[ToM] The First Battle

Dark clouds gathered in large billowing masses to blot out the sky overhead the northern Kou region of Kanshou. Almost as if man were mimicking nature, soldiers also gathered in droves, forces from both sides of the war mustering manpower from all across the country. There were rumors flying about that this battle was to be a decisive one that would determine the fate of Kou. Very few among them knew the real reason behind such a large clash of forces after several months of either side limiting their fights to smaller skirmishes. A new development brought forth the potential to end this civil conflagration in a single swoop. Of course, the true intentions of commanding officers rarely reached the ears of the common soldier. Only the rallying battle cries from their direct superiors meant to lead and encourage them to face their deaths with pride and honor.

Several generals and their armies had begun to aggregate in the region for the past week now, their forces spreading out across the mountainous landscape focusing around four major points which were sure to become the locations of four massive battles. It was almost as if everything up til now had merely been phantom whispers of a true war, but now the storm of bloodshed that had been building up all the while was finally ready to be unleashed all at once. Entire forts and farmlands to the south had been abandoned by the troops guarding them all for the sake of bringing the most power to bear possible here in Kanshou. This particular battlefield out of the four would be vitally important however and so the most soldiers from either army were headed here.


Nestled between two treacherous mountains was a valley foot path which could be used to quickly march forces deeper into the Kanshou mountain range. Not using the path meant adding almost two months to the time it would take to reach the heart of the mountains. A single fort stood tall blocking the way to this path, its walls manned by the men of Yoshiro’s banner, excess soldiers lined up in ranks just outside its gates simply because they couldn’t fit anymore men inside.


A valley separated Yoshiro’s forces from a large hill several hundred meters away where Gao Yuan Zu’s citizen army stood alongside mercenaries and defected soldiers. Their numbers were actually slightly less then Yoshiro’s men due to recent surges in the young emperor’s popularity, however there were more magicians on Gao’s side as well as strange wooden crates as large as four men tall scattered throughout its ranks at the bottom of the hill.

The storming clouds up overhead were beginning to rumble with peals of thunder as if the rain and lightning could sense the growing tension between the two sides below. Soon a terrible fight would take place here and soak the land in the blood of its own people…

---

Upon arriving at the foot of the giant fortress, Diana would find herself sent to oversee one unscrupulous unit in particular. They were a rowdy bunch that seemed to be grouped together in an unorganized mob rather than in any proper formation expected of standard soldiers and there were men with weapons surrounding them as if they were under strict guard. Diana’s background as an individual who hunts and captures the wicked had not gone unnoticed. The officers of Yoshiro’s army determined that it made her well suited to oversee this 20 man squad as they all happened to be criminals offered pardon should they fight for Yoshiro in the coming battle.

The officer which had led Diana to the squad would speak to her from horseback briefly before trotting off to continue organizing others in preparation for the brewing battle. "You’ve got experience dealing with men like this, so we’d like you to keep an eye on them. If you suspect they are going to turn traitor or flee, deal with them as you see fit, the guards surrounding them have been informed of who you are and will follow your orders to an extent, but the criminals themselves have their own leader...that’s him there, with the axe. I’ll be off then, good luck." He spoke professionally and in a detached manner that made it clear he was simply dealing with one in a sea of faces to manage in the short time afforded to him.

Should Diana make a count of the guards, there were twenty, same as the number of criminal soldiers. The guards had full armor along with spears and swords, however the criminals were mostly less protected wearing light leathers or no armor at all. They had swords or daggers but not much else in the way of weaponry, with one clear exception. The man pointed out as the "leader" of these brigands wore furs and metal armor, his only weapon was a large battleaxe. Taller than any of the other men, and even the guards for that matter, the beast of a man would look over to spot Diana and then grimace as he pushed one of the criminals aside in order to make a path so he could stomp over towards her.


A contemptuous smile came over him as he spread he arms in a welcoming gesture towards Diana, "Bounty hunter! So good to see you again! I bet you’re disappointed it isn’t across a set of bars..." There was a mocking tone in his voice, flaunting his current freedom in her face.

As Aseo stepped into the encampment, a strong gust of wind blew past him. White rukh fluttered along it's breeze. A man with shoulder length ash colored hair had begun to pass in front of him. There was something magical about the man as the rukh flew freely around him. He wore a light grey mask that covered half of his face with two horns protruding out the top. It gave him a commanding appearance. His dark blue eyes caught sight of the blue magician. He stopped abruptly, bringing his metal fan up to his chin. "Ah! You've arrived. I can tell by your arrival that you must be Asehi, Aseo? I've been told to you're here to guard me while I work." The man was certain that he didn't know what he was talking about but didn't bother to inform him now. "Follow me, if you'd please."


The man would lead Aseo to a nearby tent within the encampment. Inside, it was mostly packed up, ready to go. "We'll be leaving for the mountains soon. It provides a good viewpoint for me. I'll be able to execute orders safely from there." It almost seemed as if the man was rambling on to himself as he paid Aseo barely any mind. "Your job is quite simple. I doubt Gao or his men will know we will be up there. Help me gather my things, hm?" He grabbed a nearby box, almost shoving it into Aseo. Many men walked in and out of the tent before it was empty. There were only a few boxes within. Most were light, filled with maps of the area and different strategies. No one gave him any disrespect and it was clear this man was valued among Yoshiro's army.

"You may address me as sir. However, my full name is Sun Liang and I am a strategist for the army. Though if you did your research, you would know this." His tone of speech was brimming with superiority. However, Aseo would soon find out that his attitude was well earned. "As you could tell, I'm a magician, much like yourself. But that is enough idle talk, let us depart higher into the mountains." With that, he would exit the tent. It took only a few moments before the few men whom were also guarding him were also ready. Sun spoke briefly with one of Yoshiro's general before they left. Aseo wouldn't catch much of his conversation but would hear the general addressed as 'General Dong'. He was a formidable man with a powerful presence about him. They then began the climb up the mountain. It would be a silent trip unless Aseo had any questions for the man.

A single large guard would walk up to Trently, slicing through the rope that had bound his hands with a swift strike of his weapon. “Go, you are needed elsewhere.” The stoic guard would point out towards a silver-haired man on a brown horse, whom was clearly waiting for Trently. Upon reaching the mysterious soldier, Trently would receive a single wave, directing him to follow directly behind.  During their trot forwards, no matter if Trently tried to start a conversation or not, the silver-haired man would not reply. As his duty was to simply lead Trently to a specific destination, that was all. After a few minutes of traveling along the muddy path, they would eventually reach one of the many encampments spread along the mountainside. Upon reaching the encampment, the soldier would kick the horse into high-gear and ride off back to once they came. That was when Trently was tapped on the shoulder by someone new.

