Chapter 247 – War at Dawn
Hugo Riverclimb:
We ran side by side, Sifu and I leading a small squad of five men as we clashed with the enemy soldiers. The constant whistling of arrows cutting through the air was unnerving, but before they could find their mark, one of the maids behind us raised a barrier of wind, deflecting the deadly projectiles.
Two enemies rushed forward, their movements quick and weapons ready. "Ah!" one of them shouted, charging at me with a heavy axe. I sidestepped just in time, feeling the air from his swing brush past my face. In response, I conjured a fireball in my hand. He raised his shield just in time to block it, but I intensified the flames, focusing them into a concentrated ray that heated the metal. The unbearable heat forced him to falter, and I seized the opportunity to kick the shield with all my strength, sending him stumbling backward. Without hesitation, I struck with my sword, piercing through his weakened defense.
Before I could react to the next threat, a familiar voice called out:
"That's not how it's done, Dad!"
My daughters appeared, swift and fierce. They moved in perfect sync, spinning gracefully as they approached, and dropped low at the end of their spin, each wielding a hatchet. With precise strikes, they targeted the legs of the soldier beside me, cutting him down. As he fell, screaming in agony, they wasted no time finishing the job, smashing his back with coordinated blows.
"I'm so proud of you," I said with a grin, watching as they cleaned their blades.
"Fire, Dad! We only use it on the metal," Natty explained excitedly, pointing to their hatchets. "We heat the metal like in a forge, and it cuts right through the armor!"
"I see," I replied, impressed. "Though I admit, I'm not as good with elemental control as you two."
"You need more practice," they said in unison, their tone playful. Their blades ignited with blue flames, energy flowing with an intensity that belied their small stature.
Without waiting for another word, they charged back into the fray, their small but determined figures blazing through the battlefield like feral, fiery predators. Enemy armor barely slowed them down, their precision and skill turning each encounter into a decisive victory. Watching them filled me with pride but also a hint of unease. They were lethal, dangerous, and I knew that one day, they'd surpass even my own abilities.
No one warns you that being a father also means getting scolded by your daughters in the middle of a war…
Turning my attention back to the chaos around me, I noticed one of our men gravely injured.
"Your shoulder's bleeding. You can barely hold your weapon. Fall back now!" I commanded firmly amidst the turmoil.
"Sir, I can keep going," he said, panting, trying to maintain his stance.
"I know you can, but this isn't the time for stubbornness. Activate the light orb on your back. One of the maids will tend to your wound," I replied before refocusing on the battlefield.
Our rescue system was simple but effective. Every armor had a crystal that activated a glowing orb on the soldier's back and chest. If someone was severely injured, they only needed to activate it, and one of the healer mages would follow the light to provide first aid or evacuate the wounded from the field. It was a clever system, designed to maintain efficiency and minimize casualties.
"Grrr!" The sound of reinforcements advancing cut through the air, and my eyes immediately caught something wrong. Some soldiers, previously our enemies, now had writhing plant tentacles emerging from their bodies.
"These things… they give me chills," I muttered. "I think I'll be staying away from vegetables for a while after this."
Suddenly, an arrow shot through the air and embedded itself in my shoulder.
"Shit!" I snarled, ripping the arrow out in anger as blood streamed down my arm. Without hesitation, I cauterized the wound with fire, gritting my teeth against the searing pain, then charged toward two advancing enemies. A quick blast of flames disoriented them, and with a swift spin, I delivered precise strikes, cutting them down.
"Which army are you from?" one of the fallen enemies croaked, his voice hoarse and heavy with pain. "Why do you wear black? Where's your banner?"
I stepped closer, my gaze cold and fixed on the wounded man. "We wear black because we represent your death. The banner? It's your final scream." Without a moment's pause, I stomped hard, igniting a small explosion of fire that silenced the man's cries for good.
"Getting scolded by your daughters in the middle of a war?" Sifu asked, chuckling as he approached.
"You heard that, huh?" I sighed, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "One day, they're taking their first steps and learning to torture, and the next, they're teaching me how to kill. They grow up so fast."
Sifu laughed, but our focus quickly returned to the battlefield. Chaos raged on, and I watched as the monk moved fluidly through the enemy ranks. His hands were lethal weapons, striking with deadly precision. He spun with two fingers extended, slicing through soldiers and leaving deep wounds in his wake.
Five men charged him at once, but he stopped all their swords with a single finger, moving with uncanny speed. In an instant, he followed up with a kick that sent one flying.
Then, with a leap, he delivered a series of palm strikes that floored the rest with astounding ease. As he approached the fallen soldiers, he ended the fight with precise strikes to their heads, dispatching them in seconds. Wasting no time, he moved on to face more squads with the same relentless ferocity.
"Maybe I really do need to get back to training..." I muttered, recalling my daughters' words as I watched Sifu's lethal efficiency in action.
