214 Sword and Shield (1/2)

”Well?” I asked Nike who'd just floated down to my eye level.

”Reporting for Strategist Kitsune, Commander,” Nike said as she gave me the fairy salute.

”She's really sticking to Kitsune, huh,” I noted. ”Alright, Nike, give me the report.”

”Dean, I can't believe you were right about this,” Nike complained in Arah's voice.

”Right about what?” Aura asked.

She was in her usual spot on my right and mounted on Starlight.

”I predicted Garm might pull a fast one and send the bulk of his forces wherever I was because he would be under the assumption that you would be with me,” I answered in one quick breath.

”It's time for plan B,” Nike said in Arah's voice. ”Hold the line until Edo's forces arrive in time to flank the enemy. You'll be receiving reinforcements from the other units as planned… Message ends.”

”Nike, I need you to send my reply,” I said. ”Message, Plan B is a go… Maneuver at your discretion.”

I watched Nike zoom into the air before turning my eyes back on the three thousand enemy troops at the mouth of our path.

”So… how do you want to do this?” Aura asked.

”I'll go hold the line,” I said. ”You stay here and manage our forces. Send word to Azuma that he needs to take command of the cavalry.”

”You should be leading from here, Commander,” she reminded me.

”I can't,” I replied. ”These pilgrims won't trust a leader who hides behind them. They'll follow the guy willing to risk his life alongside them.”

I dismounted from Myth Chaser and passed her reins to Jensen. Then I accepted the kite shield he offered me.

”Tell Ty to join me upfront will you,” I said.

”Are you sure?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

”Yeah, it's about time the chosen one made use of his close-quarters training,” I chuckled.

Then I was off and moving past the lines of soldiers who made way for me, each of them looking back at their new commander with something I imagined was a mixture of expectation and worry.

I didn't know most of these people, I thought. How am I supposed to lead them?

While these worrisome thoughts crossed my mind, my feet had dragged me to our front where the heavy infantry were gathered. It was here where I heard a familiar voice call out to me.

”You're late, Commander,” said a tall blonde man with bright blue eyes and a full, shaggy beard on his face tanned face.

I stared at him. ”Ian Grimmjaw?”

My eyes went past Ian to the gathered soldiers around him.

”Armie Hammerfall, Tina Lovegood, Jasper Crank, Augie Lootmaister, Jill Valentino…” I whispered their names in surprise as I thought they'd gone with Edo's unit. ”Miko Amada, Channel Crow, Link Albuquerque, Raffy Diaz, Dario Dunkirky… aren't you Ravagers a sight for sore eyes.”

”Our squad leader asked us to watch out for his big brother while he's off the line,” Ian answered.

Behind Ian, I could see even more familiar faces popped out at me. They were all of Luca's Ravagers who didn't sacrifice their lives to rescue Luca and Azuma.

”Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys… Look on them as your own beloved sons and they will stand by you even onto death,” I recited, a grin growing on my face as renewed confidence flowed through me.

I would have to thank Luca later on for sending me such reliable backup.

”Sun Tzu?” Ian asked.

”Who else?” I asked as I hefted my shield with my left hand while my other hand raised my falchion high. ”Alright, you ravaging bastards, let's go to war!”

They all raised their weapons high and cheered along with me. And it wasn't just the Ravagers, but the pilgrims around us. They too were caught up by my morale-boosting roar. Hopefully, it would help tide us for what was to come.

We all felt the rumble beneath our feet, and I heard someone around me shout, ”Earthquake!”

But I just smiled and yelled in an even louder voice, ”Battle formation!”

I made my way to the front of the line and saw that Garm's own heavy infantry had begun their march forward in what was the standard practice for this kind of warfare.

”Just no imagination, this guy,” I said right before I glanced behind me and roared, ”I want a tight phalanx formation. No gaps!”

The Ravagers around me quickly followed my instructions. This was repeated down the lines to my left and right, a total of five hundred heavy infantry from end to end. It was just about the right size from one half of the chasm wall to the other.

”Here he comes,” Ian pointed with his spear.

A single, bulky form walked ahead of his soldiers. His greatsword was draped over his shoulders. His hair was being blown back by the wind. I had to admit, he cut an impressive figure, Great General Garm.

It didn't even surprise me that he opted to walk among his men instead of on his mount like before because I knew his very presence ahead of them was filling his men with confidence. Why else would they continue to yell, ”Garm, Garm, Garm!”

Unfortunately, Garm's swagger had the opposite effect on my soldiers who weren't Foolhardies. These pilgrims who'd never gone to war before were all starting to look very nervous.

”Those of you who don't know the drill yet,” I said as I stepped forward and out of the line. ”This is where we hold the line!”