For the 200 years since its founding, the peaceful city of Bytea had never faced a crisis of this magnitude. Despite being part of an empire that revered conflict, it had never been subjected to an emergency like the one now shaking its foundations. Neither the citizens nor the soldiers had expected an event of such scale, much less...
Roderick: What the hell happened here?!
Upon arriving at the scene, Roderick was stunned by the devastation. The entrance and a section of the wall had been reduced to rubble, as if a tornado had torn through them in mere seconds. Imperial soldiers were working hastily to clear the debris before beginning reconstruction.
One might think that earth magic would make restoration easier, and in some ways, it did—but not as efficiently as one would hope. While earth mages could speed up construction by providing structures and formwork to stabilize the buildings, they couldn't simply raise the wall again as if it were a child's playset.
This was due to the ephemeral nature of magic. Any object created through magic was nothing more than condensed mana, which would sooner or later dissipate, returning to its natural cycle. The duration and size of these creations depended on the mage's skill level, but even the most talented could not produce permanent structures. There were legends of exceptional mages capable of materializing their magic permanently, but most of those stories were mere exaggerations from mercenary mages eager to charge higher commissions.
Roderick stood at the destroyed section of the wall, frowning, while soldiers snapped to attention as he passed.
Soldier: As I already told you, sir, it was the elves. They took down the entrance and launched a surprise attack.
Roderick: That's impossible! —he turned to the soldier with an incredulous look—. There's no way the elves have a weapon capable of destroying the wall in mere seconds.
Soldier: I understand, sir, but... that's what happened. The lookouts barely had time to react before the gate collapsed.
Roderick took a deep breath, trying to process the information. It didn't make sense.
Roderick: How many were there?
Soldier: I'm not sure, sir. There weren't too many, but they moved with unusual coordination and used carriages with Olux to escape. It didn't seem like a simple attack from wild tribes—it was a well-planned military operation.
Roderick: And what about the casualties?
Soldier: We lost more than twenty men in the initial impact. Many of those at the entrance were crushed by the debris. The rest managed to reorganize, and the elves retreated shortly after.
Roderick: Retreated? After opening a breach like this?
Soldier: Yes, sir. It was strange. They could have kept attacking, but instead, they pulled back as soon as our forces regrouped.
A chill ran down Roderick's spine. This wasn't just a raid—it was a war tactic.
Roderick: I had a bad feeling ever since this whole elf situation started... but now I'm sure. It's very likely that the Kingdom is behind this.
Soldier: You mean the Kingdom of Vectoris, sir?
It was clear that someone had provided the elves with a weapon of such destructive power. Not even catapults or conventional magic cannons could have brought down Bytea's walls with such ease and in such a short time. This was something much bigger.
Roderick recalled his conversation with Duke Thalion. In it, the duke dismissed the possibility that the elves were receiving aid from the Southern Elven Nation. That country never intervened beyond its borders, and in 200 years, there had been no changes in its policies or leadership. With that option ruled out, only one logical answer remained: the elves had received support from the Kingdom of Vectoris.
But why? Or rather, why here?
It was well known that Vectoris and Algorythia were hostile nations, but they had never attempted to invade Bytea for two fundamental reasons: the Semaris Desert and the Lughwood Forest. Any army trying to reach Bytea would have to cross these territories, both considered death zones. It wasn't a viable strategy. If they sent a force of 500 soldiers, at most 20 would survive, and they would do so without supplies and with more wounded than combat-ready troops.
That's why, even if the Kingdom sent one of its elite warriors to assist the elves or provided them with some kind of weapon, it wouldn't make sense. Even if they managed to take control of Bytea, the Empire wouldn't have any difficulty mobilizing its forces from the interior to reclaim it. Meanwhile, the Kingdom would be forced to deal with the previously mentioned obstacles, making it unfeasible to maintain a prolonged war from the city. Simply put, Bytea was not a profitable strategic point; supplying and defending an outpost in this territory would be a waste of resources for the Kingdom.
