Luceran came back to camp under the cover of the dark night. His face was calm, but his eyes were shining. He was different now from the kid who had left just a few hours ago. The feeling of his first kill was still in his head. He found Commander Borrin in his tent, looking at a map with two of his lieutenants.
"Your Highness," Borrin said, standing up right away from the wooden chair. "You're back."
Luceran just nodded, looking at the map. "The scouts are still alive, but they've been captured. They're in the fortress." The commander and his men looked relieved but still worried. "I know the bandits' plan."
Borrin's eyebrows went up, and he couldn't help but ask, "But... how?" He saw a small, dark stain on the prince's brown robe. It was blood. The commander looked at Luceran's eyes and saw something different there. He didn't ask more questions; he just trusted what he felt and saw.
"What's their plan?" Borrin asked, his voice low.
Luceran sat down and summarized the bandits' whole trap. "A three-part attack. A rockslide to block us, archers on the cliffs, and a head-on fight. They know numbers and are ready to fight." A cruel smile appears on Borrin's face. "The bastards. We counter-ambush them instead."
Luceran pointed at the map and started to show his plan. "We won't be the ones hunted. We'll turn their trap into our own." He explained the details, his voice calm and clear. He showed where the soldiers should go and how they would use the land to their advantage. "We'll send a small group ahead to trigger the rockslide early, and then our main force will attack them from the side, a battalion for each side to ambush their archers; the rest will fight head-on." The lieutenants and Borrin listened closely, their doubt now gone and replaced with respect. This was a real commander.
The next morning, as the sun came up, the army started marching. Ian and Liz, riding in the first carriage, were still worried after hearing the plan. They had been briefed about the plan at dawn; that is the source of their worry. The air in the mountain pass felt heavy, and they just felt like something bad was going to happen.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Liz whispered to Ian. "I feel like we're being watched." Dred caught the discussion and said,
"This is part of the plan. Just stick to the plan." He said with a low and determined voice.
Ian looked at her, then at the determined faces of the soldiers. He had noticed they were different now. They weren't a disorganized group anymore but a team. He just hoped they were ready for what was ahead.
"We have to trust the prince," he said, more to himself. "He seems to know what he's doing."
Luceran rode at the front, looking all around. He knew the trap was coming. The path got narrow, with a big cliff on each side and a tree-covered hill on the other. He gave a small signal to Commander Borrin, who told the two lieutenants in front what to do.
A moment later, a platoon of men, led by a lieutenant, broke off from the main group and ran ahead. The bandits, hiding in the trees, saw their chance. A group of archers on the cliff drew their bows, and with a sharp whistle, the bandit leader, Fang, gave the order. Rain of arrows showered the vanguards, but the volley failed to kill them, at most only managing to injure some of them. The vanguard managed to form a turtle formation on time and barricade themselves with thick wooden shields. At the same time, the rockslide was triggered. A roar of falling rocks and dirt happened, blocking the path right behind the vanguard group. The bandits, thinking they had trapped their prey, let out a loud cheer. But their celebration was short.
From the trees, the ground, and all around them, the sound of marching armies sounded. Two battalions of Luceran's men, placed perfectly on each hill, started raining down arrows and spears. The bandits were totally surprised. Panic broke out among them. They were being ambushed by the very people they were trying to ambush. As bandits, they are not trained to stay put or recover fast in this type of situation. Hence, a pandemonium happened.
Meanwhile, Luceran's main force, with the two lieutenants, came in from the side. They ran into the bandit army, a messy group of three hundred men. They were a disorganized mob, and their surprise turned into fear. The fight was a total one-sided massacre. The soldiers of Ironmarch, with their new gear and training, fought with a brutal efficiency. The bandits, who were used to fighting unprepared caravans, were no match. They were cut down without mercy. Blood covered the grass and ground.
Luceran sat on his horse, watching the battle from a distance, seeing every move. He saw how precise his men were and how disciplined they fought. It was a big difference from the chaotic fighting he saw on the other side. He watched as the bandits were slowly being cut down. He dismounted and unsheathed his sword. He then sped up to the army and slashed them one by one. A blue hue covers his sword as it slices the enemy, splattering blood on the ground as he passes every bandit. His hands clench tightly to the sword while he forcefully stops his body from shaking. The feeling of continuously killing and reaping lives is something new to him. He suddenly stops moving as the bandit in front of him falls to the ground while clenching his neck, trying to stop the bleeding. His body swayed as he looked at the fresh blood on his hands.
