RION
The enemy’s moving slowly ever since we began our little dance in the forest. I’ve ordered a thorough search both high and low, but the snakes that slither within the shades are far more slippery than I anticipated. I’ve seen neither hide nor tail of them after the first night when they lured us into a pitiful trap. I’ve lost about a dozen in that first attack and about a couple on the days that followed, but nothing major. We still hold the numerical advantage.
“Fan out,” I said as the first rays of the morning sun hit my eye. The search continues.
The soldiers, however, seem less enthusiastic. I don’t think they comprehend what’s at stake here. They move groggily as if they have not had a wink of sleep last night. Even if they didn’t it wouldn’t have been anyone’s fault but theirs when they’re the ones who couldn’t get used to the sound of gunshots and explosions in the middle of the battlefield.
As the soldiers moved incredibly slow, I decided to repeat my order once more. “I SAID, FAN OUT!” I shot a gun in the air, causing them all to snap alert. How pathetic.
“I want you all to search the forest again! We’ve scoured a large part of it already, it’s only a matter of time before we find them! So fan out, you knuckle-draggers!”
The soldiers dispersed soon after my little tirade. What a bunch of idiots, can’t even muster the proper energy for the battlefield! If they’d be this incompetent out here they should have just faced the gallows instead, would have been a much quicker death.
Either way, this fog that has set will surely slow down the hunt so it’s not like I’m too hopeful, but we can’t waste any time when the general wants the people here in this forest gone.
I set out with about 500 soldiers of my own to help with the search, moving in a different direction from the others.
PAUL
Just as yesterday, the enemy once again split up into groups of around 500 soldiers to look for us. We haven’t been doing much at the time being, except occasionally throwing a dozen or so “EXPLODE” runes on the enemy camp and more just on the outside.
Today, however, is a different day.
A thick fog has set over the forest, making it difficult to see. It’s the perfect day to execute my plan.
“Paul Unit,” I said. “It’s time. Just as we discussed from the start. Today, the Kythereans suffer defeat!”
After the short speech, my unit dispersed. The same went for me, having taken off with a group of 50 soldiers. Of course, we don’t plan on facing the enemy this way - that would be suicide. But we will be taking them out.
Using the tree scouts as a guide, my group located one of the search parties looking for us. They’re confused and, as I planned, tired. They move groggily except for whenever their fellows crunch a leaf under their feet.
“Open fire,” I said, keeping my eyes on the enemy.
My soldiers did as they were told, firing upon the already-frightened enemy. The sound of the guns startled them, and so we got a couple more shots before they managed to form and locate us.
“Retreat!” I said once I’m sure we’ve been spotted. “Halt fire and retreat!”
The enemy must have heard my command, seeing how they immediately pursued us through the woods after. We took our turns in the forest, having explored the terrain better than the enemy. There were some obstacles along the way which, combined with the thick fog, caused casualties on both sides. It didn’t matter, however, since the actual show is yet to come.
“Now!” I said, just as we turned to another corner.
At my command, each of my 50 or so soldiers dropped a runestone on the ground. We carried two different types - one that drops a thick smoke and another that explodes after a short delay. As soon as the smoke ones dropped - further obscuring vision in addition to the fog - each and every one of us jumped as far to the side as possible before continuing to run in that direction.
The explosions followed next, causing chaos and confusion among the enemy ranks. I’d wager a few of them were even caught in it, though I highly doubt it would have been enough to kill them.
“Hold,” I said to my soldiers silently. Each step we take after this is crucial to the outcome of the battle, and so we took care not to make a noise before the chaos fully sets in.
Soon after, gunshots rang through the forest coming from the direction where we just left. The soldiers stuck within their own maelstrom shouted at the top of their lungs as they fought against one another, knowing that the loser won’t ever see the light of day again.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Now,” I shouted.
As soon as I said that, a new chorus of gunshots joined the concert of the maelstrom, continuously raining hell on the chaos in front of us. I perched myself on a tree with the help of one of the scouts, watching as some of the Kythereans try to escape. Some managed to while some were caught by my soldiers and either killed or captured. Many more, however, were stuck in the battle below.