“Well then, it looks like you’ve finally made it here. We’ve been waiting for you, Trently.” A raspy Gao soldier would say to him, placing his calloused hand upon Trently’s shoulder. Past this soldier who had just greeted him, was a large battalion consisting of somewhere around five-thousand men and women. The army was in an uproar, chanting the name of the Emperor who had been kind enough to have given them a second chance. The entire squadron consisted of nothing but ex-soldiers, traitors, criminals, and ect. It’s what Gao liked to call his “Army of Redemption” and was planning on putting them to good use in this war. Squeezing Trently’s shoulder, the soldier would place his face much closer to his ear. Strangely enough, from the looks of it, each soldier had a medical bandage around one of their hands. The soldier would not immediately explain why this was to Trently, but if he were to ask, he would elaborate without hesitation.

“Do you see them all? They are all yours to command, Trently. This an official mission Emperor Gao has entrusted you with, so you better not continue to disappoint him any further. This is your only chance at Redemption, boy, and if you lead this platoon to victory, I have no doubt in my mind that the Emperor will make you into one of his elite generals.” At first, the man’s words were gentle and almost soothing sound, but the more he spoke, the more aggressive he would become. At the end the message he had for him, his grip on Trently’s shoulder would be unusually tight, using enough force to potentially leave a bruise.

After the short discussion with the man, Trently would be instructed to follow him throughout the camp. As there were a couple of things that they needed to prepare for before fully introducing Trently to the entire force. As they strutted forward, Trently would suddenly encounter a small group of dirty-looking men. Who would immediately begin to laugh as they caught sight of the boy, pointing their fingers directly at him. This would cut Trently off with soldier he had been following, as they rushed in between the two. “Let me guess, you’re the so-called commander we’ve gotta listen to, ay?” The sweaty, mustached fellow would accuse, spitting at Trently’s feet. “We’ve been waiting all day to catch a glimpse of our new commander, but I didn’t expect it to be some scrawny kid!” Another one of them yelled out, stomping their boot into the mud under them. Trently would be left alone with these so-called soldiers for only about a minute, before his guide would come back for him and break up the confrontation.

Everyone had been assembled and accounted for. However, there was much planning to be done. Lestacia was not exempt from these plans nor were her peers. A messenger was sent on horseback to deliver her to a detached encampment. The sound of horses approaching grew louder as they made their way towards the young magician. The soldier pulled on the reins in order to halt them before looking down at Lestacia. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"You are to be escorted to another encampment. Please mount this horse and I will lead you there."

There was no regards as to whether she even knew how to ride a horse. But his concerns were only to do as he was ordered in a quick fashion. He would wait impatiently for her to get on top of the horse before leading them to their destination in a trot. They would travel a fair distance away from the main group, finally arriving at a small encampment of about a hundred men. There would be a familiar face in the crowd, looking over at them with a cold expression. As they drew closer, he became clearer. If she remembered, it had been the man Lestacia met in the tent with the burn scar on his face. The air around him was more pressuring than it was before. Even the horses whinnied in protest, refusing to step much closer to him. The soldier would look over to the magician with a sour face.

"You can get off now. We've arrived."

After she would climb off the horse, the scarred man would walk closer to her after the horses departed. It was written all over his face that he did not want her there for reasons unknown. His gaze stayed focused on her face, his golden eyes like needles piercing into her skin. Being so close up to him for that time would allow her to see the scar tissue around his right eye thoroughly. "I am Tsunko, your commanding officer. I assume you were sent here to serve as a healer. Do not get in my way and follow the orders that are given to you. Or I will kill you." His tone was heavy and his aura was strong. It was as if the entire area around him was a weight. There was no doubt to be given; he was serious. "Do not dare try your charm either. These men don't need pointless distractions." He stared into her eyes for a few moments before turning away.


"Follow me. I will brief you on our mission here. Not that it's important for you." Tsunko began walking forwards, his hands folded firm across his chest. He outstretched his arm, pointing over at the mountain in the distance. "We are to go there and take out every single one of those traitors up there. The emperor gave me some of his best men to do the job. If any of them die, it's on you." The pressure that was on him was great, there was little margin for error. His hand reached up to touch the scar on his face as his pace slowed. He could practically still smell the burnt flesh even after all this time. "Damn you, old man." he muttered, resting his hand back on top of his other arm. "You're not allowed the luxury of death, either." It was clear there was a bit of struggle for him to say it but he would hide his face from her. A few rose tinted rukh fluttered around him after he spoke.

Though the man kept up his arrogant attitude, there was no hiding the nervousness he felt once Pluto began to circle him. The canine beast’s acidic saliva hadn’t burned him personally, but he’d seen what it had done to some of his boys and didn’t have any wishes to experience the sensation of his flesh  dissolving as well. A bead of sweat dripped down his face as he eyed Pluto carefully and listened to Diana’s provoking words with a bitter grin on his face, ”Yeah, yeah, just make sure your mutt here doesn’t make my boys into chew toys. We’re on a sanctioned mission by the army, ya’know.” He would give Diana one last look of contempt before hefting his axe onto his shoulder and turning away from her. ”Don’t get in our way and we won’t have any trouble.”

The burly mountain of a man then returned to his group of brigands and began to shout in a booming voice that caused their rowdy demeanor to calm. ”Settle down and listen up, you bunch of mad dogs!” Most of these men were criminals unrelated to the man’s old gang, but the reason why he had been chosen as their leader became clear from how his domineering presence made the unruly bunch quiet down and listen. ”You all know the deal, we fight this battle and tow the line, we gain our freedom again. Some of you already know, but my name is Blackwood and I’ve been chosen as your leader. But these army boys can take that leader position and shove it up somewhere nice and uncomfortable! After today, we’re all free men! Just follow me and don’t get yourselves killed!” The speech roused the spirits of the former convicts eliciting a roaring cheer among them. Respecting their wild and untamed nature seemed to have been a wise choice on Blackwood’s part.

