Chapter 7: The End Of The Beginning
It's another day at the Saderan Empire expedition force. It's already a week after their first initial attack to the world beyond the gate.
The levvies, although they filling their time with training, are getting restless. They starting to get impatient. After getting more training, they grew more arrogant. Sometimes they challenged the legionnaires, and at some occasion, they would yelling at them especially the survivor of the first wave for being imcompetence.
After all, the levvies didn't saw the horror of the battle in their first initial attack. It was well-known common sense in Falmart that demi-human are inferior towards human. A human is the most superior creature in the world, and whoever born as non-human are less intelligent.
With their renewed skill and combat proficiency, the levy troops thought that the army of orcs beyond the gate were nothing more than a simple-minded brute force.
That's why they are getting impatient to start another offensive move. They are impatient to plunder whatever nation beyond the gate.
And that mentality, would soon become the most troublesome factor in this campaign.
But while the levvies are getting arrogant, the higher-ups couldn't spare their focus on it. They were busy preparing for another offensive move, and they endorse themselves at whatever opportunity arises.
It was a middle of the day when the sun is set at it's highest.
Marquis Kallios held another war council, and probably the last after many council has been held. He was finished on preparing his own strategy and couldn't wait to present it to other generals. He wanted to finish out this situation and start the conquest.
In the war council, he immediately took everyone's attention and keep his explanation in simple.
He re-draw the map from Count Formal enlarge the scale, he mark the possible enemy position and directing the troops to where he expecting.
"First we will exhaust their front row or at least taking their attention. My suggestion is to use the large number of levvies since the goal wasn't to breaking the enemy's row but to simply buying time. We already knew from general Agnius's story that these damned orcs are stubborn and heavily armored. We wouldn't be able to break them from a frontal assault, and that's why we would destroy them from another angle."
"You mean their flanks? General Agnius had already tried to encircle them from every direction but none of it works." One of the generals criticise.
"No, my friend. We won't break them from their flanks. We will break them from behind."
"Behind? How?"
"See this map? Here we are, just dozen meters from the riverside. This is where the gate located, our exit. Laid upon us is a plain grassfield, but the truth is this place were surrounded by trees. We're in the middle of the forrest. And that's our chance."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Remember the first step? While our levvies are taking the enemy's attention, we will use our cavalry to do a huge flanking through the forest and appeared on their backs. Our cavalry would silently move in their left flank and strike them from behind."
"Then, in my prediction, there are no kind of army who would stand on their position in that situation. They could be surrender, or retreat. And, if they retreated, I assume they would retreated to their camp. But," Marquis Kallios grinned, "I also planned to raid their camps before they could retreated. That's why, I suggest we create another contingent for the enemy camp raiders."
The whole room listening to his plan, some are trying to think to criticise, but most are already in agreement. The patrician in particular, had already set up their mind to where they would join.
But then,
"I have heard from Diablo, the one who confronts General Agnius that the enemy would also show their might. What if they are awaiting us in larger numbers?"
A question rosed up from Count Formal. But Marquis Kallios had already have an answer.
"You said there were only 5000 orcs, right? I assume they don't have much more reinforcement. And if they did, they wouldn't arrive when we're attacking."
"But you agreed about whatever nation we're raiding on is considerably very wealthy since they can armed their monster army. Don't you think they have more tricks up their sleeve?"
"I'm confident we can deal whatever with their tricks. That's why, I would send the whole army for this battle."
Upon hearing the statement, many were letting out a small gasps but followed with a smile of joy. The patricians had been waiting for this. They wanted a grand invasion with a sheer numbers. Imagine what they can tell to the future generation when they participate, no, lead an army in hundred thousands to gloriously charge at the enemy.
But Count Formal didn't think like that.
"Do you even know what they capable of?" he asked, with a great concerned face. He is indeed, worried that Marquis Kallios has been blinded by greed.
"Count Formal, this is the best strategy we could do. Utilizing our sheer numbers, divide it efficiently, lead it with competent leader, and motivated. If we don't make any step, we won't get anywhere."
It's better than moving backwards!, Count Formal screamed internally.
Count Formal tried to object again, but soon he received multiple backlash from other generals and patricians.
"Are you thinking the Empire would lose?!"
"You seem to be scared, there is no room for coward!"
"The demi-human lovers like you would never understand the might of humans!"
"You should never joined here in the first place!"
The whole tent suddenly become a shouting match, only it was directed to one person. And that person, couldn't find any reason to fighting back. They are already blinded by greed.
Count Formal suddenly kept quiet and didn't say anything. But for those who stand close to him could hear he's sighing several times.
The war council eventually continued after a few minutes of mocking loudly towards Count Formal. Marquis Kallios and prince Diabo just stand still, letting them to do whatever they want to say. They both think it's a proper way to silence the ever whining Count Formal.
And after that, the council proceeded in surprisingly smooth discussion. None of them objecting, and since Marquis Kallios had decided to bring the whole army in single offensive, everyone got the room for achieving glory.
Most of their cavalry would joined the wide flanking, but around the quarter of the total cavalry would raid the enemy camp while the enemy is bussying themselves with the levvies.
The legionnaires is right behind the levvies. It creates a several minor backlash since some of the generals and officers see this as an act of robbing their honor. But after some persuasion, they agreed to let the levvies to take the front row. Since, as Marquis Kallios knew, the frontal assault only acted as diversion.
He knew the enemies are strong, and that's why he choose to let their most easiest sacrificial pawn to take the front.
The patricians who have their own regiments were tasked to raid the enemy camp. They receive this task with overjoyed feeling since they were permitted to plunder anything, in addition they should also share to the rest of the army for later.
The most elite unit, the wyvern riders would stand still and only act when there's a troubled friendly unit.
Then, it was decided. The second attack would be done tomorrow morning. As the sun rises, the whole army would marched their way to the gate.
The whole people in war council tent, in exception of Count Formal, are cheering for the upcoming triumph. They absolutely confident about their chance of winning, and the outcome of this conquest would gave them eternal fame.
It was time to prepare.
But it also a time, for the people beyond the gate to realize that they already a step ahead of the Saderans.
One of the people, dressed in the same armaments as the Imperial army, had secretly focusing his mind to try communicate with his superior.