Were they trying to liberate the elves to justify the war from a moral standpoint? That didn't make much sense either. The Empire was already widely despised by the rest of the world, and no additional excuse was needed to consider it an enemy. Furthermore, Roderick didn't believe that the Kingdom's rulers made decisions based purely on altruism. If Duke Thalion were still here, he might have provided a more accurate explanation regarding the Kingdom's motives. But the enemy had acted first and taken him off the board.
He sighed as he searched for an explanation with the few clues at his disposal.
He had already followed protocol. A messenger had been dispatched to the capital to report what had happened during the Duke's abduction, but until orders arrived from above, everything rested on his shoulders. Just as he had anticipated for so long.
If his enemy truly planned to take Bytea, he would welcome them with open arms. This battle would be a challenge.
Roderick: "How long has it been since Captain Valeria left?"
Soldier: "It's been three hours, sir. She should be fine; she took most of the troops with her, and they were well-armed."
Roderick: "That idiot..." He frowned. "I told her to wait for orders. Right now, with the wall exposed and most of our forces outside, we're in a vulnerable position."
Soldier: "Commander Roderick...? You don't really think the elves would dare attack the city, do you?"
Roderick turned to him with a severe gaze. The soldier swallowed hard and averted his eyes.
Before he could respond, another soldier standing on the wall raised his voice.
Watchman Soldier: "Commander, what is that?!"
Roderick turned his head in the direction the soldier was pointing. In the distance, a column of black smoke was rising over the forest. If he focused his vision, he could make out the flickering glow of a fire between the trees, even in broad daylight.
Roderick didn't respond immediately. His instincts told him something was off. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the landscape beyond the smoke.
Another column of smoke.
And then another.
And another.
They were forming in different directions across the forest, as if multiple fires had been set simultaneously.
The soldiers around him noticed it too. No explanation was needed. This couldn't mean anything good.
The air grew tense. The pressure in Roderick's chest turned into certainty: the enemy was making their move.
With a firm voice, loud enough for all to hear, he shouted:
Roderick: "STOP CLEARING THE DEBRIS AND PREPARE THE BARRICADES!"
The echo of his order spread immediately. The soldiers around him scattered, rushing to carry out their tasks.
Roderick remained standing atop the wall, his eyes fixed on the smoke rising from the forest.
The enemy wasn't just launching a simple attack. This was a tactic.
A game of war.
From Khaelion's disappearance, the Duke's abduction, and the attack on the walls—everything pointed to a strategic mind behind these events. An enemy of unknown origin, someone experienced in the art of war, whom he was inevitably destined to face.
Roderick let out a brief, dry chuckle.
Roderick: "Come at me with everything you've got... I've been waiting for you for a long, long time."
[Separator]
The scene shifts to Runa and her attack unit. They had arrived at a hill relatively close to the city of Bytea, the exact same spot where Runa had positioned herself to shoot at the wall. The elves were already fully equipped and armed. About three hours had passed since the elves of Zhyrithia had prepared and marched to this point.
Gather: "I can't believe they actually managed to bring down the city's entrance."
Barmus: "Told you, our boss is amazing. You're putting us in a tough spot if you compare us to the elves from her old village—here, we don't mess around."
Gather: "So? How exactly did they do it?"
Barmus: "Well... I don't know much about the details since I was in a different group when it happened, but from what I understand, our boss was responsible."
Gather: "Seems like she doesn't share much about her plans. Well, I wouldn't either if I had no one capable around me. Climbing ranks in her group seems easier than I thought."
Barmus: "What did you say? You wanna fight?"
Gather: "Don't be hasty, we're in the middle of a mission."
Barmus: "Hmph... Fine, I'll let it slide this time. Anyway, boss, what are we waiting for?"
