Countless elven villages had been burnt down due to the beastmen militia's skirmishes.
Despite the setbacks, the regrouped elven counter-offensive was pushing them back.
The real battle between the main armies of both races were nearly about to begin in full force.
That aside, on the human side of the continent was a much more significant war roiling up.
The secluded nation of snow had failed to convince the gallant plains empire to prolong a truce.
Katraia and Elderia, according to the wartime regulations with Enchantia, joined the fight on their side.
Although they didn't demand much troops, the Enchantian side still had quite a lot of fighting power.
Valoratia, on the other hand, was on its own already a strong and independent militaristic-imperial nation.
If Valoratia would somehow win over Enchantia, it would surely be troublesome for the other nations.
That was precisely why all these nations had no choice but to simply go to war against each other.
Merchantia, by the southern coast upon the flatlands, remained neutral as usual.
The majority of people from all over the continent had already taken refuge there.
The wind rustled as the leaves fell upon the forest ground.
It was a cliffside overlooking the vast flatland valley below.
In the middle of the clearing rested an encampment.
It was well hidden behind the thicker treelines.
A squirrel shuffled the leaves above before leaping down into the bushes below with an acorn.
The guard on patrol sighed out of relief before glancing up to see a bird feeding her children in a nest above.
That guard, however, never did notice a hooded figure with a saber standing further up the same tree.
A few long seconds later, the guard walked away from the place to continue his patrol elsewhere.
Inside one of the bigger command-tents sat three prominent figures.
The Arch-Mage of Enchantia, Johnathan Bluestars.
The Princess of Elderia, Sasha Silverlight.
The King of Katraia, Alderius Heineken.
((Not a meme name lolol Heineken!))
The three of them were busy discussing the strategic battle plans as Princess Sasha swiped her hand across the drafting table.
There were pins and darts punctured at specific locations on the map to indicate their assets alongside the enemy's positions.
Despite her being of royal blood, the Elderian princess was proved to be extremely cunning when it came to military strategy.
Another reason to come in person was to boost the morale of the Elderians who were going to fight alongside the main force.
The battle, otherwise, raged on in the vast flatland valley below the cliffside.
Sounds of polearms, blades, and blunt weapons clanked aloud here and there.
The Valoratians charged in with their heavy cavalry in a wedge easily broke through the ranks of the Katraian infantry.
Their gallant charge, however, scattered apart in the middle ground by the pikemen, mages, and archers waiting for them.
Alderius' brother, Clyde, took charge of the vanguard as he directed cavalry to intercept enemy advances at specific locations.
Kartana, on the other hand, was currently repositioning her archers accordingly to where the enemy's cavalry would charge again.
A CENTURY LATER
(Battle Transition Music)
Valoratian Encampment Outskirts.
The Valoratian Adviser, Ivan, tossed down a pouch filled with gold to the ground.
"Hah! Can't believe someone took the job!"
"Umu."
Picking up the pouch, a muffled voice came from the assassin who donned a blank steel mask.
Another assassin hopped down from the tree above as they together began to rummage through the pouch before nodding.
Ivan smirked upon realizing how restless they were at the sight of gold.
"My other asset will relay you the location, alright? Hah! They said something about meeting you guys there."
"Umu."
"If you happen to injure anyone important, I'll even go as far as to double your payment! Hah!"
Ivan fiddled around with another pouch of gold in his hands.
The masked assassin pulled out a dirk as they began to show off by playing around with it skillfully, ending with a slash to the air.
The other assassin who hid his looks with the help of the hood and shade strung his elderwood short bow back a few times idly.
Whoever they were, Ivan had nothing to do with their identities as long as they would get the job done.
"Simpletons, all about money! Just how poor are the people of this cursed land?"
Ivan walked towards the entrance of the encampment where Valoratian lookouts were standing on-guard.
"Sir...!? I was worried about you! Please don't head off like that again!"
The guard by the gate, upon spotting Ivan returning from the treeline, rushed up to meet him out of worry.
FSSH
A bush rustled as three assassins comically peeked their heads out together.
"What's this bitch doing here with us? This is a man's line of work..."
The scruffy-faced assassin with the saber grumbled.
"Don't call her a bitch."
"And you... Damned elf... Why don't you just go back to stay in your shitty forest?"
"Shhh."
The masked assassin elbowed the scruffy man softly.
"Ack- Well, at least you smell good."
"Umu."
"Not creeped out?"
"Umu."
"Can't you speak properly? What's with the weird mask?"
The man reached out, however-
The masked assassin's dirk was suddenly placed against his throat.
A slight pause was then taken as the scruffy man sighed.
