Fake Commander

Second Day of the Neothaliyan Attack

In the Dentor Region

The Acroniyan army was standing in the 5th formation, called "Five Fingers." The soldiers were divided into five parts; the center was the strongest with around 2,000 soldiers, while the left and right flanks had 1,250 soldiers which were divided into two groups.

Group A, closest to the center, had around 750 soldiers, and Group B had around 500. Five hundred soldiers were standing at the rear, while the supplies were at a distance.

While the Neothaliyan army was in their classic formation, their center was around 600, and as for the left and right flanks, 100 each.

Both armies stared at each other without any movement; silence was all that remained there.

Neil shouted, "Spare your lives and surrender now. Your lives will be spared, just turn back to your kingdoms and never step on Acroniya again."

Zacktor said, raising his voice, "So you are responsible. I was having such a beautiful dream. I was sitting on the throne." He paused; a smile manifested on his face as he continued, "Well, let's continue where it ended. It's natural for you to clean the mess you create. Let me see."

Zacktor scanned the area, then clapped his hands and continued, "I never imagined you would prepare so many pieces for me." With a big smile, he continued, "This throne will be bigger than my dream."

"I have an offer for you: join me and you can be my favorite footrest. It's a tempting offer, isn't it?" he added.

With his usual devilish smile, he said, "Or else I would have to kill you. What do you prefer: should I kill you, or your men first?" He raised his voice and said, "I have given you options; select one."

Neil pointed his sword towards Zacktor, his voice firm but loud. "I doubt that you could achieve any of them. Anyway, let's keep the armies aside for now and do this the old way. You and me."

"Commander, be careful. Neothaliyans never fight fair," a soldier near Neil said. Zacktor, moving his head, said, "Even they don't have trust in you. I don't want to waste my time on someone like you."

Neil ignored him and replied to his soldier, "Don't worry, I will end this soon."

Zacktor exploded in anger, "Don't even think to insult me, you pest! I am Zacktor Neckran. Once I kill you, rivers of blood will flow here, and "

"Are you done? By the way, has our duel started?" Neil said, then yawned. Zacktor exploded in anger and shouted, "How dare you insult me?! The moment you dared to insult me, the duel was already started! I will....".

"Okay, if that's the case, I should end this really quick," Neil replied while holding his sword properly. He rushed towards Zacktor; before Zacktor could react, Neil had covered all his possible ways to run. With a blank expression on his face, Neil said, "Farewell forever, traitor."

In a single swift motion, his sword moved across Zacktor's neck; Neil twisted his sword, sending his head flying for a while, and then it fell on the ground.

Zacktor's body fell with a thud sound; as for Neil, he stood his ground, his sword dripping blood. He turned his gaze towards the Neothaliyan soldiers and roared, "Your Commander is dead! What about you?"

The Neothaliyan army in fear started running; after a while, they scattered in every direction.

One of the soldiers looked towards the running Neothaliyans, then towards his commander, and said, "Commander."

Neil understood his concern and replied before he could even ask, "The royal army will move soon. Even if they attack a village, the local guards can handle them."

When Zacktor's head was falling to the ground, his mind was filled with thoughts, "What just happened? Those eyes... they look familiar. If only I had recognized them earlier. They look just like him." Zacktor's head fell on the ground, and only a word came out of his mouth: "Landerous."

Neil moved towards Zacktor's head and muttered, "What was he saying?" Neil stood in his place and said, "Let's refill our supplies from their camp and head straight towards Dentor Valley."

Two soldiers moved towards Zacktor's body; they removed his armor along with other valuable items he had. They wrapped his body with a white fabric, and then loaded him along with his valuables into the cart.

After traveling a few meters, the frontline was able to see the Neothaliyan camp. Around 200 soldiers from the frontline were sent to search the campsite. Those 200 soldiers divided into smaller groups to cover roughly around 100 tents.

While searching through their stuff, two soldiers started gossiping, "Was he actually a Commander? If such weak persons are made commander, then we will win this easily."

"Did you forget about those beasts? I think soldiers are a mere distraction; they are after something else."

