cavalry or any other army division, not to mention we didn't bring any of the other races with us."

"Let me explain, I am a captain of the infantry and each captain leads 10,000 soldiers. All infantry soldiers are a part of the First Division no matter the race. The Second Division is the cavalry. These soldiers ride horses, ponies, etc. The Third Division comprises of soldiers that can fly or use aerial combat. Next, the Fourth Division is the Navy or anything that deals with Ocean or water combat. The Fifth Division is the medic and healing division. Finally, the Sixth Division is the Supply/Support Division. They help the other Divisions in various ways. Although, there are rumors of a Seventh Division for top priority missions, but that's potentially above my rank. There is far more with ranks, but what I've told you three is the basics of the military."

Ham-Ham: "That is a lot of information, I think my head's starting to hurt."

Rai: "Yea, and very informative."

Myra: "Agreed."

Heptalion: "Still, this doesn't help us with our current situation."

Myra: "Yea, that Honkis is strong and we don't know if you has any trump cards to play or not."

Rai: "Well if his trump cards are his soldiers, then I should be able to deal with them, if I go all out. However, I saw Ham-Ham fight Honkis and frankly Honkis is a monster compared to me."

Ham-Ham: "Well I can 1v1 him, but it will be tough."

Heptalion: "Sigh, we may just have to do that. There would be no point in defeating Honkis if our army is wiped out. If Rai can handle whatever Honkis throws at us, then Myra and I can lead my troops, but the current ratio will be tough."

Just as they were pondering about what to do, it started to pour down outside. Outside, suddenly rain fell down from the heavens and lightening began to crackle.

Scene shift - On Board the Honkis' Fleet Command Ship

At the same time as Ham-Ham and company were discussing, Honkis was also planning on what to do with his military advisor Aldorato.

"Commander Honkis, although the two enemy reinforcements are strong, our army is much stronger and we have more troops than them now."

"That is true. We can have my Lieutenants Medium Rare and Well Done deal with the swordsman and I will deal with that Ham-Ham. However, we must still be on our guard, it is best to not underestimate those elders. My still burning face can attest to that."

"Very well I shall tell our lookouts to be vigilant."

"Do so, I will wait in anticipation of the next match between us."

Scene Shift - With Ham-Ham and Co, Outside

Ham-Ham: It seems we're in luck. It is not only raining hard, but also going to lightning and thunder soon."

As the group looked on in confusion, Ham-Ham walked to a cliff overlooking the coast. He raised his staff to the sky and closed his eyes. He began to connect to the flow, specifically, he connected to the flow where the lightning and thunder were. As his energy harmonized with the flow, the lightning in the sky began to condense and darken thanks to Ham-Ham power and the basil. As the lightening condensed and formed a glowing sphere, as the power built up, it began to get smaller and smaller. After a few minutes, it was ready to strike.

Honkis' fleet was comprised of 30 ships. Twelve of the ships were divided in sets of three and each set has four ships in a diamond formation. The three sets were then aligned in an arrow formation. The other eighteen ships were in front of the twelve ships also in an arrow formation.

Ham-Ham directed the lightening to the twelve ships in the back because these ships were the closest together. This was the first time Ham-Ham was using this technique. Although he had the power, his skill level was still too low and his experience was also too low. No matter how good his talent was, this technique was out of his reach. However, with the natural resources provided by the storm and preparation in connecting to the flow, Ham-Ham had just enough to barely execute the technique.

Ham-Ham shouted out to the sky: "Black Thunder."

A streak of black jagged light fell out of the sky. It sounded out a giant crack that startled both the hamster and Oakie armies. As it neared the ships, it split into four streaks that slammed into the four ships. The top half of all four ships exploded into a shower of splinters. Before the Oakies could comprehend what just happened, it happened two more times. Including Honkis' command ship, a total of twelve ships now lay wasted. Of the soldiers on the twelve ships, 2,000 of the 2.400 soldiers were killed or incapacitated out of the next battle. This drastically changed everything. Now the next battle would be 4,600 hamsters versus 4,000 Oakies.

The Oakies were shocked that they would lose a third of their remaining forces so easily. Honkis bellow out: "Ham-Ham, you are indeed a worthy opponent!" He went onto his nearest ship and began to organize his forces for the battle in two days.

Back with Ham-Ham, he almost fell from using so much of his energy and concentration to use his Black Thunder.

Heptalion: "Elder of lightening indeed... I think you just made a miracle happen. With this, the tales of the Wandering Black Hamster will increase."

Myra: "Geez, you're so broken."

Rai: "Yep, our Ham-Ham is badass, hahaha. Although, the battle will still be difficult. This will make it easier for the soldiers though."

Ham-Ham: "Yea, now excuse me while I collapse and sleep." With that Ham-Ham's body fell down face-first into the ground.

Myra: "We should put him in a bed to sleep instead of being high on happiness."

Heptalion: "Muhahahaha, we gonna get you pigs!"

Rai: "Forget him, help me?"

Myra; "Sure"

Ham-Ham's action caused the hamster soldier's morale to increase. Now they had hope that they could win the battle two days from now. As for how many would survive the battle to come on both sides, well that's a story for the next chapter.

That's all for now, Read and Review if you want to.