[Ezio PoV]
The scene inside the forest earlier was horrific. Of the 2,000 troops that had previously pursued the enemy soldiers, only dozens were counted as survivors.
However, I have grown accustomed to the horrors of war. I even lost a comrade when the Imperial forces attacked the Regium Fortress City.
I knelt and observed one of the corpses of a soldier whose body was covered in burns. His fingers looked as if they were clutching something. Prying his fingers open, I found a locket that had slightly melted from the heat of the fire.
It seemed there was something inside the locket. I opened it and found a shiny ring and a small scrap of paper. There was writing on the paper:
"For you, Juliana... I hope that after the war ends, we can unite and build a family."
War is not a game. Many lives must be sacrificed to achieve victory. I was so foolish before to look forward to this war just because I wanted a new challenge and to become stronger.
"Ezio, let's move."
Suddenly, Marcela approached me. She carried the sniper rifle she always used slung across her back.
"Captain Siena has ordered us to immediately pursue the enemy into the mountains."
Moving to the mountains, huh?
Is it a good decision to head into an area like that while the weather is still raining? However, if we wait for the rain to stop, the enemy will surely have fled far away, and it will be difficult to find them again.
"Alright, let's go, Marcela."
I stood up and put the fallen soldier's locket and ring into my uniform pocket. I will make sure the person most precious to him receives this ring and the message on this scrap of paper.
We began walking into the mountains. Looking around, it turned out our enemies had left quite clear footprints. It seemed they were in a great hurry to leave this area. Captain Siena then ordered several members of the Cavalier Squad to scout the surroundings so we wouldn't be suddenly ambushed.
The further we entered these mountains, the steeper the path became, requiring more energy to move. Not to mention, the rainy conditions made the road slippery, causing several soldiers to slip.
After 10 minutes of moving, we entered an area filled with quite high cliffs. Captain Siena ordered us to stop for a moment to wait for a report from the scouting team before going further.
"Captain, we haven't found anything suspicious around here," said one of the scouts.
"Alright, we will enter this area," said Captain Siena. "Keep an eye on the surroundings and stay alert."
We resumed our journey. Their footprints were still visible in the muddy ground, indicating they hadn't passed this way long ago. My body began to shiver from the mountain chill combined with the rain soaking our bodies.
How far will we follow them? If we keep climbing, the temperature will get much colder and the terrain will become increasingly difficult to traverse.
— BOOMMBB!!!!
Suddenly, we were startled by a massive explosion right above the troop line. Looking up, I saw debris of rocks and a landslide of earth falling toward us due to the impact of the explosion.
We are finished... the rock debris and landslide about to hit us are too much.
"Spatial Magic!"
However, for some reason, I suddenly displaced to the top of a cliff that hadn't collapsed.
A loud rumbling sound echoed from below; the cliff I stood on also vibrated from the impact of the landslide and rock debris that had just fallen. My heart was still pounding fast because I had nearly met my death. Looking around, I could see all the members of the Cavalier Squad were also up here.
"This... it's the Captain's magic that moved us..."
Turning to the side, I saw Captain Siena kneeling, panting heavily. Her expression looked grim despite having saved us all from the landslide and debris.
"I couldn't move everyone..." Captain Siena muttered, looking regretful. "It happened too fast; I didn't have time to gather enough mana."
Hearing the Captain's words, my eyes widened as I looked down the cliff. Hundreds of people were still below, struck by rock debris and buried by the landslide that swept them away.
My emotions flared up again at the sight of my comrades losing their lives. How could this happen? Weren't the seniors supposed to have checked this place? Did the enemy use a specific type of magic?
While I was thinking about the recent event, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a black-haired man and a red-haired woman fleeing in the distance.
"One o'clock direction! Two enemies spotted!"
I rushed to pursue them. Several other members followed me to avenge our comrades' deaths.
"Follow those two! I will catch up as soon as possible!" Captain Siena ordered. It seemed she still had difficulty moving after using her magic earlier.
We have to be fast; I won't let them get away after burying our troops alive!
After following them for a while, everyone stopped for a moment because the two fleeing enemies had now gathered with dozens of their comrades at a crossroads. Suddenly, dozens of those enemy troops fled to the right-hand path, while one other person took the left-hand path.
I was about to chase them, but suddenly someone grabbed my shoulder.
"Vice-Captain Valen, what is it? Why aren't we chasing them! Those bastards killed our comrades back there!" I said, frustrated.
"Don't let your emotions make you act recklessly, Ezio!" the Vice-Captain snapped at me. "We don't know what their plan is, splitting up like this! At the very least, we must wait for Captain Siena before making a decision!"
I could only bite my lip and clench my fists hearing Vice-Captain Valen's advice. Although I knew what he said was right, the urge to immediately destroy those who killed my comrades was not easy to restrain.
After waiting for a while, Captain Siena finally arrived. The Vice-Captain then explained the previous situation to her. After hearing the explanation, Captain Siena went silent for a moment to think of our next move.
"Valen, take 30 Senior members to follow that black-haired man," Captain Siena ordered. "I and 20 junior members will follow the dozens of enemies taking the right-hand path."
"But Captain, I think all the Senior members are too many just to chase one person," Vice-Captain Valen said.
