The time was right after Caspus had given the orders to each of the Colonels.
Morin stood in the encampment surrounded by soldiers of his unit. He was allowed enough time to change his soaking clothes, and currently dawned his weapon and armor. The weight of the armor took a great toll on his body, however as a trained soldier, he was accustomed to such a burden.
'All that should be left is the occupation of the city, and the Legion Commander will have a discussion with the Elders of the fishmen village.', Morin thought.
However, Colonel Keras stepped forward in front of the 1000 man platoon, of which all 1000 men had gathered to hear his orders, which he had received directly from the Legion Commander himself.
Keras was a young man, only in his early 30s, with sleek black hair that was well trimmed. He stood in front of the group, and addressed them with confidence.
"As per the orders of the Legion Commander, we will occupy the fishmen village through the newly excavated tunnel! We will spread out throughout the village, ensuring that soldiers are stationed within each area, and that every fishman is under a strict watch of at least 10 soldiers. We will first act as if we are merely occupying the village in response to their surrender, however when Caspus gives the signal, a horn will sound, and that will be the signal to take the remaining fishmen by surprise attack."
Many of the soldiers seemed to be brimming with excitement after hearing these words.
'A surprise attack! No matter how strong these fishmen are, we should be able to easily take them out if multiple people are able to take a single one by surprise!'
'As expected of the Legion Commander, to be able to think up such a tactic. But just how did he manage to get the fishmen to surrender in the first place? Was it merely because we have blocked off their supply line from the outside?'
Morin however, was in complete shock at hearing this.
'What?! We're not going to occupy the village peacefully!? For what reason!?!?! The only fishmen remaining in that village are civilians, and women and children at that!! There is no reason to slaughter them! That would just be meaningless!'
Morin tried to speak up.
"Wait just a minute!! Why are we going to attack them!? The only ones left are harmless women and children!!"
Keras stared at him fiercely, as if Morin had just said something incomprehensible.
"Harmless? Women and children? Captain Morin, you were the one to negotiate this surrender, so you deserve the praise for this achievement, but you seem to be misguided here. First, this is a WAR and you are a WARRIOR. Even if the opponents were human, to raze a city is merely a tactic to be used, and any life which is lost in the process is merely a collateral effect.... a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. However, there is one more thing you seem to be forgetting here. The ones we are fighting.... women, children.... there are no such things as these when it comes to these enemies."
Keras thinned his eyes and seemed to be looking with disgust.
"The ones we are fighting are MONSTERS. If we do not slaughter them here and now, they will flood into our homes, and kill our women... our children... we cannot allow ourselves to personify them as human, and give them such compassion, because the moment we do so, we will find these monsters holding our own loved ones hostage."
Morin stood completely stunned at the coldhearted views of the Colonel.
"I don't want to hear any response from you. If you speak back to me, I will have to take that as insubordination and relieve you of your duty. I will let this slide only because of your achievements thus far, but I will not tolerate any further issues."
Morin saluted, against his own conscience, and stood back in line, clearly disgruntled.
'This is.... this is wrong.... I was the one who offered the condition of surrender to the fishmen, and now they are all going to die because they trusted me!? What have I done....'
Morin was left to struggle in his own guilt, and Keras motioned for the platoon to move out, after which they began to march towards the tunnel.
Morin and his unit stuck together, and among the excitement and bloodthirst of the unit, they were the only ones who held a solemn air about them.
His men understood well the pain in Morin's heart, which he was struggling with. They too did not want to slaughter the innocent and unarmed civilians, who would have no method to fight back, and especially after they had surrendered.
"Men."
"Yes, Captain?"
"I will not stain my hands with the blood of these innocents. Even if I am taken away for insubordination, you will not find me fighting. I will not interfere, but I will not further mix myself up in this."
As they were nearing the tunnel, Morin detached himself from the unit, and walked over to the small lake, which led to the underwater tunnel.
Morin crouched down, and placed his hands in the water.
"I wash my hands of this."
After rubbing his hands with the cold, clean water, he stood up and rejoined his unit.
Soon after, a massacre occurred.
Morin could do nothing more than watch, as screams played a symphony across the village, and blood painted the canvas of the landscape.
"This is.... disgusting.", Morin said from an area just outside a residential district. His group of 50 soldiers surrounded him, and stood in line not moving, merely watching the slaughter occur.
