Walk With Me My Soldiers

During the preparatory three days before the mission, Asher spent most of his time at the base in the valley training the men. Apart from that, he also practised with Isabella and directed her on how to improve her skills. Finally, Asher also took time out to increase his strength.

With the Chaos-Origin body, Asher had a massive advantage over other mages. Nonetheless, his physique was just an average dual elemental physique, and although it was quite rare, it couldn't appropriately complement his constitution. As a result, Asher had to match his progression speed to a rate that his body could tolerate otherwise if he tried to take in too much mana hurriedly, while he wouldn't explode, he could damage his mana points.

Even so, Asher's progression speed was still impressive. He estimated that at the rate he was going, he would be at the peak of the third-stage of the Guardian realm by the month's end. As for the fourth-stage of the Guardian realm, he would step into that before he entered his fourth year at the academy; and this was simply because the fourth-stage of the Guardian realm was a new phase.

Such a progression speed was already ahead of that of the Castellan twins, and there was also the fact that Asher had achieved this with only a small part of his constitution unlocked. Even the spell he has used in his battle against the two fourth-stage Guardian mages, the spell that had allowed him to shift locations in the blink of an eye, was a boon from his constitution and past knowledge.

Three days of practice might be small to most, but to Asher, it was valuable. Even if he couldn't grow his mana strength in that time, Asher could recall some memories and spells, and then convert them to be suitable for mana usage.

At the end of the three days, Asher assembled the team of thirty men together with Isabella and began their operation. Their provisions had been prepared and moved secretly to the base during the past three days so there was no reason to wait any longer.

After sending a letter to Ol' Fang, Asher gathered the group for a pre-operation speech.

"As you should have guessed, we will be carrying out an outdoor activity today. Hunting bandits." Asher said.

When he had announced the mission, Asher noticed that there wasn't much fervour in the team, and while they tried to hide it, some were a bit disappointed.

"Obviously, that shouldn't be a problem for most of you, after all, quite a few of you are war veterans so a bunch of bandits are like paper soldiers before you, right?" Asher smiled.

"However, there's a twist. All second-stage and below mages would have their magic power suppressed to the mid-rank of the first-stage while third-stage mages would be suppressed to the mid-rank of the second-stage of the Guardian realm. As for Aaron and Luther, you guys would be suppressed to the mid-rank of the third-stage of the Guardian realm."

"!!!"

Everyone was shocked by Asher's announcement, even Isabella, Luther and Aaron. Some were even made nervous by the statement.

They had been handed basic information about their enemy's power level and from the report, most of the bandit groups consisted of between ten and thirty men, mostly at the peak rank Human stage and early rank first-stage Guardian mages. The elite characters were usually at the peak rank of the first-stage with some in the early or even mid-rank of the second-stage of the Guardian realm. As for the leaders, they were at the peak of the second-stage and quite rarely, the early rank of the third-stage of the Guardian realm.

The more impressive bandit squads had huge numbers of peak-rank Human mages, a sizeable count of their average members at the first-rank of the Guardian stage, a handful of second-stage Guardian mages and a leader at the mid-rank or peak of the third-stage Guardian realm.

It was because of the difference in magic power level, experience and training that made these soldiers confident when facing bandits, and even bored with doing so. However, Asher's order meant that they would lose one of their advantages which was a very vital one.

To understand their reaction better, the Panama road, which was the largest and most dangerous road among the three merchant paths, housed fifteen bandit groups, according to the report. Of these fifteen, nine of them were like the first group mentioned above, with numbers ranging from between ten and thirty. The squads with less than fifteen men were usually elite, meaning that they consisted mostly of mid to peak-rank first-stage Guardian mages with some second-stage mages and a leader at the peak of the stage. For the groups with more than fifteen men, their quality was lower, but they made up with numbers.

Of the remaining six groups, five were somewhat like the second classification of bandit squads, having an average total of thirty to seventy men, most of whom were Human stage mages. They had more first-stage and second-stage guardian mages than most of the other nine teams though, and the leaders of these groups were all at the third-stage of the Guardian realm.

The final group had already transcended the definition of a bandit group and was more like a red organization. A red organization was an address given to dark organizations that conducted underground operations like banditry, kidnapping, selling illegal substances and so on, within and outside the kingdom. In the case of this bandit group, they were considered to be in between a red organization and a large bandit group due to their enormous size; a quasi-red organization if you may. They were the uncontested 'leaders' of the region and the other bandit groups had to team up together to be able to fight for a spot in Panama road.

It was because of the existence of this quasi-red organization, as well as the other five semi-large bandit groups, that made the eyes of these thirty grown men open wide with shock at Asher's orders. They were already outnumbered and with Asher now planning for them to be outmatched too, this was turning into a suicidal mission.

"Young master, this is-" Luther said.

"That's enough." Asher cut him.

"If you are not willing to participate and walk this journey with me, you can stay behind for now. I can't let you leave the base for obvious reasons and retreating now means relinquishing your rights to be an official member. Most likely, you would end up with errand duty or be sent to guard the mines or something; I don't care. But if you feel like the mission is too difficult and you're getting cold feet, retreat now."

A second later, Asher spoke up with a rising tone.

"However, after this mission, you will officially be part of the special corps I am growing. A unit that would wield great power, enough to tip the scales of a battle with ease. A unit whose sounds of their marching boots breed fear in the hearts of their enemies, their screams send all formations in disarray, and their spears shred through every armour and shield on the battlefield, like a hot knife through butter. A unit that lords, kings and emperors of men would avoid no matter the cost; even the gods would shiver with fear at the mere thought of facing them. The choice is yours: retreat and live forever in fear and regret, or walk with me and leave behind a path of blood as we ascend to glory."

Everyone went silent as they could already imagine the scene. Asher's words seemed to pass through their skulls and take root in their heads, turning into visions that the mages experienced. War, blood, and death were all around them. However, at the centre of all that was a team of mages who looked like gods of war. Their armours were stained with blood, and corpses were all around them, but even so, they stood strong and fearless. Their glances alone sent their opponents into spirals of madness and when they struck with their blades, the target would be dead in one hit.

Such strength, such power, such majesty and honour, which one of these mages trained in the brutal ways of the military Arnhaunt family didn't desire that?

They weren't like the other mages in the kingdom who wished for political power, influence and riches. What they wanted was strength and power, not the type to influence the kingdom, but the kind that wins the battle; power that tips the scale of the battlefield towards their favour. They didn't desire glory from riches, but honour from war. To these mages, being a unit that could crush through all opponents with ease was more desirable than being a count who controlled a vassal city.

"I, Savia, will follow the young lord wherever!" The only mid-rank third-stage Guardian mage in the group announced with great spirit.

"I will follow the young lord too."

"Me too, young lord."

"We will follow the young lord. We live and die for the young lord!"

The group suddenly roared with enthusiasm.

"Good."

Asher smiled before turning towards the entrance. He summoned the white crystal sword in his hand and pointed the tip towards the exit, in the direction of their first target.

"Now, walk with me to the path of glory. Take this step to the mountain of honour. Stand by my side as we defeat our enemies. Walk with me as we experience rebirth in blood, my soldiers."