It is unknown how he could enter the war council tent, but the most importantly, he finally sent a message that has been waited by his fellow. The message is rather short,
{Souei-sama, tomorrow morning. 140.000 in estimation.}
…
In Tempest, the location of the gate has been fortified and guarded by 52.000 combined troops from Red Numbers, Yellow Numbers, Blue Numbers, and Green Numbers. Intially they had 75.000 troops along with the newly formed troops, the Grey Numbers, but after one thing to another, the Grey Numbers were pulled out and preparing for their own major task.
At first, Diablo is taking charge of the role of commander. But after gaining more proper intelligence, Rimuru and Benimaru agreed to take back Diabo into his respective job and replace his commander's role with Gobua, with the vice-leader Gobta.
Gobua was chosen because of her better experience in commanding a troops. Her achievement during the battle of Eurazania where she manage to stabilize the frontline against Insectars had made her one of the top commander in Tempest military. While Gobta is no slouch either, Gobua have more experience in battle and directly involved. That's why Gobta gave the overall command to Gobua. But that being said, Gobta probably just wanted to slack-off.
Benimaru had sent Gobua along with his 200 Kurenai members to aid the commanding role and also and the strategist since the second day after the first invasion.
And today, Gobua had received an important message from Intelligence Bureau. A simple yet it contain everything she needed to know.
"They will attack tomorrow morning, with 140.000 warriors."
It's still a middle of the day, so she found out that she still has much of time she needed. Nevertheless, she immediately calling out the corps leader, or representative to discuss the preparation after receiving the important message.
Gobta came as her vice-commander and also as the leader of Green Numbers.
A High-orc named Gelond, the substitute commander of Geld, came as the commander of Yellow Numbers.
A Dragonewt named Gazat had came representing the Blue Numbers. Originally, he's the captain of Hiryuu squad but after receiving a lot of new recruits in the Blue Numbers, he "promoted" into Gabiru's second-in-command in Blue Numbers Corps.
Lastly, a Baki named Mazel came as the leader of the Red Numbers. Baki or Centoid is the next evolutionary stage of Mezu race. Their appeareance is a large muscular humanoid but with a head of horse. They have a fierce rivalry with Gyuki race or Tauroid, a next revolutionary stage of Gozu race.
Four army corps leader had gathered, along with their own adjutant and advisor. Gobua, seeing everyone were ready, began to explain her plan.
"Good afternoon everyone. I have receive the newest information from Intelligence Bureau, it's a very simple message. They will come tomorrow morning."
"Hm, understood. How many?" asked Gelond.
"The estimation is 140.000. Almost thrice of our total number here."
"Humans?"
"Yes. The intel had gathered they have around 30.000 horses and 400 wyverns. The rest are humans."
"All right. It shouldn't be hard." Mazel commented, but immediately got a sharp glare from Gobua.
"Don't ever underestimate the enemy, no matter how weak they look like, Mazel. Rimuru-sama through Benimaru-sama has teach me that important lesson."
Mazel, feeling guilty for what he said, immediately apologize. "I'm sorry, Gobua-sama. It won't ever happen again."
"Good. Just because you're high ranking Majin, it doesn't mean you're invincible."
"Understood, Gobua-sama."
"But Gobua-san, how we're going to face them? Should we attack head on?" asked Gobta. Between the other corps commander, he's the most laxed character until he didn't use "sama" to refer Gobua.
But Gobua didn't mind at all with that, instead she's starting to explain her plan, "It's easy. The intel also gave an accurate offensive plan from the enemy."
"First they would send a huge wave of their 'levvies'. The levy is a conscripted army, a hastily formed troops. And from what I read, they receive very little amount of training. These levvies are meant for distraction. The real attack is coming from their cavalries."
"Their cavalries seems to be planned on wide flanking maneuver through this side, and attack us from behind. Then, lastly they would attack and raid our camp with their remaining troops. It appears they also have noblemen with their own retinue. And these noblemen would be the one who raid our camps."
"My plan is pretty simple. Gelond, you and your army use the [Eart Manipulation] skill to create a giant pit when the levvies are attacking. We will trap most of them, and if we lucky, probably a whole of them."
"Next, after trapping the enemy into a giant pit, Gelond would finish the remaining troops. You finished the trapped one, whether you kill them or capture them, I leave that decision to you. And for the rest, if there's still many troops avoided the trap, it's your turn Mazel."
"'Yes!'" Gelond and Mazel retorted in a perfect sync.
"The next one is the cavalry. I suspect they would send the cavalry first, and probably at night to avoid our detection. But well, they didn't knew we can see in the dark." Said Gobua while grinned.
Everyone in the tent also gave a short laugh, finding it amusing that the enemy probably wouldn't knew they have a technology to give them a perfect view even at the darkest night.
That's right. Tempest had develop a night-vision device. It's basically inspired from Extra Skill [Magic Sense] where the user used the surrounding magicules as a medium to transfer every sense they have. The sighting, hearing, tasting, and even touch could be feel by anyone who have this skill by using magicules as their medium.
This device are existed thanks to Rimuru who had perfected his [Argos] and now Tempest can use that technique with a hardware device called Magic Detection Device, or MaDD for short. It's a small ball shaped metal with magic stone as the power source and several magic engravings on it. It can hover at 800 meters above the ground for 12 hours, depending on the quality of the magic stone that were used.
MaDD could sent a footage of the location with 360° radius along with other censor such as heat, sound, and even magicules. MaDD could also zoom in from where it's placed. The only thing a MaDD couldn't do is moving. They have to stand still in the place where they hovered at.
And with this device, every individual who didn't have an [Extra Skill: Magic Sense] could perceive many things by magicules. So, with this device, even the darkest night could be seen as clear as the middle of the day.
"But, even if we could see them, it would change nothing if we didn't stop them. I want an ambush for them inside the forest. Gobta, you're up on this."
"E-Eh? Me?"
"Don't ever think I will let you slacking off, Gobta. I pretend I didn't knew your true motive on promoting me as the overall commander here. So, to pay the favor, make an ambush in the forest where they would use."
"Geez… But it's fine anyways. Battling in the forest is my forte after all. Mhuehehe." Gobta raise his head and closed his eyes. His right hand gave a "v" sign as he gave a smug expression.
