Chapter 80 - Report

In any case, thinking about that would change nothing. Zelos had to focus on what he could do. Thanks to the battle, Zelos realized that needs to improve his technique. Using two hands would solve the trick, but he wants to think of something else. Since he can recover more stamina, he decided to use quick trust in his attacks in order to break the defenses of the enemies or push them away.

Zelos wanted to train that immediately, but he had to help the wounded that couldn’t move first. His wounds were healing quite fast and some people could see it in action as well… he probably needed to clean his wounds before they started healing, though.

“I guess I really need to work on thrust attacks, since my sword is that heavy. They will pack quite the punch and push the enemies away. The reach will be better than well… if they reach a decent level of power, perhaps I can even break shields and armor.”

Zelos couldn’t help but seriously think about that while he was cleaning himself. The refreshing feeling made him feel his head getting clear as well. His muscles were getting less sore, and his limbs were lighter. It was a good time for him to start a new training session.

Still, he recalled that he didn’t see the others fighting, so he wondered if he should check things with them just in case. 

“Nah, they can look for me. I really need this new type of attack. Attacking from two directions only is starting to get in the way when it comes to those guys. Those big swings are good, but they leave me wide open for quite a long time.”

In the end, Zelos moved to the side of the camp and then looked for a hill where he could hide on the other side and train without being bothered. Without wasting time, Zelos began to train and soon confirmed the strain that he would be putting on his shoulders… he should have trained that part more. After just a few dozen thrusts, he felt his muscles getting really sore. Still, much to his surprise, his strength increased by one point.

“I guess it is because it is a move and effort that I never tried before.”

After insisting a bit more, Zelos suddenly had inspiration for a few new moves. Considering how the enemies were troublesome, those new moves would come in handy. However, he didn’t have time to master them all.

In particular, Zelos saw the value of mastering thrust attacks. These straightforward yet effective moves can pierce through enemy defenses and deliver precise strikes. He understood that, in the chaos of battle, simplicity often reigns supreme, and a well-executed thrust can be devastating.

With this in mind, Zelos insisted on training thrust attacks relentlessly. He spent hours practicing the technique, refining his form and timing until it became almost second nature to him. He knew that by mastering this fundamental move, he could become a more efficient and effective fighter on the battlefield.

While others may be eager to try out flashy traits or experiment with new moves, Zelos remains steadfast in his focus on the basics. He understands that true mastery comes from repetition and dedication, and he is willing to put in the work to become the best fighter he can be.

“Well, aren’t you a hard worker?”

Zelos stopped his training and then looked at the top of the hill and saw a random guy there. He had two short swords at his waist, and he looked relatively unscathed, so he was either a good fighter or a coward who didn’t fight in the battle. The man had two scars on his left cheek, and he looked relatively young for those, so he probably wasn’t a coward. At the same time, he had black long hair tied up in a ponytail, but despite his looks, he had this air of authority.

“My name is Loan. I am one of the clan leaders here in the north. Nice to meet you.”

“Zelos. How can I help you?”

“You don’t look tired, and you didn’t stand out in the previous battles. Are you one of the reinforcements?”

“Something like that, anyway. Are you planning to answer my question, too, or are we going to stop this conversation right now?”

“My apologies. I was thinking of talking a bit more before going to business. You are quite strong, and you have the willpower not to be fazed by the enemy’s spirit. So, I was thinking of calling you to join my clan temporarily. I am reuniting some warriors to break through the enemies’ ranks and then cause even more damage than we did today. It will be easier if we are all in the same area covering each other.”

The idea of fighting alongside other strong warriors to defeat the enemies and spread the damage across their ranks made sense in theory. After all, it would increase their chances of victory and reduce the burden on individual fighters. However, Zelos hesitated to put too much trust in strangers.

Unlike many others, Zelos didn’t answer to any clan aside from Hei’s clan and the princess. He didn’t feel obligated to accept the offer of an alliance. While he understood the practical benefits of working together with others, he was wary of relying too heavily on people he didn’t know well.

