The next few days, Ned’s group continued to travel further at the enemy lines, encountering many familiar scenes of the dead, pinned at the tridents along the way. Some were fresh and mainly in the scout’s uniforms, while others were much older in the usual uniform of the knights and warriors of the Roland family. They were once part of the patrolling forces of this region. But now, their bodies served as signs made by the nagas to tell different information.

Where to find a camp, shelter, or supplies for example.

Right now, Ned and others were standing near a unique-looking structure, looking like a pyramid, made of dead skulls with many pinned bodies around it. It was a special structure to point to the area where swamps were replaced by fields and hills.

“We have little time, guys. Another squad or naga group might arrive at any moment. So, I will be frank.” said Ned, looking at his group members.

“Now, when we have finally left this damned swamps, we should meet other scout groups at the gathering point and unite to form a big ravaging group that will wreak chaos at the enemy supply lines. Even though we left the most dangerous area, we shouldn’t be careless and don’t forget about potential goblins that know how to make traps even in the fields and the hills, unlike nagas.” Scouts and water porters nodded to his words when Ned turned and looked towards a pyramid of dead skulls.

“First, let’s get out of here as far as possible,” said Ned, pointing at the pyramid. But, Raimund and Leonardo seemed reluctant when they heard him, but the 1st calmed down when Ned looked at him while Leonardo controlled his rage when Theo patted him on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry, our forces will bury them as soon as they reach them. Right now we don’t have any spare time to waste.” Leonardo clenched his fists and released a sigh before following scouts and other members.

Only Theo was among the last ones to leave.

Theo turned and looked at the pyramid for one last time before throwing a certain object at the skulls before turning and following his group.

Nobody noticed what he had done.

Only when the group was around a km away, gathered around a pond with water while Ryan and Robin were busy cleaning water with special objects enchanters gave them it a loud explosion resounded from the direction of the pyramid.

The entire group stopped and almost instantly turned back.

“What happened?” asked Ryan.

“Sound of an explosion,” said Robin.

“Damn, whoever did it, has just stirred the hornet. Nagas will soon appear here, we should hurry,” said Raimund.

“What a waste of unique objects,” added Ainz.

“Stop it, let’s go,” said Ned, returning them to their senses.

While scouts continued to chat among each other, they didn’t notice how Leonardo turned and looked at Theo.

He recognized that blast. It was made using the same bombs Edward used during the siege.

Just that was enough for him to realize who made that explosion, and the youth opened his eyes in surprise when his rational friend acted that way.

“We should hurry. Though we enough distance away from there, nagas might still find us if they look for us,” said Theo, following the leaving scouts. Leonardo smiled and nodded, following him.

While both friends were busy chatting, they didn’t notice how other water porters looked at that explosion. Of course, they recognized that sound; they heard it many times during the siege. But two people guessed who was behind that explosion.

Nora moved her glance at Theo’s back, surprised that her friend left some useful things for Theo. Besides, she didn’t consider him wrong because he made the pyramid explode only when they were far away from there, minimizing the risk. Nagas would at first check the surrounding territories and when they reach their current location, they would be long gone. So, Nora just smiled before reminding others to hurry.

However, there was another person who felt differently. Bell narrowed his eyes when he moved his glance at Theo. Only he himself knew how strongly he was disappointed this time. Now, he realized why Leonardo was his friend.

As they continued to approach their gathering point, an unknown flame appeared in Theo’s eyes. That pyramid was a bad reminder, and Theo just couldn’t stop blasting it.

...

..

.

At the same time as Ned and his group finally started their journey outside of the swamps, a series of unwelcoming events were happening at the front lines. Recuperated after the initial shock of the 2nd front opening and Astra’s successful attack, nagas started their counter-attack all over the front lines.

Astra was at the gate tower, looking in a certain direction when an injured messenger arrived with an urgent report.

Her adjutant and other knights were quick to help him and pass the report to the commander.

Unfolding the report, Astra’s face instantly darkened.

“What happened, Commander?” asked the adjutant.

“The vanguard, appointed at our position, was ambushed and lost half of its forces, trapped in one of the recently conquered forts. The outer defense is already crumbling. Fresh naga forces have started counter-attacks all over the front and finally, a vast army of 7.000 nagas are approaching this fort.” Adjutant and other high-ranking officers distorted their faces as soon as she started her speech. But discipline was discipline, and it didn’t take long for many of them to leave with an excuse to start preparations for the imminent battle.

Astra delightfully nodded, watching how her subordinates left to prepare for the battle.

“What about the 2nd front? did we get any news?” asked the adjutant. Other officers also showed a prime interest in that topic.

“They have also encountered enemy reinforcements there and are stuck without the ability to help us,” said Astra.

While she continued to talk with her adjutant, the fort was passing through a big change. With each moment, more archers and knights appeared at the walls as the gates closed. Messengers left the fort to inform other forts while the whole fort was entering the battle-ready condition.

Just as the last gate was about to close, a group of injured riders in the armor appeared rushing towards the fort.

When Astra noticed them, her expression changed, and a feeling of anxiety filled her heart.

Indeed, when those riders finally entered the fort and told the officers where they came from and what happened, it didn’t take long for Astra to learn what happened.

A group comprising around 1.000 nagas used an unknown route and reached their rear, cutting their supply lines and any contact with the rest of the forces.