"According to reports from Alesio, this man you're talking about is the one they nickname the Ghost of Cataluna—the man who slaughtered 10 Knights of the Draconia Kingdom alone," the Captain revealed.
Hearing this, everyone, including myself, was shocked.
Even though each Senior can rival a knight, they wouldn't survive if they had to fight two or more. I couldn't imagine how strong a man capable of slaughtering 20 knights must be.
"Don't let your guard down. After I and the Junior members defeat the dozens of enemies on the right route, we will immediately join you," the Captain ordered the Vice-Captain. "If you find that man, do not attack recklessly. Just follow his movements and keep your distance."
"Alright, Captain," Vice-Captain Valen replied.
We then separated, but Captain Siena also ordered Marcela—our sniper—to join the Senior group. She said Marcela would be very useful in facing that man.
I paused for a moment to watch the Seniors and Marcela depart toward the left route.
"Good luck to you all, Seniors."
***
[Valentino PoV]
We separated from the Junior group led by Captain Siena.
I don't know if this is a good or bad idea, because the Juniors will be facing more enemies over there. Even though Captain Siena herself is leading them, I honestly fear those Juniors will become a burden to her if we Seniors are not with them.
"Valen, do you think this person is as terrifying as Captain Siena says?"
The one asking was Aldo. He and I were among the first members of the Cavalier Squad formed by Captain Siena three years ago. At that time, our initial number was only ten people, but gradually the members increased until reaching 70 this year. However, since this war began, we have lost 20 comrades, both Seniors and Juniors.
"Captain Siena could fight 30 knights at once if she were serious, Aldo," I told him. "Did you forget when she trained us Seniors back then? Surely the Empire has strong knights as well."
In the past, Captain Siena often trained us Seniors. She always asked us all to attack her simultaneously. However, even though we tried our best, we couldn't even land a single hit on her at that time. By comparison, Captain Siena could have become the strongest Grand Espada if she had been born in the Aragon Empire. Therefore, Captain Siena is the pride of our nation.
For about 15 minutes we searched along the left route, but we still hadn't found the black-haired man. Where did he actually go? Did he know another way and circle back to join his group on the right route?
— Clang! Clang! Clang!
While I was wondering about his whereabouts, suddenly three cylinder-shaped cans fell in front of us. Shortly after, the three cylinders exploded, emitting thick white smoke that surrounded our area.
"Don't panic! Get out of this smoke immediately!" I shouted, giving orders to the members.
I tried to get out of the plume of smoke that obscured my entire view. I began to hear the screams of my comrades within the smoke.
"Arrrghhh!"
"I can feel him! He's he—"
"Quickly, get out of this smoke!"
Damn, I can't see anything. I hope not many of us fall victim to this ambush.
— Brak!
I suddenly bumped into someone, causing me to immediately slash my sword blindly.
"It's me, Aldo!" shouted the man I bumped into.
"Aldo?" I called out to him.
"Valen, is that you?" my comrade asked, sounding a bit confused. "I can't see you at all in this smoke-filled place!"
"Don't stop moving, Aldo!" I shouted to him.
I kept running until finally, we both emerged from the smoke and jumped to higher ground to get a better view. There were several other members who had also made it out of the thick smoke. However, I still hadn't seen the enemy attacking us from up here.
After one minute, the smoke began to thin out. We could see something within the haze. A black-haired man was standing there, not far from the 10 corpses of my comrades he had killed in the ambush.
"Finally, that bastard shows himself." Beside me, Aldo cursed in frustration. "Valen, let's finish him and avenge our comrades' deaths."
I saw the expressions of my other comrades looking resentful and impatient to vent their anger on that man. He then looked up at me from below with a gaze that seemed belittling.
"So weak," he said coldly while stepping on the head of the corpse of one of our comrades he had killed.
My anger peaked this time. I didn't care that the Captain asked me to restrain myself; I will not forgive someone who belittles my comrades who fell defending our country.
"Kill that bastard!" I ordered everyone.
We all leaped from above to slaughter that bastard.
***
[Siena PoV]
We have been searching the right route taken by the dozens of enemy troops for nearly 20 minutes now. However, we haven't seen a single sign of their presence here.
Earlier, I split the Cavalier Squad in two to pursue the enemy forces taking different routes. I feared they were planning something, but I couldn't guess what they would do. That was why I decided to send the 30 Senior members to chase the black-haired man while I led the Juniors to find the remaining dozens of enemies on the right route.
This was because only I could perform a recovery if those dozens of enemy troops turned out to be bait and the black-haired man was the executioner.
However, after following the enemy's tracks for a while, we suddenly found a dead end. There were only mountain rocks blocking our way. Their footprints stopped right in front of these rocks.
Did they use specific magic to hide? I then tried to touch the mountain rocks and performed a scan with my Spatial Magic. However, I didn't feel any hollow space they could use for hiding.
"..."
No, I must go back! Valen and the others are in danger right now.
Activating Asphalt magic, I rushed back to trace the route taken by Valen and the other Senior members.
"Captain Siena, where are you going in such a hurry!?"
I ignored the shouts of my Juniors behind me. My main goal now is to join the Senior members as quickly as possible.
"I hope I'm not too late..."