CH221 Wildkin Terror Plot

***

The Main Force of Exercitus Alexii had just finished setting up camp for the night when a scout arrived, breathless, with word from the Vanguard Squadron.

The Vanguard had successfully cleared most of the Wildkin splinters in Konradin Barony, within Kellerman Earldom. After days of coordinated skirmishes, the different companies within the Vanguard had reached the same conclusion; the Wildkin in Konradin were operating directly out of the Barony capital—Cowle City.

It had been simple enough for Alex to order the Vanguard to make preliminary preparations to storm the city and retake Baron Konradin's castle within it.

But before the operation could even begin, more reports arrived—reports that forced the Vanguard to a halt.

The Wildkin had dragged their hostages onto Cowle City's walls, binding them where every Fury soldier could see. Then came their message:

Back away, or we will kill them all.

The Vanguard's Colonels had frozen. This was no longer a routine operation. Any decision now would carry consequences directly tied to the Fury Family's reputation and name.

When Alex received the news, his initial shock was palpable.

Never before had the Wildkin used hostages in such a calculated, deliberate way. It was a terrible omen. But after a long moment, he forced himself to calm down and seated himself at the center of his command tent.

"What do you believe is the right move, Commanders?" His voice was even, but his eyes weighed heavily on each man.

The Infantry Regiment Commander spoke first, his tone hard.

"I say we take the city regardless. We cannot allow the Wildkin to hold the upper hand. Even if we retreat, the civilians' fate will not improve. Only by putting down the Wildkin can their lives return to normal."

"That is madness!" the Cavalry Regiment Commander slammed his heel into the ground, face twisting with frustration. "Do you not realize how many lives would be lost? The Wildkin could slaughter the hostages before even our fastest horse reaches the gate, much less breaches it. They could massacre the entire city before we get in!"

The oldest among them, the Magi Regiment Commander, folded his arms, his expression cold.

"The civilians are not our problem. If they die, so be it. They swore fealty to a weak lord who could not protect them. That is not our burden."

He turned to Alex and inclined his head with deliberate weight.

"General Alex." He emphasized the military title. "Our mission is to eradicate the Wildkin threat, not to safeguard civilians. That duty belongs to House Kellerman. Whatever happens here, the blame will not fall at the heels of the Fury Family—it is the Kellermans who have failed in their responsibility. War is cruel, with lives being its most significant price—civilian lives especially so. That is inevitable."

"That is no reason to forsake the innocent!" The Archer Regiment Commander's voice cut in, firm and resolute. "Even if it is not our legal duty, we are still an army of Nobility. If we abandon morality, then what remains of us? If we cannot protect the weak, then we are no better than the Wildkin themselves."

The Cavalry Commander gave a firm nod in support. Across the table, the Magi and Warrior Commanders only snorted and exchanged disdainful smirks.

The tension in the tent thickened.

Finally, Alex turned to the last man who had yet to speak.

Jared.

The Dark Knight, Commander of the Heavy Knight Company assigned to protect Alex, had sat in silence throughout the argument. His massive frame loomed in blackened armor, with his usual unreadable expression beneath the shadow of his helm. At his back stood his adjutant—another fully-armored knight, still as stone.

When Alex's gaze fell upon him, the entire tent seemed to hold its breath.

Although Alex's Spirit Sight reported that Jared's adjutant was only an Elite-ranked Knight, based on the energy emissions, Alex couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the man was more extraordinary than he appeared.

Both his mage intuition and his Spiritual Force warned him, louder than the calm energy signature the adjutant displayed. Alex trusted his instincts far more than what his eyes or ither senses claimed.

Even so, he kept his suspicions to himself.

His gaze lingered on the adjutant for barely a second before shifting back to Jared.

The Dark Knight seemed to have been dozing. Only when he sensed Alex's eyes upon him did he slowly open his own, the weight behind them like a cold steel blade.

"You are the highest decision maker for this operation," Jared said, his voice unhurried yet heavy. "You have heard the opposing views. The final decision rests with you, General Alex Fury. Whatever you command, we will follow without question."

Whether intentional or not, Jared's Saintly aura seeped outward, filling the tent. It pressed down on the Regiment Commanders, each of whom was at best a Half-Saint.

To the others, it felt like Jared was warning them to obey Alex without hesitation. But to Alex himself, it was different. Jared's aura wasn't just compelling obedience—it was denying them the chance to influence him, a silent reminder that the choice was to be his alone.

