Chapter 217.

PART 1.

Hatori is reading about the defenses of the city. The front of the town has a road, which cuts through a mountain. since the city is located above this road, anyone who approaches this city will be seen from afar. The sides are covered with mountains as well, on which mages are situated to crush any army that comes through the road. There is a river at the back of this city, but since it is not easy to take a large force through the narrow stream, no one thinks of attacking from that side.

The road comes from the west. The mountains are located in the north and south of the city, while the river is in the east. But Hatori imagines them as front, back, and sides. putting the map down, Hatori walks outside the camp and summons a crow to his side by calling out to the bird.

He agreed to perform Hatori’s task, for which he got an advance payment in some food, and he will get more food once he returns to take to his nest for his mate and chicks. An hour later, Hatori is waiting outside of his camp, sitting on a rock which he extracted from the ground, and softened by a cushioning spell. Badri and other squad leaders are staring at him because he is supposed to start today’s discussion. But until now, he has not spoken a single word to them. after waiting for Hatori to speak for fifteen minutes, Badri’s patience runs out.

“Do you have a plan? Or do you plan to waste our time here?” he exploded.

The crow seems to have a perfect sense of timing. As Badri explodes, he flies over his head and lands on Hatori’s arms. After realizing that the bird is not a threat, they silently put their foci down. Hatori learns from the crow that his attack from the road is expected, but the river is undefended entirely.

This information brings a smile to his lips, and Hatori gives enough food for the mate of this bird and his chicks, just like he promised. “Listen now. this is what we will do.” He spoke to them, explaining his plan.

“Are you certain?” questioned one female squad leader. “Those areas are quite harsh to climb.”

“I know. And I also know that you will need some distractions, which the other attacks will provide. Your squad is necessary if we are to remove those mages from the mountains at the sides.” Said Hatori. “Without their removal, we will never succeed.”

“What do you want to do once we reach the city?” asked Badri. He knows the answer in his heart. The nobles will be spared despite what they did since that is what happens in the wars most of the time. Badri has no expectation that Hatori will be doing anything different.

“Accept anyone who surrenders.” Said Hatori.

“And if they resist?” asked Badri. He knows that those nobles will never cooperate with them.

“Kill them,” said Hatori.

That sudden declaration shocked them. “Even if they are nobles?” asked one squad leader.

“Didn’t you hear me?” asked Hatori. “Kill anyone who does not cooperate with you, regardless of who they are, and what status they hold in the society.”

“Sir, yes sir!” they said saluting Hatori.

“Badri, you will lead the other attack,” said Hatori.

“Why me?” asked the former commander, though none of the malice he had felt towards him when he arrived at first.

“Because I need someone who is experienced in such engagements in the middle of it, not someone who would panic.” Said Hatori. “Take Shin with you. his illusions will help you.”

“Very well.” agreed Badri.

PART 2.

Varsha waits for an attack with her general and her commanders. From what she knows of Hatori, the boy will come at them spells blazing, with no thoughts of his safety. Given he is trained by that brute Zeko, nothing else should be expected from him.

But they have been waiting for the attack for a long time now, and so far, there is nothing to suggest that they are coming to attack them. until they finally see a large force coming at them from the road in the middle of the afternoon.

“I thought he ran away.” Scoffed Varsha. “Maybe that would have been the wise choice.”

“The mages on the mountain are beginning to attack.” informs the general.

Despite these large spells coming at them, the force did not stop. Instead, some of them stopped, and after pooling their power together, shielded the army. Some spells did get through this shield, but largely, they arrived at the doorstep of this city without suffering too much damage.

Hatori, who was leading them at first, is now behind. He is observing the fight, which is going their way. the attacks from the mountain have stopped coming, looks like his plan is working so far. There are many cries of this or that guy challenging him for a single duel, but Hatori does not budge from his place, and neither his soldiers are entertaining any thoughts of fighting a single duel. They are fighting like an army should, with force, without consideration of fairness, and with swift brutality. The only thing they have in their mind is a victory and a complete takeover of this city.

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PART 3.

On the mountain, there is a massacre taking place. While the fighting is fierce on the ground below, here, the mages who were focused on the large army below have been caught off guard, and the force that scaled up from behind them is disposing of them. after their work is done, they exchange a signal from both mountains and wait for further orders.

