by Jackson Bale
“Ferran,---you---are---a---good---soul---and---only---joined---us---to---keep---the---number---of---dead---and---injured---down.---But---I---fear---that---if---we---wait---now,---then,---even---more,---will---die.---We---have---several---more---[Herdmasters]---leading---a---large---force---to---our---location---to---join---us.---They---will---be---here---within---a---couple---of---days.---And---I---fear---that---the---same---number---of---wounded---and---dead---will---repeat---themselves.”
“There---are---more?---It---isn't---just---us?”---Ferran---asks,---wide-eyed.
Heliotrope---nods,---“Indeed,---many---[Herdmasters]---are---coming---with---their---combatants---to---join---ours.---Several---thousand---in---fact.---It---seems---that---not---all---[Herdmasters]---are---willing---to---wait---for---the---[Speaker]---to---create---a---meeting.”
“I…---I---see,”---Ferran---voices,---resigned.---“If---we---must---attack---now---to---save---lives,---then---I---will---agree.”
“I---still---don't---like---the---fact---that---we---have---to---attack---at---night.---I---fucking---hate---the---night.”---Gordon---exclaims,---pawing---the---ground---in---annoyance,---“Can---we---not---wait---till---the---morning.---With---light?”
“There---archers---cant---hit---us---that---well---during---the---night.”
All---eyes---quickly---turn---to---the---speaker.---To---Arron.
“Um,---hitting---a---moving---target---during---the---night,especially---if---they---aren't---grouped---up,---is---very---difficult---to---do---for---the---average---[Archer].---We---should---be---able---to---decrease---losses---by---a---significant---number---this---way.”
Silence---quickly---passes---as---they---stare---at---the---young---man.---At---Arran,---who---fidgets---at---there---gaze.
“Fine,---if---we---need---to---fucking---attack---now,---then---I---will---join,”---Gordon---exclaims,---seething---with---annoyance---and---anger.”
“I---will---join---as---well.”
“Same---here”
And---like---that,---the---[Herdmasters]---go---one---by---one,---agreeing---to---the---assault.
Heliotrope---claps---his---hands---together---after---the---last---[Herdmaster]---has---agreed.
“Then---it---is---settled,---we---will---be---charging---towards---their---gates---within---the---hour.---Prepare---your---troops,---and---this---time---do---not---keep---your---elites---back.---We---are---going---to---need---them.”---Heliotrope---exclaims.
The---[Herdmasters]---nod---and---disperse---to---give---orders---to---their---herds.---They---run---to---there---specific---camp,---yelling---orders.---Telling---them---to---arm---themselves.---The---usual.
Heliotrope---turns---and---looks---to---Arron.
“Arron.”
The---boy---fidgets,---scared,---and---then---turns---around,---his---eyes,---fearfully---staring---at---Heliotrope.
The---centaur---smiles.
“You---did---a---great---job---there---kid.---It---is---thanks---to---you---that---so---many---more---lives---will---be---saved---and---this---treachery---of---Dragken’s---will---come---to---light.”
Arron---frowns,---“Um,---are---you---sure?---What---if---it---is---true?---That---he---had---found---the---kitsune---Patriarch?”---he---asks,---remembering---the---letters---sent---out,---asking---for---an---army---and---informing---that---the---fated---Kitsune---patriarch---would---show---up.
Heliotrope---rolls---his---eyes.---“Clearly---lies.---Remember---that---letter---he---sent.---He---also---stated---that---over---a---hundred---centaurs---had---died,---supposedly---fighting---the---dungeon---boss.---It---is---clearly---a---lie.---Dragken---made---a---mistake,---got---so---many---killed,---and---is---now---trying---to---make---up---some---complicated---excuse.---It---is---a---lie---and---you---shouldn't---listen---to---it.”
“I-i---see.---Thank---you---for---that.”---Arron---voices,---his---expression---calming,---”I---wasn't---sure,---but---it---makes---so---much---sense---now.”
Heliotrope---nods.
“Always---remember---to---never---believe---what---you---are---told.---Lies---are---prevalent---and---can---be---very---deadly.---Especially---this---one.---All---those---men---in---the---city,”---he---shakes---his---head,---“are---going---to---die---over---that---man's---lies.---I---just---hope---enough---surrender---before---too---many---are---killed.”
“Y-yeah.---I---hope---so---too.”
“Now---then---Arron,---take---a---quick---rest---and---join---me---later---before---the---battle.---Your---ability---to---sense---skills---will---hopefully---help---us---reduce---the---number---that---gets---killed.”
“I-I---will.---And---thank---you,---for---listening---to---me.”
“Anytime---lad.”
Heliotrope---turns---and---gallops---towards---his---troops.---Arron---watches---him---leave---for---a---couple---of---seconds---before---turning---around---and---heading---towards---his---tent.
“Heh,---idiots,---all---of---them.”
The---young---man's---posture---straightens,---eyes---become---confident,---fierce.---A---smile---forms---on---his---lips,---teeth---showing.
