Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors. Dynasty Warriors is owned by their respective owners.
Tianshui. An important city south of Jieting, just past the Wei River. Known for its fertile soil, it attracted farmers trying to make a living. When news arrived that two armies were approaching from opposite sides, panic spread. The farmers feared their lands would be trampled in the chaos of the battlefield, and their efforts to start over would be in vain. They worried they would die in the crossfire of two clashing armies.
"Do not worry about your land. The fight will never reach your homes," Brian assured the farmers who came to plead for their safety. "Please return to your homes and wait until this battle is over."
"Thank you, my lord! You are so kind! We won't forget your kindness!" came the thankful reactions of many as the farmers continued to bow while running back to their homes.
Lu Su smiled as he commented from a bit further away, "It seems our lord is quite loved by the people. I only hope we can keep that promise."
"Isn't that the job of us strategists?" Li Ru asked with a grin. "I am certain with the two of us, we can turn the tide of battle in our favor despite the numerical disadvantage while ensuring the land will not suffer."
"I do not doubt that. The enemy may have monsters in their ranks, but we have our own monsters as well," Lu Su responded as his gaze shifted from his newest lord to his former lord, Sun Quan, and officers Sun Shangxiang and Lianshi.
"Do not underestimate our enemy," Brian said as he approached the two strategists. "Liu Shan has two strategists talented enough to turn the tide of battle at any moment. Under no circumstances should we underestimate our enemy."
"Do not worry, milord. I have learned from my mistakes," Lu Su smiled, hinting at their own battle. "This will be a tough battle, but we should be able to pull through it."
"Do you have a plan, Lu Su?" Sun Quan asked hopefully.
Lu Su nodded. "Yes, but I'll explain it at the war council. For now, please save your energy for the battle, Lord Sun Quan."
Sun Quan smiled. "I am no longer your lord, Lu Su. We are equals on the battlefield, so please treat me like one."
"I'll try. For now, let's set up camp and prepare for the battle to come," the strategist suggested.
The late afternoon turned to dusk, and darkness began to shroud the battlefield. Soldiers prepared themselves by sharpening their weapons, motivating each other, and sharing stories to ease the pressure, all while waiting for their superiors to exit the commander's tent and tell them what to do.
"Here is a map of the battlefield. The blue dots are our forces, and the red dots are the known enemy locations," Lu Su opened the council. "As you can see, their forces are spread equally across the battlefield, making it more difficult for us to put a dent in it. Further, it is said that the officer Zhao Yun is on the front guard in the east, and I am certain the strategist Jiang Wei is waiting for us to go through the canyon. There is a path to the west, but I expect the enemy knows about it as well and is prepared for an assault from there."
"No real weak points to exploit. We leave ourselves open if we try to make a dent in the frontline," Li Ru added.
"Maybe we don't have to," Brian responded. The others looked confused as they shifted their eyes to their lord. Brian walked to the map and said, "The officers of Shu are known for their honor and their will to protect their lord." At least in the game, that is, he added internally. "If I can defeat Zhao Yun in a one-on-one duel and capture him or force him to retreat, we have an opening to exploit. The bases in the east will be forced to either attack us head-on or fall back into defense."
The others looked wide-eyed at how their lord was secretly a strategist as well. But Brian wasn't done yet. "Although I doubt they believe Zhao Yun could lose, it would be a strategist's job to make uncertainty as minimal as possible. Thus, I believe they have an ambush planned at the bottom of the hill, in the southeastern base. That way, they can perform a pincer attack on our attacking forces or threaten our main camp."
Lu Su suddenly realized there was an opening. "We attack the east base and force their ambush to come out. Then, we ambush them in return, claiming the foot of the hill and dropping their morale."
"Also, we set a defensive perimeter at the west. I am certain that the moment we attack the east, they will counter us from the west. We need to be ready for that," Brian ordered. "We push them back if they do so, and take the high ground from two sides in one go so that we can push through the center. While we attack the middle as a distraction, we'll have an ambush unit move in on Nan'an and Ainding castle. The moment we have taken the cliffs, our main unit pushes in to capture the central garrison and force both castles to react. While we fend off the enemy, the ambush units attack from behind and capture the bases."
Brian had been in thought the whole time, the battle happening in his mind like it was done in the older games with T-cubes. Only when the battle was done in his mind did he return to earth, only to see the flabbergasted and amazed gazes staring at him.
"That's amazing, my lord. How did you strategize that plan so quickly?" Li Ru asked in awe.