Zelos valued his independence and autonomy. He preferred to rely on his own skills and instincts rather than place his fate in the hands of strangers. He didn’t give trust easily, especially in the midst of a chaotic battle.

At the same time, Zelos didn’t like the idea of letting the battle drag on unnecessarily. He understood the importance of swift and decisive action, especially in a conflict where every moment counted. While he didn’t want to rely on others, he also recognized that cooperation might be necessary to achieve their goals in a timely manner.

“... You can’t decide that kind of thing without the commander’s orders. She is technically my commander, even if she isn’t yours in theory.”

“That is weird. The troops working for her stayed on the sides to flank the enemies, but it looks like you are acting independently.”

“I asked her for that.”

“I see. So are you up for it as long as she accepts the idea?”

“I suppose.”

Truth be told, Zelos wanted to fight tougher enemies alone, but it didn’t look like the soldiers from Erenzis had things like generals who fought with them on the front lines. So, the best option for Zelos was to learn from other leaders a bit and then see what he could add to his own style when it came to the battlefield. He was planning to become something like a general in the future, after all. With that in mind, making some allies beyond his clan would help.

In the end, Loan left and Zelos kept training a bit more, but he stopped when he felt his grip weakening thanks to the blood in his hands. It was time for dinner, too. After cleaning himself from the sweat, Zelos went to the camp to look after Nightstorm. He could tell that his horse would nag at him for a while. When he found the animal, Zelos also found Irlan there, looking after his own horse.

“Hey, you are a bit late. Heirina and Liry were expecting your report.”

“They never said that they wanted to hear any report.”

“... I guess they thought that it would be obvious, since you are the only one among the group who saw things directly. We saw the fight from a distance and man, those guys are truly insane. We caught a glimpse of you a few times, but the chaos was just too much.”

“Indeed.”

“Are you still planning on fighting in the front lines? That guy came to us and once again, you put Heirina and Liry in a difficult spot.”

“I can’t tell how. I thought we came here to repel the enemies, not to watch the battle unfold together while holding hands.”

“Don’t be like that. We have been through a few fights together. It is a pretty good motivator to have friends that we can trust with us all the time.”

Zelos felt a frustrated sigh building up within him as he observed the attitudes of his comrades. To him, they seemed too soft, too reliant on the idea of mutual support and companionship in the harshness of the battlefield.

It bothered Zelos to see them seeking a level of support akin to what they might have had with their parents. While he understood the comfort and reassurance that camaraderie could provide, he also believed in the necessity of self-reliance and resilience in the face of adversity.

These men weren’t fighting alongside their parents, yet they seemed to yearn for a similar level of support. To Zelos, this desire for constant reassurance and reliance on others was simply insane.

In Zelos’s view, the battlefield was no place for softness or dependency. It was a brutal and unforgiving environment where only the strongest and most resilient survived. He couldn’t fathom why his comrades were so reluctant to endure the harshness of battle alone.

“Let’s go there. I want to hear your report too. You have some wounds in your body, so I will probably join the fight tomorrow. Just watching doesn’t sit with me well.”

“Don’t use me as an excuse to try to convince them.”

Once Zelos was done with Nightstorm, they went to the tent of the commander. The place once belonged to the captains of the class, but they gave that one for Liry to use and they would only use it for some meetings. When they arrived there, Edea and Heirina were guarding Liry. Kaitrine was probably out scouting.

“You are late, Zelos.”

Surprisingly, who said that was Liry. It seemed that she was finally planning to exercise her authority instead of just waiting for everyone to grant her that as befitting her status.

“I didn’t hear anything about returning here after the first Battle… commander.”

“Well, you should do that from now on, since I want to hear things from your perspective. Most of the soldiers here are pretty scared of the enemies and the captains don’t want to confirm that. What is your perspective after today’s battle?”