Everyone could only sigh at the sight.
"All right, that leaves with the Blue Numbers. Gazat, I have two task for you. First, the enemy have wyverns. It appears they would use it as contingency force. I want you to take it out before they could even use it. And second, I want you to become the pursuing force when they retreated."
"Understood. But should we pursue them until across the gate?"
"No, capture as many as we can before they could reach the gate. The more we catch, the more easier for Saare-dono's mission."
"Just capture?"
"Prioritize your own safety. If you feel like your opponent cannot be captured, then you can kill them."
"Understood. You can leave it to me."
"Good. Me and my Kurenai troops would stand still in the camp, but we will rushed to the battlefield if something is going wrong. Don't worry, I wouldn't let any of you died in this battle."
"'Yes Ma'm!'"
…
It's past midnight. It's a perfect time for resting, or night raid.
Quietly, a 20.000 cavalrymen attempted to cross the gate with little light they have. Only a few brought a torch, and they who brought a torch were tasked as the guide.
They are preparing for the wide flanking around the enemy position.
These cavalries are planning to hide between the trees before the levvies managed to distract the enemy forces. To make that happen, they have to be in position before the battle begun.
It sounds easy, but it's the most difficult part.
They try to quietly cross the gate. They dismounted the horses to minimize their sounds.
The one who carried the torch walks in the front. Nobody is saying anything. They all kept their silence in a great discipline.
After they manage to arrive in Tempest, things started to get more difficult.
They know they have to walk to the left side of the gate. But none of them could see any useable path.
The forest is turned out to be more thicker than they expected. Even for 10 horses, it's already difficult. And they have to hide 20.000 of their own inside this forest, with a cover of darkness.
They have no choice other than to walk in separate groups. They couldn't take one path for the whole cavalry. They have to divide themselves and hoped they would meet at the same spot somewhere.
This cavalry unit were surprisingly led by Prince Diabo.
"Make 3 separate group. Find another possible path and we'll regroup somewhere." He whispered to his officers.
He walk while taking his horse in the middle, accompanied with his bodyguards.
The 20.000 cavalry were divided into 3 separate groups, and they didn't know they have been taking a too much long distance to separate.
They followed any path they could find. But it might be also a luck they have found the soil to be hard enough to step, and not a sticky mud where horses could get stuck.
One of the group had taken too far into the left. They have completely inside the forest. The leader got anxious as soon as he find how eerie the forest was.
"This forest seems… too quiet" he murmured.
But he kept pushing forward, until…
*Bugh
In a complete darkness, he felt a heavy push from his front. He was flinched immediately, but soon understood that the feeling was a body that has fallen to his position.
He bend over, checking the body under his foot.
And then, he touched something that was unnatural. It's a hard wood, like a small stick but pretty long enough to be thrown.
It didn't take him a long time to realize it's an arrow.
He stand up and intended to shout, "AMBUSH!"
But as soon as he said, "AM-", he lost his balance. He couldn't move, yet he feel no pain. He knew he was fallen somehow, but he didn't feel anything on his body. He can still hear his surrounding turn into panic, but he cannot move.
He wonder if he's dead.
His horse become panicked. And the panick spread throughout the group.
Horses screaming, and their riders have no idea what's going on.
"Light up the torches!" ordered someone.
The one who brought a torches immediately lit it up only to see there are nobody in the woods except for them.
Many of the riders had already mounted their horses and prepare for attacking whoever ambushed them. But no matter how prepared they are, a forest is not an ideal terrain for a cavalry unit.
For the nex couple of minutes, they manage to calm down their horses but now they are very vulnerable to be noticed. They now had lit too many torches and they could be seen for several hundred meters away. If enemy had placed a scout in this area, there will be no surprise.
But suddenly, worrying about the loss of element of surprise become the last thing they could worried on.
In a brief second, several wide net pouring down from above.
"Ambush!"
"I can't move!"
"Help!"
Many who were trapped recklessly moving while they who accidently manage to avoid the trap had desperately trying to freed their colleague.
But then,
"Hehhh… you guys still resisting? I suggest you all surrender and we'll treat you kindly, tsu"
A childlike voice, but his figure is nowhere to be seen. That act is manage to grasp some of them into fear.
"Wh-Wha? Who's that? Show yourself!"
"I'm right here, tsu"
Suddenly, the voice came from very close distance. Many of them, including the one who got trapped, manage to find the source of the voice. They got struck with huge shock after finding out, the figure is now standing on their right side, closely.
"See? I'm here. Now, it would be more easier if you stop resisting and surrender you know? It will save our time as well. So, what do you guys think, tsu?"
But the response is not what Gobta's hoped for.
One of the rider who slip from the trap immediately charged at him with full speed. His face showed desperate and fear, but he still manage to try to attack Gobta.
Gobta seems to be hopping on some kind of grey wolf with a strange horn on it's head.
With a dim light from nearby torches, the cavalrymen could see this goblin and hastily charge at him.
But the next thing he saw, was unbelievable.
The goblin without any movement, had dissapeared to the underground. The cavalrymen looked around, then rubbing his eyes to check if he's imagining things.
It is one thing if he's the only one who imagining things, but it become problematic if many of the cavalrymen also saw what happen.
"What was that?!"
"I swear I saw that goblin!"
"Where he go?"
But before they could find him,
"Arghhh!"
"Help! Ahhhhh!"
Followed by the high pitch scream from the horses.
What happen to them is the net suddenly being pulled into the forest with high speed. The other cavalrymen who didn't got caught by the net could only see their fellow being dragged into the darkness.
They cannot do anything. They could only watch and hear their fellow's scream and missing into uncertainty. The screams getting quieter as they seems to be dragged far away, leaving the survivors into an utter silence.
It's a harrowing sight. The surrounding, only to be illuminated dimly by the torch, is giving more sense of horror.
It takes them a few seconds to regain conscious from what just happened.
"It's… This is disaster!"
"We have to get out from here!"
"Those goblins are preying on us! We cannot survive like this!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"
They swiveled their horses and turn back to where they came from. They whip their horses and running in haste. But sadly, just a moment later, a numbers of huge wolf came from their side and pounce dozen of cavalrymen.