Brian smiled, knowing he had spent countless hours studying his enemies and their tactics. "It's about understanding your enemy. I've taken the time to learn about Liu Shan and his officers. I know their strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. This knowledge helps me predict their moves and devise strategies accordingly."
Lu Su nodded in agreement. "With your knowledge and our combined experience, we can definitely turn the tide in our favor."
"As long as we work together and execute the plan, we can win this," Brian said confidently. "Prepare your units and get some rest. Tomorrow, we face Liu Shan's forces, and we will emerge victorious."
As dusk turned into night, the soldiers gathered around the campfires, ready to rest before the upcoming battle. The murmurs of the soldiers mixed with the crackling of the fires, creating an atmosphere of anticipation. Brian stood near the edge of the camp, staring out into the darkness, mentally preparing himself for the battle ahead.
Sun Shangxiang approached him, her eyes filled with determination. "Are you ready for tomorrow?" she asked.
Brian nodded. "Yes, but it's not just about being ready. It's about ensuring our plans are executed perfectly. We can't afford any mistakes."
"We won't let you down," she assured him, her voice steady and confident.
Brian smiled at her determination. "I know you won't. Let's get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."
As the camp settled into a hushed quiet, Brian lay in his tent, his mind racing with strategies and contingencies. He knew the battle ahead would be one of the most challenging yet, but he was determined to lead his people to victory and ensure their safety. With a final deep breath, he closed his eyes, ready to face whatever the next day would bring.
The next morning. East Base, on Top of the Cliffs
It was a cloudless morning as the sun shone brightly onto the fields of Tianshui. If one believed in fate, such as Liu Shan, it was a sign they would win this battle. Not that he doubted his army or his officers, but that additional belief made him feel they would truly defeat their opponent. He just hoped it would be a quick victory, for he didn't like unnecessary bloodshed.
The camp was abuzz with the sounds of soldiers readying themselves for battle. Armor clanked, weapons were sharpened, and quiet conversations filled the air as warriors exchanged words of encouragement and steeled themselves for the coming fight. Xing Cai walked through the camp, taking in the sight of her men preparing for what lay ahead. She exchanged nods with her officers, their resolve clear in their eyes.
"Lord Liu Shan, we are ready to begin," Hou Jun informed, the high morale clearly visible on his face.
"Very good. Just be careful out there," the young lord wished sincerely.
"Do not worry, Lord Liu Shan. We will make a quick end of this battle," Xingcai responded confidently, pointing her sword forward and ordering, "Go and bring us victory!"
East Base, on Top of the Cliffs
"Lord Fa Zheng! Lady Xingcai gave the command to attack!" a soldier reported.
"Glad to hear that. Let's get started," he responded before turning to a messenger and ordering, "Tell the diversion squad to move." As the messenger rode away on his horse, Fa Zheng looked from the cliff to the enemy base in the distance, wondering what the opponent would be up to. There was little movement to be seen, but his eyes caught a horse riding toward the west flank. "Too easy," he commented before turning his eyes back to the path.
Southwest Base.
"Master Jiang Wei! An enemy officer is approaching the western base!" a soldier reported.
"Just as predicted! Wait until the signal and be prepared to attack!" the young strategist ordered.
West Base.
"Master Zhao Yun! There is an enemy charging the base! I... It is the enemy commander!" a lookout soldier reported.
The enemy commander? Although Master Fa Zheng's suspicion was true, why does this sound too good to be true? But the true shocker came when the lookout reported, "He is alone?!"
Before Zhao Yun could wonder why, a voice echoed over the base's walls. "This is Lord Brian Miller, the commander of your enemy! I came here to make an offer. Will you listen to my offer, or are we going to do this the hard way?"
"Open the gates!" Zhao Yun ordered before he added, "Prepare for combat, but do not engage!" The large wooden doors opened with difficulty, leaving a curved line behind in the soil. Brian stepped off his horse, caressed it softly on the head, and walked into the base alone.
The enemy commander smiled as he said, "I am glad you took me up on the offer. Anyway, I don't like unnecessary bloodshed, so here is my offer. I request a duel with you, Zhao Yun. If I win, you will leave this base alone and return to your lord's side."
Before a soldier could retort how ridiculous that was, Zhao Yun stopped any responses with a raised hand as he asked, "What do we get if I beat you?" while thinking, How does he know who I am?
"Then you would have beaten the enemy commander... so you would have won the battle... I thought that was kinda obvious," Brian answered matter-of-factly.
Zhao Yun did not have to think any longer as he raised his spear from the ground, moved it spinning between his hands, and ended in a duel stance. "I must rise to the challenge or be disgraced."
