Jiro's world tilted on its axis. Elara's words echoed in the stillness of the dawn, shattering the fragile hope that had fueled their desperate journey. The Bruneians were already upon them. They had fallen victim to a cunning trap, a double-edged surprise attack that threatened to cripple the Skylark Union before they could even mount a proper defense.Despair threatened to consume Jiro, but years of experience as a warrior steeled his resolve. Panic wouldn't save them. They needed a plan, and fast."How bad is it?" he rasped, his voice barely a whisper.Elara, her face etched with exhaustion and fear, recounted the chaos she witnessed as she raced back to the capital. The Bruneians had launched a surprise attack just before dawn, exploiting a weakness in the Skylark Union's eastern defenses. The Skylark warriors, caught off guard and outnumbered, were fighting valiantly, but the situation was dire."They need reinforcements desperately," Elara concluded, her voice trembling slightly. "But the capital is mobilizing its forces. They'll be there as soon as possible."Jiro glanced at his remaining companion, a young warrior named Kai, his face pale but resolute. Kai, skilled in archery and adept at navigating treacherous terrain, understood the unspoken question in Jiro's eyes."We can't wait for reinforcements," Kai stated, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands. "We need to disrupt the Bruneian attack, create a diversion."Jiro, his mind racing, nodded in agreement. A small, desperate force could potentially sow chaos within the Bruneian ranks, buying precious time for the Skylark Union's main army to arrive."We know the hidden trails," Jiro stated, a flicker of determination returning to his eyes. "We can flank the Bruneians, hit them from behind their lines. It's a gamble, but it's our only chance."Elara, her initial shock giving way to a newfound resolve, stepped forward. "I'll ride with you. I know these lands better than anyone. We can use the element of surprise to our advantage."Jiro hesitated for a moment. Elara, though brave, was still young and inexperienced in the brutal realities of war. But they needed all the help they could get."Alright," he conceded, his voice gruff but laced with a grudging respect. "But stay close. Don't take any unnecessary risks."With a renewed sense of purpose, the trio set off, their small band a beacon of defiance against the overwhelming Bruneian force. They navigated the hidden trails with practiced ease, their movements cloaked in the shadows of the dawning sun.As they crested a hill overlooking the battlefield, the full scale of the Bruneian assault unfolded before them. Smoke billowed from burning settlements, and the metallic clang of steel echoed through the valley. The Skylark Union warriors, outnumbered but determined, fought valiantly, their cries of defiance rising above the din of battle.Jiro's heart ached at the sight, but there was no time for sentimentality. With a silent signal, they launched their desperate attack. Elara, drawing on her horsemanship skills, weaved through the battlefield, firing arrows with deadly precision. Jiro and Kai, utilizing their knowledge of the terrain, took down unsuspecting Bruneian soldiers from hidden vantage points.Their attack, though small, had a significant impact. The Bruneians, momentarily thrown into confusion, faltered in their advance. The Skylark Union warriors, seizing this opportunity, rallied with renewed vigor.The battle raged on, a chaotic dance of death and defiance. Jiro, his every muscle screaming in protest, fought with the ferocity of a cornered animal. Kai, his youthful exuberance tempered by the harsh realities of war, emerged as a deadly archer, his arrows finding their mark with unnerving accuracy.Just as hope began to flicker within Jiro, a deafening roar ripped through the battlefield. A contingent of heavily armored Bruneian soldiers, led by the imposing figure of General Zara himself, charged into the fray. The tide of the battle seemed to shift once more.Elara, her horse riddled with arrows, stumbled to the ground. Jiro, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and rage, lunged towards her, his sword flashing in the sunlight. But a hulking Bruneian soldier intercepted him, their blades clashing in a deadly dance.The battle became a blur of steel and screams. Jiro fought with the desperation of a man facing his own mortality. But the odds were stacked against them. One by one, their small band fell, their sacrifice a testament to their unwavering courage.As Jiro stumbled back, his vision blurry from exhaustion and blood loss,