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During their training, every member of the Banner of the Claw was able to advance to a tier two orange core. They were a bit stronger than most common soldiers who never broke into tier two. But they were still considered recruits and trainees.
Arlan activated his [Battle Trance] and was able to see the mercenaries would stand no chance against Trent and Dimitri. Arlan decided to listen closely as Trent responds.
“Until the Captain returns, we’re not leaving this Inn. You’ll have to stay at the other Inn on the southside of the village.” stated Trent as a mercenary approaches him. This particular burly mercenary towered over Trent at six feet.
“You pretend soldiers are all still kids. Go play soldier somewhere else. The Northstar Inn is the only place that serves beer.” stated the mercenary as he grabs Trent’s collar Dimitri immediately draws his steel blade and aims the killing end at the mercenary.
“Don’t you fucking dare raise that blade at me!” yelled the mercenary who let go of Trent and drew his sword. The other two mercenaries behind him grinned and drew their blades as well.
JD began to worry as this could get out of hand. “Arlan, we should stop this now.”
“Trust me, not yet.” responded Arlan.
These mercs were likely hired by Lord Poma. What is he up to?
In response to the weapons being drawn, Trent asks everyone to lower their weapons. But no one retracts their blades. The rest of the Banner of the Claw starts pouring out from the Inn. They drew their blades from behind Trent and Dimitri.
The mercenary in the center who had grabbed Trent, whistles loudly, and thirty more mercenaries appear from behind him with weapons drawn. Oddly enough, no village guards nearby to pacify the incident. One of the mercenaries who just appeared questions what they’re doing.
“Aye, Triton, they’re just kids. Let’s leave ‘em be.”
“Kids who need to be taught some respect. That bitch of a noble little lion hasn’t done so!” exclaimed Triton with intent.
“Attacking soldiers of House Reeve won’t go well for you.” responded Dimitri as he readies his sword.
“No one interferes, he’s mine.” said Triton as he lunged at Dimitri.
Dimitri was able to lock blades and struggles to channel his essence. Triton grins and right before he could push Dimitri back, Triton recoils. The mercenaries all let out a gasp. Dimitri was able to force Triton back when he fully channel his essence.
This frustrates Triton as he attacks over and over again only to be deflected or parried. Dimitri finds an opening and shoulder slams Triton on his ass. Trent and others cheer Dimitri on.
This was cut short by an ominous killing intent flourishing from the rear of the mercenaries. A tall bald man with a horizontal scar through his nose appeared. His figure was large enough and wore chainmail with a brown tunic underneath. He wielded a gargantuan two-handed morning star.
“B-b-boss?! We were only sparring with these disrespectful runts.” said Triton as his voice quivered.
The mercenary leader, Boss, approached Dimitri who readied himself but is faltering just as much as Triton. The pressure emitting from Boss put everyone in the area on edge.
“Triton, don’t underestimate them. Their technique is quite strong. They’ve been trained well.” said Boss.
Boss readies his two-handed mace and horizontally strikes at Dimitri with force. Dimitri attempted to deflect the blow but was sent flying into two Banner of the Claw soldiers. Trent and Erin immediately rush over to Dimitri who was now bleeding from his mouth with a small dent in his armor.
“But you lack experience and growth.” said Boss with confidence. As Boss was about to turn around, everyone in the area immediately felt a sharp stare pierce the atmosphere. Boss felt a cold sweat drop down his neck as he readied his morning star and turned back around.
“Whose there?” asked Boss.
A hazel-haired boy appears. He sports a burgundy cape with a lion’s sigil on his collar, this signified he was a Reeve and a Baron at that. The Banner of the Claw confirmed the identity by exclaiming “Captain!”
JD runs over to Dimitri and noticed that none of the injuries were serious. Everyone could feel Arlan’s presence pierce the atmosphere like Boss but at a tenfold magnitude.
Arlan’s strength had dramatically increased since his fight with the orcs. Arlan stepped before Boss who towered over the young boy. The mercenary leader was pierced by Arlan’s tremendous murderous aura. He knew Arlan was no ordinary boy.
