After their little chat Urist and his group got to work on Ubel’s secret mission: taking the mecha back to base for gears to study to see if they could use them. Thanks to the group’s strength and abilities it only took them an hour to bring back a mecha. With loot in tow, Ubel was easily able to hide the truth of the meeting. As for the other mecha’s they would take the cores to make them basically useless.

When they returned Ubel was handed a report on their losses and gains.

Dwarfs: 15 dead, 35 wounded. Mostly from Agate’s detachment.

Rat-kin: 25 dead, 27 wounded. Mostly from Zen’s detachment.

Fox-kin: 21 dead, 40 wounded. Mostly from Agate’s detachment.

Animals were unharmed.

Rescued 400 adult fox-kin.

Of the wounded only 84 can get back to fight strength within a few days.

Lower than I expected, those rat-kin really put in some hard work. Ubel handed the report over to Urist and kept running the numbers.

If we add the adult fox-kin to our numbers then we could say that we came out on top with a heroic victory in the first exchange. But some of those mechas and necromancers managed to escape our blitzkrieg, so now they know we’re a threat.They’ll increase the castle’s defenses and in our current situation it would be a slaughter if we attempt to siege it without something to tip the scales again. This would be the end scenario for us if they didn’t give us a fighting chance thanks to these cores. Otherwise....

“So this is how many died…”, Urist stood there, lost, as he looked at the paper, his hands shaking.

Ubel rolled his eyes at the sight, “You're going to need to get used to it. At least we can bring back the dead as long as we get enough points. So get your head out of those useless thoughts and get ready, we’re going to need to convince those new fox-kin to join our banner. Going to be hard since we did send their kids and parents off to war, so be ready for a tongue lashing.”

Urist sent Ubel a scornful look before deflating, not feeling up to arguing.

“I know, Ubel... But I hate seeing the people I know die.”

“Then make sure that both you and they get stronger after this. Then there will be less death and less heartache. Now go convince that mob of fox-kin over there, I have tasks to hand out. I’ll get Old Crimson and Sage to back you up so as to make it go smoothly. Good luck, King.”

“Have you ever...?”

Before Urist could finish the question Ubel had already left, off to his own devices.

That prick, leaving me the hard work. I’ll get him back later. Inwardly hyping himself up, Urist headed towards the place filled with angry parents.

Crimson and Sage came out of the left field and silently followed behind him.

Urist stopped walking when he was only a few feet away from the crowd. Although he had seen how weak they looked before, now that he had a closer look Urist could see how much weight they had lost, basically becoming mere skin and bones.

While studying the group he noticed that some of the fox-kin moved with skill even though they were mere skeletal forms of their previous selves. The fox-kin with the strength bloodline stuck out like sore thumbs with the height and bone structures to have once been built like Valkus. Though their eyes were sunken in and their ribs could be seen under their faded six-packs, they at least looked much better compared to the spacial bloodline fox-kin, who looked so thin that even the wind could blow them away.

Urist wasn’t sure how to respond. Treat them with pity? No these people were those of warriors and hunters. Treat them coldly? No that would be a total Ubel thing and wouldn’t give him any gains. No, what he had to do was treat them as the warriors they were and still are.

Didn’t Sage say they were taken only a week before we came here? How could they look like this after a week? Were they not fed? Those necromancers really are demons.

Urist turned to Uria, “Get the cooks to work overtime, these people are malnourished.”

Before Uria could nod, a snort was heard from the crowd.

“This wasn’t caused by a lack of eating and drinking. That bastard said that our life force was taken for some kinda spell. So. Who are you?”

Urist turned his head to see the largest of the fox-kin with sunken eyes moving through the crowd to stand before Urist, waiting for him to respond with a glare.

Having already affirmed himself, Urist held out his hand, narrowed his eyes, and put on a caring yet fearless expression.

“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Urist. You say they drained your life forces? Luckily we should have something to fix that. You'll all be back to normal in no time. I’m sorry that it took us so long to rescue you all, but the enemy is tough and heavily fortified while we’ve only just arrived in this land. Tell me brother, what is your name?”

When the large fox-kin saw Urist's outstretched hand and confident expression, his sunken eyes blazed. How could he refuse when this man could save their lives and help them get revenge?

He took Urist's hand in stride and shook it with whatever strength he had left.

“That is great news to hear. I hate to be weak and let the little ones take all the glory. I am Thatch Blacktail, father to Orion Blacktail and now the best hunter of my clan after the unfortunate death of my dear brother, Akam Whitetail. I’m sorry little Sage that we couldn’t attend your father's funeral. You have my deepest condolences.”

The group of adults moved as one, shakily going down on one knee and bowing to the expressionless Sage.

Sage stepped forth, glowing with confidence, “Thank you for your show of respect. But I am now temporary clan chieftain Sage, not 'little' Sage. I have spoken to God, and we are to follow this man as our King. The one you should bow to isn’t me, but to him— King Urist.”

The man shuddered and looked up with wide eyes before they suddenly narrowed, “You spoke with God? I can't believe you. Tell me, little one, if you truly spoke with God, he must have given you a certain message, didn’t he?”

And for some reason as Sage spoke, Urist and all those around him that weren't fox-kin could only hear static.

“He said ‘The ▯▯▯▯ ▯▯▯ begun again! These people will lead you to freedom. Follow them until ordered otherwise.’ This is what he told me to tell the others. He said the adults would understand.”

Thatch’s hollow eyes watered as tears rolled down his cheeks, “After all this time our people can finally leave this accursed place. Our god still lives!”

Not just him, but many other people behind him began to weep tears of joy.

Urist gave them a moment to regain themselves. It took a few minutes, in which Uria left to head over to the cooking area and pull some rat meat and bamboo seeds from storage.

I’m glad I found out that we could still pull from the storage as long as we’re in the village. Even if we can’t use the market, it’s a nice thing to have and can help us save lives.

While waiting Urist also asked Sage if she could repeat what she said to Thatch, only for her to tell him it was a secret and that he wouldn’t be able to hear it.

Yet.

Although a little annoyed, Urist didn’t push the issue since he felt it wasn’t that big of a deal compared to their survival.

After the fox-kin regained their composure they once again stood and bowed, this time to Urist.

“We have shown such disrespect to you, King. We will serve you, even in our disabled states, to the best of our ability.”

Urist moved forth and helped Thatch stand back up, “Thank you for your show of loyalty, but you need not bow to me. Even if I am named a king, I do not have any laws stating that you must bow. Now come, let us get you all back into shape! The cooks are making something right now that not only should help you all but also tastes great!”

Thatch could only smile bitterly, “I can only hope.”

As he led the group towards the makeshift kitchen, Urist could still feel some blood lust in the crowd— no doubt the people who had their children killed.

I should probably tell them that anyone who dies can be brought back and have Sage say it as well for good measure. Hopefully, the looks of death will lessen on my back after that… Still, I wonder what Ubel is doing?