For now, they will hold this position and will ensure that the enemy cannot take it, and establish their strong position by attacking from this high place.

PART 4.

Varsha burns from anger after seeing her forces lose to this inferior boy of inferior birth. “Why isn’t he responding to the challenges of duel?” she asked.

“Mother, if I may?” asked Rajat. At her nod, he continues. “He will never accept any challenge until he thinks that the other party is worthy of his time. you must send out our strongest mage, only then Hatori will fight him.”

“General, you are the strongest duelist we have. You must face that boy, and bring me his head!” said Varsha.

“As you command.” Said the general, and left to face Hatori.

Again, he hears a challenge to duel him, but this time, the challenge is from the general himself. Hatori smiled and accepted the challenge. Given he is the general of the enemy, Hatori expected great difficulty in killing this man.

But the man proves to be quite weak. Either he has gotten too experienced in fighting, or the credibility of this man is questionable. After Hatori cuts the head of the general, and mounts it on a pike, and shows it in the air, the fighting pauses for a while.

Only to pick up in intensity, as Varsha watches in horror. Her general was killed in a few seconds. As if this is not enough, she gets more bad news. “Mam, we are getting attacked from behind!”

PART 5.

Badri waits in the river, the boats under his command being hidden by Shin’s illusions. The fighting is fierce, and they have remained undetected so far. Though they could not see the battle from here, they did see the head when Hatori waved it in the air. the mirror in Shin’s hand starts to vibrate, and Badri smiles.

It is time to attack. silently, without exchanging any words, they banked on the river and left their boats. They then started to attack the unprepared enemy from behind, taking over their supplies, and starting to hunt them in the city to route them out completely.

Shin watches over the prisoners who are sleeping under his spell. he considers himself to be a witness of a great battle today. Though there are no heroes or no stories of valor here, even then he is certain that this will be written in history. Because not every day does some inexperienced commander take a city from the enemy.

PART 6.

The soldiers and the top brass are happy with Hatori, as they enter the city, and capture the base. they are happy that they will not have to deal with some glory-seeking nutjob who wants glorious charges, and has no care for the soldiers under his command.

In the evening, the prisoners are brought to Hatori. the woman, who is the leader apparently has not lost her smug look all day long. Before Hatori could say anything to these prisoners, she spoke first.

“Release us, oh mighty commander. Keeping nobles imprisoned like this is unbecoming of you,” she said to Hatori, while Rajat watched this happening in dread.

“Why? So you can do this again?” asked Hatori, not impressed by the flattery.

“Fine. I’ll give you another reason. you may have been victorious today, but someone of your blood cannot hope to beat us, your superiors.” Said Varsha, all semblance of the civility gone. “So, release us, and maybe I’ll ask that you be given mercy when you are facing my noble brethren in the future.”

“I couldn’t care less.” Said Hatori. “Either you all will give me your total supplication, or I’ll kill you. that is what my general wants, and that is what he will get.”

“Surely you jest? You will never dare to lay a hand on a noble one—” Hatori has enough. To demonstrate his point, he pierces one of the noble prisoners’ heads with bolt of lightning, who is standing right next to Varsha.

“Do you still doubt me?” asked Hatori. not waiting for her reply, he killed another prisoner. Then another. Then another. Then another.

Soon enough, Varsha and her son are the only nobles alive among the prisoners. The rest are the soldiers and some civilians who attacked the soldiers during the fighting. “Now, should I kill you next?” asked Hatori. “Or maybe him?”

Varsha has a horrified look on her face. She never thought that she would ever see a monster like this one in her life. “Answer me!” demands Hatori.

“Please spare me and my son,” she said, bowing her head in supplication. “We will do what you ask.”

“Should I accept this?” asked Hatori, looking at Shin and Badri.

“Well, she did surrender.” Said Badri. “I say spare her. if she causes trouble, we can kill her without even saying anything to her.”

“Fare enough.” Said Hatori. “Rejoice, whoever you are.” Hatori did not bother to learn her name or any of the people he had just killed. “You get to live with your son.”

“Take them to the prisoner’s quarter. Badri, can you handle these remaining ones? I have to write a report for the general.” Said Hatori.

“Certainly.” Said Badri.