“Huh?! Where am I?”
“O’ Brave heroes! Thank you tremendously for heeding our call in our direst times!” A regal man sitting upon a throne bellowed at him.
Heroes? What? Did I… did I get isekaied!?
“Saitou?”
“A- Asumi?”
As if it was the perfect anime, he was teleported with his crush into this fantasy world. The man in front of them seems to be… a King! A real life King! And the Queen beside him, and the multiple knights and priests?
“O’ otherworldly heroes, we are in dangerous times. The demons have awakened and ready to destroy all of humanity. We beg you to save the human race!” The King said once more.
“Please, we need to check your class. If you may.” A person who seems to be a priest of some sorts stepped up and pointed at an orb in the center of the throne room. “Please place your hands here.”
Saitou’s body moved on its own, but were stopped by a tug by Asumi. Seemingly telling her to not go any further.
“Don’t worry.” He simply said.
He moved to place his hands on the orb. Once he did so, the orb glowed brightly, blinding the entire room in white. The King and the Priest fell to their knees. “A- Ah… heroes! You’ve truly come!”
Soon enough, Saitou saw a screen which he assumed only he could see. It was his stat screen.
Name: Saitou Namakama
Level: 1
Skills: [Concealment], [3x EXP], [HERO’s blessing], [Skill Acquisition]
Titles: [Chosen Hero]
Saitou stared at the screen, trying to process what he was seeing. The glowing orb faded, and the room slowly came back into focus.
The king rose to his feet, his expression a mix of hope and desperation. "We’ll survive the demon invasion! Gaia saved us!”
Asumi stepped up beside Saitou, her eyes wide with wonder. "Saitou, this is incredible! We’re actually heroes in another world!"
Saitou nodded, still trying to wrap his mind around it all. "Yeah, it's like something out of a dream. But... what about you? Shouldn't you check your class too?"
Asumi hesitated but then nodded. She stepped forward and placed her hands on the orb. It glowed again, though not as brightly as before. A similar screen appeared before her.
Name: Asumi Yamada
Level: 1
Skills: [Healing Touch], [3x EXP], [HERO’s blessing], [Light Magic]
Titles: [Saintess]
The king's eyes widened even further. "A saintess and a chosen hero... we are truly blessed by the heavens!"
Asumi turned to Saitou, her face lit up with excitement and child-like wonder. "We can do this, Saitou! Together, we can save this world!"
Saitou smiled, he dreamt of this a lot, and it was… exhilarating to finally become a hero in another world. "Yeah, we can. We'll train, get stronger, and face whatever challenges come our way."
The king stepped forward, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, brave heroes. We will provide you with everything you need to prepare for the battles ahead. Humanity’s survival rests in your hands!"
.
.
.
“See?! See what they did to me?! Those savage, ungrateful *@^$#&!” Kali, a Palushian warrior, spat out a string of curses in her native tongue, her voice laced with pain and anger. Saitou ignored her outburst, his focus solely on keeping her safe. Behind them, the distant relentless shouts of Imperial soldiers echoed through the air as they fired their rifles.
“Please, Kali, try not to move too much! We’re taking you back,” Saitou grunted, struggling under her weight. His skill, [Concealment], had allowed him to swiftly pull her out of the line of fire when the shooting started, but not before she’d taken a bullet to the thigh.
Not too long ago he was a normal high school student dozing off in class. one thing led to another, him and his two friends were transported to another world and hailed as heroes by the Holy Church to defeat the Demons. Thanks to the overpowered skills they got through [system], they were able to defeat multiple beasts, ended wars, and brought peace to the kingdoms. Even canonized as Saints.
“Come on, we’re almost there.”
They were headed to a Palushian settlement, Kali’s tribe, to discuss the strategy moving forward after the failed negotiations. Whether he liked it or not, a battle is unavoidable, which is unfortunate.
He came to find out that the empire, despite their more advanced technology than the west, but severely lacking in Arcane capabilities, are nothing more than isolationist imperialists. In a way, that is good for them, as they do nothing and keep to themselves. On the other hand, the Demons hadn’t stopped attacking even after he slayed one of their great generals.
He hoped he could enlist the help of the empire, but his efforts to communicate with the Empress were met with silence.
Reaching the settlement, he felt unease. The village was nestled in a clearing surrounded by dense forest. Unlike most assumed, it was large enough to be categorized as a medium-sized town.
