Here we are again, guys. Sorry, it took so long, but with wanting to take a small hiatus from writing and finding some more inspiration for my stories, especially this one, I think the wait was worth it.
Mind you, I also have been and am currently watching the 2nd season of The Shield Hero anime, so that too will help guide a bit of my motivation for this story as I can add more information and depth to the characters than previously established with my own canon and that of the show.
This, along with the next chapter, will be the longest chapters to date so far, at least 6,000 words; and the continuing chapter being about 12,000, so enjoy and take your time as I will be making both chapters the best that I can. This chapter and the next are linked in tandem, with the major events of each happening at around the same time, as all I will say for both is a major conflict, but the next major chapter of these lengths or longer won't be for another 15 to 20 chapters, so expect the normal 2-5,000 until that point. I appreciate you guys and let's get to the story.
''The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.''
-Micheal Porter.
A Sin Most Cardinal. . .
Takt soared through the air with his last attack, landing on the ground with little recoil, his form straightened back into his crane stance. ''Had enough?'' Hmmph. The nerve of these peasants. . .these worms. When Takt made his declaration of being God, he was 1,000 percent positive and assured in himself. ''I can't tell if the two of you are just that weak or that stupid.''
L'Arc coughed up a blob of blood and spit on the weathered ground, his scythe clattering to the ground in front of him. His last attack had more power behind it, but he wouldn't fall. Not here. L'Arc was trained better, he had a mission more important than whatever bullshit this kid was trying to sell. Therese came up behind him, offering a hand in comfort, but he knew she was close to falling over herself. ''Y-You good?''
Therese grunted, the wave of fire from her own attack flying over their heads as Takt laughed. For a girl with the passion to match the prettiest of jewels, Therese wasn't the best front-line fighter in terms of taking damage. Her hairbands came undone, resulting in her hair being caked in dirt and twigs. Pulling up her companion, she managed to maintain one eye on her enemies. ''He's starting to piss me off.'' L'Arc laughed, so of course not.
Three of the soldiers who managed to stay fighting spaced out, keeping their swords at the ready; what they lacked in magic and defense was made up for by sheer determination and creativity. Their queen gave them a task, and they would have the backing of their fellow soldiers and the lifeblood of being born in the greatest country in the land.
''So what do you think? Bottom of the barrel? Top of the bottom of the barrel? Or just on the ground, waiting for the sweet release of death?'' Takt asked the nearest soldier who flinched at the question, nearly dropping his sword. Great, another wimp. ''Nevermind. But back to the two of you; why do you fight against your maker? I know the texts say I am forgiving, but only for so long.''
Therese finished chanting, throwing forth a fire spell once again, hoping the fool would take the bait. He sighed and jumped forward a tad, simply settling to kick away the spell with a tad of Wind magic, only it split apart into three, aiming for the other 3 soldiers who were either too slow to react or attempted to run away to only be burnt to a crisp. ''Why we fight is no of your concern,'' Therese reluctantly crushed one of her smaller jewels on the necklace around her neck, spilling a green wave of healing onto her and L'Arc. ''You just need to die.''
Takt raised a brow.
''And how sure are you willing to place a bet on that? I do like a good bet from time to time.'' Takt said, chuckling when the pair stood firm against him. ''Are you sure we can't come to an understanding? Little less fighting, a little more you both worshipping the ground I walked on so you don't die here in vain.''
Growling and positioning his weapon behind him again for another attack, Takt focused his eyes on the pair, even from the distance apart, his inquisitive, but smug glare could be felt. . .almost as if he were aiming for-
''-Euuugh!'' Therese was suddenly flung toward Takt, the dust getting into L'Arc's eyes. Dammit. He was being cheeky again, with his cheap tricks and attitude. ''H-H-H-mmmph!'' Therese's mouth filled with spit, unable to be moved by the almost vacuum-tight grip Takt held on her with two hands, the heat of his hands, the smell of his sweat, and the thousand-yard that was bored right into her brain with each passing second.
