Chapter 26 Part 1 of 3 (Patreon)

Marco clicked his tongue, his majestic horned mount moved forward, wearing its white and golden beast hide armor. Its white fur shone in the bright morning sun. His four family guard’s beasts were of a similar breed but their coats were mixed grey and blacks.

Marco stopped studying the defenses around him, his eyes falling on Lower Elder Luo and the group with him.

“Master Marco of the Tolentino Clan,” Lower Elder Luo bowed.

“Lower Elder Luo?” Marco looked at the people with him that weren’t of the Willful Institute.

“Please let me introduce you. These are the great allies that have come to support us in removing the blight that is the Vuzgal leadership,” Elder Luo introduced them all as Marco nodded to them as they were called out, not paying particular attention after the first few.

“They have brought many supplies and fighters to join in our cause,” Lower Elder Luo said.

“I thank you all for your support, there are many riches to be had working together,” Marco smiled. They are all just weaklings within their sects, people that can be cut away as rogues in case this goes badly. With enough standing to make it look like they are at least supporting us. They want Vuzgal.

More Willful Institute fighters passed through the totem behind Marco and headed into the city, a constant river heading out of the city and towards Vuzgal.

“I hope to see you on the front lines but I must take care of my soldiers first. Lower Elder Luo, may I steal some of your time esteemed elder?”

“Of course Young master!”

Marco extradited them both, his guards closing around Lower Elder Luo who pulled out his beast and mounted up.

Marco made sure no one could hear them.

“What is the situation?”

“They have brought one hundred and fifty thousand people in total.”

“So Ten thousand each. While we have one hundred thousand. Enough to overwhlem our numbers and to spread their losses out.”

Elder Luo remained silent.

“What about our paths and guides?”

“They are ready and waiting to take us to Vuzgal.”

“Very well, Once we have fifty thousand gathered we will head through the passes towards Vuzgal as fast as possible. Have all of our allies forces arrived already?”

“Yes young master.”

“Good, if they see us preparing to move they’ll want to get ahead of us. We will have a disagreement between our commanders that seems to slow our deployment. Let them get ahead of us. What of the situation inside Vuzgal?”

“People are fleeing, most of them have left already. The defenses have remained quiet, we cannot see inside and we do not know what they are doing. The Associations have reduced their staff. Vuzgal is nothing but a ghost city.”

“Good. Make sure that all information is reported to me right away Remain here with a force to keep us supplied. I’ll make sure that they’re strong enough to deter others.”

“Yes young master.”

Marco picked up his pace, he and his soldiers leaving Elder Luo behind.

He rode down the road passing the marching units, a sea of fighters spread across the open land beyond the walls.

Two hundred and fifty thousand to take a single city. We’ll have to make sure the other sects go first. I expect Vuzgal to put up a terrifying defense. Or I have guessed entirely wrong.

***

“They have arrived,” Elan said to Yui, Kanoa, Roska and Chonglu. They were all standing in one of Vuzgal’s command centers.

Yui took in a breath and let it out slowly, nodding his head.

head, “How many?”

“Two hundred thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand at a rough estimate.”

"Two hundred thousand?" Kanoa shook his head. "They're determined alright."

"You might be making a wrong assumption," Elan warned. "The force is two hundred thousand strong, but there are only fifty thousand main-line fighters. For each fighter that goes to the front he or she has a group of people to support them. They have apprentice fighters. They will get their protection in battle and training outside of it. They are akin to page boys to knights on Earth. Then there are healers, alchemists, smiths, Administrators and appraisers. Camp followers, which can be the family members of the weaker or poorer members of the fighting force, or the men and women that sell their bodies for the fighters to vent their frustrations. Servants that serve the fighters."

"What about the Blood Demon Sect, they didn't have that?"

"Well the Blood Demon Sect Army left all of their camp followers behind. They were expecting a lightning raid and to run away. This sect army is expecting to siege Vuzgal. A siege is a large ordeal. In that time the needs of the fighters will need to be cared for to keep them alert for the true attack. The Willful Institute has the least amount of camp followers, showing their confidence in taking Vuzgal quickly."

"So, just how many are we fighting?"