“Your soldier initiated an attack on my soldier and yet you failed to reprimand him. Instead, you chose to keep your pride and raised your weapon against my soldier. How about this, me and you spar and if I win, you leave. If I lose, you may have our rooms at the Northstar Inn.” stated Arlan.
“Fair deal. Haha, you have no idea little runt.” said Boss as he lunged at Arlan with his morning star. The mercenary leader’s attack was a vertical overhead swing that could easily crush a skull. A loud metal clang could be heard as Boss recoiled back. Everyone in the area could not believe what they saw. Arlan had deflected the attack with his steel gauntlet.
Boss was in disbelief but the vibrations in his mace reminded him of the reality of what just happened. The giant mercenary realized his opponent was incredibly strong, so he channels all of his essence into his strength.
“The captain hasn’t even drawn his sword?!” exclaimed Dimitri to Trent.
“He won’t draw his sword unless he’s getting serious.” said Trent.
Arlan prepared a stance and activated twenty percent of his essence. He was preparing himself for the inevitable attack. Boss dashed straight towards Arlan with his mace to the side. It was in a position to swing horizontally from the side.
The young lion maintained his stance as his opponent swung out his weapon. An apparition of a bull’s head appeared at the apex of the mace. It was a Mar-tech. But Arlan has fought Lord Commander Jermaine and this attack was a quarter of what the young baron has experienced.
A loud metal thud rang out. Arlan had simply stopped the morning star with the palm of his steel gauntlet. The attack didn’t even move the young lion. Boss now felt another cold sweat go down as he could see into Arlan’s thousand-yard stare. The mercenary leader understood Arlan could easily kill him.
As the mercenary leader was still paralyzed at Arlan’s gaze, the young lion punched upwards into Boss with his right fist. The giant was sent flying back ten meters and was knocked unconscious. Blood started running down from his mouth and nose while a few teeth were missing from his mouth. It was Arlan’s victory.
The mercenary leader’s troops immediately gathered to him and dragged him off. They understood the deal and did not want to face the wrath of Arlan or their leader that the terms were not kept. Arlan’s Banner immediately cheered.
Arlan knew that this wasn’t just a simple fight in the streets. As long as Arlan appeared young, he had to earn respect and keep the trust of his men. A notorious reputation would come in handy as well.
The sun began to set so Arlan sent everyone inside to rest. The young men began to eat their fill as they spoke of the events. Some of the members began to get a little rowdy as they celebrated Dimitri’s stand with him. Arlan and JD were eating in the corner catching up as JD noticed the rambunctious group. As he stands up, Arlan signals him not to go.
“It’s alright, JD. It’s good for their morale to celebrate their wins, especially for Dimitri. It’s not just me that needed to earn respect.” said Arlan.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, they get out of hand and I’m usually the older brother that tells them to behave.” said JD as he let out a slight laugh.
Arlan smiled at the thought of JD being an older brother to the recruits. JD is currently second in command to Arlan, thus making him a senior member to the rest. This is important as the senior members are the heart of a unit.
As the night goes on, the Banner’s festivities began to die down. The troops are sent to rest for the night. An early briefing about tomorrow’s operation will happen and all troops are to attend.
Arlan had Erin, Dimitri, Trent, and JD meet him in his room to finalize what each squad would be doing. Arlan was provided a map by the Adventurer’s Guild and was able to use them to mark points of interest that will likely hold monsters.
The squad leaders and JD stood by their chairs at a table with a map with Arlan at the head. They all saluted their Captain signifying that they were ready. The young lion returned their salute and ordered them to sit.
“Now that you’re all here, we will begin this meeting. We’re going to finalize the first squad, second squad, and third squad assignments. This operation has turned from an investigation to a subjugation mission.” stated Arlan as everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Let me explain. The gremlin sightings were to fool us into thinking it’s just gremlins. Areas in this region have a monster pattern. Certain types would come and go at different times of the year. Here, the monster patterns are so random that I believe there is some kind of command structure hiding demons and only having certain ones lurk around to keep suspicions low. Their goal is to build up enough forces to attack Galdera Village.”
“Captain!” blurted out Trent, “How many do you think will come?!”
“My estimation is at least five hundred monsters will come down on this village.” answered Arlan.
