Dawn came and with the new day came a new hell. Serisian troops made their way onto the battlefield in turtle formation, with shells made of interlocking shields, though the spears that bristled from within made them look more like porcupines. Of course, one does not approach a porcupine but rather try and kill it from a distance but those shields made attack by arrows impossible. Therefore Azemar in response sent Aldis, Arryn and Ivsaar along with a small but elite squad which would take care of the three enemy formations. The three commanders would first break the shell and then allow the elites to finish off the “meat” of the porcupine.

Ieros watched Aldis with particular interest, although he was hidden in the shadow of his general, the Sage of War, Aldis too was a skilled warrior, in fact one of the most talented in all of Athera. He favored the rapier, using it to make precise jabs towards the enemy’s eyes and joints to kill or to disable. He was cold, calculating, not unlike Ieros himself. But of course, he was still subject to emotions, he was human. But out of all the humans that Ieros had met, he was the most perfect, the closest to a modern day preman. Azemar had chosen well, this man would not betray him.

And indeed, although his weapons were at a disadvantage for breaking the shield, he managed to do so, slipping in between the spears and then jabbing his rapier within the gaps between the shields, killing the soldiers and thus creating an opening. He widened it enough so that the elites could take over, twenty elite soldiers of Azemar’s personal guard taking care of the rest. Because the men were so compact in their turtle formation, they were unable to react in time and thus were slain, although the formation fell apart, surrounding the piercers. It was then that the remaining heavy cavalry rushed in, taking advantage of the enemies’ turned backs.

But the Seris cavalry were sent in as well, hitting the exposed side of the heavy cavalry’s flank. But the elite units were not idle, they followed their commanders’ leads and took enemy horses after killing their riders with serisian spears. A few were unable to do so and died but their losses were minimal. Most managed to get on a horse and were then able to help the heavy cavalry repel the enemy forces. But of course, there were still serisian infantry left but Azemar sent a single battalion to keep them busy. While this battle was happening, Azemar was sneaking a force of five hundred men around the side, planning to use them as a pincer when he went for a frontal assault. Of course this wasn’t the only force, there was another that was even farther out, so that if the first one was detected, there was still a chance for the pincer to work.

He also commanded the adventurers to serve as a distraction, to further increase the chances of the pincer movement becoming a success. Meanwhile, he prepared his forces for a frontal assault, amassing his personal troops as well as two thousand men for one massive charge. As combat in no-man’s land was still going on, the serisian general was also planning for a frontal assault, he realized that Azemar would most likely be going for the same thing so he must do the same.But instead of a flanking unit, he instead had a large force of three thousand men, leaving a thousand to defend the camp.

The general himself would also make an appearance in this battle, although overshadowed by the deeds of better generals was still a formidable foe. Although not the best, he knew how to use his troops efficiently, making him one of the best generals to have when defending. That was basically his goal, to stall the enemy and to defend his position until either reinforcements arrived or the Vimarisian force conquered the capital.

So he rode out in his personal cavalry and charged out onto the battlefield, flanked by three great warriors. He met Azemar and his force on no-man’s land, their blades the first to clash in the beginning of a new hell. Their respective armies followed suit, the frontlines becoming a tangle of flesh and metal. Once more the music of battle rose, and Ieros watched as Azemar’s flanking forces snuck around to sandwich the serisian forces. But one force was intercepted by the thousand troops the general had left at the hq, leaving only five hundred left.

It would be at least another hour until they were able to complete their maneuver, but things were already beginning to look bad for Azemar, an extra thousand troops was nothing to laugh at and slowly but surely, he was being forced back. Of course, Azemar himself could handle himself with ease but even for him, to be surrounded by the enemy was still suicidal. So he retreated along with his troops, making sure that his back was always protected as he fended off the enemy general’s attacks with ease.

The serisian general was wary of continuing to push, feeling that the enemy was retreating far too easily. So he began to slow his advance to a crawl, spreading the command to his troops who began to follow suit. Azemar admired this man’s caution, here was a mind who may be able to defeat him in the art of defense. The ultimate offense vs the ultimate defense, quite a suitable match. So telling his army of eight hundred men to begin the counterpush, he charged the general who expertly deflected the strikes from his sword, countering with a series of jabs with his saber.