"Why am I working with weirdos like you?"
There was no reply from the two.
"Alright alright... What's the plan?"
"She will ambush and confront them head-on while we cause a distraction."
"Oi, if she gets captured it won't be pretty for her... Those Katraian soldiers know no boundaries..."
"It will be fine, she can handle herself."
"Alright... Just don't die."
"Umu."
The bush then rustled as the masked assassin leaped out the opposite direction of the two, disappearing within seconds.
After finishing off the strategical planning, Princess Sasha walked away from the allied encampment alongside her bodyguard.
She was to be escorted to the frontlines to increase the morale of the Elderians that were fighting alongside the allied army force.
On her bodyguard's left arm rested a kite shield strapped onto it.
A bastard sword that had a serrated blade was also strapped firmly onto his back.
The said man donned medium plate armor enchanted with the finest runes.
Every step he took wasn't wasted as he cautiously scanned the vicinity.
Since the retractable helmet was down, his toned skin alongside the rigid face and black spikey hair were also visible.
Alexei Kiravichi.
Elderia's Lord Protector.
He abruptly expanded out an arm to stop the princess from going any further, much to her surprise as she quickly stopped.
"Alexei... What's wrong?"
Sasha held onto her dress nervously and asked out with an unsure tone.
Alexei brandished his bastard sword and put up his guard at the large bush by the corner of the forest path's turn.
A lone masked figure calmly paced out with firm steps to meet them.
Everything was covered except the strawberry blonde hair that flowed down her neck and a bit past shoulders.
The assassin stuck out her hips to strike a pose while gesturing two victory signs with her hands.
At that moment, Alexei was thinking if this encounter was all just a joke?
Like... Were they all going to be killed by the cuteness of this assassin?
Upon realizing that she might be after the Sasha, Alexei groaned at her from the distance.
"You... Are you here for the princess...?! If not, then step aside!"
Upon seeing her proceed to give a thumbs up before gesturing a throat-slit, Alexei pulled back up his retractable helmet.
"Gah, stop joking around! I'm warning you! Just back off, we don't have to fight!"
Right after Alexei was done speaking, a poison-coated dagger soared through the air.
Alexei's reflexes kicked in as he brushed it aside with his kite shield.
"She's fast...!"
In the next second, his shield that had been raised earlier was dropkicked by the assassin.
Alexei flinched and lost his balance, falling backward to tumble onto Princess Sasha.
"Kyaah-!?"
The assassin didn't take chase but instead struck another pose on the spot.
She slanted herself to the right before striking up her arms, spreading a hand beside her head.
[http://pm1.narvii.com/6081/2137b638418b68dcdfb97882265c1242e3139ee0_hq.jpg]
(End my suffering, these bad memes! JOJO!)
Alexei quickly helped Princess Sasha back up as he regained his combative stance.
"Yare Yare Daze..."
Alexei muttered out as sweat ran down his face.
Sasha who was quite reactive to bloodlust seemed a bit unsteady.
"She's so menacing..."
"Ahm... Princess, why are there weird purple symbols around her?"
Menace [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/362703793596399618/725357200884891728/18-183403_jojo-menacing-hd.png]Menace [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/362703793596399618/725357200884891728/18-183403_jojo-menacing-hd.png]Menace [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/362703793596399618/725357200884891728/18-183403_jojo-menacing-hd.png]Menace [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/362703793596399618/725357200884891728/18-183403_jojo-menacing-hd.png]
"It's because that pose is extremely menacing, Alexei!"
"I see... But Princess Sasha, please head back to the camp and call for help while I hold her off!"
"But... To leave you behind is..."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to come back alive-"
"Is that a proposal? Okay, I'll be waiting... Sir Alexei!"
"Ahm... Did I just set an unwanted engagement flag-!?"
Alexei seemed a bit unsure as he watched the princess scuttle away behind him.
The next dagger that came forth was deflected away by Alexei's bastard sword.
Despite not getting hit, princess Sasha screamed out and tripped over in a panic.
The overly agile assassin woman leaped to the side before darting forth.
She was just like a savage beast heading straight for helpless prey.
"As if I'll let you!" "Saseru mono ka!" ((Top 10 Weeb Momento))
Alexei unlocked the whip mechanism by pressing the button on his sword's hilt, flailing it out against the assassin.
The chained blades fanned out to whiplash at the assassin, forcing her to backflip out of harm's way.
Raising her head slightly to regain her bearings, the assassin groaned upon seeing the princess getting away.
"You... You're not going anywhere!"
Alexei shouted out as he prepared for her next move.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
The assassin leaped to the side and darted forth once again.
