Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 7: Blood in the Forest, part 1.5
Spell that lowers arrows like raindrops that last up to six minutes ‒ whichever is sacrificed to create the spell is certainly not small. Xavier knows Atland. Hence he could guess at least Atland spent a third of his mana to create the spell just now.
Unfortunately for the archer, he did not allow even a single arrow to hurt his soldiers. And Xavier believes the same is true of Kanna. Then Emily..Xavier doesn't know—ia can only hope Emily doesn't do anything stupid.
Fifteen minutes later, Xavier and his soldiers reduced the number of invading Magical Beasts and made their remaining escape.
Of course it's not without pay. Magical Beast ability is indeed full of mystery and dangerous—no one expected spit some of them can donate objects. Inevitably, some of his soldiers were severely injured and were being dealt with by healing magic users among them.
Rest required. They could not continue to leave with wounded soldiers. Although death is normal on the battlefield, but avoiding the occurrence of it remains a concern. If the wounded soldier could still continue, they would also advance along with the others. However, if they are no longer able (such as losing a leg or hand), they will be centered in a safe place.
Ten minutes passed. Six soldiers were forced to be rested from continuing duty. Their upper bodies were paralyzed, exposed to the poisonous breath of the Magical Beast.
Some of the warriors who were reliable in healing magic had already tried to overcome it, but their levels were not enough to completely overcome the poison. Xavier decides to leave them in this place along with four healer magic user warriors. They he was assigned to make this place as a rescue post. Furthermore, wounded soldiers would be brought here to get treatment.
“This is a serious problem. A single life remains precious; it must be saved if it can. I must press on the commanders to form a special squad that will handle the wounded on the battlefield. Unlike the existing ones, they follow the soldiers assigned to war— instead of settling in one place and waiting for the war to be completed to save.”
Xavier felt very hypocritical at this moment. He said even one life remained precious, but he refused to use [Reverse Law] to heal them. But he is responsible for them. However, the problem is precisely he considers more important than their lives ‒ he really contradicts himself. Disgusting.
At the very least, Xavier can take comfort in his honesty with himself, rather than those who are against themselves lying. He admits himself not to be a saint; he admits to himself full of discourtesy; and it is better than those who put on a saint's face but foul smelling hands.
“I strongly support this proposal of yours, Commander. If the proposal is approved, we can fight a war with a higher chance of safety.”
Xavier nodded at the remark of one of his captains, before then ordering all of them to re-step at a high speed— as high as they could in a forest that was not free.
...* * *...
As soon as the arrows stopped coming down, Emily immediately darted to help her soldiers who were huddled against the Magical Beast. Of course it was exhausting to overcome those arrows, but it did not stop Emily from attacking the Magical Beast—or monsters in the language of children. Pink lightning splashed across the terrain, piercing and scorching the Magical Beasts who had low resistance to lightning.
That fierce and wild battle ended more than twenty minutes later ‒ Emily forced the battle to a halt using one of her strongest spells: Zeus Wrath—spell who made the lightning waves shot like a tsunami that ravaged the land.
Emily fell to her knees on one leg, her breathing stinginging. It's not alone. The three captains who were with her also looked tired, but not as tired as Emily. Given how hard they destroyed Magical Beasts, it was only natural that they were tired. Fighting against hundreds of Magical Beasts was far more difficult than fighting against dozens of thousands of warriors. Aside from strength, they also could not guess what kind of dangerous ability the Magical Beast possessed.
“Commander,” reports a soldier. “We lost 137 soldiers at the hands of Magical Beast, 121 were seriously injured, 311 were lightly injured. And, we lost 32 soldiers to those arrows. Total we lost 169 warriors.”
The resentment and anger failed to hide themselves from Emily's face. However, Emily was able to quickly calm herself down. It was frustrating to know that his attempt to overcome the arrows had failed, but there was nothing he could do to change that. This is what happened on the battlefield of—and he has been in it several times to understand.
After resting, Emily again ordered the soldiers to leave—they had a task to do.
...* * *...
A barrage of lightning lasers shot out from the cracks of so many trees, Xavier spontaneously deployed [Reverse Law] to get those lasers back where they came from. Explosions rang out in the distance a few seconds later, prompting Xavier to ask his soldiers to stop.
“Twelve Commander Xavier von Hernandez.”
Xavier held his lips from curving; luciel knew how to dramatize his arrival. Descended from the sky as if he was a god, then had the members of Black Shadow appear behind him…. It was no wonder his soldiers were made intimidated.
“El..and Black Shadow.” Xavier said as he took a few steps. “You will be a troublesome opponent.”
“Heard you could beat Undead Thevetat, Twelve Commander.”
Xavier let out some ruckus, before then his expression flattened with sharpened eyes. “I will overcome them all,” he said slowly with a body that was already clad in the blue Enchanted Flame Armor. “You go.”
“Commander, sir, aren't they too many?”
Xavier glanced behind him. “I won't say for a second time,” hisses.
The three captains put on a hard face, before then they went on the stage and ordered their battalions to leave.
“Oi, you think we'll let it go?”
“Hmph!” grunts Xavier, creating a black fire arena that confines him together with the members of Black Shadow and Luciel. “You have no choice,” he said flatly, and at the same time use [Reverse Law] to deter anyone from teleporting.
“Don't waste time teleporting,” said El responded to the Black Shadow's question of not being able to teleport. “Commander Xavier has prevented you from teleporting.”
“Not only are you a rotten traitor, your arrogance is still the same as before..”.
A Black Shadow captain took off his mask and jumped forward to be in front of El. Xavier had seen it, but he could not remember who the elves were.
“I hope you don't forget me, Xavier; I was the one who met you when you left Elf Kingdom for the first time.”