Tribesmen and women emerged from their homes, their expressions shifting from shock to anger as they saw their heir, Kali, wounded and leaning heavily on Saitou. Murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire, and he could see the spark of distrust and fear in their eyes.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward with a visible worried look even if he doesn’t show it, his rabbit ears straightened up in alarm. He was adorned tribal tattoos and light leather armor covering his vital parts. “Kali…” he bit her lip. “What happened?”
“Father, the imperials attacked without warning. They are... Dishonorable!” She growled. Her wounds didn’t affect her much it seems. That or it could be the adrenaline.
At the mention of the ‘imperials’, Kali’s father gaze hardened, he turned and shouted, “send a message to the rest of the Palushian tribes! The imperials are coming!” He promptly left Saitou and Kali.
Saitou wondered if the imperials are already gearing up for war. They must’ve been planning this for a while.
----------------------------------------
“WHICH ONE OF YOU IDIOTS SHOT AT THE PALUSHIANS?!?!” Karoly screamed at the top of his lungs, so much so that Ries had to cover her sensitive feline ears once again. After the shots were fired, Karoly immediately bee-lined toward the source, only to find two dead Paluushians lying on the ground.
A similarly angry-looking man stepped forward, rifle slung over his shoulders. “Those savages were going to kill us! If the TAC were not so soft, we could’ve avoided this!”
Karoly pointed at the bodies, his face red with fury. “Look at them, you idiot! Why would they send, what was it? Three? Four people with NO weapons?!”
“You can never be so sure,” the man shot back. “I know what I’m doing. I established this town. I am NOT going to give them an inch.”
“Look where that got us! They’re not going to listen to negotiations now!” Karoly shouted.
Having heard enough, Ries stepped between the two men, who were inching closer to a fistfight. “Enough! I am the Deputy Minister here, and by law, I outrank all of you.” She looks at them both.
The man sneers, “I will not take orders from an imperial bureaucrat who looks out to no one but themselves!” His distaste for authority was clear. Not even the imperials like their own government, huh?
“Look, you just shot two Palushians possibly coming to negotiate. Whether you like it or not, we’re going to find ourselves in a fight.” She glared at the man, “so I suggest you work with us or else this town of yours will be erased just as fast as it appeared, Mayor.”
The Mayor's face twisted with anger, but he said nothing, knowing there were truth in her words.
Ries turned to Karoly, “What do you think?”
“The Palushians are gonna retaliate, there’s no doubt about that. We need to make sure we can survive until reinforcements arrive.”
“Hold on, survive? What’s our situation?” Ries was taken aback.
Karoly scoffed, “what do you think it looks like?” He looked around with his arms crossed, “we have five men. Guards and police, who are professionals. The rest are just armed civilians.” He glares at the mayor.
“Not civilians Sir director.” The mayor returned his glare, “we are prospectors. Frontiersman, who took risk braving the untouched lands in search of wealth.”
“Frontiersman or not,” Ries interjected, “you’re not trained soldiers. We need to organize and fortify our defenses quickly. Karoly, get your men to start setting up barricades and defensive positions. Mayor, rally your people and arm them with whatever you have. We need everyone ready.”
“Oh please, like the both of you are even trained soldiers.” He scoffed.
For the first time, Ries saw Karoly tug a smile on his lips. “Ah, I was in the army. Veteran of the eastern campaign.”
The mayor’s eyes narrowed, but he held his tongue. He turned to Ries, “I want assurance the Palushians will not bother me or my fellow frontiersman anymore after this.”
Ries felt unsure as she met his gaze. On one hand, she wasn't heartless enough to condone the slaughter of the Palushians. On the other hand, she needed the mayor's cooperation to protect the town. “We’ll do everything we can to negotiate a peaceful resolution once this is over,” she said carefully. “But for now, our priority is defense. If we can show strength, perhaps we can bring them to the negotiating table.”
The mayor’s scowl deepened, but he nodded grudgingly. “Very well. We’ll hold the line, but don’t expect us to just sit and wait for a miracle.” He then turned to his men and shouted, “MEN! Arm yourselves! We’ll show the savages who truly rules these plains!”
As the mayor’s men began to arm themselves, Ries turned to Karoly. “We need a plan. You said you were in the army?”
Karoly shrugs, “Ranger corps. Did some battles with the desert tribes over in the east.”
