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January 30, 1561

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It had been a tedious week of traveling for Robert and the group. They would leave before the sun had gone up and kept riding until the sun had fully gone down. With this pace, they soon arrived at the army camp Robert had constructed in preparation for the battle with the barbarians.

Riding up to the base of the camp, the group was stopped by 2 guards in front of the entrance.

"HALT. THIS IS THE PROPERTY OF THE BARON. WHO DARES INTRUEDE?" one of the guards shouted.

"Can you not notice who you're shouting to?" James asked. "This is the Baron you're shouting at!"

"Wha-, MY APOLOGIES SIR." The guards quickly bowed when they saw Robert lift his medallion. The medallion was made of the same bluish material as the Phoenix coins were made of, showing his nobility.

"Quick, OPEN THE GATE! It's the Baron" The guard shouted at his colleagues.

The 10-meter gate started to slowly creak as it was opened by 10 men on each side of the gate. Walking in, Robert dispersed his group before beginning to look around, checking upon the quality of his soldiers. Most of the soldiers were goofing around, none seemed to be alert for an ambush. 'It must be their sense of confidence that nothing would happen.' Robert thought. Shaking his head, Robert decide that would have to start disciplining his men for the barbarians weren't to be taken easily, even if they had the numerical advantage. As he walked around, he finally saw the Commander's tent in the center of the camp. Walking in he saw his 2 vice commanders furiously arguing with the occasional pointing at a map that lay on the table.

"Ahem"

The 2 men immediately stopped at the familiar sound and turned around before quickly getting on one knee.

"MY LORD. You're here! We've been so worried!" shouted the men to the left.

"Yes, as Karl said, we've been extremely worried about your late arrival." the men to the right followed up.

"Everything's ok, I just had to wait a bit for my son's birthday. Now tell me what you two were arguing about."

"Ah, well our scouts found some suspicious trails that look like barbarians to the east from the base that is near Count Aimer's land and Plock here doesn't want to investigate it!" Karl exclaimed pointing at Plock.

Plock responded with, "Milord, we can't afford to waste our horses on some useless goose chase of some 'tracks' of barbarians. We located the barbarian's camp and must march on the enemy to wipe them out before the weather becomes too difficult to do anything. We don't have much time before the annual blizzard begins!"

Sitting down, Robert began to gaze over at the local map before asking, "How far away are these tracks?"

"There are about 15 miles away from the base," Karl responded.

"And the barbarian camp?"

"That would be 9 miles, Milord," Plock answered.

"How much time do we have left before the blizzard begins"

"We have around 2 weeks, Milord. We can not sustain such an army during a blizzard Milord, ple-"

"SILENCE." Robert interrupted Plock before thinking about what to do.

Robert only had around 30 horses with the 10 he brought included. The reason for such a lack of horses was that normal ones couldn't survive in such cold temperatures, so they needed a certain breed that the barbarians used and they couldn't acquire more than 30 in only 2 months. While Plock was right about them not having enough time to spend on a goose chase, trails near Count Aimer were extremely suspicious to him. Robert and Count Aimer had what one would call a rivalry for there was a gold mine near their territory that had caused them to fight over it. With Robert winning that small border conflict, he had acquired that gold mine which was what allowed the Barony to thrive, it was their lifeline essentially. The Count was humiliated that day for a small mere Barony had stolen something that was rightfully his and had plotted for Robert to fall till this day.

"Karl, take 15 men with good horseback skills and go investigate that trail. I trust you will bring me good news."

"Thank you Milord" Karl responded, smiling at his victory.

"MILORD YOU CANT! We will need those horses for the upcoming battle! Please let me exp-"

"My say is FINAL, you hear me, Plock?"

".....Very well Milord," Plock said hesitantly

"Good. Now go get some sleep, we leave tomorrow."

"AYE." Both men shouted before bowing and leaving the tent.

'Something is off.' Robert thought as the camp Plock had reported seemed to have been found a bit too easily, especially a bargain camp. Sadly though, Robert didn't have much choice left. Either he would lead his men and wipe them out or let them continue raiding innocent villagers. After a deep sigh, Robert slowly went over to his wooden bed and laid upon it, quickly falling asleep.

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Next Day

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"Milord, wake up!" A voice said.

"Huh?" Robert replied weakly, still half asleep.

"The men are ready! We await your command."

"Oh, I see. Give me half an hour."

"Very well."

Closing his eyes, Robert began to yawn as he slowly go off his bed, brushed his teeth, and equipped his armor. Walking out of the tent, he saw 5 rows of men standing there in silence, equipped with the best armor and weapons that could be found in the whole Duchy. It had cost Robert hundreds of silver coins and years of work to achieve the army that stood right before him. Nodding his head internally, Robert walked towards Plock who stood in the front of the army.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes, Milord. Karl and the rest left late last night."

"Good." Clearing his throat, Robert began his speech," MEN, HEAR ME. THOSE DIRTY BARBARIANS HAVE DARED ATTACK OUR PEOPLE. THEY DARE TO COME HERE, KILL OUR MEN, RAPE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS, AND PILLAGE OUR HOMES. HOWEVER, TODAY WE WILL GO WITH THE GUIDANCE OF TAPIO AND AVENGE THOSE FALLEN SOULS WITH THE BLOOD OF BARBARIANS!! NOW TELL ME, ARE WE READY?"

