Chapter 651 (Patreon)

While the rank and file weren’t told about the upcoming attack to prevent any possible leaks Ajax could see that they at least knew that something was up. The nervousness that had been mounting over the last few weeks had put all of them on edge and made them more sensitive to the small changes in the routines of those in command.

“Are you still going to be the one covering me?” Arianwyn asked Ajax, as some of the few in the know who didn’t have plans to make they kept their distance from others who didn’t know so they wouldn’t leak it by mistake. 

“No, that will be on Aranor.” Ajax shook his head. “Since he will be staying further back regardless of what happens when the fight starts he’ll be the one closest to you.” 

Since they were the ones on the offensive and since this attack was supposed to catch the enemy by surprise the leadership were planning on the enemy champion force being the one to open themselves up first. 

“You plan to actually take the fight at a champion level?!” Arianwyn was starting to get worried now. Despite them taking a very favorable win during the last fight they had still only managed to injure a few of the enemies and only captured one member of the enemy squad present. They had sent back a champion and two squads that hadn’t yet returned.

“Do your best to get away as quickly as possible once it escalates, Aranor won’t really have time to look out for you, or it might cost him.” Ajax knew that Aranor hadn’t wanted to put any extra pressure on the princess but Ajax felt it was best to warn her now. “This won’t be the careful engagements we’ve seen up until now.” 

Ajax didn’t like it but Aurexion did have a point when he suggested informing Arianwyn of the situation might just be the best thing to do not only as her friend but also from a strategical stand point. Seeing the princess so panicked when the fight escalated might make the enemy overeager and overextend just that slightest bit more, not only that but if something should happen to Aranor because of her and Ajax didn’t warn her he doubted she would forgive him for a long time. 

“You’re still sure it's a good idea?” Ajax asked Aurexion, feeling a little nervous now that the moment was coming closer.

“Of course I am.” Ajax felt for their bond hoping he could gather some of the confidence Aurexion was feeling about their plan. It had been the dragon’s idea for them to be so aggressive and while he usually wouldn’t be as worried about something like this he knew that he and Aurexion weren’t the ones truly at risk with this plan. “You just focus on taking out the weaker ones and I’ll take care of you.”

The whole battle plan was to bait out the enemy champions by faking Aranor as the focus of their ambush, then when they moved to react to it Aurexion and Ajax would drop from above and Ajax would target the mages and hybrid champions going from weakest to strongest aiming to kill as many of them as he could or if not have Aurexion capture them.

Ajax knew the only reason the commanders agreed to such a risky plan was because without an equalizer like this they would be down almost three to one in terms of champions and their squads would slowly be picked off. Aurexion was pushing it because this gave Ajax the best change to unlock his Pseudo-Mythic Skill.

Before Arianwyn got to do anything other than a slow nod in confirmation of Ajax’s advice movement picked up in the camp, everyone was getting ready to move out so Arianwyn had to go to her spot in the formation and it was time for Ajax and Aurexion to fake their scouting lap while positioning themselves far above the battlefield and ready to strike. 

Ajax could feel the wind blowing past his leather armor as Aurexion rose in the air. Unlike usual Ajax was on the dragon’s back instead of his neck as they didn’t want him to get spotted on their fake scouting attempt. 

“I won’t be able to see anything from this high up.” Ajax grumbled as he felt them getting higher and higher and he knew he won’t really have a chance to take in the battlefield once they dove down. 

“Good, you shouldn’t be basing anything offensive off your sight.” Aurexion growled. “Focus on your [Sense Mana] to find the mages and take them out.” 

From as high up as they were Ajax knew he wouldn’t be able to hear the fighting until spells got involved even with his high Perception Stat. ‘Are they responding?” Ajax asked Aurexion who was looking down on the enemy camp, his draconic eyes giving him a clear enough view to make out what was happening. 

“I’ve been spotted but I don’t see anything to let me know they’ve been tipped off about the attack.” Aurexion reports. “They are pulling their scouts back a little.” 

Aurexion had been sniping any too forward scout on his previous fly bys so the enemy was now reacting to his presence by pulling their people back. It was a smart move but one that would leave them with even less time to react to the attack. 

Each minute felt like an eternity to Ajax as he waited atop Aurexion’s back as the dragon narrated to him the exact moment when the enemy realized the attack was coming. As soon as they did realize however Ajax quickly used his Shadow Mana and masked his entire presence. They would be taking a closer look at Aurexion now and he didn’t want to be discovered.

The Mana drain was very slow and with the fight breaking out beneath them Ajax was sure he hadn’t been spotted yet, the only question remaining was how long before the champions took the field. 

While the attack had been a surprise the whole purpose behind it was for them to target the enemy champions so their forces were more focused on having less casualties and taking a strong position that would force the enemy to act rather than kill their soldiers.

Five minutes into the start of the battle and Ajax’s [Sense Mana] started to give him an idea of how the battle was going, he was happy to say they were slowly but consistently gaining ground.

“They think this is just a show of force.” Aurexion chuckled grimly. The enemy must have picked up that whilst their forces were winning they were keeping a formation that was ready to retreat at any moment.

The slow methodical advance to the battle sadly led to quite a few lives being lost on both sides, though at a two to one rate for the beastkin during the hour it took before the beastkin finally brought out their champions and both armies started their full retreat.

“Get ready.” Aurexion rose even higher hoping to disappear from the mind of the mages once Aranor’s Mana massive spell would become a shining beacon in their [Sense Mana]. 

Ajax felt the signal clearly almost like a bomb of Mana detonated beneath him as Aranor started casting. He didn’t even get a real chance to adapt to it as his stomach jumped to his throat as Aurexion started his dive. They were speeding up even faster than a freefall from this height but Ajax trusted Aurexion to slow them down once they got closer to the ground. 

“They only have one physical champion guarding two weak mages at the back.” Aurexion had his targets. “I’ll keep them busy.” 

Ajax had spent the last two weeks learning to trust his newest Style Skill so he didn’t even hesitate as he knew they were getting closer and closer he dropped the Shadow spell that was keeping him hidden and instead activated both [Last Stand] as well as [Mana Syphon] and turned them both up as high as he could, he even ran a wave of Life Mana through his body that should work on repairing any muscle he might tear. 

Jumping off Aurexion’s back at the last moment before the dragon started chasing the physical fighter Ajax used his Vibration Mana to absorb the impact of crashing into the ground before he made a straight line for the mages.

Ajax wasn’t sure if the first mage was a swan or a goose beastkin but he didn’t get much of a change take a good look, all he saw was the look of horror etched on their face as they felt their enchantments activate and their jaw snap shut under the effects of his [Telekinesis]. Less than two seconds after he joined the fight Ajax had already decapitated the first mage and was already turning to take out the second. 

This lizard beastkin was stronger, its spells keeping their form despite his [Mana Syphon] draining them and Ajax could already feel two more champions turning back from the front lines to converge on him and Aurexion but he just pushed forward.