“Good… good. Can you lead the defenses?” Her eyes are literally begging Karoly to lead. She was an Assassin class during her time at the Adventurer’s guild, not a leader or even a soldier.
“Alright. I’ll take command.” He paused, looking over her, “but I want some good word put for me to the higher-ups.”
“Of course. If we can survive this battle.”
“We’ll survive. But it’ll be difficult.” He looked away to the prospectors who were arming themselves. Most of them were older men, with a few younger ones who handled themselves easily. It was clear these men were well acquainted with rifles.
“Have you called for help?” Ries asked.
“I’ve radioed Nurenses for the provincial guard. We’ll have to survive ‘till then.” He reaches for his pocket for a cigar, “want one?”
Ries looked at the cigar incredulously, before sighing and taking it. "Thanks," she said, lighting it with a match Karoly handed her.
----------------------------------------
The Palushian settlement of the Brahe tribe was preparing for an assault against the illegal imperial town. Kali’s father, the chief of the tribe, was preparing the warriors, while her mother, as the High Queen, rallied the rest of the Palushian tribes to kick out the imperials out of their land.
In truth. Kali was afraid. Afraid of war. While she promised the hero and her parents to fight, she wasn’t able to due to her wound. And thankfully so.
“People die… just like that?” She whispered to herself, the memory of the attack still fresh in her mind. She along with her two best warriors, friends, and the hero, visited the town to talk things out. All in all, she thought it was a good plan. show them they were not just mindless savages, and that they can talk the imperial language.
True, she did yell at them, but then… The rifles had torn through the two bodyguards who had accompanied her to the Imperial town. There had been no warning—just a sudden, a deafening BANG, and then they had dropped dead.
She didn’t even process what had happened yet until after she was pulled into safety by the hero. Her mind registered the pain of the bullet wound after she was brought back to the tribe.
Lying wounded in her tent, Kali felt the weight of the situation bearing down on her. She had promised to fight, to defend her people, but now she was sidelined, helpless.
The daughter of the great Brahe chief and the High Queen is despairing over it all. The only ‘combat’ she’d seen was during her training, and hunting animals. Not actual battles between people aiming to kill another. It could be considered a sheltered life, especially in a tribe where fighting and hunting is the way of life.
She shuffled to the side when she heard someone opening her tent. It was Hali, her beloved.
“Your father is leading the first assault on the town. He leads a thousand warriors to reclaim our honor.” He said as he sat down beside her.
“A thousand warriors? Do they stand a chance against the Imperials?” Kali's voice trembled with doubt.
“Kali… I know you lost your friends, but father believes in our strength. We know these lands, and our warriors are fierce. They number less than a hundred.”
Kali sighed. "But their weapons... those rifles. They're unlike anything we've faced before."
“I understand. The war council understands that too. We do not know how this ‘empire’ fights, but we know these lands, and that they are weak for relying on tools to fight. They cannot defeat us.”
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“A bow and sword can be considered a tool, you know…” she murmured quietly.
“What?” Hali asked, slightly taken aback.
Kali looked at Hali. He was sweet, strong, and caring. Something she liked about him was his caring attitude. But he’s too idealistic sometimes, she thought. He always believed in the strength and honor of their people, perhaps to a fault.
“Nothing… tell father I will be awaiting his victory.”
“Will do. Rest well.”
Hali left her alone to ponder on her thoughts. Was this the best outcome? There has to be another way that doesn’t involve bloodshed.
She closed her eyes.
Outside the tent, Hali found the chief conversing with the hero’s party. An odd group, he thought. It was the first time he had seen an Elf, rare as they are. More so seeing a group of three humans, a Beastmen, and an Elf in one group.
“Chief.” He said, “Kali says she awaits your victory.”
The chief turned to Hali, his expression softening momentarily before returning to its usual stern demeanor. “Thank you, Hali. She is strong, like her mother.”
The hero, Saitou, asked. “How is she?”
“Resting. She’s worried about the battle,” Hali replied.
The hero frowned. “I’m worried too,” he then turned to the chief with a concerned look. “Chief, is there really nothing I can do to help?”
“No. This is a Palushian warrior’s honor. We cannot let an outsider help us lest it tarnishes our honor.” The chief replied sternly.
“I see…” Saitou’s voice trailed off, his concern still evident.
The chief turned to Hali. “Hali. I want you to stay in the tribe.”