''You know I don't do this for my health, right? I do it because when itsy bitsy punks like you try and come here with your second-rate magic and vague bullshit ideals,I have to deal with it, and for what? If you could fight half as good as you talked, then maybe this would be more entertaining for me than it is a brainfuck for you.'' Takt's words sparked a fire within the scythe wielder. It sparked something he was sure that should have stayed buried. But it didn't. There was too much going on at one time, not enough people to divide resources, and he was the only one that could truly shoulder it.
Time and time again, the expectations given to him were relatable to the same level of standard as being a king of a small country. This world was so drastically different than the other, and the more similar certain things were, the worse the assessment was. At times, L'Arc wondered if there could be a different way to approach things; a different soul that could take charge of what few could do. The time between his companion being dragged from him and his reaction to leap into action, swinging his scythe in the hopes that he would feint and drop his guard. ''Takt!''
''Let's see what you got!'' Takt exclaimed, paying the weak grip of Therese no mind as the other bug who so rudely tried his luck to fight God. His resolve would be tested, and the repentance for such foolish actions were either lashings or death. Takt lifted Therese right in the way of his next attack, the slight hesitance in L'Arc's eyes as he barely managed to shift his weight just enough to slide off to the side of the ground, his weapon falling loose from his grip and being embedded in the ground some few hundred feet from him as he slid to a stop. ''And what do we have here? It seems you ain't got much.''
''Shut up!'' L'Arc hissed, slamming a fist into the hot ground, standing up and wincing when some skin at the surface level was taken off by not being covered with armor or leather. Maybe, just maybe he could entice him with something. Their world did have its fair share of treasures and trinkets if he could bide his time to think of something that he could use to buy his favor. ''You don't know what I got, it could be something you could want.'' Takt laughed at the thought. Something he could want? There wasn't much that he already didn't have that already was not falling into his lap or given by the utter of a word.
''I doubt that,'' Takt simply said, growing bored of holding the magic caster when her breath began to grow short, he needed only to hold her there a bit longer to bring her to an unconscious state. Her efforts were something to commend to a degree, and his attitude toward the situation was to be expected, their biggest mistake was their complacency. More of their kind should have come from that beam of light, but the time for that has passed. ''And I also doubt this fight will ever go beyond this.''
And so did the conversation.
A chuckle rose from L'Arc's throat. He was down, for the moment; but not out. Most of his talents were yet to be seen, and the majority of his power had yet to be seen. ''And how do you figure? It's not like you have a weapon that has the power to counter a Vassal Weapon!'' L'Arc figured the time for playing around would be over with; if he didn't actually put some power into this next attack, then anything could happen. His outstretched hand clasped around the shaft of his weapon that flew towards him, the sneer on his face showing. ''Spirit Enchant!'' the jewel on the weapon glowed a bright purple.
''Hmmm.'' Takt looked around him, seeing a faint line of purple lines from spots on the ground where he assumed either the soldiers who came with or those before who perished sprout up, only fueling his initial theory once he managed to fight the whiner long enough. ''You're right,'' Takt smiled, tossing Therese aside on the ground, his arms open and raised. His eyes closed. ''I have several.'' L'Arc's scythe glowed a deep purple on the edge of the blade.
''Rahhh!'' L'Arc's charge, the blinding feeling that followed unable to be told as his attack landing or if the power was too much.
A bucket of cold water splashed on the pair, nearly sending Therese into shock and irritating L'Arc. From what they could gather, they were in a cell; their armor was gone, with dirty smocks that barely passed as clothes in their place. The dim light from the wall torches so far spaced out made it hard to see in the cold, dark space.
What they could see plain as day in front of them was another matter.
''See? I told you. Not dead, just really bad at whatever the hell they were doing.'' Takt simply responded, paying the glare of the other two people little mind as he tossed the bucket to the side. ''Didn't get much out of them, so good luck.'' L'Arc hissed, even now, he still had that same attitude? Why, he should-
''-I hope the two of you are comfortable,'' the soothing voice of the woman in front of them showed. Her voice, calm thought firm sounded a bit whimsical. There was no mistaking it; from the garb to the stance.
She was royalty.
