Chương 53: Guild war

Ethan and the others crested the dune, Desmond had already laid out his terms, and there hadn't been a single word in them worth considering.

"So we're fighting then," Nivia whispered.

"No other option," Thane replied, his voice steady.

"So many will die…" Ethan cut in before the thought could settle and weaken their resolve.

"They've made their bed. You need to think about the future of the entire level. What Alex said was right. There can't be unrest when things are already this volatile. If we win today, it'll save thousands tomorrow." Thane gave a slow nod, accepting it for what it was. But Nivia looked frustrated.

"There has to be another way," she said quietly. Ethan let out a breath through his nose. He understood where she was coming from. Hell, part of him even respected it. But this wasn't something they could afford to hesitate over. They didn't understand how bad this could get, but he did. He had seen what happened and he would do anything to stop it. If that meant he needed to kill again, then he wouldn't hesitate.

But there was still another option, and one he wanted to pursue, especially if it allowed him to get more answers. Ethan's gaze shifted back to Thane.

"We need to get to Desmond and end him. If we take out him and his leadership, the rest of them will probably surrender." Thane frowned slightly.

"That'll be harder than you think. He won't be on the front lines. He'll stay in the back."

"Maybe," Ethan said, though Thane was probably right. At times like this, he wished he knew some stealth. However, it wasn't to be.

"How sure are you they'll surrender?" Nivia asked, looking at him. Ethan met her gaze through the narrow slit of his helm.

"It's an assumption. But I think they will. They've already lost their original leader. They've had to restructure once. If we take that away again," he paused slightly.

"I don't see them holding together." He was pretty confident that they would surrender if things ended like that. He was willing to try anyway, it was a win-win situation. He had to remind himself that these people had probably never fought another human before. They were likely scared. A lot of them unsure if this was worth it. Ethan had an angle there. All he needed was the stage. He rolled his shoulders slightly, feeling his armor settle around him. He was as ready as he'd ever be. His foundation was set.

And it was far more solidified than he expected. He was ready to end this. Not for him, but for the people only just arriving on this level. They needed guidance. The Broken Dawns could offer that to them. He didn't want to see what would happen if it was left in Desmond's hands.

"Give me a group of your best close combat fighters. We won't join the main battle, but instead flank. Try to catch Desmond and anyone else unaware." Thane stared at him for a moment. Likely weighing up whether he should allow it or not. Ethan felt he had earned at least this amount of trust. Finally he nodded.

"I'll leave fifty with you. Find a good flanking position and charge when you see the opening."

"You've made the right decision," Ethan answered, giving him a nod.

"I'll come with you," Nivia stated. Ethan regarded her. Waiting for Thane to deny the request. When he didn't, Ethan answered.

"I don't think that's a good idea. It will be far more dangerous with me. We won't be supported by anyone. You should stay with the main force." Thane nodded, agreeing.

"You'll need a healer then. Especially if what you've said is true," Nivia responded, looking intently at Ethan. She was right, he would need a healer. And she knew it. But still, Ethan was hesitant. What he said was true, they would come from the side or behind the army, with no other support. It was a dangerous move, but one he hoped would end the fighting before too many people died. However, exactly because of that reason, he didn't want Nivia to come.

She was one of the few people he had come to care about since his return.

"Thane, can you spare a heal—""What do you take me for?" she stated.

"I'm the best for the job. I can fight and heal. I'm also one of the strongest here and that's without my healing ability." Ethan paused, sighed, and nodded.

"Very well. If Thane will allow it." She stared at Thane, the exact same way Alice had been looking at him moments earlier. Her eyes slightly narrowed, lips straight and brow furrowed. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Alright." Ethan didn't blame the man for caving, even if he was still hesitant himself. After all, he was unsure on how much of an asset she would really be. She had just confirmed she didn't want to kill anyone. They walked for a short moment longer until the rest of the Broken Dawns came into view. Nearly eight hundred fighters moved across the dunes. The non-combatants had been left behind, still back at camp, hopefully getting ready to help the injured.

Ethan and the others paused, waiting for the army to reach them, when they did Thane began giving more organized orders, shifting people into rough formations. He set the mages and archers to the back, while all close combat fighters moved forward. He also singled out a number of people and took them out of the formation. They peeled away and moved to the side. Around fifty of them came to a stop, Ethan and Nivia among them. Ethan glanced around the group Thane had selected. It was a mix.

He could pick out a few obvious roles—archers with their bows already strung, a couple of mages—but most were harder to place. Warriors, rogues, hybrids. There was quite the mix. He was glad Leah wasn't amongst them. Ethan's gaze flicked across the group again, confirming it. They had agreed she wouldn't fight. She had helped the scouts track the Valkyries, done her part, but this was different. And he didn't want her to have any part in what was coming. Maybe he was gatekeeping her but he didn't care.

