Two days later, Nero and two Silver Wolf recruits garbed in clothing similar to the barbarians walked into one of the villages affiliated with the Bashan clan. While walking through the gate, Nero was busy receiving the survey of the village to get a map as quickly as possible.
The Silver Wolf recruits walked beside him and were acting like normal barbarians. Since their faces were obviously more refined than the barbarians, they had to wear beast skulls to cover their heads.
The beast’s skull covered their forehead to their nose.
Nero wore the skull of a wolf while the recruits, who were bigger than Nero in size, wore cave deer skulls. “400 people are in this village. Most of them are women and children; the adults must have left for the war.”
He said softly.
“If they had taken all the men, then it means we were right. They’re about to launch an attack on Chief Adam’s faction.” A recruit said with a solemn expression.
“All the six villages under the head clan have a total of 4000 people left. This one is the smallest, and all of them lack men, so you must be right. We should leave.”
Nero said and turned.
“Shouldn’t we inform Lady Katarina to leave that clan since it would be under siege at any moment?”
“Maybe.” Nero replied.
They easily slipped out of the village without the guards suspecting anything.
…………
High noon. The rays of the sun cascaded down the white clouds, and Nero squatted on a hill, staring at a fortified clan about a mile away. The clan had tall wooden walls and guards equipped with cleavers and shields patrolling.
Nero placed his hands on the ground. He could see the gentle pulses released from the earth’s core and began to hear sounds from the clan when all of a sudden his eyes seemed to teleport and he could see everything in a medium-sized clan. The population was already over 4000, and he could see warriors almost at every corner.
In the town square, some people were tied by hand and feet.
“Ah!’
Nero groaned. He could feel mild pain in his eyes and head due to crossing his limit. Scanning the town from a one-kilometer distance was simply too much for his current rank.
They did not trust their disguise enough that they would bravely walk into a clan filled with warriors and centrak riders.
“4,700 people.”
He said it with gritty teeth.
“What would happen to the remains of Adam’s clan?” A voice rang.
“Chief has ordered for the men in that rebel’s clan to be sold off and sent to the mines. With their scouts here, there’s no way they’ll see the attack coming.”
After he heard that, Nero opened his eyes.
“The missing warriors are already heading for Chief Adam’s clan!”
“We need to report this to the Lord.” A recruit spoke with an alarmed tone.
They swiftly left the hill without anyone in the clan, knowing that their plans had been revealed to an outsider.
By noon, Nero and the two other recruits arrived at the outskirts of a vast plain where hundreds of white tents could be seen a couple hundred meters ahead of them.
Clop! Clop!
Two Bladebreakers on their majestic centraks rode toward them with one javelin in their hands. Seeing the Bladebreakers and knowing they could launch that javelin over a distance of 300 yards, Nero and the recruits quickly removed the skull masks and fur cloaks and raised their hands while slowly approaching.
“Nero?” A Bladebreaker tilted his head.
“It’s me.”
“You looked like an actual barbarian, Lad.” Another chuckled.
Nero smiled.
These dreadful soldiers on their frightening steeds were leagues above other troops. He respected them because even his uncle’s troops would be at risk when facing them, especially with their new warmounts.
“Where is His Lordship? We have urgent news.”
………..
“Chief!”
Adam heard a loud cry, causing him to jump off his bed and dash out of the tent with his cleaver in his hand.
Swoosh!
A projectile flew past him and struck his tent. He turned and saw the projectile was an arrow and it had flames that were spreading on the tent!
He grabbed a warrior. “Get my wife to lead the women and children out of here. Go now!”
He pushed the warrior toward the direction he had to go and dashed for the gates.
The closer he got to the gate, more arrows went over his head, burning tents and sometimes piercing a warrior.
All of a sudden, lava bombs came hurtling down, causing explosions that launched people dozens of meters into the air.
Screams and yells filled his ears. There was commotion everywhere as those who couldn’t fight tried to escape while the warriors were rushing toward the gates but couldn’t see their enemies.
However, when Adam saw the lava bomb, he knew who they faced.
Head Chief Beowulf’s commander, Buba, the right-eyed flame thrower!
Adam climbed to the top of the wall and looked at the vast army of thousands on the plan field. It was clear that they had slain his scouts, or he would know of their arrival beforehand.
Barbarian sharpshooters were at the front firing arrows nonstop while the main infantry and cavalry stood a couple meters behind, waiting for their turn. Just behind the sharpshooters was Buba, a 7-foot tall, broad-chested man with long brown hair and two crisscross slashes on his face, one of which took his left eye, a large cleaver strapped to his back, and fiery veins protruding against the flesh on his forearms.
He wore a red linen tunic that had no sleeve, black slightly bogus pants, and fur boots. Their boots were made of fur tied with ropes around their legs.
His forearms had veins that seemed to have lava following within. When it glowed bright, lava bombs would form in the palm of his hands, and he would launch them with a deep grunt.
The army was slowly approaching, and Adam realized that his army was still disorganised.
Seeing this, he took a breath so deep that his chest enlarged. Just as he was about to activate his talent, he saw his wife being dragged to the front of Buba’s army!
“I know you can destroy hundreds with your mighty roar. Do me a favor and roar this once.” Buba mocked as he took hold of Adam’s wife’s hair and lifted the woman up with one hand.
“Do it and watch as your gift kills your wife!”
“H… How?” Adam’s lips trembled.