''W-We have nothing to say to you,'' Therese whimpered to herself as she tried to fix her hair. ''You may as well kill us.''
The woman in front tilted her head a bit, while the other, shorter one gave a light scolding to Takt. Her eyes glistened with the feeling of confusion, only tempered with a touch of rage. She kneeled down, her hands on her knees. ''Help me understand.'' L'Arc watched the woman with a cautious eye, the realization taking a moment to sink in of who she was. ''Why do you attack us? Why the ill will?'' silence followed in the next few seconds, Therese only settling to bunch up as if her questions would not reach if she was in a ball. ''You do realize the predicament the two of you are in, correct?''
Takt huffed, leaning against the wall and picking dirt from his nails. This was getting them nowhere, and he frankly didn't have time to babysit any longer. The pair barely fought with any shred of real power, no real plan, and the next thought on his mind that Fitoria had to put to his mind was the time of the next Wave; it was still some time before then, but according to her, the rest of the Heroes would need to be summoned in order to defend against it. ''Well I don't give a shit, so I'm going to go take one; call me when you have an act worthy of God.''
''And off he goes,'' Fitoria sighed, shaking her head and stepping towards the iron bars of the cells, wanting the results of how these two were able to do what they did. From her assessment when Takt brought them in, mixed with what he witnessed and what the queen told her about the figure that Naofumi fought before his passing, she was almost so sure.
Heroes, but of a different breed, and world. The previous Shield Hero had mentioned once or twice about the possibility from the fragments she could gather when she allowed herself time to deeply concentrate and probe her own mind. From what place or the particular summon method was lost to her. But more than that was lost; Fitoria felt. . .a shift. Something, with either the arrival of these two, the departing of Naofumi and the other sub-par Heroes, or a grander scheme of which she had no idea of still pointed to the same result of there being an issue. ''You're going to want to talk.''
. . .
''Perhaps my words fail to convince you,'' L' Arc watched the queen continue from her spot kneeled, her voice becoming a bit louder but toeing the line of aggression. The almost imperceptible glow in her eyes made L'Arc's raise a bit, the silent sign of telling him to focus as he was the only one of the two willing to at least glare back at her and see whatever it could be that she wanted to say. For all his arrogance and carefree attitude at times, he was not above listening. ''You two come into the borders of my land, attack my soldiers and a summoned Hero, and expect to be not be questioned on your actions? a small series of chuckles came from her mouth before she contained herself. ''You must take me for either a fool or you yourselves may be more foolish than what I can believe.''
Therese lifted her eyes from her lap, noting that the two women who were essentially marking them as villains, as troublemakers yet had the audacity to be before them and act all high and mighty. The thought made her stomach want to turn inside out. ''You don't know us. . .'' Fitoria narrowed her eyes and said nothing in response. She would not be the butt of anyone's jokes.
''Hmmm, then why were the two of you dispatched rather easily from what Takt told us? I would be under the impression you would have better combat ability for the Heroes you claim to be," Fitoria spoke in a condescending tone, noting how small, how weak they looked when not baring their fangs. "Though not as strong as Naofumi in some ways, Takt is powerful enough to-" Therese interjected, a shaky hand pointing to Fitoria.
"His. . . fault. It's all his fault! He ruined everything!" Therese rose up suddenly, knocking over L' Arc and running over to the bars, her speed catching the women off guard until Fitoria caught Therese's hands that she held almost no doubt that were attempting to choke her. The crazed, frantic movements of her dilated pupils failed to move the Queen of Melromarc as she met the young girl's gaze with an inquisitive frown.
"Therese, calm down!" L'Arc walked over, slowly approaching to appear as helpful as he could only without sending her further down the rabbit hole. Ever since word, or more so, the feeling of Glass's passing reached the pair, their plans were noticeably thrown astray, but not completely stopped. The one wildcard in the form of Takt certainly made the two plot their escape with that and other factors with more consideration in mind.
"Hmm? The mention of Naofumi seemed to pique your interest, could it be you feel he was the issue rather than perhaps the two of you?" Mireillawatched as Therese shook off her partner and turned her attention elsewhere.
