Chapter 9 Surrounded

"You sure you know how to do this?" asks Sora, lying on the bed, inside the infirmary tent.

The outpost physician has given him an anesthetic potion to dampen the pain from the injuries he sustained during the battle before. But, that potion does not erase the hoplomachus anxiousness.

"Of course, I am," Amamiya sits beside Sora's bed, and reads her tome of healing arts, looking for the right spell to fix her friend's broken body.

Seeing his lady companion turns page after page of that tome, makes Sora nervous. He is aware of Amamiya's ability as a spellcaster, but he is also aware that battlemage is nothing but a novice in healing arts. And now, she tries to heal him.

"I think you should let the professional heal me," suggests Sora. "There are other physicians who can handle me."

"No. Their conventional method is too slow," Amamiya refused the suggestion. "Captain Lydia ordered me to fix you, fast. Now, stay still. I've found the right spell."

The battlemage reads the spell one more time, then she mumbles it.

"Ready?" she asks.

"Ready for wh-Aaaaaaarghhh!

With the spell and a single movement of her hand, Amamiya reset the broken bones in both Sora's hands. Of course, this procedure sent a great wave of pain through the poor novice knight nervous system. The pain is so great, Sora is still rattling his teeth even after his broken arms are already made whole again.

"Must you do that!?" Sora protests angrily.

"I do not want you to suffer twice," Amamiya administers healing magic that reconnects the broken bones. "Or you really prefer I do this one bone at a time?"

"I prefer someone else to heal me."

"I said before, I've given order to quickly heal you from our captain, and I meant to fulfill it. So, stay still and stay silent. There are more bones I need to reset."

Sora whimpers. And as Amamiya repeats the bone resetting procedure, he screams in pain again, and again.

Away from the infirmary tent, both Knight Captain Lydia and Mercenary Captain Glenn oversee the supply carriage that has safely entered the outpost. The guards swiftly took down the supply from the carriage. Most of it is food stuff, but there are a couple barrels that suspiciously are marked by black "X" sign.

"Thank you, for delivering the supply," said the mercenary captain. "Our supply has been running out since a month ago."

"Is the situation really that dire?" asks Lydia.

"Well, truth to be told, it can be direr. Since the battleguard force arrived at the forest north from here, the attacks have been relentless. Plus, they awfully coordinated. Especially, with the battleguards that occupy the river delta."

"Coordianted? How? As far as I know, battleguards coordination is just rushing toward their target in mass."

"That is true. However, somehow both the force in the north and the one at the river delta manage to attack this place at the same time. I don't know how they do it. Those two forces are far away from each other, and there is a dense forest sitting between them. It is impossible for those horned bastards to organize coordinated attacks without a communication line between two camps. And I doubt they could establish any kind of communication line through the forest. It is way too dense for any of them to pass through, and it is filled by many corrupted beasts."

"Are you really sure? Have you confirmed that there is really no way for the two battleguards camp to communicate with each other?"

"No."

Glenn's plain answer stunned Lydia.

"No? Then, how can you be sure there is no communication line between two forces that have been attacking this outpost? Your task is to defend this place. That means, you have to know the ability of the attacking force."

The condescending tone of Lydia's preaching surely irritates Glenn. However, the mercenary captain keeps his composure.

"Lady, listen. I've been defending this place for three months and one week. I know what I'm doing, and I pretty much know the ability of our enemy. Yes, I know. I do not investigate if there is or there isn't any communication between the two battleguard camps. However, even if I want to, I can't. Because one, I won't send any of my guards to suicide mission through the forest. And two, I also cannot investigate the camps. The northern camp is practically in an unknown location, and the river delta camp is because it is on the river delta. There is no good way to cross the river to its delta. And don't ever think about using a boat. The battleguards sentries will spot you immediately, rain trees on you."

Glenn sighs deeply. While Lydia still stares at him with stern eyes.

"Look, Knight Captain Lydia. It may not be my best impression to you. However, the situation is very dire. The attack we repent before was today's second attack. Me and the guards are tired. I am just grateful the supply and the reinforcement that I requested has arrived. We can argue about my competency later."

"Fine," Lydia agreed.

"To be honest, I don't expect the order will send a knight captain. I heard one knight captain is as strong as twenty seasoned knights."

Lydia scoffs. "That's just a rumor. A ridiculous one. The knight captains are indeed strong due to our experience. However, we are not invincible and, definitely not as strong as you said."

"Nevertheless, your present here is a big help," said Glenn. "But, I hope you and your escorts are not the only reinforcements that are sent here."

"No. As soon as the road to River Crossing Caravanserai is secure, more supply and reinforcement will be sent," Lydian explains the initial plan.

"Ah, good. Good. There is hope, then."

"Additionally, those two knights who come with me, they are not my escort. They…. Ah, speaking of witch…"

Sora and Amamiya approached the captains.

"I'm glad you're already in good condition, Sora," Lydia smiled to the anguishing novice knight.

"Yeah. Next time, please send someone who actually qualified as a healer," Sora still feels the pain, not from his injury but, from Amamiya's crude healing method.

"Hey! I'm qualified!" Amamiya is offended.

"As a battlemage, yes. As a healer, not so much."

Lydia ignores the novice knights. While those two bicker, the knight captain explains who they are.

"Like I said, these two knights, not my escort. They are the heroes from another world."

"Ah, the heroes," said Glenn in awe.

"Do not call us that!" Sora redirects his anger to the mercenary captain.

"We are not heroes!" Amamiya does the same.

"Oh, okay, okay," Glenn flinched. He does not expect such a hostile reaction.

"Well, at least it stops them from bickering any longer," said Lydia in her mind. "Anyway, Sora, Amamiya, welcome to the Outer Gate Outpost. Here we will fight the battleguards. Hopefully, with the upcoming reinforcement we will repel them."

The novice knights completely stop their bickering, and look around the outpost. That is quite unique for an outpost. The size makes it more resembling a small town rather than a proper military outpost. It also only has two walls, one in the north side and the other in the south. It is because this outpost is located at the bottom and the middle of two towering ravines. Those ravines act as natural defense walls.

Sora peered throughout the outpost. Much of the buildings and the tents look normal to him. The supply storage, the barracks and the surgeon building. Nothing is out of the ordinary, except the stable. Instead of horses, the stable is filled with horse-sized fowl creatures. Those fowl are almost entirely black in color, except for two vertical crimson strips on their massive beak. The tip of their wing feathers also has the same color. Those fowls sure look menacing, but their big, peaceful and somewhat oblivious eyes, make them look like friendly creatures.

