For an elf, Beler is quite tall standing almost two meters tall shy of a few centimeters.
Blood covers his body. And while he seems to suffer from exhaustion judging by his sweating and haggard short breaths, people might assume that the blood covering him is coming from his wounds.
However, that is not the case. The blood all over him is not his. And as if to prove this, he removes his top. He discards his tunic and the inner clothing revealing the menacing powerful muscles hidden under. Yet, he continues to exude a deadly aura that stenches of blood, and gore.
"Ugh, it got messy, fast…" He complains, scratching his bald head of a few brain matter that comes from bashing the skulls of his enemies.
"Sir Beler, what should we do?" An Einherjar belonging to their unit asks.
Beler observes his surroundings. Few Ratatoskr tends to the battlefield busy looting the dead humans. It has come as a habit for the Ratatoskr to secure their spoils after a battle, attributing this to their nature of work as being thorough.
Meanwhile, the few Einjerjars in their unit joining them are waiting in line with discipline for Beler's orders.
"Rest," He shortly replies. "We wait for the General."
Beler looks at the only manor within the outpost they choose as a springboard. It is a nameless outpost they luckily are able to discern from its meticulous hiding spot that only recently becomes visible to the map thanks to the new information system that the Ratatoskr uses in synergy with bonded beasts.
At this moment, the General should be inside the manor personally exacting 'death' to the few vampires who reside inside.
There is nothing to worry about the General.
It is risky at first glance, but it changes things if it involves the usage of the General's martial prowess. In Beler's opinion, however, it is still a hateful development to singlehandedly storm the manor.
Well, Beler would love to do the same, but he is a sensible man.
Wiping his mace and axe, Beler passes the time idly.
"I have ended them."
Hearing the even and unfazed voice, Beler looks up only to see a neat and clean Trudviar who appears to have not a single drop of blood on him… except his hands and the guard of his sword.
Beler hefts his axe to his shoulder and curiously asks.
"How is it, General?"
The reason why Trudviar decides to go alone is to perfectly execute what is inside. By distributing his forces equally surrounding the manor, the other elves can secure the perimeter which will serve as fences for any stray vampires that manage to escape Trudviar's sword.
"It is my first time, fighting vampires. Judging by their abilities, they are no different from the monsters we deal with back in the Dark Forest, except these vampires are smarter."
Trudviar whips his sword, scattering the little blood dripping from its edge. He wipes it clean with the dead human body lying near him.
"A tandem of an Einherjar and Ratatoskr should be able to handle a single vampire. Something like a hammer and anvil should do. The Einherjar will be the anvil and the Ratatoskr is the hammer." He adds.
"How about me?" Beler asks curiously.
In terms of fighting power, the 'Slayers' are in a league of their own, and Beler is able to splendidly demonstrate it by cleanly crushing his enemies in one or two moves. As a Slayer, Beler is quite adaptable to fighting humanoids.
The Slayers after all are killing machines for the sole purpose of killing. Though, unlike monsters, humans are as much of a living creature as others. The only difference is… humans are much squishier.
However, it is not true for everyone. The killing efficiency that Beler demonstrates does not reflect the Einherjar. This is because the training methods and techniques the Einherjar develops are not suitable for killing humans.
Unlike monsters, humans also possess techniques and skills just like the other elves.
Testament to this is Beler's few close shaves with death as he confronts a high-ranking commander from the Outpost Soldiers, not to mention the commanding abilities of the commander in the face of pressure while contending against another intelligent race.
Unlike the EInherjars, Ratatoskr's killing efficiency is positively satisfactory. This is because the Ratatoskr fights against humans either on a daily or weekly basis.
"Hmmm…" Trudviar thinks about how to respond to Beler's question of how he will fare against vampires. "I guess two to three times. You can deal with two to three vampires simultaneously."
Trudviar sheathes his sword and looks around the destruction they wrought. Destroyed gates, overturned wagons, and even dismembered limbs.
He observes the Ratatoskr with attention, and regretfully sighs on being reminded not a single bonded beast is within his unit. It will be very convenient if he has a Ratatoskr who has an avian bonded so that they can relay important information to the others quickly.
Despite this, Trudviar proves to have insight.
"Send the bird."
An Einherjar comes to Trudviar carrying a birdcage. They only have three pigeons, but they will suffice for their needs. They will only need to capture two more outposts until they march to the Dark City.
The outposts will serve as an important retreat route for their army if the war goes wrong assuming the worst-case scenario. They will also serve as an avenue of convenience after the war as a safe retreat route, and logistical line.
"We continue to march," Trudviar declares not caring for any march.
This is when the Rataoskr loses. The Ratatoskr proves themselves to be effective and efficient killers reflecting their abilities on the prior siege, however, they are not built tough.
The Einherjars continue with the march. Seeing their fellow elves, the Rataskor, falling from behind, they kindly offer them their backs by putting them in a piggyback which in the Ratatoskr's opinion is very shameful.
Just like this, they arrive at the next outpost, demolish it, and slaughter everyone inside without mercy regardless of age and gender. It is a blitz. And killing everyone seems to be on par with the course.
"We move to the next one," Trudviar gloomily says to his soldiers as he passes and glances over the dead body of a young boy with his throat spilling blood. "Let's march!"
Maybe the realization comes too late, but Trudviar has become desensitized to killing as they attack the next and last outpost. With all of the pigeons they have, being set free to inform their occupied outpost, it is time they prepare for the next chapter.
It is easily just over two months since they start their march. Considering the estimable two years in which Trudviar sees the war's end, their progress seems to be too fast.
However. Trudviar knows they are just right on schedule, and while this is a blitz, it does not necessarily mean they can finish the war so fast it will only take them a short amount of time. In a medieval setting, the conjunction of days plays a major role in tides of war.
Moreover, the Dark City, their target is a hard nut to crack.
City-states are literally a single city of a kingdom that possess incredible might to their own. The vampires look especially strong.
In the ruins of the outpost, Trudviar stands atop the tower, speaking to his comrades with a loud yell.
"The quick march ends here. In three days' time, we shall commit to raiding the Dark City at night, and retreat at the sign of danger. We shall repeat this over and over again until all of our forces' perimeter shrink small enough to contain the Dark City. My fellow elves, today, we kill!"
At his speech, the elves cheer, Einherjars banging their fists with their steel, and the Ratatoskr pumping their fists into the air.