Chapter 1: The Half-Successful Ambush in the Untamed Valleys

The convoy trundled along the dirt road that ran parallel to the glistening waters of the Breggia River. The rhythmic clattering of wheels and the occasional whinny of horses filled the air, creating a steady, almost hypnotic, backdrop to the journey. The terrain on either side was wild and untamed, a stark reminder of the dangers lurking beyond Helvetia's borders. The convoy was heading towards the Beast Glades, where the Crafter family's secret estate was nestled, far from any human habitation due to the dangerous mana beasts that roamed these lands.

Young Arc Crafter, Riding in one of the carriages, grew weary of the unchanging scenery. The monotonous landscape, though beautiful, had lost its charm after hours of travel. He sifted through his father's belongings scattered throughout the carriage. The elder Crafter's personal effects were distributed among several carriages, a testament to the man's wide-ranging interests. Books, maps, weapons, and artefacts filled the space, each item telling a tale of its Own.

Arc's curiosity eventually led him to an old journal. The journal no doubt belonged to his father despite its rather old appearance. Arc concluded this because most items in the convoy were either his father's or connected to him. The book was full of his father's meticulous notes and musings. The leather cover was worn and cracked, the pages yellowed with age. As he paged through the worn, leather-bound book, he uncovered the story of Michael Crafter, the valiant Majin General, and the fateful battle against the Demon King.

Arc's fingers traced the words of his father's research, absorbing the wisdom and mysteries stored within. His father's legacy weighed heavily on him, driving his thirst for answers and purpose. A profound silence enveloped the carriage, and the world beyond seemed to blur as he delved deeper into the past. The young Crafter felt a mixture of pride and sorrow as he read about his father's heroic deeds and the sacrifices he had made.

Just as the young lad became engrossed in his father's exploits, the convoy came to an Abrupt Halt. The sudden jolt shook Arc from his reverie, and he stepped out of the carriage to investigate the cause. Making his way to the front where Captain Stross Burg was barking orders.

"What's going on, Captain?" Arc asked, peering over Captain Stross Burg's shoulder. His voice held a note of concern, his eyes scanning the scene ahead.

Stross Burg pointed ahead, his weathered face etched with concern. "Landslide, young master. The path is blocked."

Arc squinted at the obstructed road. They were on a mountain pass, with a higher elevation on their left and a steep slope leading to the Breggia River on their right. Beyond the river, another mountain mirrored their terrain. The space between the hills was narrow, and a landslide had created a formidable obstacle. Large boulders and debris littered the path, making it impassable.

"How long until we can clear it?" Arc inquired, feeling a twinge of impatience. The thought of being delayed frustrated him, and he could sense the unease among the convoy members.

Stross Burg hesitated, then replied, "Shouldn't be too long, young master."

Arc wasn't entirely satisfied with the vague estimate, but before he could press further, Disaster Struck. Another rockslide crashed down upon the rear of the convoy. The ground shook violently, and the noise was deafening. Some carriages on the rear side tumbled off the cliff, and panic spread among the soldiers. The scene was chaotic, with shouts and cries filling the air.

Stross Burg and Arc rushed to assess the situation. Amidst the chaos, a volley of magical spells descended from the sky, catching the defenders off guard. The spells rained down, indiscriminately killing and injuring many. The sky above was lit with bursts of mana energy, creating a deadly spectacle. Stross Burg erected a magic barrier in the nick of time, shielding himself and his young master from the onslaught. The barrier shimmered with a pale blue light, absorbing the impact of the spells.

"Are you alright, young master?" Captain Stross Burg questioned in a worried tone. His eyes scanned Arc for any signs of injury.

Arc nodded, though he felt a sharp pain in his side where a stray spell had grazed him. He winced but tried to hide his discomfort. "I'm fine, Captain Stross Burg. We need to regroup and find a way out of this mess."

Taking advantage of their confusion, the ambushers launched another attack from the elevated heights, attempting to repeat a similar outcome to their First Surprise Assault. But the soldiers were alert this time. The attack did not do much damage except for pinning the men down where they were in a defensive stance. The soldiers braced for a proper defence from their right flank, not realizing their left flank was utterly unguarded. Stross Burg had just taken charge of his men, witnessing their promising response. Because most of the men were fresh recruits.

The contentment he felt was short-lived as Stross Burg realized his men had left the left flank completely unguarded. But, before Stross Burg could even order some of his men to fortify the left flank to prevent a potential pincer attack, the worst had already come to pass. A volley of spells rained down from the left side as well. To protect his troops, he raised a Large Mana barrier by himself. The barrier was Large enough to cover the entire left flank, but the mana expended by Stross Burg to perform such a heroic act was too heavy. Stross Burg managed to tank most of the spells by himself, after which he lost control of his bearings and fell, completely drained of his magic reserves. His face was pale, and sweat poured down his brow.