"What are those?" ask Sora as he approaches the stable.

"Oh, they are Tokan. Big carnivorous birds from Eastern Plains," Glenn explained. "Some of them are actually roaming as far as the Iron Sand Desert, just like our flock here. Well, at least that's what the merchant I bought them from said."

"Don't let the word "carnivorous birds'' scare you. They are actually very friendly creatures, you know," says Amamiya, stroking one of the Tokans.

Sora looks at the Tokans with awe. He never sees a creature like those. He knows that a big carnivorous bird once roamed the earth millions years ago. However, he never knew creatures like that which had been domesticated like the Tokan. Plus, why the Tokans? Where are the horses?

"Wait, you don't know these creatures?" Amamiya perplexed Sora's sense of awe.

The hoplomachus shakes his head.

"There were a few on the caravanserai where they rested. The carriage that we rode was drowned by two of them. Don't you notice them when we get off the carriage?"

"No, not at all."

The battlemage giggles. "You were that tired, weren't you?"

"I blame the forest we pass through."

"Forest? You mean that cursed Spriggan's Lodge Forest? You went through there!?" The mercenary captain was surprised that the novice knights went to such a treacherous place. "Why in the holy sword name did you go through there?"

Both Sora and Amamiya point at Lydia, their knight captain who leads the journey.

"If this sort of tour is finished, could we go to the barrack and discuss the current situation?" Lydia clearly feels irritated.

"Sure. Let's go," Amamiya gently pats the tokan before leaving the stable.

On their way to the barrack, a single structure draws Amamiya's attention.

"What's that?" She's pointed at a burrow with a chained door.

"That would be the iron mine," says Glenn. "This place used to be a very productive mine, you know."

"Yeah, not just for the iron. Also for the steel," Lydia adds.

"However, since the battleguards warband came, neither of those cannot be produced anymore. So, I decide to shut the mine. For good."

"Why? Why does the production stop?" asks Sora.

"Well, nobody dare venture to the forest to gather wood for making charcoal. And without charcoal, steel cannot be made. Plus, all the miners already conscripted. There are simply no ways and means to continue the production," Glenn sighs. "It's a shame. Its steels are very good to make high quality swords."

"Anyway, we better discuss this matter in another time," says Lydia. She looks at the setting sun and the darkened sky anxiously. "I have a bad feeling for tonight."

The group entered the barrack. To call that building a military barrack is an overstatement. It is just a repurpose longhouse.

"So, what is the situation? What information do we have about the enemy?" Lydia shoots questions while looking at a crude map of the outpost and its surrounding area.

The knight captain stands in front of the table along with Glenn and the other officers. They discuss the best course of action for the defense against the battleguards. Since Lydia has the highest rank, she automatically becomes the de facto leader of that outpost, replacing Captain Glenn. She arranges the defense plan, watches rotation and decides where the scouts will be dispatched. Glenn himself became some kind of advisor for Lydia. He does not mind his position is being replaced by someone new. Even though he was the one who had defended the outpost the longest, he knows, as a war veteran, he needs help from someone that experienced fighting the battleguards.

Not far from where the meeting takes place, Sora stands and looks at the meeting with displeasure. Both he and Amamiya have been barred from attending the meeting. They are not being told why they cannot attend it, they only told to stay away.

While Sora fuming, Amamiya look around the barrack. The longhouse that is being used as a barrack is surprisingly in good shape. It has a brick wall and fireplace in the middle. However, it lacks some furniture. There is only one table, and that table is being used by the officers. There is no bed. The soldiers sleep on bed rolls made from thick leather and fur.

"We won't be sleeping here, right?" asks Amamiya. She worried about the lack of accommodation in that barrack.

"I don't know. Why?" Sora asks back.

Before Amamiya gives the answer, she is startled by the sound of the door that suddenly opens.

A big tall man wearing a fur coat enters, followed by two attendants that look like Elzan knights. It's hard to determine all three of them because their faces are covered by the hood from the coat they wear. The only thing that stands out is a big zweihander sword that one of the attendants carries.

The big man walks straight to the meeting table, while the other two stand beside Sora and Amamiya. The man takes off his hood and reveals his grizzled face. His beard long and thick, brown like mud. The same can be said for his hair. He gives the report to Lydia, pointing at the northern side of the outpost. Something in that report makes the officers murmur with a dark tone.

On the other side of the barrack, Sora and Amamiya look at the two attendants with curiosity. The one who carries the zweihander, sticks that massive sword on the ground, then helps the other taking off the coat. When the coat falls to the ground, it reveals a woman with pale face. Her golden hair tied into a simple bun. She wears a steel cuirass on top, something that resembles priest attire. A single bloodied morning star hangs on her belt.

"Are you alright?" The zweihander wielder takes off his coat, revealing his long, black hair that is tied to a ponytail, along with the armor he is wearing. Armor of a knight from Crimson Drake order.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm fine," says the woman, despite her heavy breathing.

"You shouldn't have pushed yourself too hard."

"Thanks for your concern, but it is not needed. It is my duty to protect."

"So do I. Don't carry this burden alone."

The attendants finally notice curious stares from Sora and Amamiya. What they do is stare back, they do not know how to interact with the other two persons who also look like knights from Elzen, but do not wear the standard armor. Four of them lock in an awkward staring contest for a moment. Only after they notice the katzbalger that hangs on both Sora's and Amamiya's belt, the awkwardness is shattered.

"You… You two from the Order as well?" asks the zweihander wielder.

"Yes," Sora replies. "You are… a Bladesguard, if I not mistaken."

"Well, yes. The big sword I carry usually gives it away. I'm Maximillan. Glad to meet another knight from the Order."

"Ah, my pleasure. I'm Sora and this is Amamiya."

The two knights shake their hands.

"And I am Helena," the woman introduces herself with a formal bow. "I am also glad to finally meet another magic user. Your companion, she is a battlemage, right?"

Helena points at Amamiya.

"You are a battlemage, too?" asks Amamiya with sparkling eyes.

"No, she is not," says Maximillian. "She is a chaplain from the Temple of Goddess Frea. She can use magic, too…"

"But, my magic only limited at Protection Charm and Healing Arts," says Helena cutting the bladesguard's explanation. "Now, with you, a battlemage, present, our cause against the battleguards will become a little bit easier. I reckon you quite adept at using Destruction Magic."

"Of course I am. You can leave it to me. I'll burn them all to ashes," says Amamiya proudfully.

For the moment the four of them cheerfully converse with each other. Exchanging stories and telling a little bit more about themselves. In their conversation, Sora and Amamiya keep a single detail from being told. A detail about the Order of Crimson Drake has been seen as heroes that will save the world.