Runa gazed at the horizon while the elves argued. During their journey from Zhyrithia to Bytea, the other group had already completed their task of setting the forest on fire. A sea of flames stretched across the woodland.
Runa: "Once the fire intensifies around this area. After that, we'll move."
Gather: "I see... The beasts."
Runa: "Correct."
Runa's plan was clear: provoke a raging fire so that the forest beasts had no choice but to flee in a stampede—heading straight for the city. This way, they would corner most of Bytea's internal forces without even lifting a finger.
Several elves silently watched the landscape devastated by flames. Some looked on with sadness; others, with fear. After all, this was the forest where they had been born and raised.
Elven Soldier: "The forest is..."
Uncertainty began creeping into the hearts of the elves who, in theory, were ready for battle. To break the tension, Gather asked another question.
Gather: "How long exactly should we wait?"
Runa glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before returning her gaze to the horizon, crossing her arms.
Runa: "About an hour, I suppose. In the meantime, make sure everything is ready. I'm going to take a short rest to be fully prepared."
Even if she didn't show it, uncertainty was beginning to take hold of her as well. She didn't know exactly how long it would take for the beasts to appear. Moreover, although she wasn't completely exhausted, she couldn't predict when she would have another chance to rest—whether after the city's conquest... or if something went wrong. Both her current body and her previous one begged for eight hours of sleep like any normal person, but she rarely had that luxury.
She climbed into the carriage and crossed her arms. Barely a few minutes had passed when a faint tremor shook the ground.
Immediately, she opened her eyes and stepped out of the carriage to confirm the source of the tremor.
Runa: "They're here."
The other elves, who had felt it too, turned their gaze in the same direction as their leader.
Barmus: "This is just..."
A horde of forest beasts burst through the flames, unleashing a ferocious stampede toward the city.
Runa: "Everyone down, we'll move in after the beasts."
After giving the order, Runa and the armed elves descended the hill, cautiously advancing toward Bytea.
The imperial soldiers had set up a series of improvised barricades, but these proved insufficient against the onslaught of the massive creatures. The first wave was enough to demolish any makeshift defenses they had installed in place of the wall. However, as if they had anticipated the stampede, several mages and archers were strategically positioned to contain the threat.
The medium and small-sized beasts were taken down with relative ease, but the larger ones managed to break through, infiltrating the city. There, the imperial soldiers stood their ground with determination, ready to defend Bytea with their lives. Thus, the true battle began.
Screams and roars intertwined in the heat of combat. At first glance, given their size and numbers, the beasts seemed to have the advantage, but the soldiers were prepared. They faced the creatures with formations designed to contain them, and instead of swords, they used spears—much more effective weapons against beasts. From the terraces, archers and mages fired relentlessly, while hidden traps hindered the monsters' movements.
The blood of both soldiers and beasts stained the city's main streets red.
As the minutes passed, the surviving soldiers were forced to retreat, overwhelmed by the endless horde. There were so many beasts that they even began attacking each other. Finally, after a fierce struggle, the roars and screams faded, giving way to an unexpected silence.
Runa: "Alright, let's move."
Barmus: "I really can't believe what I'm seeing..."
Runa's group seized the opportunity and descended into the city, finding themselves amidst a landscape of corpses. What was once Bytea's main street was now a wasteland of death.
It was not only the gruesomeness of the scene that shocked the elves but also the terrifying reality that the conquest of the city, once thought impossible, was unfolding before their very eyes. Once again, they realized how fearsome their new leader was—capable of executing such a plan with so few resources at her disposal.
As they moved among the bodies, a single figure remained standing amidst the devastation.
Like in a Kodoku, where multiple creatures are locked together until only one survives, at the center of that sea of death, one being had emerged victorious—the king of the beasts.
Gather: "...It's a Thornpaw."
Despite its wounds and exhaustion from battle, the only beast that had survived was a Thornpaw specimen. The elves took a step back, recognizing the threat it posed. However, those who had come to war with determination knew they couldn't afford to falter. They waited in silence for their leader's command.
