Ilum mines was located on the border between Vivrus’ lush jungle and the wastelands. The farther out towards the wastelands, the more desolated the land became until the trees of the jungles were replaced by a forest of dead wood. Kihet’s lungs breathed in the suffocating air he almost forgotten existed during his stay in Vivrus. It felt like waking up from a dream as the scene transitioned from having vivid colors everything returning colorless.

Four days later, reinforcements emerged from the forest witnessing scars the battlefield bore.

Defenders within Ilum mines barricaded themselves behind a composite wall built from stone, concrete and mostly dirt. Most of the outer stone layers crumbled off, leaving exposed patches of soil absorbing numerous impacts from enemy cannonballs. Be it burning coal, stones, and trash, the insectoids shoved anything and everything they brought out from the mines on their catapults to hinder the enemy’s advance.

On the other hand, attackers brought various siege equipment with them. They raised four trebuchets far back, launching fiery rocks. An abandoned battering ram already knocked down the main gate while their cannons continuously hammered Ilum mines’ defense. With Guardian Alagos early arrival, the fight was fortunately contained at the entrance.

Without further delay, Queen Elarinya gave the signal as the first wave of reinforcements poured out of the jungle to tackle the edge of enemy’s encirclement. Multiple cannons immediately turned to bomb them which gave time for magic casters in the mines to erect a new layer of earthen wall on one side.

Nimble creature like the Giant Locust were able to jump to different lanes on the fly which made them difficult targets. As ammunitions were not explosive shells, skilled riders dodged incoming cannonballs, slowly closing the distance.

“Intercept them! Don’t let those filthy insects touch our cannons!”

The enemy had calvary of their own to stop the charge. Even the lightest armored calvary from the enemy’s side were more protected than the insectoids. A clash was inevitable and once the two sides collide, the enemy was sure to win. The insectoids couldn’t flee as enemy horses were faster, but Locust riders didn’t waiver.

Locusts extended their hind legs and slammed into the opponents in full force. With both sides unhorsed, it was a grounded fight among knights.

“Send out heavy calvary!”

Knowing the enemy had used up their calvary in the area, Queen Elarinya sent a second company comprised of Giant Stag Beetles to target their siege equipment. When they got close, they were met with a hail of arrows that bounced off their sturdy exoskeletons and shields held by their riders as they formed a defensive formation. Once the arrows stopped, they resumed their charge into the row of pikemen prepared to fend them off. With their long horns and spears, the riders parried the pikes for the beetles to throw enemies into the air, even Giants were launched on their backs.

Orange flickering flames suddenly appeared at the enemy forefront. The enemy accomplished their objective to buy time for their spellcasters invoking numerous [Fireball].

The beetle riders desperately pushed forward knowing they were unable to escape the enemy’s magic barrage. Each tanked one or two [Fireball]s before they were exterminated not before taking enemy pikemen with them.

“If we are able to break their encirclement, it would lighten the burden on our allies protecting the mines.” Queen Elarinya said.

“You have people that can fly, right?”

“They will be sent out later after their mages have exhausted their magic crystals. My lancers’ require to be in tight formation to be effective, but magic will decimate them. I do have another plan.”

The insectoids behind them laid foundations for their trebuchets being built, facing the enemy’s way. They were constructing them well within enemy’s view which they began assembling sorties to stop the trebuchets from being completed.

“Oracle, you have free reign to command volunteer soldiers as you see fit to attack their siege equipment. I will be tending to their approaching forces.”

“You’re letting me take command?”

“With my most trusted advisors leading the mines’ defense, I am left with you as my only available option to launch the decisive assault into driving the enemy off my land. If I recall, Tomoe, you mentioned you studied a bit of warfare growing up in Xu, isn’t that right?”

“En!” Lily jumped into the conversation from nowhere. “I studied under one of the Heavenly Generals of Xu and learned stratagem of war basics. Most are from history of different Generals and their battles in a given scenario.”

“Even basic teachings are good enough depending on how you implement them. I will be counting on the both of you.”

“Kihet and I will take care of it!”

“Don’t make promises for things that could go horribly wrong.”

“But we will complete the task, right?”

Kihet let out a sigh after looking at Lily’s puppy eyes. “Sure, whatever. What’s our objective?”