Brian stepped into a duel stance as well, both his twin axes, Sun and Moon, aimed at the sky. Brian glanced at the soldiers who were still prepared to attack at any given moment. "I like to remind you this duel is between us. If anyone, either from your side or mine, interrupts, the offer is off the table."
Zhao Yun nodded and commanded, "Men, at ease! My spear shall vanquish our lord's enemies!"
The soldiers did as instructed, resting their weapons and stepping back, giving the duelers the space they needed. "You can do it, Master Zhao Yun!" "Defeat him in the name of our Lord!" "There is no way Master Zhao Yun could possibly lose!" echoed through the air.
However, despite those spirit-lifting words, Zhao Yun did not act arrogantly. What is this feeling? he wondered as his body trembled with anticipation. I can't underestimate this man! he thought as he charged forward.
Clang! His charge was parried by a single axe, and the second one was already moving in on his shoulder. A twist of his spear blocked the hold before the sharp ends of his opponent could reach their target.
A diagonal strike followed but was redirected, and immediately countered by a sideways upward slash. Raising his foot to block the hilt before the axe reached him, Zhao Yun used the commander's strength to jump backward and gain some distance.
"Amazing... He is keeping up with Master Zhao Yun..."
"Is he really the enemy commander...? What a monster..." Another soldier voiced as this time Brian charged in. One strike after another was impressively blocked by Zhao Yun, but even the famous Shu officer showed trouble keeping those blocks up.
Zhao Yun quickly realized he could not stay on the defensive, and after a quick backstep to dodge a horizontal assault, he used his momentum to slam his spear down from above onto the officer's head. Clang! A cross of the two axes blocked the spear from coming down and stopped Zhao Yun's movements completely. A quick kick to the stomach sent him flying several feet, crashing into the wall if it wasn't for his quick thinking to stop his momentum with his spear.
''It can't be?! Master Zhao Yun took a hit... '' could be heard in the base, yet it did not matter to the duelists. Words of shock, fear, and resentment echoed through the base but vanished in the air just as quickly. Even though he took a heavy kick to the stomach, Zhao Yun's eyes concluded his opponent had not considered himself victorious yet. He is not dropping his guard. He is giving everything he's got in this battle. I relish the challenge! he answered internally.
What happened after those thoughts silenced the base for a solid minute.
It was a split second, the words, "Fear the dragon's roar!" echoing in the air before an ear-deafening ring of two heavy metals shook the air itself, a sudden burst of wind pushing everyone off their feet as it caused a dust cloud to rise. When the dust settled, the end result was as clear as the sky. Zhao Yun sat on his behind, his spear lying at his side as he looked at the axe pointing towards his chest.
"Master Zhao Yun!?" a soldier shouted as he charged in instinctively.
"Don't!" Zhao Yun shouted, but he was too late. However, before the soldier could pin the enemy commander with his spear, an axe stopped him in his tracks.
Brian's glare was as threatening as the thunderstorms of the previous days, and it paralyzed the terrified soldier instantly. Softly, yet sternly, he asked, "You dare to interrupt a sacred duel like this, and risk the lives of all your companions, just to have a shot at me? I should have decapitated you on the spot for being so stupid. Stand down while you have the chance, or death is something you will long for."
The soldier dropped his spear as he regretted his action immediately. Brian put his axe down as he shifted his eyes back to Zhao Yun and asked, "Do you want to continue this duel, or do you admit defeat?"
"I'll admit I lost this duel. However, neither my heart nor my spear has been broken! We shall meet again!" he answered as he called his troops with him and retreated with his life intact.
Southwest Base
"Forward! We must capture that enemy main base for Lord Liu Shan!" Jiang Wei ordered. Two of his soldiers opened the gate, and seconds later, they all charged through the open doors.
However, just as they passed the safe zones of their base, a sudden enemy group advanced from the side, their red-clothed leader shouting, "Charge! Run them through in an instant!"
"An ambush?! Here?! Impossible!" Jiang Wei voiced his shock. However, he shook his head and commanded, "Stand firm, men! We'll stop them!"
"Not on my watch! Let's go, brother!" Another voice shouted from the other side. It was another ambush group, this time led by a young female warrior.
"Another ambush?! Did they predict my attack?!" Jiang Wei wondered out loud, standing powerless as his group was about to be overrun by two charging groups.
Eastern Side of Brian's Main Camp.
"Move in! We have to draw their attention and provoke them to attack us!" an unknown officer commanded.
"But sir, there is no one in sight! This way, we will reach the enemy main camp," another soldier responded cautiously.