Runa: "Stay behind me and keep watch for any surviving soldiers."
Runa advanced slowly toward the Thornpaw, whose gaze locked onto her with murderous intent. Sensing the danger the elf posed, the monster roared with all its might, warning her not to come any closer. But its warning was in vain.
Barmus: "Boss... Runa-sama, I think we should avoid this fight."
The beast did not take its eyes off Runa. At this point, the battle was inevitable.
Accustomed to using the trees of the forest to propel itself in combat, the Thornpaw quickly adapted to the city, using buildings and structures as footholds to move with terrifying agility. It darted around with impossible speed for a creature of its size and weight, leaving the observing elves stunned.
Finally, after a series of unpredictable movements, the beast launched its attack. With its claws and fangs aimed at the elf leading the offensive, it pounced with all its fury.
But what happened next left everyone even more bewildered.
With a single movement, Runa unsheathed a sharp blade and, with terrifying strength, slashed through the Thornpaw's thick neck. A stream of hot blood splattered onto the ground as the beast's head rolled several meters before stopping with a dull thud. The massive body collapsed heavily, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaving behind an overwhelming silence.
The dry sound of both remains hitting the ground was the only proof that this was not some fleeting hallucination.
The elves stood motionless. They didn't even whisper. The sight of Runa's slender silhouette contrasting with the monstrous corpse of the Thornpaw was something their minds struggled to process.
Gather: "Barmus... hey, Barmus... Hey!"
Gather's insistent whisper snapped his companion out of his trance.
Barmus: "What...? What the hell just happened?"
Gather: "That's what I'm asking you! She's your boss, isn't she?! How can she have that much strength in such a small body?"
Barmus: "I have no idea... All this time, I thought she was a mage."
Gather: "What!? She can use magic too?"
Barmus: "As far as I know, she used some kind of spell to put out the fire when your people invaded our village. But I had never seen her fight."
Before they could keep questioning what they had just witnessed, Runa's firm voice cut through the air like a whip.
Runa: "Don't just stand there. We have work to do."
The elves, still in shock, took a second to react. Some even clenched their fists, trying to stop the trembling in their hands.
Runa: "Gather."
Gather: "Yes, Runa-sama!"
Runa: "Take half of the men and seize the walls. Most of the imperial warriors should have fallen fighting the beasts, but there may still be mages stationed up top. Can I trust you with this task?"
If the remaining enemies were mostly mages, the elves would have the advantage, as most of them were archers. Their precision and speed would make them a deadly threat against any spellcaster who took more than a few seconds to chant a spell. However, if there were still knights in heavy armor, things would get complicated. Arrows would lose effectiveness against them, and in close quarters, the soldiers would have an easier time closing the distance—melee combat would be lethal for the elves.
Gather: "Understood. I'll do my best."
Without hesitation, he selected the most experienced archers from Fimas's village and the warriors from Zhyrithia who had recently joined them. He didn't take all of the most skilled fighters, knowing that Barmus would still have to deal with other threats. In total, about fifteen people remained in Runa's group.
Still recovering from what he had just witnessed, Barmus approached Runa.
Barmus: "Runa-sama, what's the next step?"
Runa: "We need to reach the city's noble district. That's most likely where the remaining soldiers are concentrated. Once we eliminate the commander, we can consider this battle won."
Barmus: "I see... So our target is the noble district. I don't know how big this city is, but..."
Barmus paused, frowning. So far, they hadn't encountered any resistance beyond the soldiers who had fallen to the beasts. But now that he thought about it, something felt off.
Barmus: "...Now that I think about it, there's no one here."
Runa: "..."
The elf raised her gaze, scanning the deserted streets around her. When she had visited Bytea days ago, the city had been bustling with activity—merchants, commoners, and patrolling soldiers filled the streets. But now, aside from the corpses scattered across the ground, there was no one.