Martha Riverclimb:
I rushed toward the group of soldiers, spinning my spear with precision. It struck one of them square in the chest, his armor letting out a muffled metallic sound as he fell to his knees. I quickly withdrew the spear, pivoting to push back another soldier charging at me with a shield. His advance was halted, but more men were flanking me, their faces twisted with fury.
"You wretch!" shouted the soldier with the shield, his voice rough and dripping with contempt. "Once we disarm you and cut off your hands, I'm going to have my fun with you right here in the mud!"
My reply was cold and razor-sharp, much like the steel of my weapon. "You won't even piss again after I cut off your dick."
Raising my hands, I summoned bursts of water that slammed into his shield with enough force to push him back a few steps. But he wasn't alone. The other soldiers began to encircle me, their armor gleaming as they raised their shields to trap me.
"Kill the bitch!" they shouted, advancing like an iron wall.
I spun my spear swiftly, striking their shields hard enough to keep them from closing in on me. They were relentless, but I had no intention of being an easy target. With an agile move, I channeled mana into a burst of water beneath my feet, propelling myself high into the air. Using the water to adjust my trajectory mid-flight, I launched myself behind their formation and landed smoothly.
Fiery arrows rained down around me, shot by enemy archers. I dodged the flames, feeling their heat uncomfortably close but keeping my focus.
"Get back here, you bitch!" one of the soldiers roared, turning to face me. Little did they know, I already had my next move planned.
"Tide's Wrath!" I shouted, casting the spell and summoning a wave that propelled me at high speed. The water's force hit their shields like a battering ram, shattering their formation and sending them tumbling backward. Without giving them a chance to recover, I unleashed another spell.
"Sea Serpent!" A sinuous figure of water surged forward, striking them with unrelenting force and scattering them across the ground.
I sprinted directly toward the soldier who had dared insult me.
He lay on the ground, coughing as he struggled to get up. His eyes widened in horror as he saw me approaching, my spear steady in my hands. "I told you I'd cut off your dick," I murmured, my voice low and dripping with disdain. With one swift motion, I drove the spear straight between his legs.
"AHHH!" His scream of agony echoed like a bitter melody amidst the chaos of the battlefield. I didn't kill him, just left him there, writhing on the ground as blood pooled beneath him.
"I'll kill you in a few minutes. Savor the pain," I murmured coldly, my voice filled with contempt as my gaze shifted toward a fire mage approaching from a distance.
I raised barriers of water as I ran, forming shields to counter the attacks he hurled at me. "Fire Wave!" he bellowed, unleashing a powerful torrent of flames that roared toward me.
"Water Beam!" I countered, the collision of elements creating a cloud of steam that obscured the battlefield. I charged through the mist, closing the distance as he squinted to see me. When he finally caught sight of me emerging, he hastily drew a sword and swung at me in desperation.
But I was ready. Planting my spear into the ground, I pivoted and conjured a water current that coiled around my legs. Using the momentum, I struck him squarely in the helmet. He staggered back, terror etched across his face as he raised his hands to cast another spell.
"Ahhh! Damn you!" he screamed, but his attack never came. My spear pierced through his hand, eliciting another cry of agony. Before he could react further, I drove the tip of the spear into his throat. His body crumpled lifelessly, and I had already shifted my focus to the next wave of enemies.
Four more mages emerged in a tight formation, their movements precise and coordinated. These soldiers, positioned so close to the fortress, were clearly more skilled and posed a real threat.
Suddenly, a piercing sound cut through the chaos. A brilliant white ray of ice struck the four mages, hurling them into the air. They fell like limp puppets, their armor encased in glistening crystals of frost that immobilized them.
The unmistakable sound of chains dragging across the ground followed, and I turned to see a commanding figure approaching.
"Lady Margaery," I greeted respectfully, recognizing my duchess as a formidable presence amidst the chaos.
She offered a faint smile, her sharp eyes surveying the battlefield. "It seems things are going smoothly. Katie is producing more soldiers and infiltrating their ranks to disrupt their formation," she remarked, flanked by two of her maids who stood watchful, like loyal shadows.
From Margaery's shadow, a sleek gray panther leapt with deadly grace. Its eyes gleamed with a hunger for battle as it took position, awaiting orders.
"Go check on Katie and let me know if she needs assistance. And, of course, have some fun along the way," Margaery commanded, her voice imbued with cold authority.
Carnellian acknowledged with a subtle nod before darting across the battlefield in a blur of gray.
The screams began almost immediately. Wherever Carnellian passed, lives were snuffed out with savage precision. I didn't need to watch to know she was executing her mission with brutal efficiency. The sound of flesh tearing and the panicked cries of soldiers filled the air, a grim reminder of why the moon panther was a creature of terror.