"Okay, okay, you both get back to work. We have to hurry; people are dying somewhere."

"Sorry," both said in a single word and increased their working speed.

The soldiers got a topic for their gossip, and this time it was that Commander. The soldiers had given him several names and started talking about him while completing their task.

After searching for a few minutes, the supply tent was found. "Looks like they ate all the food," one of the soldiers muttered while searching the tent.

"They still have water," the other soldier said, pointing towards the barrels in the corner. They moved towards them and saw they were still sealed. They looked towards each other, and then...

"It is okay, we were after water anyway," the soldier with him replied. He added, "We need more men." He moved out of the tent and shouted, "We have found supplies! Send more men and carts to transport the same."

Within a few minutes, two carts and 10 men joined them. They moved the barrels out and waited for the army to move.

While at the entrance of another tent, one soldier in a complaining tone said, "This smell is killing me. Who was even living here?" He pointed towards his face, which was covered in layers of fabric, and continued, "Even all this fabric is not enough."

The soldier with him said, "We can't just leave them behind. These will spread diseases fast, that is sure. We can't afford a three-front war."

"What are you both doing?" a voice interrupted them. "Greetings, Captain," they said at the same time.

"Okay, I see the problem. You both lack training," he said, and then he roared, "That's an order! Move in, NOW!"

"Yes, Captain, sir," both soldiers said in unison; they moved in. As soon as they entered, the smell was several times more intense. Their heads started to spin and their bodies felt weak. Yet, they struggled, but soon it became unbearable. They rushed out of the tent and started vomiting near the entrance.

"Good job, you did well," the captain said, and then moved in. After a while, he returned with a few bodies wrapped in fabric. "Take them," he said and went back into the tent.

After a while, all the corpses present in the Neothaliyan camp, along with their blood-stained clothes, were gathered in a single place. Neil took out the flaming red gem from his pouch and replaced it with the brown gem.

His sword turned red and was engulfed in flames; he moved his sword, and then all the corpses caught fire. After waiting for some time, they turned into ash.

The soldiers started gathering those ashes in boxes, while Neil, scanning the area, muttered, "Fortunately, none of us got hurt, except his men. Even for them, there were only a few casualties." He stared towards Zacktor's corpse and continued, "At least it is a casualty for them."

"Greetings, Commander," the Captain said while moving towards Neil. Neil nodded his head in response. The Captain continued, "There are a few tents which need fire." Neil said, "Okay, lead me there."

The Neothaliyan tents were folded and stored in Neothaliyan chests. As for contaminated tents, they were fed to the fire. The valuables of the Neothaliyans were collected and gathered in a single place.

Neil looked towards those items and said, "Keep these safe. These belong to the affected families; let's hope their number is low."

After some time, the Captain returned and said, "Commander, we are ready to leave." Neil moved in front of his soldiers; the soldiers were standing still in their places, waiting for his order.

"Acroniyan Army," he roared. The soldiers responded by hitting the ground with their spears; the earth started to shake under their combined force, but yet they stood still in their places.

Neil smiled for a brief moment and then roared again, "Acroniyan Army, move!" He started moving. As the first line started to move after him, the others followed the same.

After traveling for several hours, they reached a place filled with Neothaliyan beasts' bodies.

Neil muttered while burning those corpses, "The vanguard is doing great work. I hope they are okay."

He looked towards the sky and ordered, "We are setting camp."

The soldiers started making preparations for camping. Neil called his Captain and said, "I will be gone for several hours. Make sure everyone is well rested, including you." The Captain just nodded his head.

Neil moved towards his horse, which was sitting beside a tree; their eyes met. "Kentio, let's go," he muttered.

Kentio was a strong horse, his beautiful white body matching Neil's silver hair, his beautiful black eyes adding to his charm. He nodded his head. Neil climbed on his back with a gentle tap; they moved forward towards the enemy camp.

After traveling for a while, the vanguard spotted him; their leader came forward and greeted him. Neil replied to his greetings, "You are doing great work. The main army is taking a rest; you too take a rest."

After sharing information with them, he guided his horse towards the enemy camp.