The moon and the stars were hidden behind the clouds, as the strategy meeting was coming to an end.

Though it was a particularly cold spring night, the thick cloaks of the tent kept out the harsh winds.

‘’Nimura, have you sent word about the battles back to Nivalis yet?’’

The man who called out to the commander was Skald leader of Andor’s sight and a commander in the bandit subjugation.

After taking some time to think, Nimura set his sights on Skald.

‘’The moment we came into contact with the ogres, I had sent out a messenger towards the capital. But seeing as the capital is too far off to request back up, I also sent some towards nearby noble men. There also is another army that should be about two days east of here, so we’ve requested back up from them as well.’’

‘’Have you received word back yet?’’

‘’Though none of the noblemen were able to assist us, we got confirmation from the eastern army that they are sending five hundred men. Amongst them would be an immensely strong blessed soldier.’’

‘’They had someone like that to spare, huh.’’

Skald narrowed his eyes as if he were in disbelief, as to which Kaze started thinking back about the battle of a few days ago.

‘’When will they arrive?’’

Breaking Kaze’s thoughts Skald asked an important question.

‘’Tomorrow probably in the midday, so until then we’ll need to fend for ourselves.’’

‘’Then I’ll ask one more question and then keep my mouth shut. Who is their leading commander’’

‘’…I’ll tell you the exact same thing the messenger told me. You’ll know as soon as you see him.’’

‘’Must be some big shot then, if they’re that confident we know him.’’

‘’Indeed, and with that the meeting is now over. Everyone get back to your respective army and begin preparations for battle.’’

With that Skald, Victor and Kaze went to the grounds were they had set up camp.

When they arrived at their camp they were greeted by Hiro and Renzo, Skald and Victor gave them the run through of the meeting.

Kaze had at this point gone his separate way, so to get his thoughts in order.

If reinforcements are on time it’ll be a fight of one thousand against two thousand. Plus the existence of another blessing user will shift the battle into our favor. But we can’t take too long to start the battle, otherwise the bandits might try and do something again. So in this case the battle will start with one thousand versus fifteen hundred. Even with our numeral difference the bandits have to advantage of knowing the geographical layout. From the intel it is clear that we’ll enter at the eastern side of the mountain. Seeing as this is the only place that will allow the entire army to pass through without much of a delay.

There has to be something that we could use to our advantage. Something I can do with the information that we had.

‘’Kazehaya!’’

Noticing Rentaro, Fubuki and Setsuna standing next to him, Kaze felt a slight shock.

‘’How long have you been standing there?’’

‘’About two minutes man, we’ve been calling you out for a while now.’’

Seeing as his friends were clearly worried Kaze tried to calm them down.

‘’Sorry for making you worry about me, though this might come at a good time.’’

Turning their faces towards each other with a questioning expression, Kaze began to talk about the meeting.

‘’I see, those are quite some serious reasons to be worried. Have you thought of any counter measures yet?‘’

Kaze’s silence was enough for Fubuki to know that this was not the case.

‘’Would the bandits stagger if we suddenly had more forces?’’

It was obvious that Setsuna knew very little about, how things went on the battlegrounds.

‘’With the additional number of forces we would have twice their numbers. Even so I don’t think they’ll be frightened, seeing as they know every nook and cranny of the mountains.’’

Kaze looked at the sky, wondering if there was anything that he had forgotten over the course of the past few days.

‘’But still I gotta say, that Gandor seems like a pretty amazing strategist.’’

Feeling as if he were struck by lightning Kaze remembered, the existence of the man Gandor. Though he knew of the man and his terrible deeds, he also knew of his habits. Most noticeably he was a particularly cruel man, who finds joy in the misery of others.

‘’Guys I think I have an idea, will you hear me out?’’

Nodding to their friend, Kaze explained his plan.

‘’Have you lost your mind!’’

‘’This is plan is simply pure madness.’’

‘’Kaze, didn’t you say you wouldn’t do anything rash.’’

Each of his friends made their thoughts heard holding no regards towards Kaze’s feelings.

‘’I know that it’s extremely dangerous, but if we are able to pull it off, we’ll be able to turn the tides in battle.’’

Putting his hand against his head Fubuki processed Kaze’s plan.

‘’This would certainly be able to work out greatly to our profits.’’

Not believing what he heard Rentaro furiously stomped his foot.

‘’Fubuki you can’t seriously agree with this!’’

‘’Calm down and think logically for a minute. If reinforcements don’t arrive within a certain time span, we’ll be overpowered by the ogres and bandits alike.’’

‘’That’s why we have captain Skald for right.’’

Kaze quickly knocked down his statement.

‘’While it’s true that the captain would be able to make quick work of the ogres, he will not be able to keep it up for a long time. There is also the distance problem, unlike last time the ogres won’t be grouped together. Which would make finding the right time to use his ability troublesome. So the best option we would have left is stall for time. I know this is asking for a lot, but I would like your assistance.’’

Rentaro started moaning as if he were in excruciating pain.

‘’Alright fine, I’ll help you out. Better than letting you do it by yourself.’’

‘’Rentaro, thank you.’’

The three young men were now on the same wavelength, though Setsuna hung her head in displeasure.

Seeing this Kaze placed his hand on her head and petted her lightly.