The two lieutenants, Karl and Dred, each fought against Fang's left and right hand. They were quite powerful despite being bandits at the peak of the Flesh Strengthening Realm. Karl, with his reflexes, faced the more aggressive of the two, while Dred, with his calm style, handled the other.
Karl dodged a clumsy swing of a bandit's axe and kicked the man's knee, making him buckle. He then did multiple quick stabs, aiming for the man's weak spots: the head, neck, and heart. The bandit, shocked by Karl's speed, could barely keep up. Karl had been at the peak of his realm for a while, but he had never fought with such fierceness. He felt every move, every punch, every kick, was filled with a new power he had never felt before. He fought like he was fighting for his life.
Dred, on the other hand, was a smart fighter. He watched his opponent's moves, waiting for a chance to strike. He blocked a strong hit from the bandit's sword and countered with a low sweep, making the bandit jump back. When he saw that the bandit was still trying to find his footing, he jumped ahead and thrust his sword forward, aiming for the man's throat. The bandit blocked it, but the force of the hit sent him stumbling back. Dred, with his calm, steady style, kept up the attack.
While his men were fighting, Fang, who is the leader, aimed for the disoriented Luceran. He charged toward Luceran, his body glowing with a reddish aura. He really had reached the Bone Tempering stage, and he was fast. Despite still trying to recover, Luceran was able to see the bandit leader was charging at him with powerful momentum. He readied himself and raised his sword to block his attack. Before Fang reached Luceran, from his side, commander Borrin delivered a powerful sweep at him.
Knowing that he couldn't reach Luceran without being critically injured, he turned his body and matched the sweep with a sword swing to the commander. A loud sound of steel clashing could be heard as swords collide.
Borrin is an experienced fighter, and he had been a Bone Tempering practitioner for a long time. He and Fang kept exchanging sword swings and sweeps, their swords clanging. The sound of their blows echoed through the valley.
Luceran watched the fight. He knew he could have helped and ended it in a few seconds. He was faster and stronger. But he also knew that this was a test, a final for Borrin and his men. This was their moment, a chance to prove themselves.
Borrin fought fiercely. He blocked a hit from Fang, then countered with a kick to the man's chest. Fang was powerful, his strikes full of the strength of his new realm. But Borrin was more experienced. He was a veteran, and he knew how to fight not only with pure raw strength but also with technique. He dodged a hit and, with a fast move, thrust forward aiming for the neck, forcing Fang's body to block or dodge.
Fang, seeing the blade coming, raised his shield to block. But Borrin's sword wasn't stopped and it pierced through the shield like it was made of butter. The sword went through the shield and into Fang's shoulder. The man fell back, a look of shocked disbelief on his face. Taking the moment of victory, Borrin followed with a slice on his neck, severing his head from his body, with his eyes still wide open.
Luceran, seeing the fight was over, rode his horse to the middle of the battlefield. The remaining bandits, their fighting spirit broken, had given up. Karl and Dred, victorious, had captured the two bandit leaders, who were now on their knees, their hands tied behind their backs.
"Stop the fight!" Luceran shouted. "Drop your weapons. Your leader is dead. Surrender or die!" He menacingly threatened.
The message was clear. They had lost. Their leader was beaten and they were surrounded by an army they had underestimated. The bandits, their eyes full of fear, threw their weapons on the ground, kneeled and put their hands on their back. The fight was over.
After the last bandit threw down his weapon, the army moved and tied their hands behind their back with tight rope. Luceran rode his horse to the center of the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the chaos.
"Commander," he called out to Borrin, his voice cutting through the quiet. "How many men did we lose?"
Borrin straightened his posture, his chest puffed out with pride. He walked toward Luceran, his face beaming. "Your Highness, we lost 78 men, and 25 were injured. The injured can still walk despite their wounds. We killed 70% of the bandit force, and the rest, along with their lieutenants, have surrendered." He finished, a triumphant smile on his face. This was a really good record for their troops.
Despite the commander's proud look, Luceran's expression didn't change. A slight frown appeared on his forehead as he thought about the numbers. 78 losses? That's quite the casualties, he thought. I thought the losses would be less than 50, even with the training and counter ambush.'