There was no need for him to discuss what their role in the battle to come would be, all the men knew they had no real strategic purpose aside from performing acts of barbary upon the enemy. However, one of the guards watching them made it a point to approach her and fill her in on the details. ”No one has briefed you on the mission of these criminal scum yet, right? I’ll fill you in. They’ve all been given orders to wait until the initial wave of soldiers has charged. We’ll be moving in during the second wave of troops once the proper soldiers have established our lines. Then these thugs are supposed to find a weak point in the enemy lines and smash it open. Our job is just to watch them, so be careful not to go too far ahead, alright? Stay back and let the scum do the dangerous work.” The guard seemed confident, and grateful, that the job he’d been given seemed like a safe one. One look at him and Dian would be able to tell that he was not a veteran soldier, but rather a mere farmhand who took up sword and spear for the sake of an emperor he believed in.

The poor soul knew not just how dangerous a battlefield was. No matter how safe your assignment seemed, things such as “safety” simply did not exist in the midst of two fighting armies.

As they ascended the mountain, it was an annoyingly quiet trip so far. The only noise was the clanking of armor and brushing of wind against his ears. Liang placed the tip of his fan in his mouth, the taste of metal filling his mouth. It was a habit he had and it was only noticeable when he was deep in thought. Eventually, his ears picked up the sound of the boy who he had recently brought on as a guard. Liang assumed he would perhaps ask or say something helpful. But instead, he got two lines of disrespect or so he received it. His question had particularly struck the esteemed magician in the wrong nerve. Liang stopped in his tracks, his posse almost in sync with him. His fan moved quickly away from his lips and flared open. It revealed an arrangement of polished, silver blades that would remind one of a lotus flower. The winds around the group would pick up as bits of white rukh swirled like petals in the gusts. If it weren't for the heavy armor they were wearing, the other guards would have found it hard to stand. But they had followed this man for a long time. They knew how to withstand his magic. Aseo would have a hard time standing in these conditions as the winds thrashed around.

Liang turned his head to give the blue magician a side glance. There was a white gleam in his black eyes that made him look rather sinister. His displeasure quite clear. "Have you not done your research boy? Don't you know who I am?" There was a brief pause but his speech didn't stop there and there was barely enough time for Aseo to even get a word out. "I am an esteemed tactician and magician within the Kou army. For a Kou noble, you're dumber than you look. To not have even heard of my accomplishments is an insult." Liang closed his fan, the wind ceasing its fury. The other guards had been staring coldly at Aseo, as if they were judging him. Liang would hide his suspicions for now. He thought the boy had a weird name for someone from Kou. Perhaps he was a foreign spy in disguise. But there was no proof for this.

He would resume walking ahead, keeping his silence from before. In his mind he was cursing the insolence of the boy following him. He hated not being recognized for his efforts. Especially since a lot of them could have cost him his life. They would eventually reach the top of the cliff. It was an ideal spot for what they came there for. There was a decent view of the battlefields below and it was angled so they were well hidden behind the rocks. The other guards began to set up the area. It took less than a few minutes but it was then time to get to work. Liang would stretch out a bunch of scrolls onto the table. One of the guards took off their helmet, revealing a gentle face and long golden locks. He could easily be mistaken for a woman.


"Sir, we should keep some of our men at the north exit of the pass to look out for intruders, right?" His speech was quiet, and soft as he spoke to Liang. His long armored fingers tracing over the location on the map. "Right," he would lean in closer to the man to whisper in hushed tones, "Careful of what you say around him. Keep an eye out for me as well." The golden haired man nodded as Liang moved away from him. "From what I know from serving under Gao, he likes his magicians. Which is why I even got here in the first place. They most likely already know we're up here through the use of magic so guarding the paths would be ideal. However, the path we just passed through should be a viable escape unless they overwhelm our troops. If that happens... we will have to fight and it won't be easy. However, I have faith in all of you. Before we start getting to work, do any of my students here have questions?" It was clear then that Aseo wasn't only a guard but considered a student. The blonde man from before would pay close attention to Aseo, almost expecting him to ask questions. If anything, he was simply curious.

With the soldiers inching ever so closer to Trently, they would suddenly be halted in their tracks due to what would happen next. The boy would abruptly clasp his hand upon his chest, "Agh! My... heart!" He would yell out, his entire body becoming limp and collapsing onto the ground. The sight was indeed a very strange one, forcing the entire situation into a very awkward and quiet state. That was, until one of the soldiers decided to finally act out. “Bahahaha, did he seriously just faint?!” A large, greasy soldier would begin to howl out, not being able to contain his laughter. This would shatter the strange mood Trently had created by playing dead, as the rest of the group would also join in. “Y’know, I was just planning on roughing him up a bit, to see if he was worth following into battle. I didn’t expect him to keel over like that, though!”

After the brief moment of hilarity had finally passed, the moustached soldier would find himself walking towards Trently. “I’m glad you already got the dying part out of the way, cus’ if we had actually followed you into battle, we’d have died!” He shouted out, fully pulling back his leg and preparing to kick Trently’s body. However, this would be stopped in time as Trently’s attendant would finally reappear. “Stop, right this instant!” He would yell out, gripping the hilt of his sword and entering an offensive stance. The soldier would react immediately, stopping his assault and hopping away from the boy. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he would slowly begin to back away from the scene along with everyone else in the group.  

“So, um, what exactly happened here?” The escort would ask in confusion, watching Trently pick himself up off the ground. “Whatever the case, I hope you know that was a lousy first impression. After that scene, you might find it much harder to actually lead them in battle.” After a small discussion between the two, they would set back off towards their original destination. “Sorry for leaving you behind back there, I didn’t expect you to be cut off like that. Now then, earlier you had asked me about those bandages, no?” he would say with a devious tone of voice, a smirk stretching across his face. “Well, you’re just about to find that out, Commander Trently.”

As the two walked along the hillside, Trently would have plenty of time to ask his escort any questions that might be on his mind. If any important question happens to pop up during the trip, it would be answered directly after they had reached their destination.

After about five minutes of walking passed, they would finally be where they needed to be. It was a large white tent with multiple flags of war being flown at the top. “Now then, let’s get down to business.” The soldier would say, pushing the entrance flaps back and entering alongside Trently. Inside the tent might have been a bit strange to anyone not thoroughly informed, as it had nothing inside of it except for a long line of soldiers standing near a single table. “Follow me to the back of the tent, Commander.” The man said, pushing a few of the grunts out of the way for them to pass through. Passing through the line, Trently would be able to hear some of the soldiers muttering to each other, showing clear signs of irritation.