"So, you two and Knight Captain Lydia are part of the advance force to pave a way for the reinforcement?" Helena asks.

"Yes, that is what we've told," says Amamiya.

"Calling it as a 'force' is a bit much. There are only three of us," Sora adds.

"But still, sending Knight Captain Lydia here is quite a surprise," says Maximillian. "I know her. She is one of the most formidable knights. She is also an accomplished strategist. Because of that she rarely stands in the front line."

"Is she now?" says Sora in his mind. What Maximillian says is very intriguing for him.

"Plus, every knight that comes to this outpost is a big help. Not many of us left to defend this outpost," the bladesguard lamented.

"How many knights are still able to fight?" asks Sora.

"45," answered the grizzled man from before. He and knight captain Lydia approach the four knights.

"This John Strongbow," Lydia introduces the man. "He is a chieftain of the hunter group that recently joined the fight."

"There is a possible imminent attack at the northern wall," says John in deep voice.

"You, Sora and Maximillian, will join half of the knight garrison along and the entire Jaeger Brigade to its defense," Lydia giving order. "Helena, take Amamiya to the infirmary tent with you. You need to heal as many guards as possible, as fast as possible."

"Is there any possibility that the southern wall will get attacked as well?" asks Maximillian.

"We don't know about that," says the chieftain. "My scouts that were stationed near the river have not returned yet. Without their information, we cannot determine if there will be an attack or not."

"Then, may I suggest putting a defending force on the southern wall as well?" says Sora.

"We will consider it," Lydia gave a flat reply. "For now, go to your post."

The four knights bow and exit the barracks.

***

The dark descent as the sun is fully set. The torches flicker, blown by the cold breeze of night wind. A bright night, yet starless. Only the crescent moon with its silvery shine can be seen on the blackened sky. Ill omen as the guards say, since a crescent moon is associated with Ruri, Goddess of Burial. And tonight, it feels like the eyes of that malevolent goddess fixated on the Outer Gate Outpost.

To repel the incoming attack, Lydia station entire Jaeger brigade on the southern wall. Barrels full of arrows already put on the battlement for the Jaegers easy access of ammunition. She also put the half of the hoplomachus force and one-third of the conscripts to support the Jaegers. The bladesguards also there, but by their own will. Since only sixteen of them remaining, and they also lost their sergeant, Lydia gives the bladesguards free will to choose their battlefield.

"So quiet," says Maximillian. He and Sora are standing on top of the northern wall's battlement, along with the Jaeger Brigade.

"It is silent before the storm, my friend," Sora replies. He leans on the parapet, holding a longbow he took from the armory. His eyes peering through the dark.

"The battleguards getting more and more coordinated lately," the bladesguard sighs deeply. Exhausted and nearly depleted from any hope. "I just hope we could withstand this attack."

"We could, if not getting smashed on the back," Sora grumbles.

Captain Lydia had decided to ignore the hoplomachus' advice to put a defending force on the southern wall, in case of an attack also launched there. Instead, the knight captain orders for the bulk of the force to be put on the center of the outpost. Kept as reserve, she reasons.

"What good of a reserve if the defense is smashed to splinter," says Sora with an angry tone. "What is she thinking?"

"W-well, the knight captain did stationed archers on the southern wall," Maximillian tries to calm his fellow. Sora's anger reminds him of someone who he rather not remembers.

"A handful archers hold against the savagery from those boggarts! Moreover, to repel it!" Sora glares at Maximillian. Making that bladesguard flustered.

Even though Maximillian is a battle-hardened knight and has a stoic appearance, he is actually quite a timid person. Stationing someone as "passionate" for battle like Sora makes him feel out of place.

"Please, c-calm down," says the flustered bladesguard, again trying to calm Sora, also himself. "It is best for us to just focus for the coming assault. Nobody can change the order that the knight captain had given. Especially, not us, rankless knights."

Sora takes a deep breath, and sighs. "You're right. It can't be changed," the tone of his voice softened. "Still, she could station the rest of hoplomachii as well. With their long spears, those knights are the best for fighting battleguards."

"True," Maximillian nods in agreement.

Sora stares at the bladesguard with mischievous eyes. "Could you tell that to our dear knight captain… friend?"

Regret now fills Maximillian heart, for agreeing the words of a knight he just befriended. He smiles bitterly while contemplating what reply should be given. He could refuse the request and says an order is an order. However, he feels something malicious in the words of that request. He feels if he refuses, that hoplomachus will throw him from the battlement and call it an accident.

"Sure. But, I'm not giving any promise," says Maximillian, agreeing to send the request after much deliberation.

Sora bows as a sign of gratitude.

While walking down the stairs, Maximillian cannot stop thinking that why dealing with Sora reminds him of someone in the past. Someone that he rather avoids for the rest of his life. However, he soon expels that thought. He must not be distracted. Not now. Not before an impending attack. And not before trying to give advice to a knight captain.

Helena and Amamiya walk toward northern wall and passing by Maximillian. However, the bladesguard do not notice the two ladies.

"What's wrong with him?" asks Helena from beneath the battlement. "He looks gloomier than usual."

"Ah, he has something that needs to be done," Sora casually replies. "By the way, how's the healing process?"

Both ladies climb up to the battlement and stand next to Sora.

"It went well," said Amamiya. "Some still need further treatment, but most of the injured guards were healed and ready to fight."

Sora nods.

"I hear only a small number of screaming. Thanks to our Lady Chaplain here, I presume."

"Hey!!" Amamiya angrily punches Sora's shoulder for his crude joke. Although, that joke wasn't entirely wrong.

Helena giggles. She somewhat admires Sora's attitude, still joking around and disregarding the dread of impending battle.

The lady chaplain looks far through the darkness.

"There is no sign of them, yet," she wonders. "When they will be attacking."

Amamiya follows what Helena does. "I hope there won't be any attack."

"There will be an attack," Sora said, looking at the crescent moon.

"Why are you so sure about that?" The battlemage seems displeased with Sora's certainty.

"It's a perfect night to strike. Tonight might be a clear night, but there is no full moon. The enemy can move safely in the dark."

"So, there might be a stealth attack," Amamiya draws the conclusion from the explanation.

"Possibly. If so, we won't notice them until they reach the gate."

Helena scoffs.

"Relax. We will notice them," she assures. "It's not the first time those battleguards strike at night. They will be loud and carry huge torches."

A second after Helena finishes her sentence, a faint shriek comes from the dark. Drawing attention from everyone on the battlement. More and more shrieking sounds come out, and it gets louder. The Jaegers become restless. Some of them point at presumably where that unsettling sound comes from.