The horse along with their rider got fallen immediately, but the wolves didn't stop there.
They continued attacking to the nearby cavalrymen.
The cavalrymen got stunned after the first strike and couldn't defend themselves on time when the wolves attacking them. They barely put up a fight, and just wildly swinging their swords in panic. They scream in horror, but the ambush didn't stop.
The Tempest Star Wolf, an evolutionary stage from a Direwolf after their leader being named by Rimuru, had grow into a one of the most fearsome beast in Tempest nation. They are usually being rode by selected Hobgoblin and become one of the Goblin Rider Squad, an elite squad of the Green Numbers under Gobta.
But at some occasion, they could launch an attack and make maneuvre perfectly without any help from their rider. And tonight, is one of the occasion where Goblin Riders let their Wolves run amok around the enemy forces.
There's only several hundred wolves deployed, yet they make a thousands of enemy cavalrymen to be in utter chaos.
The sound of falling horses along their groan, added with a scream from their riders, and unending sound of roar and footstep of the huge wolves, create a horror memories among the Saderan Cavalrymen.
For them who survived, they could only think of one thing, escape.
The rest of the survivors had completely abandoned each other, and focused their remaining energy to get out from the forest.
But it won't be easy.
The moment they finally thought have been escaped, another huge net had fallen from above. In this dimly lit forest, they couldn't see what is above them. The next thing they know, their whole body had been netted and very hard to move. Every movement they make was heavy as if they carried a huge luggage around their arms.
They have been in too much panic until they couldn't let out a scream. But before they could even scream, the net had been pull away into the forest, dragging the whole surviving cavalrymen alive.
One of the cavalry group had completely wiped out.
And then, appearing from the shadows, Gobta emerges with his fellow adjutants.
On contrary from the Saderans, Gobta and his fellows appeared to be very calm and vigorous. It's as if this is only a plaything.
"Phew, first group managed to be cleared. I should join another group's raiders. Is everything according to plan, Gobchi?" asked him to his adjutant.
"Everything went very well, Gobta. Many of them injured, but no one killed. We successfully capture them."
"I see I see… Well, let's immediately heal them with our potions. And tied them up then bring them to our camp with teleportation. I'll go seek the other groups and make sure everything is going according to plan."
"Sure. Then I will follow you."
"Hehe, thanks Gobchi. Come on, tsu, we gotta capture these mongrels!"
…
The first ambush had already began by capturing them with nets and surprise attack from Tempest Star Wolf. Although the whole ambushing was done in almost the same time, not every group could be dealt with a same strategy.
Particularly, this group.
It has a larger number also with a more trained members. And most of all, this group have an important figure inside it.
This group of cavalry consisted with 10.000 cavalries. They somehow manage to found a better path than the other two groups. With this path, they can formed a better defensive formation and better coordination.
That's why Gobta decided to use his one of valuable asset to finish this group. The newly Gravitation Magic.
Ever since Carrera joined Tempest and performed her [Gravity Collapse], Benimaru wanted to have a slight of that ability to be applied in military. He requested the researcher to make a good formula of gravitational magic by using a magicules alone.
After knowing this, Rimuru asked Carrera to help the reseachers in her free time. Not wasting any time, Carrera willingly assist the effort to make a gravitational magic come true.
It takes time since Carrera is not good at explaining things, but eventually, they manage to create a formula to manipulate gravity by magicules.
It's not as powerful [Gravity Collapse] from Carrera who could crush the enemy by simply pulling them to the ground until they break, but it's good enough to hold a huge amount of people to stand still for several moment. It depends on how much magicules you have to determine the duration of the performance, but on average, a normal researcher could hold the gravity for 20 minutes before run out of magicules.
After this major breakthrough, another path of development was beginning to take hold. Some researcher wanted to applied this into a hardware device, making it as magic tool while other researcher try to figure out on increasing the duration and the power output in it.
But for now, the gravitational magic had been teached to every army corps. It doesn't mean everyone in the army could perform the gravitational magic, but some of them who have better capacity in magicules or they who have a knack on magic, are learning this new type of elemental magic.
And Gobta intended to use this moment to use it. He intended to manipulate the gravity around the cavalry to make them unable to move. His netting won't work pretty well on this size of cavalry. And he want the to capture a certain figure in this group without any harm.
Gobta had already arranging a hiding place for the gravitational magic user to hide. They're hidden pretty well between the treelines and can retreat into shadow dimension when emergency arises.
Gobta is very confident in his subordinate for this ambush, and that's why he left them to keep watch another group before.
And soon, his confidence and trust towards his subordinate would be paid off.
…
Prince Diabo led his cavalry from the front. He have moved from his initial position in the middle of the column, into the forefront of the row. But of course, he also accompanied by bodyguards. This act is intended to gave example of how leaders should act. Even at time like this, making a good image is still need to be taken.
Diabo hold the torch, so his fellow behind him could see where they should walked.
And unlike his army, he and his bodyguard mounted their horses.
"It's very quiet." Diabo made a comment.
"It is, Your Highness. But we must make no sound, so please refrain from saying something uneeded." One of his bodyguard reprimand him.
Diabo didn't answer, but he nodded. He thinks this is gonna be easy because of how simple it is.
Get into the treeline, hide there, and attack the enemy's rear when the levvies are coming.
The only obstacle here is the darkness. He is one of the very few who lit up a torch, and behind him are 10.000 of cavalrymen. It was out of luck he found a good path which wide enough for 3-4 row of horses to walk on.
Diabo is confident. The strategy is simple, yet he knew it would work. Those monsters he heard from General Agnius might be strong and discipline, but they won't have intelligent to working on tactics.
He started to daydreaming about what would he do after gaining this glory. His brother, Zorzal would achieve nothing by taking control of the reserve force. So conquering this new land would not only bring much of wealth, but also prestige as the conqueror.
Yes, Diabo the Conqueror.
But that would only works if he did manage to conquer this new land. And to start it, he need to win the upcoming battle. And to win the battle, he must succeeding the task.
But just as he starting to focused more on his mission, he heard something.
A distant voice, a voice of horses and mens, somewhere in his left. It speaks in Saderan language, he can hear some of the voice yelling "elp!" or "retre". He look around, to check if his fellow were also hearing the same thing.