Upon reaching the back of the room, they would finally be in sights of what was going on. The entire line of soldiers were all waiting to have a strange-looking device attached to their arm. The object was entirely black and looked almost like a metal arm bracer of sorts. On top of the gadget, there was a relatively small magic circle engraved into it, showing that it was obviously a magic tool.

“That there is something Gao’s magicians whipped up for this war. I assume you could already tell that you’re to lead an army of delinquents. Well, this is a tool you’ll all be wearing to avoid any possible deserters. Not only will it give the general’s your whereabouts, but it also has another function to it. It’s built to enhance anyone’s strength that might wear it, in reality, this tool alone could possibly change the tides of the war. So, what do you think, Commander Trently?”

Tsunko felt extremely embarrassed as the woman spoke to him. It was almost as if she was his equal, being bossy with her mannerisms like that. However, part of this worried about how she would act in battle. He didn't need her being reckless on the field. For both of their sake.

"Tsunko! Stay within my line of sight always! I'll be watching your back mostly as well as everyone elses."

What was she talking about? He didn't need her protection. Tsunko covered his face with his hand to hide his blushing complexion, closing his eyes. She continued to go on about knowledge being more important than brute force. While he stayed silent to not admit it, she was correct and he knew this. Flashes of the scene from that day flickered in and out of his mind. His scar felt as if it was on fire. This feeling was the only thing driving him. However, his intentions weren't as clear as they would seem. A handful of black rukh lingered around the man, replacing the pink. Lestacia would see his as he walked. A few nearby magicians noticed this as well, harboring devious grins on their faces. The surrounding atmosphere was horrifying, filled with a hatred and malice that seemed to radiate off of a lot of the people there.

The darkness would feel like it was gripping at Lestacia, trying to pull her into it. But just as fast as it came, it went. Like a swift breeze passing her body. He let out a deep breath, regaining his composure as they reached a shoddy tent. Tsunko lifted up the flap, looking back at her. There was a sense of emptiness and coldness in his eyes. But his face was as stern as before. His eyes like many others, were the window to his soul. It was like he was calling out for help but couldn't place his pride aside to ask. He was a man, he thought, he didn't need to harbor such weak emotions. However, this only contributed to the darkness in his heart and the curse he placed upon his fate. "You don't need to worry about me, woman. I've been in this scenario enough to know that. However, I will allow you to help me. The rest of these buffoons care only for bloodshed."

He would allow her to walk in first, holding the tent open for her. Inside, it was dark. There was a table in the middle with an array of maps laid out on top. In the corner of the room, there was a silhouette of a massive bird. It would be hard to distinguish until Tsunko lit the lamp within the tent. The beast was a giant hawk, bigger than any ordinary avian. It had a saddle on it's back and various accessories that served little purpose than to make the bird look more beautiful than it already did. "Don't worry about him. But to fill you in on our current situation..." Tsunko walked over to the table, pointing at specific areas on one of the maps.

"I've scouted above this location and... here. Yoshiro has a small army moving up to where I presume would be here. The northern pathway is open but it will most likely be guarded unless they're stupid. We could break through the north but... they'd just escape back to their ranks in the south. We could try splitting our troops but fifty men may not be enough to break through their armies there. Perhaps you may see another way we should go about this? I would prefer to cut down losses for... reasons."

He looked at her with a stern expression, waiting for her answer. It was a change of attitude but she seemed to be uninfluenced by the emperors corruption. Nor did she seem his demise. Out of the pack of wolves he commanded, it seemed as if they were the only sheep. Tsunko was taking a gamble by placing some of his trust in her. If they were to fail the task appointed to them, it would most likely mean trouble for them both. Or perhaps even death.

Morale was high as the men roared their battle cries, bringing on a type of inebriation based on fervor rather than any sort of drug. Adrenaline pumped through them like liquid fire, each man becoming more and more focused on the army in front of them rather than the circling watchdog...and her hound. Some of these men were hardened killers, others mere thieves, some still being felons of circumstance who didn’t even know how to fight. Regardless, they all had little more than false bravado and faux bravery to cling to, that and the scant hope that they might live to see their promised freedom.

Dreams of survival would be crushed along with the grass under marching feet as orders came from either side of the battlefield...advance. It was hard to say which of the forces made the first move, but the armies of both Gao and Yoshiro were now approaching each other, their inevitable clash set to take place in the valley plains between them. The marching was slow at first, men keeping a steady pace in order to maintain formations. Both armies consisted primarily of infantry, but as the archer units of either banner got into range, a hail of arrows would begin to pepper the footsoldiers. Blood was shed here and there, but for the most part shields and armor made the volleys relatively insignificant.

At last, the first waves got close enough that an infantry charge was viable. Gao’s men had seemed to leave behind the large wooden crates scattered throughout their lines, leaving them to lightly armored troops who were now slowly wheeling the crates forward to catch up with the battle. On the other hand, Yoshiro’s forces had the numerical advantage and took on a more defensive posture, holding their formation firm. The sea of Gao’s men crashed against the waterside cliff that was Yoshiro’s army. Death dealt its toll out indiscriminately across the battlefield and the ground quickly became soaked with blood.

Watching all this from afar, the group of criminal’s ceased their roaring. The fire in their blood turned ice cold. The false bravery was torn away by reality, their fear and uncertainty showing clear as day. Blackwood was among the few who didn’t turn pale in the face, though he did grimace upon noticing how quickly these men had turned soft on him. The mountain of a brigand noticed Diana as she came into view during her latest circle and then shot her a twisted look. One of glee as if he had just come up with a sinister scheme. ”What happened to all that energy from just a moment ago? It’s gonna be our turn next, ya damn fools! Take a good look over there!” Blackwood pointed directly at Diana, or rather at her dog Pluto to be more precise. ”See that mutt? The cursed thing drools acid. If we don’t do our job, that mangy mongrel is gonna chew on our bones until they dissolve, do you want that!?”

While this all took place, a glint of light would catch Diana’s eye. Not from among the bandits, but rather, from farther off beyond even the current melee of soldiers. It came from one of the wooden crates that were being pushed towards the fighting from Gao’s side of the battlefield...

