It had been about a week since Bayezid and Jass came to the fox kin village.
It belonged to the tribe of Ur-Nassar and was one of the 36 tribes belonging to the fox kin kind.
It was a small village with only about 2000 people.
Even then , from the outside it looked bustling with all kinds of activities.
Today a pecularity could be observed.
Horses and ostriches were kept out of their barns.
About 300 people all clad in basic armour and carrying basic weapons could be seen standing under the glistening sun.
Even then the heat didn't seem to affect them and they stood standing tall.
All of them were gathered near the village entrance and were facing a raised platform where the village head of Ur-Nassar was currently standing.
His face couldn't be scrutinised and it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
To his side , the head scout , the cold woman bayezid met was also standing.
Along with some other powerful men and woman who looked the head guards of the village.
"It's a good weather today right?" The village head started on a good note.
His voice reached out to all the 300 people.
It didnt sound like a shout.
But rather it seemed that he was talking to all the 300 people individually.
"Its a good day for the kids to play peacefully.
Today they would make a lot of memories.
Catching cicadas, bugs. Playing hide and seek with their friends and finally dozing off under a tree after they all are tired.
But the sight in front of us now is rather strange right?
When have we seen these many people clad in armour and weapon standing at the same space? Even while training wouldn't be it a maximum of 50 people at each time?
It almost looks like we are going to war... But can we with a meagre people of 300 go to war?
First of all... what war are we going to?
Aren't wars a thing of past? Isn't it all over?"
The village head looked at all present.
After some time in silence , he just sighed.
"I know you all are thinking this.
But it indeed is true.
We are going to war. Not a new war. But a war that has been going for millennias.
You might think , What is this old man talking about?
Why after all this time , when we are at our lowest sending us all to die in the war?
Not doing anything regarding war his entire life , suddenly he is saying we are going to a war?
These questions as well.
But let me answer them."
The village head then pointed his finger to a timid looking boy.
"Boy. What is our religion called?"
The boy was frightened when he was called out.
But regardless with some stuttering , he answered.
"Sir, its cal...called Kamakura."
The village head nodded his head.
"And people , what does Kamakura stand for?"
The people all looked at each other.
A burly young man from the group raised his hand and said.
"Doesn't it stand for peace , old man?"
The village head nodded his head again, ignoring the disrespect in the young man's tone.
"Peace is the fundamental principle of our religion.
We are to follow peace throughout our life whenever possible , wherever possible and not compromise it.
The statue at the grand temple stands for that exactly.
But...
Our religion stands for another thing too.
Required violence."
The crowd was silent. The fox kin all had the same religion of Kamakura.
There were some communities of the tiger kin who are usually not religious following the religion due to trade in ancient times.
It was once a popular religion known throughout mortal's valley , but as time went on , it degraded.
When survival became more of a necessity than religion , people couldn't care but abandon their religion.
Some fox kin by abandoning their religion even managed to get themselves deported to the count's shore or even were able to marry humans and produce half-beasts.
These half-beasts then were used as instruments of war due to their strength.
Nowadays the young people just knew the basic things about the religion.
They didn't even care to adhere to the core principles of the religion such as praying at least once a day.
But nevertheless peace was something that was ingrained in their brains.
After their ancestors made peace with the humans 1000 years ago , fearing that some young people not liking the peace would disrupt by taking arms , they had made sure raise the young as peaceful as possible.
Thousand years of conditioning shouldn't be underestimated. Forefathers passed Ito their grandfathers who passed it to their fathers and now the ideology of peace has been passed on to them.
The people were contemplating among themselves.
After two minutes of letting the people think , the village head spoke again.
"A lot of young people don't know the glorious history of the fox kin, especially the history of our tribe.
Among us , we pass fairy tales and legends.
How we were rulers of a great amount of land and how prosperous we were.
How we were driven out of our lands and forced to serve humans.
But let me tell you.
They are not some fairy tales and such.
They are part of real history.
The injustice that had happened to us.
They are very much real.
You want proof that really happened?"
The village head suddenly raised his voice.
"Do you all remember the incident that happened two months ago?"
As soon as the village head said that , the people shouted in rage.
How could they forget the incident?
It pained them with pain and anger.
This incident was an incident that hadn't happened in hundreds of years.
They thought the event was just an isolated event.
They knew the humans hated them but they didn't think it was an hate passed on for thousands of years.
To think , the horrifying legends they had heard were true...
Their rage reached a new level.
To think they were systematically oppressed...
To think they were just passing by... like roaches who hid in the deepest corners.
To think humans had every rights to kill them...
Most of them here had lost a friend or a relative to the massacre...