"Yes, I agree. It certainly is disgusting.", a voice said. It was the raspy voice of a female, coming from behind him. Morin turned around quickly, and behind him stood an entire army which seemed to have appeared out of thin air.
At the head were two demons, an elf, and a spirit, and the army composed of 1000 lizardmen, along with a small unit of fishmen. There were even a few humans mixed into the group.
'What!? How did... are these the reinforcements of the fishmen!? Have we been deceived?? Did they not actually surrender, but predicted that we would attack even after they surrendered?? Or perhaps they didn't know that we would attack, but planned on catching us by surprise after we believed that they had surrendered?'
However, Morin looked back and forth between the army behind him, and the one in front of him, slaughtering the civilians.
'As a soldier, it is my duty to run and inform the Legion Commander about this.... however...'
"Men."
"Yes, Captain?"
"Nobody inform the Legion Commander of this army here."
Morin stepped forward, to meet with the ones who seemed to be leading this army.
"I have just a few questions before we die... are you here as the reinforcements for the fishmen? And, did you all predict that we would make such a move after the fishmen surrendered?"
The elf stood forward. Morin could tell just by the way he walked that he was a born leader.
"Yes, to both questions. There is no set of events which I am unable to predict."
----
Trevor's perceptive range for some reason had been continuously increasing ever since the skill had been maximized.
'This is certainly intriguing... it seems that even after maximizing our skills, our proficiency with them is continuously increasing. When my perception skill was first maximized, I could only sense things within a 1/2 mile range, however right now I am able to sense everything within a 6 mile radius.'
A thought then came upon Trevor, as he sat in the carriage while traveling with the lizardmen army.
'What if this is happening to Ashley as well? Just how powerful is her magical energy at this point if it has been continuously getting stronger this entire time!? This is going far beyond my calculations...I'll have to readjust with a growth factor...'
However, his thought process was interrupted swiftly as they came within range such that he could sense all the people of the fishmen village, along with the members of the Legion.
'It seems that we are just in time for the fighting to begin.... it looks like everything has just started.... no time to sit around here leisurely while traveling by foot.'
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"I'm going to teleport everyone inside the cavern now. There is an emergency situation which we need to respond to.", Trevor said to his comrades, who all nodded as they exited the carriage.
Trevor yelled out to the group of following lizardmen to halt, and explained to them what was about to happen.
"Members of this joint unit. The civilians of the fishmen are currently being attacked within the city by the Legion, who have tunneled a way in. As of right now, if we were to continue this march, we would not make it in time, and all the civilians would be killed."
The lizardmen, who were struck with fear at the booming words of this absolute dictator, were confused and panicked.
'What do we do then!?'
'Does he want us to run there? Or does he have something else in mind?'
'Well, I have no idea what these people are thinking... they likely don't even care about the civilians anyways... I don't see how they could, given that they are higher existences.'
Ploritan was excessively distressed at this.
'No.... even after invoking the power of the antiheroes, we were too late!? My people... they are all going to die.... if the antiheroes said so, then it is sure to happen... Kota!!! I cannot believe that our entire village has fallen due to your mistakes!!!'
Ploritan was furious with Kota's actions, which led them to this point of no recovery. However, the elf continued speaking, giving him a ray of hope.
"However, it would certainly be a shame after we have spent so much time and effort into obtaining a new set of slaves, for them to be damaged and destroyed by another party. Therefore, I think it would be best for us to show these ill mannered fools just how wrong they were in trying to take what we rightfully own from us."
Trevor pushed up his glasses and flashed a businesslike grin.
"Lizardmen. Do not interfere, merely watch. This is not your fight. Fishmen. You are our property, and it is our duty as owners to take care of that which we own. We will take care of the rest on our own."
Suddenly, the scenery around the group changed rapidly.
Instead of standing in an open field, miles from the fishmen village, they were now inside a dark cavern, and in front of them lie a large city.
Directly in front of the group of lizardmen were about 50 soldiers, who seemed to be looking at the scene with disgust and horror.
Beyond them, was a massacre.
Thousands of legionnaires were spread throughout the city, slaughtering women and children left and right, ganging up on them. Some were even trying to take advantage of the good looking females, and forcing them into their homes, pulling them by what would be their hair- the fins on top of their heads.
Even further beyond the city, standing atop the plateau which the palace lay on, was a single man who was smiling down at the scene of chaos with a raised helmet.
It was Caspus.
The lizardmen were filled with confusion at the sudden change of scenery, however Ploritan fell to his knees in horror.
'My.... my people.... they...'