“W- What? But I can fight!” Hali seemed taken aback by the chief’s request. Why deny the tribe’s strongest and most promising warrior a battle? Against foreign invaders no less.
“I want you to protect Kali. If anything happens to me, I want you to be by her side.”
“But—”
“This isn’t an order. I won’t stop your for coming to the battle. But… I’m worried about that girl.”
“…” Hali thought it over. He glanced at Kali’s tent and nodded. “I won’t let you down, chief.”
The Chief only nodded, but Hali swore he saw a faint smile on the Chief’s face. He watched as he and the best warriors of the tribe walk out of the tribe to fight the imperials. The hero and his party sat in the sidelines as they too, watched.
Hali stood there, watching the warriors walk further and further until they disappear in the tree line.
----------------------------------------
There were many times when Ries felt she was unsuitable for the things she did. One time, when she had just finished training with her father, she requested to spar with a boy her age. Of course, as it was a martial tribe, she was granted the fight.
Unfortunately for her, it didn’t go so well. She was utterly defeated by the boy. Then she wanted a do-over. And another, and another. Each ending in defeat. By her tenth attempt, she changed her tactics. Instead of relying on brute strength, she began to focus on agility and strategy. She observed her opponent’s moves, learned his patterns, and started to anticipate his attacks.
Unfortunately, that was a grave mistake for her. It was perceived as a sign of weakness by her father and by extension, the tribe.
“The one who hides,” they called her. At least that's what it translates to in the imperial language.
She opened her eyes and surveyed the room around her. It was the makeshift meeting room in the TAC building with the scent of cigars and cigarettes permeating the room. It turned out it wasn’t only her and Karoly who indulged in the habit. Several frontiersman including the mayor himself were puffing away. Though it was her first-time smoking, she had to admit it was calming her.
Karoly and the mayor had led to bolster defenses of the small town. Setting up barricades and whatnot. Meanwhile she’s some kind of figurehead? She just sits in meetings just because of her status. Accidental as it may be. Right now, they are
The more she listened to Karoly, the more she grew increasingly concerned about defending the town. She wasn’t some big-time strategist, she was just a humble adventurer before accidentally entering government. But even she knew they were at a disadvantage.
First, their defense. The town was small, it only consisted of a few buildings, making it nowhere near enough to make cover for 40 men, most of these frontiersman sleep in tents. The terrain around the town isn’t much better, it was a flat plains grassland.
Second was their manpower, or lack thereof. They were only 40 men, not including herself, Karoly, and the mayor. That was the entire population of the town, made up of prospectors and pioneers. Even if each of them had a rifle, it wouldn’t matter in the end if they were facing thousands of enemies renowned for their agility.
As Karoly put it, they had no artillery support, no arcane support, and no professional training. What they did have was one singular machine gun, an old model owned by the mayor. Legal or not was questionable, but it could help with the defense. Aside from the old machine gun, they had explosives. In particular, dynamites. Heaps of it. Perhaps it was the prospectors and pioneers who brought them, hoping to find mineral deposits nearby the area aside from oil?
Ries mulled over the situation as she absently puffed her cigar. They had to get creative. “Asymmetric warfare…” She thought out loud.
Karoly snapped his head and looked up from the map. “What?”
“Using unconventional tactics to offset the enemy’s advantages. We can’t meet them head on, so we’ll have to use their strengths against them,” she explained. “We need to make this town a nightmare to invade.”
“I know what asymmetric warfare is,” Karoly scoffed. “But I suppose you’re right.”
“Make this town a nightmare to invade?” The mayor raised an eyebrow. “How do you propose we do that?”
Ries tapped her fingers on the table. “You said we have plenty of dynamite, right? We can plant them strategically.”
“I see… we can set traps and obstacles. I suppose we should also dig up pits and fill them with explosives?” Karoly looked around the room. “That way, when an unfortunate Palushian or two comes close enough, we can detonate them.”
“We should also rig the building with explosives. And set them to collapse. Turn the town into a death trap.” Ries said.
“Hold on. That would just destroy the town, then!” The mayor crossed his arms with a disapproving look on his face. “Those buildings are homes and stores for us. You can’t expect us to destroy it!”
Ries gazed at him with similar expression. “Look, do you value your life or material buildings? Do you want a town left to save or would you rather be killed by uncivilized primitives?”
“That’s rich coming from you who is a Beastmen herself!”