And they did.
"What is that?" one of them asked.
"Is that, the other group?"
"What happen to them?"
"Are they getting ambushed?"
And the answer was never come. Because in just a split second, everybody had fallen to the ground.
They felt a heavy pressure, as if something invinsible had pull them to the ground.
It was very strong until no body make a sound, not even a groan. Their horses also become a victim. They got immobile and fallen straight to the ground just like their riders.
Prince Diabo was included.
His daydreaming shattered in just split second, and right now his mind is full of question of what's going on.
All of his part of the body felt very heavy and he couldn't even lift his hand. His mouth got stuck on the ground and he barely able to breathe.
But a moments later, a huge net had caught them from their side. It was another heavy net that he had surely wouldn't be able to escape even if he didn't get grounded like this.
He heard some voices, a strange languages, from many directions.
With all his might, he finally able to move his head to look to his right. He saw his bodyguard couldn't move as well. But what caught his intention is the creature standing near the trees.
A goblin.
What?! Goblin did this?! His mind screaming of confusion.
Those Goblins spreading their net towards his troops and speak a foreign language. They seems to be wearing a good armor and brought a short sword in each of them.
Me?! Loosing to a mere goblins?! This is not happening!
Diabo desperately try to move his hand and stand on his feet. But the mysterious force is still getting better than him.
All of this had made him feeling the excruciatingly exhausted. It feels like in mere seconds, all of his energy had been gone.
Then, out of nowhere, a sudden drowsiness came. He have no energy left to resist, and finally fall unconscious.
…
Gobta has been watching the final stage of the plan and saw the Saderans were keep struggling as his subordinates cast the newly gravitational magic.
The initial plan was to paralyzed them with force, but turns out the gravitational magic is too strong until it could affecting themselves. So Gobta resorted into another method of finishing, forced sleep.
It surely bring back some unpleasant memories when he and Rigur are still newly named by Rimuru and got themselves attacked by group of Ogres. One of the Ogres had put them into sleep by magic, and unable to help the situation down.
But that's past, and now Gobta himself choose the same method to neutralize the invaders. If not for how weak they were, Gobta would never resort with this easy move.
"Phew… Another group has been finished. We sure got ourselves a lot of prisoners, right Gobchi?"
"Indeed. We lucky they're weaker than we thought. It seems there's no magician among them who could counter our magic."
"We got lucky, tsu. I heard from the talks that the Saderans was actually proficient with magic. I was a bit anxious if we encounter some of them and not knowing how capable the enemy's magician are."
"You right. But for now, we got more job to do, Gobta. We have to carry the prisoners by our own. The other groups seems to have been neutralized too."
"Got it, tsu. Let's ask some of our reserve Tempest Wolf to help carrying these people out to our camp. Gobua-san would handle the rest."
"And you, Gobta? What would you do next?"
"Me? Mhuhehehe… you know Gobchi, Rimuru-sama ever taught me the importance of self-rewarding. I think I would use the wisdom to the fullest!"
"Hahhh… Well, you've done a good job after all. My advice, don't do anything that would make Gobua-sama upset."
"Nahh… I'm a grown man, Gobchi. I knew how to handle a woman, tsu."
"Just… nevermind."
Gobchi sighed after seeing how smug and lazy expression that shown by Gobta. In just a moment, a flash of memories of how often he saw Gobta had a slap mark on his cheek came up in his head. Well, it doesn't mean Gobta would flirt with Gobua anyways. But Gobta could be annoying in other way.
…
It's already past midnight, the dawn is coming. And right now, a huge numbers of new prisoners has been brought to the camp by teleportation.
Gobua smiled with full satisfactory after seeing the huge numbers of prisoners. She had taken an advantage of enemy's plan. The question now is, would the enemy aware of their lost cavalry?
She expected the Saderans wouldn't know since they don't have a long range communication device and rely on messenger. But it could be on contrary and she just didn't knew what the Saderans might capable of in this situation.
Expecting the enemy would always come with a better condition was one thing she learned after serving the military for a long time in Tempest, especially when she rose up becoming commander of Kurenai unit.
She decided to wait the enemy movement and keep watch on the gate.
Meanwhile, she also overseer the healing of the Saderans in her camps.
She noticed how weak these human soldiers are. They probably barely in E rank, probably the same rank as novice adventurer. They don't possess any arts, and they seems to have no Skill whatsoever. Yet these soldiers were proudly saying they're the strongest?
It doesn't mean Gobua is viewing the humans are weak in general. She knew some humans are very strong, even stronger than her, but these invaders are straightfully weak without any exception.
But war is war. It might be seems like bullying by taking capture of them instead of giving them a glorious death, but Rimuru had ordered to spare the enemy if they're able to. And Gobua decided to capture them instead, and make them as bargaining chip in the next event.
This might be not an honorable battle between warriors, but peace couldn't be achieved with an honor alone.
Besides, it was Rimuru's decision to spare them. Gobua would never asked twice if it's Rimuru's decision. She believe faithfully that Rimuru know better how to deal this matter.
She's watching the Saderans keep trying to resist although her subordinates attempts to heal them. But the Saderans were eventually overpowered even with the "weakest" unit in her army. They were forcefully tied to each other, and placed in an open field with a simple barrier to keep them safe from sunlight and outside interference.
But one in particular, was held captive in separate place. She also meant to see him right now.
He was held captive in one of the tents, a pretty fancy one, a more luxurious than the other tent. Whether it was to give the prisoners feel at ease, or it was for mocking his loss, no one will knows the truth.
She walked into the inside of the camp, and saw the young man dressed in fancy armor is sitting on one of the chair. His hand doesn't even get cuffed, but his knee got chained into the ground and his movement become limited.
He's been healed by full potion and had been served some good food, but it seems he doesn't even bother to touch them.
"It's rude to reject a hospitality, Prince Diabo" Gobua started a conversation.
Diabo lift up his head, and show a spiteful expression.
"You! If you know who I am, then release me quickly! I'm warn you!"
"Not gonna happen, Your Highness. And what would you do if I didn't release you? Kill me?"
"Yes! I'm going to slaughter you and your entire ugly monsters! You'll taste the wrath of the mighty Empire!"