Azemar grinned fiercely as he defended, it was rare that someone was able to deflect his strikes with ease, the serisians had obviously sent one of their best. But yet he didn’t recognize him, perhaps a nameless general whose skills had been hidden under the accomplishments of other generals? But Azemar didn’t really care, as long as he had a worthy opponent he was content. As the two generals fought, the six great warriors were also fighting, Aldis paired against a woman who wielded dual blades, Arryn with a serisian templar and Ivsaar with a large man who wielded a greataxe that should have been impossible to wield, its size almost unreal on the battlefield.

But Ieros ignored the others for now and instead focused on Aldis and his opponent, curious as to what Aldis would do. His opponent was superior to him in agility although her swords were shorter than Aldis’s rapier. Aldis made sure to take advantage of his range, staying still as he circled quickly, jabbing with his rapier expertly to keep her at bay. But he made no attempt to attack otherwise, perhaps his strategy was to tire her. Not the most original of tactics but solid nonetheless. If he kept his impeccable defense, he would manage to defeat her.

But his opponent was no fool and eventually, the two of them stood still, ten feet apart. Both as still as statues, waiting for the other to make their move. Finally, it was Aldis to attack, darting forward with a series of jabs and slashes, making full advantage of his momentum as he pushed her back. But she was able to outrun his momentum and after gaining some distance, she darted forward, slashing with her dual swords. Aldis dodged most of them, deflecting when necessary although he tried to avoid it, he didn’t want his rapier to break mid-fight.

But he soon managed to shove her with his armored shoulder but before either of them could do anything, the horn for retreat sounded, the serisian general had seen the force of five hundred approach and deemed that if he were to retreat now, he would suffer minimal losses. So having his great warriors take charge of the rear guard, he retreated with his main army. Azemar cursed, for the general had managed to slip away from the fight with ease, wounding his horse so that he couldn’t give chase. And unfortunately, the pincer didn’t close fast enough to catch the army.

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So the force of five hundred rejoined Azemar’s forces who began to give chase, and the serisian general after having mobilized his forces to meet the attack, charged to meet them. He still had a numerical advantage and to retreat now would be too dangerous, as that would expose them to arrows and the magic of the mages. Of course, there were battle mages but they needed time to prepare their magic circles so they could pool their magic together, a day at most. But his mages were almost prepared as well, they would soon play a crucial part in this battle.

But for now, he still needed to delay the enemy and was once more locked in combat with Azemar, the two trading blows with their respective blades. Aldis resumed his fight with the woman, using his left arm’s gauntlet to block most of her strikes for her strikes were too fast to dodge. The battle continued till midday, four hours passing and the two armies exhausted. So they retreated, the two generals acknowledging each other’s strengths.

Ieros, seeing this battle, wished to participate as well so he turned his attention to the Vimarisian army, which was still some ways away. He wasn’t worried about missing any important details of the battle between Azemar and the serisian general, his observers would be able to gather more detail than him. So he returned to his mortal body at the Hollowed Pass and after making the necessary preparations to meet the enemy, he shut off his sense of Time, he was after all a fragment of a being that preceded it.

Once he re-emerged from his comatose-like state, he prepared to meet the enemy, re-animating the soldiers that he had placed in temporary suspension. He then made a command center for himself, a large tent that had a nice view of the battlefield from the mountainside where he could see the enemy and then react. He wanted to try out for himself the tactics of humans, limiting himself to only his body’s eyesight although still able to relay commands to his commanders through telepathy.

ALthough his method of communication was better than most armies, it wasn’t immensely superior. So, thus limited, he prepared for the battle to come, his men taking up positions at old garrison post, although Ieros had taken the liberty to make the place more defensible. It’s old, ruined walls were restored to their previous state and the gate was brand new, with stakes impaled on the ground to prevent a cavalry charge and to hamper the enemies’ progress.

