Arrogance's Price

Despite my confidence with our team. We still had to prepare for the raid. Troops needed weapons and armor fixed. Each soldier required had to prepare themselves mentally for their death.

No one knew who was coming back alive and who wasn't. Perhaps that was the most horrifying thing about these kinds of conflicts.

After a week of constant stalking the Forger's stronghold, and another week for every DRT soldier who's going to the raid. We landed on a death-date.

But those were the two weeks leading up to today. Now we stand united, facing down our executioners. My armor reflected the DRT strength with the letters painted onto my shoulder.

Forger hordes flooded the outside. It was a giant mess. One could see the rare Savage family armor mixed with the Downpour's mighty prideful armor.

Their weapons weren't any better either. Spiked shields lined the front row of defenders and dazed archers sat behind the stronghold walls, ready for anyone they could kill.

"Raider, all of your men are ready for the attack." Specter mimicked a worried voice.

"Alright, good. Let's give these guys a show. By the end they'll have to salvage a new leadership." I smirked.

My confidence soared. Today, nothing would stop the DRT. I've fought to keep an entire region in order, survived the Calamity, and even took down tyrants.

We. Will. Not. Lose.

I never understood why Remedy, Vital, and Blackout pleaded for me to call off this raid. I knew they were dangerous, but a Wildman is probably more insane.

"BREAK DOWN THEIR WALLS!!" I yelled.

Rows upon rows of DRT soldiers cheered and ran right into the beast's jaws. A chaotic army against an army made to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.

I helped lead the charge. My double handed axe thirsted for blood. My rage and weapons pushed me deeper into hell.

Eventually, we clashed.

A Forger swung their mace at me, before the mace contacted my skin. I raised my two-handed axe. Both weapons came together to make a beautiful "ding!"

Unfortunately, they weren't aware how much faster someone could be at recovering and going for another go. Just as I took a left and dug the axe's head into their waist.

The pain was undoubtable. The feeling of having pure rage and metal cut through armor was agonizing. The pitiful Forger member finally dropped down after dancing around with an open wound.

From my left and right, two spiked, shielded Forgers charged at me. They were like two wild animals on how they charged at one another.

I moved out of the way of the first Forger, but the second one caught me. My armor deflected the pointy edges of the wall.

The Forger didn't drop me. They kept dragging me deep into the Forger's territory. The further we wen't, the more fierce each Forger got.

Until the Forger dropped me on one of their leader's feet. They dawned a Savage's combat helmet, designed specifically to deflect blows from the right and left of their face.

Downpour gloves and chest-piece showed off the leader's bountiful kills. And some strange novelty of leg armor.

I've only seen something similar to this when Warmonger had some of her associates over.

He reached down and grabbed me by the back of my neck. His ear piercing laughter had my ears skating between deaf and stunned.

Despite them having the upper-hand in the situation, I felt them shaking. Their laughter got progressively worse and worse until he tossed me aside.

The Forger reached for his weapon, "You're that new guy? What was it now? Raider? The same one that took down those pathetic Downpour and miserable Wildmen?"

I carefully got back up. His laughter and unstable movement warned me about the type of Forger I am dealing with.

"Cat got your tongue? Your combat skills are miniscule. GET UP AND FIGHT ME!" The Forger encouraged me.

I went directly into a fight-or-flight response. My hand tightly gripped my axe, while my other had only had gauntlets for a weapon.

My heart began pounding faster until I leaped forward. I was over the Forger's head, both hands on my axe and preparing to swing down.

When I got into a good striking position. The Forger kicked me away. Somehow, they reacted before I could even do something.

"GIVE UP! YOUR MEN ARE BEING BRUTALLY SLAUGHTERED BY THE DOZENS! WE ARE BEYOND A NORMAL GROUP!" The Forger laughed at me.

As they laughed, I waited for a clear opening. Then leaped forward for another axe swipe across the head. This time, he didn't move.

I thought I killed them until I realized they were just pretending to be hurt. In reality, his blood red eyes narrowed and his laughter got louder than ever.

My heart began beating faster, I knew he was making a mockery of me. I was going to unleash pure rage on the Forger.

Using a boost of strength, I swung the axe again. This time to the knee. He dodged. I went in for another swipe, and another, and another. Each time I tried to attack, he dodged before I could attack.

"That's it, be a good little insect and tire yourself out..." The Forger murmured.

My stamina was quickly draining, and my stress starting taking a toll on me. I had to slowly retreat back behind friendly forces.

The Forger followed. Eyes stuck on me with the rare laughter. The longer he kept those eyes on me for, the more I wanted to run. Eventually, I thought it was too much.

At this point, I was stepping over dead DRT solder's corpses. I couldn't keep doing this. My first instinct was to turn around, and run.

I ran like the wind. The fastest I could go wearing armor like this. All around me, DRT solders lay dead. They broke our first row of attackers.

The other row behind it stopped and dared the Forgers to come to them. I could feel safe already, I just needed to run for a little longer.

"NO!"

A voice called out from behind me. The same Forger caught up to me. No, he ran past me. Now in front of me, the Forger turned around and punched my helmet a wound.

I fell to the ground. Exhausted, thirsty, defeated, and overheating. The Forger cast his shadow over me.

"You're a cute one, Raider. You have the guts to come over here and face us head on? Interesting. I'll give you a reason to fear... but first, enjoy my present..." His voice sickened me.

The Forger raised me up with one hand. Using the same hand, he tossed me back into my team.

"HE ISN'T WORTH MY KILL!"

It was an attempt of shaming me. And I assume it worked. No one bothered picking me up. Everyone packed up and left. Except for me.

I laid on the ground. Sun breaching my armor and into my eyes. I slowly started losing consciousness. And eventually, I drifted asleep.