"Then we will burn it and demoralize the enemy entirely!" The officer in charge responded overconfidently as he continued to charge. That confidence quickly dropped when the loud noise of a horn echoed through the air. "What was that?!"
Suddenly, a hidden group of soldiers appeared from a small hill, their longbows and crossbows ready to fire. "Fire!" a female officer commanded, her own crossbow releasing a bolt with exact precision.
On the East Cliff.
"Master Fa Zheng! The diversion group has been wiped out!" a soldier reported urgently.
The strategist looked intrigued as he said, "I wonder if they predicted my plan or just put a precaution there for good measure."
Just as he was about to give another command, another soldier came running, kneeled on the ground, and reported, "Master Zhao Yun has been defeated and had to retreat! We lost the west base!"
"Master Zhao Yun had to retreat? I don't like how things are going. Tell Master Meng Da and Li Hui to hold a defense line. Send word to Lord Liu Shan for reinforcements," Fa Zheng ordered.
"Yes, sir!" the messenger responded before he ran as quickly as possible back to Tianshui Castle. However, another messenger came running, performed a similar routine, and reported, "Master Fa Zheng! Master Jiang Wei's ambush was countered, and he has been captured!"
"What?! They saw through Master Jiang Wei's ambush as well?! Who is this enemy, and how are they outsmarting us so easily? I will not be able to rest with ease until I have avenged this humiliation."
His dark-brown eyes looked over the cliff, his mind repeatedly trying to decipher what the enemy would do next. How can I turn the battle around? If they defeated Master Zhao Yun, their commander must be more capable than I predicted. Perhaps if we could isolate him and pick him off, we should be able to turn the tide of battle. The east path should be safe for now, and Master Meng Da and Li Hui should be able to hold out the west forts until reinforcements arrive. However, now that the east path is open, there is a risk for an attack on Nan'an and Tianshui from behind.
Just as he thought of a new plan, a fourth messenger came running, performed another kneeling ritual, and reported, "Master Fa Zheng! The enemy has broken through the west bases! They are charging toward us as we speak!"
"Fall back to Anding Castle! We will settle this battle another time," Fa Zheng ordered, still wondering how the enemy could gain so much ground on them in just a single morning. Just as he was about to get on his horse, he heard the sound of screaming men. His eyes fell on a single warrior approaching him from the front on a horse, with a group of soldiers following in his track.
"It's the enemy commander?!" a soldier shouted in fear.
So that is the enemy commander. I am not certain why he would engage the enemy alone, but he is a fool for charging in alone. I am going to enjoy this, Fa Zheng thought as he commanded, "Men, prepare a defensive line! We'll stop the enemy commander right here!"
An arrow flew past his head, hitting one of his men with precise accuracy. "I do not allow that!" a female voice shouted as her men stepped in front of her, prepared to protect their lady with their lives.
"You've got guts to ambush me like this. I'll enjoy paying you back in kind."
"There will be no paying back today. There is no reason for any further bloodshed. Surrender now, and I'll let you live," the enemy commander ordered as he held his weapons at the ready.
Brian gazed from the cliffs towards the three castles that were still held by the enemy forces. Checking the map of the battlefield and the morale bar in the right corner of his HUD, he concluded that his plan was successful. Although Zhao Yun had retreated to Tianshui, it had caused a significant dent in the enemy's morale. Luckily, he was just in time to counter his Musou with one of his own and was strong enough to come out victorious in their clash.
After that, he charged through while the messages in his HUD kept him updated on the battlefield. The successful ambush and capture of Jiang Wei by Sun Quan and Sun Shangxiang. The defensive ambush on the diversion group by Lianshi, and the discovery of ambush units by the Zhu brothers. Lu Su ordered the forces to advance from the paths to take the cliffs while he received a warning that a messenger was sent to call for reinforcements, which he took care of easily. Lastly, Li Ru gave the order to move up from the valley when the cliffs were taken over, while Bo Zhang and Yan Zhang were moving into position.
"Lord Brian. We are ready to resume the attack on your orders," Lu Su informed, standing just diagonal behind him. Not only did Lu Su stand behind him, but also the former Wu officers, his first in-field ally, and some of his finest soldiers were there, all waiting for his command.
Brian took a deep breath, stared one last time at the battlefield in front of him, and said as determinedly as he could, "Let's end this battle swiftly. Lu Su, commence the attack."
"Very well, my lord," Lu Su responded with a smile before pointing his rake forward. "All units! Commence the attack!" he ordered with a loud and clear voice.