Now Astra realized what the enemy commanders planned for them.

Other high-ranking officers also realized that they voluntarily entered the trap and turned to look at their commander, only to see her smile.

“You think we haven’t seen it coming, idiots, you need thousand of years to at least catch up with us in terms of tactics and strategy, nagas.” Her adjutant and other officers relaxed as soon as they heard her.

“Order to prepare for the siege. I need a special courier, prepare it and deliver to my tent,” said Astra, leaving the wall. Her adjutant saluted her before turning at other officers. Soon, another layer of preparations started, and it didn’t take long for several flying crows with a small letter attached to their legs to leave the fort in a certain direction.

An hour later, an enemy army, comprising around 7.000 nagas appeared, encircling the fort. These warriors differed from the previous ones, they were veterans and the shamans led each group, 70 in total. Besides, they were under the command of the direct relative of the chief, his brother, and knew that they had no way back if they fail here.

After nagas finished their encirclings and strengthened their positions, small groups started leaving the camp to stop at the center where they brought still alive prisoners and pinned them alive at their tridents.

Another hour passed when they finally finished killing their hundredth prisoner when a unique-looking naga ordered something and nagas started beheading the corpses, taking their heads to build something resembling a pyramid with it.

It shocked Astra and other defenders when they realized what nagas started doing with the corpses of the dead, totally not respecting all ancient war laws. Now, it was not only an insult to the defenders at the fort but an insult to all members of humanity serving in any army.

Of course, it didn’t take long for noise to appear at the fort.

“Kill them,”

“Open the gates, let’s revenge the dead!”

“Mages, archers what are you doing, just kill them already.”

Similar war cries resounded across the whole fort, and even their captains couldn’t calm everyone who saw what nagas did with the dead.

Even high-ranking officers were seething with fury and rage.

But Astra was calm and just continued to look at the pyramid, tightly clenching her fist.

Such scene continued for several minutes before she turned and looked at her adjutant.

“Write everything that happened today and send another special courier to our headquarters with an urgent sign. These nagas do not know what they have just started with their deed. They will regret doing such a thing.” Adjutant nodded and started writing as other officers moved their raging glances at Astra.

“Commander, what should we do?” asked one of them.

“Our people are infuriated and I doubt we will hold them here for a long time,” Astra said nothing and just nodded while her golden battle energy started covering her body and gathering around her mouth and throat.

A short time later, everyone in the fort heard her sigh.

“I know what you feel right now, rage, desire to kill, and desire for vengeance, but listen to your commander.”

“Our enemy wants to make us leave our positions, you have made many efforts on strengthening this fort, shed your blood and sweat for that, and now are you ready to leave them just because your enemy found a way how to provoke you?”

“I don’t order you to forget about your rage. Calm it down a bit and prepare. Unleash it when those nagas would start their attacks, show them your fury. Right now our forces are already battling against nagas at the rear and will soon arrive to help us, we just need to hold for several days.”

“So, knights, mages, and others save your fury and rage, calm down and unleash it when the enemy will start the siege!”

Her words changed the situation, and soon many inside the fort calmed down, narrowing their eyes at the enemy. Now they were once again professional, hot-blooded men that denied to attack disappeared, replaced by them.

Astra smiled when she felt the change in the air and turned to look at the enemy army.

“This is the time race, let’s see who will last further, you or us,” said Astra with a smile on her lips. Even her adjutant and other officers had confused expressions when they heard her, but they were on the battlefield and soon they disappeared to their positions.

...

..

.

At the same time as nagas encircled Astra’s fort, the 6th special finally finished the disembark and finished constructing their camp near the river.

Aurelia was aboard the ship, looking at her camp when a special courier arrived, delivering an urgent letter.

After finishing unfolding it and skimming it, her expression changed, and she turned at her adjutants and the admiral of the fleet.

“Admiral Jack, look at the letter,” said Aurelia, giving a man in the sailor’s outfit the letter before turning towards her adjutants.

“Prepare for the march, we should move out in an hour,” Her adjutants nodded with confused and conflicted expressions on their faces because they have already ordered their people to prepare the camp three hours ago and now their commander tells them to stop and prepare for the march.

Aurelia released a sigh when she saw their expressions, right as admiral Jack finished reading. His expression also passed through the same transformation as did Aurelia’s.

“Set sail,” cried the man, using his battle energy to make sure all ships heard his order before turning and looking at Aurelia.

“Commander, we have already delivered you and your supplies, now we should return and help our people at the island, it should be hard for them right now as they fight with nagas.” Aurelia nodded at his words.

“Admiral, thank you for your help. Please help commander Stella and hold the island, it’s important to piece of our plan. It can’t fall.” The admiral smiled and saluted to her. “By the way, I will leave several ships with magic cannons behind, so that they assisted you in your sieges.”

Aurelia gratefully nodded as she moved to leave the ship.

An hour later, almost all the ships disappeared, returning to the island, leaving only four of them behind.

Aurelia was already on her horse, looking at her captains that were making their last reports.

“I see. Order the mages to make a big enough opening at that cliff and move our ships in there. Leave the crew and several groups of knights and scouts to protect them.” Captains nodded and soon her idea became real while their small fleet ended up hidden when a stone wall closed the ships behind.

Aurelia nodded delightfully and looked at her forces.

Right now, the 6th special that has just disembarked at the enemy rear would start making the biggest changes in this war!