He inhaled sharply as he listened to Aseo speak to him. Sun wasn't impressed with his speech mannerisms. For a noble, this boy had terrible manners. He was focusing much too hard on his use of faith in his previous statement. Much to his annoyance, he even addressed him by his full name. This slight bit of disrespect caused an awkward silence to fill the air accompanied by inaudible whispers. It would be clear to Aseo that he had said something wrong yet again as the air grew tense. The blonde guard noticed his gaze and walked over to him, smacking the boy over the head with his hand. Much like a parent would do to discipline their child. "He doesn't care where you came from. Nor of your apology. You will address him as 'sir' and 'commander'. It is an insult to call your commanding officer by their name unless you are their equal. I'm sure he will forgive you for this last time since you are clearly not used to being in the army." The man spoke in a soft voice but it was stern. A gentle smile directed itself towards Sun. Which the tactician noticed once he looked back with an annoyed expression.

Aseo would find himself completely ignored by the white magician as he focused on his work. The soldiers in the plains below had finally begun to move forward according to the various plans laid out in front of him. "Jiahao, please patrol the northern exit. If there is any sign of enemies, alert us. Ming, station yourself in the south exit. Qiang, I will need you to deliver information for me, standby." Sun already began ordering people around the camp. The blonde guard would pat Aseo on the back and shake his head. "I can't excuse you from trouble again. So be careful, alright? You may call me Yating, by the way. I've worked my way up here from just a child when Emperor Gao still ruled these lands. If anyone here knows the sir, it's me. I've been with him the longest. I could help teach you if you'd like?" He asked, smiling kindly at Aseo.

The winds began to pick up around the area as Sun slowly opened his fan. "Cut." With a simple swipe through the air, it all blew directly in front of him in transparent wisps. A few magicians suddenly revealed themselves, falling down in bloody ribbons to the ground below. "Seems they are stupid enough to attack us head on. What are your thoughts on this?" For such a serious matter, Sun seemed to take this lightly. It was a learning opportunity to him but certainly not a threat. "Sir! Should we double up the guard in the north?" Sun shook his head. "No, Jiahao will alert us if he sees anything." The guard nodded in compliance. There was a faint discoloration in the sky that faded away into the blind spots of the location. This intrigued him. "We should expect a fight here soon. But we will hold location. However... while we have numbers... Gao has a trick up his sleeve."

It wasn't long until the mountain began to rumble in protest of some sort of explosion. This powerful jolt caught his attention. "Qiang, send for a few reinforcements." While his demeanor was calm, he knew something was not quite right. "To have snuck past me undetected... I would expect no less from one of his generals." A twisted smile formed across his face. He was excited for the events that were to unfold. "Perhaps we shall use their bodies to form a wall. I have faith that you all can handle them? I must return to work." Yating looked worried but braced his emotions for what was to come. He drew his sword and grabbed his shield. "This is a good lesson. To be a tactician means to be in the war as well." His shaky hands hinted that this man may have not been in actual combat before. There was a reason for him to be afraid. But that was unknown to those around him.

Baring a toothful grin, Trently’s guide would place his hand upon one of the deactivated devices. “Your army is special, commander. While you may not have Gao’s full trust yet, I suspect that he is giving you this power because he wishes for you to succeed. You are leading this army against one of Yoshiro’s battalions, and he is sure to have more soldiers than us. However, with the power Gao is bestowing upon you...there is no doubt in my mind that you will come out victorious.”  The soldier’s grip on the device would tighten, yanking it up from the table and holding it out towards Trently. “Now then, I hope you don’t hold it against me, but this has to be done. That is, if you wish to defeat Kasai.”

Two muscular soldiers would make their way up behind Trently, placing their hands upon his waist and forcing up his left arm. With or without Trently trying to struggle, his guide would force the device upon him. The latches would begin sealing themselves, Trently would then feel as if a needle had pierced directly into his wrist. After one would assume the process was finished, an agonizing pain would shoot up the boy’s arm. A black snake-like vein would make its way up his arm, taking root into his shoulder and branching out throughout the nervous system in his arm. The installation was complete, whether Trently wanted the process to go through or not.

“Your goal out there today, is to pierce through enemy lines and rush towards killing that father of yours. The other battalions will keep that fakes forces back so it’ll be a perfect opportunity.~ Gao and I are expecting a lot from you, boyo.” An all-too familiar voice would whisper from behind Trently. It was none-other than General Hei Lu, Gao’s right hand man. An oppressive aura would be released from the man, putting Trently in his place if he were to try and rebel against his fellow soldiers. “If you have any questions, now is the time to ask. I have a lot to do today, so don’t hold me up, Kokoko.~”

After everything was wrapped up inside of the tent, conversations included, Trently would find himself back to following his original guide. After a good five minute walk, they were finally back to where they had started. However, things were much different now. The army of soldiers was not only organized, but they were completely prepared for battle. Every single one of them would be facing towards their new commander, Trently. Now was the time for him to make his first step as a leading officer, this first impression would create the army’s opinion on the boy. The crowd was in a blood-thirsty uproar, shouting various things such as; “I’m ready to fight!”, or merely shouting Gao’s name out in glory.


After Trently’s first encounter with the squad, the long-awaited battle would finally begin. The rain was heavy now, drowning out most of the battalion’s battle cries. This day was surely suited for a war such as this, as the storm itself was growing ever violent. The field was completely open, nothing standing in the way of this battle. That was, except for the thick black line, the line that seemed as if the world was just cut off. What was this line? It was Yoshiro’s forces, 15,000 men awaiting Trently’s measly 5,000. This battle would be hard-fought, though, Trently had an ace. The magic tool that every single soldier in his battalion had, including himself.  

With a single horn of war blown, the battle would initiate on Trently’s signal. In mere seconds, the ground would be stained with Kou blood. Surprisingly enough, though, Trently’s squadron wasn’t being slaughtered with ease. A single one of his soldiers was enough to keep ten of Gao’s men at bay. The magic tool given to them was working, and Trently would soon feel the effects of it as well. The black veins running throughout his arm would tighten, numbing his entire left arm. However, a tingling sensation could be felt as each one of the muscles in that arm would strengthen ten-fold. This would grant Trently an amazing amount of raw strength, enough to hold his own in this battle. His goal, was to make it through the fight, into the back. That was where his father would be, waiting for him to arrive.

Making his way towards the fight, Trently would hardly be able to make out the five soldiers that were making their way to him. They were all armed to the teeth, one in particular though, was wielding a large tooth-edged sword. Trently’s first encounter on the battlefield would start shortly, however, he wouldn’t be alone in this fight, as he was now accompanied by two men from his own battalion. Soldier’s that Trently should recognize, it was the moustached fellow and the greasy man from earlier.

