"Keep them together!"
"There's no venom to it, so just keep the wounds pressed! Healers will be coming!"
"There's a small group on the eastern side inside the walls! They're putting up resistance and Solia's leading a charge there! Those who crave vengeance and victory, follow me!"
Talks about the various magics that filled my empire made me smile. I remembered what Cupun had said about different races and species' magics,and what Nievtala's response had been to why we were able to gain so many types ourselves.
I am the goddess of conquest. And victory. And I have had many victories. Those who I have conquered or defeated are compelled to give some measure of their divinity to me, and I have no need of their weakness, so I share it with my children.
"So what god is my sonic magic from?" I'd asked.
I didn't just defeat him, I destroyed him. So completely that the mere mention of his name is impossible.
The pride in her voice was obvious and shuddered through me. There was no doubt as to how she felt about having destroyed the originator of this magic. "Is that why so many of my [Skills] and race and [Titles] work together?"
Why do you think I declared war on him? I am not a warmonger, I am the prime example of a conqueror. I take what I want, and I make it mine. I frequently improve it when I do so. But I conquered that fool and I have created a perfect opportunity for my followers.
"And there are those who you partially defeated still had to give part of their divinity to you?"
You believe me capable of loss, little fang?
"Nothing's incapable of it." I replied.
Hmm.
Her disapproval thrummed through me, but I pushed it back. Eventually, she answered.
I have lost.
Then, her presence disappeared. Ever since, she'd been surprisingly moody, until tonight when she'd congratulated me on the hatching of my children. Now, she seemed the same as ever, though given how capricious she was, it was all in character for her. My own attention was taken up with my people, finding those whose gasps of pain were too quiet to be found by others. Under my command, dozens were recovered and brought to a central area where Sakkit and a dozen other healers tended to them.
Their healing had long since been rationed only to treat the most severe wounds, and triage was going as well as could be expected. Very few of my healers had actually gained the ability to use magic like Vefir and Sakkit, so they provided food, staunching of wounds, and diagnoses that allowed the magical healers to do their work more quickly than before. Even so, hundreds of dead Kha and Khatif bodies filled the area, not counting the several dozen fetuses that hadn't ever been given the opportunity to live. The rage built inside me once again, hoping for that cowardly, weak-minded child slaughterer to show her face. I would take the opportunity to revisit on her that suffering and much more.
"The Zaaktif has come! Listen to our goddess's voice speak!" Shraal shouted, the Unbroken Blade around him falling in line to follow what I said.
"Victory!"
"To Nievtala!"
"To the Zaaktif!"
Scattered cries of positivity filled the area but I refused to indulge in the sentiment.
"I don't have anything good to say. We were warned, and we weren't ready. We killed some of them, but who can give me an approximation of their dead?"
"Confirmed 42, estimated about 60 total."
I raised my hands. "The entirety of our Empire, nearly 4,000 strong, against less than a quarter of that. Yes, they are cowards and they assassinated those on the walls, but this isn't a fair fight! This is a people who have established themselves and hold themselves high as the hunters of Keel. Tonight, they showed that they're capable of that! Of taking this people by surprise and sacrificing a mere 60 to kill what seems to be at least five times that number! Why would we ever be satisfied with this? We've called ourselves an Empire, the second coming of the greatest people who have ever lived! And we're satisfied with a bloody battle to drive off the scattered forces of our enemies?
"No. This is unacceptable! We'll train harder, we'll fight harder, and we'll be better. We'll overcome the Misti Hawar, so find some of your fellows and heal them if possible. Collect the wounded, help the defeated and prepare to kill the aggressor. Because this is the last time I'll allow a defeat like this!"
In ironic contrast to my words, the [System] displayed that as a victory for [Pack Tactics], so I questioned the definition of "absolute rout" to the [System], but decided against continuing to question it giving me progress for free. I raised my hands, and instead of continuing to talk, turned to set about with reconstruction and recovery efforts.
[Kusi'wi POV]
"What you killed were not Keel! You idiots!"
"They'rs so much larger than the keelish, how could we be expected to think they were anything else?"
"By putting some critical thought into it? You thought some overgrown lizards were enough to terrify the world? That you could just ambush them?"
"And you all believed us, so whose fault could it really be? You simply don't want to carry any of the blame!"
Her people were at each others' throats. While this wasn't exactly according to her plans, having twisted that huge Keel's mind to worry about its young would allow her to build up their enemies in her people's eyes. As they snapped at each other and grew angrier and angrier, Kusi'wi finally spoke.
"My people. Our enemies are not here. Only we are. Do not allow for your disagreements to color the trust we can carry one for another. Instead, let us plan to deal with these monsters and reclaim our place as the saviors of this continent from the Keel scourge."
"It's your fault we lost twelve families!" They turned on her, predictably. Even though she needed to fight to keep her patience, the Nyust'taa managed to. Then, she snarled and forced the assembled families and heads alike to listen. Once they did, she spoke again.
"Yes. I am responsible for our excursion here, am I not?"
A chorus of angry voices.
"Did I not identify a great hunt? The Great Hunt? The ancient foes? I was doubted and insulted by those who considered my command to gather and to hunt and to kill the Keel a foolish one. Now, because you few thought to twist my words against me, to find a small purchase to hold sway over me, you are angry because I was right?"
Her hunters went silent. Kusi'wi grinned widely, her fangs visible in the faint light from the moon.
"Yes. Now we listen. Now we hunt. We will gather every one of our people, and we will finally, truly be the Misti Hawar in name and deed once again."