***SOREN VEYRIN***

  I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow soldiers, waiting for the captain to show up. Now that I had my badge, I could finally participate in the war.

  We all wore armor that we managed to afford with our little budget.

  "You're new here, right?" a middle-aged soldier said. He had brown hair and dark eyes. "What's your name?" he asked.

  "Yes, I’m new here. My name is Soren, sir."

  "Do you know about the divisions?" he asked, "No Sir, I don’t.”

  As far as I know, my father leads a division, which is the division I’m in.

  "Name’s Havy. I'll explain it to you. listen well." He said as he patted my shoulders. “There are three divisions in our town, The First Division is directly under commander Alex, and it consists of well-trained soldiers, the weakest member of the first division is a rank 2 swordsman, and there is Division 2 which is led by Captain Raynard Veyrin, the second division is usually filled with newbies like you, but there are some veterans in the group who are quite strong, me for example,” he said while feeling proud.

  So this old man is one of the strongest members in my father's division? Interesting.

  "It seems you don't believe me; I'm a rank 3 swordsman just like the captain, although not as strong," he said as he shrugged. “Now then, the third division; the third division is the medic division led by Captain Hasana; they are responsible for treating our injuries; they won't be joining us for this battle since they are non-combatant."

  The third division is staying at Goldshire because they can't fight. I thought as I rubbed my chin.

  "The captain is here—quickly, salute, Soren,” Havy said, snapping to attention. I hurriedly followed suit.

  "At ease, soldiers, today we will fight to protect not only our hometown but the rest of the kingdom of Elderat," his voice was loud and clear, "We will not let The kingdom of Reinhart do what they want."

  Those invaders think I will let them conquer our land, not in a million years. I clenched my fist as anger boiled inside me.

  "Dad is truly fit for his role as the captain of Division 2."

  "Captain Raynard is your father! You should've told me that beforehand Soren," Havy said with a surprised look.

  "Sorry, I didn't think it was important."

  My father raised his arm. "Soldiers, our mission is to hold back the low-ranking enemy troops. we will rendezvous with Commander Alex's division and march onward."**

  With our orders given, we rendezvous with Division 1 before marching deeper into the forest.

  As we reached the center of the forest; a thick fog settled around us. The wind howled, and the sound of crunching leaves echoed beneath our feet.

  I shouldn't let my guard down, the enemy could be lying in ambush.

  There were 10 horses with us; my Dad, Commander Alex, and Sir William Blaze were riding on the horses, Sir William was the strongest person present here, and it was assuring to know that he brought 2 ranks 4 swordsmen along with him,

  The rest of the horses were ridden by the scouts; one of the scouts was Corey, the man I had dueled against in the test.

  It makes sense that he is here, if we fail, the entire kingdom will fall.

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  "Corey, go scout ahead," my father ordered Corey.

  "Yes, captain!" Corey marched forward swiftly.

  "I hope we can survive this battle," One of the soldiers whispered nervously; it was indeed nerve-wracking; this was my first battle. I could very well die if I wasn't careful.

  Corey returned and said, "Captain, they have set up an ambush ahead."

  What an ambush? I gulped.

  "It seems we must fight. Do you have any idea how many were lying in ambush Corey?

  "I wasn't able to see properly, but there were at least 50. I sensed the mana signature of a rank 5 swordsman among them; luckily, I was able to hide my presence by using the pill of Mana suppression you gave us beforehand Captain."

  This pill of Mana suppression is quite useful, not only does it erase your Mana Signal, but it also strengthens your core, lucky Corey.

  "Good job Corey, keep watch at our back for now," Sir William said as he turned to us.

  "Soldiers, prepare to thwart away the ambush the enemies have set up for us."

  Sir William's voice filled with authority and power, "Commander Alex, I will march forward with Sir Augustus and Sir Wein; order the rest of the troops to follow behind us and be on guard."