It was normal for people to take shelter in their homes during a siege. However, the city was too empty. There weren't even murmurs behind doors or muffled cries.
Runa: "You're right... This doesn't make sense."
Doubt settled in her mind. Something wasn't adding up. Where were the citizens?
Barmus: "If you allow me, I can go ahead and scout the path to check for enemies ahead."
Runa remained silent for a moment, weighing the idea. Something inside her warned her not to be complacent. This conquest was going too smoothly. But since the situation wouldn't progress unless they moved forward, they had to take the risk.
Runa: Well, you're braver than I thought. Alright, I'm counting on you.
Barmus: Yes, leave it to me.
With careful movements, Runa and the elves took cover behind a building, staying in the shadows as they closely followed Barmus. The elf advanced alone along the main street, his steps firm yet alert to his surroundings. The houses around him were narrow and two stories tall, with terraces offering a perfect view of the area. At the end of the street, a pile of rubble formed an improvised barricade, blocking the path.
A chill ran down Runa's spine. That place was perfect for an ambush.
Runa: I have a bad feeling about this...
She didn't have to wait long to confirm her suspicions. Figures began appearing on the rooftops and terraces, wielding bows, slings, and stones. From the street, emerging from the shadows of the buildings, soldiers clad in full armor stepped forward, cutting off Barmus's escape.
Runa: Damn it... I should've known they'd do something like this. It was too suspicious for the civilians to vanish without a trace.
The most efficient option was to abandon Barmus and reorganize a plan to eliminate all their enemies more effectively. However, they were in the middle of a battlefield. Abandoning a comrade at this moment could sow distrust in her leadership, which, in the long run, would be more costly than losing a few soldiers in the rescue.
Runa: Listen up! We're rescuing Barmus. I'll take care of the soldiers on the ground. You focus on taking out the shooters on the rooftops.
Elves: Understood!
Without wasting a second, Runa propelled herself forward with superhuman speed, launching herself into the heart of the conflict. At the same time, the elves began firing at the enemies positioned above, trying to suppress their attacks.
Enemy Archer: What the hell is that?! Elven reinforcements?!
An enemy archer barely had time to react before an elven arrow pierced his throat, sending him crashing backward with a gurgled gasp. But his warning cry had already alerted the others.
Enemy Shooters: Guards! More elves in that direction!
The enemy soldiers turned at the shouts. They spotted the group of elves firing from a distance and started moving toward their position. Meanwhile, the archers on the rooftops, though less precise than the elves, had the advantage of height and cover, putting up a fight despite the skill difference. The elves were in a bad position right now.
Time was running out.
Barmus, surrounded by enemies, fought desperately. He blocked a strike with his bow, but a stone launched from a slingshot struck his temple, making him stagger. Blood began trickling down his face, blurring his vision.
Gritting his teeth, he tried to regain his balance, but a sword found his back. The pain seared through him like burning iron.
Barmus: Gh...!
His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, gasping.
A soldier approached, raising his sword.
Soldier: This is your end, elf.
Before he could deliver the final blow, his eyes widened in shock. A sharp, icy pain shot through his back. He looked down to see the tip of a blade protruding from his chest.
He tried to speak, but only blood came out. He collapsed lifelessly.
Barmus: Ru... Runa-sama... I... s-sorry...
Runa: Damn it... Can you stand? We need to regroup immediately.
The brief exchange was enough for the remaining soldiers to surround them. Runa lifted her gaze, assessing the number of enemies. This... this wasn't an improvised ambush. This had been their defense plan from the start. That meant the commander had anticipated the elves' invasion after the beast stampede.
A soldier swung his sword with all his might, aiming a vertical slash at the elf, who was still crouched over the wounded Barmus. The blade came down, intending to cleave her in two—
But he never felt the resistance of flesh or the crunch of bone beneath his steel.
Instead, the only thing he heard was a dry crack.
