At this time, In the inner war struggle of Turk.
In a makeshift forward base.
Sol Mesith, the lord of Insight looked at the map made of charcoal and hide, frowned deeply.
The war area has been temporarily divided into 17 different sectors, with various wooden blocks to symbolise various companies, squads and special units.
However, after much time, they have only been able to conquer five areas.
For someone who prided himself on efficiency and strategy, this was undoubtedly a disgrace!
However, this was after all his first war, he could not think of any way to break the deadlock.
This greatly frustrated him. After that much trust that the elders had placed on him! How could he fail it!
The reason why he was given the title of lord of Insight was simple and crude. He was brave, brave enough to gamble his forces on a slim chance of overwhelming victory. He was the crazy gambler who dared to use poison on his own troops in order to starve the Insic remanents that were destroying his territory.
And now, he saw such opportunity, a gamble that if succesful could make them effortlessly win this war and retreat back to Ruth without much difficulty, perfectly avoiding the approaching army of Caldan.
"Deputy, send all the reserve troops to sector 12th, they must take it no matter the cost. Also, order my honour guard to follow me to sector 12th, they need my presence there."
"But sir, that's where the lion-", The deputy swallowed his words, as he met the icy state of the lord of Insight.
He quickly left the makeshift base, relaying the commander's orders.
In a few minutes, thousands of reserves and dozens of elite honour guard were gathered, marching forward under the leadership of their supreme lord of Insight to take sector 12th.
After a few minutes of March, and a few minor skirmishes, they quickly gathered on the perimeter of sector 12th, locking their gazes on the sole defender.
Even though he was only one man, he seemed to be as tall as a mountain, and as powerful as entire battalion. His eyes reflected the approaching army, filled with rage and bloodlust. His body was battered yet it still made the army retreat a step back, not out of fear, but because he was surrounded by a powerful heat, scorching those who approached.
A name involuntarily appeared in their minds, Helios Frandel, Lord of Turk, The Mage Duke, THE LION OF CALDAN.
"Soldiers of Ruth, do not be afraid!" Their lord of Insight called,"He is but one man, as long as his body is shattered and his head hung on our spear, Caldan dogs would collapse within a minute."
"Today is a sad day, Ruth leader" Helios said calmly, "My city is breached, teetering on the brink of destruction, even if saved, it would take ages to bring it back to its former prosperity, no perhaps it would never be able to return to its former glory, remaining a desolate ruined city, ruled by a broken clan."
"Attack!" Sol shouted, as thousands of soldiers charged towards the lion of Caldan.
Helios ignored them, his eyes still locked won Sol as he raised his arms to the side, calmly continuing, "My son is dead! Can you believe that? There will be a massive power struggle in the clan for the next heir, Can you understand the grief that I may be feeling?"
Thousands of fire balls materialised above his raised hands, "Yet for some reason, I feel happy!" The fire balls shot towards the army, incinerating dozens in a instant. "For so much time, I dreaded dying as a old man, watching my body slowly withering away, But then You came! Came with a final war, with a final chance for me to once again taste the feeling of killing my Kin!"
The army kept charging, dozens dying with every step, yet steadily gaining ground under the sacrifice of their comrades.
"Tell me you bastard, CAN YOU UNDERSTAND MY JOY!!!", The first soldier finally approached Helios, only to be cut down in an instant. Yet with the first, other naturally appeared, using their lives to gamble on the slim chance of Helios being distracted, where their blade could maybe, just maybe, cut him down.
Helios started laughing in joy and madness, killing dozens in a instant. Just as he was immersed in the joy of slaughter, a thorny whip suddenly lashes out from among the soldeirs, wrapping around his hand.
"Ngh-!", Just as he was about to cut it down, a wave of dizziness appeared in his mind. 'Poison?'
He felt the whip pulling him forward, making him go through the swarm of soldiers. Cuts started appearing on his skin. Finally, he was pulled to the whip's master.
He looked with headache and blurry vision at Sol, and the whip wrapped around his horn.
"Ruth Scum you idiot, you actually dared to make me come close to you!" Helios smiled, his body erupting in a blinding light, yet Sol watched coldly with no fear of his death.
"Plan succesful." He lightly murmured. The lion of Caldan only realised at the last stage of his self destruct, what was the plan of the lord of Insight. Yet, at that time, it was too late.
The soldiers watched with grief as their commander sacrificed themselves with the enemy lord.
This was Sol's strategy. Using his death with Helios as a sacrifice.
The soldiers of Caldan would lose their morale after this, wanting to retreat.
However, the soldiers of Ruth would see this as a sacrifice, along with their culture of wanting to reclaim honour and their extreme vengeance, they would only be emboldened.
For this result, his death was acceptable.
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Author's Note
Hey guys, can you tell me how the novel is coming along?