"The incident is not an isolated incident.
Its a part of the systematic oppression that had been carried out against our kind.
Not only us...
All the other tribes of beastman , who were in their own right great in the past, all of them were also prey to this , even now...
We cannot stay idle any longer...
We have only one choice but to fight.
For now we will fight alone...
But in the future,
When the other fox kin tribes and other beastman tribes see our success,
They would join us too,
further bolstering our success."
The village head finished his small speech on a heavy note.
"A few words from the mercenaries."
Saying that , the village head retreated to the back.
From the steps , two mercenaries ascended.
From the auras , it was clear , they were the strongest even when compared to the scout head and the head guards of the village.
The people had mixed expressions regarding the duo.
Over the previous week , they were the ones who supplied them with weapons and armours.
They conducted basic drills to make sure all the people here were fit to fight.
They said that they were here to help them. To make them fight against the injustice.
The two men after ascending the steps stood in the middle of the stage.
Bayezid came forward, while folding his hands.
"You already all know by now who we are , why we are here.
We have already told you our own motivation to help you.
This might be an effort undertaken in a week , but its plan and essence extend beyond that.
The emotions from both sides although not equal are still old.
We will definitely succeed.
Many revolutions across the world succeeded this way , the emotions pertaining to the revolutions extending for years but the preparation and the revolution themselves not lasting for weeks.
But this 'war' in a sense is just not for that.
It is for one another thing."
The people looked extremely focused. If there was any lax in the crowd previously , all of that was now gone.
"You will gain immense wealth from this ordeal.
We are going to loot 500k gold coins."
Silence. Extreme silence.
After 10 seconds , all of them were put out of their reverie.
A lanky boy with a handsome face in the front spoke up.
"Sir? were you perhaps to say 50 gold coins or something?" the boy laughed on the outside but was shaking on the inside.
"Yes , it is indeed true. It is located inside a temple on the outskirts of kingdom of trimbiole , that has fallen to obscurity."
Bayezid then took out a scroll and showed it to the public.
Most of them could see the outline of the scroll.
"This temple belonged to the Empire of Erlands in the past , a great nation.
This is the official scroll under its seal that calculates the wealth in the temple.
It has also been checked by a third tier arcane arts practitioner.
Its authentic."
The crowd from there , lost it.
They didn't care about discipline and such.
They talked in loud voices to the persons near them.
"500k gold coins ? that's madness.
We will be extremely rich , if we were to get even a part of that."
"It must be true , if a third tier practitioner themselves confirmed it..."
"Silence" Bayezid voice resounded across the area.
After seeing that everyone calmed down , he began again.
"Of course , this is not without any dangers,
But if we were to follow the map ,
we will survive with minimum casualties and all the wealth would be ours.
From the newly acquired wealth,
We will buy more weapons,
entice more beastman to join us,
Weaken the state who would be further weakened by their enemies seeing the right opportunity,
We will win the war!"
As soon as Bayezid raised his hands in the air , the beastman soon followed shouting and raising their hands up.
"Then, now let's split the team."
"About 25 of you handpicked will go with Jass towards the temple, kindly step to the side.
The remaining 275 are stuck with me."
The beastman that were handpicked before by mass soon went to the side.
They were told they would go on a 'special' mission.
To think the 'special' mission would be to be rich overnight!
Now they understood why they chose them.
They were lanky, nimble , agile than the rest.
Excellent to navigate through dangerous and maze like territories.
"The team to go to the temple would leave now." Jass raised his voice.
For some moments , the atmosphere was not tense.
The family members of the 25 bid their farewell.
It was not a dangerous mission according to the mercenaries.
They might be humans who had an inherent hate against them.
But over the week , hearing their stories and their motivation to help them...
To see that they would go as far as spend their lifetime savings , just to buy them armour and gear...
Soon all the 25 left the village on their horses , with Jass commanding them.
"Gather around" Bayezid said.
"So now let's get the details of our mission.
We would basically raid villages , engage in guerrilla warfare , simple enough right?
My ass.
Guerilla warfare requires a tough mental fortitude.
Thousand years of peace have left your mind nimble.
Don't worry over the months , you would see the horrors of war.
You would forge your mind to steel.
You would become formidable warriors.
Follow commands and obey your seniors,
Am I clear?"
"YES SIR!"
All of them shouted with renewed vigour.
They were going to avenge their ancestors and also get hella rich.
"So... Of course , it's difficult to command 275 men by a single person without proper communication equipments , which we don't have.
Each of you would be split into groups of 10.
Each one of you would be termed as a squad.
Each one of you would be led by a middle first tier practitioner.