"Battlemage, flare!" The Jaeger sergeant is giving orders to Amamiya.

The battlemage shoots a flashing light to the pointed direction. The flame reveals a vast horde of cannibal rabbits.

All that present at the battlement cannot believe what they see. Before the dread feeling fully sinks in, grunting sounds come out along with rows of massive torches. The battleguards are coming. With their torches, the horned assailants herd the rabbit horde along with them.

"Ooo, it's such a terrible joke," Sora whispers with a voice full of despair.

The Jaeger sergeant blows the war horn, signaling for all defenders to prepare for battle.

However, Maximillian comes running with distress decorating his pale face. He trips, and nearly falls, if not catched by the hoplomachus sergeant.

"Calm down, boy. What happened?" asks the sergeant.

"T-the scout from the river has returned with…," Maximillian tries holding his stutter. "A large contingent of battleguards heading to the wall."

"What!?" the hoplomachus sergeant surprised and disbelieved when hearing the message.

The bladesguard regains his composure, take a deep breath and yells. "Battleguards attacking the southern wall!!"

Despair comes. The cold touch of death creeping through the defenders' spine. Their hearts gripped with a paralyzing fear. It is out of their mind that the day when battleguards force launch a two-pronged attack to the outpost. Tonight they face such an attack.

Sora stills his heart.

"Sergeant Marcus, take all hoplomachii to the southern wall!" he shouts an order to the hoplomachus sergeant.

The order Sora's gave, snapped everyone out. Sergeant Desmond of Jaeger Brigade, especially stunned by Sora's bravery and his gall to give orders to an officer.

"Hey, you can't do that!" the sergeant protest.

Sergeant Marcus also feels displeased at being ordered by a rankless knight. However, after seeing the logic behind that order, he decided to follow it. No matter who is giving the order.

"Alright, lads. To the south wall!" he and all the hoplomachii swiftly move.

After gathering all the courage, Helena jumped down from the battlement.

"All bladesguards who want to defend the southern wall follow me! The rest stays here!" she shouts.

Five bladesguards follow her run to the southern wall.

Desmond cannot believe what happen. Not just because a sergeant actually obeys order from a rankless knight, but also now, the supporting force has been reduced to conscripts and a handful of bladesguards.

"All conscripts know to use a bow, take the bow and go to the battlement. The rest take position in front of the gate and form a spear wall!" Sora giving another order.

The conscripts without hesitation follow that order. Swiftly, they take up the designated position.

"Amamiya. Amamiya!" Sora snaps out the battlemage who has been silent the whole time. Still entranced by fear and disbelief.

"Aah, yes. Yes," Amamiya finally regained her sense.

"Go to the southern wall as well. Support the archers on the battlement," told Sora.

"No. I'm staying here," says Amamiya. "I promise to stand by you, and I won't break that promise."

"I know. But, now I need you to go there," Sora insisted.

"No, I will not go! Even if it's your order. I refuse to leave this place!" The battlemage adamantly refuses to go.

Sora knows at this point nothing can change Amamiya's mind. However, he can't afford to indulge the battlemage stubbornness. So, one last time he tries to convince his partner.

"Please, go. Leave this to me," Sora grabs Amamiya's shoulders and looks her deep in the eyes. "I beg of you go. Your magic power is needed there. If the southern wall falls, all is lost."

"But…."

"Please. I promise we'll be together again after this over."

The sound of war horn can be heard from the southern wall.

Amamiya finally convinced. She can see strong conviction in Sora's eyes.

"Fine. I'll go," says her. Then, she hugs Sora. "Don't die."

"I won't. I promise."

The battlemage jumped down the battlement and ran to the southern wall.

Although battle preparation is complete, Desmon still gives Sora a condescending look.

"I hope you know what you're doing!" he sneers. The sergeant then take up a position near the hoplomachus.

One last knight climbs up the battlement, and stands next to Sora with bow in hand.

"I don't know you can use a bow," says Sora to Maximillian.

"I can say the same about you," the bladesguards replies. "I've been practice in my leisure time, now times to test it in real battle.

***Sora***

"Fire arrow!" Desmon gives the order.

All the archers and Jaegers dip the tip of their arrow to the torches, nock it and draw the bow. Ready to shoot.

"Loose!"

Hundreds of flaming arrows fly in the night sky. Then, they fall onto cannibal rabbits rank. Burning them.

"Again!"

Another barrage of fire arrows was shot. Most of those hideous rodents fall with burned bodies.

The fire from the arrows and burning corpses illuminating the battlefield. Giving the defending force on top battlement better visibility of their enemy.

"Night arrow!" Desmon changes the orders.

Now, the arrows are nocked without its tip being burned.

"Loose!"

Without being lite, the arrows blend in the dark, making them impossible to avoid. Plus, with better visibility the archer and the Jaeger can shoot more effectively. Resulting massive casualties. However, that did not deter the invading horde to stop the assault.

"Shoot at will!"

With that order, the storm of arrows is continued.

Despite being rained down by arrows, the rabbit horde keeps moving forward. The battleguards keep the horde moving. Poking the back row with their torches. A cruel motivation for the rabbits. Herding them straight to the wall, to their death.

On the battlement, some of the Jaegers try to shoot the battleguards. However, they soon find out that their targets are still out of effective range. The arrows are unable to pierce through the battleguards' thick muscle. Those horned giants ignore the arrows as if they just like a swarm of mosquitoes.

The rabbit horde finally reaches the wall. However, without ladders, they cannot hope to climb the outpost high wall. They frantically try to climb the wall. Jumping, clawing, only to be shot down by the defenders. They also cannot hope to fall back. Their horned taskmasters simply not allow it.

Nothing can't be done by the rabbit horde at the wall, except dying. The horde finds more luck at the gate. Its alcove provides protection from the arrow shot. With the absent of murder hole, the defenders cannot stop them from breaking the gate. It is made from thick heavy wood and has a steel frame, but with their crooked claws and jagged blades, the rabbits viciously chipping and pushing the gate. Until it eventually breaks.

Maximillian drops his bow and abandons his post.

"What are you doing?" asks Sora, confuse with the bladesguard action.

"Sallying forth?" he replies.

"What!?"

Before Sora protests any further, Maximillian already jumps down and regroups with his fellow bladesguards. One of them hands over his zweihander.

"I'm charging out. Who's with me?" he shouts.

All bladesguards pound their chest and shouting a war cry, a sign that they will follow such action.

