20. Next Steps

The timing was atrocious. How did the Avalon Empire find a blind spot behind their lines? Even if they pushed through one of the regions, the other patrols would have noticed them long before with the improved network. They were the forward scouts on the outer perimeters, which was the only reason their patrol was far more detached.

Nathanial hid his troubled expression, noticing the men surrounding him. Even though his helm covered his entire face, there was a saying that others could sense unease, and right now, he couldn’t show a sign of weakness as their leader.

This role truly is troublesome…

His gaze swept across his men. Their hearts gripped by fear and disbelief at the current situation. He saw it in the white-knuckled grip of hands tightly clenched at their sides. Sweat dripped down on the faces of men with their visors raised, and just hours ago, it seemed like their forces were preparing to meet the enemy in an open field. But now, the campaign had shifted, and the battle was no longer in their favor.

Far from the wooden fortress, a relentless barrage tore apart the night sky. Blazing spheres of arcane light rained down on the encampment. Each one was like a falling star, striking the translucent barriers that formed their defenses with one last dying scream. A concussive explosion rattled the surroundings with a gust of wind fiercely pushing back against their bodies. Layers of barriers formed by their artifacts were holding out against the onslaught of spells, but for how long?

Nathanial felt the vibrations travel deep into the soles of his boots. The hexagonal barriers violently flared with every impact, dispersing the sparks that rained harmlessly along the outside of the shield while briefly illuminating the ruptured landscape.

The defenses were holding, yet Nathanial saw the strain showing. He couldn’t enhance his vision with aura to strengthen his sight, but it didn’t take a genius to know that the artifact crystals could only endure so much. If it was like the demonstrations he had seen before, then the objects were radiating an intense dry heat as they overheated with mana.

Another volley of fiery spheres rained down on the dome overhead. The barrier flickered once more, buying precious time for the men inside to fortify their positions and dig in further.

“Damn… how could this happen?” Fredrick asked, gritting his teeth. “Are you telling me that a force that large had somehow just sneaked past our network?”

Richard shook his head. “That wouldn’t be possible. We’re stationed on the east side of the southern border. Even if the Empire surrounded our encampment, reinforcements from the other sections would come and help us break free.”

“Unless they couldn’t,” Nathanial pointed out.

His voice drew everyone’s attention.

“I’ve been thinking about what could have led to the current turn of events,” Nathanial looked them in the eye and continued. “From what I know, the watchmen leaving on their operation is most likely the reason we haven’t seen any of those black-cloaked bastards in the forest.”

Fredrick raised a concerned brow. “What are you saying? That those guys are the answer to the Watchmen?”

“If I had to take a guess, a battle is unfolding between the two. That’s why Luka and John left so soon.”

“But will they even win against them?” Chris raised the question that split the patrol in two.

And hearing that, Fredrick couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger. “What the fuck did you just say?” He glared at him before drawing closer. “What gives you the right to judge whether they’ll pull through?”

“I’m just saying that—”

“Just saying what?” Fredrick interrupted. “That they’ll fail? Look around you, we’ve been out here for hours and haven’t seen a single one of those cloaked bastards, and here you are doubting them when you should trust that they’ll deliver.”

Chris immediately frowned. “Trust that they’ll deliver? We don’t even know them; for all we know, they could have left.”

“You son of a—”

“Enough.” Nathanial’s cold voice stopped them both dead in their tracks. He stepped between the two, pointing at Fredrick, then at Chris. “You two fucking listen to me. We are in the middle of enemy territory, and now isn’t the time for infighting. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” they responded.

“Good, now Richard, what do you think we should do?”

Richard calmly observed the battlefield. Even without Nathanial asking, he knew their options were limited, but that didn’t mean they could just sit around and do nothing.

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“You won’t like what I’m about to say, but if I were in your position, Nathanial, I would look toward intercepting one of their supply wagons.”

His words left the other members of the patrol stunned. Some raised their voices in protest, while others hesitantly nodded their heads. Even Chris found himself at a crossroads before agreeing.

Yet, despite Nathanial knowing that this was also one of their choices, he stood conflicted.

“Not all of us would make it out—no, there’s a high chance none of us would make it out,” Nathanial said softly. “This would be the last time most of us would see each other.”

Some of the patrol members immediately protested the idea. Their group fractured, with voices overlapping each other. Yet the words never reached him. Instead, Nathanial gazed at the dark sky where the moon hid behind the clouds, seeking shelter from the bloodshed and loss that would ensue.

He knew he couldn’t protect everyone in the patrol, but fought with that intention from the start. Before his vow, that was who he was. And as some men wanted to run, he turned to them and asked, “Where would you go? Where would you run knowing that the Empire is at our doorstep, wanting to turn our families into slaves?”

None of them could answer.

“This war… isn’t just about our survival. It’s about protecting those who can’t protect themselves.”