In just minutes, all of Vuzgal's forces were ready for battle.
“Stand down, stand down. This is a drill! Assess all units and conduct an AAR. Command staff, send reports in two hours,” Colonel Yui's voice sounded through the defensive bunker system.
Acosta sighed, looking at her people. Only a few of them, like herself, were resting. With such high body cultivation, they didn’t need much sleep.
“AAR in ten minutes. Let me get some damn coffee. Call in the company to the briefing room. Then we'll break them down into squads,” Acosta said.
The soldiers started talking with one another, smiling and grinning as the adrenaline bled off.
23
Ripple Effect
Marco clicked his tongue. His majestic horned mount moved forward from the teleportation pad and into Aberdeen city proper. Its armor matched his own: whites, golds, and blue with polished enhanced iron. There were fewer golds and whites in his guards’ armor, but it was no less effective as they pushed back others using the totem, their hands resting on their swords as they dared others to make a move with their eyes.
He stopped studying the surrounding defenses, his eyes falling on Lower Elder Kostic and the group with him.
“Master Marco of the Tolentino Clan.” Lower Elder Kostic bowed.
“Lower Elder Kostic?” Marco looked at the people with him that weren’t of the Willful Institute.
“Please let me introduce you. These are the great allies that have come to support us in removing the blight that is the Vuzgal leadership.” Lower Elder Kostic introduced them all as Marco nodded to them as their names were called out, not paying particular attention after the first few.
“They have brought supplies and fighters to join our cause,” Lower Elder Kostic informed him.
“I thank you all for your support. There are many riches to be had working together.” Marco smiled. They were all weaklings within their sects, people that could be cut away as rogues if their attack went badly. There were enough of them standing to make it look like they were, at the very least, supporting the Wilful Institute, but they just wanted Vuzgal.
More Willful Institute fighters passed through the totem behind Marco and headed into the city, a constant river heading out of Aberdeen, driving toward Vuzgal.
“I hope to see you all on the front lines, but I must take care of my soldiers first. Lower Elder Kostic, may I steal some of your time, esteemed elder?”
“Of course, young master!”
Marco extradited them both, his guards closing around Lower Elder Kostic, who pulled out his beast and mounted up.
Marco made sure no one could hear them. “What is the situation?”
“They have brought one hundred and fifty thousand people in total.”
“So, ten thousand each. While we have one hundred thousand. Enough to overwhelm our numbers and spread their losses out.”
Elder Kostic remained silent.
“What about our paths and guides?”
“They are ready and waiting to take us to Vuzgal.”
“Very well. Once we have fifty thousand gathered, we will head through the passes toward Vuzgal. Have all of our allies’ forces arrived?”
“Yes, young master.”
“Good. If they see us preparing to move, they’ll want to get ahead of us. A disagreement between our commanders will slow our deployment. Let them get ahead of us. What of the situation inside Vuzgal?”
“People are fleeing. Most of them have left already. The defenses have remained quiet. We cannot see inside, and we do not know what they are doing. The Associations have reduced their staff. Vuzgal is nothing but a ghost city.”
“Good. Make sure that all information is reported to me right away. Remain here with a force to keep us supplied. I’ll make sure that they’re strong enough to deter others.”
“Yes, master Marco.”
Marco picked up his pace, he and his soldiers leaving Elder Kostic behind.
He rode down the road, passing the marching units. A sea of fighters spread across the open land beyond the walls. Two hundred and fifty thousand to take a single city. He would make sure the other sects went first. He expected Vuzgal to put up a terrifying defense. Or he had guessed entirely wrong.
“They’ve arrived,” Elan said to Yui, Kanoa, Roska, and Chonglu. They were all standing in one of Vuzgal’s command centers.
Yui took in a breath and let it out slowly, nodding his head.
“How many?”
“Two hundred thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand at a rough estimate.”
“Two hundred thousand?” Kanoa shook his head. “They're determined, all right.”
“You might be making a wrong assumption,” Elan warned. “One hundred and fifty thousand servants, fifty thousand fighters.”
“What about the Blood Demon Sect? They didn't have that?”
“Well, the Blood Demon Sect Army left their camp followers behind. They were expecting a lightning raid and then to run away. This army is expecting to siege Vuzgal. The Willful Institute has the least amount of camp followers, showing their confidence in taking Vuzgal quickly.”
“How strong are they?”
“We expect thirty thousand Fourth Realm fighters, twelve thousand Fifth Realm fighters, eight thousand Sixth Realm fighters.”
“So, two to one to our forces?” Kanoa asked.
“Yes.”
Kanoa frowned. “Everything I know says you should have a lot more than the guy you’re attacking.”
“I don’t doubt that they will get more. They have been talking to a lot of allies,” Elan said.
“Well, then it's time to begin.” Yui looked at Roska and Kanoa. “I want your scouts at high altitude watching their every move. Roska, with the support of our close protection details and artillery companies, make them remember just what it means to attack Vuzgal.”
“Sir!” They both snapped to attention and saluted.
Yui saluted them back. “To your commands.”
They released salutes and headed off.