"Your so mighty Empire is being beaten in just a moment ago, Your Highness. You need a better reason if you want to be released. And that would be not my decision."
"Tch! I've warned you woman! When the sun rise, you'll face not a hundreds or thousands, but hundred of thousands mighty Imperial warrior! You'll be doomed when that moment come! If you released me now, at least I'll spare your miserable life!"
Prince Diabo saying all the spite with everything he got, and expecting Gobua to feel uneasy. He's looking so hard to find any marks of distress from her. But all what he saw, was her expression of pitying him.
"All your 'mighty Imperial warriors' are just a levy, are they? They were a hastily formed soldiers with little training. The numbers of your army is around 110.000 right now, including the reserve. And without your cavalry waiting in the forest, your levvies would fight alone in the frontline. Your wrath is not scary, Your Highness. It's honestly, pitiful."
"Y-You! How?!" Diabo stuttered as he couldn't fathom of how his threat got falling apart by these hidden truth. How the hell she knew about his forces? And who the hell is she anyway?
"It's a common sense, at least for my Mighty King, to always gathered information as much as possible before taking a decision. That include during a wartime. One sentence of words can be more lethal than an army of thousands. You on the other hand, Your Highness, seems to underestimate the importance of information."
"Tch! Youu! Don't ever think you'll stay alive after all you've said!"
"My name is Gobua, Your Highness. I'm the overall commander of the army in this place. If you have a problem with me even after all is been settled, you'll know who you're looking for. Now excuse me, I only came here to check if you got a proper accommodation for… 'high valuable prisoners'. Oh and by the way," she take one doughnut from a plate in front of Diabo, "we don't put any poison in our food. See you again, Your Highness."
As Gobua exiting the tent, she swear she heard Prince Diabo is swearing as hard as his lung could withstand. But she paid no attention, and deliberately humiliated him to show him how desperate the situation for the Saderans. She even considering a "tour" around her forces to show prince Diabo of how stronger her forces are.
At this time, she started to thinking something else. She loves her job but there is something she loved other than that.
"Hehhh… Commander Gobua, pay a visit to our prisoners?" Out of nowhere, Gobta show himself and freely commenting her doing.
"Yes, I am. Oh, and good job Gobta. Capturing them must be taking some effort from you."
"Heheh, the gravitational magic is turns out more powerful than I expecting, tsu. But it ended up pretty well."
"I see. I'm glad then. Once again, good work and thank you."
"No problem, tsu. By the way, what did you do to the prince?"
"Nothing important. Just checking his condition. And uh, well, giving him some lesson."
"Hehh… You're not flirting with him are you?"
*Plak
"Ouch! What was that for?!"
"How can I flirt with someone else when I already have Phobio? You're an idiot, Gobta."
"Hey I'm just joking, tsu. But it seems you're missing him right? I bet you want to see him right now, and hugging him tigh-"
*Plak!
"Ouch! Again, what was that for?!"
"Don't say innapopriate things on duty!"
Gobua fastened her walks to her tent, running away from Gobta before she got teased again. But one thing she didn't realized though, her ears are turning into red as tomato. And she admit, she really do miss her boyfriend.
…
Gelond and his 10.000 troops had already in formation. They prepared for the upcoming Saderans. Their job is simple, trap the upcoming enemies with [Earth Manipulation]. For some of them, this tactic is very familiar since they also used a same strategy during the war with Demon Lord Clayman. Because of this, Gelond is confident they would fulfill their role successfully.
Mazel and his 20.000 troops also already in position. They have taken the Yellow Numbers flanks, both left and right. Their role is also simple. Finish off the enemies who got slipped away from the traps. That's why they were placed in the flanks, so they could encircle the enemy. In Mazel calculation, they most probably would engage with the enemy Legionnaires, the well-trained warriors. But rather than anxious, his blood is boiling as he got impatient for the upcoming showdown.
Lastly, Gazat and his 10.000 dragonewt had spread out across the field and divided into two major groups. They are tasked with two jobs. Eliminate the wyvern riders, and capture or kill the retreating enemies. That's why Gazat divided his troops into two groups, and spread them across the field to increase the effectiveness during the aerial combat and gave a chase to the enemy.
The sun has arisen, and everyone is ready.
The most probably a last battle between the Saderans and Tempest, would begin soon.
…
Count Formal had joined his men in the front. Although he have his own legionnaires retinue, he decided to take a lead on the levvies. He don't know why he did that. He somehow felt it was the best choice.
For someone who have a good sense of logic, this act is out of his character.
Nevertheless, he felt this is a choice that's gonna safe him.
It's early morning. The sun just had arise. The sky is still partially black, as if the night still have a grasp on their sky. But the ground is shaking. Voices of hundred of thousands footsteps, enhanced by the sound of clashing metal, echoed through the gate.
These are the men from Sadera. The so called warrior.
They marched proudly because of their huge numbers. They flaunt their pride with their expression. In the levvies, hidden from their well visualised discipline, are a beast of greed for plundering. Women, golds, land, foods, they all came for it.
Count Formal and his men had reached the other side of the gate first.
He immediately saw the thousands of monsters, are in position of facing them. He felt unease immediately.
Why are they in formation? Are they already expecting us? He asked to himself.
But a shout of order came from his back.
"Forward!"
He then put his leg into walk again. He lead his men towards the enemy. Those giant looking orcs, and some other mysterious creature he never saw, was there in front of them. Several hundred meters away.
The levvies didn't think much of it. The sight of those huge monsters were indeed frightening, but upon looking on their numbers, the levvies felt at ease.
They marched boldly towards the orcs and other weird horse looking face creatures.
Count Formal barked orders to keep the levvies in the same line, to keep everyone in the same pace. Their shield clatters each other, the huge rectangle shaped shield were scraping the ground as their keep their pace.
They planned to use the same tactic as always. Move forward, halted after several dozen meters, throw one javelin, then continue for the same pattern until they reached an ideal distance to take charge.
Thus they continued they march, without even thinking the enemy is plotting something.
Gelond, noticing their enemy had been on coordinated location, barked a new order.
"Now! [Earth Stomp]!"
The 10.000 high-orc raised their foot, and kick the ground with a huge shockwave.