Brian did not waste any time as he let himself fall off the cliff, running almost horizontally on the cliff's wall. Nearing the ground, he used every bit of strength to jump horizontally, changing the gravitational force he had gained into a different vector. With a roll, he stood up and ran forward, his two axes ready to wreak havoc on the enemy frontline.
He did not know how, but his officers had quickly joined his side despite his inhuman act and assisted him greatly in clearing the enemy in front of him. Lianshi rapidly fired her crossbow upon the enemy archers as she ran forward, and Sun Quan proved Brian's near-death experience at their battle was not just a fluke. With a fierceness that could only be described as a burning tiger, he slashed his enemies down.
A group of mobile officers moved in on him, but they were not prepared for what was about to come. "Let's do this, Lord Brian!" Sun Shangxiang said as she charged alongside.
"I am counting on you!" Brian replied before he held his axes crossed in front of him and started his Musou. Without even realizing it, his two axes moved through his fingers with incredible agility, cutting through his enemies like two rampaging tornadoes. The young tigress jumped on his back to use him as a launchpad, landed behind the group, and incapacitated one soldier after another with the sharp edges of her wheels.
The number in his kill count continued to rise each passing minute, already surpassing eight hundred when he arrived at the first central base. "We won't let you pass us so easily!" the base captain shouted as he tried to rally his troops. He realized too late he could do nothing to stop their momentum. Messages of the battle continued to appear in his HUD, each message shifting the morale bar in his favor. But this moment would shift the morale bar completely in his favor.
An enormous group of soldiers had waited for the commander's arrival in the central base, easily numbering in the hundreds. But Brian had a secret weapon. A burning gold aura surrounded him as he activated his Rage mode. Without wasting a second of that precious strength, he shouted, "Here I come!"
With incredible strength and agility, his blades sliced through his enemies effortlessly. Each second of his rampage chipped away at the courage of his foes. His Rage Musou lasted ten seconds, and with one final slam to the ground, he sent the last surviving enemies crashing against the walls of the base. Then, there was silence.
As his rage mode ended, Brian let out a deep breath and stood up again. His eyes slowly shifted to his surroundings, taking in the countless bodies strewn across the base, the soil stained red. The opposing army had started with around 10,000 soldiers, meaning Brian had killed just over one-tenth of the enemy soldiers on his own. I am sorry. May your sacrifices not be in vain, Brian thought regretfully.
"Well done, my lord. We have conquered the central base," Li Ru's voice reached his ears a moment later as the sounds of battle began to die down. "We are ready for the final step."
"This battle has cost enough lives. It is time to finish this. Do it," Brian ordered.
"Very well, my lord," the strategist acknowledged before turning to the present officers and commanding, "Master Sun Quan, Lady Sun, go and attack Ainding Castle. Master Zhu Zhi, Master Zhu Tan, Master Zhang Jun, go and attack Nan'an Castle."
"In the meantime, we'll order the engineers to construct a battering ram to break open Tianshui Castle's doors," Lu Su added as he joined their side. "This battle will be decided before evening falls."
"That I hope. Enough blood has been spilled today. It is time to end this," Brian responded, hoping the images from the battle would not haunt him at night. Feeling the aftereffects of the battle creeping up, he knew he had to finish this quickly.
Unlike in the game, his overall health was not only determined by the number of hits he took. Hunger and tiredness played significant roles as well, making the fact food could restore his health suddenly very logical. Although the former was not always necessary, there were rare occasions when his body asked for nutrients.
There was one problem, though. Although the two castles fell quite easily thanks to an overwhelming force and a two-side offense the enemy was not expecting, the same could not be said about Tianshui Castle. Zhao Yun and Xingcai were still there, and judging by the morale bar, they were not going down without a fight. Just as expected, the moment the two castles fell, and the ram was moving into position in front of the castle, the two officers jumped off the base's wall.
"Our duty is to protect this base! You shall not go past me without a fight!" Zhao Yun shouted as he rallied, a familiar red aura surrounding him.
"If you want to pass, you must face me! I must give it my all!" Xingcai shouted as she rallied as well, a similar red aura surrounding her.
Before anyone could charge forward and fall victim to the two officers, Brian stepped forward, his eyes locked on both of them. With his two axes in hand, he answered their roars, "I see your spirit has stayed strong despite the battle going against you. To such strong spirits, I can only answer in kind. I challenge both of you to a duel!"
Before Xingcai could even respond, Zhao Yun warned, "Xingcai, do not underestimate that man. If we do, we have no chance to beat him."
"Understood, Master Zhao Yun," Xingcai acknowledged as she raised her sword and shield. "We'll accept your challenge!"
