Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  However,---the---biggest---difference---between---the---floors---is---their---size.---The---third---floor---is---over---thirty---times---larger---than---the---second.

  It’s---so---large---that---it---would---take---a---human---about---a---month---to---travel---the---distance---between---the---entrance---and---the---exit.

  It---takes---the---average---centaur---less---than---a---week.

  But---that---is---only---as---long---as---they---aren't---assaulted---by---the---various---monsters---that---roam---the---plains.

  Monsters---which---are---currently---non-existent---near---the---city---of---Tradefoot.---All---this---is---due---to---the---army---running---at---full---gallop---towards---the---city.

  “Well,---this---was---unexpected,”---Doreson---voices---as---he---stands---atop---the---battlements,---watching---the---enemy---army---charging---towards---the---gates.---They’re---wooden---gates,---but---they---still---form---a---strong---obstacle---of---thirty---feet---high.

  One---important---piece---of---information---that---he---can---glean---from---the---current---situation---is---that---the---opposing---army---is---completely---lacking---in---any---proper---leadership.---Charging---with---such---a---large---mass---of---people---towards---a---very---defensible---position---containing---over---two---hundred---[Archers]---is---outright---suicide.---Well,---normally---it---wouldn't---be---too---bad---of---a---plan---considering---the---size---of---their---army.---[Archers]---can---only---shoot---a---limited---amount---of---arrows---per---minute---after---all.

  But---[Captains],---and---especially---an---[Archer---Captain],---can---increase---that---number---significantly.

  Doreson---looks---to---the---[Archer---Captain]---and---slowly---nods.---The---[Archer---Captain]---nods---back---before---starting---to---give---orders.

  “Nock---your---arrows---on---my---signal!”---he---yells,---causing---the---[Archers]---to---nock---their---bows.

  “[Captains],---activate---your---skills!”---he---yells---again.

  And---then---it---starts,---skills---upon---skills---being---activated---in---quick---succession.

  [Volley---Formation],---[Accuracy---Stance],---[Vision---Formation],---[Speed---Draw---Stance],---[Grounded---Formation],---[Reactive---Formation]---and---many---more---skills---are---activated---by---the---captains,---each---increasing---the---strength---of---the---[Archers]---several---fold.

  But---these---are---only---[Captain]---skills.---Powerful,---but---nothing---compared---to---what---a---tier---two---[Archer---Captain]---is---able---to---use.

  Doreson---watches---the---[Archer---Captain]---as---he---draws---his---own---bow---with---over---twenty---arrows---on---the---string.

  And---then---activates---his---skill.

  “[Skill---Allocation];[Arrow---Barrage]”

  Every---[Archer]---moves---their---hands---in---sync,---grabbing---several---arrows---and---drawing---them---to---their---bows.---All---of---them---activate---the---[Archer---Captains]---skill,---mimicking---his---movements.

  A---moment---passes.---The---enemy---army---gets---into---range,---charging---towards---the---[Soldiers]---waiting---at---the---gates.---All---of---them---are---running---towards---the---enemy---for---various---reasons.---Glory,---money,---power,---and---many---others.---But---they---run,---they---charge---in---such---a---tightly---compressed---mob---that---they---wouldn't---even---be---able---to---stop---their---forward---motion---unless---they---are---willing---to---risk---being---trampled---to---death.

  Unfortunately,---it---was---those---willing---to---take---that---risk---that---had---the---highest---chance---of---survival.

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  It---first---started---with---skills---like---[Danger---Sense]---or---[Imminent---Threat]---activating,---warning---individuals---that---something---was---wrong.---They---would---look---around---for---the---cause---of---the---danger,---but---find---nothing---but---other---charging---centaurs.---Clearly,---there---was---a---threat---to---their---life,---but---where---or---what---it---was---remained---a---mystery.

  At---least---until---a---shadow---descended---on---the---charging---centaurs,---causing---all---eyes---to---look---up.---Some---started---screaming,---others---activated---defensive---skills,---but---most---just---kept---staring---up,---eyes---wide---from---shock.

