by Han Yang
But I had decided to take the gamble that most of the enemies we faced wouldn’t have the wits and know how to put the clues together. The leaders might, but what could they do against a panicked mob.
The seconds ticked back as my deadline drew closer, inch by inch.
But then, as I was lifting the loudspeaker device back to my lips to call an end to the bizarre temporary truce, a voice sounded out from the forces below.
“So, you’re the great Bradley!” A cloaked figure, no different to the men and women standing awkwardly around him, stepped forward and tossed his disguise aside, revealing the one I had laid a bounty on not so long ago.
The Commander.
The de facto leader of the invaders strode out from behind the warriors he had been using as a distraction. He didn’t even show any shame for his actions in using those beneath him as a human shield, though I did note how those nearby shifted back and forth as they watched the man move into an opening in the enemy forces.
Clearly, they didn’t like his tactics any more than I had.
“So, what, going to shoot me down like a dog!?” The Commander ripped the mask from his face, revealing a scarred and withered old face. “Everyone has to meet their end sooner or later. One shot, and this whole mess will carry on! Your call, Baron Lord!”
I ground my teeth furiously as I stared down at the cocky mercenary. With the loudspeaker disabled, I slammed a fist into the wall and grumbled to myself. “Why the hell is every monstrous person an old fart? First that machine man, now this-”
The guards shot me several weird looks as they listened to my inner monologue spilling out. I did want to take down the Commander, given how much trouble he had caused me, but his arrogant warnings were on point.
If even a single shot rang out over the battlefield, it would start up the meat grinder once more, and it was clear the grinning old buggers knew that as well as I. After spending a moment to gather the remaining strands of my patience, I raised the loudspeaker and strode down the stairs, and out onto the wall.
The other defenders tried to motion for me to keep my head down, but I ignored that as I lifted the loudspeaker again and stared down at the Commander.
“It is immoral to shoot an opponent who has surrendered. I am willing to discuss terms which don’t end with the rest of you smashed and broken on the ground.” I leaned forward, as casually as I could, and rested my elbow on the edge of the wall. “Of course, if your will overrides the common will of the armies behind you, then I’ll order the bombardment to begin!”
The Commander’s confident smirk vanished as the men and women around him began to murmur amongst themselves. Though he was a legendary mercenary, the fact he was ill liked by those he led wasn’t a well-hidden fact.
Respect as a person up against confidence in their abilities, it was clear which would win over the hearts and minds of a battered and broken gathering of people.
“In addition!” I called out before the Commander could try to stir the pot again. “I promise that any who surrender will not be harmed. You will be treated as prisoners of war and will be returned to your home cities once the war declaration is removed. I will form an agreement with Hexpa as a neutral party to facilitate your safe returns.”
A double hit to the soldiers, while also sinking my teeth into the leaders of Portin and Darden. Safety and the promise to return home, two of the most important things for a defeated enemy. The mere fact I would hold a huge number of their citizens hostage would place huge pressure on Marin and Lemix.
I had only recently learned the names of the main leaders at Portin and Darden. Councils, governments, elected officials, all that political stuff was just smoke and mirrors. In truth, those two old shits were the ones who ran their cities, and the decision to strike out at Norn lay at their feet.
Others might have agreed with their decisions, but nothing would have happened if they didn’t will it to occur.
In addition, pulling Hexpa into the mix would give us some breathing room on that side of things. The amount of business such a huge transfer of people would give both our city and theirs wasn’t easy to ignore, and the leaders of Hexpa would need an extremely good reason to stay out of the mix going forward.
They were a trading hub, after all. What sort of commercial city ignored such a fat golden goose when it was presented to them on a silver platter?
“This is my final offer!” I called out after it became clear the Commander wasn’t yet ready to yield, despite the pressure he was receiving from all sides. “If you refuse to negotiate, then I would be happy to discuss this with your second in command!”
An open offer for anyone to step forward and cut off the back and forth before it could continue any further. The Commander might believe in his overly flashy appearance, but all the other soldiers were pretty much mirror images of each other.
Who would be able to prove which one was or wasn’t the second in command?
“I demand a duel!”
I blinked several times as the Commander’s screech yell rang out across the battlefield. The old man was blatantly clutching at straws, and those around him seemed on the verge of snapping, but I couldn’t just ignore the threat he still posed.
Even though it was obvious the sheer numbers around him would eventually overwhelm him, the conflict he caused during his dying moments might be enough to spark the fire of war once more.
And, from what little I knew of the vindictive mercenary lord, it wasn’t hard to guess that he would feel like he had won at that point, even if it cost him what little remained of his life.
The Commander rammed a soldier away who was trying to persuade him to calm down before he rudely thrust his finger up at me. “Unless you’re too much of a coward to -”
“I accept.”
My calm response cut the legendary mercenary off mid flow. I had seen through his final gambit, and thus played the only card I had left in my hand. If I had refused the duel, the Commander would use my cowardice to stir up more resentment.
