The Runic Alchemist

Chapter 198: Forest Clearance Mission 7

Now, that was a dilemma. To go and attack, barely making a dent in the overwhelming numbers of enemies? Or to wait, hoping the army would return—if they survived—and then strike. But the enemy would likely notice them long before that, and who knew if they were already waiting prepared for them?

"What do you think we should do?" Royce asked, finally giving his mind a moment's rest.

"It's a lot to ask someone to fight a losing battle just in the hope that we can somehow change the outcome," Damian replied. "You don't have to burden yourself with such a hard decision. Let's just put it to the group and see where things land. We can't keep this up anyway. The mimicry spell scrolls will only last for a week at best, and then we'll have to regroup."

They were all good men and capable captains, but not everyone had a death wish for the sake of the kingdom. They were far too old for that crap.

"Hmm, you're right," Royce said, thinking it over. "You cover the biggest area, so find a good place where we can set up camp, and gather everyone. I also want to hear what Mira has to say about this."

Royce stood from his chair, his expression just a bit more relaxed. There was still an impossible decision ahead, though.

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Damian nodded and left, not bothering with formalities, Royce was used to that, not that he did it for any other captain at all. It was ridiculous.

As Damian rode back to his unit, he mulled over the situation. On one hand, he was curious about the gathered monsters and beasts. He could see them all, copy their spells, and use mimicry to get their useful features. But facing that many foes wouldn't be easy, especially with his supplies running low.

His mana was no match for the combined strength of the monsters and men that were ahead. Maybe someone would come up with a better plan once they regrouped. His greedy ass was more interested in spells than people, not the most suitable for such decisions. Though he would refuse following any order that did not sit well with him. They were all the same rank, after all.

"How'd it go? Any problems?" Sam asked as Damian returned to camp, handing his horse off to a soldier.

"Not any that I like," Damian replied, sitting down with the group.

"They're problems, Maximus. I don't think we're supposed to like them," Sam exaggerated.

"What happened?" Yovan asked, curious.

"We found the monsters we were looking for…" Damian said, explaining everything.

"So, we attack them?" Einar asked. This girl was too obsessed with attacking people.

"We don't have the numbers for that, and the others don't have monsters like you three. Their forces are probably even smaller than ours," Yovan replied, speaking for Damian. The guy was surprisingly clever and well read in the matters of war. How odd, the lazy and greedy ones like him, were the ones most suited to fight and lead.

"As he said, we're going to make a large camp and gather everyone to decide our next move," Damian concluded.

"And if they decide to attack recklessly with such low numbers and barely any resources?" Yovan asked, raising the million-dollar question.

"Then we do what we think is right," Damian said. "Personally, I'll vote for running. But I wouldn't mind seeing so many monsters gathered together." His eyes twinkled with excitement, making everyone around him uncomfortable.

The next day, they left the village and continued their march. They traveled through various landscapes. By the end of the second day, Damian found a large open green field, a small hill blocking the view forward, and a big pretty river flowing nearby.

After covering the distance with a quick gallop, reaching atop the hill, Damian could see the beautiful wide valley surrounded by tall, steep green mountains in the distance. A river running through the middle, splitting the mountains in half as it passed. At the foot of the small hill near him, was a little village, perfectly placed - with few houses clustered together here and there.

Thin smoke rising from the chimneys, and everything looking peaceful. The mountains were huge and covered in trees, while the river flowed calmly through the scene, making the village seem small and quiet against the towering peaks.

'That must be the valley behind which the scout reported the monsters gathering,' Damian thought.

But that wasn't all. Damian had rushed ahead of his unit on horseback, sensing some very dangerous mana signatures from here, at least three second rankers and many high leveled first rankers, none of which he recognized. They were across the river from the village.

Damian was just here to get an estimate of their numbers, thinking they must be from Ashenvale, but instead what he found was an unexpected surprise.

"Hmm… Those are Eldoris colors," Damian muttered.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Damian crossed the river, leaving his horse tied to a tree. Using vines and wood style to make a quick bridge, it was a bit excessive but he did not want to jump into the water, this much mana expenditure was no big price to pay.

From atop one of the trees, Damian observed the Eldoris camp, growing more confused by the moment. Half of the camp was filled with beastmen, many of them shirtless or wearing simple clothing. Most of them didn't register on his mana sense — they must be pugilists. There were so many of them. The humans in the camp, however, didn't seem pleased by the beastmen's presence.

The tension between the two groups was palpable, as if a fight could break out at any moment.

Everyone seemed focused on one spot in the camp, though it was blocked from Damian's view. He jumped from tree to tree, trying to get a better angle.

Damian saw a huge, white-furred beastman arguing with one of the second-rankers Damian had sensed earlier. Suddenly, the beastman grabbed the second-ranker by the collar, and his tribe moved in action with him. The humans, startled but prepared, also raised their weapons defensively.

Things weren't looking good for the humans—they didn't even realize the beastmen had two second-rankers of their own, along with a number of powerful pugilists that Damian couldn't sense the ranks of.