"We expect Thirty thousand Fourth realm fighters, Twelve thousand fifth realm fighters, Eight thousand sixth realm fighters with possibly an extra ten thousand fourth and fifth realm fighters if the sects draw out all the fighters among their camps."

"So seventy to Sixty thousand to our Ten to twenty?" Kanoa asked.

"Yes."

Kanoa frowned, wrapping his head around it.

"You have to remember that in the Ten Realms a professional military is not the norm," Yui said. "Each Army is like a village with everything that the fighters might need in the field. Where we have units and people who have set roles. Their systems are more organic. Many of the fighters are here because they are paid to do so, they think that the loot will be great or they need to get more contributions to their sect to keep recieving resources. On the outside it is an army. Underneath it is just a group of people that know how to fight working to get the best deal possible."

"It is one of the many ways that having a professional military is better. If we can show them that attacking Vuzgal is not worth the gains then they'll start to crumble and break off," Elan shrugged.

"If the Alva army was given a mission on the other hand. We would do everything to complete that mission. We're not here for loot but because of duty," Yui said.

"It is a definite change from back on Earth where there are mostly professional armies. Though makes me feel a lot better going up against a divided and selfish army." Kanoa smiled.

"They're still strong, especially the Willful Institute fighters, they make up most of the sixth realm and fifth realm fighters. While they are from different factions in the sect. The sect head is pushing them together, they have capable leaders with the respect of many. They'll be a strong rock for the army to rely on," Elan's brows knit together.

“Very well, then its time to begin,” Yui looked at Roska and Kanoa. “I want your scouts at high altitutde watching their every move. Roska, with the support of our Close Protection Details and Artillery Companies make them remember just what it means to attack Vuzgal.”

“Sir!” They both snapped to attention and saluted.

Yui saluted them back. “To your commands.”

They released salutes and headed off.

“Director Yui, Lord Chonglu, it is time we dealt with those traders in our city. Lord Chonglu we should start to quietly evacuate our people to other cities through our teleportation network.”

They both nodded.

“What about Rugrat?” Chonglu asked.

A smile spread across Yui’s face.

“Ah, I’m sure he’ll wake up in time. If we evacuated him, there would be hell to pay.”

***

Queen Ikku finished reading the letter, looking at the woman standing in front of her. She felt cold sweat run down her back but didn’t change her expression.

“As the letter says, my Willful Institute has become interested in the region called the Beast Mountain Range. We are not so greedy as to want it all to ourselves. With your cooperation we have much to offer, resources, training, even help with your cultivation.” The woman waved her hand a large chest of iron dropped to the ground.

“This is a small gesture.”

She kicked open the chest almost lazily. The density of mana in the room shot up.

Are those formations carved into the chest? Those pills could they be of the High Apprentice grade? Spell scrolls?

The guards in the hall shifted like sails in a breeze, failing in their statue-like-appearance.

“The gift is of little consequence. Even if you do not assist us it is just some errant items. If you agree to fight with us then your younger generations might be able to join our sect and your kingdom might even become a root to us. Being a root, you could ascend higher and higher, all the way into the Sky realms. Whoever joins us, they would have the power to overthrow nations, kingdoms, kings!” The woman’s eyes were looking at the nobles and now flickered to Ikku. “Even queens.”

Ikku felt a stab of rage and if only imagined, felt heat in the eyes of her ‘loyal’ nobles. Even if she didn’t join the war, she wasn’t so sure that the rest of her people would just remain at home and not fight for the Willful Institute.

“I think that we can come to some sort of agreement.”

“Good, good. We truly just wish to bring about a better era for the first realm. As people from a higher realm it is our duty to help those lower than us, is it not?”

Ikku smiled. “It is a noble cause indeed, we are blessed with having such benevolent ascendants! I just wish more nations and kingdoms of the first realm could enjoy this support!”

“Do not worry Queen Ikku, already several other nations have joined the cause! We might bring in an era of great stability and prosperity to the first realm.”

“You have elightened me.” Queen Ikku bowed her head slightly. Just what secrets lay behind the beast Mountain Ranges to draw down a sect from the Sky Realms? These are dangerous waters but for now we must play the role of chess piece, or else be discarded as the pawn. No one would give such a gift freely. Even to us in the first realm.