“Sir, when… When will they come?” asked Erin nervously.
“If I’m correct, their attack will commence in two days at noon.” said Arlan confidently.
“Captain, I’m assuming you have a plan?” asked JD as he notices Arlan’s confidence.
“Yes, we can defeat them while they're still spread out in their nest. We’ll split up into two strike teams. I’ll be taking the first squad and Nymedes party with me while JD takes the second squad, the third squad and the Red Rose Party. I’ll strike all nests on the northwest side, and JD will strike all nests on the northeast side. We’ll regroup at the direct north at where I think some kind of command demon is.” said Arlan.
“Captain, this will be our first battle isn’t it?” asked Dimitri.
“I want you all to listen to my next words deeply. This is a real battle where there will be casualties. Your recruits will look to you for guidance. Follow your orders and fight as you’ve been trained,” said Arlan as he looks around the room, “I’ve informed the guard captain to order an evacuation if we do not return by sundown. A messenger was dispatched to Galdo City requesting reinforcements if I do not send word that our operation was successful. I hope this makes you all understand the gravity of the situation.”
“Aye, Captain!” replied all the squad leaders and JD. Arlan points out the different areas for JD’s detachment to search and all the areas that Arlan’s detachment will search. With the leadership informed, they were ready to lead their briefing the next morning.
As the meeting was adjourned, all the leaders returned to their rooms except JD.
“Arlan, how do you maintain such a calm composure? I know this isn’t your first battle but isn’t this your third?” asked JD with a puzzled look.
“JD, I’m more than meets the eye.” replied Arlan.
“Yeah, that goes without saying. But I know you’re hiding some kind of secret. Is it something that even I can’t know?” said JD as the question surprised Arlan.
“It’s… not that you can’t know. It’s more of, I don’t think you’d believe me or even comprehend it.”
“I’m willing to try. I’ve always trusted you on everything but on the eve of our first battle, it’s bothering me that I know you’re hiding a secret.”
“I see. I’ve never told anyone but I was planning to eventually tell you one day. Are you ready?” asked Arlan as JD closed the door.
“Hit me with it.”
“I’m not from this world, JD. I was a soldier from another world and during a battle, I somehow woke up in Althea with this kid's body with the pendant I showed you back from the orphanage.” said Arlan as JD’s expression doesn’t change while he listened intently.
“So what world are you from and who were you there?” asked JD.
“I’m from another version of Althea called Terra. My name there was Rove. I was raised to be a soldier from when I was young till I was twenty-six. I was the youngest general to be promoted. I’ve fought hundreds of battles and led many soldiers. I’ve killed many.” said Arlan.
“This isn’t a joke?” asked JD.
“No, it’s not.”
“This explains quite a bit. I’m really intrigued about your world though.”
“One day, I’ll tell you more about it. I do want to go home but I also care about the friends and people I’ve met here. I won’t leave Althea till I know you all can live peaceful lives.”
“Thanks, Arlan or Rove?”
“Don’t use that name ever. Arlan is fine. I’d like to keep this between us. Don’t ever tell anyone unless I deem it safe to. I still haven’t figured out who or how I was brought here.”
“So do you still have all your training from your previous life?”
“Yes, and my essence capacity seemed to have moved over as well. The only issue is that my body isn’t a twenty-six-year-old super-soldier body. I can’t handle channeling too much essence without nearly dying.”
“You seem to have no issues with fighting anyway, so I doubt that’s an issue.”
“I nearly died fighting the orcs, JD. But I have grown stronger since that encounter. If I’m not careful, I can die here. Dying here may send me back to my world but I’m not willing to take that risk. Especially since I have so much to do here before I go back.”
“I see… Thanks, Arlan. It’s a lot to take in but I trust you way more now that I know the reasoning behind your abilities.” said JD as he lets out a slight laugh.
“Get some rest, JD. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Good Night, Ar.”
“Night, JD.”
The young lion felt drained after having traveled and handled his duties. The inevitable battle played different simulations and outcomes in Arlan’s mind. He was used to this though. The young lion took off his armor and slept soundly in his clothes. He knew rest was important.
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