I stood at the vanguard as we moved toward the intended location. We tried to be discreet, but a squad of 50 people dressed in chainmail can only be so much quiet. A dozen of recruits stood at the back as reserves and to protect us from rear attacks.

Everyone had chosen their favorite weapons. I obviously picked the mace, it had never betrayed me so far.

Except for the archers, we all had a shield in our left hand. We marched keeping formation as the sergeant had instructed us.

After a while, we started hearing screeches up ahead and put our guard up. I just need to not die. My mind was full of optimism.

「Soldier: Everyone, stand ready and keep advancing!」

A soldier had been tasked to lead us recruits so we wouldn't embarrass ourselves and the whole military.

「Soldier: There they are! ARCHERS!」

The soldier shouted as he glanced back.

The six archers we had, readied their arrows waiting for a clear sight.

The verklings came into view, running fast.

「Soldier: FIRE!」

The archers released their arrows.

On the first volley, only two arrows hit the mark. The second volley was more fruitful. But at that moment they had gotten close enough that we had to engage in close combat.

「Soldier: ENGAGE! STICK TOGETHER!」

Alright! I moved along with the unit.

We closed our gaps and brought up our shield to slam them on the charging verklings. As I recalled, verklings could hit pretty hard so I infused some mana for good measure.

The one that hit my shield found itself pushed back and stunned. I took the opportunity to turn its skull into porridge.

One down. Well done, Allen. I smiled and gave myself a mental pat.

The rich kid on my right had been less successful and had been knocked half a meter back. He was panicking and not being very productive. What a noob.

I gave a back-swing at the verkling skull, not enough to kill, but enough it sent it sprawling dazed against his shield.

The rich kid was wasting the opportunity being indecisive.

「Allen: USE THAT DAMN SPEAR!」

I gently encouraged the recruit. He got his shit together and started spearing the stunned monster. He screamed like a bitch, though. I guess it was his first time killing a monster.

I looked ahead.

The creatures were pouring from the trees. I caught a movement from above, right in time to see one about to jump over us.

「Allen: ABOVE!」

An archer saw it in time to shot at it. The arrow connected but the creature fell on one of the vanguard recruits sending others sprawling about.

「Soldier: COVER THE GAP!」

The other recruits swarmed to close the gap. One of the reserves speared the monster a few times while the downed recruit regained his feet.

Whew, we're having so much fun. I thought through gritted teeth.

More verklings slammed into our shields and I kept smashing skulls. I could be home chilling but here I am, tricked by a pair of tits.

It was a good pair of tits, though. I couldn't blame Violet for my weaknesses.

「Rearguard: THEY'RE COMING FROM BEHIND!」

「Soldier: CIRCLE FORMATION!」

We obeyed.

A group of four verklings decided to focus on me. Oh boy, here we go. Why me?!

「Allen: FUCK!」

Screw it. I rushed forward a few steps to balance the impact on the shield.

CLANG!

Wasted effort. I was sent flying back with one of them clinging on the shield.

As I was falling back I tilted the shield to the left to push it away, while I swung my mace forward hitting the other one on the neck. I hit the ground.

I released my hold on the shield and rolled back regaining my feet.

The third verkling was onto me but a reserve unit speared it from the side.

「Allen: Thanks!」

I thanked the man keeping my eyes on my prey.

I finished the verkling with my signature skull crush using both hands, then I took a deep breath.

The other recruits were finishing off the other two goblins who had breached the formation. I was panting hard, I retired within the circle to recover from the excitement. All this swinging, running and jumping had taken a toll on my stamina.

I heard a rustling from above, another fucking jumper!

I didn't even have time to shout a warning as a yellow-grey skinned dipshit fell upon an archer, ready to claw his eyes out.

Before that happened, I jumped at it and grabbed its head with both hands, casting freeze. Then I hit hard with my knee breaking it into pieces. The archer screamed like a girl.

「Allen: Can I get a fucking breather?!」

I said to no one in particular.

If Vallachio were here, I'm sure he would have been proud of me. I swear I could almost hear his "Hohoho" mixed with the ruckus.

I turned again to the front lines to assess the situation. The monsters were retreating.

「Soldier: They're running away! Archers!」

The archers loosened a volley hitting a few.

「Soldier: PURSUE! WING FORMATION! RESERVES WATCH REAR FLANK!」

I just wanted to catch my breath, but I guess I won't. I picked up my shield and mace and followed. While mentally swearing in seven different languages.

We managed to get half a dozen, but the others were already far away. We finally stood still long enough to catch our breath.

「Soldier: Let's track them down, there must be a nest nearby.」

The commanding soldier took to the front, following the tracks back to a cave.

「Soldier: Alright, stop here. Is there anyone who can cast fire magic?」

I raised my hand along two other recruits.

「Soldier: Excellent save up your mana... you guys on the rear, go cut down branches and bring here whatever wood you can find. Work in pairs, QUICK!」

The recruits obliged and in around fifteen minutes or so brought back a good amount of wooden sticks, branches and a few logs by those who were equipped with axes.

「Soldier: Good! Let's smoke out these gray skinned fuckers, bring the wood... you three follow me!」

The recruits under the soldier's command set up the wood scraps and dried foliage into a woodpile. Then when the command came, we three who knew fire magic turned it into a blazing inferno.

We waited at the entrance for some time, killing those few monsters who tried to escape the smoke. Eventually, they stopped coming. It was done.

「Soldier: Enough! Fall back, let's head back to the camp... well done, recruits.」

There was a general cheer.

I only grunted.

As we were heading back one of the recruits approached me.

「Recruit: I saw how you crushed their skulls! You said your name was Allen... are you perhaps... Allen Skullcrusher?!」

I froze. Not even here am I safe from that stupid nickname?!

「Allen: JUST-」

I began retorting, but I was interrupted.

「Recruit2: Allen Skullcrusher! The one who smashed the frozen demon's head?!」

「Allen: LET ME FUCKIN-」

Make it stop! Make them stop!

「Recruit3: I heard you smashed a troll head so hard it stopped regenerating, IS IT TRUE?!」

Another was trying to join in but at that point, I had lost it.

I let out an incoherent growl of frustration.

I covered my ears ignoring everyone and escaped toward the soldier, whose aura of command scared off the recruits hounding me. Good. Free again.

The soldier looked at me with a scowl then at the others.

「Soldier: Stop playing around... OR I'M INCREASING THE PACE!」

No one wanted to increase the pace.

Soon after we returned to camp. The drill sergeant was eager to know how we had performed. The soldier who had accompanied us obliged, relaying his report.

Malkohm scratched his rugged face.

「Malkohm: I'll be damned we didn't lose even one? Perhaps there's hope for you, recruits!」

He burst in a booming laugh.

「Malkohm: Fine then, you can take a rest for the evening. But don't forget to go hunt your dinner!」

He waved off in dismissal.

I spent my leisure time upgrading my silver cube, I finally completed the search database system, so now I could search through my notes more efficiently. Not as good as the internet, but it's a step forward.

「Recruit: What are you doing with that silver box?」

I grated my teeth.

It's not even a box! It's a cube! A FUCKING CUBE! Can't you see it?!

「Allen: Magic!」

I replied with irritation leaking into my voice. The poor sod stepped back, taken aback.

I ain't gonna explain shit, scrub.

「Recruit: ... okay.」

He raised his hands apologetically and walked away.

I guess I wasn't in my best mood.

And those damned Skullcrusher gossipers! Everyone harasses me to get my tales and then complains I can't tell them. Well, excuse me if I have been given the gift of brevity. I grumbled to myself.

I packed up and teamed up with random people so we could hunt for our dinner.