The group gathers and prepare to return to the frontlines’ main unit, but before that there is something to be done.

They had no mounts unlike their reinforcements who came riding, and a group could only move as fast as their slowest.

On this battlefield, their unit had suddenly and strangely become the only one that could do as they pleased. They turned and went towards the great mountain ridge on the east, away from the other soldiers. It is a series of highly elevated grounds that forms a natural barrier to the Endless Plains, the Blood Fields, the Eastern Shores, Pirate Seas, and the mysterious far east reaches.

Led by Kairos, they only stopped when they neared the base of a great cliff at an obscure location. He sent someone forward to knock on the hard sedimentary rock.

When the person rapped her knuckles on the hard surface, a loud gnawing sound rumbled behind the red cliff boulders in response and she frightfully stepped back. It was just in time as the solid stone shattered into pebbles and dust with a terrible crash.

A cave was revealed behind and filled with glinting yellow and red eyes.

“It’s time to go,” Kairos said, and from the tunnel creatures big and small swarmed out.

Storm Leopards, Molten Raptors, War Bulls, Wind Scythe Tigers, Shira Sabre Hounds, Flood Serpents, Battle Mantis, and many more.

Trailing behind the assorted beasts three Hundred Dragon Horses trotted out proudly and each stopped beside a member of the Snowdrifts, the officers of the group.

These mounts had created their own hierarchy with the importance of their rider determining their rank.

There are a thousand eight hundred steeds that joined them. With the two hundred beasts they took from the barbarians with the Hydra Array and the five hundred whose riders had died in the battle, there is now seven hundred in excess.

Even with the expanded size of the Crystal Valve, it will not fit half of these many creatures. Fortunately, the beasts can be commanded to follow or even sent to attack their foes if the instructions were not too complicated.

The Astroire Army is finally fully geared and ready.

Looking at the scattering Frosthral army and the Saint Empire soldiers in pursuit, a scowl set on Kairos’ face.

“Let’s discuss our next step.”

The leaders gathered and Snow started the ball rolling.

“From the information gathered, it is impossible to starve the Ku Kang Camp even if we allowed the two hundred thousand barbarians to join them. The mountain they are situated on provides a natural source of food that could sustain well over three million.”

“That’s a large mountain,” Tommy interjected. He now towers over everyone in the group. Imposing yet calm like a sky-piercing mountain.

The boy had always been a size larger than his friends, and with the inhuman training to acquire the Dharma Constitution, he has become pretty much a solid wall of muscle.

Fortunately, practicing the Origin Cultivation Method has refined his look to be more like a beautifully crafted giant sword instead of a gnarled wooden club.

His chiselled good-looks made his appearance similar to one of those sculped statue that depicts ancient heroes found in keeps and castles.

It wasn’t strange that whenever Snow looked at him, even for a short glance, she couldn’t help but blush. Of course, the girl didn’t look bad herself, though recent years she had been hiding her beauty with sensible clothes made for practicability and action.

Smaller said, “It’s pretty big, but mostly there are self-sustaining farms and cave-grown mushrooms. Water is not an issue for them with plenty of hot springs and even geysers around.”

“In that case, there is no point to let them escape and strengthen our foes,” Luciette said with a fierce glint in her eyes.

George nodded adding, “Our best recourse is if Esley manage to hunt them all down, but it is highly unlikely with their methods. From my estimations, at most they could kill or capture fifty thousand, but if we interfere, it is possible to finish off the rest. Unfortunately, it will expose some of our trump cards and I’m more than unwilling to display anymore of our hand at this point. We have already shown them Kairos’ Immolation Rain technique, and this battle is just beginning.”

“Sounds like what we need is a sleight of hand,” Jim suggested.

The four years that passed had made this mischievous boy into a confident teen with a light in his eyes. His appearance had changed through puberty. Gone was his overly large nose now that his face had caught up, and his squinty eyes now became phoenix-tailed.

His shifty demeanour contributed by his love of pranks had matured and became an air of mysteriousness, but when he spoke, it was like the cry of a Vermillion Bird, demanding respect from all beasts to the king of the skies.

Everyone looked at him questioningly, except for Kairos who was expecting it and had a smile on his face.

Jim explained, “We just have hand the task to Esley Restrio. If we parade Kairos around, those barbarians will run away yelping ‘Rakshasa Rakshasa’.”