The wooden table creaked as he leaned over it, getting himself comfortable. He paid close attention to her words, starting to shake his head slightly. It wouldn't work as well as she thought it would. But a rare smile crept across his lips as he listened. Her confidence and vigor was to be envied. However, the smile went as fast as it came back to his steeled expression. As much as he enjoyed her company at the moment, there was no time for playing around. Tsunko would wait until she was finished speaking until coming to a conclusion. He let her plan stew around in his head for a few moments.

"They may be in the canyon but our units will be there as well. If we do what you're saying, you'd send everyone, regardless of if they serve the Emperor or Yoshiro to their death. There is most likely a group of scouts situated at the top of the mountain. When I flew above, I was too high to count the amount of men making their way up there. But ignoring their station would be a horrible call. The men below would see us coming from a mile away."

He moved away from the table, holding his chin and pacing back and forth. Her plan wouldn't have been terrible given their circumstances but he had to perform perfectly. There was no risking a single mistake. The fact that this was impossible scared him. A bead of sweat formed upon his forehead, trailing down his face. After clearing his throat, he spoke:

"I think our best bet is to still sneak around. The first wave of forces should be moving in soon. We should send a few units ahead to scout the danger. Perhaps a few magicians who can use light magic to conceal themselves. Then we will have the rest conceal us as we move in groups to the location. Naturally, making too much noise will give away our location. I believe that this will be the best course of action. However, Miss Lestacia, I appreciate your input. It... helped me organize my thoughts."

Tsunko bowed politely towards her before opening the flap to the tent in order to exit. Before he stepped out completely, he would turn to her. "Get yourself prepared but make sure you don't talk to anyone. These people are not to be trusted. If you need anything, come to me." After that, he would exit, leaving her in the tent with his beast. The bird wouldn't bother Lestacia but would coo lightly, grooming its feathers. Tsunko would be walking around the camp, giving orders to the various commanders that worked under him. A few magicians would take off to scout the area, concealed in their light magic, however they weren't completely invisible. They had waited enough time for the magicians to return.

"Commanders, it seems that there are quite a few men stationed on top of the mountain. Some of which are unarmored and seemingly weaker than the rest."

"That's quite the red flag." One of the commanders said, chuckling a bit. Tsunko took a pause, thinking if there was anything in the current strategy that needed to be changed. "Just proceed with caution. Expect anything at a moments notice. Let's start leaving, I will take the healer and drop down once you give the signal." The men nodded, organizing orders between themselves and their men.

Moments pass and it was finally time to get going. Tsunko would return to his tent to grab his mask and great bow. He placed it upon his face, making him almost unrecognizable. It was similar to those from the Kina Kingdom along with his armor. This made it clear his origins were not purely from the main regions of Kou. The bow was almost as tall as him seemingly made of gnarled wood. There was another opening in the tent that he walked his beast out of. He led the bird, his great bow resting around his arm with a quiver of giant lance-like, iron arrows. From his frame, it didn't seem he could wield such a gigantic weapon. There was a magic circle engraved on the topside, clearly visible to anyone who looked close enough.


Tsunko would find Lestacia if she hadn't been around him already. "Are you ready? You're coming with us for now. She can fly high enough and her white undercoat allows us to stay naturally hidden. Make sure you hold on tight." He said, placing his hand on her head in a friendly gesture. Tsunko mounted on top of the bird and would wait until she was comfortable before taking off. Before the flight he would clip his bow to the side of the bird so it wouldn't get in her way. The quiver was at his side so it wouldn't be a nuisance. The hawk would take off, it's wings stretching out to massive lengths. They would soar high above the ground, able to oversee the plains below. "It seems the fight has already started..." Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he anticipated the action below. Through fear and his itch to prove himself, he tensed up.

As they drew closer, a strong gust of wind jerked the bird back significantly. If it weren't for its excellent control, they would have been thrown off. Tsunko had gripped tightly against the saddle and Lestacia so neither of them would fall. He would quickly turn his head back to see if she was alright before steering to the left. The magicians that were flying under them were torn to shreds, sending them down to the earth below in trails of crimson. There was something on that mountain that was fiercer than he could have imagined. They flew their way around the mountain, keeping adequate distance. It was dangerous but they were seemingly out of range. His vision focused on the mountain top, clearer than before. Did they have magicians as well? He couldn't quite tell for sure but the recent incident was enough evidence to suspect. His men would begin to pool around the entrance to the path. A glimmer of light shined briefly, giving him the signal to land.

He led the bird to the ground in an obscure location. The hawk would fly off immediately after they got off her. "We will have to walk from here. I will call her back when I need her but we must go on foot. Once we step near the foot of the mountain we will be hidden and will see the others. If we get separated, all I ask is for you to stay safe. You're needed to keep this army in good shape. Do not worry about those who have fallen. They are dead." His tone of voice was cold, detached. As if he did not care. Tsunko began walking towards the foot of the mountain. As they caught up with the rest, they suddenly came into view. Out of what he thought was his duty, he moved to the front lines, leading the men up the mountain path.

It seemed undefended... too bare for his liking. He quietly drew his bow, notching one of the arrows into it. The bow groaned as he pulled it back. His footsteps gentle and slow as he crept up the pathway. It radiated with a black light as the magic circle glowed faintly. Suddenly, a figure came walking casually towards them. Before he could even notice, Tsunko released the arrow into him. It pierced through the man like butter despite his armor and straight into the ground making the mountain tremble. He would prepare another arrow before pressing on at a quicker pace. If that didn't alert the enemy, it would be a miracle or that they were walking straight into a trap.

Though Diana didn’t have much to do other than circle the men up till now, the act was not going unnoticed. The men were seemingly focused on Blackwood and the mass of soldiers that was clashing up ahead. But as the seconds passed by, more and more of them would begin to notice her. With each circle, more men couldn’t help but become more aware of the fact that this woman and her monstrous canine were watching them. The other soldiers from Yoshiro’s faction which were acting as guards seemed to be mindful of Diana’s actions as well, feeling pleased at how it seemed to make the former criminals nervous despite Blackwood’s constant attempts to keep them pumped up and ready for battle.

