Chapter 78 - Clash (Thank you, Hi.)

Liry didn’t dismiss the idea immediately. She took a moment to consider it, recognizing that it made sense given the circumstances. The group faced a formidable enemy, and splitting up could allow them to cover more ground and gather valuable information more efficiently.

However, as Liry considered, she couldn’t help but notice Heirina’s growing anger. It was clear that Heirina was vehemently opposed to the idea of splitting up. She believed in the strength of their bond as a group and wanted them to stay together, no matter what.

Liry understood Heirina’s perspective. Their group had been through thick and thin together, and the thought of separating, even temporarily, didn’t sit well with her. Heirina valued their unity and solidarity above all else, and the idea of breaking that bond was difficult for her to accept.

Despite Heirina’s objections, Liry continued to weigh the pros and cons of splitting up. She knew that their mission was of the utmost importance and that they needed to do whatever was necessary to succeed.

“... Someone with your skills might be able to handle things in the front lines, but I might need you all with me in case I need to pass some special orders to the rest of the army.”

“Instead of waiting for a possibility, I will be able to do a lot more in the front lines from the very beginning. If they have some sort of powerful commander, I will take his head as soon as I find him, as well.”

Heirina wanted to say that he was getting ahead of himself, but she couldn’t say that when Liry was still considering the plan. Moreover, they didn’t know how much Zelos had improved since the last time and considering the amulet that he got from Reina.

“... Can I ask what that amulet can do? Is one of the rewards from Reina, right?” 

“Yeah, it can double my stamina regeneration.”

“... All right, you can do that. However, you will have to keep your eyes on your stamina and always retreat when it reaches below the midway point. And then you can only return when it is full again.”

“No problem.”

That was a bit of a weird condition. Zelos was more than used to fighting and training when his body was suffering in agony, but maybe staying in this condition won’t be a good idea considering the enemies this time around.

After that, the talk was over, but it still looked like Heirina didn’t approve of that. While her group was supposed to follow Liry’s orders, Zelos was still acting only out of self interest and that was completely different from before and the other times he had to move away from the group. In the end, Liry explained her reasoning when the guys weren’t around.

Liry ultimately decided to let Zelos do as he wished, curious to see how events would unfold. With her decision made, the group departed toward the battlefield, but the atmosphere remained tense and somber.

Conversations were sparse, and the usual camaraderie seemed to have vanished. Edea and Irlan attempted to lighten the mood, cracking jokes and engaging in light-hearted talk, but their efforts fell flat. The weight of the impending battle and the uncertainty of Zelos’ actions hung heavily over the group, casting a shadow over their usual interactions.

As they marched onward, the tension in the air was palpable. Each member of the group was lost in their own thoughts, contemplating what was ahead and what the future held. It was a stark contrast to the usual sense of unity and purpose that defined their group. The weight of the situation seemed to crush any attempts at levity, leaving them all feeling drained and apprehensive.

One day later, the group reached their destination. When the group reached the area, they heard that the enemies were trying to expand the territory they conquered instead of solidifying their base. Thanks to that, Zelos and the others split up since Zelos is going to fight and the others are going to guard the princess. 

“That idiot…”

Heirina was fuming as she watched Zelos heading to the front lines. She believed that her group were to work together and share the victories and defeats. At the same time, by working with Heirina, they would be able to assume high ranked positions when she takes her father’s place, so there was no need to stay on the front lines all the time, but it didn’t look like Zelos cared about that at all. Irlan tried to explain things for him a bit.

“I didn’t think that Zelos could be that bloodthirsty. Well, when I see him, he is always training, so I guess it makes sense that he wants to put his training into action.”

“Let’s head to the headquarters and gather as much information as possible. All the troops should be here, so we will be forced to move soon enough, considering the behavior of the enemies.”

The group headed toward the largest tent in the camp and soon they found the captains of the clans in the area there. There are four of them since the fifth had been decimated. They soon dropped to their knees when they recognized the appearance of the princess based on what they had heard. Considering that, most people would think that Heirina’s group was rather chummy with the princess and not ina  good way.

