Charge
I will win again today.
Book 5-2.1
Even the atmosphere in a place to perform rituals for the dead will not be as heavy as it is right here.
All of them were stuck in total despair that even a sigh would sound like a thunderstorm. All of them were completely shocked and could not easily speak. How could 20,000 warriors all end up as prisoners in a single battle?
In addition, because they considered the matter to be important, the two Greatest Warriors leading the quicksand brigade were two of the best Greatest Warriors the united tribe had. The three of them just could not understand how such esteemed warriors could surrender with 20,000 warriors that easily.
“I wish we at least knew what happened.”
As Nakatin heavily opened his mouth, Kupepa responded back.
“I’m sure there was something.”
Even Kinicks, who could not believe that his loyal Greatest Warrior surrendered without doing much, started to speak in a voice full of disbelief.
“It’ll be better for us to quickly forget about it.”
Kupepa felt the biggest shock as he had been the most careful in the planning process, but that was why he was also the fastest to adapt.
“There is too much to pay the ransom for the prisoners, and I doubt Pareia would agree to a ransom trade at the current situation. I think we need to discuss how to defend against Pareia with the warriors we have left.”
“It is all my fault. If I did not push us to go with this reckless plan……”
As Nakatin admitted to his rashness, Kupapa quickly responded.
“I felt the same way as you. I just did not push it forward as I happen to have a lot of fear. If I did not feel the same way, I would have objected against it until the end. I would not have agreed with Nakatin-nim if I did not feel the same way.”
“What Kupepa-nim said is right. We still have 100,000 warriors while the enemy only has 40,000.”
As Kinicks said something to energize himself, the other two people finally released their stiff expressions.
“Reporting to the Glows.”
At that moment, they heard the urgent voice of a patrol warrior outside.
The three of them looked around at each other before standing up and heading out of the paoe. What they saw was a patrol officer almost completely covered in dust.
“What is going on?”
“Pareia’s warriors have appeared at the border.”
“Their numbers?”
As Kinicks urgently asked, the patrol warrior responded with a nervous expression.
“The enemy had too many patrol warriors that we had no way to approach them. However, we were able to confirm that there was a lot of dust being created.”
“Shit.”
The three Glows clicked their tongues at the fact that the most important component, the number of enemy warriors, was missing. However, it could be said that the patrol warrior diligently completed his mission. If he had approached them, he would have lost his life for no reason.
“Can’t tell the number…… Was their vanguard separated from their main force? You should have been able to determine that much?”
“Yes. My other comrades and the other squad’s patrol warriors inspected the rear of the enemy warriors, but they could not see anyone other than the enemy patrol warriors. We presume that both the vanguard and the main force are at least a day’s distance behind them.”
“A day……”
Kupepa fell into thought for a bit at the patrol warrior’s message before turning around to ask the two other Glows.
“If they have not divided up their vanguard and main force, wouldn’t that mean that there are less than 20,000 warriors? Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to divide up some of your troops to be the vanguard if you had at least 30,000 warriors?”
“On the other hand, they might have been aiming for that and strategized. They wanted it so that we could not accurately tell their numbers.”
Nakatin continued on after Kinicks’s response.
“It is possible. Our moles could not tell the numbers because of how secretive they have been when they left Pareia. I’m not sure about what we should do.
“In the end, they will total less than 100,000 warrior. We should send 30,000 warriors to the nearest oasis to defend, while putting the rest of the warriors toward the quicksand river. What do you think?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to give up on one side and fully defend the other before counterattacking to destroy the enemy and rescue the other side?”
Nakatin offered an alternative to Kupepa’s words, but it was realistically impossible. They might be working well together as a united tribe, but if they went with this plan, Kinicks’s oasis, which was the closest oasis to the land route, would be completely eaten up.
The three Glows discussed all night to figure out the best course of action.
Normally, the desert tribes participated in an exchange of prisoners or discussed a ransom for the prisoners with each other during times of war.
With it being normal to become absorbed into the other side when you surrender and become a prisoner, you may ask ‘is there a reason to even negotiate?’ but that is only when one side absorbed an entire oasis. Would it be easy to get along with the other side when your entire family is still back with your original tribe?
That was why everyone tended to fully cooperate in negotiations for freeing prisoners.
To be honest, when the united tribe offered up questions about the ransom for the 20,000 warriors from the quicksand river who ended up as prisoners, Pareia should have agreed to a number. However, Pareia rejected it. It was because Pareia had plans on absorbing all oases in the Eastern Desert with this war. Because of that, they did not agree to negotiations for the prisoners and just sent them to different oases to live with Pareia’s warriors.
They will not become Pareia’s warriors immediately, but as time goes by, they will end up becoming Pareia’s warriors. If they manage to safely finish this war of unifying the Eastern Desert, they will officially become Pareia’s warriors.
Second month of year 259 in the continental calendar.
As 10,000 warriors led by Egane arrived at the border of the united tribe, Yulian and 30,000 warriors also arrived on land through the quicksand river.
It was the official start of the Eastern Desert wars.
“All units, attention!”
Buchord, the leader of the Desert Sword, as well as the Assistant Warrior to Venersis, the Shuarei’s overall commanding officer, shouted out loud to the group. The 40ish Greatest Warriors and lead warriors who were in the area heard the order and started to stand at attention. Once they were ready, a shabby looking Venersis finally appeared.
Venersis didn’t seem to be his usual self. He was looking shabby as if he had not been able to wash for a couple of days, but his two eyes were shining brighter than ever.
Venersis looked around at the Greatest Warriors and lead warriors who were standing at attention in front of him.
Around half of them were people who would listen to Venersis’s every command, while the other half were warriors who looked up to him.
After receiving full control for all things related to war, his position was above any of the chiefs and even the Young Glow. His command was pretty much the will of the Glow as long as it was something relating to war. That was the type of power the Glow had given him.
All of the people gathered here were warriors that Venersis had personally selected. There were a lot of grumblings during his selection process, but there should be no problems. It was because the person who gave him the power to do so was none other than Elbotta, the Shuarei’s Glow.
Venersis could feel his heart beating loudly. It was because it had been a long time since he fought for a Lord who trusted him. It had also been a long time since he went to war with subordinates who did not question any of his orders.
Of course he would take responsibility for all results good or bad, but Venersis was actually thankful for that. It was because it would be a war he could unleash everything he had.
Venersis’s heart continued to beat quickly.
“To be honest with you, I was against this war.”
Everyone had a look of confusion at Venersis’s choice of first words, but that was only for a moment. All of them knew what kind of war this was. They knew it was at minimum a war that they will not lose.
“But the Glow believed in me and gave me the order to lead. It was solely because of his faith in me. That was why I could no longer oppose the decision. It is a warrior’s duty to respond to the Lord’s faith.”
His voice was quiet yet firm and was vigorous even though he was not putting much strength into it.
“That was why I debated it for a long time. I debated about what I should do. I could not help but debate about it because I do not go into wars that I cannot win. I only go into wars I know I can win.”
Venersis took out his shamshir and pointed it in front of the warriors.