Annoyed, she sighed. “After all of this, I can assure you that you would get adequate funding to rebuild your town. Maybe more than enough, I can work it through the ministry. But that depends on your cooperation.”
The mayor scowled. “I want reassurances you would keep your word for it.”
“Consider it that the home affairs ministry owes you a favor.”
She locked eyes with the mayor, to which he broke off first. “Alright, we’ll do it your way. But I’m holding you to that promise.”
“I always keep my promises.”
Seeing the two had ended their exchange, Karoly chimed in. “Then what about the machine gun?”
Ries turned to Karoly. “We’ll place it in a hidden area deep in the town. Preferably here, at the end of the main road.” She pointed to a spot on the map. “Machine guns are effective, yes. Their bullets can tear through waves of enemies with ease, but their effectiveness depends on strategic placement.”
She traced a path on the map with her finger. “In an open field, it wouldn’t be as effective. But if we place it at the end of this narrow road, it will create a deadly chokepoint. Combined with our self-destructive tactics, turning the town into a death trap, it could prove very effective.”
Karoly nodded as she finished her explanation. Impressed, perhaps? Hard to tell with his poker face in the way. “Agreed. We’ll make sure it’s well hidden and well protected.”
“Fine. We’ll do it.” The mayor still had a disapproving look on his face but relented. “I suppose we should get to work, no? It’s only a couple hours until sunset.”
Ries nodded and watched as the makeshift command center dispersed, leaving her alone in the room. She glanced down at her hand, realizing she had finished her cigar without even noticing. Perhaps it was the stress or her engrossment in the discussion that had distracted her.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her mind. Ideally, she should’ve proposed her original plan. Her force of 40 men can’t hope to match thousands of Palushians, therefore they needed to retreat immediately. But not without fighting back. Her original plan consisted of rigging every building in the town with explosives and exploding them once the Palushians enter.
But what’s done is done.
She looked down to the burnt-out cigar on her hand and mentally noted she should ask Karoly about where to buy them.
----------------------------------------
The night was cold. But perhaps because of the tense situation the town found itself in, nobody had the time to be cold.
Ries sat on top of the TAC building with a pair of binoculars and a freshly made cup of coffee, surveying the surrounding terrain. A plus trait of the Beastmen demihumans, they could see far better in night than anyone else. So far, there were no signs of Palushian activity. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on how much longer it took for the provincial guard to arrive.
Finding that an attack wasn’t likely to happen in the next minute or two, she glanced at her side and inspected the rifle given to her by the mayor, an old, breech-loaded rifle with a bayonet attached at the end. She had received basic rifle training from Karoly before, it was straightforward enough—aim, shoot, stab. She hoped she wouldn’t have to use it, but the weight of the rifle in her hands was oddly comforting.
Down below, the townsfolk and soldiers moved with purpose, setting up barricades, checking weapons, and laying the dynamite according to her plan. The mayor, despite his earlier reluctance, was coordinating efforts with Karoly, ensuring that every detail was seen to. It was a strange camaraderie born of necessity, but it worked.
She couldn’t help but notice Karoly’s antiquated methods of war. She was pretty sure forming a firing line wasn’t the standard war doctrine in this day and age, but considering they do not have adequate equipment to fight a modern war in a traditional sense, it was acceptable.
And then there was the machine gun. It wasn’t just outdated—it was ancient, the first-ever model of a machine gun ever made. It was mounted on a wheeled carriage, its metal parts weathered and worn from years of disuse. She doubted its reliability, but it was all they had.
“But a machine gun is a machine gun, is it not?” She mused to herself. As long as it can spit death at 1000 rounds a minute, it’s all that counts. Provided they didn’t run out of ammo first.
The thought was both comforting and alarming. Comforting because it was a powerful tool in their arsenal; alarming because their fate hung on such an unreliable relic. Ries took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the horizon once more.
Then, she saw it. Faint light flickering through the treeline. She squinted, focusing on the movement in the shadows. The light grew more distinct, and then the faint sound of drums reached her ears, growing steadily louder. The rhythm was joined by war cries that sent chills down her spine.
“They’re coming!” she yelled to the people below. Thanks to Karoly, the defenders had already formed a firing line, their rifles at the ready.
She braced herself for the flood gates that is the treeline as she waited for the Palushians to break from the cover of the trees.