Arc, Who was by Lieutenant Clarissa's side, rushed towards Captain Stross Burg to drag him to safety. Lieutenant Clarissa followed the young lad, protecting him from being hit by stray spells as he was busy attempting the captain's rescue. After getting to the nearest cover, Stross Burg spoke to Clarissa in a defeated tone, "It looks like we are about to lose this fight. We don't even know the total number of men attacking us, let alone their identity. Take Master Arc to safety. I will hold them off and destroy the contents inside each carriage." His voice was strained, and his eyes were filled with determination.

After saying that, Stross Burg handed over a map to Clarissa. "Here, take this. It is the location of the nearest outpost not far from here. You two will be safe there..." Arc listened in on the conversation between Stross Burg and the Lieutenant and felt a mixture of fear and resolve.

Desperation hung in the air as the defenders fought off the attackers, and mana reserves were nearly depleted. Even their precious mana crystals were running low. Amid the chaos, the captain and the lieutenant were busy making an escape plan to take their young master away from danger while abandoning the rest. Arc knew his family well. He knew that even if he somehow managed to survive this mess, there would be hell to pay further down the road if even one of the goods in the convoy got stolen or lost.

Arc went into deep thought, "What should I do? Is there any way out?... Perhaps that might work?" A final ray of hope shone over his temples, a solid plan that could turn the tide of the battle in their favour. He mentioned his plan to Stross Burg and Clarissa, who were already busy planning for Arc's escape. "Captain, I have an idea that might have a probability of bringing us a complete victory." Arc interrupted their conversation mid-way, his voice steady and confident.

Stross Burg listened to his young master's words carefully. After hearing his thoughts, Stross Burg decided to give his idea a shot. Lieutenant Clarissa interrupted, trying to play the voice of reason, "But captain, it's too risky. What if the plan fails? This will not only endanger the young master's Life. but we might also risk losing many important artefacts and goods that are being carried by the convoy before we can manage to destroy them all, let alone bring Master Arc to safety amidst the chaos of battle as our troops, including ourselves, are barely holding ourselves in terms of mana reserves." Her tone was filled with concern. Her eyes pleaded with Stross Burg to reconsider.

However, Stross Burg overruled her and instead asked her to prepare for the execution of the said plan. "If what the young master says is true, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this plan," Stross Burg replied, his voice firm and resolute.

At this moment, Arc felt like shouting out in a loud undertone that he was helping them to save himself from his House elder's Wrath and not his loyalty to the House Crafter or Michael. But Arc restrained himself. There was neither time nor a place for an argument. Arc started to prepare the materials required for his plan. He knew that his actions could determine the fate of everyone present, and he felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

As Arc prepared, the ambushers, noticing the disturbance, increased their attack frequency. Both sides were equally weary from the prolonged battle, and the continuous use of spells had taken its toll on them. Each moment felt like an eternity. The air was thick with tension.

Through his nimble hands and sharp intellect, he prepared the experimental mana grenade launcher, Which he somehow managed to secure from the carriage in the middle of the impending chaos of battle. He knew it was risky, but it was their or rather his only hope. As he had the lieutenant lower the Shields, Arc aimed the device and fired, yet the device malfunctioned. The prototype grenade launcher broke apart in his hands, sending shrapnel flying. Arc was hit, and his right eye and significant portions of his body were injured by the explosion. The grenade was launched, but it did not connect where intended. Instead, it struck a loose rock formation above the attackers.

Although by sheer damn Luck, The resulting explosion was massive and turned the tide of the battle on Arc's side. The triggered landslide due to the explosion caused the soil, Rocks and debris to come crashing down, sweeping away the attackers in a Single, devastating wave. The ground trembled, and the air filled with dust and the sound of tumbling rocks. The defenders, forewarned by Clarissa, had rallied together and raised a collective barrier with their remaining mana reserves. The barrier shielded them from the brunt of the landslide, but it was a close call.

When the dust settled, the defenders found themselves surrounded by The remains of their Fallen Enemies and the debris from the landslide. The air was thick with the scent of victory and the acrid tang of blood. They had survived but at a Great cost.

The defenders, realizing their unexpected victory, let out a cheer. The sound echoed through the mountains, and a triumphant cry signalled their resilience. Amidst the roaring cheers, Clarissa and Captain Stross Burg searched for Arc. They found him battered and injured, shrapnel wounds covering his body. His eye was Badly damaged, and he was in a lot of pain.

Clarissa knelt beside him, her eyes filled with concern. "Young master, you did it. You saved us all," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Arc, though in immense pain, managed a weak smile. "We did it together," he replied, his speech barely audible. But as he tried to stand upright, his vision blurred, and his strength failed him.

Stross Burg, supporting himself with a makeshift crutch, looked at Arc with a hint of pride and worry. "You were brave, young master. Just hold on until the Medics arrive," he said, his voice firm despite the sines of concerns seeping out.

Arc's vision darkened, and the last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the relieved faces of his comrades and the remains of the battlefield. As he slipped into unconsciousness, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. They had won, but at what cost?...

***