It would take only about 15 minutes before the dust fully settled. The air grew silent except for the sounds of similar fights happening in some other parts of the forest. For my part, I’ve done perfectly.
Around 600 Kythereans lay dead in the middle of the forest where the battle was fought earlier. There are a couple hundred wounded, and a few dozen that have been caught trying to escape. This plan worked perfectly, and only a couple dozen blood has been spilled on my side.
My soldiers, now numbering around a hundred, returned to me. We picked out the wounded, offering to treat them in the camp if they agreed to become prisoners. Many took the offer, some didn’t. They did not suffer long.
Either way, this side of the forest was clear while others still sang with a chorus of explosions and screams.
RION
After days of searching, those snakes finally slipped up! I caught one of them on the corner of my eye as the soldiers lined up to shoot mine, and so I quickly ordered them to chase. The enemy barely got a shot in before turning tail once we took action.
Indeed, they must be getting tired by this point judging by how sloppy they act. Unlike the first night, we managed to easily chase them through the forest under this thick fog. Their movements are slow, as if they haven’t had a wink of sleep in the past few days much like my own. In any case, after this we’ll be able to eliminate them one by one by having these guys cough up where the others are.
We moved through the woods, following them at every step and killing those who tripped and shooting at those who still ran. It’s our victory.
***
It all happened too fast. We were chasing the enemy for one moment, and then the fog suddenly grew thicker and thicker… There were explosions all around us. Even I got hit by a stray shrapnel… But the enemy didn’t move away. How stupid.
Instead of using this chaos to escape, they instead turned and faced us! How wondrous!
Shots flew through the air as the guns of the soldiers rang. It didn’t matter even if any one of us was hit, the enemy would still run out of soldiers before me. They simply don’t have the numbers to challenge me, the fools.
Still… something felt off. It seemed to me that the enemy had increased in number? At the very least, that’s what the gunshots suggest… No matter, every one of their fallen is another less while I didn’t even have a third of my army with me. This battle is my complete victory.
“AARRRGHH!!” I screamed in pain as I was knocked out of my steed. A burning sensation filled my right arm as I was thrown away by a shot, putting me out of the battlefield.
There, I beheld a spectacle I never even dreamed about…
The fog has cleared out aside from where they had kicked up a smokestorm earlier, thus I was able to clearly see the enemy my soldiers were supposed to be fighting stood before me, unmoving. Some of them were in the trees, taking shots at the battle below as if they care not for their own… Or maybe it’s because they don’t?
Maybe… they were never there to begin with?
“S-so…” the muscular girl standing before me said. Her uniform was different from the others, and a silver badge on her lapel was visible. She must be an officer, though the stutter in her speech was quite unbecoming. If this is what gets a job at Lorraine, then our empire would surely win the war. “This is… this is the enemy commander?”
They cuffed me before anyone could even answer. Naturally, I have the air of a distinguished individual unlike her, so it’s easy to see my importance. But they forgot something important - “Stop fighting among yourselves you idiots! The enemy is over here!”
“They won’t hear you, s-sir,” said the enemy officer. “Your s-soldiers are f-far too consumed by the battle.”
She was right… my soldiers just kept fighting and fighting. Some tried to escape, but they were quickly caught or killed.
Once the dust had settled, not one of them was left standing or able to fight.
“It’s your loss, s-sir…”
The Lorraineans have beaten me.
CECIL
The battle was finally over for my side. We had the luck of drawing the enemy commander, so I was able to put him in chains… I think I did good?
The soldiers celebrated as the dust settled… So many of them were dead, and a few more still breathing… The Commander said to take those still alive as captives, so I had to cut their celebration short to gather the wounded up…
“I’m… I’m really s-sorry f-for making you do this instead…” I told them.
“Nah, it’s okay Capt!” said one of the soldiers. “We’ll have plenty of time to celebrate with the others later on anyways!”
He’s right, I guess…? But if they say so…
“Thank you… I guess we have to help the others now too?”
“Of course, Captain!”
“Alright… S-soldiers, move out!”
With that, after leaving a couple dozen soldiers to guard the survivors including the captain, we departed for the other battlefields. Along the way, we found some stragglers who managed to escape. We offered to take them captives instead…
I guess what’s important is that the battle is almost over… and we won.