Chapter 14: Civil war (3)

The sky is getting darker and darker, my men are moving quietly out of the camp, oil and chemicals of Greek fire have been poured all over the place. A small fire is enough to turn our entire camp into a living hell. We move to a hill which is about 500 kilometers from the camp. And then, disguise ourselves to the darkness, we wait. Like a hunter waiting for his prey, my men stay stealthily, horses are tied down and their mounts are covered. I know Stannis Pyrell is smart, so being careless is unforgiving in this case.

Everything is settled, the last thing is waiting for the snake to show up.

*********

The gates of Kursk are opened, an army wearing green armor is marching out, leading the army, we see a tall, handsome man wearing knight armor. He is Stannis Pyrell, who is called Stannis the Wise by the people of Kursk as with his talents, Kursk has become one of the largest trading cities in the king. Tonight, after confirming the death of the rebel leader, Ivar the Cripple, he decides to conduct a night attack. The royal army is still two weeks more to come and as far as he can see, the number of the rebel army is twice more than his. This is a chance to turn the table, there are rumors that Ostrovic has been taken down by a powerful siege weapon that can blow the wall up. So he can't gamble to let them besiege the city.

Stealthily move across the thin forest separate the city and the rebel's camp, Stannis rides his horse forward and carefully observes the camp. The time is midnight, he sees some small fire here and there and figures of humans moving around. Knowing that the army is unaware of their existence, he smiles. He is worried about the crippled boy at first since the boy could defeat an army of 17000 Beastmen that his sister hires. But without the boy, there'll be no one that can overwhelm his plans.

Turning his head around, he sees his household knights and his soldiers ready to fight. After recruiting mercenaries, he has about 4000 men under his command now. Winning this battle is predictable. Confidently, he takes out his sword and points to the enemy's camp. His men follow his order; after the war cry, they charge forward the camp. The camp's gate is broken up easily, leading the vanguard pouring inside the camp, he notices something unnatural. There are no noises and resistance of their enemies. He rides toward a figure of human that he sees and cuts it down. However, the figure is only a human shape piece of wood carried by a donkey. He panics immediately; moreover, he even catches the smell of oil, which makes him panic even more. He turns back and shouts:

- RETREAT, THIS IS A TRAP!!

But is too late, all of his men have got in the camp, and while they still panicking, 20 fire rocks light up the cry with hundreds of fire arrows follow. Men and horses are crushed by rocks or taken down by arrows. The worst is that the fire has spread at an uncontrollable speed. Within 10 minutes, the camp has become a sea of fire, smells of flesh burned are everywhere. Stannis are thrown to the ground after an arrow hits his horse. Hardly stand up, he tries to find the way out of this hell. He'll trade everything in the world just to get out of here if he can.

At the moment he gets close to the gate, he sees an unimaginable scene. A group of men wearing blue cloaks and heavy armors like other Fortunian knights that he sees this morning. However, their heads are not like humans, on top of their bodies are demon's faces with two horns, they are carrying weapons that looked like halberds but much sharper. Anyone who gets in their ways is split by half with just one wields. He kneels to the ground, his body can't move from being terrified, he whispers with a weak voice:

- Please, God, save me from this hell, I'll devote anything that I can to you. I'll never commit any crime.

Gods seem don't care about him, a demon rider rides toward Stannis, intends to take his life. However, after recognizing who he is, the rider kicks him instead. Stannis's vision goes blurry and strength left his body, he faints.

***********

I'm on my chariot right out of the camp, the fire starts to go off. Seeing my elite cavalries slaughtering the enemies, I feel very unlucky for some. They are my new calories unit, with men chosen are masters in fighting. I armed them and even their horses to the teeth. Demon masks are crafted to scare the freak out of my enemies. I call them Demon Reaper, which suits them a lot while looking at them right now. Only 300 Demon Reapers kill Pyrellian soldiers with their naginatas as if they are harvesting wheat. And whoever is lucky enough to survive their naginatas to get out of the camp face with my spearmen.

The dawn shows off and the battle ends with captives are being dragged toward me. I notice that guy, Stannis Pyrell, still unconscious, being dragged by two knights and thrown in front of my face. Seeing that he doesn't regain consciousness, a knight and pour a bucket of water on him.

He rises up immediately and moves crazily. His mind seems to have been broken, huh? I order my men to seize him. He is violently seized, I even hear a crack noise come from one of his arms. Waiting for him to cry out painfully, I move toward him and lower my body to see him directly eyes to eyes:

- Do you remember me, Stannis Pyrell? I'm very grateful for the hospitality you gave me yesterday, so I decide that I'll pay you back a little. Do you love it?

- YOU FUCKING DEMON, LET ME GO. MY BROTHER IS ON HIS WAY HERE, AND WITH HIS STRENGTH, YOU AND YOUR DEMON FOLLOWERS WILL BE KILLED WITHOUT MERCY.

- I don't like being shouted at, you coward. I hear people call you Stannis the Wise, and your appearance doesn't seem to fit it, right? So I'll give you a new title, what do you think about One-eyed Stannis.

Not waiting for him to respond, a knight takes out a dagger and thrusts his eye, another roar is heard. Goddamit, why he is so noisy, even if he killed one of my best friends and my bodyguards yesterday, he wants to roar?

- Release him.

He falls to the ground. Slowly, he tries to crawl in the direction of the city. Even if he makes it there, he can't survive since when he was at our camp last night, Charles had taken 1000 men to sneak attack the city. With just a few men left, the city has fallen and the banners of house Pyrell are being burned.

So the first guy in this world who manage to outweigh me has been broken, high. Feeling boring, I signal the wolves beside me:

- He is yours, but keep his face recognizable, it'll be a good decoration for my new city.

The wolves move toward and start to feast on him. Haizz, noisy again. This thing may be morally wrong in my last world, but in this world, who cares? His nephew killed my father, my last family and he kills Beta, my friend. Now is my turn to return the favor.