"YEAH!"

"WE ARE!"

"LET'S KILL THOSE DIRTY BARBARIANS!"

The whole army had erupted in cheers; everyone's seemed to be motivated by Roberts's speech, ready to fight. Looking pleased, Robert jumped onto his horse and shouted, "WE MARCH!"

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM

With the war drums ringing off their departure the 5,000-men army left the camp, slowly marching north on a snowy field to the enemy camp. Robert and Plock were in the middle of the army, discussing the next plan of action.

"Milord, I say we don't send any of the scouts just yet. We have the element of surprise that can't be disrupted if we want to reduce our casualties! Those barbarians are extremely knowledgeable about tracks and it's a risk we shouldn't take."

"Scouts are the eyes and ears of an army, Plock. Without them, we won't know if the barbarians do anything."

"I am well aware of that Milord but it has to be a risk we take to achieve victory."

Frowning Robert thought for a couple of seconds before saying, "Very well, we won't send scouts."

"Thank you, Milord."

"-However, I want scouts in a mile radius around us. Just in case."

"Wha-, ....Very well Milord," Plock grudgingly responded before heading off to assign some scouts. Watching Plock walk away, Robert quietly clenched his rein, becoming more and more anxious as time went on. 'It's okay. Everything will be fine.' Robert thought, trying to calm himself down. Like that, the army slowly marched until they reached a steep valley. Robert halted the army and called for Plock to appear.

"Milord. I heard you called for me?"

"Are you sure the barbarians are in this valley?"

"Yes Milord, several scouts reported activity at the end of this valley."

"Hmmm. I see, but let me ask you a question, Plock. Does this not seem like a trap to you, YOU FOOL?" Robert shouted in anger as his full aura pressured Plock onto one knee.

"Milord! Please calm down and let this servant explain to you," begged Plock.

"Hmph, very well, explain yourself."

Getting up, Plock bowed before explaining," Milord, this is the reason I had asked earlier not to send those scouts with Sir Karl. We would have sent those scouts around the valley to make sure we wouldn't have gotten ambushed."

"And if that failed?"

"I would also be with the scouts, and I'm confident that I could escape properly."

Robert internally frowned as he thought about what to do next. Go back? No that isn't the answer. The problem of barbarians had to be dealt with. Go along with Plock's plan? No, it was too unsafe. Then it hit him.

"Alright, The scouts shall do as you said, Plock. However, you will take a quarter of our men and go across the valley and enter from the opposite side. Send me a letter through a pigeon when you have arrived. Our side will attack first, then your side will arrive as reinforcements when you receive my pigeon, squeezing them completely."

"...I see. Very well Milord."

"Now go," Robert commanded before shouting his commands at the army. Quickly, everyone went into positions and began the extermination. Seeing off Plock and his men, Robert shouted, "Take a break everyone, save as much energy for the battle to come." After a stressful two or three hours had passed, Robert saw a pigeon flying over to him. Raising his arm, the pigeon landed right on it, with a scroll on its leg. Opening the scroll, Robert saw the confirmation he needed. He quickly shouted, "GET READY! WE GO IN 20 MINUTES!"

20 minutes later the army began its march. The total valley was about 20 miles. so it would take them an hour to reach the middle. As they marched, Robert couldn't help but look above, seeing the cliffs that surrounded them. It was too dangerous for Robert. He quickly made the army pace quicker. After half an hour of suspense, they could begin to see the outlines of wooden structures. Quickly, Robert sent the pigeon to Plock in advance, for the upcoming battle. Roberts's original plan was for a hidden ambush, quickly wiping them out. However, life is unpredictable as all of a sudden, as he and his men silently crept towards them, shouts could be heard from the camp as barbarians started to come out quickly getting ready for a battle.

Robert internal cursed, 'How did they know?' Seeing that Plan A had failed, it was time to fall back on Plan B. "CHARGE!"

The silent army, all of a sudden began to scream as they charged into the mostly unprepared barbarians. Robert also followed, beginning to feel a familiar ich he knew all too well. Slowly he began to slash at them. He would quickly stab one before moving on to a new opponent, slowly forming a line of corpses as he ran across the battlefield as none was a match for him. That ich was slowly returning as he relished that feeling he had long suppressed for his family. The feeling of being in a death or survival situation. Robert quickly began to find fewer and fewer barbarians to fight as a natural circle had formed around him. None dared to fight him as they saw how Robert butchered their fellow brothers like nothing.

Suddenly, Robert felt an immense killing intent aimed at him as he turned around, blocking an upward slash at him. Taking a good look at his assailant, Robert realized that this barbarian must have been the chief as he began to illuminate a greenish grow. 'A Sapling Stage huh? He seems to be at the peak of the first level as well. Not bad.' Robert thought before grinning with excitement.

Steeping back, Robert shouted, "Finally, a worthy opponent! My name is Lord Robert Greville, a Baron of the Kruj Kingdom. What is your name?" before pointing his sword at the Cheif.

".....Krushivel."

"I see. Come, let us fight to the death!" Robert shouted with excitement as the two quickly dashed towards each other.