Soon, the enemy had made their way into the pass, stopping once they saw the opposing army. They were of course confused, ultimately deciding to wait until their general arrived. Her force soon arrived and upon seeing the enemy, she demanded to know what was going on. But of course there was no detailed information so she decided to wait another day until her forces reunited. She was of course wary that the enemy would decide to attack right then and there while she was weak but her forces would be able to hold out until the rest of her armies arrived.

Although she was wary, she hoped it would happen, for if it did she could crush them out in the open rather than to siege their position. But of course, the enemy made no move, Ieros wanted a challenge and from his observations before, he knew that her other armies weren’t too far away. So he waited, preparing his forces for the inevitable attack that would follow a day from now.

Finally, the attack would happen. Upon having a meeting with all of her commanders, it was decided that a force of three thousand men should test out the garrison force’s capabilities, it was best to rather overestimate the enemy than to underestimate him. As the force of three thousand marched, Ieros decided to respond with two thousand, his men would be able to kill two of the enemy with no problem at all, meaning that he would be able to win this battle with relative ease. He was lucky, the army that he faced didn’t have any cavalry at all except for the Princess’s personal entourage, horses would have have been too noisy.

This would be more easier than he thought, which slightly disappointed Ieros, but then again, his opponent was the Princess of War. She at least would be able to put up a good fight and perhaps even cause Ieros to think. There was a small smile on his face, he was… for lack of a better word, excited. Well, as excited as an emotionless being could be at the prospect of learning new knowledge. Although she wasn’t the Sage, she would still be a formidable foe. And so, commanding his commanders to hold the line, Ieros observed the battle commence from the mountainside.

—GENERAL ILARIS—

I didn't understand, why was there an army here? This pass should have been unguarded, my spies told me that this place had been forgotten. Was Azemar that did this? Did his intellect catch the major weakness of Athera? Most likely… damn him! Just when I thought my plan was going to work! But now my army has been seen, the garrison force will no doubt send word to the capital and reinforcements will arrive.

If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to retreat or to be captured and either choice is not an option. Both will result in my humiliation and demotion within my family’s hierarchy. No, I must win! I refuse any other outcome! I gripped the hilt of my sword fiercely, I will win, I am the Princess of War, the Undefeated Conqueress! All who stand before me will fall to my blade!

I then closed my eyes and took a deep breath, calming myself down. This anger wouldn’t help me in the slightest, it would only cloud my judgement. I opened my eyes once more and surveyed the battlefield, my force of three thousand engaging the force of two thousand sent by the enemy. But as I looked upon them, I found myself curious, there was no insignia upon their armor nor did they bear any identifying flags. Was this a mercenary group? But no mercenary guild has seven thousand members with the level of discipline. No, this had to be an army, was it a secret army?

But my scouts did report a command center on the mountainside, safe from our projectiles and mage firepower. There they saw a figure in black robes, seated in a simple black throne as they described it. Not chair but a throne, as if this was a person of great power, equal to that of the Atheran King. But I’ve never heard of such a person and my spies run deep in the royal court. Whoever he was, he had just come out of nowhere with an army of seven thousand.

But it was no matter, this nameless foe will fall before me as countless others have and I will conquer Athera. But as the battle continued, I was shocked, my three thousand men, highly trained and veterans of many battles were taking heavy losses while in comparison the enemy’s forces were doing far better. Finally, the order to retreat was given and the remaining twelve hundred men returned, the opposing force having had only an eleven hundred.

She carefully interrogated the survivors and what she heard chilled her for in all of her battles, she had never encountered such a foe. They were described as having only one mind, each one working in perfect unison as they stabbed with their spears, not hesitating to lay down their life if it meant the death of two enemies. And their eyes, their empty eyes, soulless and devoid of life. They weren’t human and if they were, they had lost their humanity.

And there was another thing, they were silent. Even when they were stabbed in the gut they did not scream, fighting in absolute silence. Whoever had trained these men was adept in the art of breaking the mind, and yet, I hold a grudging admiration for the enemy general, he had made the perfect army, even if it was through presumably vile means. I wondered once more if I could defeat this general in the light of these new facts but promptly pushed aside such thoughts. Although he may possess the perfect army, the battle was not yet over, I could still win.But the day was ending so instead of further attack, I had our men rest, forming a new battle plan in which to defeat his forces.