The remaining five , who are all high first tier practitioners" Bayezid said while looking at the people behind him.
"They would be all under my control,
The squad leaders are to directly report to them , termed overseers.
Overseers have authority to make minor decisions and directly command the squad leaders.
But in terms of major decisions, the authority of the commander remains supreme."
Bayezid eyed every one of the soldiers.
The soldiers couldn't refute the man's words.
The man's strength backed him up.
One had to be training for 40 plus years if they wanted to reach the second tier.
Even if they had very high levels of talent, they wouldn't take less than 30 years.
Seeing the young man's appearance in front of them.
They couldn't mistake it.
He was hella talented.
Bayezid when he saw the scene in front of him was reminded of his past.
While he was in his bunker , mostly reading novels and such,
Soldiers would some times come and take refuge in the bunkers.
From just observing them for years , he would learn their mannerisms, behaviours and so on.
He had lived in the time of war.
He knew what war was and how deadly it was.
He didn't know if most of them people here would come back alive.
But one fact was sure,
They would intice a revolution...
Never seen before.
"We depart at evening.
By night we strike the town of Vladivo,
When people are sleeping."
Bayezid then gave an overview of his plan to the people.
They all then were dismissed.
There was plenty of time before the evening.
Bayezid retreated to his makeshift tent at the entrance of the village.
Currently all the overseers were there.
The head scout , Maria coldly eyed Bayezid , sitting in his chair.
"You know...Um" Bayezid scratched his cheek.
"You would burn a hole in me you know?
Maybe you use your intense gaze on the enemies ,
They would..." Bayezid looked up at Maria.
The woman with white hair didn't seem to take up his joke and only stared at him intensely.
All the overseers here were ok with a conflict or even a war.
The incident over the two months ago had moved them a lot.
The confirmations of the horrible past who they thought were only legends and myths also enraged them and resolved their cause.
While they were reluctant to follow two humans , they did however, as the village head himself assured them.
But Maria was not like the rest of the four.
She highly respected the village head as he was highly learned and had done lots of good to their village.
But still she didn't like to follow the humans one bit.
Her mind and heart was mentally scarred.
Her best Friend , Susan was the main victim of the massacre two months ago.
Humans were the biggest scum according to her.
"Maria... You are the strongest of the bunch.
You have the high talent.
Over the years , you would grow stronger.
You are the de facto leader of this whole ordeal.
I'm just the mastermind in a sense."
Maria's Gaze reduced in intensity but was still there.
"Alright , you all.
We have discussed the intricacies of today's raid.
Go and eat.
We depart by Evening."
The overseers nodded their head , While Maria just stormed out of the room.
---
Night descended across the terrain.
The night offered some coldness that was impossible in the morning.
Most of the mortal's valley had climates similar to tropical regions.
They almost never saw snow.
Even during winter , their temperature hovered over 25 degree celsius.
Terrain was directly determined by the energiya in the surroundings.
The terrain directly influenced the weather and the climate.
The terrain here was plains.
With hills in the background.
The ground shaked.
*Rattle* *Rattle*
Over 200 people were raiding their mounts traversing the terrain.
It seemed that they were on haste.
After 10 minutes , they slowed down and came to a stop.
A man with black hair , a rare hair colour took a binocular and looked into the distance.
He then let out of a smirk.
'The reports told that the town was not defended properly.
But this...
It looks like a town that would be swirled away when even a gust hits it!'
Bayezid laughed to himself.
Over the distance , a man on an emu approached Bayezid.
It seemed that he was coming from the village.
He wore a mask and a black dress making it hard to see him.
"Sir , the job is done."
The man said to Bayezid once arriving closer to him.
He took out a dagger from his waist.
It was coated in blood.
Bayezid nodded his head , a smile not leaving him.
Turning around his horse , he activated second star ability , [The voice of lion]
"Brothers the job is done.
Tonight Vladivo would bath in blood!
Onwards we march!"
Saying that Bayezid raided forwarded.
The people behind him raised war cry and followed behind him.
---
From a small hill on the distance.
There was a cave well hidden from the outsiders eyes.
But it would not be hard to discover it if one had the eyes of a practitioner.
Inside the cave only two paths went.
one path had lava in it.
Other path led to a wide area , which one not believed exited in the otherwise unremarkable cave.
The area was a lot cooler.
The area was very cold in the past and now only a reminiscent of the extreme cold.
It seemed that someone powerful thousands of years ago had used a lot of their energiya reserves and talisman to keep the place cold.
Chains raised from corners of the cave.
At the middle , there was a huge ice that almost looked like a small glacier.
Inside of it ,
Someone was sealed.
Their features though was not apparent.