  And---then---several---thousand---arrows---struck---the---army---at---once,---landing---with---such---speed---and---ferocity---that---they---rended---flesh---and---bone.

  Armor---was---ripped---apart,---centaurs---fell,---the---screams---of---pain---from---the---wounded---were---deafening.---Those---in---the---front---of---the---charge---fell---from---arrows,---those---behind---them---tripped---on---their---fallen---bodies---or---smashed---into---the---ones---who---had---abruptly---stopped---in---their---tracks.---In---the---first---ten---seconds---since---the---arrows---struck,---over---a---fifth---of---the---charging---army---had---instantly---died.---Over---a---thousand---casualties,---they---died---from---arrow---wounds---and---being---trampled---to---death---by---their---allies.---About---another---thousand---are---so---injured---that---they---are---no---longer---able---to---continue---fighting.

  But---that---was---only---in---the---first---ten---seconds.---Centaurs---who---had---escaped---the---first---volley---of---arrows---are---still---charging---forwards.---They---find---themselves---tripping---over---the---corpses---and---wounded---bodies---of---those---ahead---of---them.---And---even---if---they---manage---to---make---it---past---those---obstacles,---then---the---following---volleys---which---continue---to---rain---down---from---atop---the---wall---would---end---their---life.

  After---about---a---minute---passed---a---horn---is---blown---signaling---the---retreat,---and---the---charging---army---slows---down---before---turning---around---and---running---away.

  After---this---initial---exchange,---less---than---half---of---the---enemy---army---is---still---combat---capable.---The---rest---are---either---dead,---dying,---or---too---wounded---to---fight.---It---was---a---massacre.---The---[Soldiers]---guarding---the---gate---didn't---even---need---to---lift---a---hoof.

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  Doreson---looks---to---his---veterans.---None---of---them---are---cheering.---They---understand---that---they---had---won,---but---it---had---come---at---a---cost.---So---many---lives---wasted,---all---because---of---one---fatal---mistake:---they---had---been---ignorant.

  “Greta,---how---are---the---[Herdmasters]---reacting?”---He---asks---his---[Watch---Captain].

  “They---appear---to---be---in---shock.---They---saw---what---happened---and---seem---to---be---unable---to---comprehend---the---situation.”---Greta---answers.

  “Oh,---it---looks---like---they---are---now---yelling---at---each---other,”---she---quickly---adds.

  Doreson---squints,---barely---even---being---able---to---see---where---the---[Herdmasters]---are,---“Mhmmm,---that---is---good.---They---are---most---likely---blaming---each---other,---which---means---that---this---war---is---more---than---likely---over.---At---least---for---today.”

  He---looks---down,---finding---the---[Soldiers]---in---front---of---the---gates---standing---ready,---awaiting---further---orders.

  “Greta,---send---a---representative---to---the---enemy.---Inform---them---that---we---will---not---assault---them---if---they---want---to---retrieve---their---wounded.”

  Greta---nods---before---sprinting---down---to---relay---his---orders.

  Watching---her---leave---down---the---battlements,---Doreson---turns---and---gazes---at---the---enemy---army.---He---primarily---focuses---his---gaze---on---the---colorful---specks---which---represent---the---well---dressed---[Herdmasters].

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  “How---were---they---able---to---shoot---so---many---arrows---in---so---little---time?---This---doesn't---make---sense,---do---they---have---that---many---upgraded---classes?”---Gordon,---the---rather---cocky---and---boastful---[Herdmaster]---states---out---loud---towards---the--
-group.

  A---group---which---now---consists---of---twelve---[Herdmasters]---who---represent---a---much---diminished---army.---Eight---[Herdmasters]---have---left---the---coalition,---stating---that---this---battle---is---too---costly.---A---sentiment---which---most---others---can’t---help---but---agree---with..---Luckily,---the---ones---that---left---were---also---those---whose---soldiers---had---been---in---the---front---of---the---first---charge.

