Chapter 5: Catering to Growing Threats

GUARD POV, 4 MONTHS AFTER THE CHANGE

It was high noon when I heard the news of the child. I was ordered to patrol down the eastern wall front facing the river. Only 2 days after the completed walls and more than hundreds of us have signed up for the role of city and wall guard. But those numbers are insignificantly inferior to the numbers of the newly formed army. Prior hunters left to become part of the spearmen or infantry units, and the remainder stayed as hunters wielding newly made bows. 500 or so guard, and over 8 thousand army applicants! Such a force made the growing threat of the rabbit vermin less crucial and possibly in our favor. That still leaves around 10 thousand citizens to work on the land, produce products and other things key to our cities growth.

“Who’s there?” A rough voice says above the wall. As I started to climb the newly cut ladder, still green with life cut from the nearby oak trees. I climbed up and meet the officer, he looked at me skeptically. Both of his eyes were blind due to a deep cut, that drew a horizontal line from ear to ear over his dark snout. Even with the loss of sight his senses worked perfectly sensing my exact position.

“It is me Officer Ernest, you must be High Officer Kolb?” I said.

“Yes, I have received message that you shall accompany me by this Eastern Wall. This is a dangerous task as the eastern wall does not only face the eastern river where we suspect the Cat fiends to be hiding but also stretches to the south. Bordering the Rabbit territory of Bremen as their refer to it.” He said as he sniffed me, it felt uncomfortable and I quickly back away.

“What are you doing if I may ask?” I ask

“Once I remember a scent, I’ll never forget. You don’t want me mistaking you for someone else.” He said in a dark tone, then quickly smiling. “Loosen up haha!”

High Officer Kolb was one of the strongest hunters and volunteered to protect the main wall also known as the Eastern wall. His presence alone was enough to defeat an ordinary enemy, but I was not an ordinary soldier.

“I understand High Officer Kolb…” I said.

“Please call me Kolby, you shall take honor only a few have been giving the right to do so.” He says in a cocky manner.

“Yes I understand.” I replied.

“Now, the guards positioned to this wall will be arriving in 2 or 3 hours, we will have an orientation as all the armies are having and commence shifts as soon as possible.” He said as he leaned over the wall looking into the river.

His eyes didn’t move but his head was following the scent of something not in my view. Quickly raising his hands a ball of fire formed, aiming his palms it blasted deep into the woods, curving between the trees at astonishing speeds and suddenly hitting a squirrel as it burned on impact.

“Pesky rabbits…” He said.

I failed to inform him that was a squirrel, not a rabbit but was scared by this feat.

3 DAYS LATER, KAISER POV

The Implementations of the Guard and Army forces have went smoothly, so smoothly I have suspicion the Sun God had something to do with it as he has taken a liking to us. The Ceremony offered many rewards, FIRE BLESSING increased to rank 2 making it vastly more potent and allowing things such as fireballs to be summoned, before the best mages could only set their hands aflame! The increase in faith also increased the chance of the magic being successful, users with low faith have a low chance of successfully establishing a spell.

The last reward is troubling, a child has been born. Only a few months old and he posses higher talent than all other mages of the council. Unfortunately to make the matter worse he was born into a powerful hunter family, the Wraeclast Family. Since the implementations of surnames a lot of families have sprouted out of the city. The most largest ones being Geneva, Burtlin and Wraeclast. Geneva was a German shepherd family that made up most of the common people of uudNau. Two sides of the family existed, the common people and the more honorary members which held high titles. Lana is currently a part of this family as well as other council members. Burtlin was a Bull Mastiff family mostly made up of workers and craftsmen, their leader was no other than our very our Sigmund one of the 3 leaders of uudNau. The last Wraecast was a family of Dobermans, though some German Shepherds were in the mix. They had lot of power in the guard, army and hunting forces. This naming system has caused great unity and also disunion.

The problem with the child, or “Prophet” as his followers like to call him is he is extremely influential. I fear the day which he would oppose me, he is growing a quick temper and grows evermore spoiled. But the Sun God does this in our favor so I must hold on to faith that he does this to our greater good.

Other changes were also occurring, as I walked throughout the city center developments could be seen. Most houses were made of wood now, with thatched roofs and some simple bricks. Sigmund has started making what he likes to call “The Main Road” and it runs around the center city, to each outer rim of the city and to the 3 main walls. It sounded like a difficult task but it proved successful. Also the experimentation with a crude metal founded off the river basic where we get our clay, small amounts of iron. Not enough to improve our weapons or make to large amounts of ingots but enough for smaller things like nails.

I walked to Adolfs camp right outside the walls, I was accompanied by 4 hunds that were extremely loyal. Adolf was gathering the main forces to try and exterminate a large amount of rabbits and possibly kidnap an important leader in the vermins community. This task proved difficult so only the best warriors came, while the rest trained and ran missions. This totalled our force to a little over 3 thousand but Adolf said not to worry.