“Please stand. We don’t have time for formalities, right? When are we going to face the enemies?” 

The captains looked at each other and hesitated. It looks like they didn’t have much time left. Still, one of them stepped forward to share their ideas. He was a tall spearman who had curly blond hair. He looked fairly young too, but the bags under his eyes made him look ten years older.

“The enemies are on the way, your Majesty. Only half a day away.”

“What are your current battle plans?” 

“We were planning to stand our ground until your arrival since the reinforcements are here to follow your orders only.”

“... We will use one third of the reinforcements and make them attack the flanks of the enemy's army as soon as the battle starts, no point in slowing things down when the enemies are close to us.”

… …

Zelos barely had time to look around where the reinforcements were before the message began to spread around. The enemies were approaching, and the soldiers were to be ready to receive them at any moment. 

In the end, Zelos went to the stable to leave Nightstorm there. He gave him two apples in order to prevent his whining, but it looked like it didn’t help that much.

“Complain as much as you want. You won’t get anymore. Things are different since you aren’t carrying any extra weight. Can’t let you get fat.”

Once again, Nightstorm voiced his discontent with the situation, his whinnies echoing through the air. But this time, Zelos paid him little heed, understanding the horse’s frustrations but also knowing that his real problems were elsewhere.

Leaving Nightstorm to his grumbling, Zelos moved ahead, determined to join the front lines of the impending battle. He felt a sense of urgency stirring within him, a desire to be right in the thick of things, where the battle would be the fiercest.

Zelos knew that it was on the front where he would truly sharpen both his body and spirit. There, amidst the clash of swords and the cries of the combatants, he would face his fears and test his resolve. It was where he belonged, where he felt most alive.

As he approached the front lines, Zelos could feel the tension in the air thickening, the sounds of battle growing louder with each step. Yet, instead of instilling fear, it only fueled his determination. With every step, he drew closer to his destination.

Zelos stopped in the middle of the first line of soldiers and then stopped there. All the soldiers around were having a hard time controlling their bodies. The enemies were insane, and that was putting it lightly. Fighting such enemies was beyond nerve wracking.

In the end, half an hour later, the sound of the wind brought to the soldiers the sound of the approach of the enemies… the soldiers gulped since that was a lot sooner than expected. Before long, Zelos saw the enemies approaching.

From what he could see, the enemies don’t fight using formations, but they still emit this massive pressure that makes the younger soldiers get tired faster, so they become extremely dangerous in long battles. 

“They look like possessed soldiers…” 

Even from a distance, thanks to the screams of the enemies, Zelos could tell that those guys were bad news. They should have marched for a couple of hours, but now they looked completely fine and full of vigor while charging toward the soldiers. Zelos could see some cavalry on the sides of the enemies. Their only goal was to prevent surprise attacks and avoid letting their targets escape.

As the enemy forces got closer, the soldiers around Zelos began to feel a cold sweat trickling down their spines. The atmosphere was tense, with an air of apprehension hanging over them like a heavy fog.

One clan in the area had already been decimated by the enemy, and the soldiers couldn’t shake the feeling that they would be next. The thought of facing the same fate sent shivers down their spines, their minds swirling with fear and uncertainty.

The specter of impending doom loomed large, casting a shadow over the soldiers’ morale. They knew that the coming battle would be a brutal and unforgiving affair, with the enemy showing no mercy to those who stood in their way.

Despite their training and discipline, the soldiers couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread creeping in. The enemy’s reputation preceded them, their ferocity and ruthlessness well-known throughout the region. It was enough to make even the bravest among them question their resolve.

“Charge! Show them hell!” 

One of the captains of the clans in the area shouted and his voice echoed throughout the entire battlefield. In response to him, all the infantry charged as well, and Zelos was among them. There wasn’t much organization on their side either… maybe it was because the last time they fought tactics didn’t work as expected.

In any case, it didn’t take long before both sides clashed. It was the first time that Zelos had seen such a crazy initial collision from both armies… the sound of metal colliding, bones breaking and the muffled sound of grunts of pain was simply something impossible to get used to.