“Director Elan, Lord Chonglu, it is time we dealt with those traders in our city and start to expediate the evacuation of our people quietly.”
They both nodded.
“What about Rugrat?” Chonglu asked.
A smile spread across Yui’s face. “Ah, I’m sure he’ll wake up in time. If we evacuated him, there would be hell to pay. I’d rather face the Wilful Institute, alone.”
A guard barged into Evernight’s office. She had finally taken a room for herself to deal with all the operations in the First Realm. Several agents were working around her. In the middle, there was a globe showing the First Realm. A glass with formations rested on an arm circling around the globe. The scene under the glass was reflected on the large main table. Pins were added to it, reflecting on the table.
The guard rushed to Evernight’s desk and put down a report.
She picked it up, breaking the seal. She rose to her feet before she had finished reading. “The Willful Institute has started to move in the First Realm. They have been contacting the different nations and forces that surround the Beast Mountain Range. Their targets are the outposts and King’s Hill. From now on, we must assume that they know some secrets about the Beast Mountain Range.”
The intelligence agents all looked up.
She scribbled a note on a new piece of paper and handed the report and paper to an aide.
“Send this to Alva. In the meantime, I want to know which nations were contacted. What is their military strength? Bring me Aditya and Pan Kun.” Her last words were for the guard, who bowed, heading out of the office. “Well, let's get to work, shall we?”
The door to the office opened to reveal Aditya, Old Quan, and Pan Kun. Evernight bowed with the rest of the room.
“No need for that. We have a fight to plan out,” Erik said, looking at Glosil and stepping to the side.
The door closed as Glosil spoke. “We planned for this kind of atta
ck in the past. The Tiger Regiment is prepared to support the BMRA as needed. Colonel Yui has had extensive training. You would do well to listen to his advice.”
“Yes, sir,” Pan Kun saluted Commander Glosil, who returned it.
“We will go with your poison outpost trap plan,” Glosil said. “Could you explain it?”
Pan Kun nodded and turned to the table.
“The outpost trap is simple. We pull back all our non-essential forces to King’s Hill and leave fighting forces with plenty of consumables and the fastest mounts in the outposts. They will act as a rear guard and use spell scrolls and consumables to wreak as much havoc as possible on the enemy. Then they will flee the outpost. We will leave traps in the outposts to allow our people to flee.” Pan Kun drew a line down the roads to King’s Hill.
“The road traps will all be activated to make sure that the enemy does not get a clear shot at us. Forces will use the teleportation formations to attack the enemy as they enter the Beast Mountain Range.
“There are teleportation formations hidden under each of the outposts. The enemy will probably use some as their forward bases. Teams will sneak into the outposts and into the camps carrying a powerful poison. The poison is slow acting and highly infectious. It will quickly spread through the enemy camps and through their lines.” Pan Kun looked to Erik.
“The poison is something that people in the Fourth Realm would find hard to cure or treat,” Erik said. “Everyone deploying the poison will have tempered their bodies with poison and we will have an antidote in the water and food served to the general population so our people will not be affected.”
Those around the table had grim looks. It wasn’t a fair battle, nor was it honorable, but it could save their lives and the lives of those underneath them.
“It will last for three days in the open air and die out with our enemy’s forces. Any longer than that and it could spread to the rest of the First Realm and wipe out entire populations.”
Pan Kun nodded. “When they are weakened, we’ll attack their supply lines. Storage rings are a rarity in the First Realm. They’ll have a hard time supplying their armies. The BMRA will hold the Beast Mountain Range while the Alva Military head into the different kingdoms and nations that have attacked us and steal from their granaries and treasuries. It will destabilize the rulers. While through the information networks, we will increase the unease within the population, arming and supporting rebellions across the First Realm.” Pan Kun said.
“What if the Institute provides fighters that are strong enough to overpower us?” Evernight asked.
“Use tools and items to deal with them. Otherwise, the Alva Military will deal with them,” Glosil said.
“Seems that we have plenty to keep us busy,” Erik said. “I talked to Elise. She’s handling the traders through the First Realm and is meeting with as many of them as she can. The traders in the First Realm will stop trading with any of the nations that turn against us.”
Evernight took in a sharp breath. “There are some kingdoms and nations in the first realm that are wholly reliant on our trade. The impact will not be small. They’ll know something is wrong.”
“Problems?”
“No, the more war supplies we can buy now, the more expensive it will be for them to wage war.”
“Form in your squads! Two lines facing me! Move it!” Bai Ping yelled at the rabble loitering at the side of the parade ground.
They stepped onto the parade square. Their marching made Bai Ping wince nearly as much as their mismatched outfits.
“Right hand out, size off of the person beside you and in front!”
They bounced like a caterpillar, stretching out and getting into some semblance of an organized unit.
“Thank the gods we're not relying on you to do drill! Drop your arms, eyes forward!” The group looked at Bai Ping.
“I am Gunnery Sergeant Bai Ping. These are Staff Sergeants Yi and Baines. You have all tested high in your ability to fight as mages.”
Bai Ping waved the quartermasters on. The ex-traders went down the lines, checking everyone's sizes and dropping off gear at their feet.
