In around two weeks Markus with his small force had been taken to a military harbor in the north. There they boarded a ship that sailed towards the north. In just one day the ship would arrive at the coast of the state of Spade.

"You think we are ready? The people's free state of Spade may be small, but their hatred for the Heian empire is endless," August asked Markus.

"We will be fine. Hatred is a two-way blade. It encourages people to fight, but it also encourages them to lose all rationality."

~~

The next day during the middle of the night all the soldiers were woken up. The weather was rainy and large waves hit the sides of the ship.

They were then ordered to put their weapons and armor on a couple of small boats that were lowered down to the sea.

Markus then came and addressed his men.

"Alright men. Jump to the sea," Markus ordered.

"What the hell. Do you know how cold the water is this time of the year?"

"We will drown. It practically is a storm."

"I do not know even how to swim."

The prisoner soldiers protested the prince's ludicrous and almost suicidal orders.

Markus signaled August who then approached the soldiers. He punched one of the men with lightning coming out of his fist. The soldier fell from the boat falling to the cold waters below.

"You can either swim to the other side yourself or you will be aided by August," Markus explained.

~ ~

The soldiers swam to the shore despite the cold seawater and the waves pushing them around. A couple of men were dragging the couple rowboats with them to the shore that had all their weapons and armor.

Markus, August and Mona soon joined the soldiers into the waters and they too swam to the other side.

As the soldiers reached the shore of the enemy nation they all were dead tired. A few men had drowned either because they didn't know how to swim or the hard seas were too much for them.

Because they swam and had only a small force they were able to sneak undetected with the nation of spade not knowing a small army had landed on their shores.

August immediately went to the rowboats and started to put on his armor and hammer.

"Get your gears on. We leave in twenty minutes," August commanded the soldiers.

The men looked tired and started pathetically putting on their armor and gear. Their clothes were wet and everyone was cold.

"HURRY UP!" August yelled.

~ ~

As soon as all the soldiers were ready they started to move inland. They headed toward the hills and went straight to the forests. If they moved through the woodlands they would be able to hide from the populace and the enemy soldiers.

They moved through the entire night with only a few rests. Their shoes were wet and caused blisters and cuts on their feet. Their wet clothes weighed more and some even started to show signs of getting sick and diseased. Either way, they continued to march forward.

"We will need soon some supplies. We do not have any food or freshwater," August explained.

"I know. Even if their spirit doesn't break their bodies will unless they eat," Markus said back.

He then looked to the distance and saw smoke rising.

"I think I know precisely what we should do," Markus said and ordered his men to start heading where the smoke came from.

~ ~

The small army of Markus soon arrived at a small village where the smoke came from. Markus took with him some men and started to surround the sleepy village that still hadn't woken up in the early morning.

Markus cut his finger and shot a blood drop at the village guard who stood watch on top of the watchtower.

At the command of Markus, the soldiers attacked the village. They entered the houses and started to slaughter every sleeping or awake person from men to women and from old to children. Their inner criminal instincts came out with more ferocity as they were tired and dead hungry. They killed them all and dragged some women into the barns to be raped and defiled.

The black company took all the food and drinks they found and started to revive themselves. When a couple of soldiers got drunk they decided out of pleasure to burn a barn where they had some of the village women they had desecrated.

Every person in the village was killed to make sure that no one would warn the authorities of their presence.

Markus ordered a couple of mules and horses to be taken to be used to carry the supplies of their army.

It just took a small force around thirty minutes to destroy and massacre the village and disappear like smoke to the wind. Unfortunately, this village was going to be one of many and would pale in comparison to what was to become.