One man seemed surprised when Diana voiced her concerns about the wooden crates being wheeled in on Gao’s side. ”I don’t think anyone is looking forward to seeing what’s inside...my money's on wild beasts of some sort. It wouldn’t be the first time that bastard, Gao has used creatures in warfare. I may be a Kou citizen but my ancestors were originally plainsfolk. We were forced to leave our lands because Gao’s men slaughtered the animals we primarily hunted for food and materials.” As the man gave a bit of backstory on himself, he made a grim face as though there were many more unenjoyable memories tied to this information which he simply didn’t want to share. ”Granted, that’s a far cry from unleashing animals onto a battlefield. But it was using beasts to hurt his enemy. If that monster is fine with butchering bison, I wouldn’t be surprised if he drugged or starved some tigers and planned on unleashing them. Our Emperor Yoshiro would never do something like that! Even these thugs being offered a chance at freedom was a decision made behind his back. I don’t thin-”

”Hey, watch what you’re saying.”

Another soldier nearby used the butt of his spear to give the speaking man a warning strike to the foot. He had said too much in speaking of the deal offered to the criminals. Realizing his mistake, he rubbed the back of his head and looked down dejected, ”R-Right...sorry. Anyways, good luck out there ma’am. It looks like it’s our turn.” The guard said just after a war horn was blown and its sound groaned across the army in front of the fortress. It was the signal for the second wave to advance!

Finally, the bandit brigade was set to mobilize. They advanced towards the mass of combatting countrymen steadily at first until the distance was closed in enough that they could make a sprint to the ranks of soldiers waiting on reinforcements in a sprint without having to stop and catch their breath. The giant-like Blackwood was at the front of the group, his battleaxe hefted on his shoulder as he scanned the lines for a spot where the enemy was thin. There was one group of monster-like soldiers from Gao’s side whom all hand bandaged arms and fought like demons. Blackwood grimaced and turned his attention away from that group almost immediately. Instead, his attention focused on a nearby section of the battle field where Gao’s troops had only three or four ranks of men deep as opposed to the half dozen ranks deep found across the rest of the clashing armies.

”There!”

Blackwood pointed with his axe and then let out a roar as he turned and led the group charging leftward before making a gradual turn. ”Open ranks!” One of the guards shouted towards Yoshiro’s men whom were still holding a defensive line, fighting mostly to keep themselves alive rather than to slay the enemy. A captain in charge of a small unit heard the call and turned to see the incoming group of escorted brigands. The captain relayed orders to his men and timed it perfectly. Just before Blackwood and his band of desperate fools ran into Yoshiro’s men, they parted shields and withdrew spears creating a hole in the lines.

For a brief moment, Gao’s men on the other side became excited thinking they had broken through, but the sight of crazed killers roaring and charging their way quickly crushed such delusions. Blackwood and his men broke into the horde in a frenzy of blood. Should Diana follow them she would quickly find herself assaulted by a handful of soldiers fighting under Gao’s banner. There were three soldiers in particular, one on Diana’s right and the other two on her left, which would use their spears to stab violently towards Pluto in an attempt to cripple her mount. The stabs would each come one after the other starting with one of the men on her left, then the one on the right, ending the triplet of attacks with the other soldier on her left thrusting out.

Enemy Information:

[/b]

Faint sparks of electricity now bounced sporadically around the tip of his arrow. His lips formed a smug smirk as he deactivated the function of his magic tool. "You're certainly good for something other than healing." The comment was quiet but wouldn't fall shy of her ears. As they slowly crept up the mountain, three more men came running down but before they could run back in the other direction, Tsunko shot them down with a single blow. The sparks flying out in a wide cone from his target made quick work of the other two. This allowed for his attacks to be quieter, near silent aside from the thump of their bodies hitting the floor. One of the fallen men reached his hand out in front of him in a desperate attempt to crawl away. Tsunko gave him a quick glance but ultimately ignored him. He would soon be a dead man and wasn't deserving of his attention. They soon got sight of an opening into the area where their enemies were waiting.

Tsunko waved his hand, pressing himself against the mountainside to hide in their blind spot. "On my signal, I want the infantry to charge in there. Then the magicians may follow suit to counteract them but be careful. Lestacia, your job is to keep most of our men alive but don't over exhaust yourself. I want both exits blocked so they have no escape. It is near impossible we fall here. Knock them all off the cliff. I'll take care of the fliers." With those orders, every single one of his army readied themselves. A stiff silence lingered and the only sound to be heard was the soft shuffling of Tsunko's boots as he inched towards the edge. He held up his fingers, slowly counting down. One... two... three! A sudden rush of men blew past him and into the clearing. Tsunko quickly peeked out into the area, counting the enemies in the area. "Stay behind me," he said to Lestacia before whipping around the corner, unleashing a powerful arrow straight into one of the enemy soldiers.

A ten meter wide code of electricity sparked from the man. It would cover most of the area leaving most of the soldiers in danger, including Aseo. Most of the soldiers were able to block the shock with their shields but inevitably had to drop them. The attack would be powerful enough to kill on impact. So, a few men who were left unprotected or hadn't dropped their swords in time met a painful death. The stench of burning bodies filled the air as they fell and convulsed on the ground. Sun Liang was able to evade the attack with ease, now flying in the air. Tsunko escaped under cover before loading his massive bow up with another arrow. It would be clear that Tsunko and his soldiers outnumbered the small group led under Liang. There were very little deaths on both sides and it seemed to be at a stalemate. Liang would skillfully dodge and block any attacks that were directed at him, preferring to watch over the battle.

If Aseo managed to escape the large cone of sparks, a few soldiers on foot would attempt to get up close and attack him. They were trying to take advantage of his seemingly weak appearance. If he counted, he would notice there are five of them, all coming at him from different directions with their shields up. They would all attempt to slash at his sides in random patterns with their swords. Yating was locked in battle with a few soldiers, fending well for himself but still clearly scared and on the defensive. "Yating! Clear your mind!" Liang wanted to encourage his favorite student but it fell on deaf ears. However, within the heat of battle, there were still a few soldiers that had fallen. It was fairly distinguishable who was friend or foe but these men clung to their lives still. Lestacia would likely noticed these wounded soldiers if she chose to look for them. However, Tsunko would ready himself to rid of all of them, pointing his arrow carefully at one of the crawling men within the midst. The man would notice this and seemingly begin to beg for his life but it wouldn't phase him.

