The Achievement Junkie

Chapter 263 Just Before the Border

While most soldiers were disillusioned by the sudden attack that had devastated their ranks, Toms was pondering what to do next. "Dirk, what do you think we should do?"

"General, are you wondering if we should either move on or search for more spies among us?" Dirk asked. "I think we should press on."

"Are you sure? If they attack us again, it will be at their advantage so long as they have a spy or two among our ranks," argued Toms.

"But weren’t you the one who said they were after time? That they would delay us as long as possible, giving us all the more reason to push forward with the attack?" reasoned Dirk. "If we stop now and run a thorough search, it will take time. The spies will slip through the cracks if we rush the search."

"Hmmm... You do make a good point... Right, let’s press on without any delay. Whether we stop or push ahead, they’ll attack either way. Might as well not waste time."

Toms took another deep breath before giving his orders, "Men! Hurry and take one of your potion rations! We move out now!"

Almost the entire army looked up to the general with some level of disdain. Not only were they not allowed time to properly heal, but they weren’t able to do anything for their fallen comrades either. But the inexperienced soldiers didn’t say anything to refute their cold general as they saw him turn and resume the march.

"Men! This is war! We won’t always have time to gather dead or loaf around to heal!" Toms added. "Now, we follow those who escaped to the border! You all saw it, so don’t forget the culprits we’re after!"

Feeling more at ease with the general, the soldiers complied and marched on with the few captains that remained.

Jack marched alongside his temporary comrades, never waning from the role he had to play. He was surprised by how easy it was to follow the plan, but he knew the toughest part was yet to come.

The march continued as the refocused army paid close attention to their surroundings. No one wanted to face another surprise attack.

All that remained of the army’s trek to the border was a single valley. After crossing it, the army would officially enter the Trodar border and invade.

What the army didn’t know was that camped on both sides of the valley were two halves of an army, one bearing a Limneer flag and the other a Sandros flag. They had arrived the night before and were waiting for the diversion army to attack and create an opening.

Those two camps were divided as they struggled for complete cohesion after the fire incident back at the camp. But they still shared the same goal and agreed to continue their planned attack.

However, they had been spotted by a sneaky hunter.

’Everyone, be careful,’ Rydel warned. ’Above the valley up ahead, we have the secret army on both sides. Be ready to adapt and flee the area as soon as possible.’

Glad to have that knowledge, Jack ran through their plan in his mind. After some quick thinking, he relayed some possible alterations to the original plan. ’Remember, we only need to delay for a few more hours. Tralon’s army is already en route for the border. All we have to do his stall and run.’

’Keela, Eliza, you two will have to be very careful not to come out unless necessary. And if you’re needed, you’ll have to disappear as quickly as you appeared. Got that?’

’Sure thing, Jack. I wouldn’t want to leave my husband a widower so young,’ joked Eliza.

’Seriously, be careful you two,’ Jack stated sternly. ’Daliea, if you should wait by the side and only do as we had planned. You’re practically out of mana and you’ve already taken too many potions recently thanks to your plan back at Zurden, so I no further attacking from you..’

’Fine... But if something goes wrong I won’t hesitate to act,’ replied Daliea.

’Okay, but if we tell you to leave, then you leave,’ Jack sighed, both glad and annoyed at Daliea��s stubbornness. ’Rydel, do you need to make any further changes?’

’I’ll be fine.’

’Everyone, keep an eye out for those bounty hunters mixed in with the soldiers. According to Dirk, they should all be our level or higher and they’re being coordinated by Trank from the shadows,’ Jack explained. ’If you’re caught in any kind of confrontation, then get out immediately. Understood?’

’Jack, what about you?’ asked Keela. ’You’re in the worst position of all. How are you going to get out if things get dicey?’

’Don’t worry, I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve if worst comes to worst. Just stick to the plan and don’t worry too much about me. I mean, I am Jack J., the Legend of Trodar. Don’t forget that,’ boasted Jack, trying to calm their nerves.

’Why shouldn’t I worry about my husband...’ whimpered Eliza. ’Just don’t die, promise me that.’

’I promise that I won’t die, okay Eliza?’

’Call me ’Dear.’’

’Eliza, I’ve told that--’

’Jack, please.’

’... I promise I won’t die, Dear.’

’Thank you, Darling.’

’Now that you two are done with the chit chat, Jack, can I let this thing loose?’ Rydel interjected, a sense of excitement obvious in his voice.

’Once the back of the army has made it at least fifty meters into the valley, then let it rip.’

The army had to slow down at the valley’s narrow entrance but quickly sped back up once inside. The natural cover of the valley made it an ideal spot for the invasion of Trodar, hence Trodar placing an army not too far from the valley’s exit.

Within the ranks of the army, an aging soldier gradually slowed down. He trickled toward the back, almost reaching the captains by the time everyone had entered the valley.

At the front of the march, Toms chatted with Dirk. "Once we enter the border, keep to the side. We’ll create an opening for the soldiers and then retreat to our other forces."

"Understood, General."

"Dirk, you know you don’t have to keep calling me that, right?" laughed Toms. "Loire and I never bothered with titles or formalities when we were alone, so you can do the same."

"Alright, Toms."

"That’s more like it." Toms’s laughter grew louder and louder. "After all this, we’ll finally be able to pressure Trodar into surrendering. It’s about time."

"But what about after that?" questioned Dirk. "How will the three nations divvy up Trodar, and what about the higher-ups in Trodar? Won’t they still put up a fight?"

"Those old fools are too soft to do that. So long as the people of Trodar agree to surrender, then those senile men are likely to agree to our terms." Toms’s laughter could now be heard by all the soldiers on the front line. "Imagine that, politicians that let the people control them instead of keeping control over the people. Crazy, right?"

"Yeah... That’s just crazy..." Dirk laughed as well, but without any gusto or real emotion.

Suddenly, Toms quit laughing and grew serious. "Dirk, be ready. We’ll be crossing the border shortly and even with our levels, we can’t guarantee our retreat. You’ll have to be on your toes. I don’t want to lose my last assistant."

"Thanks for the tip, General... Toms."

"You’ll get used to it soon enough. Now keep an eye out for the next ambush," Toms stated. "If they’re smart, those pests should attack soon now that we’re contained in the walls of the valley."

Not too far ahead, a man invisible to the naked eye stood atop one of the ridges above the valley. In his hands was an unraveled scroll containing a sealed spell. Softly speaking aloud, he uttered the words written in large, archaic font.

"Tempest Slash."