His eyes went wide as he saw the half of his sword shatter in midair. The blow had collided with something invisible, a spherical barrier that materialized for a moment, protecting the elf.
Soldier: W-what the hell...?
The sound of his sword breaking spread like a warning signal to everyone present. But before anyone could react, the elf moved.
No, it wasn't a regular move. She disappeared from sight.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared in front of the soldier who had attacked her.
There was no time to scream.
The edge of her blade split him in half as if his armor were made of paper.
The rest of the soldiers watched, frozen in horror. The girl didn't give them time to process it.
She launched herself toward them with superhuman speed, leaving only silver flashes in her wake.
Soldier: She's a demon!
One by one, the soldiers fell. None could land a single blow. Every attempt to strike was dodged with inhuman ease, and every time their swords clashed with the elf's, they broke as if made of glass.
Fear gripped them.
Soldier: It's impossible... It's impossible...
She was different from any enemy they had ever faced. If it were an enchanted weapon, they could still understand it. But no, this was more than magic.
Those who had seen Commander Roderick's weapon in action knew this was on another level. The soldiers' weapons were of excellent quality; in a training session, a sword clash with the commander's weapon would only cause slight wear on the steel of the common swords.
But this girl's weapon cut through steel like it was butter.
Soldier: What... what kind of monster is this elf?
Amid the massacre, one soldier saw his opportunity.
The others had fallen or were engaged with her face-to-face. If he wanted to kill her, this was the moment.
He positioned himself right behind her, gripped the handle of his sword tightly, and twisted his hips, channeling all his strength into a downward strike.
Soldier: This is the best slash I've ever made in my life... It can't fail!
The blade came down with the full force of his body.
CLANG!
Runa: Ouch!
The impact rang across the battlefield, but something was wrong. The edge hadn't cut.
The soldier stood frozen. He hadn't felt the slightest indication that his sword had cut through flesh or bone.
Before enlisting, he had worked as a butcher with his father. He knew exactly how it felt to cut different types of meat, where the weak points of a body were, and the resistance of bones.
But this...
This felt like hitting an iron anvil with a sword.
The vibrations from the impact traveled up the weapon and into his arm, numbing his fingers. The sword wobbled in his grip, trembling as if it had struck something impossible to break.
Did that soft grunt of pain come from the elf? Was that her only reaction to receiving the blow?
Soldier: No... it can't be...
The elf slowly turned, her crimson gaze burning with contained fury. Her expression showed irritation.
Before the soldier could react, Runa vanished from his sight. An instant later, he received a kick and felt a crushing impact in his abdomen.
—Gah!— He barely had time to scream before being launched like a projectile.
His body crashed through the wall of a nearby house with monstrous force, reducing the structure to rubble. A cloud of dust and splinters rose into the air. There was no cry of agony. He was probably dead.
The other soldiers watched the scene, their faces twisted in shock.
—E-this is...
—We can't handle her... We can't beat her...
Fear spread through the imperial ranks like an uncontrolled fire. Half of their forces had already been annihilated in a matter of minutes. There was no room left for pride or bravery.
The only sensible option was to flee.
It wasn't desertion; it was strategy.
The Empire had designed protocols for situations like this. Encounters with enemies that far surpassed a regular soldier should not be resolved with unnecessary sacrifices. No matter how well-trained they were, if the enemy was too strong, the order was clear: retreat and leave the threat to the elite warriors.
The soldiers began to scatter, running in different directions with the hope of saving their lives.
But escaping from Runa was impossible.
The hunt had begun.
Runa: You're not leaving that easily.
The elf shot after them with inhuman speed. Her agility allowed her to cross the battlefield like a lethal shadow, reaching them one by one and cutting them down before they could even scream.
One tried to turn to counterattack, but barely raised his sword before Runa slid past him and cut through his neck with a clean strike.