They then walk past the conscripts that had been anxiously standing in spear wall formation. The bladesguards stop in front of the gate. Brandishing their sword, prepare to charge.

"Open the gate," Maximillian orders.

The conscripts look at each other, confused by such crazy order.

"Open the gate! Now!" Maximillian shouts the order again.

Starlet, two of the conscripts drop their spear, and run toward the gate. They unlock it, and pull the gate open.

Like a flood gate being open, waves of cannibal rabbits surging in.

"Charge!!!"

The bladesguards charge forward. Challenging the murderous horde with their heavy sword. With a single swing of the zweihander, one bladesguard can cleaves two or three rabbits at a time. Those brave knights not stopping. They keep charging forth. Slashing through all the assailants. When they pass through the gate, the heavy door shut behind them. Surrounded on every direction, the bladesguards do not lose heart. In fact, they seem revel the battle.

"Back inside, you crazy idiots!" Sora curses when he sees the bladesguards outside the outpost. He cannot believe with only eleven of them, they dare to sally forth.

When Sora is about to jump down, with intention to drag his friend inside the wall, Desmon stops him.

"Let them, boy," says the Jaeger sergeant. "Nothing can be done except to give them support."

Sora punched the parapet angrily. Then, he takes another arrow and continues shooting.

"Focus on the rabbits on the back row!" he orders.

As if they finally realize that their slave army is threatened by the archer volley, the battleguards pick up the pace. They forcefully push the rabbits as they march to the front line. The cannibal rabbits shriek when their eyes blinded by the torches flash. Some are pulverized, stomped by battleguards' massive feet. Now, the rabbits fight more desperately. Their uncaring taskmasters push them forward on the back, but in the front the face relentlessly storms along with blood drunk bladesguards, hellbend to crush them.

When the battleguards closer to the front, all Jaegers instinctively aim for the horned giants. Their arrows were finally able to pierce through the battleguards' body. Hurting, the battleguards release a deafening roar. They throw the massive torches as retaliation. The torches flew past the wall and landed inside the outpost, breaking into hundreds of fiery splinters. Burning everything around them.

Seeing the fire, Knight Captain Lydia orders some of the guards to put out the flame. However, she only can send a handful of the guard for the task. She already sent most of the reserve to battle. The southern wall's gate had been broken through.

***Amamiya***

The war horn is blown, as Amamiya runs to the northern wall, calling all the defenders to prepare for battle. She saw Helena stand in front of the gate, casting a protection magic. She then runs past the hoplomachii that forming a spear wall, and climb up to the battlement. On the battlement, Amamiya can clearly see the huge number of torches carried by the battleguards. She feels the horror as the attacking horde moving fast toward the outpost unimpeded. Now, she understands why Sora sent her here. There are too few archers on this side to defend from such an attack.

Amamiya closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Somehow, she could see Sora's face. The stern expression of that hoplomachus calms her heart. The battlemage opened her eyes with new found resolve. As her heart burns with battle spirit, so does her staff's spearhead lit on fire. Ready to cast fiery judgement to the assailing horde.

John Strongbow climbed up to the battlement with several additional archers. As the archers take up position, the chieftain peering through the battlefield. The battleguard horde now advancing in full speed. In his mind, a handful archers he brought won't be enough to stop the horde. The gate will be breached, and it's up to the hoplomachii to face the tide of terror.

Helena has finished her incantation, and a magic barrier is erected. John gives Amamiya a nod, signaling the battlemage to begin the bombardement.

Amamiya lift her staff, and shout the spell

"Fireball!"

Rain of fire fell upon the battleguards. Burning and blasting them. Yet, the horde is still advancing undeterred.

"Lord of Vermillion!" Amamiya releases another spell, erupting pillars of fire from the ground.

"Fire wall!

Without pause, she throws another spell.

The battlefield is now engulfed by fire. There is no more sign from the battleguards' advance, except the smell of burning flesh. Some of the defenders sigh in relief, thinking all battleguards have perished in the sea of flame. Soon, the relief turns back into terror as hundred flaming logs rain them down. If there is no barrier provided by Helena, that will be the end. The logs shattered as soon as they touched the magic barrier.

Ignoring the fire, a large group of battleguards rushing to the wall. Armed only with their fist, they slam at the barrier. The archers already been signaled to fire at will to slaughter the battleguards. Alas, there are too few arrows can be shoot, not enough to withstand such savagery. The battleguards still relentlessly pounding the barrier. Only a very few fatally lucky shot managed to kill them. Amamiya herself having a hard time to kill the horned savages. After throwing three major spells in single breath, she almost out of energy. Now, she can only throw a couple flaming arrow spells at a time. Hardly enough to effectively cull the savage horde from battlefield.

More and more battleguards rushing through the flame, following their brethren to destroy the barrier. Helena did not expect such intense pressure. Knowing the barrier is under massive strain and near its breaking poin, the chaplain channels her energy to maintain barrier's integrity. However, this effort put herself in peril. As her energy suck in the barrier, Helena could feel every pounding, every attack delivered by the battleguards. Her face is turn pale and sweating cold sweat. The pain was unbearable, but she cannot give up. She must not give up. If the barrier break, the gate will surely fall.

Even though pelted with arrows and surrounded by fire, the battleguards continue press the attack. The archers become desperate as they start to see cracks in the barrier. With more push the barrier will shatter. And such push come in form of four battleguards carrying a big tree as battering ram. They rush toward the barrier, and slam the battering ram with inhuman strength. Shattering both the battering ram and the barrier. The force is so great, when the barrier break, it sent Helena flying. Now, there is no stopping for the battleguards to assaulting the gate.

The battleguards banging at the gate like a rude guest demanding to enter. The defenders ready for the breach. The hoplomachii, the bladesguards, even Helena. The chaplain refuses to leave her position even after running out of magical energy. She maybe cannot cast more magic, but she still can fight with her morning star. On the battlement, the archers and Amamiya still try to thin the horde rank.

The gate lock crack, and then break. And with one hard slam, the gate is wide open. A battleguard rushing in only to be stabbed by hoplomachii's spear wall. Two, three, and more battleguards rushing in. All face the same bloody lesson. Sora was right. With their long spear, hoplomachii are very effective against the battleguards.

Outmatched, the battleguards struggle fight against the skillful and discipline hoplomachii. The gate provides perfect bottle neck choke point. Only a few battleguards can pass through at a time. Making their massive number meaningless. The attack successfully stalled on the threshold. Knight Captain Lydia want to keep it that way. She sent a portion of regular guards armed with long spear to reinforce the hoplomachii. However, that will be the only reinforcement she could sent.