The Saderans felt their ground shaking violently, as they can't keep their balance. They fallen immediately, but that's not all.
Among them, Count Formal felt a strange wind coming from his back. He felt a cold breeze behind his back, and he felt zero weight for all of his body. He can't see anything, or more like he can't perceive anything. Anything passed his sight is indescribeable. But everything went too quick. Before he could understand what's going on, he felt a sound of cracking from somewhere in his body.
The breeze has stopped, and he could only see a darkness. With amount of panic, he managed to sit down. He saw how much blood has coming from his body. The stomach, legs, even his arm had bleeding. Then he heard a noise. Another sound of Crack. As he lifted his head, he vaguely saw a huge rock had landed on his right foot.
That stone wasn't there before. It is fallen.
Yes, fallen.
Fallen?
Count Formal had realised that the darkness he saw right now was very abnormal. He looked up to the sky, then he saw a huge bright circle. It takes time before he realised that the light from the circle is a sky, starting to turn into a blue.
Then, where am… I?
He looked around, he saw many people were laying dead or dying. Their armors were torned apart, some of them even got smashed by rocks. The darkness had faded slowly, and he can see the place is getting brighter.
He touch what's beneath him. It felt slimy, wet, and cold. He lift his left palm and squeeze the thing he had grabbed.
Turns out, it's just a wet soil.
Moments later, he shocked by a sudden immense of pain all over his body. His leg almost felt like bitten by huge beast, and from his stomach to his arms, he felt like a hundreds of knife were stabbing it.
Count Formal screamed out of his lungs, anguish in pain.
Then he started to felt weak, incredibly weak, before finally he collapse himself.
…
"Wh-What is that?!"
Marquis Kallios had joined the marching army on the rear. He have monitored the overall movement of his army. He knew it won't be going as easy as plan, but this is just too much.
At first, his plan is seem running smoothly.
The levvies are moving forward, and even though their discipline were not as good as the legionnaires, they performed pretty well. Probably thanks to Count Formal leadership.
However, just a moment ago, he felt the ground has shaking violently. He immediately fall from his horse. His horse got panicked and jumping around wildly, but that's not a matter anymore as he saw the levvies in front of him had dissapeared out of nowhere.
He stood up as soon as he can, and noticed that now a giant pit had emerged on the field.
"No…" He blankly stared at the pit, noticing most of the levvies had fallen there.
But just before he started to understand the situation,
"My lord! Enemy monsters are charging forward!"
One of his bodyguard screamed at him with panic voice. He couldn't understand it for a while, until he turns his head and saw a huge numbers of various creatures had charged at their flanks. These creatures are something he never saw.
A huge humanoid muscular look with a head of a horse.
A same sized humanoid muscular look but with a head of ox.
A dark skinned humanoid creatures, with violent expressions and huge fangs in their mouths.
A more humanoid looking creatures, but with strange traits on their bodies such as extra eyes on their forehead, feathers on their skin, strange black marks on several part on their bodies, and many more.
These are not a merely monsters.
These are…
"Demons…"
The professional legionnaires who manage to get up on their feet were trembling upon seeing these fearsome creatures charging at them.
They appear to be on their left and right side. But it feels they are coming from every direction.
"A-Ahhhhh! Run!"
"Runn!"
"No! I don't wanna die!"
"Save me! Aaaa!"
"Aaaaa!"
Marquis Kallios looked around him and found many of his professional legionnaires had abandoned their weapons and fleeing from the site.
But with the sight like this, not even Marquis Kallios manage to supress his new born fear.
His mind is completely blank for now. He can't think anything. Everything was happen too soon, too fast, too confusing.
Yet, his body reacted.
His leg started to walk, towards the gate.
His step getting faster. He still placed his look into the charging monsters, but his body has been directed into the gate. He walks, no, he run toward the gate.
His step are getting faster. He has stopped looking at the monster, and now focused only on one thing.
The gate.
He have to reached it. He have to run towards it. He have to made it. He have to.
He want to live. He want to survive.
He don't wanna die.
All of the ambition, the glory, the wealth, the prestige, had all gone from his mind.
All he could thing right now, is run.
Run
Run
And run.
…
"Don't let any of them escape! It's our turn now brothers! Chargeee!"
Gazat cheered all his men via telepathy, and they all immediately scrambled across the sky. They spread their wings, readying their spears, and flew away with magnificent speed.
The first priority was the wyverns, but Gazat had noticed that the enemies had desperately fleeing from the battlefield. As it happen, he didn't saw any single wyvern had managed to cross the gate.
Probably they didn't bring out the wyvern on time.
Then it means, the priority has changed. It's time to capture the enemy.
The enemy is reduced drastically after the trap had been sprung, but the fleeing army are still numerically advantageous than the dragonewts.
Nevertheless, the dragonewts fearlessly dive into the fleeing army and beat the Saderans to the pulp. The Dragonewts are creatures with A to Special A rank after Rimuru evolve more than a True Dragon. One Dragonewts is enough to face a thousand regular human army.
The Dragonewts under Rimuru had also learn a new element for their attacks. Usually, a Dragonewts used a fire, earth, or wind element on their attack. But this time, they have learn a new one.
Lightning.
And now they have use it to paralyzed the Saderans.
While flying above the sky, they unleashed their magic to the ground and simply electrocute the surrounding and manage to paralyzed the Saderans.
Thanks to the natural conductivity of the soil, the electric that came out from the lightning were reduced pretty significantly. It means, if the Saderans were on another terrain than soil, they would be fried up until nothing left.
Retrieving the paralyzed and unconscious bodies were postponed. They more focused on capturing or neutralize the Saderans.
"Block their way to the gate!" Gazat ordered his men.
Several hundred Dragonewts immediately descended and stand in formation in front of the gate. Soon, the numbers are increased into thousands, including Gazat.
They have blocked the way of the enemy escape route, and they expecting some wild mindless attack coming from the Saderans.
And turns out, it did really happen.
Upon seeing their way had been blocked, the Saderans had blindly charge towards them with whatever they have left.
One man in fancy looking armor in particular, had seem to lost all his sanity and desperately swinging his swords toward one of the Dragonewts.