A tear fell from his eye, and he started to beat his fist down onto the dirt.
'They have been suffering through this, while I have been off gathering reinforcements.... I am sorry, my people!! I have failed you as a leader!!'
However, Ploritan then looked up once more, his frustrations pent up, and he saw the backs of the antiheroes.
'I.... I have failed as a leader.... and I have had no choice but to trust in these four, and thus submit us all to slavery.... however.....'
Ploritan's heart jumped as he watched the red demon grin, as if he was about to take action.
'I can trust in them.... these four in front of me are true leaders! They are not impostors like myself! They were born to be leaders, and they will save our village and our people!!'
"This is.... Disgusting.", one soldier from the group in front of them muttered.
"Yes, I agree...", Ashley responded, while smiling so much that it was disturbing. Her eyes seemed to be gleaming, as the massacre in front of her was reflected within them. "It certainly is disgusting."
The man turned around at this, noticing the entire army which had appeared behind him.
Trevor smiled and stood forward, fixing his tie once more.
The soldier seemed to be looking back and forth at the two scenes, unsure how to react, however he resolved himself and seemed to have made a decision.
"Men."
"Yes, Captain?"
"Nobody inform the Legion Commander of this army here."
The man then turned to Trevor, who was smiling knowingly.
"I have just a few questions before we die... are you here as the reinforcements for the fishmen? And, did you all predict that we would make such a move after the fishmen surrendered?"
With a condescending expression, Trevor replied with complete confidence.
"Yes, to both questions. There is no set of events which I am unable to predict."
----
"You don't seem to be taking part in the fighting? Is there a reason for this?", Trevor asked to the one who seemed to be leading the soldiers.
"I.... I did not realize that we would be doing something like this. I was the one who convinced the elders to surrender, and our commander.... Caspus... instead of accepting their surrender, he pretended to do so, occupying the city, only to stab the remaining civilians in the back. I imagine many of them are dead by now."
"I see... so that's how it is. Did you hear this, Ploritan. Most of your kin are dead."
Trevor seemed to be enjoying himself, despite the fact that Ploritan was on his knees, as he already knew this well.
"I... I heard..."
"However, fear not.... for death is nothing more than a trivial thing for us. Ally. Will you do the honors?"
"Hehehehehe.... I.... I've been waiting a long time to do something like this...."
Ashley then stood forward, and the group of antiheroes flew up into the air.
Looking down on the entire city, the groups of fighting warriors looked like no more than mere ants, who could be squashed at any moment.
Garett then used the message function to link a call with every single legionnaire in the entire area, all 10,000 of them, including Caspus.
Speaking with confidence and disgust, Garett spoke.
[A mere mortal like you, dares to damage our property?]
Confusion filled the entire battlefield, as many legionnaires started looking around for the source of the voice, but they would not find it. Caspus too was looking around himself in shock and wonder.
"Let me show you all just how easy it is to make your hill crumble....", Ashley murmured.
She raised her hands, and every single soldier in the city was lifted up.
They were raised high, flailing their arms, some of them dropping their weapons and trying to struggle weightlessly in the confusion.
"What is happening???"
"Why am I floating!?!?"
"I can't control myself!!!"
"Agh!!! We're getting higher!!"
"Help!!!!"
"You there!! Grab onto me!!"
"Why are we the only ones floating!?!"
"Is this a trap the fishmen set!?!"
"No, I think this is the work of magic!! Surely, monsters couldn't have magic, right!?"
"Agh!!!"
Ashley brought all 10,000 soldiers up into the air, so that they surrounded her like a disk of stars rotating about the center of a galaxy.
She brought Caspus to the front, who seemed to be rapidly trying to gain his balance and escape this terrible skill.
"You are the leader here, no?", Ashley asked while grinning deviously at Caspus, as if he was a meal she was about to consume.
"What are you doing!?!?! Who are you!?!?!! Are you all in line with the fishmen..... D-D-D.... DEMONS!!!! DEMONS!!!! HELP!!! MEN!!! KILL THESE DEMONS AT ONCE!!!!!"
Caspus began spewing orders out of his mouth as he was in midair, however not a single soldier was able to react, as they too were all struggling in this weightless environment.
"Help me!!!"
"Somebody!!! Anybody!!! What is going on!!!"
"It must be those monsters!!! They're doing something to us!!!!"
Samantha rolled her eyes as she approached Caspus.