Northern section of the outpost burns. Due to the absence of a magic barrier there, the torches that the battleguards throw, manage to fall inside the outpost. Burning everything that was touched by the flaming splinter. Lydia tasks more of the reserve to put out the fire. Leaving only a handful remaining force on the middle. The only solace she got is the northern wall defense still standing, and the gate not breached yet.

The assault continues as the night almost pass. Both attacker and defender force refuse to give in. Pile of dead battlaguards now block the gate, preventing any more of them to go inside. Because of this, the guards and the hoplomachii can relax even for a bit. The same couldn't be said to the defenders on top battlement. Desperate to make new entrance, the battleguards hitting and punching the wall. It seems futile, but if same intense pressure keep going, the battleguards will break the wall. Just like they manage to broke Helena's barrier.

Many battleguards still need to be killed. Yet, the archers start to run out of arrows. Amamiya herself is nearing the end point. She barely had enough energy left to cast a spell. Her legs are shaking, and her staff become very heavy to hold. The fire one her staff also dimmed to mere sparks of ember. Tuckered down, she panting. Exhaustion clouded her mind. She could just call it quit and pass out. However, after seeing the other defenders, the archers, unyielding and still fighting, the battlemage rises up again. She sees a huge number of battleguards piling into the wall, and determines to end them all with a single spell.

Amamiya takes a deep breath. Focusing her mind and channeling all her remaining energy into this one spell. Then, she cast it.

"Explosion!"

Fiery blast exploded in the middle of battleguards rank. Turning much of them to ashes.

The blast is so loud it even scares the other defenders. Some even duck for cover. Yet, the spell did not manage to scare the battleguards. They are still pressing the attack.

Failing and in despair, Amamiya fell on her knee. Just before she blacking out. Helena catches her limp body. The lady chaplain takes a vial of potion, and pour the content into Amamiya's mouth. And suddenly, a surge of power filled the battlemage's body. Invigorated, she stands up, looking confused at Helena.

"What potion do you give me?" she asks.

"Just ordinary energy potion," the lady chaplain answers casually. "More important, can you conjure another spell that could end this… madness?"

Amamiya looks at the battlefield. She noticed there are still some patches of fire present. That gives her ideas.

"I might know such a spell. And I always want to try it," she says. Smile decorated her face, as if she was already victorious.

Amamiya taps her staff, relighting the fire on it. She then raises her staff, starting to channeling the spell.

Fires on the battlefield start to flicker, then move as if they're dancing. They move in the middle of the battlefield, above the battleguards horde. Gathering into a sphere. As more and more fire gathered, the light that illuminated the battlefield dims. Until there are no more lights. In this moment of utter darkness, Amamiya cast her spell.

"Crimson Tempest!"

A blazing storm sweeps the battlefield, burning all the battleguards. The archers duck behind the parapet, hiding from the raging flame. Only Helena remains standing. Looking at blaze with awe.

When the spell subsided, only charred corpses remained. The other battleguards who survive are retreating. Seeing their enemies running, the archers cheer. The guards and hoplomachii also cheered after hearing the news.

As for Amamiya, she is panting but satisfied. She finally conjures the spell. Spell that other mages deem as "madman magic".

"Hey, what do you think?" Amamiya asks Helena for her magical performance.

The lady chaplin smiled.

Suddenly, a tree flew toward the wall.

"Watch out!"

It falls on the battlement with a huge thud.

***Sora***

A massive torches crashed on the battlement, knocking down some of the Jaegers.

"Ugh, these boggards are really hard to kill!" Desmon grumbles.

"Shoot their neck," says Sora.

At first, his suggestion is ignored. However, after seeing a battleguards getting shot at its neck staggered and then falling down, all the Jaegers and the archers soon to start aiming the horned giant neck.

In the battlefield, in front of the gate, the cannibal rabbits are nothing but spend. What remains is their mutilated corpse. Now, the bladesguards meet head to head against the rabbits' taskmasters. The steel zweihanders clash with the iron might of battleguards. With slash, thrust and crush, the bladesguards try to slay their adversaries who bigger in size and in number. A hard task that ease by archers support from the battlement. The bladesguards will fight to the end. Either the battleguards' end or their own. Secretly, each of the bladesguards know, theirs most likely come first.

The battle drags on. The crescent moon that hangs high on the sky at the start of battle, now is leaning toward the horizon. Sora aims carefully, and only takes a shot when he knows it will strike true to the target. Not only does he start to run out of arrows, Sora also notices the bladesguards' fighting prowess nearly spent. Due to this, he makes sure each arrow hit a battleguard. Killing or gravely injuring it. The bladesguards now fighting with their back literally press against the wall.

Maximillian pants heavily. His hands trembles as he holds on his zweihander. He and other bladesguards pushed back by the battleguards, forced into defensive stance. Four of their number had been torn apart by the battleguards. In their zeal, the bladesguards want to avenge their fallen comrades. However, exhaustion grips their body. This is may be their last stand.

As when the battleguards about to give one last push, the ground shook. From the darkness appears a massive being. Its appearance silences everyone, even the battleguards. All stay still as it enters the battlefield.

It has horns like other battleguards but it is much much bigger. It carries a massive stone pillar on the shoulder. The giant walks towards the bladesguards. Then, like delivering a challenge, it stomps the ground and roars.

"Bring it down!"

With the Jaeger sergeant order, all Jaegers and archers direct their shot to the giant. Subsequently, the battleguards continue their advance.

Sora throws his bow and jumps down from the battlement. He snatches one of the conscripts' spear, and runs to the gate.

"Open the gate! Open the gate!" he shouts.

As the conscripts open the gate, Sora hastily approaching the bladesguards group. The fighting between them and the battleguards continue.

"Fall back! Fall back into the outpost!" Sora gives the order to retreat.

Know the odds stacked against them, the bladesguards falling back. One by one they enter the outpost, except for Maximillian. He just stands in front of the gate, staring at the giant.

"Hey, what are you doing!? Get inside!" Sora tries to drag his friend only to be pushed away.

"It's the champion," Maximillian mumbles.

He then, brandishing his sword and charging towards the giant.

"To Death! To Victory! For Gillian!

Sora now think that Maximillian already lost it. However, as the gate behind him is closing and horde of battleguards draw near, he has no other choice to follow the lone bladesguard's charge.

Desmon redirect the arrow shots back to the horde. Leaving Sora and Maximillian fight the giant alone. Maximillian keep charging toward it, with Sora follows behind him. He concerns with his comrade condition. He knows, by witnessing other bladesguards fighting the cannibal rabbits, they are group of knights that revel the battle. Drunk by the smell of blood, they charge through the enemy ranks, carving a path for other knights to launch an assault. It suits them. It suits their fighting style, and it suits the zweihander perfectly. However, what Maximillian now, by charging alone, is plain bloodlust. A madness cause by thirst for enemy's blood.