Everyone in this place is astute and they instantly understood he wants to redirect the Frosthral soldiers back like cattle herded towards the slaughter house.

Sasha said in her usual crisp and no-nonsense manner, “That’s true, but how many do you think will flee from Kairos at one go, –merciless as our great leader appears?”

A few giggled at her words and Kairos rolled his eyes with practice.

“One Kairos might not work, but two hundred will,” Jim said with a crooked smile.

The others turned their heads at the same time towards the two hundred master thieves sent by Rielon.

“Ahhh…”

“And there’s someone else in our group just as frightening as Kairos who can handle the rest,” Luciette finished with an impish grin.

They put their thought into action immediately.

The master thieves were given the task and each quickly left.

Every one of them are elites. Experts at concealment, disguise, and escape, leaving this task to them is undoubtedly masterful.

Without a commander the barbarians are not united in their escape. Their group split apart like a dismembered creature, but at each of those direction they are fleeing to, a young man dressed in black robes awaited calmly for them.

Chased by the Saint Empire troops, they couldn’t care less who was in their way. Those that dared to block them will only become dust under their feet.

However, as they came closer, they saw who was before them and their pupils constricted.

“RAK… RAKSHASA!”

“By the gods, out of the frying pan and into the fire.”

“Turn back, turn back! You idiots, quit shoving forward!”

With long black hair in the air and eyes like sparkling onyxes, the one they called Rakshasa lifted a palm into the air.

They might not recognise the signature motion for the Immolation Rain technique, but they know he was going to attack.

“No… NOOOO!”

Fear ran through the crowd like electricity running through water and those at the front found themselves paralysed.

Quite a few stumbled and were trodden by their brethren; Ki barrier or not, just like this, dozens died.

Group by group veered towards the Saint Empire main army and many were captured or killed.

For a single person to strike such fear in these stout barbarians is unthinkable before today.

However for every coward there were two who were unafraid. More than half of the escaping groups charged straight towards the master thief pretending to be Kairos, but when they reached the person, they realised it was a mere shadow image; a technique favoured by the thieves of the thief guild. The actual person who casted that projection is hiding at a safe distance.

The Rakshasa they fear disappeared in a poof of smoke when someone touched it and the barbarians were secretly relief as they make their way to escape, but they haven’t gone far when they realised something was strangely off.

The hairs on the necks of these veteran warriors prickled at the uneasy sensation of danger. They looked around in silence. The afternoon sun engulfed them with scorching heat, yet they felt cold to their bones.

Then one of them roared in alarm, “ABOVE!”

The looked confusedly at the sky with two suns until one quickly grew larger.

“Artillery! Shields up!”

“Ki Barrier and shields up right now!”

“There’s no time. Just run!”

*BAM * *BAM * *BAM * *BAM *

*BAM * *BAM * *BAM * *BAM *

*BAM * *BAM * *BAM * *BAM *

*BAM * *BAM * *BAM * *BAM *

*BAM * *BAM * *BAM * *BAM *

Brimstone and fire fell upon them.

The earth shook and threw dirt high up in the air.

Every warrior that tried to defend against this calamity perished.

There were over a hundred thousand that ignored the image projected by the master thieves, and they almost made it out but the rain of fire summoned by Von Cixton stopped them in their path.

Their foes in pursue of them quickly caught up and it made escape no longer an option; not with their numbers reduced to such a state. Scattering when outnumbered will only hasten their doom.

They faced the Saint Empire troops with despair in their eyes as they prepared to make their last stand.

Esley Restrio, Martial King and commander of the Saint Empire frontline troops, studied the changes on the battlefield with a grimace.

“Damnit,” he swore under his breath.

The Frosthral barbarians had realised they had no way out and it made them desperate.

If the enemy had continued to flee, they wouldn’t turn their heads and bite back.

Now, many soldiers will die before the day is over.

Esley’s reactions were instant; his skills as the commander is honed on the battlefield.

“Have the soldiers form up defensive lines and switch them when they tire. The best way to handle rapid dogs is by holding shields.”

The Saint Empire troop movement became compact and steady at once. The vicious retaliation from the Frosthral barbarians was contained almost immediately.

On the other side, however, a small group attacked from behind.

Both sides had overlooked the presence of the Astroire Army for their numbers were only like a drop of water in a cup compared to the four hundred thousand locked in life-and-death battle.

Three thousand three hundred soldiers and four thousand beasts charged fearlessly at the flank of the Frosthral frontline forces.