‘’Don’t worry, this’ll be our last resort. I’ll do anything I can to not use it.’’

Setsuna’s mood immediately brightened up as Kaze reassured her.

As Kaze looked at Setsuna’s azure blue eyes, he felt himself getting flustered.

Feeling a hand tightly grabbing onto his shoulder Kaze looked over at Rentaro who had a strangely peaceful look on his face.

‘’Kaze my friend, do you mind if I strangle you just a little.’’

With a gentle smile the two young man started running, Kaze for his life and Rentaro to decompress his rage.

‘’There they go again, Setsuna mind giving me a hand?’’

‘’Hehe I guess I’m partly to blame for all of this. Rentaro please stop trying to kill Kazehaya!’’

Meanwhile at the bandit camp.

‘’Bwahaha, I knew those idiots would end up losing, now pay up.’’

‘’Dammit the one time he was actually doing work and this shit happens. Here’s your damn money.’’

Over at the bandit camp people were full of life, despite the fact that they had been pushed back into the mountains.

Without a care in the world the bandits were eating, gambling and partying as if nothing had happened.

‘’Hey Seroku, you wanna go in on this bet?’’

The man that was address as Seroku was the retainer of Gandor, though he is of an average build, he was able to wield a heavy spear with ease.

Being able to wield such a destructive weapon has proven him a force to be reckoned with.

‘’Very well let’s hear the bet.’’

‘’We’re betting how many ogres those idiots will be able to take down, before they turn their tail and run. I’m betting one ogre and this smart ass thinks they’ll be able to take down two.’’

‘’So what will it be.’’

Seroku closed his eyes and put his hand on his chin, he seemed like he was deep in thoughts.

‘’Alright then I pick five ogres.’’

‘’’’Huh?’’’’

Both the bandits simultaneously let out a sound of disbelief.

‘’S-Seroku don’t you think your overestimating them a lot.’’

‘’Yeah and aren’t there only seven ogres left.’’

‘’You’re right that there are only seven left, when my lord came here he came with a total of eleven ogres. But they seemed to be able to kill at least five of them with their previous numbers. So I don’t think that I’m overestimating them.’’

The two bandits glanced at each other as Seroku turned his back towards them.

‘’Though there is also the chance that we’ll be the once to draw the short end of the stick.’’

With those words Seroku departed towards a tent three times the size of a normal tent.

‘’Hey boss, how are you holding up?’’

Sitting in a big chair sat a man who seemed to be around the age of fifty.

Due to his age his chestnut brown hair was slowly starting to turn grey.

In his hand was a silver cup within it was a finely aged wine.

‘’You know Seroku they say a fine wine is just like a woman.’’

‘’The longer you keep them locked up the better?’’

Gandor’s good mood was quickly fading as Seroku opened his mouth.

As he gave of a heavy sigh to express his stress, Seroku kept smiling like he had been the entire time.

‘’You really have a certain way with words don’t you.’’

‘’So I’ve been told.’’

Offering a seat to Seroku, Gandor started pouring him a glass of wine.

‘’Tell me how is the state of my men.’’

When Gandor handed the cup to Seroku, he first took a whiff as to prepare himself for this delicacy.

After gracefully having a taste of the wine, Seroku started explaining the armies state.

‘’Moral seems to be especially high after attacking those villages near here. Though we have lost about half of our men, about seventy percent of them were original bandits. The other thirty percent were men you brought with you, and of course five of your ogres.’’

‘’Mhmm so they were able to go against that many of my men, not to forget my ogres as well.’’

‘’But it seems we have nothing to worry about, as long as we keep our soldiers fed and entertained they’ll keep fighting.’’

‘’Good, after we’re done dealing with the Nivalis army, we’ll recruit more people from the surrounding areas. When we’re back on our feet, I’ll show Lord Falak that he made the wrong move banishing me.’’

‘’Though can you really blame him, after all each time your returned from the battlefield you had a new batch of slaves. What did you even do with them, did you sell them?’’

‘’Only the men got sold, I kept the women for myself of course. Also don’t think that you’re innocent in all of this. Weren’t you the one who kept setting fire to the houses we passed.’’

The gentle smile which Seruko had kept until now, was gradually becoming more evil.

‘’Hehehe it’s not like those lives were of any importance, they lived in enemy territory so I disposed of them. All I did was get rid possible future problems.’’

Looking at his retainer, Gandor drank the last bit of his wine and stood up off his chair.

‘’The man who killed my precious little ogres will soon be upon us.’’

The light of the torches which were inside the tent danced with Gandor’s silhouette.

Rising his hand he clenched it into a fist, due to the force he impaled the skin of his hand and started to bleed.

‘’I promise you this, you won’t leave the mountains alive.’’

Seruko glanced at his commander while still enjoying his wine.

Show me more of what I saw that day commander. That fateful day when you killed everyone I knew, I yearn to see such beauty once more.

Gandor walked out of his tent and looked over his men, as they were enjoying themselves.

Next time you lose I won’t accept it.

With those thoughts Gandor grabbed onto his sword, which hung on his waist.

I’ll kill that blessing user with my own blade, even if I have to let each of you die in the process.

Gandor was determined to kill Skald, even at the cost of his entire army.

The dawn broke through the sky as the battle of Nivalis versus the bandits would begin.