"Ahm... Quite stubborn aren't you... What, she can use magic-!?"
Much to Alexei's expectations, the assassin propelled off the ground with wind magic.
Another poisoned dagger flew directly for the princess as it grazed her right thigh.
Losing all her strength due to the potent poison, her body collapsed down on the spot.
The assassin who landed behind Alexei didn't stop there and continued to close in on the Princess.
Knowing that he wouldn't make it in time to save Princess Sasha, Alexei desperately took chase after her.
"Princess!!!" "Hime-sama!!!"
The assassin, however, upon reaching the unconscious princess, struck another one of those weird poses.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/404059426413084672/617524451637985291/unknown.png]
((A phantom has invaded your world! POG!))
Oh no... It couldn't be... The infamous POINT DOWN-!?
Princess Sasha's poor soul can now never rest in peace.
Alexei rushed to a stop beside, somewhat confused about it all.
"Ahm... You scared me there, I thought you were going to kill her..."
In the background, a few people ran up to check the commotion.
It was King Alderius alongside two armed encampment guards.
"Aye, you two! Take the princess back to the camp and treat her immediately!"
King Alderius ordered the two guards before brandishing his arming sword and great shield.
Alexei glanced over his shoulder to see King Alderius charge forth with the great shield out front.
"Ahm...!?"
Jumping to get out of the way, Alexei witnessed the King's unfaltering charge hammer into the unprepared assassin.
Despite reflexively bracing for the impact, she stumbled away a few steps before raising her palm.
Alexei was then blown away by intense wind magic.
"Gaaah-!? Why me-!?"
Alderius stood firm as he planted his shield against the next wind magic attack.
"Haha... This lass is a tricky one!"
Upon recovering after being knocked against a tree, Alexei noticed a poisoned dagger sticking out of his left knee.
"Agh, to think it would be my knee again..."
"Damnit lad, stay strong! Don't you die on me!"
"I'm okay! It's just paralyzing poison, I can still fight for a bit longer!"
Alexei winced as he pulled out and tossed the small dagger away before slowly getting up.
Unexpectedly throwing his shield at the assassin who was still spamming wind magic at him, Alderius charged with his sword high.
Instead of slashing down, he caught the seemingly ready assassin off guard by also throwing the sword straight at her.
Throwing her dirk to intercept, the barehanded assassin was then confronted with Alderius' heavy gauntlet going for her face.
She lowered her stance slightly and kicked forth to headbutt it with her blank steel mask, swiftly chaining it with a high kick.
Lowering his hands to block the kick, Alderius never realized it as the assassin's leg tilted sideways to come back down at him.
BRAZILIAN KICK!
"Urgh... That kick... Just like that damned crazy panty-hose lass...!?"
Alderius unsteadily fumbled away, clutching his helmet due to the concussion.
Despite the counter-attack, the assassin was also slightly disoriented from the impact which wavered her from finishing Alderius.
Upon recovering within a few seconds and unsteadily retrieving her thrown Dirk, Alexei took the chance to rush against at her.
Raising her smaller and unready blade to block, it was easily flung out of her hand.
Seemingly panicking, the assassin backstepped away and tried to make the distance.
Alexei never had a moment to hesitate.
Even with the paralysis poison slowing down his movements, he gathered all his power to swipe his sword back up.
Slashing directly into her face, the mask she donned cracked as blood seeped through.
Despite landing a good hit, the wound wasn't more than just a few millimeters deep.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/404059426413084672/569775359294439424/unknown.png]
"Gah... That mask of yours... Sure is handy..."
The paralyzed Alexei heaved as he staggered to go after the assassin.
Rumbling footsteps came by as many encampment guards rushed towards the scene.
Alexei backed away as he pulled Alderius behind the row of soldiers who held the assassin in the center with their polearms.
"Gah... Just surrender..."
The assassin nodded once and raised both her hands-
"Enemy Attack!!! We need help back at the encampment!!"
A loud shout came to the vicinity as a soldier with an arrow sticking out of their arm rushed up to the scene.
She who saw the opportunity elbowed the closest soldier and grabbed his twin-spear to spin around at everyone.
The encampment guards who just didn't expect it coming all tumbled away to avoid the sharp ends that twirled at them.
"We don't have time for this... Urgh... Damn this tricky lass... If the camp's under attack, we have to go back! The princess..."
Alderius, still under the concussion from earlier, couldn't bother to think straight.
The soldiers, upon hearing such, picked up their hurt ally before quickly retreating away from the scene with him.
"Sir Alexei, let's get out of here! It doesn't look like she's planning to take chase..."
