A week later…
Gerai's army marched steadily across the plains of Atoria, their pace strong and determined. Gerai rode at the front, while Aulora walked near the back, glancing around nervously. Her legs trembled a little from all the emotions bottled up inside her.
Nevai appeared at the leader's side, matching his stride.
"Our destination is half a day away," he said shortly. "Unfortunately, an army is heading straight for us. The numbers are four to one against us… plus the hero's party."
"I see. Tell Haien that if it comes to it, he's to take over leadership of the uprising in my place."
"Yes, sir."
"Wait, Nevai… in the worst case, take at least a handful of survivors, get out of the country, and head for the northeastern deserts. By the time this is over, Zetto should already be settled there."
"Understood. I'll keep an eye on the area and report back."
"I'm counting on you."
Nevai nodded, then vanished.
Gerai raised his hand, gesturing for the march to stop.
"We need to prepare. This will be our most important battle. Whether our plan succeeds depends on this." He looked around the area. Damn it, nothing we can use to our advantage. Just fields, valleys, and hills. Not even a damn forest for miles.
"Infantry, follow me! Archers and mages, take positions on the hills behind us!"
Gerai's army didn't have much in the way of ranged units – just a small group that barely fit on one rise. The rest were almost all foot soldiers.
Gerai and his men had just managed to take position when suddenly, the war horn of Atoria echoed across the plains. An army came charging toward them, Hiro and Marittus leading the way.
"The hero is mine," Gerai declared. "The rest of you, handle the others."
The enemy began their assault – arrows and magic rained down, and it would have torn Gerai's army apart if not for Aulora.
I don't want to hurt anyone… but at least this way, I can be useful, she thought, determination etched on her face. She wrapped the army in a barriers of flames – the same spell she had once used only for her own defense.
"Alright, now for this…", she muttered to herself, lifting her staff high.
Above, in the bright summer sky, black-and-purple fireworks erupted, confusing the soldiers of Atoria. Gerai's men seized the moment to charge the enemy.
Aulora turned her head to the side and shut her eyes.
I can't watch this. The only thing left for me to do is keep restoring their barriers, which run out every few minutes.
Haien rushed at Marittus, attacking him with his brass knuckles, but the Crusher only mocked him, parrying the strikes with his axe.
Hiro, activating his Flaming Fist, stepped up to face Gerai.
"I don't know what you're fighting for, old man," he said, looking the leader of Tiriga straight in the eye. "But I've got nothing against you. I'm just doing my job – but if you killed any innocent people along the way, I won't forgive you."
"You can be sure that we didn't," Gerai replied with a bitter smile. "May the stronger man win."
Hiro nodded, then began his charge.
*
"Your Majesty," a soldier entered the throne room, "refugees from the south are rioting, causing chaos in the city center. Patrols are trying to stop them, but minor groups of bandits are joining in ."
"Oh, so my timing was right after all," Makoto said, who was also in the throne room apart from the king's guards. "Your Majesty," he added, speaking the monarch, "for a little extra for my team's budget, I can take on the thankless job of dealing with the rebels. You've got too much to worry about already – let me handle it."
"Your Highness," one of the royal guards spoke up, "I would advise refusal – even though he's a hero, his offer seems wrong."
"Let him do as he pleases. I tried to protect those people and give them shelter, and this is how they repay me – at the worst possible moment. Let them die, a few dead poor won't make a difference. Hero Makoto, I'll reward you generously if you sort this out in less than a day."
"I'll be back in a few hours, Your Majesty," Makoto said, then turned to the soldier who'd reported: "Lead the way. From now on I'm in charge."
The knight hesitated and glanced at the king, who nodded, giving his approval for Makoto's actions once again.
Both the hero and the knight left the throne room.
"Your Highness," one of the guards spoke, "I'd like to suggest that perhaps you acted too rashl–"
"Silence."
*
Rai finished off one of the goblins, driving his sword into its skull, then parried a hit from an ogre's club. His arms shook under the pressure of a much bigger, much stronger opponent.
When Atoria's archers and mages unleashed another hail of arrows and spells, Gerai's army was once again surrounded by blazing shields that blocked any ranged attacks.
Damn. I should sneak to the back and finish off that fire mage… her magic is weirdly similar to Aulora's.
I hope they didn't hurt her, or force her to fight us. Maybe they've got someone who can steal other people's abilities? Tiriga are so devious that nothing would surprise me anymore.
I can't hold back much longer.
Alright — no more messing around.
Rai pulled his sword back and, before the ogre's club could smash his helm into his skull, leapt to the side. He was smaller, so he was faster and more agile than his opponent. Not waiting for the enemy to react, he drove his blade into the ogre's side, piercing a lung, then followed up with a thrust straight to the heart. Pulling his bloodied sword out with a look of disgust, he looked over the battlefield.
The enemy's ranged units were all grouped on one rise – maybe fifty-odd men. Their foot soldiers were too busy defending against our army, outnumbering them four to one.
Rai began to wonder if it was wise to charge straight at those ranged units alone.
His doubts vanished thanks to the roar of another Atorian horn — a sound that meant reinforcements.
*
If Gerai hadn't dismounted in time, he'd probably be dead now, crushed beneath his own horse. The leader of Tiriga had terrible luck: a magic bolt hit his horse in the split second between Aulora's barrier refreshing, leaving him vulnerable. On top of that, Hiro rushed him just as Gerai was getting back to his feet. The Tiriga leader barely blocked Hiro's strike and countered each of his attacks.
"Not bad for an old geezer. Thought I'd have an easier time," Hiro said, with a small grin.
"If they sent a hero after me, then they really had to take me seriously," Gerai replied with a bitter smile, pushing forward. Hiro barely resisted him
Then another Atorian horn sounded, and dark clouds spread across the sky. Gerai glanced sideways in fear, as if his fighting spirit had been shaken for a moment
"Retreat! Run! We're surrounded! This isn't a battle anymore – it's turning into a slaughter!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.
Hiro used Gerai's distraction to push harder. Gerai's legs were pressed so hard that they dug two small craters in the ground. His knees buckled, but he still tried to hold his ground. Then Hiro unleashed the full power of his Flaming Fist – before Gerai could react, Hiro was behind him, landing a rapid series of lightning-fast strikes that knocked him out cold.
"You've got my respect for trying to give others hope, but you really bit off more than you could chew. I don't know if what you did was brave or just plain stupid," Hiro said, watching Gerai drop unconscious from the pain. "You're lucky the king wanted you captured alive. Maybe if we'd fought by fair rules, you'd have lasted a bit longer."
He glanced at his clenched, burning fist.
Finally, I'm somebody. Finally I've got power I can actually use, something to prove my worth
But this is just the start. If I want to survive, I need to train harder to take down Zetto.
Maybe then he can drop all this revenge stuff once I win again. Yeah – that's the only way.
Hiro called over a few soldiers who had finished off the front line of rebels to help him tie up and carry the unconscious Gerai to the rear.
He looked around the battlefield for Marittus, but there was no sign of him anywhere.