The Battle of Tianshui. A battle where a force of approximately four thousand soldiers took on an army of ten thousand and emerged victorious. Word would spread about the tactics used and the perfectly timed strategies performed by the smaller force to turn the tide in their favor. However, none of those rumors would come close to the stories about that duel.
Some would say the ground trembled the whole fight as if an earthquake raged beneath them. Others would say they witnessed a green dragon emerge on one side and, on the other, an enormous white tortoise before the battle of the beasts began. Yet others would speak of tornadoes of wind and fire dancing fiercely against each other. Whoever spoke of that duel, they would all agree on one thing: It was a duel worthy of being called a Duel of the Three Kingdoms.
The precision of the parried attacks. The near-perfect teamwork of the two famous Shu officers against the unknown lord. The strength displayed silenced any other sound, not even a bird daring to chirp as the sound of clashing metals continued to be the only sound on the battlefield.
Soldiers from both sides were amazed and paralyzed by the duel, not daring to move or even speak. Each thrust, attack, parry, dodge, block, and hit added to the respect that the duelists gained from their allies and from their enemies. There was no grudge. There was no anger. This was a duel as perfect as it should have been, even if it was two against one.
It was sudden, but the ending was just as legendary. Some would say the words, "Fear the Dragon's Roar!" and "Charge!" echoed through the air. However, none knew for certain as they were immediately silenced by an ear-deafening explosion of clashing metals. As the dust began to settle, the result was clear as day. Although the lord of the North bled from his head and shoulder, he still stood tall. His two duelists, however, lay with their backs against Tianshui's outer walls, both officers out cold.
"Lord Brian won!" echoed across the battlefield, his forces roaring as if they hadn't spoken in days.
"Charge the castle! Subdue the enemy! If they surrender, keep them alive!" Lu Su ordered, his forces charging towards the castle. No soldier died after that duel, as Liu Shan quickly surrendered following the decisive fight.
It was the last thing Brian noticed in his HUD before he fell to one knee, his supporting axe the only reason he hadn't collapsed completely. His health bar was deeply in the red, perfectly illustrating how his body felt. His head hurt, his shoulder felt numb, and he was certain he was about to pass out from exhaustion.
"Lord Brian! Stay awake, my lord!" he heard, yet it was the last clear voice he heard as the other voices drifted away, just as his consciousness did.
Dusk had settled on the lands of Tianshui as order and peace returned. Farmers who had been hiding during the battle had also returned, and upon discovering that the young lord had kept his promise, they vowed their loyalty to him. But although there was reason to celebrate, the camp was awfully quiet.
Brian's mind woke up to that silence, but his body wasn't as willing to wake up. His eyes felt heavy, his head was bursting, and a sharp pain pierced through his shoulder.
"How is he doing?" a familiar voice asked, filled with concern.
"He is going to be alright. The wounds weren't as deep as expected, so they should heal quickly," the doctor answered. "He does require enough rest and energy to heal, though. His body feels strained as if he has been under a lot of pressure. He should come to his senses any second." You're not wrong about that, Doc, Brian thought, deciding to stay unconscious a minute longer.
"Thank you, doctor. Let me escort you to the other patients," Sun Quan offered, and Brian felt the flap of his tent open suddenly and then close.
"Leave this to me, Lady Sun. I will tell you immediately when he wakes up," Lianshi whispered softly.
"Okay. Thank you, Lianshi. Please inform me immediately when he wakes up," Sun Shangxiang responded as she stood up and walked out of the tent, her heart still beating rapidly out of worry.
Lianshi nodded as she kept her gaze on the leaving girl, only shifting her eyes back to her unconscious lord when the flap of the tent closed. "I hope I can report to her as quickly as possible," she started with a hopeful smile. A warm touch suddenly caressed his hand as she continued, "Perhaps you are not aware of what you have done for us, but we are all grateful to you. We attacked your land out of greed, but you defeated us and took us under your wing without hesitation." A short silence followed before she whispered almost sadly, "Perhaps you may know, perhaps you may not, but I am a relative of Bu Zhi. That makes me part of the Bu family, the family who was known as the traitors of their people."
"I was brought in by Lord Sun Quan as a bodyguard for my strength and my beauty and have served him loyally ever since." He felt a gentle squeeze in his hand as she continued, "But then I met you. You accepted me instantly, and you accepted more than just my strength and beauty. You are a wonderful person. I just fear you are overdoing it. If you are feeling down or stressed, rest your head on my pillows. I'll stay with you all night if it will bring you some rest."