"If he just stopped interfering. . .then our plans would be accomplished!" Therese shook and cried, no longer caring for grace or elegance; not when she was literally reduced to next to nothing in a situation where nothing much would change immediately, such as her pride. "Our world would be saved, and-"
"-Then what?" Fitoria asked, still holding the frantic girl's hands as she craned her eyes towards her, noting the narrowed stare and emotionless words that she spoke. "If Naofumi laid down his shield in battle, you would have killed him, and for what? So your world could survive while ours withers away and dies?"
"W-Well, I wouldn't put it like that exactly," L'Arc chuckled a bit, in a way to try and lighten the mood, knowing that a small laugh would draw a bit of attention away from the point, hopefully. "The kid-"
"Naofumi Iwatani, or Shield Hero Naofumi, is what he was known by, and you shall not disgrace his brief legacy here in this world," Mirellia's tone left no room for negotiation, though with the hopefully temporary altered mindset of the female and obvious deflecting nature of the boy before her, she ensured respect for the honorable dead. However, she needed to get information out of these two, and to what degree that knowledge could do in furthering her own plans for her nation and people. "But seeing as we have had a lovely chat for today, the time for actual information is now; so you may want to talk if you want your conditions to improve."
L'Arc instantly laughed, calling her bluff from a mile away. All rulers implored a similar mindset and almost always resulted in things not being where they would want it, at least those unwilling to do the things that needed to be done to accomplish a result. "What, are you thinking of torture?"
A thought occurred in the ruler's mind. Not of torture, since that already was on the agenda to have, but the. . .tenacity was to be appreciated. Multiple thought formulated about the current situation and how a trade of sorts could be used to get what she knew she wanted, and what she knew she did not yet want. Should she tell them outright, or play the part of the fool? With all the trouble that the pair gave her and her solders, Mireilla did figure it to be the least of their worries to know what was coming in the event they held any opportunity to adjust to it. Another thought rose to her mind that a part of her wanted to have squashed, but simply could not as that same part of her being was what held her in check in these recent months, especially following the execution of her own family, regardless of their fall from grace in the eyes of the people. Many a night, slept plagued with mild visions and dreams of her head in the block, her name being changed for the worse, and the last thing for her eyes to witness being the fall of a blade.
"Melty," Mireillathoughts of her late deceased daughter flooded her mind, seeing the last interaction before her set-off with Naofumi's party in the last wave pass as an eternity that only intensified with greater attention to the smallest detail to the grandiose conclusion and confusion that she sent her youngest to die in a war Mireilla herself was not so sure if the end was a possibility anymore than if anymore would have to die due to the broken system of the world they all shared. "I do this for you."
WHOOSH!
"Ma'am, we may. . .have an issue." Mirellia's eyes widened a tad at the information her Shadow gave her, slowly rising from her kneeled position and fixing her dress. This would need to be discussed elsewhere, least the two prisoners before them gain any ideas. Their punishment would suit the crime once information began to flow, and said information would flow.
Whether they would like it or not.
5 Months Later. . .
Another rumble came from the distance, sending a small wave of pressure throughout the castle, the tail end of it reaching the dungeons and blowing a light breeze in L'Arc's food to which he longer tried to fight against shielding against; almost like clockwork, this would happen and sour his mood. Therese absentmindedly brushed her hair with the simple brush she was given, though she couldn't tell how good it looked without a mirror, and L'Arc was only so good at telling her that her hair looked fine to the dismay of her. Even being in terrible conditions didn't make so it they would have to forget simple behaviors and expectations. "Ouch." Therese groaned, accidentally touching a welt that she paid little to when brushing. The many blows over the weeks made it difficult to properly remember unless she managed to focus.
