The army led by Loki marched toward the boundary of the kingdom Satirica. They reached a mountainous forest and prepared all of their javelin shooters and scattered them all around the forest. All long-range units assumed their position, ready to barrage their enemy from the land. On the other hand, the melee units and supports stayed on guard, ready to jump in once the dragon landed on the ground.
"The best spot for the archers is on top of those mountains. Send most of them there and fire upon sight of the dragon." Loki said as he pointed his index finger to the mountains in front of them.
"Sir, although you are right about that spot being the best place for the archers to attack the dragon... I don't think that's safe for them." One of the adventurers said. He was a muscular bald warrior. "That place is too open, they will be blasted and burn into ashes the moment they fire their first shots."
"I already considered that," Loki said. "But trust me... They won't get hurt even if the dragon brings literal hell to them."
"Ah... That doesn't make any sense." The adventurer said.
"I know. I stopped thinking about what does and doesn't make sense since the day I learned what I am capable of." Loki replied. "And the javelin shooters... Put clear vision as a priority over concealment. They don't need to hide any longer."
"They are made of wood... They will get burned." The adventurer said, his eyes shivering in disbelief at what he was just hearing from their commander.
"They won't," Loki replied. 'Now, all I need to do is find a way to properly utilize the melee units…'
"Ahm... Sir? What made you think that they are not going to get burned?" The adventurer could not help but ask.
Loki stared at the adventurer's face. "Because I said so." He said and walked out toward the other adventurers. "Do as I said. Trust me."
The adventurer just stared at Loki with his dropped jaw. "Because you said so? What kind of logic is that?" The adventurer asked himself. He shook his head. "Are... Are we going to die?"
Loki approached Ariel currently standing at the boundary of the mountainous part of the forest along with the other archers. "Are Lian and Rika already on their post?" He asked.
"They are already in the position you assigned them to. Putting them on the same team is a good idea. Rika is quite good at using the Javelin Shooter and Lian can support her in case problems occur." Ariel said. "Anyway, this is Enna, she's a Class A and currently the highest-ranking ranger of our guild," Ariel said and pointed her hand at the girl standing next to her.
A girl with gray hair, wolf ears, and a tail. She was wearing a hunter robe just like what Ariel was wearing. Her skin was as white as snow and appeared to be very soft. She bowed her head while her gray eyes were dwelling on Loki. "Enna Cottonfur at your service, Sir Loki."
Loki slowly nodded. "Have Ariel already told you all where you will be positioned?" He asked.
The 25 rangers behind Ariel and Enna stood up straight and raised their heads with determination in their eyes.
"Ariel told me that you want us to take the top of these mountains and barrage the dragon from there," Enna said. "In an open space where there is nowhere to hide."
"Yes. And as the highest ranking ranger of the guild, I am gonna need you to lead the group. Barrage the dragon with all of your might the moment it showed up." Loki said and stared directly into Enna's eyes. "Don't worry about your safety, I will make sure that nothing bad will happen to all of you. All you need to do is to trust me."
Enna looked at Ariel and received her slow nod as agreement from Loki's strange order. Then, she darted her eyes back to Loki. She smiled. "If Princess Ariel Satirica herself has her full trust in you, who am I to doubt your words?" She said and stood properly and faced the other rangers. "You heard our commander, let's get on our position! Let's shower that dragon with our arrows."
"Yes!" The rangers screamed as they marched towards the mountainous part of the forest, leaving Loki and Ariel behind.
"Thank you for backing me up, even though my order sounds like I am just throwing you all to die," Loki said.
"I just know that you are giving this order for a reason... A reason that doesn't involve hurting us." Ariel said and looked up at Loki, her eyes watching Loki's eyes attentively.
"First you convinced your father to send knights to aid us... now, you are obeying my orders without any doubt or question." Loki said. "Quite extraordinary to say the least."
"Does this little princess finally impress you?" Ariel asked, a playful smirk on her face. "Loki Morningwood."
"Yes," Loki answered.
"I am just doing this all to show you that I can do a lot of things if I need to... If you need me to do you a favor, all you need to do is to ask." Ariel said and turned her back to Loki. "But favors are not always free... Some favors have appropriate payment." She said and put some of her side hair on her ear, revealing her red ear. "I'll go now and fight on your command... Prince charming."
Loki just watched Ariel walk away. He put his hand on his chin and slowly nodded. 'A negotiator. Of course, all she does has a reason and a goal she wants to achieve. She really is royalty—politics really runs in the blood. That's fair.' Loki mumbled and turned his gaze to the adventurer running toward him.
The adventurer stopped a meter away from Loki and put both of his hands on his knees while chasing his own breath. After a few moments, he raised his head and faced Loki with great fear in his enlarged eyes. "Sir..."
"Speak," Loki commanded.
"The dragon... The dragon is coming near us... It will reach us in thirty minutes!" Shouted the adventurer.
Loki darted his eyes to the blue sky. He smirked and slowly nodded. "Good. Sound the horn and raise the banners. Let's start the battle."