  “Indeed,---such---power,---were---we---that---unprepared?---Are---they---really---that---strong?”---Ferran---adds---his---own---voice---to---the---circle---of---[Herdmasters],---“Was---it---a---mistake---to---hold---back---our---elites---then?”

  Immediately,---the---[Herdmasters]---start---to---bicker---among---themselves---again.---Yelling,---talking---over---each---other.

  “Silence!”

  Like---a---impending---storm,---a---[Herdmaster],---one---of---the---initial---three---which---had---spoken---to---the---enemy---leaders,---yells---aloud,---his---voice---traveling---with---intent---and---skill.

  An---[Herdmaster]---exceeding---level---ninety.---A---centaur---by---the---name---of---Heliotrope.

  All---the---other---[Herdmasters]---have---gone---silent,---none---say---a---word---or---make---a---noise.

  “It---is---clear---that---we---have---made---a---grave---mistake---with---our---assumption---that---numbers---alone---will---be---enough---to---win---us---this---war,”---Heliotrope---states---aloud.

  “No---shit!”---Gordon---grumbles.---“We---had---our---hoofs---handed---to---us---with---ease---and---we---don't---even---know---why.”

  Heliotrope---nods---before---raising---his---hand---and---gesturing---towards---a---centaur---which---had---been---waiting---outside---the---circle.---The---centaur---trudges---closer,---towards---the---central---bonfire.---A---young---centaur---of---what---seems---like---he---belongs---to---a---minor---herd---considering---the---emblem---he---wears---on---his---side.

  “This---is---Arron,---a---child---of---a---veteran---who---had---fought---during---the---Herd---Wars.”---Heliotrope---introduces---to---the---[Herdmasters],---each---eyeing---the---young---man---confused.---It---is---clear---that---the---young---man---doesn't---belong---to---any---of---the---[Herdmasters]---present.

  “Arron,---please---tell---them---what---you---told---me.---They---need---to---hear---this.”

  Arron---looks---at---the---Herdmasters,---each---staring---at---him,---analyzing.---He---gulps.

  “M-my---dad---was---a---[Tactician]---directly---under---[General]---Cornelius.---He---explained---a---lot---of---things---to---me---about---armies---and---classes…---and---war.”---Arron---says,---gulping---again---at---the---glare---he---is---getting---from---some---of---the---[Herdmasters].

  “So---what!---You---think---you---fucking---know---why---we---lost?”---Gordon---voices---loudly---and---quite---angrily.---So---very---bitter---about---his---defeat.---Granted,---he---had---put---a---great---many---of---his---own---herd---in---the---front---charge,---hoping---for---them---to---earn---him---glory.---All---of---them---are---dead---now.---He---will---have---hell---to---pay---when---he---returns---home.

  “Come---now---Gordon,---if---the---young---man---has---an---explanation,---we---should---hear---him---out,”---Ferran---states---soundly.---As---one---of---the---three---largest---and---most---powerful---herds,---he---has---a---huge---say---in---what---goes---and---what---doesn't.

  Gordon---snorts---but---stays---silent.

  “Arron,---continue---please,”---Ferran---says---with---a---smile---and---nod---while---activating---his---skill---[Soothing---Voice]---which---quickly---relaxes---the---gathering,---to---an---extent.---But---more---so---for---the---nervous---young---man.

  “Well,---um,---what---makes---an---army---different---than---a---large---armed---group---is---rank---organization---and---classes---which---enforce---it,”---Arron---says,---finding---that---the---[Herdmasters]---staring---at---him---are---confused.---The---kid---continues---after---finding---that---all---are---keeping---silent.

  “I-I---will---start---from---the---beginning.”---Arron---stutters---and---takes---a---deep---breath,---wishing---he---had---his---father's---scrolls---on---hand.---It---would---have---been---so---much---easier---to---just---read---it---out---loud.