“You are now being issued a belt, three complete uniforms—with a week’s worth of underwear—shirts and socks. You're also getting one carrier with a set of plates, boots, helmet, sound transmission device, repeater crossbow, notepad, pencils, as well as formation plates. You will be issued meals and potions upon deployment. They will all be geared toward increasing your mana regeneration. Ammunition for your repeater will be issued at the same time. You will be going into battle in the coming weeks. Everything that we do here could save your life. I do not care who you were before or what you did before. You're all soldiers in Alva's military and we have a reputation that will not fail.” Bai Ping raked them all with his eyes. “You will fight for the person beside you, those that you can't even see. Yours is not a glamorous job, but it is a necessary job and essential to winning.”
The quartermasters finished laying out the gear in front of the reservists.
“All right, grab your shit and get changed. I want you back here, formed up, in fifteen minutes.” A few started running.
“Did I tell you to move yet! Get!” Bai Ping barked.
The shame-faced members returned to the formation under his dark eyes. He checked his watch.
“Listen to orders. Follow them and you might survive. Act on your own and you will kill those beside you. Damn, I feel like you’re smarter already! Hell, I think you might not need that extra five minutes.” Bai Ping gave them a smile unique to training sergeants. “You have ten minutes. Go!”
The formation broke apart as they grabbed their gear into their storage rings and rushed toward the tents that they had been thrown up, tearing them up in an orderly way that only near-panicked soldiers could.
“Going to be a long three days,” Yi said.
“Good thing we don't need to sleep. We'll train them as much as possible.” Bai Ping sighed.
“The more they sweat, the less they bleed.” Baines sighed, showing no outward signs.
“We’ll have to make sure they’re properly hydrated. Don’t want them to become dehydrated, sweating it all out. I thought I saw a few water buffalos around. They should have somebody tempering right?” Bai Ping shared a smile with the other two. “Let's get started.”
They dispersed into the crowd, vipers filled with curses, their own brand of venom.
People started to stream out of the tent around the seven-minute mark, forming back up where they had been before.
“Get your asses moving! Have you never been dressed in your lives?”
“Get the hell out there!” The gunnery sergeants and staff sergeants hurled their own abuse getting them out. They harried the last of them out of the tents, toward the lines. Bai Ping waved the sergeants over and looked at Baines.
He nodded and met the sergeants.
“Seems some of you have forgotten how to get dressed!” Bai Ping yelled as Baines was speaking with the other sergeants.
“You have all been issued with mana-suppressing medallions. Put them on!” They pulled out the medallions, putting them around their necks.
“Check the person to your right and left to make sure it is on. Set it to fifty percent!” They adjusted the medallions.
The formations activated as they let out grunts.
It sucks having half of your mana pool and regeneration cut off, like losing a limb.
“Good, now tuck it in your shirt. I want you to do something simple. Hold out your right hand and create a flame that is ten centimeters tall.”
They conjured the flames in their hands.
“If your flame goes out, then your entire squad will have to do moving and covering in the high earth element training rooms until Staff Sergeant Yi is happy. Sergeant Yi loves long walks in the high earth mana rooms!”
A few flames quivered but didn't fall apart.
“Right turn!” The group moved somewhat sloppily
, still with flames in hand.
“All right! We're heading to camp two. Perseverance, keep pace!” Baines released the sergeants who moved around their squads.
“By the left! Left, march!”
The group started marching out of the training area.
“Left wheel!” Bai Ping said.
“Holy shit! Sergeant, did you forget what a left wheel is?” Staff Sergeant Yi jumped on a leading squad member that had fucked up.
The squad member gritted his teeth and half shut his eyes.
“You better not fucking let that flame go out! I feel a need for a nice stroll! Open your damn eyes! You good at walking blind? I didn’t know you developed your domain already! Less mana more air, dumbass.”
Yi growled as the offender adjusted, his features relaxing in surprise.
“Right wheel!” Bai Ping barked.
“Who’s a little flame?” Yi growled, the training sergeants circling as they smelled blood, yelling and seeding in corrections to form and to casting at the same time.
Holding out their flames they marched out of the parade square.
“All right! By squads, form up!” Four other squads were pulled out from the sidelines and into formation to repeat the process.
“Don't you let that flame go out, Hendricks!”
Bai Ping marched them through the streets. The staff sergeants ran ahead, blocking the cross streets so the squads could move forward unmolested. Other squads, platoons, and companies were on the move too. The totem flashed every few minutes. Alvans from across the realms returned home.
“Open the gates!” Bai Ping called out.
The gates of the base opened, revealing different stations around the first training square.
“Left wheel!” Bai Ping called out as they snaked along the inside wall.
“Right wheel!” Bai Ping yelled as they turned right. Ahead were several chairs and barbers wielding hair clippers.
“Halt!” The group came to a stop.
“Now time to get you cleaned up! While waiting you will maintain your flame. Since neither I nor the barbers trust you with a flame near anything remotely flammable, you will extinguish your flame when getting your hair cut and reignite it before returning to formation!” Bai Ping made sure his words made it into their skulls. “Good, first eight get in those chairs! Go!”
Seventh Realm Part 1: A LitRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 8) Page 28