Maximum friendship reached! Lianshi gained the support skill Rouse Assault. appeared in Brian's HUD, alongside some other minor things he could not pay attention to right now. How am I supposed to wake up after that?! Brian thought. The answer came from Lianshi herself as she said, "Now, please stop pretending to be asleep, and open your eyes."
"You knew?" he asked whisperingly as he slowly opened his eyes and noticed a blood-red color in her eyes. She has been crying.
"Your eyebrow twitched when the doctor said you were going to be fine. Lucky for you, Lord Sun Quan and Lady Sun did not notice. How are you feeling?" she asked.
"As if I've been hit by an elephant..." Brian mumbled. "I hadn't expected those two to be that strong. Where are they now?"
"They are waiting for your verdict in the south base," Lianshi answered softly before she caressed his face and whispered, "Please take some rest first. I don't want you to overdo it."
"I'll just have to accept your offer then," Brian responded, a serious yet nervous expression on his face. He was never the smooth-talker, and although he had some relationship experience, he wasn't exactly experienced in the aspects of a relationship. Thus, his words were inexperienced but honest as he asked, "Can you stay by my side tonight, Lianshi? I might be able to rest easier with you laying beside me."
Lianshi looked momentarily perplexed before a healthy blush appeared on her face as she smiled and answered, "I will, my lord."
"Thank you. Now, let's greet everyone while I still have the strength to do so," Brian said as he pushed himself upward, realizing just how much he had pushed his body in the battle. His leg muscles were sore as if he had just run a marathon, and his abs were complaining just as heavily, although he wasn't sure if it was really his abdominal muscles or just his stomach protesting out loud.
Not that he had much time to wonder as the whole camp greeted him with overwhelming happiness. Sun Shangxiang already called him a jerk as she hugged him tightly. Sun Quan greeted him with a brotherly pat on the shoulder. Lu Su and Li Ru bowed, while his longest officers stepped forward with a bottle and said, "You must be starving, Lord Brian. Come and drink to our victory!"
"We saved you some meat and bread, my lord!" the soldier he regularly trained with said.
"Don't mind if I do. I am starving," Brian responded smilingly. It had been one of the few times his soldiers had seen him eat, and realizing he ate just as savagely as they did, their respect grew even larger. The postponed celebration eventually started, the roars, shouts, and celebrations heard all over town. But Brian's evening wasn't all fun.
Arriving at the base that was used as a temporary prison with a group of trustworthy bodyguards, Brian walked and stopped just in front of Liu Shan. "Good evening, Sir Brian. How may I help you?" the young lord asked as if nothing had happened. Brian grabbed his axes from his back, momentarily startling the Shu troops and officers who were watching him, planted them in the ground, sat down as he ignored the question, and said, "I hope my soldiers have treated you well in my absence, Lord Liu Shan."
"They have, thank you. Although it is a bit cramped in here, your men have treated us kindly and have even nursed my wounded soldiers," the young lord responded smilingly.
Brian had to admit he could not read the careless expression of his interlocutor. Although Liu Shan was known as a coward in the older games, the latest ones illustrated him as a lord who understood he was fighting a losing battle and surrendered while he still had the freedom to do so. "I am glad to hear that. I'd like to talk," Brian started.
"About what?" Liu Shan asked curiously.
Brian looked thoughtful as he answered, "I am not certain. Before this battle, I took it upon myself to learn about your officers." Turning his eyes on the devious strategist, he said, "Master Fa Zheng. A devious man who is known as a strategist to be feared. A man who holds a grudge even in the afterlife, but also a man who will hold true to those he is indebted to."
"It seems my reputation precedes me," Fa Zheng responded in kind, a devious smile on his face.
Brian ignored the comment as he turned to the next officer and said, "Master Jiang Wei. The prodigy of Zhuge Liang. A master strategist who wants nothing else but to help his lord create a land of benevolence."
Jiang Wei looked shocked and asked, "How do you know that?" Because you can't shut up about it in-game, imbecile.
However, Brian wasn't in the mood to answer that question out loud. He turned to Xingcai and said, "Lady Xingcai. The daughter of the famous Zhang Fei. A warrior in heart and body, and a quick learner on the battlefield." The young lady looked impressed but did not answer, unlike the other defeated officers. She only bowed her head a bit, showing she respected him as a warrior as well. "Although I knew all that, I must say I underestimated your strength. Thank you for showing my shortcomings."