  "On your orders, Sir William," Commander Alex said while saluting, "Soldiers, it is time for Battle. Be on guard; we will stay behind Sir William, Sir Augustus, and Sir Wein."

  This is my first battle, I must keep calm and maintain my focus At all costs. I unsheathed my sword before marching along with the rest of the soldiers.

  With our orders given, we carefully marched forward fully prepared to thwart the enemy's plan.

  We heard a sudden noise and the enemies started pouring out from behind the trees.

  "Kill them all!"

  Suddenly, a hundred men burst from the trees.

  Their swords gleamed in the dim light. Mana surged wildly in the forest.

  “Soldiers, charge!” Sir William commanded as he vanished and reappeared before the enemies. He swung his sword striking dozens of enemies with his blade.

  Everyone's focus was on Sir William. With a single strike, he struck fear into the enemy forces.

  There is no time to be in awe—I must fight, too!

  I lunged forward and clashed my sword against a rank 1 enemy soldier. He easily blocked my sword. I swung my sword toward his shoulder, but he parried my strike, and his sword scraped off my deltoid.

  “Argh...” I took a step back. Focus, Soren, you have trained for moments like this for months; I must win at all costs.

  I used Swift Strike, empowering my strike; I ran towards my opponent in a frenzy and thwarted his sword away.

  “Now!” I muttered before I Pierced his heart.

  I had killed someone. There was no taking it back. My hand trembled as I stared at my opponent's lifeless body before me. Suddenly I puked. I couldn't handle the pressure.

  I had to kill him. It was the only way… if I didn't I would have died.

  "Soren watch out!!" My father’s voice snapped me out of my daze. I turned behind and barely dodged a strike aimed at my neck. It was a rank two swordsman; he was stronger than me, I could feel it.

  He swung his sword toward my ribs, but I blocked it, I countered with Swift Strike, but he dodged with ease.

  “Mana Enhance!” He muttered before he became even faster; I could barely keep up with his movement; I barely raised my sword to block a fatal blow aimed at my heart.

  Damn it… I will die at this rate, I can't defeat him alone, I need help!

  My arms trembled from blocking his strikes, blood dripped down from my shoulder, and my legs started to waver.

  He swung the sword so fast that I could not react. He had stabbed my left arm, blood pouring out the wound. “Argh.. I can't do anything,” I held my wounded arm, I felt as if I would die any second.

  So this is how I die… After all the training I have done I’m still weak. What a pathetic death.

  I was seconds away from death when Corey lunged in, deflecting a strike aimed at my head.

  "Soren! Snap out of it. We must defeat him together!” he said as he clenched his teeth, blocking the rank 2 swordsman's strike.

  “Both of you are going to die here today!” The rank 2 swordsman yelled before he thwarted Corey's sword and dashed towards me.

  I blocked his strike, but the impact broke my wrist; I heard a snap noise before a sharp pain grew on my wrist. I grunted in pain.

  A sudden heat flared in my Mana Core, surging through my body like fire. My wound started healing rapidly, I overflowed with power.

  “You bastard! How the hell did you break through mid-fight?!” He screamed before he kicked Corey to the ground so hard he started spurting blood.

  I have broken through to rank 2! A smile crept up into my face.

  Corey wasn't looking good, blood dripping from his arms and wounds on his shoulders. I charged toward the rank 2 swordsman who was distracted from fighting Corey. I used Swift Strike before slashing his arm off; he screamed in Pain, "It is over." I stabbed his heart, killing him in an instant.

  I don't even know what I should be feeling right now, I'm too tired to care.

  My knees fell down to the ground, and my sword stabbed into the hard dirt. My breath had become heavy.

  "Are you okay, Soren," Corey said, his face filled with worry.

  "I'm okay, just tired. Are you fine, Corey?" the battle was over, at least the small skirmish between us low-ranked swordsmen.

  Now it was Sir William fighting against the three rank 5 swordsmen alone.