"That isn't a very fitting tone for a leader, don't you think? You should be the one saying 'Don't worry. Leave it to me. But here you are, barking out orders like it's nothing, sending your men off to their deaths when it benefits you. You are just like that fool who lead the fishmen, who always boasted about heroism and justice, yet was only sending his people to their deaths.... but that isn't why you are here right now. Oh no.... we haven't raised you up here today because of trivial mistakes such as those."
Samantha smiled seductively and began laughing as she slowly and delicately removed the helmet from Caspus' face. Caspus was unable to do anything, as Ashley prevented any reactionary movement by holding every limb of his body perfectly still.
'Why can't I move!? This demonic woman is right in front of me, so why can't I slug her face right here and now?? If I am able to land a blow... then perhaps I could undo this cursed spell....'
However, he couldn't move.
Samantha removed his helmet, to reveal his terrorized face, one which was twisted with fear and anger.
"The reason why we have brought you here is because you touched our precious property.... everyone should know that if they damage the property of another person, they face the risk of being sued, right? And yet.... just look down there.... you have damaged so much of our property that a simple lawsuit wouldn't cover it. Wouldn't you say?"
"M- monster!!! Monster!!! Get away from me you demon!!!! Get away!!!!!!!!!!", Caspus screamed, completely disgracing himself in front of his soldiers, who were also unable to move, and just as tormented.
Samantha stepped back, and in her place stepped Garett, who flashed his demonic claws. They seemed to extend further than usual right now, and Garett grabbed the face of the man, holding it in his hand.
"Since you've damaged so much of our property, I think we should damage some of yours as well..... lets see.... I suppose we should start with this fancy spear...", Garett said while grabbing the spear from Caspus' hand, and breaking it in two before throwing it away, where it landed in the middle of the road, completely shattering into splinters on the impact.
"Now what about the armor? This is probably worth a lot. Let's destroy this as well."
Garett used his claw to slice the armor up into small metal chunks in the blink of an eye, which then rained down onto the city below.
"Ah.... that was all you have on you? I suppose we could get rid of these fancy clothes you're wearing underneath, but we have ladies watching, and I certainly wouldn't want them to see any of that... however this is a big problem. I've destroyed only a few of your possessions, worth very little, and yet you have destroyed so many of ours, worth much more than the things I just destroyed. I suppose the next possession which you own would be.... something like this..."
Garett stuck his hand into Caspus, and took our his kidney.
The kidney throbbed as the tubes connecting it to the body of Caspus remained in tact, and Garett cradled his finger along it as Caspus screamed in pain.
"Yes, a man can live without a kidney..... but will you be able to overcome this small amount of shock? This is nothing compared to what you've destroyed of ours, so I hope you can handle this much."
"AGH!!!!!!"
"Oh stop being such a baby. Here look, let me get rid of the pain."
Garett then crushed the kidney with his hand, and blood and flesh splattered all over as Caspus screamed all the more.
"Oh, this is only the beginning.... a single kidney is worth quite a bit on the black market, but you destroyed hundreds of able bodies, so you have a long way to go until you pay off your debt."
Garett grabbed the hand of Caspus, and started ripping off his fingers one by one, and then pulled out a wire, stringing a necklace out of the fingers.
Garett put on the necklace and started walking around on the air as if he was modeling for a fashion show.
"AGHHHH!!!! AGGHHHH!!!! STOPP!!!!! STOPPPPP!!!!!!!!"
"Hey look guys! It's me, Fargar!!! HAHAHHA!!!! Look at this guy scream after only losing a few fingers!!!! We still got a whole lot more to go!!!!"
"Ooh! Make me one too, Gary!", Ashley shouted. "I wanna match with you!"
"HAHAHA!!! One necklace for my partner, coming right up!! I'll even enchant them, and who knows... maybe I can figure out a way to preserve the fingers with the right concoction!!"
Garett grabbed the other hand of Caspus, ripping off the fingers as tears of pain flowed from Caspus' eyes. He was beyond mere screaming at this point, and he was simply blabbering like a baby.
"M.... monbuddter.... ubh...M.....urg..."
Weaving together another necklace, Garett placed it gently over Ashley's head, as if she were a princess being crowned.
"Ah, you look so adorable, and now we match."
"Hehe...."
The soldiers of the legion merely watched in terror. Many of them were throwing up, partially due to being suspended in the air, and partially due to the gory scene in front of them.
"Don't worry, everyone. Please wait patiently. Your turn will come soon enough."