The first wave of warriors emerged, their silhouettes stark against the flickering torchlight. Their war cries echoing through the night. Armed with daggers—she assumed as she observed them—and light armor covering their vital organs.
Without warning, they rushed forward with incredible speed, closing the distance to the town with alarming swiftness.
“Steady!” Karoly’s voice rang out. “Wait for my command!”
Ries almost dropped her binoculars when his voice rang out. Instinctively, she reached for her rifle and aimed it at the incoming wave of Palushians. She was shaking, though perhaps due to adrenaline, she forced herself to be steady.
"Fire!" Karoly's command cut through the tension, and the night erupted in a deafening volley of gunfire. The front line of Palushian warriors staggered and fell, their charge momentarily halted by the hail of bullets. But more surged forward, undeterred by the losses. It’s as if one fell only to be replaced by three others.
Ries fired her rifle, the recoil jarring her shoulder. She saw a warrior fall, but there was no time to register the impact. She reloaded, fired again, and again, each shot a desperate attempt to stem the tide. Ries struggled with the process, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the ammunition.
“Reload!” Karoly's voice rang out once more, “Fire!”. The defenders quickly obeyed, pulling fresh cartridges from their pouches and firing another volley.
Despite the relentless gunfire, the Palushians continued their advance. It seemed for every one that fell, another took their place. They were now closing in on the town, the gap between the attackers and defenders shrinking rapidly.
“Hold the line!” Karoly’s voice cut through the tension as the first wave of Palushians clashed with the defenders. Daggers met bayonets in brutal melee combat.
Ries watched in horror as the battle devolved into chaotic close-quarters fighting. She took a deep breath, steadied her rifle, and aimed carefully. She fired into the melee, trying to support the defenders below and picking off the Palushians one by one.
Suddenly, as she was aiming at a Palushian, ready to fire, a dagger slashed in front of her. She staggered back, her rifle slipping from her grasp. The Palushian warrior loomed over her, eyes wild with fury.
Ries' heart raced as she fumbled for her sidearm, but the warrior was too quick. He lunged at her, dagger poised for a fatal strike. With a quick movement, she kicked out, connecting with the warrior's shin and causing him to stumble.
Using the momentary distraction, she grabbed her rifle and used the bayonet to thrust it upwards, piercing the warrior’s side. He let out a guttural cry, but his grip on the dagger didn’t waver. They grappled, each trying to overpower the other.
She pulled the bayonet out and managed to shoot the Palushian in the torso before thrusting the bayonet into him again and twisting it deep. When she pulled the bayonet out, the warrior collapsed and fell from the roof, presumably dead.
Breathing heavily, she quickly scanned her surroundings. The battle seemed to be coming to a close. The Palushians were retreating en masse from the town as she heard Karoly yell, “Push them back!” or something along those lines.
Ries took a moment to steady herself, wiping the sweat from her brow. The adrenaline was still pumping through her veins, but the immediate threat had passed. She glanced down and saw the defenders rallying, driving the Palushians back into the forest. The town was holding its ground, for now.
She climbed down and approached Karoly, who was barking orders here and there. “How much did we lose?” she asked with a hoarse voice.
Karoly looked to her. “I’m surprised you haven’t died yet. We’ve lost two.”
Ries raised an eyebrow. “Only two? How many we faced? Around a hundred?”
“Only.” He scoffed, “Most of us are wounded.”
“Right... I’ll help with the wounded and prepare for the next assault—oh...” Her eyes drifted to the distant treeline where the Palushians were once again rushing forward. But this time, there were more—likely the entire army in the thousands.
An arrow violently planting itself just beside her snapped her out of her thoughts. Instinctively, she shouted orders at Karoly. “Get into position! We’re blowing this town sky-high!”
Karoly’s eyes widened, but he quickly nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Everyone, fall back! Prepare the charges!” he barked, his voice carrying over the din of the battlefield.
The defenders quickly retreated into the town and jumped into makeshift trenches on the opposite end. Conveniently, this was where they had placed the ancient machine gun. All they needed to do was wait for the Palushians to enter the town and then detonate the charges.
The moments that followed were tense, filled with the heavy breathing of the defenders and the distant, growing roar of the Palushian war cries. Ries crouched in the trench, clutching her rifle and glancing at the machine gun, hoping it would function when needed.