I reached the southern eastern wall, 100 guards were stationed here, some were sitting, others were sparring. 2 important figures descented, Officer Ernest and High Officer Kolb.

“Guards stand attention!” Barked Ernest. The Guards quickly became aware of my presence and knelt lowering their heads, the 2 officers doing the same.

“Yes Kolby, I am meeting with Adolf at his camp. I think he has informed you of the mission taking place…” I said, gesturing them to raise their head.

“Yes, I have received a detailed message of what is going to occur today. I have ordered more troops to move to this wall incase of enemy attacks.” He said.

“Wonderful, also I have heard you have became adept at fire magic perhaps you could teach me when I return.”

“Ahaha, yes you may have heard of it. I gained a skill called ‘Breathless Incantation” which allows me to call the Sun God for my spells inside my head rather than speaking which is good for some situations, and a “Custom Spell” called “Tracker Fireball” which can change direction and velocity at will.” He said.

“Incredible, I have heard only a few with custom skills. Well I shouldn’t hold you any longer. Ernest I have also heard of your achievements, your great leadership and bravery, they tell me you always know what to do in a tight situation.” I say commending him on his efforts.

“Your words greatly honor me great leader, I try to do my best.” He knelt.

“Well I shall take my leave.”

As they knelt saying goodbye a young hund ran up to me, he was quick and strong. Even though he was a young pup he had the body of a man.

“Great leader please let me accompany you!” He asked.

My guard quickly thrusts the blunt side of his spear into the pups chest pushing him back.

“You dare interrupt, kneel pup!” A guard barked.

“It is okay Bewulf, let him speak.” I say, the pupling raises his head.

“Sir I wish to accompany you on this mission, even though I know I have been tasked at protecting this Eastern Wall, I long for a real fight. I am tired of fighting these weak solitary rabbits that wander.” He said rambling on.

“Alright pup I understand, this missions will be hard only the finest warriors can take on such a mission.” I said testing his confidence.

“If I may intrude Kaiser, this child is naive but great in talent. I think a taste of … real combat will straighten his discipline and sharpen his raw talent.” Said Kolby.

“Well If the great Kolby speaks in favor of this child, I will allow him to come.” I said.

“I Reiner Geneva, will not disappoint you!” He shouted in happiness.

2 HOURS LATER, ADOLF POV

It was night, we were currently camping out in the woods, waiting for daylight. I was in my tent with Kaiser. He was currently training his magic, I was never one much for magic and had a low affinity.

“Adolf if you wish, I could show you some tricks to mastering magic?” He insisted.

“Thank you Kaiser, but even if I learned magic it wouldnt prove use to me on the battlefield do to my fighting style.” I replied.

“Hm, if you are right about the rabbits defences we should easily infiltrate them and use the fire magic to burn their farm fields. If you think about it, if we destroy their source of food they definitely cannot sustain their large population especially since harvesting season should be coming the the following months.” He said.

“Great idea, I will mention it in tommorows briefing.” I said as I sharpened my stone knife.

EARLY MORNING

“And that concludes the plans for our mission, it will take us 2 days to reach them so use your provisions correctly and live off the land as we move, there is plenty to hunt out in the Eastern woods. When we are to arrive burn everything you can, especially their farms.”

“Yes Commander!” The army shouted simultaneously.

“Move out!” I ordered and started the marching towards rabbit territory.

As we marched I noticed the army’s professionalism was truly great, they were well sorted into groups, and groups within groups. 3 men and 1 leader consisted of a party, 10 parties consisted of a group. 40 groups made up a Vanguard which was around 1600 people, there was 3 Vanguards. This Vanguard would then be grouped into one larger group called a Legion.

It took a large amount of supplies and energy to move 3 thousand men throughout the dense forest, on the way many men got hurt from dangerous wildlife or dangerous obstacles but we managed to reach the plains.

This area was vast with rolling vertile hills and flat plains, it was common to lose yourself as everything looked the same, just grass for miles on end.

“Enemy spotted!” Shouted one hunter running as fast as he could.

“What have you seen, are you going to blow hot air on the ground all day!” I said. In an angry tone as he laid on the ground holding his sides.

“My apologies Commander, but I have seen a force of 5 thousand men, mostly scouts. I overheard their conversation and they plan to map out our territory. From what I can tell they are planning something, and 5 thousand men are only a fraction of their power…”

“5 thousand men? That's it? I can take 600 of my best men and destroy them, we shall push through and leave no witness… Did they see you?”

“No but I got into an altercation with a rabbit scout, he stabbed me but I killed him and hid his body, we shall attack soon as some of my blood may have left my scent.” He said holding his sides, a dark crimson could be seen seeping between his fingers.

“Good job scout report to your officer and look for a healer.” I said.