“I have the location of the enemy backlines I require you to destroy. They’d surely run out of ammunition for their cannons soon. I also received word Aten’s side successfully seized their supply lines and will join up with you as soon as he finishes up.”

“I’ll see what I can do, but going around them will take time.”

“I am in position to afford that. Do whatever it takes to help me reclaim the mines.”

Kihet was given a list of parties participating the assault. That was around five hundred adventurers enlisted to his command. For convenience’s sake, it was a hassle to split up and elect commanders in this short span of time. Instead, he briefed the highest ranked party leaders of their objective and had them relay the plan back to other parties.

“We’re going to aim for the place where they keep their supplies. If you could throw a torch or a [Fireball] at them, that should be enough to stop them from using their cannons. We’ll sneak behind and take them out in one go then disperse to regroup in the jungle.”

Get in, get out. It was a simple plan and easy enough to understand. Their small swarm walked on foot, escorting several scorpios on wagons and marched through the jungle of deadwood.

The positive side of leading an army of adventurers was they were never short on scouts. Each party essentially had their own and Kihet used them to keep the caravan safe until they reached their destination in one day.

“Lily, have you secured our retreat route?”

“En! All set! Priqet and Yixy are finishing laying out traps to help with our escape in case the enemy chases us as we retreat.”

“Good. Set the scorpios forward.”

Kihet and the army of adventurers emerged from the deadwood jungle, overlooking the battlefield. The enemy’s cannons continued chipping away the walls while their trebuchets hailed fiery boulders at the allies behind it.

“Let’s take them out.”

On his signal, scorpios slung rocks and bolts at the enemy’s rear. Their ambush struck down teams of trebuchet operators and temporarily stopped the bombardment on the mines.

The scorpios were half the size of ballistae that launched smaller objects instead of large missiles ballistas used. Since they were smaller, they could be mounted on wagons and made them easier to transport at a cost of range.

It wasn’t until shield bearers formed a defensive perimeter that the adventurers launched their second wave of assault under covering fire from the scorpios. Using their numbers advantage, insectoids broke through the less defended side, setting the trebuchets ablaze and caused chaos among the enemy ranks. Once they set their sights at the cannons, the ground trembled.

The earth below their feet bulged. Smoke erupted between cracks forming over the hill when suddenly, an enormous hand sprouted out. Its fingertips stretched as far up as they could towards the sky and clawed into the soil. It raked in a pile of dirt and trapped some unfortunate adventurers before the rest of the body raised itself out of the hole and its weight squashed the insectoids.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Two gigantic figures in full suits of armor rose from the earth, shaking dirt off themselves. Standing three stories tall, both [Wars Blood] titans loomed over the attacking adventurers as one unleashed a quaking war cry. The other stomped ahead and brought down its club, pulverizing insectoids struck by fear.

Even though they knew their reputations would be damaged, they would at least be able to live another day. Many fled from the horrors of facing a titan, reducing the army of adventurer’s combat effectiveness by a quarter.

“Kihet, they were hidden!”

“Load the harpoons now!”

The titans march towards Kihet and the rest of his army taking shelter in the edge of the jungle.

There was an almost rhythmic pattern to the trembling moving towards them. Deadwood branches shook violently, shedding the few last withering leaves that were undisturbed for ages. Pebbles and rocks jumped each time the enemy stomped at the ground. An enlarged hand then swept horizontally at the trees unrooting them, and eventually gigantic beings emerged before of the army of adventurers.

“Release!”

Sharpshooters piloting scorpios aimed for the limbs and released the latches. Harpoons hooked into its armor and immobilized one as insectoids tugged on them in order to bring the titan down.

But there was a second titan quickly approaching to assist his partner. At the rate the number his army of adventurers was decreasing, Kihet didn’t have enough hands to face both of them simultaneously.

“Lily, I’m going to keep the second one occupied. When Priqet and Yixy get here, tell them to join up with me.”

“That’s suicide!”

“Then make sure we have spellcasters prepared to cast water magic.”

Kihet sprinted past the supply cart, snatching equipment needed to stop titan two from attacking the others. The market provided a total of four Dracalefic antennas processed into spikes and were separated into their own sheaths. Dracalefic flies were knight ranked monsters and thus were not popularly hunted for their materials even though many adventurers sought for them.