Originally, Sora follows Maximillian to knock him unconscious and drags him back to the outpost. Alas, it is too late. "The champion" and Maximillian already exchanging attacks. Big stone pillar clashes with a big steel sword.

The champion swings the stone pillar. Maximillian gracefully avoid it, moving beneath the pillar. It nearly strikes Sora, if he not stops, it will surely will hit the hoplomachus. The incredible size of their adversary, making it difficult to deliver a critical strike. Even though both knights armed with an adequate weapon to fight a massive being, they only can attack it feet. Its feet covered by thick skin and hair, as if it wears a pair of fur boots. Each attack barely affecting the champion, except making it angrier.

It was never expected by Sora that his comrade-in-arms called as "champion" will be an adept fighter despite the primitive nature of its weapon. Probably, because of that is why it was called champion. Each slashes and thrusts he and Maximillian deliver are accompanied by the risk of being flattened like pancakes. Even after so many attacks, the giant was not flinching. Its feet are bleeding but that does not hinder the champion to charge, and swing round the pillar with a slam as a follow up attack.

Both knights are on the edge of their stamina bar. Maximillian even had a hard time to lift his own sword.

"Ready to fallback, now?" says Sora between his panting. He doesn't want to continue this heavily one sided fight.

Maximillian only grunts. With little energy he has, he lifts the zweihander. Ready to charge again.

Sora holds the bladesguard at his shoulder pad. Stopping him for doing such foolish act. Thank heaven, Sora do that. If not Maximillian will get hit by the pillar swing. Instead of feeling grateful, the bladesguard glare his savior with rage.

"Let's try to strike it with heels and hamstrings. There is a change it will down this creature," says Sora. "But we need to do this together."

Maximillian rudely brushes Sora off. Despite this, he agrees with the plan and gives a nod.

At Sora's signal, the two knights charge forward. The champion welcomed it with a roar. It slams the pillar to the ground, intended to crush the knights. But Sora and Maximillian successfully avoid the devastating attack and manage to flank the champion from both sides. With a quick succession, they strike the champion's heels and knees. In pain, the champion roars loudly and falls on his knee.

Seeing an opportunity, Maximillian jumps high and stabs his giant enemy's wrist, making the champion drop its weapon. More in pain and getting angrier, the champion "whisk" away Maximillian, sending the bladesguard flying while his zweihander still stuck on its wrist. Before the champion tries to stand, it receives another attack. Sora throws his spear, aiming for the champion's neck. Pity, he misses. The spear hit the champion's shoulder, instead. It draws the champion's attention, and gives the hoplomachus the same fate as his comrade by punching him.

Sora lands roughly on the ground. His glasses knock off from his face, and land in front of him. He feels his head ringing like a bell. Dizzy and disoriented, the hoplomachus tries to reach his glasses. At that point, with his blurry vision, he sees that the gate is breached and the battleguards entering the outpost. He puts on his glasses, and draws his sword. If this the end, he will make it such an end. The hoplomachus stands up and faces the champion.

A loud bang came out. It is from the southern part of the outpost. It seems the sound draws the champion's and some of the battleguards' attention. And then, bright fire light appears from the same place. It's like the sun is rising there. However, after a moment, the light disappears and darkness returns.

After all that, the champion stood up. Thinking it will attack again, Sora brandishes his sword. The oddest thing happens, instead of charging, the champion walks back into darkness. The battleguards, too. They fall back from the gate, leaving their dead comrades.

"Wha… they're retreating?" Sora cannot believe what just happened.

Maximillian staggeringly walks to meet his friend. Smiling. It seems all his bloodlust is already spent.

"What just happened? How…? Why…? And what is that thing we just fight?" Sora who still does not fully grasp the situation bombard the bladesguard with questions.

Maximillian only pads Sora's shoulder and says two words.

"We won."

The hoplomachus wants to ask his question but the word "won" gives him such a relief, his body collapses and he falls on his back. Maximillian too falls next to him. The two knights laugh with heart full of joy. From the outpost, they can hear victorious cheers from the defenders.

***

"How dare you!" Lydia giving Sora a harsh slap.

The hoplomachus spits a lump of blood. The knight captain's slap is hard and painful, especially with the steel gauntlet still encasing her hand.

"You don't have the right to give orders!" The knight captain continued her scolding.

"I'm sorry. But, I feel obliged to do so. The troops position is just not good enough", the hoplomachus gives his reason.

"You have a lot of nerves, you know that?"

Lydia gives Sora a signal to follow her. They walk around the compound to check the aftermath of the siege.

"Not just you do something that is above your position, you dare to question my decision! Your superior!"

"Nevertheless, it works in our favor. The defense holds. You can blame me for doing that," Sora tries to justify his action.

"No, you just get lucky. I should just put you in the stocks rather than scolding you."

"If so, do the same thing to Sergeant Marcus. He is the one who obeys my order, and also defies your order. He has as much fault as I do."

Lydia stops, and sighs.

"That is what I want to know. I never imagined an officer obeyed orders from a rankless knight."

"So, what happened to me, now?" asks Sora.

"You…." Lydia pauses. She looks around. To the burned buildings and injured soldiers who are being treated by the healers. Then, see Sora's. the young hero was clearly exhausted. His face is pale and brushed. His body was covered by dirt.

"I forbid you from taking any action until I decide the proper punishment from your transgression."

"Very well," Sora simply nodded.

"Now, get out of my sight. There is a lot I need to do."

The hoplomachus turns around. Just before he walks away, Lydia reaches his shoulder.

"I suggest you see Amamiya now," says the knight captain.

Sora silent for a moment, and then nodded.

The siege ended just before dawn. The first morning light just appears in the distance horizon. The smoke from the fire is still hanging in the air. Last night's battle left several smoldering ruins and claimed many dead and injured victims. One among the injured is a battlemage. Amamiya.

"How is she?" asks Sora, kneeling next to Amamiya.

The battlemage lying unconscious on Helena's lap. Many of her bones broke. A result of after being knocked down from the battlement by a falling log. The lady chaplain tries her best to heal such horrendous injury.

"S-she, she's stable," she replies. "The medicine is working, and the sedative is easing her pain. However, it will take a lot of time and effort for the wound to heal."

"Good to hear," Sora caresses the injured battlemage.

Helena's head tuckered down. Tears flowing from his eyes.

