Chapter 55: Battle Plan
Gold goes well with white; but what about blue? A fine golden needle reflected the white walls of the tent, and then penetrated the ocean-blue eye of the blue wolf. He has not screamed nor twitched how one would expect him to; and neither the expected blood came.
The needle went through, leaving ripples behind so the eyes started resembling a lake, and then it stilled like a golden pillar amidst wavy water.
Maha released her grip.
"They are ancient." She said taking another needle and looking at Mo Pu laying on the white table.
"Forgive me, we gathered these tools in one of your sanctuaries. Shame to admit, but we do not have capabilities to get anything more modern than several thousand years."
"I know." She said expressionless and thrust the second needle into the second eyes.
"What do you feel?"
She asked.
"Nothing in the eyes, however my consciousness as if having some alien objects inside; not enjoyable."
Maha slightly shook her head.
"You need more force with things this old."
Suddenly, she put her fingers on both needles and pushed them deeper inside. Shiver covered the wolf, his claws scratching the table.
"What do you feel?" She asked still as emotionless.
"Cold, I feel the texture. My thoughts are confused."
"That is better."
Her eyes ignited with yellow, and the same colored shine spread across the needles. Her face was very concentrated, completely unmoving, like a mask.
The wolf, in turn, was breathing heavily, and the table under him was creaking like a rotten wood. It lasted for at least a minute, and finally, the shine in the Maha's eyes extinguished and she took out both needles at once. The wolf simultaneously made a harsh gasp.
"The array is completed."
She placed the needles to the side.
"However, it only increases your chances. You still will have to rely mostly on yourself in the battle."
"Even so, I am grateful to you." Mo Pu sat up and jumped from the table.
"You are used as a host, will he not suspect anything?"
"Should not, I'm the only one strong enough to support that much Light."
Mo Pu blinked several times, then said:
"Now I shall be leaving for the confrontation. This day will be forever engraved in the history of my people, either good or bad; however, I see it bothers you little."
"Yes."
"How blunt, but blunt people I admire. I have already called for an escort for you; I presume you would like a safe way out in case I will fail?"
"It will not help. If you fail, I am doomed as well."
"Yes? What makes you say it?"
"Whoever he is, if he is a Fifth Rank, he will be able to find me after feeling the light I have left in you. Even in hundred kilometers."
"So that how it is…" The wolf's face expressed a slight amusement.
"Then for what reason you've helped me?"
"I said it already. The existence of that being is harmful to the current empire."
"So you are a good subordinate as well. Well then, pray for me, for your liege will surely suffer losing someone like you." Said Mo Pu and, at last, left the tent with a wave of white curtains.
"…She won't notice."
Maha said suddenly and stepped from the chair to the table, crossing her legs and closing eyes.
…
…
…
Bam!
Rang a metallic sound a warrior's hand trembled. However, he could not hide under his shield forever. Suddenly, he threw it at the abomination before him, a tall and muscular ox, and leaped after taking out a knife from his belt. His main weapon was long lost during this long battle; sad, for it was given to this youth, whose rage currently twisted his face into that of an adult, by his father.
A splash of blood and the knife pierced the stomach of the ox and the beast fell down, rolling from a slope. The young warrior, however, followed him after losing his balance.
Battle was ringing around, steal and claws, iron and teeth. What a terrible nightmare, he thought for a second; then he saw what resembled a familiar face, someone from his squad getting his neck bitten and gulped down by some beast.
A splash of blood. And rage once again consumed all of the warriors' mind. He came on top after the struggle at the slope, his hands clenched the knife still in the Ox-man's belly in pulled it out, and into again, and out and into and out and into; what a strict rhythm. Finally, seeing the beast dead, its red eyes rolled up, he struggled to stand up.
However, before he could…
A splash of blood.
A hoof smashed his head into a white-red mush.
…
…
…
Feng turned away from the bloody battlefield. He felt weak his legs, good thing his young master couldn't see it, he would have surely mocked him for that. And would be right to do it. The servant looked toward Li Song who was standing next to General Du Fu.
"Young master is very courageous." He said quietly, but aloud for he was standing too far from these two to be heard.
And there was a reason for that, very good one. Even in ten steps away from Du Fu, Feng still could feel the oppressing aura of the general, could sweat was almost freezing him. The great general was in extremely bad mood; however, his young master was as if unaware of that, chatting so loudly that even Feng could hear him.
"So, general. You see why we still can't enter the battle, right? Not only because I said so, though that is the main reason because you are my subordinate, however for the reason that if we crash the enemy too quickly the second part of our forces would not have time to set up traps to cut off their retreat."
"…"
The general did not say anything, his face in the shadow of his helm.
"And you understand, if we had met them with our full forces, without dividing, even though we would have had higher chances of beating them, and fewer causalities also, we would not have been able to catch up once they ran; they are animals after all, so they would be able to escape quickly."
"And surrounding then also won't work, for their army is larger, thirty thousand to our twenty, so there would be gasps they would be able to escape through. Moreover, we won't have enough people to create a really tight surrounding layer. So using a third of our forces to set up traps in the forest to destroy the retreating enemy is a very genius move of myself."
"Brat…" Du Fu's voice was hoarse.
"What is it, general?"
"Why are you telling me that?"
"Well, honestly I afraid you will kill me if I stop explaining the reason your soldiers are dying now before your own eyes."
"Brat…" Even hoarser now.
"What is it, general?"
"You stopped explaining."
Before Li Song could say anything Du Fu grabbed his belt and suddenly thrown him right into the heat of the battle. His body crashed at a large two-meter tall hairy dog that started furiously shaking him off.
"Young Master!"
Shouted Feng seeing how that dog was rolling on the ground.
"As a general, I declare that the second stage of offense has begun." Said Du Fu, and for a second Feng thought that he saw a smile on his face, but then the general suddenly jumped just after Li Song.
"I guess I should also go…" Sighed Feng and took out his short sword.
"Young Master, wait for me!" He screamed running toward the beasts.