Lastly, he shifted to Zhao Yun and said, "Master Zhao Yun. A soldier who is said to be the embodiment of commitment, honor, and honesty. As I expected, those words were no lie." The officer bowed his head politely but did not say anything. Brian smiled before he turned to Liu Shan and said, "However, despite my investigations, I couldn't find anything about you, Lord Liu Shan. As I am a curious man, I wondered if you would accept the offer to join my side with your followers and tell me more about yourself in my quest of ambition?"
His followers' eyes were wide open from shock as they did not believe what they had just heard. Liu Shan himself looked calmly intrigued and asked, "What is your ambition?"
Brian smiled as he answered, "To create a land where the poor do not have to worry about surviving another day. I seek a land that will grab hold of its own future and help guide it the right way. For that, I need the strength to protect, the wisdom to teach, and the will to improve. Would you stand by my side and help me realize that ambition, Lord Liu Shan?"
Liu Shan smiled and responded, "Your words are as wise as Master Zhuge Liang's, yet I feel the honesty of my father in there as well. You speak of virtue and benevolence without even using those words, and you truly have the respect and love of your followers. It would be my honor to join you."
"Then I shall follow you as well. May my spear clear a path for your ambition, Lord Brian!" Zhao Yun announced as he bowed to his new lord.
"So you would place me in your debt rather than kill me...? Interesting, I shall enjoy serving you," Fa Zheng said with his familiar devious smile as he bowed as well.
"I know when I am bested. From here on out, I am no longer an officer of Shu. Allow me to stand alongside you, Lord Brian," Jiang Wei said as he bowed.
"I may not be much help, but if you allow me to join you, I will give it my all for you," Xingcai added as she bowed. The remaining prisoners followed their example, all of them showing their new loyalty to their new lord.
It was always a strange feeling: sharing a feast for a victory with your former enemy. Yet, that was what happened when Brian buried the hatchet between the two armies and increased his force with two thousand additional men.
As evening turned to night, the feast began to die down, and the soldiers returned, happily drunk or sober, to their tents. Brian himself did not feel the effects of alcohol due to whatever immunity this world had given him, but he felt the effect of a long and busy day. I need some sleep... he thought tiredly as he neared his own tent. However, just as he saw it, he also saw two familiar figures standing there.
Lianshi was giving him a warm smile, clearly sober. Her companion, on the other hand, had been drinking a bit too much. "Youuu... Jerk... Why did you let us wait so long?" Sun Shangxiang asked as she walked closer. "You h... have to get some rest, you dummy..."
"My apologies, my lord. I am afraid she partied a little too hard after seeing you safe and sound," Lianshi apologized.
Her concern changed to a smile as she saw his expression change to a smile as well. He responded, "Don't be. It is refreshing. But I think it is better if we bring her back to her tent before she does something she regrets."
"Please don't! I... I want to stay by your side tonight," Sun Shangxiang suddenly pleaded, her behavior making a complete turn. Lianshi looked surprised, just as Brian was when Sun Shangxiang grabbed his hands and asked, "Am... am I just a friend to you? Please, tell me your true feelings. I really like you!"
Maximum friendship reached! Sun Shangxiang gained support skill Rouse-Assault. appeared in Brian's HUD. "Lady Sun," Lianshi whispered happily, glad to see her lady speak such beautiful words. Not that Brian was paying attention, as his mind had been hit by a second critical hit in a battle that was not even fought with weapons.
A second crit...!? he thought as he tried to regain control of his cool. I will not let you win that easily.
No matter what Sun Shangxiang had prepared herself for, it was not enough for the counterattack from the one she liked. With a gentle hand, Brian touched the side of her face, raised it to face his own, slowly moved closer, and whispered, "Here is your answer," before he kissed her fully on the lips.
Later that night, Brian lay in his bed, his tired mind not realizing how lucky he was with Lianshi watching over him from his right and Sun Shangxiang sleeping peacefully next to him, happily falling asleep after her first kiss had been taken. His mind quickly fell into a slumber after that, the last thing on his mind the soft blessing of his situation.
Author notes:
This chapter was the battle of Tianshui, originally the battle where Zhuge Liang met Jiang Wei. It fitted the map of ancient China once again, thus I thought it was a good next duel.
The bonds you can achieve with playable characters, and the dialogue that comes along with it, is one of the reasons I started to write this story. Know that most of the increased events are dialogue they actually used in the game. Lian Shi was one of my favorite ones out there, but there are many more that are just as amazing.
To be clear, nothing M-rated happened in that last scene. Perhaps I may write some of that stuff, but I like to take my time for it and make their bond as real for the reader as it is in the story.
That was it for chapter 6, and I hope to see you in the next one. Beyor out!