Sweat beaded the brows of the Commanders as they strained under the pressure, while their adjutants instinctively staggered back a step.

Jared's control was flawless. Under his impeccable command, his aura -though weighty- proved his point without humiliating them.

The only two who remained completely unaffected were Alex and Jared's adjutant.

And Alex knew it wasn't that Jared spared the adjutant. No—this man was simply unaffected by Jared's Saintly presence altogether.

Alex gazed towards the man thoughtfully for a moment, before eventually pushing the matter aside. He had a far heavier problem before him.

'Damned if I do, damned if I don't. What a first decision to make as a General.'

Whether he ordered a retreat or a full assault, criticism was guaranteed. Either way, the Fury name would carry the weight of the consequences.

In that case—

'If the game is rigged, then I'll just ignore the rules and flip the board instead.'

Alex drew in a long, steady breath. His expression hardened, and when he finally spoke, his voice left no room for doubt.

"Retreat is not an option."

The Regiment Commanders remained outwardly calm as usual, their faces carefully schooled. No trace of approval—or disapproval—showed.

Alex pressed on.

"According to the report, the Wildkin leading this scheme is most likely the Goblin Priest the Vanguard's First Company engaged. Taking hostages is not a tactic the Wildkin are known for—not even goblins, for all their cunning.

"But if this tactic succeeds against us now, they will repeat it elsewhere. Goblins will make it their habit, while other Wildkin will make it their standard.

"We cannot allow ourselves to be threatened by terrorists. We will not negotiate with them. We will not retreat under their threats. We must— we will end it here, so this never happens again—neither in this campaign, nor elsewhere.

"Am I clear?"

"By your orders, General!" the Regiment Commanders responded in unison.

"Good." Alex's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing within them. "Because I already have a plan."

He turned to the two officers who just so happened to be seated together to his left.

"Magi Commander. Archer Commander. I'll be needing your aid most of all."

The two officers exchanged a look, then gave firm nods.

Alex leaned forward, his voice low as he began to explain.

A day later, just a few hours before dawn...

Cowle City, capital of Konradin Barony, Kellerman Earldom.

The main force of Exercitus Alexii halted several kilometres outside the city, far enough to avoid the eyes of the watchtowers.

Spectre-like figures slipped from the flanks of the army into the night. Even the most vigilant beasts of the forest failed to notice their passing.

The Cavalry and Infantry Regiments stood ready in their lines. Yet, the most important piece of tonight's operation was not them.

It was the Magi Regiment.

At the army's rear, something extraordinary was underway.

A sharp whistle cut the silence. Six Magi Centuries began chanting in unison.

At the same time, a circular array formation—five metres in radius—flared to life.

At its centre, sat Alex.

"As expected of the Magi Regiment. They built the Mental Enhancement Formation in record time." His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp.

He sent a mental command to OmniRune just as the chanting reached its climax.

[Fireball]!

It was the simplest of spells, one almost every battlemage could cast in their sleep. But tonight, they chanted as one—not because they could instacast it, but for precision. The synchronization was the key. They all needed to activate the spell simultaneously.

Through Spirit Sight, Alex watched hundreds of spell circles come into existence at once. As the Mages' mana began pulling on the ambient mana to power the Spell circles, he raised both hands.

[Spell Interception]!!!

His relatively vast Spiritual Force surged outward, amplified by the Mental Enchancement array. In an instant, it blanketed the hundreds of spell circles.

Thanks to the Mages' cooperation, he met no resistance. Their formations opened willingly, like doors, waiting for him to act.

In this moment, OmniRune moved and carried out Alex's prior mental prompt.

The Greater Rune cum A.I mage assistant, worked across the Spell circles, rewriting and merging them at nigh-instantaneous speed.

Hundreds of spell circles collapsed into one titanic runic formation which spread out high above the city like a luminous blanket from the heavens.

And in the next moment, sky over Cowle City burned.

[Special Warfare Spell: Meteor Lance Fall]!!!

At Alex's mental command, fiery lances—each reaching almost the size of ballista bolts—rained down.

Every strike found its mark. The Wildkin stationed along the city walls, those who dared hold hostages as shields, were annihilated in an instant.

With the last of his strength, Alex's roar tore through the battlefield.

"ATTACK!!!"

The army surged forward.

And Alex collapsed, unconscious, as the world around him thundered with the first clash of steel and fire.

***

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