“Men! Prepare for a charge, they shouldn't be to far from here, the shock of our forces and superior strength shall destroy them in one sitting!”

We quickly started marching towards the lake which the scout came from, they were on the opposite side of the lake and smoke from campfires could be seen. I signaled my officers to tell their men to be as quiet as possible, we would have to swim through the lake.

I took lead and held my sword and bags on my head, by going through the lake it gave us a chance to surprise them. They most likely had all their sides except the one facing the lake protected by scouts.

We finish crossing the river, and put mud on our clothes and skin hiding our scent. The rabbits had a good nose but they had better sense of hearing. I spotted the first campfire, 3 more could be 20 metres away.

“Have you seen Grzegors, he should of returned by now.” Said a young rabbit scout.

“Ah that idiot is always wandering! We are to wait here until the main force 10 thousand men are to arrive tonight.” Another one said, he was much older.

This was incredibly bad, before I could asses the situation, the older rabbit stood up and his nose and ears twitched.

“I smell a familiar scent, and it isn’t your cooki-” I signaled an archer to shoot him, the arrows quickly penetrated his chest. His friend was in shock looking for the trajectory of the arrow.

“Infantry Charge!” I ordered showing our position.

The main infantry charged into the enemy camp, we managed to kill a lot of men as they were resting in their tents.

“Do not damage anything, and do not let anyone escape!” I ordered. My spear thrusted through 3 charging rabbits at the same time, letting go of the spear I stab another rabbit behind me not giving him chance to finish his surprise attack.

YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 15, NEW CLASS AVAILABLE!

HUNTER POV

“Fire at will!” My officer commanded.

I notch a wooden arrow into my crude bow, I was close to a promotion. I personally believed I had the best aim in the archer unit but one could differ. I let go out the string and watch the arrow leave, wobbling side to side before finding its destination, a rabbits head.

A young group of rabbits charge towards our archery unit, I loaded 3 arrows into bow and aimed it horizontally. The spread was enough to kill 3, the other archers quickly started copying my technique.

A stray arrow passes just inches from my face but I kept my cool, I could see a few rabbit archers aiming at our leader Kaiser. I set my arrow tip on fire and shot their oil jar which they kept to manually light their arrows on fire. The explosion killed 5 rabbits and damaged the surrounding ones.

A surviving enemy archer sends a shot at me, by pure instincts I managed to deflect the arrow with one of my one surprising him, quickly another arrow is accompanied killing him.

“Finish them off!” A young pupling ordered even though he had no rank, he was simply just a guard. But he was stronger than the rest and had a weird aesthetic to his appearance, black hair. What was weird about his fur was a light tint of blue. He cut down away at one of the rabbit officers quickly killing him.

Quickly threw arrows shot pass my stomach one wissing past my temple, I quickly regain my focus and took cover by a tree. We have now destroyed more than two thirds of their forces and surrounded them. I grab the branch above me and quickly vaulted to the higher branches. Reaching the top of the tree I had a good, in the middle of the enemy force was a campfire currently being guarded with an important figure, applying oil to my arrow tip I shot at the fire causing an explosion.

I was quickly running out of arrows, I used my last 3 to try and attack the leader but failed. As I held the cut on my left shoulder, I applied the red paste on it which numbed the pain.

Something was different about that leader and I could sense it.

ADOLF POV, 10 MINUTES LATER

I push throw their defence with swift speed, my attacks were just blurs and shifting figures as I pierces and slashed through the rabbits defending the officer. He was probably of high importance and for that reason his head was mine.

Not far behind me was Kaiser he was adept at magic and overed cover for sneaky figures. The casualty rate was unsuspectingly low, only being in the single digits. The fate of the system simply does not favor them as they have had plenty of chance to grow in strength, their prior forms were simply inferior to ours.

A group of strange looking rabbits chanted in their shrill runic language, suddenly a blinding light was all over the expanse of the forest and blinded all my forces. The enemies seemed to not be affected by it.

“Warrior, kill them. That treacherous women has pained me long enough”

A voice in my head said, his voice sounded old but healthy, it was clear. The Sun God spoke to me, he decided i should be the one to end these vermins and to that I take great honor.

These rabbits were naive if they think the loss of mere sight would help them escape, they were loud and breathed heavily and smelled of their own feces and sweat. I leave the rabbit mages for the rest charging between them with blinding speed. I was running on four paws, I had no more weapons left.

The rabbit officer of commendable talent ran to attack but I quickly bit him on the neck holding him in place as he suffocated, he tried to resist my hold on him but I quickly shake him and set him aflame by concentrating fire on my fangs snap his neck. This sight lowered the enemies moral and made some of them even spoil themselves, there was their leader gone in mere seconds.

YOU HAVE GAINED THE CUSTOM SKILL “FLAME FANG BITE”