Although the antennas were treated and separated from the Dracalefic flies, they retained the ability to give unsuspecting handlers a lethal voltage shock. The source came from its hollow interior structure filled with many hairs that brush against each other when irritated to charge up a magic stone like core that stored electricity. Any excess energy were discharged as small arcs of lightning.

“Alright, let’s give these a shot. But first-,” He whistled loudly and pointed at his target with his spear. “I need water doused on the giant!”

At his command, series of magic circles absorbed magical essence trapped in the air, converting mana into jets of water and drenched titan one from head to toe. Its cotton undershirt absorbed most of it, increasing its weight.

Kihet drew a spike being careful not to touch any part not insulated by the handle and wielded it like a sword. Once he got close to the enemy, he jabbed at its exposed ankle. The hard skin of a titan bent it, but the Dracalefic antenna unleashed an electrical shock upon contact. Smoke flooded out of the gaps of the Giant’s armor and the air was temporarily filled with the scent of burnt flesh.

“Is one enough?” Kihet muttered, keeping his distance from the enemy.

Sadly, the answer was no as the titan regained consciousness a few seconds later. It picked up its club with both hands and swung at the area around its feet with such desperation aware it was threatened by being electrocuted.

“Looks like I’ll have to go at it again.”

At his beckon, a few spellcasters spared more of their catalyst and splashed the titan again.

Kihet hurled his sword at incredible speed even though he wasn’t using his dominant hand. The spurt of strength blessed by the Oracle’s mark was able to inflict heavy wound.

He raced past the titan’s shin with the Nagamaki in hand and sliced. The sharp pain running through its shin had Kihet earned its attention.

Enraged, the titan swiped at Kihet and everything between them. As its hand scraped against the ground, Kihet climbed the nearest tree and timed his jump towards the hand fast approached. He jammed the tip of the Nagamaki into its thumb, lifted himself up before its finger wrapped around him and began climbing up its arm.

Noticing this, its other hand moved to swat him off. Before Kihet could be backhanded off, a gust of wind carried an Insectoid up to its helmet and tossed a beehive through the slits.

“Looks like we made it!”

The Grasshopper fell onto the Giant’s shoulders and sprinted towards its helmet, thrusting one of his machetes through an opening. A swarm of agitated wasps flooded out of their hive and began stinging the titan’s face.

“Priqet, take these and go up there again!”

Kihet was eventually thrown off by the titan’s uncontrollable flailing as it ripped its helmet off. He landed next to the grasshopper and pushed a pair of spikes towards Priqet.

“Again?! Do you have any idea how dangerous it was to hold onto one of those nests? Those wasps aren’t friendly to insectoids!” Priqet replied. “But if you insist I must. Yixy, I need another lift!”

“I’m not sure if it’s safe to send you up there now. It’s swinging its arms too wildly.” Yixy objected.

“I’ll stop it, but it’ll only be temporarily.”

Kihet took out a piece of flint and steel, striking a light on a batch of tinders kept safe in small container before charging at the titan. He danced around, protecting the embers while dodging incoming stomps as he looked for a window of opportunity. He then splashed the rest of his hellfire bomb mixture and guided the embers onto it.

It took a moment for the titan to realize the scorching pain from his feet and for the smoke rising from below to disperse the wasps attacking it. As the titan shifted its concentration from its face to its foot, it suddenly felt a sharp pain coming from its other leg and fell on its knees.

“Yixy, launch Priqet up there now!”

“O’Wind, furious breath of elementals! I borrow thee, blow a gust, up and thrust into the skies! Create a draft and grant us flight! Furl, Ulos, Ruh, Exles, Ashent, Val!”

Because of his lightweight, powerful hind legs supported by Yixy’s magic, Priqet was propelled up to the titan’s height and stabbed both spikes into its eyeballs. The electric current overloaded in its eye sockets, causing it to rupture. A gush of blood splashed Priqet and rained down on Yixy, but not a drop landed on them as they had the wind’s blessing blowing away the droplets.

“Sheesh, Oracle. I never would’ve thought to use Dracalefic fly antennas like that! It gave me quite the shock!”

“Do we have more for the other one?”

“Only one.” Kihet answered. “I used the first one against the other giant and I don’t know if it’ll be enough to finish it off-.”

“They’re over there! Quick! Surround them!”