"Why? Why her? It should be me. It's my duty to protect. And I fail."

Sora gently raised up the saddened chaplain's head.

"Please, don't blame yourself."

"But…"

"It's a battle. This thing happens. It cannot be helped."

Helena smiles wryly.

"I'll leave you be…"

"Wait," Helena catches Sora's hand before the knight stands up. "Let me heal your wound."

"No. There is no need…."

"I insist."

"Fine."

Helena gently placed her hand at the brush on Sora's cheek. She utters a spell, and in an instance all the hoplomachus wounds are closed and healed.

"Thank you," says Sora.

"No need. You better take some rest."

With that, Sora leaves Helena to take care of his lady companion.

Since Lydia bans him from any action, there is not much the young hero could do. After dumping two buckets worth of water on himself to clean all the dirt, Sora decides to take Helena's advice and rest.

He enters the barrack, and falls down on an empty bed roll. Seconds after he takes off the glasses, Sora already journeyed to the dream world.

It feels like just a moment ago Sora just fell asleep. Suddenly, he's being woken up by someone.

"Hey, wake up!" this person pokes Sora with his foot.

Starlet, Sora wakes up. He cannot identify who wakes him up with such a rude method while his vision still blurry. Only after he put on the glasses, Sora could clearly see the person. It's one of the hoplomachii.

"What is it?" says Sora with an annoyed tone.

"Knight Captain wants your present at the meeting."

Sora nods and shoos his fellow hoplomachus.

He then stands up, stretches up and finally walks to the meeting table.

"Ah, finally," Lydia welcomed the young hero.

"How long do I sleep?" asks Sora casually.

"Long enough. It was past afternoon," says Sergeant Marcus.

The air around the meeting table is heavy, and all eyes fixated at Sora.

"So, what is the decision?" he asked Lydia.

"Well, I already decided your punishment," says the knight captain.

"And…?"

"However, Sergeant Marcus adamantly defends you. And apparently manage to sway other officers to fetch for you. They even have another idea for you."

Sora seems confused. "As a knight captain you could ignore that, right?"

"I feel it's not wise to ignore a consul from the majority voice. So, I decide to give you a test."

"A test?"

"You see, your order to move the hoplomachii to the south gate is vital for our victory. Or at least what Sergeant Marcus believes," says Sergeant Desmon.

"He also believes you have an incredible insight for strategy," adds Lydia cynically. "So, we decided to give you advice for your upcoming plan. If it's a sound plan, I will not give you the punishment."

"It's more like a bet among us. Check if you really have the quality of a tactician," says Sergeant Marcus. "As far as I know, the knight captain still could punish you."

"Arrg, you gotta be kidding me," Sora sounds his displeasure.

"I'll share the money if you're right," says Captain Glenn.

Sora looked at the map, depicting the outpost and its surrounding area.

"How often the battleguards attack?" he asks.

"Nearly every day," says Captain Glenn. "Mostly, from the north."

"How about the south?"

"Least often. They mostly attack anything that passes the road by the river."

Sora thinks.

"We know camp on the south is on the river delta," says him, pointing at a black piece on the river. "But, we do not know the two camps in the north."

"Actually, we know one on the northwest. It's near Dessa border," says Captain Glenn. "They already sent a message stating that they will handle the camp. So, we do not need to worry."

"Out of curiosity, what is Dessa?" asks Sora.

"It's a vassal state of Elzen up in the north," says Lydia. "Dessa guarding the Black Gate where the demons came during their invasion."

"The battleguard champion you faced last night carries a stone pillar from ruins near Dessa. So, I reckon it came from that camp," says Sergeant Desmon. "Still, if the Dessian said they will take care of the camp, they will take care of that camp. We should leave them alone."

"And it leaves us with the camp in the northeast," Sora points to the map again.

"We've predicted the camp location is between the foot of Silverpeak Mountain and the forest to the east," Captain points out two locations at the top part of the map. "However, we cannot send scouts to confirm the exact position."

"Why?" Sora asks.

"The path is heavily patrolled by the battleguards," says John. "At night, it is filled by the cannibal rabbits."

"And last night the battleguards 'directed' them to us," the hoplomachus reminisced about the past battle.

For a moment there is silence.

"There is a cave in there right?" Sora points at the cave symbol. "Could we dig up a fortification there? I reckon that place is easy to defend."

"And what is the purpose of that fortification?" Glenn asks.

"To provoke the battleguards patrol to attack."

The officers are stratle and confused with such an insane plan.

"Before you voice your disagreement, let me explain," Sora continued. "In my opinion, the patrol is not just for the battleguards to prevent any intruder to their camp but also, to spy on us. Plus, the attack they did, not just a mere assault. By how often the attack came, as Captain Glenn said nearly every day, it functions as a probe. Testing the strength of defense. The battleguards may be primitive in nature but, they well verse with the art of war. And last night we witness how crafty those horned savages can be."

With that explanation, other officers start to see reason on Sora's plan.

"By putting a fortified post on their path, we could draw their attention and blinding them from our defense. Preventing them to make an effective strategy against us. With that, we can focus the remaining forces to clear the road near the river. Remember, our task is to pave the way for the reinforcement, not to repel the battleguards."

Sergeant Marcus nods in agreement.

"A sound plan," he says.

Others also share the same opinion as the hoplomachus sergeant.

"Indeed, except for one problem," says Lydia. "To do so, we need to committed large portion of the defending forces. Even that, I don't think that will be enough. Battelguards not just hard to kill, they notorious to being stubborn. If your plan works, the fortified post will receive full might of their assault. That place will be pulverized in a couple of attack."

"The knight captain's right," Sergeant Desmon agrees. "Even though we now know their weakness, it is still hard to dispatch even one of the boggarts. We need a better way to kill them."

"How about better weaponry?" the quartermaster commented. The man in green Crimson Drake uniform and wearing a tall cylindrical hat of the same color, has been silent since the start of the meeting, scribbling on his note.

"No, not better weapons. Bigger bow," says Sora. The quartermaster idea reminds him of something.

What he mentions is very intriguing, especially for Desmon.

"No no no no. That 'thing' will not work," Captain Glenn immediately rejected the idea before anyone raised a voice. "I know what you mean is ballista. It could kill battleguards in one shot. But, it is also too slow to shoot. It will need hundreds of that overgrowth bows to be effective. And we do not have resource to make hundreds of them."

"How about if I say I know the design of a weapon that has the capability of ten ballistas?"

Glenn was stunned.

"What kind of weapon is that?"

"Show me to someone who can draw schematics and an engineer, and you shall now this weapon."