"It's fine... She's not here to kill me... I'll stay here since I have a few questions for her..."
The guard unsurely nodded before running after the others who were returning to camp.
The assassin, after realizing that she was finally alone with him, plunged down the spear and twirled around to kick Alexei down.
Unable to react properly due to the paralyzing potion, Alexei was easily knocked down on the spot, groaning in slight frustration.
Instead of finishing him off, she instead twirled around the shaft to perform various pole dancing moves.
Alexei glanced weakly up at her alluring form as he was no longer able to move properly.
"Damnit... Just what is wrong with you..."
CRACK
After she twirled upside-down, the cracked part of the blank steel mask in which Alexei had slashed earlier finally fell loose.
The slight surprise in her exposed eye which glinted the same color of the sun was the last thing Alexei saw.
The assassin had already darted off, disappearing into the treeline without even a trace of her presence left behind.
"Her eye looked just like... Gah... No, it can't be her... Just why am I thinking about that retard so much...?"
Rolling his head to the side to rest, Alexei then read the paper note which laid there beside him.
'Virgin'
"Damnit, I'll let you know that I'm not a virgin anymore! Gaaah! Your information is outdated!"
Proclaiming angrily as he fumbled about, Alexei's arm accidentally brushed aside the paper note.
A small noted vial with blue liquid was then revealed to have been placed a bit further behind it.
'Poison Antidote'
A few hours after that encounter.
Valoratian Encampment Outskirts.
"They thought that you guys were the 'flanking force'-!? Hah! It sure took them by surprise when the real flanking force came!"
Ivan walked up to the two shady figures standing by the usual treeline.
Despite hiding her face under the shade of the dim evening light, Ivan could see that the masked assassin was injured.
The assassin with the short bow who sat on the tree branches above seemed unharmed otherwise.
"Hah... Seems like you got hurt?"
"Umu."
"You did well to hurt the princess! Well, they found an antidote later but whatever! Here's the bonus I promised!"
Ivan tossed the two assassins a pouch of gold each.
The masked assassin caught them both without much trouble.
"But what happened? Hah, I heard you were pretty skilled but to get slashed like that..."
"Elderia's Lord Protector slashed her face while she was fighting the Katraian King."
The assassin with the bow spoke out from above, causing Ivan to instead shift his look at him.
"That Alexei fellow? Hah, but you held off against both of them? Impressive!"
"Correct, plus she also managed to hurt the princess all while doing that."
"Hah! I wouldn't have expected less... But that's why I've prepared this in case."
He walked up to hand over to the cracked masked assassin a medical gauze that was sterilized with herbal ointment.
She, in return, seemed a bit surprised before taking it thankfully.
The bow assassin snickered once.
"So our employer isn't quite the bad guy after all?"
"Hah! Who said I was a bad guy? I'm just doing my job... Can't go against orders... Be sure to keep in touch..."
After departing from the scheming adviser Ivan, the two shady assassins met up with their third accomplice.
The three hid their presence as they walked down the small forest path together in slight leisure and carefreeness.
It was just an after-work meet-up kind of scenario they were mutually having together.
The scruffy-faced assassin with the saber coughed once.
"Ahem... So uh... Your face going to be okay?"
Her exposed right eye shifted towards him.
"Umu."
"Huh? That's quite the expensive herbal paste... When the hell did you get that?"
"The employer gave it to her earlier."
The elf who walked behind them butted in.
"Really? Scum like him?"
"Umu."
"Hey... Now that I see a part of your face... Have we met before?"
"Umu."
"My memory's all hazy thanks to that gorilla bitch knight back in Merchantia..."
"Umu."
"So that's where... Did you sit somewhere in the background? Yeah... You were there either way?"
"Umu."
"Hey... Don't tell the employer about that day, he'll dismiss me right away... That day was quite the shame..."
"Umu."
"This concludes our work today, let us depart... We'll see each other again the employer calls upon us."
"Right... But why are you two going together?"
"We know each other outside this line of work."
"Hey, you guys going to be leaving me all alone here? Alright, bye I guess...?"
The scruffy-faced saber assassin scratched his head, watching the two walk away from him.
The current battle situation.
The Allies' Hidden Command Post had been unexpectedly taken over by a Valoratian Flanking Force.
The significant people at the command post, however, had already been escorted back safely to a nearby encampment.
This nearby encampment, on the contrary to the fallen post, was very much more heavily guarded.
The allied troops were now prepared for any surprise attacks thanks to the brazen move from the Valoratian side.
Surprise attacks won't happen again anytime soon.
The next battle shall be decided on the latter fields of honest and gritty battle.