‘How dare someone so weak and fearful think he can stop us!’ Or something along those lines.
On the other hand, ordering him to be silenced for his absurd behavior would again threaten the fragile balance I had managed to create.
No. The only option was to face him one on one.
I checked Darcy Sr. and, after noting how she only had around twenty percent charge left, I felt a weight lift off my chest. The chances of me winning this stupid little duel had just jumped from the single digits to above a fifty-fifty chance, and I’d already rolled the lucky dice on more than one of those already.
What was another roll, right?
“Seeing as you challenged me, I will set the terms.” I waved down at the Commander, who had yet to fully process how easy it had been for him to achieve his aim. “The duel will take place in five minutes atop the nearest watchtower. We fight with what we bring, the victor will be the last man standing.”
I cut off the loudspeaker as Joanna rushed toward me. Fury and concern fought for dominance across her features before she finally gave up on her internal struggle and leaped forward into my arms.
“Why!” Her fists whacked into my chest angrily as she buried her face in my shirt. “Why do ya always do this!? He’s one of the greatest fighters ever! You’ll-”
“Win.” I gently lifted the Baroness’ chin so I could look her deep in the eyes. Though I wasn’t entirely certain of my plan, I was still at least ninety percent confident that I had a fifty percent chance of winning the duel.
If nothing else happened outside of my estimations, of course.
“I- You-” Joanna huffed angrily as she finally pushed herself away. “If you lose, then I’ll haunt you in the afterlife. Forever.”
I wanted to retort at the obvious reversal she had used, but it didn’t much matter. She had accepted my decision and, though I still felt a surge of guilt at my actions, at least the fact she seemed to understand WHY I had made the choic
e to throw myself into the fire helped immensely.
The Commander accepted the rope my guards tossed down without a word. The other ladders laid down by the invaders had all been smashed and broken, and there was no way I would allow them to place another of their contraptions on my wall.
No. Making the esteemed mercenary lord follow MY beats was far more up my street.
“Losers first.” I nodded to the short ladder set into the side of the watch tower. Though the roof had yet to be completed, the perfectly flat surface would serve as a perfect arena for our showdown.
I kind of wanted to call it a ‘final’ showdown, but this was my first time facing off against the Commander. I didn’t count the time we had let him wander past in the woods, though my decision to not take the risk to wipe him out at that point still rankled a little.
Even losing the chance to wipe out the reinforcements might have been worth the risk.
Still, the past is immutable, and the present is now.
If this war were to ever end with our victory, all I had to do was defeat one of the greatest mercenary warriors on Gearnix.
Easy, right?
Chapter 20
The Commander’s vicious glare didn’t leave my face for a moment as he tugged a brutal looking blade from the sheath on his hip. As I had expected from his reputation, the old man eschewed guns in favor of weaponry specialized for up close and personal combat.
That was half of the reason I had specified the watch tower roof for our duel.
Though the space was moderately large, it still didn’t give me all that much room to maneuver. Once the Commander closed in, any chances of me being victorious would vanish in a heartbeat as his immense skill in close quarters combat would blow aside any last-minute schemes or plans I could come up with. In fact, it was stupid - near suicidal - for me to suggest such an advantageous area for him.
And he had taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker.
I had expected him to demand our duel to take place in the cleared space at the foot of the wall. At that point, all it would take was for a few hints for the surrounding soldiers to leap on me like ravenous dogs. Hostage or sacrifice, the naming didn’t matter much to a man who found himself deep within enemy territory with no means of escape.
But clearly, the Commander didn’t see himself in that light at all.
“I thought you were wet around the ears, but now I see that you’re actually drowning where you stand.” His eyes glinted as he lovingly ran a finger along the edge of his knife. The thing buzzed to life a moment later as a large hiss of steam shot out of the handle, an obvious sign of the ridiculous power the blade held. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick.”
I ignored his provocations and glanced back down at the wall below. The guards had moved to the large warning bell above the main gate where they were waiting for my go ahead to signal the start of the duel. I kept one hand behind my back firmly clutched around my trump card as I raised my fist rolled my shoulders and flexed my neck.
As much as I wanted to keep the Commander waiting, I knew he would likely seize on any apparent hesitation in a heartbeat.
I needed to start the fight, before he figured out what I was planning.
So, without any further hesitation, I squared my shoulders and nodded.
DIIINNNGG!
The instant my guards slammed their hammers down on the bell, my opponent blasted forward. His speed, while insane compared to anything I could muster, was still within my expectations.
He wanted to close the distance and end the duel in a single exchange.
I kept one hand behind my back as I used my augmented foot to spin aside. The Commander, seeing my simple attempt to dodge his charge, yelled happily to the sky as he changed the trajectory of his sprint to match my movements.
Fast.
The edge of the arena loomed behind my feet as I scrambled back. I fought the urge to panic as the distance between me and the Commander vanished with every passing moment.