She didn't need to be here. Still, a small part of him wished he had seen her before they split. Made sure she was alright. The transition from waiting to action had been too sudden. Now she was somewhere behind them, out of sight and hopefully safe. Ethan dragged his focus back to the present. Thane stepped forward and gave a quick breakdown of the plan. They would flank, while the main force engaged head-on, the plan was basically what Ethan had told him. With them circling to target the leadership.

And failing that, any of their powerful mages. He finished by telling everyone Ethan was in charge. If anyone didn't agree they never showed it openly. Though Ethan knew there would be a couple. After all, he wasn't even a part of their guild so he could see them not wanting to listen. After that, they broke off from the main body, angling wide across the dunes. The terrain worked in their favor.

Rolling rises and dips in the sand gave them natural cover, hiding their movement from anyone not actively searching for them. Ethan didn't trust it. If he could think of flanking, so could the Valkyries.

"Let's send out some people to track ahead," Ethan said. A few people looked at him until a few stepped forward saying they will do it. He gave a short nod, and ten of their number split off, moving ahead of the group. Ethan kept moving, keeping [Keen Sense] active, while trying to funnel mana into the skill, as well as soul juice. He wasn't sure if it was working, but he kept trying anyway.

As his senses expanded, his hearing sharpened, he funneled out the sound of the wind blowing over the dunes and the noise their group was making as they pushed forward. Until finally he heard it. It was faint at first, but undeniable. The sound of battle. Ethan slowed for half a step as the noise rolled over the dunes. The sound of metal striking metal and the distant scream and shout that tore through the air, barging into his senses like an unwelcome guest.

"Keep moving," Ethan said, as he noticed others stopping to listen. The group followed, picking up their pace. Moving through the sand, all the while listening to the battle unfold. Their scouts hadn't returned, and that put a weight in Ethan's chest he didn't like. Ethan pushed harder, senses stretching outward. Then something brushed against his perception. Ethan stopped instantly, his hand lifting slightly. The rest of the group halted with him, tension snapping tight.

A second later, a figure came tumbling down the dune ahead of them, rolling uncontrollably before slamming into the sand at the bottom. Ethan was already moving. Nivia kept pace beside him. They reached the man quickly. He was bleeding heavily, blood soaking into the sand beneath his leg. At first glance it looked bad, but Ethan's trained eye broke it down quickly. The cut was deep, but it hadn't hit anything vital. Nivia dropped to her knees, hands already reaching out as she began channeling her skill.

"We—" the man coughed, trying to push himself up before Nivia forced him back down.

"We ran into them… Valkyries. Just over—" He jerked his head weakly toward the dune.

"The others are fighting." Ethan looked in the direction the man had indicated.

"Let's go!" He looked towards the others who had arrived.

"Now!" He didn't wait for a response. The rest of the group was already moving as he broke into a run, the incline slowed them slightly, but Ethan powered up it. When he reached the top, he could hear a battle taking place, close by. It overlapped with the larger fighting happening but he could still faintly make it out. He ran towards the noise, the rest of the Broken Dawns following close behind. Finally he rounded the bend of a dune, and spotted the battle taking place.

There were around twenty Valkyries fighting the scouts. Six fighters struggling to hold their ground. Two bodies already lay in the sand, unmoving, their blood dark against the pale dunes. Ethan felt something cold settle in his chest. His hand closed around the hilt of his sword. He pulled it free, it slid out of the sheath before he caught the blade, pulling it the rest of the way out. He caught the weight cleanly, guiding it forward as it settled in his grip. Everything narrowed.

He could see the way the Valkyries were positioned. Loose, but not disorganized. They had reacted quickly. Faster than Ethan would have liked, now they had forgotten about the six Broken Dawns members, looking up at Ethan and the rest of the group.

"Charge!" Ethan shouted. He didn't need to. The others were already moving. They had seen the bodies, seen their own people cut down. Whatever hesitation had been lingering vanished as they surged forward. Ethan moved with them. Charging at the Valkyries, who looked ready to run. For a moment Ethan was sure they would. They were outnumbered two to one now. But they had nowhere to go. He knew it, and it seemed they did as well. Ethan reached them, already boosting his speed with [Mana Infusion].

He needed to end this quickly. Or else their surprise flanking wouldn't be too much of a surprise at all. He ran past the Broken Dawn members, seeing the relief written on their faces. His blade came down hard. The Valkyrie raised his sword to meet the attack, their swords smashed together. Ethan's blow, obliterating the other warrior's. His feet sunk into the sand as he was forced back. Ethan pulled his sword around and into a diagonal slash, hearing the large blade whistle through the air as he struck again.

Their swords connected and Ethan felt as the attack powered through the Valkyrie's defenses. His sword slipped past the man's guard and embedded into his side. The breath left him, as his eyes widened in horror. Ethan ripped his blade free and brought it down once more. It split into the Valkyrie's collarbone and down into his chest. Ethan kicked the man off his blade, just as the others rushed past him and towards the remaining Valkyries.