Seeing the prince's disappointment, Borrin's smile faded a little. "Your Highness, losing less than a fifth of our force is already an amazing record for these troops," he said, trying to make him feel better.
"Never mind," Luceran replied flatly. "Pick up the bodies of our fallen soldiers. Pile the bodies of the bandits and burn the corpses and take their armor and weapons that are still usable. You take a platoon of men and follow me to their fortress."
They went to the hidden cave entrance and cleaned the entire fortress. The cave was only defended by a group of bandits, they made quick work of the bandits who were guarding the fortress. Inside, the soldiers quickly searched the place, taking anything of value. They freed the three captured scouts, who were still tied up and gagged, and they also found a small group of villagers who had been kidnapped for money.
Luceran spoke to the villagers, his tone gentle. "You are free to go. We have cleared the mountain pass of all bandits. If you are from Ironmarch, you can travel with us. If not, you are also free to go your own way. The mountain is safe now."
Some of the villagers, tired and scared, decided to stay with the Luceran, while others, relieved to be free, chose to go their own way.
As the soldiers finished their search, they brought out a few big chests. They had found three heavy chests full of gold coins and a bunch of old iron swords and shields. The equipment was old and not well-kept, but it was still usable and a big find for a small army. They showed the chests and the equipment to the prince.
Luceran looked at the loot with a cold, analytical eye. "At least we get something for our hard work. How many gold coins are in the chests?" he asked Borrin.
Borrin, his smile now back on his face, took a quick look inside. "There are 731 gold coins inside, Your Highness!" he reported happily. "We can also sell the usable swords and shields to Ian." He looked at the prince, hoping to impress him with his business idea.
"Good. Pack everything up, and let's go back to the caravan," Luceran said. He turned and started to walk away, a satisfied look on his face. The losses were sad, but they were a necessary sacrifice for a bigger cause. The soldiers had proven their success in the battle, and the prince had proven his strategic mind.
The trip back through the mountain pass was a different experience. The constant fear of a trap was gone, replaced by a feeling of relief and success. The bandits were now their prisoners, proof of their new strength. The soldiers marched with their heads held high, no longer an ordinary army but a veteran force. Luceran rode in front with Ian, Liz, and Commander Borrin. Their talk, once formal and tense, had now become more relaxed.
"Mr. Ian," Borrin breaks the ice by asking something, "If you don't mind me asking, you said that you went to the Eastern Land of Primordia to conduct business with the Three Kingdoms Alliance, right?"
"Yes, commander." Ian replied
"What does the Eastern Land look like? Also, what is the Three Kingdom Alliance? Forgive my ignorance; I have never set foot outside of Northern Land. Not to mention the Northern Land, I have never even set my foot out of Kyros Divine Empire." He said embarrassedly.
"It is fine. The Eastern Land, huh… there are many factions there. The leading faction is the Three Kingdom Alliance, they are Ravaryn Kingdom, Eldara Kingdom, and Tharkun Kingdom. They are an alliance of three races, the human, elves, and dwarves." He explained carefully.
Listening to his explanation, the lieutenants can't help but listen. While Liz also jumped in the discussion.
"The other factions are the Black Tower and Golden Pavilion. The Black Tower is the head of all mercenary groups. They have the power to promote or demote mercenary groups." Liz elaborated more information for the commander, lieutenants, and the surrounding soldiers who are listening.
The talk fell into a comfortable silence, each of them processing the new information they just got.
The journey continued until the dangerous peaks of the mountains gave way to rolling hills and green valleys. In the distance, the first signs of a town appeared.
Luceran looked at Ian. "The nearest village is Oaktree Village, if I remember correctly. Once we get there, our business is done."
Ian nodded. "Yes, Your Highness." He looked toward the distant village with relief. "Our trade route is now safe. I am in your debt."
Time passed quickly. Soon, they saw the wooden wall of the village grew bigger as they got closer. Luceran stopped the army. "Our escort ends here," he said, turning to Ian.
Ian got off his horse and bowed deeply. "Thank you for escorting us, Your Highness. I trust that we will meet again in the future," he said, his words full of the promise of future investments and political favors.
Luceran's expression was calm, a faint smile on his lips. "Of course, Ian. Make sure to visit Ironmarch soon." He then turned to Commander Borrin. "Let's go back to Ironmarch. We have a lot of work to do."