"Be careful, you're not getting any older, you know." L'Arc dryly commented, stuffing his mouth full of mildly salted rice and baked chicken breast with at least three day old bread. When the queen made it clear they would be fed, she failed to tell them under the pretense the quality of food depended on what they could willingly or otherwise expound to her in the efforts to support her kingdom and people. The only other thing that made it worse was the repetition; L'Arc was sick of this crap for the past week. He craved a nice steak and some beer, only to be dangled with the idea of such by way of dreams. "What day is it?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, we tried keeping track and that didn't work." Therese said, pouting when a particular knot took a bit more hair then she would have liked when she was met with resistance. "I don't think we can-" L'Arc growled, knowing what would come and the way that his partner would try and weasel out of talking about their escape plan. It only took a matter of the right opportunity, though they had yet to actually witness such a thing with the security up the max whenever they were moved anywhere in the kingdom.
"-Don't. We'll find a way out of here," L'Arc shook his head, reassuring himself. Yea, they would get out; they had to. Every 'session' only gave them greater knowledge, but it would be worthless if they were unable to actually put any effort into it. "We just have to stay confident."
"I'll have to admit that is one of your better qualities at times," Therese gave a weak smile, though purely for show to appease her partner's ego so the both of them wouldn't go crazy. "Who do you think is attacking them?"
L'Arc shook his head, not having the slightest idea. They never made much of a note to study the rest of the world outside of what they were sure that would need for their plans. The rest mattered little. Grabbing a small piece of chicken breast, L'Arc sat up from his spot on the floor, walking to the edge of the cold cell's bars, hurling a chunk into the nearest torch, watching the food overcook and burn. Cleaning his throat, he spoke in the loudest tone short of giving himself a sprained voice box. "Yo, can we get some service here? We've been here how long and we don't have a clue of who's attacking you! I think we should have a right to know!"
The last words managed to echo before L'Arc cursed himself, hoping that would get a response of some kind versus the other times, but he figured each day, or night, whichever, the two of them couldn't tell. He almost considered giving up at times, but he couldn't. Their world was in ruin, he knew. The people, the beautiful landscape, the great food and the memories of the lives of the people who just wanted to live a decent living, and all of that would be for the reason of selfishness.
Their weapons long gone, and under heaviest guard fortified by enchantments were put the farthest away, which L'Arc was sure that the guards made sure the key to such was far away as possible.
But the worst of it had yet to come for this 'day' if L'Arc was correct.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Oh, no. . .again already?!" Therese's exclamation following by her incessant breathing made her partner groan as she fought to crawl back to the wall, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "No, no, no!"
A deep throated chuckle followed with the last thump of well-made leather boots against the dungeon floors, revealing the silhouette of a man adorned in padded but baggy grey pants and light armored obsidian black shoulder and knee guards flanked by two mages and Melromarc guards. The grey padded shirt he wore bore a singular sleeve on his left while the other, while bare held a noticeably bigger shoulder guard with a singular reinforced leather glove. The look of mirth in his magenta eyes shone even in the dim lights of the torches. "I'm sure that was a bit quicker than the last few times, are we getting better, Therese?"
Therese writhed from her place on the ground, shutting her eyes and hoping that the experience would be quick at the very least. Her mind still remained in fragments from the last time where she attempted to fight from the 'reach'. At first, her and L'Arc resisted, their own wills being superior to what they believed to be mediocre talent.
But how wrong were they.
"What's the score today, Leri?" L'Arc standing up and walking right in front of the man, his hand loosely clutching the cold bars, an challenging look in his eye as Leri waved a finger in disapproval, barely able to watch the digit move as a blur as it poked L'Arc in the head, sending the man back to his partner, his head hitting the wall with enough force knock his brain and forth in his head, Therese slowly reaching out to check on her partner as the cell door opened, both guards who accompanied him who readied their swords as the mages began to chant, the faint sickly purple light illuminating inside the cell walls and floors, showing the shape of modified Slave Crests.
"Well," Leri said in a whimsical tone, hearing the shout of pain from the pair as the Crests activated. This, he would enjoy like every other time, and while the result mattered to his employer, the personal enjoyment made the job all the better, each and every time. These two were certainly better than the common ones he would get, but even with his experience, he knew there still existed some measure of fear beyond the bravado. It always made it clear when the last bit of hope was squeezed out, and some innate feeling made it so that Leri knew that day would possibly be today. "You tell me what the Queen wants to know, and it stops, real simple. Life's not that hard to go through."
