Warden says "The look on your face almost makes me feel sorry for the monsters!"

Zimmy says "I agree, they have no idea what they are about to face."

Warden says "If they did they would be invading another kingdom!"

"Hey, I'm just doing my job! I just happen to enjoy it!"

Zimmy says "You are also very good at it! Hence why we feel sorry for the monsters!"

"While I go work on slowing them down you two should focus on preparing the town to face a siege. Gather volunteers and do what you can to give them basic training. Also allow those who want to run away to do so."

Warden says "Why let them run?"

Zimmy says "Most of the nobles already ran off before the rebellion."

"We want the cowards gone, if we face a siege they will be mouths to feed and they are bad for morale. I was expecting the nobles to run off, once you have a new king you can strip them of their lands and titles."

Zimmy says "Alright, anything else we need to do?"

"No, that should be enough. I will trust you two to take care of the town, while I go delay the monsters. I will buy you as much time as I can."

Warden says "Be careful. Your presence will do a lot for morale during a siege."

Zimmy says "Don't worry we will handle things here."

"Thank you! Oh, right. Do you have my gear?"

Warden says "Hold on I will have it fetched."

"No, don't bother. The stuff you took was a decoy."

Zimmy says "I have it here."

As I start pulling my armor out of the backpack and putting it on the warden's eyes widen. Not as much as mine do when I find the bundle containing what Raindrop made for me. The bundle contains three items, a pair of boots, a tabard, and what I think is a cloak.

However, when I go to put it on I find out it isn't exactly a cloak, because it has short sleeves. The only thing I can compare it to is the overcoats worn by the captains in Bleach. As I put all three on I find out that they fit perfectly, and just from touching them I can tell they are already enchanted.

"Zimmy, didn't Raindrop go a little overboard with these?"

Zimmy says "Whether she did or not, you look amazing!"

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Warden says "I agree! All that is really missing now is a crown!"

"Don't even joke about that!"

Zimmy says "It isn't really a joke. Everyone one is aware that if the kingdom survives this it will be because of you. Even though you aren't human I would say over ninety percent of the people would vote for you as king."

"Ugh, I don't even want to think about that! I am just going to go kill monsters! It is much simpler!"

Without giving either of them time to try and convince me to be king I finish gearing up and leave the prison. As I move through town to the castle I can feel the eyes of everyone around focused on me. The gazes contain respect and hope for the most part, it is an uncomfortable feeling.

At this point I would be more comfortable if the gazes went back to containing disgust and fear. The weight of the people's expectations is hard to bear and I have to remind myself this is only a test. Once the invasion is defeated all of this will just disappear and I will return to the real world.

As I approach my troop's barracks they all come out cheering and welcoming me back. I let it go on for a minute before ordering them to prepare to march, they are ready in under a minute. Turns out they have been waiting for me to return to lead them out ever since the rebellion succeeded.

As I lead them through the town people come running to line the street and cheer for us. Turning a normal march into something like a parade, but my troops are enjoying it so I don't make a fuss. Besides, the people know what is coming, they need a reason to feel hope.

Once we have passed the town gates I increase our speed to a jog, hopefully we can catch up to Roland before the fighting starts. It shouldn't be too hard, the rest of the troops, except Shard and Fallon's, haven't had stamina training. At a jog my troop should be able to catch up fairly quickly and they will still be fine to fight.

In a little less than an hour the other troops come into sight, as I expected they are marching slowly. On the way I already explained the plan to my troop, they didn't like hearing I would be fighting on my own. However, they can't argue with the fact that they can't keep up with me and they will still get plenty of fighting in.

Roland says "Good to see you, Ash."

Shard says "About time you showed up!"

"Hi, guys. What's the plan?"

Roland says "According to the scouts the enemy is moving and has crossed the border. We are headed to a pair of hills that will make a good defensive location. We can tie them down and do some damage before retreating."

"What are their numbers like?"

Shard says "From what the scouts saw they number around thirty thousand. Ten thousand orcs with almost twenty thousand goblins."

"They will use the goblins as cannon fodder, they aren't important. What about other monsters?"

Roland says "Nothing has been reported yet."

"I would suggest that you send teams to eliminate any monsters along the enemy's route. Anything too big for them to handle let me know and I will deal with it."

Selona says "Why bother?"

"To prevent the enemy from recruiting them."

Roland says "You think they plan to gather more as they advance?"

"Absolutely! That's why I took the extra time to eliminate almost all of the ettins."

Shard says "So you have been working against them since that long ago?"

"I had a hunch this would happen since I destroyed the force of over nine thousand goblins. So I have been working on the problem since then."

Roland says "That is some amazing foresight!"

"I am not human, my instincts are different, and I trust them!"

Selona says "Well, I for one am glad you did!"

Shard says "We all are! I can't imagine what would have happened if you hadn't been around."

Roland says "I can. We wouldn't have known anything until they were almost to the town and Kriton would have led us to our deaths."

Shard says "Probably! Anyway, Ash, what are your plans?"

"I plan to leave my troop with you guys, under Roland's command."

Roland says "Then what will you be doing?"

"What I do best. Killing monsters!"