Karoly positioned himself by the detonator, his eyes fixed on the approaching enemy. “Steady, everyone,” he murmured, his voice barely audible above the chaos.
The Palushians poured into the town, with overwhelming numbers. A bigger-than-average Palushian was leading the charge, she saw. They entered the buildings to make sure there weren’t any stragglers trying to hide or ambush them.
Ries glanced at Karoly, who’s hands rested on the detonator.
Using wires and well-placed dynamites hidden inside buildings, underground, and in plain barrels, it would surely make for a destructive force. Barrels of crude oil were placed strategically near these dynamites so they could splatter and set on fire by the explosion, hopefully burning the Palushians.
The first ranks of Palushian warriors reached the center of town, their eyes scanning for the defenders. Just as the bulk of their forces entered the heart of the town, Karoly slammed his hand down on the detonator.
The ground beneath them erupted in a series of deafening explosions. Fire and debris shot into the sky as the charges detonated, tearing through the ranks of the Palushians. The barrels of crude oil burst open, splattering burning liquid into the unsuspecting Palushians.
“Let it loose!” Karoly yelled at the mayor manning the machine gun beside him.
The ancient machine gun roared to life, its old mechanisms clanking loudly as it spat out bullets at a rapid pace. The Palushians, already disoriented and devastated by the explosions, found themselves caught in a deadly crossfire. The gunfire mowed down rows of warriors, the combination of bullets and fire creating chaos in their ranks.
“Open fire!” Karoly barked his order, and the defenders let loose a hail of bullets, adding to the carnage. The relentless gunfire tore through the advancing Palushians, who struggled to regain their footing amidst the inferno and the deadly barrage.
Ries fired her rifle, now with more precise shots, picking off any Palushians who managed to break through the initial onslaught. She eyed the leader of the Palushians, who struggled to rally his forces. His larger frame made it easier for her to aim.
The leader shouted commands at his warriors, attempting to impose some sort of order on the chaotic battlefield. But a well-placed shot from Ries ended that. He fell, engulfed by the flames, his body consumed by the chaos he had tried to control.
As the Palushian leader's lifeless form hit the ground, the morale of his warriors shattered. The invaders hesitated, their advance faltering as confusion and fear spread through their ranks. Uncertainty in the middle of chaos is a fool’s move. Sensing the shift, Karoly seized the moment.
“Push them back!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the din of battle. “Don’t let them regroup!”
With a roar, the defenders rose from the trench and charged at the disorganized Palushian warriors. Confusion was still evident in the enemy ranks, with many choosing to retreat out from the town as the defenders routed them.
Ries found herself in the midst of the chaotic push, her rifle raised as she advanced alongside them. The Palushians, now leaderless and disoriented, were no match for the renewed vigor of the town’s defenders. She saw the enemy stumble over debris and each other, their once fierce battle cries now turning into shouts of panic and retreat.
She shot at a retreating warrior, then she engaged in melee with another warrior. She ended him with a bayonet stab directly in his throat.
Then she shot at another, and another.
Shoot.
Stab.
Shoot.
Stab.
Kill.
Her movements became almost mechanical as she moved through the carnage, occasionally stepping on the carcass of a dead or burnt-out Palushian.
She fired her rifle at a Palushian attempting to climb over a barricade, then turned and stabbed another who charged at her with a desperate scream. The repetitive cycle of violence was exhausting, but there was no room for hesitation.
Shoot.
Stab.
Shoot.
Stab.
Kill.
She shot at a female warrior. So the Palushians have female warriors too? She thought she heard the warrior plead something, but couldn't process it as she continued her shooting, and stabbing, and killing. Until there were none left.
The battlefield fell eerily silent, the last echoes of gunfire and screams fading into the night. Ries stood amidst the devastation, her breath heavy, her body aching. The adrenaline that had fueled her began to wane, leaving a profound exhaustion in its wake.
She looked around, the reality of the carnage sinking in. Bodies of the fallen, both friend and foe, burnt to a crisp beyond imagineable, littered the ground. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, blood, and burning oil. The town had held, destroyed, sure, but it held.
Ries's hands shook as she lowered her rifle. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and then puked.
----------------------------------------
The returning warriors were a sorry sight. Kali forced herself to welcome her father’s returning warriors victoriously. What greeted her instead was a bloodied, burnt, and battered group of warriors numbering probably less than four hundred.
Her father was nowhere to be seen, and for the first time in her life, she wept.