The Saderans could flaunt their swordmanship, but they would be nothing in front of Dragonewts. Their body is literally as hard as dragon scale, their strength is comparable wih hundred or even thousand of men, and their spearmanship is one of the top notch even among Tempest military units.
The Dragonewts is still able to holding back as they would only make a move on disarming and knocking out the Saderans. But the Saderans are still superior in terms of number.
However, it's not for long.
On their rear, the Red Numbers under Mazel is keeping the chase. They still chasing the Saderans from the moment their levvies got trapped into a giant pit, and helplessly fall into the underground.
The remaining Saderans probably still have around 15.000 left, but now a combined Blue Numbers and Red Numbers have 30.000 in numbers.
It was a checkmate.
The Saderans knew whatever in front of them are comparable with the creatures behind them. They have lost every advantage. The skill, tactic, numbers, and motivation.
It was all done.
"I surrender!"
In the midst of brawl between the Saderans and Dragonewts, one men shouted while lifting his sword and shield.
"I surrender…" he threw away his weapons and armaments.
"I surrender…" one men near him followed suit.
"I surrender"
"I.. surrender"
"I…"
*clang
*cling
The sound of metal hitting each other on the ground, echoed across the field.
Soon, it continued until the very last man had threw his swords and shield.
Gazat ordered his men to stand down and lowered their spears.
Mazel had ordered his men to stop giving a chase.
The battle had stopped.
The Saderans had surrendered.
To Be Continued.
Hi guys!
Hello again, and I hope you guys well.
And here we are, the next chapter of The End Of Falsehood. I'm not gonna waste your time for my yapping in this section, and I will made another separate section for this. Hehe. In this section, I want to reply for the reviews I have received.
Sol4g : Eyo my man! Thanks for reviewing as always. And thank you if you think it was a good idea for exploring some unpopular side of the Tensura. It was my interest and one of the reason why I love Tensura. It has sooo much thing happen but not enough room for plot in canon. That's why I always wanted to make this kind of story about Tensura. Oh yeah, I also didn't knew anything about Gods and Goddess in Gate. I made them here with my own imagination, and surely not following the canon version of the Gate hahaha. But I tried to gave them a proper chance against Tensura world. Of course I know how you feeling man. Me too wanted Rimuru is the most OP of the story, so don't worry about these God and Goddess from the Gate. But I will make them strong though. Strong enough to make some people from Tensura getting nervous. But we all know who's the strongest, but you know... you might also know how cautious is Rimuru :D. And that's where I would have some guilty pleasure, and might seem to nerfed the Tensura characters which is actually not. I only would make the characters from Tensura more cautious and not recklessly attack these God and Goddess. That's it, that's enough spoiler for you hahaha. I hope you enjoy this story bro.
Guest : Hi! I hope I can call you with some pen name, haha. But thank you for finding this story to be interesting. But I have to apologize, though. If you only read the manga and watch the anime, then this story would give you a LOT of spoilers. So be careful okay? Almost all of the characters I brought in Tempest side are originals from the series, but very unpopular(except Gobta). But I also added some OC such as Gelond and Mazel. The plot is taking after the Great Tenma War, and in LN version. The funny thing is, in LN, the Great Tenma War is still on going so all these statement such as Grey Numbers Corps, World Council, production of motorbikes, etc are not happening(yet. But I hopefully it does). I hope my story here won't make you confused with the main Canon, hahaha. And yes! This is going to be a story between Tempest and Falmart, no modern Japan involved. I initially wanted to add the modern world, but I guess it would complicate the story more than I capable of. So I throw away the idea and decided it would be just Tempest and Falmart, haha. Anyway, thanks for liking the story!
Author's Yapping. You Can Skip This If You Want.
All right, in this opportunity, I would like to apologize again. If you feel that this chapter is rushed, you're goddamn right. I was rushing this chapter and deliberately made Marquis Kallios become out of his character by hastily ordered a full assault. He is my OC, and initially I made him to be a calculative figure but still have pride and slightly blinded by thirst of glory. I have read the manga and watch the anime, and I felt that the original author really trying to make the Saderans as the multi evil side. It's one thing to make them evil, but to make them rather stupid in strategy is obnoxious in my opinion.
I'm not sure if the original author of the Gate really used Roman Empire as the role model of the Saderans, but if he did, he surely forgot how the Roman Civilization survived for a milennia.
I'm not an expert, nor a geek on history. But I have interest on learning about the Romans. And one thing that I learned about how the Romans were able to topple their enemies, is because they are very adaptive. They learned how to use swords, javelins, sailing, from their enemies and even their Gods were eventually mixed with the Greeks.
This is why I felt a bit guilty for rushing the story, and wrapped up the final assault in just one chapter. I think it should be done with more description about what's going on around them, both Tempest and Sadera, after the initial invasion. The Saderan could have prep up a better strategy, building some siege machines, or asking for more reinforcement with some political maneuver. It should be also added on how Zorzal would react on his brother failure, and also Pina reaction upon seeing the first defeat. But I skipped all of these and hastily made a final battle.
Also, from Tempest side, it should be written more about the chaos in entire world upon the appearance of the gate. I should have added more respond from other countries such as Ingracia, Eastern Empire, Milim's domain, the World Council, and the Octagram. First, I really intended it would be a political event like the original Gate series where America, China, and Russia wanted a piece of chance to explore the Special Region. But it will be in Tensura version, where some corrupt nobles and blinded Kings from various small nations would team up and demanded to join the operation in Falmart. It will be a political dramas, and I actually got interested to try making it. But I didn't eventually.
There's only one reason why I rushed the story like this. It's because I got impatient and wanted to move the story as soon as possible :D. If I write more about what's going on right now in both worlds, it will take 5 or 6 more chapters before reaching the final assault in the gate. I want to immediately focused on Saare and his special task force to explore Falmart, and engaging the Gods and Goddess. I have said it, I know, this story is going to be a world-building but I have little patience to carry it on. What a paradox, right? Hahaha.
Anyway, that's it for now. I hope you enjoy this chapter, my dear readers.
In next chapter, we're gonna see how Rimuru and his companions are dealing with prince Diabo, and Saare will starting his special task in Falmart.
See you in the next chapter! Take care guys!