Therese simply yelled back out, shrinking at Leri's gaze, clutching her blanket tightly. "W-We already told you e-everything! All you d-do is torture us now! When will you get that?!"
Leri tilted his head, jostling a bit of his brown mop-swept hair to the side as the question made him chuckle; it wouldn't stop, not now or ever until what was agreed upon was delivered. The basic rules of a contract were something of a holy text to follow by in a world of lawlessness and immortality. "When the Queen says so. You think I'm dumb, that's not the case, I air more on the side of caution when I say there's a few more things you know, so why not be upfront?"
Therese howled when the mages increased their input, her attempted move towards Leri was cut short as he laughed when she crashed on the floor.
"Oh my goodness, you should know this by now, but I guess if we need to go another round then fine, we can-" Leri was stopped by another voice from the end of the hallway, his hand paused midway in grabbing her hair with the arrival of a rather young messenger solider, his armor dirty and face flush with fear as he quickly gave his report with a half effort salute. The soldiers present gave him a passing glance.
"-Sir, Ake reporting! The queen requests you out to the front line! The opposing kingdom's defenses have weakened our Sapper division and are currently gaining ground to the East!" Ake breathed out his report, nearly falling on his back if not for the solider nearest him breaking his fall. "Acting Sergeant Takt is at the front line, attempting to kill the enemy commander but he may need assistance with the amount of reinforcements their kingdom provided."
Leri quirked a brow, knowing that the situation outside was one of fragility. The nation of Siltvelt certainly made good on their promise of taking positive action against Melromarc for the failed release of The Shield Hero to the kingdom in accordance with the breached decree that was set forth and agreed upon. With the perception of Melromarc changed by the public execution of the Heroes by the kingdom, along with the royals made for a tense situation over the three day time limit to a declaration of war. "Is that so?"
Ake nodded furiously, wanting to get his report out and get back to the front line to defend his kingdom. Initially scared out of his young mind, the drive to go out and fight for the well-being of his country and leader far surpassed that of the immediate fear of death. "Yes, Sir. Sgt. Takt expects you within the hour."
Fortune had to be favorable. . .for those two, for now.
"Fine, I expect my payment as it's always been, not one coin more." Leri smirked, shooting a two finger salute to L'Arc and Therese who knew better than to try and get up when Leri stood as close to them as he did. Flexing his gloves and ordering the mages to walk with after the guards locked the cell, Ake hurried behind the man, the thump his boots slowly losing sound while the guards ensured the cell was locked before marching off and locking what was sure to be the mother of all doors to even lead inside their own cell before the loud metallic clang followed.
Seconds passed before they even considered talking. It would be too dangerous; Therese looked to her partner and nodded, her muscles randomly spazzing.
Their trap had been set.
"Do you think?" L'Arc asked, feeling his head hang with the intensity of a drum. He had to sell the act, but the pain did not make it any better. Whatever hole they drug the monster of a man of made the idea of knowing he was birthed and taught to do what was obviously good at all the scarier.
"It will, we'll just have to be prepared to fight, we won't know where exactly he'll be, so we'll have to trust our instincts." Therese said, knowing the slip-up a guard basically telling almost all of their information on their enemy over the past few months in small droves, and the experience she just witnessed gave them enough information to enact their plan. "He won't be here for long, so make the best of what we have." A grin began to form on her face all the same as her partner, they would need to wait long enough.
Eastern Borders of Melromarc. . .
Another volley of arrows soared through the air, the amount managing to temporarily outshadow the sun on their descent down, hitting either the shields of seasoned veterans and recruits from the academy. The clang of steel against steel, shield to face, and magic afflicting those with either death or lasting effects; all of it drowned out by the shouts of the opposing kingdoms who waged war.
"Onward, you fuckers, fight for your kingdom! And kill those who try to do harm to God!" Takt announced, the horse given to him, grace and elegance shown as she charged forward, unaware of the deeper understanding of the fight to come while her rider guided her with a strong fist. Siltvelt itself was bold in its approach to attack the kingdom of Melromarc, and what made the situation all the more amusing was the reasoning for starting the war; The Legendary Heroes's death mattered not to the kingdom, but so the the exception of Shield Hero Naofumi.