They were interrupted by a legion of enemy calvary quickly galloping towards them.

“The three of us can’t go against that many!” Priqet exclaimed.

“But if we go back to the others, they’ll follow us.” Yixy added.

“Loose!”

On command, enemy archer released their arrows.

“Arrows incoming!”

“Not good, not good! I don’t have enough time to cast a spell!”

“To the jungle, hurry!”

Black dots filled the sky as a wave of arrows rose into the sky as they sprinted towards the jungle for cover even though they knew they wouldn’t make it in time.

Priqet desperately pulled his friend knowing she was the slowest among them hoping his speed could make up the difference.

“Priqet, we’re not going to make it! I’m slowing us down, go ahead!” Yixy shouted.

“But-!”

“Go!” She shook off Priqet’s grasp.

The arrows reached their high point and began descending on them. The trio did well and dodged the early shots, but the rain of arrows grew heavier and eventually, Yixy’s wings were being ripped with some grazing her lightly armored exoskeleton.

An arrow pierced her shoulder then her left leg. The pain caused Yixy to trip over herself and dropped her bag of magic crystals.

“Yixy!”

“Keep running, I got her!” Kihet stopped in front of Yixy, spreading his cloak in above them. “I hope it works as Martha says it does.”

His cloak contained protective layers that was put together to ward light ballistics in case he ever found himself in a place where there was no cover. Of course, he wouldn’t trust it completely. Kihet raised the cloak over his shield, putting some distance away and created a small canopy over Yixy and himself.

He felt the weight of the cloak increased as arrows hit the cover with some caught tangled in the cotton layer. Just as he expected, many managed to pierce past the metal plated layer, but luckily none of them struck through the cloak, but hanged off it instead.

Slowly, the barrage came to a halt as the area around the two were flooded with stray arrows. Using this chance, Kihet heaved Yixy under his arm and resumed running with the enemy pursuing them on Girax, ox like creatures.

“We’re not going to outrun them!”

“Shut up and let me think!”

As the enemy Calvary caught up, the lead rider lifted its lance. Before Kihet identified which part of his body the tip aimed at, his eyes darted to the rider’s missing head and watched the corpse slumped off the horse. Several other enemies behind were beheaded while some Giraxs and horses lost their forelegs. The scene of heads and limbs disappearing was enough to steer away the calvary charge as a single figure crash landed between the two parties.

The wind cleared the billowing smoke, revealing a grotesque being keeping the enemy at bay.

Severed heads hanged from its mandibles biting on their hair. He was cloaked in black mist as slithering tentacles plucked away arrows that struck him and pieced his shell back together like a puzzle. His weapons were slathered in his foes’ blood and his glass like wings almost seemed invisible from beating at sonic speed.

Seeing the monster easily rip through their united charge, the horses refused to approach the Dragonfly warrior.

“W-we’re not dead?” Yixy asked.

“You’re late, Aten.”

[Sorry.] A piece of bark written with words landed before Kihet.

“Anyways, you got this right? Be careful of the fire lances and cannons they have.”

Aten dropped several fire lances he snatched from the enemy convoy as to ask “These?”

“I guess you took care of it.”

The Dragonfly nodded then aimed a spear at the enemy.

On the other side, ally soldiers numbering around one thousand flanked the enemy with their pikes being led by a company of beetle riders. They wedged through the enemy’s broken formation, further dividing their strength. One side was driven back while the other was walled off from their escape route.

“Their numbers are dwindling! Take them out!”

On cue, Lily, Priqet and the remaining volunteer soldiers charged out of the jungle to launch a pincer attack with Aten’s soldiers. Lily quickly spotted Kihet and Yixy on the field and brought medics with her to examine their injuries.

“Priqet, bring Yixy somewhere safe. Lily, did you take care of the Giant?”

“We weren’t able to land the finishing blow.” Lily replied. “I managed to take out its eyes and we led it into Yixy’s adhesive trap. It’s blind and stuck. It won’t be coming after us.”

“Good. That means with this push we’ll take down the enemy’s supply depot.” Kihet made a fist. “The rest will be up to the insectoids. Ready?”

“One second.”

Lily plucked the orb perched on her shoulder and held it in front. A magic circle formed on its surface then sucked in arrows laying on the ground like a vacuum.

“Restocked and ready to go!”

“That’s too convenient…”