  “The---class---ranking---in---an---army---are---[Soldiers]---and---[Archers],---[Lieutenants],---[Captains],---and---then---finally---[General].---There---are---unique---classes---filled---in---like---[Spearsoldier]---or---[Swordsoldier]---but---those---are---just---specialized---[Soldiers].---What---really---matters---are---the---other---classes.”---Arron---explains,---starting---to---relax---as---he---continues---to---talk.

  “The---class---of---[Lieutenants]---can---only---be---obtained---by---a---[Soldier]---which---is---at---least---level---twenty---and---is---in---charge---of---at---least---a---group---of---ten.---They---will---then---obtain---skills---which---increase---their---capability---and---the---ability---of---about---ten---people.---The---[Captain]---class,---on---the---other---hoof,---is---formed---by---having---a---[Lieutenant]---be---in---charge---of---over---a---hundred---people---and---be---at---least---level---fifty.”

  “And---[General]?”---one---of---the---usually---silent---[Herdmasters]---asks.

  “We---don't---know.---Only---Cornelius---obtained---the---[General]---Class.---So---we---aren't---sure---what---the---requirements---are.---But---he---was---able---to---use---skills---which---affected---the---entire---army---unlike---a---[Captain]---which---can---affect---a---couple---hundred---at---most.”

  Gordon---grumbles,---“So---kid,---I---know---about---military---classes,---but---you---still---haven't---explained---how---an---army---five---times---their---size---was---so---badly---taken---down.”

  Arron---blushes---and---scratches---the---side---of---his---left---horn,---“Well,---I---am---a---level---37---[Tactician]---and---one---of---the---skills---I---have---is---[Detect---Skill].---It---lets---me---feel---when---skills---are---activated,---and---if---they---are---large---enough,---I---can---even---pinpoint---their---source.”

  “And,---um,---I---sensed---over---sixty---skills---activated---right---before---the---arrows---were---released.”

  “Sixty?”

  “That's---madness-”

  “And---the---skill's---effect---over---a---hundred-”

  “This---can't---be-”

  “Why---would---the-”

  Like---a---faucet---had---been---opened,---every---[Herdmasters]---starts---to---speak,---talking---over---each---other.---Some---yelling,---others---panicking.---It---was---clear---that---specific---knowledge---of---the---Herd---Wars---was---lost.---Information---about---heroes---and---sacrifices---were---remembered,---but---nothing---of---the---tactics,---classes,---and---other---important---details---were---necessarily---passed---down.---After---all,---such---information---is---only---good---in---times---of---war---and---large---scale---battle.---Few---found---history---truly---intriguing.

  “Silence”

  Again---Heliotropes---voice---descends---and---silences---everyone.---His---skill---strong---enough---to---penetrate---the---defenses---of---the---other---[Herdmasters].---Clearly,---his---levels---and---skills---exceed---the---other---[Herdmasters]---by---a---sizable---amount.

  “Good.---Now---then,---one---thing---Arron---here---failed---to---mention---is---that---[Captain]---rank---skills---tend---to---require---at---least---a---day---before---they---can---be---used---again.---It---is---quite---clear---that---they---had---used---all---if---not---most---of---their---skills---on---that---first---strike.”

  “So---you---want---us---to---attack---now?---Are---you---mad?”---Gordon---voices,---pointing---towards---the---sky---and---the---diminishing---light---of---the---crystal.---The---night---is---a---dangerous---time---for---a---centaur,---especially---considering---that---if---you---were---to---trip---and---fall,---breaking---a---leg---is---very---likely.

  “Gordon---is---correct---here.---Attacking---now---is---much---too---dangerous,---especially---since---there---are---so---many---bodi
es.---Heck,---our---[Healers]---can't---even---keep---up---with---the---wounded---coming---in.---And---you---want---to---risk---an---attack,---at---night?”---Ferran---voices,---rather---upset.---Already,---his---[Healers]---are---complaining---to---him---about---the---sheer---quantity---of---injured---which---are---being---taken---to---them.---They---are---upset---and---angry,---asking---why---he---would---allow---so---many---people---to---die.---They---are---asking---him,---and---now,---Ferran---is---not---sure---on---how---to---answer---them.