Almost… NOW!”
A split second before his blade could slice me in two, I leaped back-
Off the side of the watchtower.
The Commander’s expression turned from surprise to glee as he watched me arc out into the air, far above the cold, unyielding city street. Even a fully augmented warrior wouldn’t be able to survive such a fall, and I was nowhere near that level. He tossed his blade into the floor at his feet and raised his arms high.
“Coward-”
BOOM!
I released Darcy Sr.’s trigger, letting out the full might of her remaining charge. My augmented arm, despite how much I had tried to keep it locked in place, juddered and whined as the force of the blast lifted me up and forward-
And over the Commander’s shocked head.
Before he could fully comprehend what had just happened, I slipped my unaugmented hand into the hidden holster on my left hip and drew out the steam pistol I had stashed away since the beginning of the war.
“Wha-”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Commander tried to dodge my barrage, but even I didn’t know where each shot would land for certain. My aim had crept up, sure, but firing down at a small target while you tumbled through the air didn’t help with accuracy in the slightest.
Still, I landed a few solid hits on the Commander before I slammed back down onto the watch tower roof. The force of my flight forced me to roll several times as I tried to slow myself down before I slid off the other side.
Thankfully, I managed to screech to a halt before I unceremoniously flew right off the other side of the watch tower and down into the monster infested moat far below.
The instant I had control over my movements, I swung my gaze up and lifted my pistol toward the Commander-
Who was once more rushing in my direction?
This time he didn’t have any weapons other than fists or, more specifically, one of his fists.
It looked like one of my shots had blown his arm off at the shoulder joint.
Still, I didn’t like my chances up against a trained warrior, even unarmed and single armed as he was, but I didn’t have many other choices.
I drew the steam blade from my hip and activated it as I rose to one knee.
“You can’t beat me! I’m untouchable, invin-”
The Commander’s furious yell was cut off as I tossed my dagger directly at his chest. I wanted to watch the results, but I pulled myself away and reached down to my right hip. Though the throw wasn’t the cleanest thing ever, it still flew fast and true toward my target.
My opponent reacted well, ducking and rolling to the side as the buzzing blade skimmed past his body-
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
I unloaded every single bullet from the other hidden steam pistol while the Commander was still midair. He tried to roll to avoid the barrage but, injured as he was, he barely had time to glare in my direction before the shots impacted his chest one after the other.
A head shot might have been more effective, but I didn’t want to risk missing with my final gambit.
The bluish Hydrox powered bullets slammed into the armored sections of the Commander’s body, breaking it apart as more shots rained down into his now unprotected chest.
Blood shot into the sky as my opponent tumbled back onto the roof. With one arm missing and several holes in his chest, the results of our little duel would be clear to anyone with half a brain.
Unfortunately, the Commander didn’t seem to even have that half to spare.
“You- Little -” His voice shook as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. ”I’m going to-”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
I fired my recharged pistol again, blowing the Commander back to the ground before he could finish whatever stupid threat he wanted to say. His face whitened in fury as I loaded more Hydrox spheres into the steam pistol.
“I’ll kill you -”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
&n
bsp; “You’re dead meat -”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Please, just stop -”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
After the final series of shots, I lifted the sizzling steam pistol and blew the smoke from the barrel. The Commander (now without any limbs, armor, or power to even speak) lay at my feet in a crumpled mess. The city, along with the army at my walls, fell into a stunned silence.
I couldn’t quite believe it myself. Though I had planned the process out before the duel even started, the fact my nonsensical plan had worked out so well left me speechless. I had expected at least a few of the steps to go off course at least a bit, but no…
Instead, I stood like an avenging angel above the beaten and bloody body of one of the world’s most dangerous mercenaries.
To be fair, I didn’t quite understand why others feared him so much. Sure, his skill with his body and weaponry had been easy to gauge, but the ease with which I used his emotions and overconfidence to pull out an almost impossible victory made one thing clear.
The Commander, no matter what other people thought, was an idiot.
I strode past the barely still breathing mercenary toward the ladder down to the city wall. No one spoke a word as I slowly climbed down to the battlements and moved to take the loudspeaker from the stunned guard who had been given custody over the pricey gadget.
“Good job.” I patted the man’s shoulder before I turned to the army waiting below my walls.
It was time to settle things.
“Apologies for the delay. We can continue with the negotiations if someone is willing to act as the voice of reason?” I waited for a moment as the army shuffled about awkwardly before a single figure was awkwardly pushed to the forefront.
Perfect.
“The terms have not changed! If you wish to surrender, then say so now, or -”
“We do!” The soldier, who had likely been forcefully promoted to ‘acting warlord’ for the armies, stepped forward and raised his arms into the air. “We surrender! We give up!”
The rest of the warriors followed suit as they dropped their weapons to the floor, raised their hands into the air, and dropped to their knees. An entire army, bowing in fear to my little city. To me, technically, but I did my best to not let that get to my head.