Lies---he---says.---It's---pretty---clear---to---me---that---you---don't---actually---care---about---the---lives---that---will---be---lost.---If---my---guess---is---right,---which---it---probably---is,---then---all---he---wants---to---do---is---get---Dragken’s---position.---He---has---been---trying---for---the---past---decade---anyhow.
Arron---turns---his---head,---gazing---at---the---city---of---Tradefoot,---calculating---quickly.
Considering---the---skills---used---earlier---and---the---fact---that---the---leader---is---Doreson,---a---[Tactician---Captain],---it---would---make---sense---that---those---sixty-something---skills---used---were---only---a---fraction---of---what---that---force---can---muster.
Arron---chuckles---as---he---walks---into---the---darkness---of---the---night,---hoping---that---he---will---level---considering---the---manipulation---he---had---pulled---off.---After---all,---he---just---tricked---an---entire---army---to---commit---suicide.
“Mmmm,---I---wonder---what---skill---I---will---get---if---I---hit---level---ninety.”
Chapter---Forty---Four:---Making---An---Entrance
It---was---night,---slightly---breezy,---slightly---cold,---and---Oregan,---a---[Guardian---Lieutenant]---was---unable---to---sleep.---Yes,---the---battle---earlier---had---been---a---resounding---success.---The---enemy---was---so---mismanaged---that---he---had---merely---stood---at---the---front---of---the---[Soldiers],---watching---the---massacre---without---needing---to---do---anything---else.---He---had---been---prepared---to---use---any---number---of---skills---to---stop---their---charge---or---at---least---slow---them---down.
But---his---services---were---not---needed,---and---the---[Tactician---Captain]---had---told---most---of---the---[Soldiers]---to---rest.
And---that's---where---the---problem---came---in.---He---is---too---wound---up---to---rest.---Without---any---way---to---vent---his---pent---up---anxiety,---one---of---the---only---things---he---could---do---was---sit---and---stare---at---a---wall---until---morning---came.
So---instead---he---chose---to---walk---around---the---city,---thinking---about---the---letter---he---had---received.---Well,---the---letter---most---if---not---all---[Captains]---and---many---others---had---received.---Dragken---requests---their---aid---and---they---had---come.---because---it---was---him.---Because---he---asked.
But---Oregan---wouldn't---have---come---only---because---Dragken---asked.---Yes,---the---[Heavy---Halberdier]---is---respected,---but---mostly---by---the---[Captains]---whom---many---of---the---[Soldiers]---are---following.---Oregan---is---here---because---of---the---second---part---of---the---message.---The---part---about---the---kitsune---patriarch.
Taking---a---deep---breath---of---chilled---air,---Oregan---turns---his---head---and---looks---at---his---back.---An---old---wound,---a---large---scar,---missing---hair...
“Over---fifty---years.”
That---is---how---long---he---had---been---a---co
mplete---cripple.---A---lucky---strike---had---severed---the---lower---part---of---his---spine---and---it---had---never---healed---correctly.---As---a---result---everything---behind---his---forelegs---had---been---unusable.---And---during---that---entire---time---his---wife---and---daughter---had---taken---care---of---him.---Feeding---him,---cleaning---him---every---day.---Bathing---him---when---necessary.---It---only---took---a---year---for---his---wife---to---leave---him---for---another,---but---his---daughter---had---stayed.
And---then---one---day---she---had---come.---She---had---cut---open---his---wound---again,---cast---some---form---of---healing---spell---and---like---that,---in---less---than---five---minutes---he---had---regained---the---ability---to---use---his---legs.---He---was---whole---again.
If---this---patriarch---is---actually---the---one---that---that---woman---spoke---of,---then…
*Rumble---Rumble*
Oregan---stops,---feeling---the---ground---shake.---He---looks---around---quickly,---focusing---on---the---origin---of---the---vibrations.
*Rumble,---Rumble*
He---turns,---looking---towards---the---huge---cave---opening---that---leads---to---the---second---floor.---Something---doesn't---feel---right.
“Sound---the---Alarm!---Wake---everyone---up!”---he---yells---as---he---quickly---runs---towards---a---large---home.---He---shoves---into---the---door---violently---and---breaks---the---lock---in---the---process.
“Doreson,---something---is---coming,---something---big.”
Doreson---is---dazed---for---a---moment,---before---shaking---his---head---to---clear---it---before---realizing---What---he---had---just---been---told.
“Damn.---Arm---up,---I---will---be---there---shortly,”---he---says---quickly---before---moving---to---put---on---his---armor.
Oregan---nods---and---runs---out---of---the---home,---heading---directly---to---his---own---place---of---residence,---cursing---himself---for---not---already---wearing---his---armor.
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It---doesn't---take---long---before---the---[Soldiers]---are---dressed,---armed,---and---positioned---in---a---semicircle---around---the---cave,---the---place---where---the---vibrations---are---getting---stronger.
“Greta,---can---you---see---what---is---coming?”---Doreson---asks,---staring---into---the---darkness---of---the---cave.
“A---little.---I---do---have---night---vision,---but---the---torches---are---making---it---difficult---for---the---skill---to---activate.---I---can---only---tell---that---something---is---coming,---something---big.”
