Chapter 340 (1/2)

Dinesh, Captain of the 23rd Squad of Donnyton, folded his arms, a headache already forming between his eyes. Of all the people to be assigned with, why did have to end up with these two…?

Kayle, who was the current leader of Squad II, holding his dual long knives, raised his voice to carry over the battlefield. “We will hit ‘em fast and escape clean, men. We need surgical precision, and a willingness to cut our losses if we get drawn in too deep. They do not tire, and we do-”

“Hmph, foolish and short sighted,” Paolo, Captain of Squad III, snorted, putting his hands on his hips, his Brawler gauntlets clacking. The flashy golden steel alloy synthesized by Sam was impressive, even when it was used in such a petty way. “We possess so much more frontal power than these schmucks. Better crush them from the front, drive them into the dirt, and never relent. That way-”

“That way you end as Captain of Squad III.” Kayle interrupted dismissively, rubbing fondly at the dinosaur leather vest he wore. It was a strange material that was scaly, yet had leathery qualities that the leather workers of Donnyton had managed to make into an absolutely glittering fusion of style and substance. “Better follow my superior tactical-”

“Lucky shot, we will see next time-”

“Kick your ass-”

“Your mouth hole will-”

Dinesh sighed again. He wasn’t worried about the two men’s Squads, they were professionals. They wouldn’t take the talk too seriously, and when they got to their business, they would slaughter the skeleton forces. What Dinesh was really worried about were the 40 or so irregulars that had been assigned to the flank with their three Squads, who seemed profoundly shocked to see the two very exalted individuals like the Captains of the II and III Squads bickering like children.

Donnyton had decided to cap the number of Squads at 50, so everyone beyond that, who wanted to fight, was considered an irregular. They had “Squads” but they were numberless Squads, nothing more than practice groups really. For a lot of these people, this would be some of their first real battlefield conditions combat. The Raid Boss groupings and the higher tiered Squads had done most of the fighting while they were marching from Donnyton.

However, Lyra had suggested an alternative plan. They couldn’t get the Skeleton Knight to commit his forces in a way they could directly smash them, so it was better to stop playing the grinding game, which the Skeleton Knight would win. Instead, they would send a force North, and bribe a Village up here with enough points in terms of resources and treasures to establish a teleportation array.

Then, they could shift their main force and march from the North. It was a happy coincidence, also predicted by Lyra, that the Wild Rider would lose and be captured. Now, as the Skeleton Knight’s forces fought to protect the group that had captured her, they had to stand their ground and take the beating from Donnyton’s Squads.

The Wild Rider was being taken through a narrow valley, and Dozer and Decklan’s Squads were hot on their tails, ripping through the defenders. Soon, if they didn’t want the Squads to catch the Wild Rider, they would be forced to commit some lieutenants to slow their advance, and Donnyton could finally draw some real blood, instead of just harvesting cannon fodder.

Helping Donnyton was the natural geography, in this case. The valley simply wasn’t wide enough to fit all of the Skeleton’s Knight’s forces. They were packed into a thin area.

However, if the skeletons flanked around the side, and started pressing from behind… even Donnyton’s Squads would be hard pressed to win in an extended conflict with the skeletons. They would just tire them out.

Not even the Ghosthound could avoid wariness.

So their group was in charge of watching the left flank, while there was another on the right. In his mind, Dinesh knew that Paolo and Kayle were actually great at working together, and they were just firing up the spirits of their Squads, as everyone was rather disappointed they hadn’t been chosen to join the main force chasing the Wild Rider. But still, did it have to be this…

“Your mother-”

“Just fuck your-”

“With my knife-”

“Toad nosed-”

...silly…?

But then, at the same time, both of them fell silent, turning. Their Squads, on unspoken command, began to check their weapons and armor. The irregulars began muttering to each other, and Dinesh opened his mouth to restore order, but Paolo’s sharp bark cut him off.

“Dinesh! Magelight high and left. As big as you can.”