Another tripped while trying to run, and in the moment he hit the ground, the elf drove her blade into his back mercilessly.
However...
Barmus: Runa-sama!
Barmus's desperate voice made her stop.
She turned her head and saw the reason for his call.
A group of imperial soldiers had avoided direct confrontation with her and had charged straight at the elves.
The elves were fighting with everything they had, but they were at a disadvantage. They were equipped with swords they had taken from the humans who had invaded the village earlier, but they didn't have the technique to use them effectively. Unlike the Empire's soldiers, who trained their whole lives in the art of war, the elves were hunters and archers. In hand-to-hand combat, the difference in skill was clear.
They were already falling. One after another.
—Damn it!— Runa snarled, clicking her tongue.
Without wasting any more time, she grabbed Barmus and shot off.
The injured elf barely had time to react when Runa lifted him with one arm and carried him at full speed.
Barmus: W-wait, Runa-sama, I can—!
He couldn't finish the sentence.
A second later, the elf was thrown like a sack of potatoes.
Barmus rolled several times on the ground before stopping with a groan of pain.
Barmus: Agh...! Was it necessary to throw me like that?!
Runa didn't respond. She was already in the middle of the fight.
The elves were retreating, exhausted and demoralized.
—Damn it, we can't handle them!
—They're overwhelming us!
—Hold on a little longer!
Runa made her way through them, her blade covered in blood.
Runa: Stop complaining and use your strength to fight!
Her shout rang with authority, and for a moment, the elves regained some of their determination.
Then, the slaughter began.
The imperial soldiers barely had time to react before being reduced to shredded flesh.
A cut to the throat.
An arm severed.
A heart pierced in a single movement.
The rest of the battle lasted less than thirty seconds.
The soldiers who had been dominating the elves were annihilated without mercy.
But the victory was not without cost.
When the adrenaline started to dissipate, Runa looked at the bodies of the fallen.
Out of the fifteen elves who had been with her, seven were dead.
Her face remained expressionless, but inside her mind, the reality hit her.
Saving Barmus hadn't come without a price.
If she hadn't rushed into the conquest and underestimated the enemy, none of this would have happened. Taking the initiative was a good quality, but not always...
Runa: YA KHARA!
She clenched her fists, furious with herself.
If this had been a strategy game, the score would be 1-1.
Unfortunately, this wasn't a game.
If she hadn't had the "cheat character" that was her own body, this defeat could have cost her life and meant the end of the game.
The injured Barmus had been bandaged with first aid and was now resting behind a ruined house. His face was pale and covered in sweat. He clenched his fists tightly, frustrated with himself.
Barmus: Runa-sama... I'm sorry. This is all my fault.
Runa glanced at him sideways, arms crossed. Her expression was hard to read.
Runa: No need for apologies on the battlefield. Besides... I should have anticipated this human trick in the first place.
The elves around her kept their heads down. The defeat weighed heavily on their shoulders, and the lack of real combat experience was more evident than ever. If they found themselves in another battle of this magnitude, how many of them would be left standing in the end? Would she be the only one to survive after conquering the city?
She couldn't afford to make the same mistake again.
Her initial plan had been not to rely on brute force, to allow the elves to learn to fend for themselves while also gaining experience in leading troops. But she could no longer afford that luxury.
The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Gather and his group appeared, walking with a completely different posture from the defeated elves. While Runa's team looked downcast, Gather and his looked elated.
Gather: Runa-sama! We've eliminated the remaining mages on the walls. ...What happened here?
His gaze met Barmus's. As soon as he saw his condition, he understood that things hadn't gone well. On another occasion, he might have made a sarcastic remark to annoy his rival. But now, the atmosphere was too heavy. Barmus avoided his gaze with embarrassment, and Gather decided not to say anything more.
Runa: That's good news, Gather. As you can see... we didn't fare so well. We fell into a human ambush. We had casualties... but in exchange, we eliminated most of the city's remaining defenses.