Doreson---curses---under---his---breath,---unsure---of---what---to---do.---Today---is---the---day---on---which---Dragken---had---stated---he---would---be---coming---back---to---the---third---floor,---but---even---so,---it---is---not---normal---for---the---ground---to---be---trembling---like---it---is.
“Maybe…---the---patriarch---is---really---big?”
Doreson---starts---to---turn---towards---Oregan,---to---tell---him---that---that---doesn't---make---sense,---but---stops---as---he---realizes---that,---despite---how---weird---it---sounds,---it---is---an---actual---possibility.---Nobody---knows---what---the---patriarch---looks---like,---assuming---he---does---actually---exist.
Best---to---be---safe.
“Do---not---engage---unless---I---give---the---order”---he---yells.
After---making---sure---that---everyone---understands---his---instructions,---especially---the---[Archers],---he---turns---and---once---again---stares---into---the---complete---blackness---of---the---cave.---He---focuses---on---the---vibrations---as---they---increase---in---strength.
“Rumble,---Rumble,---Rumble”
The---tempo---of---the---tremblings---continues---steadily,---as---if---something---is---moving,---something---heavy.---The---pebbles---lying---on---the---ground---start---to---bounce---up,---causing---nervous---looks---to---be---exchanged---between---those---present.
And---then,---the---rumbling---stops.---There---is---a---pause.---Everyone---gazes---into---the---darkness---where---a---massive---figure---can---just---barely---be---seen.
“Well---well---well,---what---do---we---have---here.---I---was---indeed---expecting---a---welcoming---party,---though---not---one---so---well---armed.”
Everyone---had---missed---it.---The---[Soldiers],---[Lieutenants],---[Captains],---[Archers],---even---the---[Watch---Captain].---They---had---been---focused---on---the---lower---part---of---the---cave.---But---at---the---ceiling---a---spider---stands---upside---down.---It---is---a---massive---spider---whose---size---is---equivalent---to---that---of---a---house.---It---stands---still,---sticking---to---the---ceiling---while---a---humanoid---figure---stands---on---top---of---its---back,---gazing---at---everyone---below---with---glowing---purple---eyes.
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One---of---the---most---important---aspects---of---leadership---is---how---you---present---yourself,---especially---the---first---time.---What---you---wear,---how---you---introduce---yourself,---where---you---are.---All---of---those---factors---are---important---in---making---a---good---first---impression.
For---that---reason---most---leaders---would---send---someone---to---notify---the---opposing---party---of---their---arrival---before---revealing---themselves---in---a---way---that---makes---them---seem---powerful---or---great.
But---there---is---a---big---problem---with---that---practice:---it---makes---it---so---the---other---party---already---expects---your---arrival---to---be---grandiose.---And---when---it---is---expected,---the---effect---you---are---trying---to---produce---is---diminished.---Therefore,---to---truly---make---a---lasting---impression---you---have---to---get---creative.
Advanced---Analyze
I---activate---my---skill---several---times---in---quick---succession.---Without---needing---to---verbally---activate---my---skills,---I---can---use---Advanced---Analyze---several---dozen---times---a---second.---It---takes---me---about---thirty---activations---and---three---seconds---before---I---find---what---I---believe---to---be---the---leader---of---this---group,---though---it---seems---he---has---some---level---of---aura---control.
Advanced---Analyze---partially---successful
Doreson---level---111---[Tactician---Captain]
A---veteran---of---the---Herd---Wars,---Doreson---is---a---man---of---great---skill---and---planning.---He---has---successfully---combined---the---classes---of---[Tactician]---and---[Captain]---into---a---single---class---that---is---capable---of---both---leading---and---planning.
Unfortunately,---it---seems---that---my---Advanced---Analyse---skill---tends---to---give---varying---levels---of---information---depending---on---the---target.---At---least---the---guy---next---to---him---is---much---easier---to---read.
Oregan
Level---151---[Lieutenant---Guardian]]
Oregan---is---a---veteran---of---the---Herd---Wars.---During---the---final---battle.---he---was---struck---in---the---back,---causing---him---to---lose---the---ability---to---move---the---lower---half---of---his---body.---He---has---been---disabled---for---a---significant---amount---of---his---life.---Eventually,---he---was---healed---by---a---kitsune,---which---has---resulted---in---him---looking---for---a---way---to---pay---her---back.
Oregan---is---a---powerful---defensive---force---on---any---battlefield.---His---skills---focus---on---keeping---himself---and---all---those---under---his---command---alive.
Strength
61
Dexterity
41
Stamina
105
Perception
48
Endurance
65
Vitality
193
Mana
110
M/regen
.5
Affinity
0
Intelligence
82
Willpower
401
Soul
290
See---that.---So---much---more---useful.---And---considering---who---healed---him,---I---can---only--
-guess---he---plans---on---swearing---fealty---to---me.---Which---is---good,---I---need---more---overpowered---people---under---my---command.---And---no,---Zorren---doesn't---count.---The---guy---barely---follows---my---orders---anyhow.---He---is---more---of---a---guide---with---anger---issues.---A---very---overpowered---angry---guide.---Hard---to---deal---with---people---like---that---when---their---emotions---tend---to---throw---logic---out---the---window.