Another volley of arrows came, protection by way of Wind magic deflecting the projectiles away from the soldier while Takt, alone and past the major scope of fire was adamant on capturing the leader of the other side and making him and his troops surrender, versus engaging the riff-raff unlike the last 2 and a half months of engagements. "Where the hell is that guy she hired? Leri, was it?" Takt asked himself aloud, maneuvering his steed over a fallen Melromarcian artillery cannon, the dense, cold air of the morning making things difficult to see at times.
From the intelligence they were given by the queen's Shadows, the enemy commander's area of operation remained in the last known position when scouted two days prior. His vision clear due to the smoke lifting just in time to see the row of Beastmen and regular soldiers. "Hnngh!" Takt jumped off at the last moment, twisting his body and rolling into a run, expertly twisting away swords and spears away with the back of his gauntlets.
One by one, the opposition fell, the Melromarcian soldiers doing their best to contend with their enemy's versatility for the time being with losses not as vast as Siltvelt, though noteworthy nonetheless. A wave of hot air cascaded from the DragonNewt squad that unleashed their fire in a four-sided attack, the blazing heat scorching the ground and engulfing the man where he stood, the pain of the attack would have been felt if any other stood before them. "Nice try!" Takt maneuvered his arms in a circle, utilizing Wind magic to redirect the attack and essentially supercharge it with his own power, resulting in a greater show of carnage as the fight continued.
Leaning to the side after a sword was tossed his way, Takt's quicker instincts enabled him to catch the handle of the blade, using the surprised solider's lack of focus to drive his blade into the exposed area of his neck, driving his fist into his face and watching as he fell with a gurgled grunt. Spying ahead of the chaos and from where the majority of the forces came from told Takt's intuition where to have bodies be. "Straight ahead, they can't stay this way forever!" the sound of cheers from the soldiers that echoed the battle cry carried on hours into this engagement.
Before long, when the battle soon drew to a close with Melromarc barely managing to hold the line as their attackers fled with wounded pride and greater loss than what the last few surprise attacks brought forth. The amount of battlefield injury to death was relatively low, while the stain of would wash away, little would be able to be done for the mental state of those scarred by the act of war. A lone solider came to report to Takt in the makeshift operation area as he haphazardly looked over the remaining assets; the commander no doubt moved back further which would cause them to go deeper in territory that even Takt knew would be laden with traps. "Sgt, Private Denwas r-reporting." Denwas grunted, his second-degree skin burn on the side of his forearm aching as he shifted into the position to address him. "We have located enemy traps ahead of our path and disabled them."
Nodding and grimacing when he saw a solider's face melted by the fires of the enemy, ironically being proud of the damage that was done to cause half of the young man's face resemble and smell of burning rubber and meat. "Good, prepare a squad of 120, we'll make to take the commander so I can shove my boot so far up his ass so that'll rupture an organ and bleed out internally and die at my feet," Takt munched on a dried piece of meat, watching the map with a lazy eye. "This war should be over with by now, but attacking Siltvelt directly would force a hand I know your Queen wouldn't let be played, but I say to hell with that depending on what happens with Mr. Commander." Takt closed his eyes for a moment to relax.
That much for a moment he deserved. The world around him was nowhere near the specs of where it should be for God, but he would fix the world and all imperfections before-
"-Sgt, something's going on outside," another soldier called, a bright light penetrating through the tent and kicking the wind up to the max, uplifting fallen weapons and armor. The ground shook, tossing the strong and still standing men on their feet. The sky began to turn a sickly purple, cackling with lighting that rained down indiscriminately, vaporizing some soldiers on the spot while other nearly went into shock by the loud noise or by flying debris. A wave of pressure pushed downward easily crushing the remaining soldiers who collectively folded while their leader merely groaned and stood tall, eyes widened as a singular sentence managed to find its way out of his mouth before everything that happened came to an abrupt stop. "What the holy fuck?" Takt asked once a last thunder-strike hit in the distance, revealing a massive mountain not previously there.
That began to move.