Gather nodded, but his gaze briefly shifted to the fallen bodies of both the humans and the elves. Seeing the number of human soldiers, the difference in the results of both sides was clear.
Runa: Did you have any casualties on your team?
Gather: None at all. Aside from one injured, the mission was relatively simple. Thanks to the armor, the damage he received wasn't lethal. They didn't expect us to climb the walls, so we caught them by surprise, and it was easy to eliminate them.
Runa closed her eyes for a moment, reflecting.
Runa: I see... good work, Gather. We'll talk later about the rewards you'll receive for your merits in this war. But first... we need to focus on finishing taking the city.
Barmus leaned against the wall with difficulty.
Barmus: I don't think advancing will be easy. There are still shooters posted around the houses... how are we going to get through this district?
Runa: I don't think that's a problem.
The civilians who had participated as shooters had already put down their weapons. As soon as they saw the imperial soldiers fall, they understood the battle was lost. Now, they remained hidden, not daring to intervene.
Gather frowned.
Gather: Shall we eliminate them?
Runa glanced at him sideways and shook her head.
Runa: No, they were just a group of civilians. They won't attack us now that the soldiers are gone, and we can use them later.
Gather: You mean...
Runa: Yes. If we start hanging humans in front of their homes, the remaining forces will want to come to rescue them, and we could defeat them without having to enter their territory.
Gather: With all due respect, Runa-sama, I don't think that will work. Those humans wouldn't react impulsively, even if we burned their inhabitants alive in front of them. In the words of Zitras-sama, only humans who are nobles are valuable as hostages. If they allowed them to stay in this dangerous place to help with the ambush, I don't think they're important to them.
Runa: Well... I see, you have a point.
Runa: Either way, we'll have to interrogate them to find out what the humans are plotting. Also, we'll use them to maintain control over the city once the conquest is over.
The crash of wood giving way under the force of the elves echoed down the street. The door of the largest house in the district splintered into pieces as the elven soldiers kicked it down.
Inside, a group of human civilians shrank instinctively. There were men and women of various ages, and among them, several children clung to their mothers' skirts in fear.
The muffled cry of a child broke the momentary silence. His mother, pale and trembling, held him tightly against her chest. Other children also hid behind their parents, covering their faces.
The elves entered cautiously, weapons in hand. Some looked on with disdain, others with indifference. Gather scanned the room, making sure no one would try to resist.
Runa walked forward with unsettling calm. Her gaze swept across the terrified faces of the humans.
Runa: Alright. Listen carefully...
Her voice was firm and cold, devoid of emotion.
Runa: From this moment on, you are our hostages. Your only chance of leaving here alive depends on your cooperation.
Runa: Answer me—where did those soldiers go?
An older man, possibly the leader of the community, gathered his courage and stepped forward. His expression was harsh, but there was a trace of desperation in his eyes.
Man: We don't know anything... We're just civilians. We have no idea what the imperial soldiers are planning.
Runa narrowed her eyes. She slowly walked towards him, stopping just inches away.
Runa: Really?
The man swallowed hard.
Man: Yes. We're not involved in the city's military defense. They just gave us weapons and told us to help with the ambush... We don't know anything more than that.
Runa studied the other humans. Their pale, frightened faces confirmed they were unprepared for this. However, that didn't mean they were useless.
Runa: I see... Then, if you're so innocent, I suppose you won't mind if we start executing a few of you to send a message.
Silence fell like a heavy weight.
The mothers clung tighter to their children. A young man mumbled something, but his voice was lost in the gasps of terror.
The older man scowled and gritted his teeth. He knew Runa was serious.
Man: Wait...!
Runa raised an eyebrow.
Man: I... I know a safe route to the noble district.
The elves in the room exchanged glances. Gather tilted his head in interest.
Runa smiled calmly.
Runa: Well, it looks like we've found our tour guide.
END OF CHAPTER.