Tsunko's Greatbow:

Enemies for Aseo:

"For years, he treated us like shit... If an ambush is what you want, you can have that and his head..." Trently’s response not only shocked his guide, but also General Hei Lu to an extent. He was honestly surprised the boy hadn’t burst into tears yet, after being painfully equipped with the magic tool. That, and his surprising resolve to end his own father’s life. ‘Perhaps, this boy might actually surprise us, Emperor Gao.’ Hei Lu would think to himself, walking away from the scene.
--
The sound of metal clashing rung throughout the battlefield, accompanied by the faint sound of thunder. Trently’s blade would be matched with the saw-tooth user’s own, however, the difference in strength was clear as day. The man’s palms began to sweat, causing the grip on his sword to become loose and shaky. Trently’s newly-found strength was enough to slice through the man’s rusty saw-toothed sword like butter, straight into his right shoulder. The man let out a yelp of pain as the blade continued to tear through flesh and bone, cutting his arm right off. One way or another, Trently would soon learn of this brand new source of power he had obtained. If he didn’t notice the newly found strength itself, he would surely feel the sudden wriggling under his skin. While the feeling might have been sickening to most at first, it would soon become a source of empowerment for the boy. Whatever was underneath his skin would begin digging deep into his muscles, wrapping itself around them. The magic tool was enhancing Trently’s raw strength ten-fold, granting him the needed strength to fight in this outnumbered battle.

While Trently’s focus was directed onto the man in front of him, both the Greasy and Moustached men would stand guard behind him. While they weren’t exactly willing to put their entire faith into their new Commander, they knew it was no time to start an argument with him. From their perspective, it was obvious that the man Trently was taking on was the group’s leader. So, they would be tasked to deal with the four remaining soldiers at his side.

Moustached Soldier:

Greasy Soldier:

In unison, the duo would make their way towards Trently’s side. “Tch, I can’t say that I see you as my Commander still, but I’m willing to fight with you this one time after that speech earlier.” The moustached man would say in an agitated voice, pulling a fancy-looking rapier from his side. The greasy man at the boy’s other side would say something similar to what his partner had just said, except in a much more muffled voice, so no one could really hear him. He would then swing a long claymore over his shoulder. They were both ready to fight alongside their Commander. After any potential conversations with Trently, they would suddenly dash off towards their own opponents, two for each of them.

Despite Trently’s opponent losing his right arm, the fight was not yet over. The man would let out a bloodcurdling warcry, signaling any nearby troops to assist him. He would quickly begin putting space between himself and the boy, to not only regain his posture but to also wrap a bandage around his untreated nub. “What is the meaning of this? Not a single soldier here looks like they should have such strength, but…” The man would continue staring Trently down, trying to figure out the secret behind his strength. That was when he noticed the bandage on his arm, perhaps it was hiding something? Without questioning it further, the man’s face would begin to turn sour, showing that he was clearly displeased with something. That was when two more of Yoshiro’s soldiers would finally arrive, both sat upon brown stallions. Without a single word spoken to each other, one of the soldier’s would hop off. He was trading places with the man Trently was fighting against, but for what reason?    

Whipping the back of his horse, the man would now be on the verge of escaping, with the other soldier on a horse following directly behind him. Would Trently continue to pursue him? Or will he continue fighting along his own men, against the soldier who was now standing before him. The soldier was a tall well-built man, adorning heavy red-plated armor. He held the scabbard of a nodachi in his hands, withdrawing the blade as he made his way towards Trently. “So, son of Kasai. Show me just what you can do.” He would laugh out, lunging towards Trently with his large blade fully unsheathed, ready to kill the boy.

Enemy Information:

Faint sparks of electricity now bounced sporadically around the tip of his arrow. His lips formed a smug smirk as he deactivated the function of his magic tool. "You're certainly good for something other than healing." The comment was quiet but wouldn't fall shy of her ears. As they slowly crept up the mountain, three more men came running down but before they could run back in the other direction, Tsunko shot them down with a single blow. The sparks flying out in a wide cone from his target made quick work of the other two. This allowed for his attacks to be quieter, near silent aside from the thump of their bodies hitting the floor. One of the fallen men reached his hand out in front of him in a desperate attempt to crawl away. Tsunko gave him a quick glance but ultimately ignored him. He would soon be a dead man and wasn't deserving of his attention. They soon got sight of an opening into the area where their enemies were waiting.

Tsunko waved his hand, pressing himself against the mountainside to hide in their blind spot. "On my signal, I want the infantry to charge in there. Then the magicians may follow suit to counteract them but be careful. Lestacia, your job is to keep most of our men alive but don't over exhaust yourself. I want both exits blocked so they have no escape. It is near impossible we fall here. Knock them all off the cliff. I'll take care of the fliers." With those orders, every single one of his army readied themselves. A stiff silence lingered and the only sound to be heard was the soft shuffling of Tsunko's boots as he inched towards the edge. He held up his fingers, slowly counting down. One... two... three! A sudden rush of men blew past him and into the clearing. Tsunko quickly peeked out into the area, counting the enemies in the area. "Stay behind me," he said to Lestacia before whipping around the corner, unleashing a powerful arrow straight into one of the enemy soldiers.

A ten meter wide code of electricity sparked from the man. It would cover most of the area leaving most of the soldiers in danger, including Aseo. Most of the soldiers were able to block the shock with their shields but inevitably had to drop them. The attack would be powerful enough to kill on impact. So, a few men who were left unprotected or hadn't dropped their swords in time met a painful death. The stench of burning bodies filled the air as they fell and convulsed on the ground. Sun Liang was able to evade the attack with ease, now flying in the air. Tsunko escaped under cover before loading his massive bow up with another arrow. It would be clear that Tsunko and his soldiers outnumbered the small group led under Liang. There were very little deaths on both sides and it seemed to be at a stalemate. Liang would skillfully dodge and block any attacks that were directed at him, preferring to watch over the battle.

If Aseo managed to escape the large cone of sparks, a few soldiers on foot would attempt to get up close and attack him. They were trying to take advantage of his seemingly weak appearance. If he counted, he would notice there are five of them, all coming at him from different directions with their shields up. They would all attempt to slash at his sides in random patterns with their swords. Yating was locked in battle with a few soldiers, fending well for himself but still clearly scared and on the defensive. "Yating! Clear your mind!" Liang wanted to encourage his favorite student but it fell on deaf ears. However, within the heat of battle, there were still a few soldiers that had fallen. It was fairly distinguishable who was friend or foe but these men clung to their lives still. Lestacia would likely noticed these wounded soldiers if she chose to look for them. However, Tsunko would ready himself to rid of all of them, pointing his arrow carefully at one of the crawling men within the midst. The man would notice this and seemingly begin to beg for his life but it wouldn't phase him.

Tsunko's Greatbow:

Enemies for Aseo: