23 Lost again
"Boy, where are we going?" He was the captain of the General of the west's guard and was the leader of the mission.
'I don't understand why the general let a child infiltrate the enemy camp with us. Thinking of a plan and executing it is two different things.' He was not very satisfied with the decision. But as the captain of the General's guards, he would obey all the order given to him.
Kinoya could understand the reluctance of the people with him but, "Keep it down. I had moved some of the enemy's armours before."
Kinoya led them to the place where he hid the armours. Other than Kinoya, all of them were from the General's guard, most trained of all the soldiers who were present in the empire's camp. Kinoya could understand the reluctance to take him with them, however, Kinoya chose not to dwell in that matter.
As they were putting on the armours the captain explained the plan up to the last detail, "First and foremost we have to find the stables, armouries, canteens and any general's camp if possible."
Kinoya could feel most of the words were aimed at him, "Don't be extra brave and try to go near the command centre or try to assassinate one of the generals. If the mission fails because any of you then your entire family will be slaughtered. So be careful and hide as much as possible before the signal."
Kinoya had brought two new short scimitars, one new and one old. Varytita was on his back too.
"Do you need to bring that with you? It might expose you."
Kinoya could see the deep frown on the captain's face. "The general had allowed me." The only thing that could pacify the captain was the general of the west, so he chose his words wisely.
'When did the general say those words?' the Captain of the guard was surprised but didn't refute. Soon they spread out.
The camp contained more than 100,000 people. It was well spread out, and without any previous knowledge of night attack, the guarding were bound to be loose.
With the training of the old man, under the domain of Varytita, Kinoya had no problem in infiltrating the enemy camp. With the help of [Subtle Movement], he moved from one shadow to another, without drawing any attention.
On top of that, the atmosphere in the camp was relaxed. The soldiers were enjoying themselves after their triumphs over the enemy. There were not many people of his age, but it wasn't hard for him to join the fray.
Soon there was no shortage of news. After getting the rough idea of the position of the stables he left. While he left the canteen he could see at least 5 people, who had come with him, were present there.
The moon was on high but he was moving through the shadows, without making the slightest noise. He soon found what he was looking for. The well. The place around it was muddy but there was no one around it. Kinoya waited till the sentry had left the place and moved closer.
He walked around the well once anti-clockwise then twice clockwise. He looked up at the moon and said: "The moon is beautiful." While talking the edge of his lips couldn't stop twitching.
"Yes, the moon is beautiful today."
"It would have been better if it was red."
"I hoped it would rise in the west."
Kinoya almost laughed it out. He didn't know how the guard captain could do it with a straight face.
Kinoya handed him the map, "Burn down all places marked."
'How a sergeant dares to order me?' The guard captain was not happy with his attitude but as soon as he opened it he was speechless. "There were 6 stables? Not 4?"
It was not just the stables, even the officer's canteen and two of the general's camps were marked there. "How?" He wanted to ask but the intended words never came out.
"Who are you? State your name and…" The sudden appearance of the sentries even startled even the guard captain. Before he could understand what he should do, Kinoya vanished from the side of his and he didn't hear the end of the sentence.
[Skill [Hitting the leaf] activated]
[Comprehension level of [Falling Leaf Dance] increased.]
[Comprehen level: 88.5%]
The notification didn't phase him as his scimitar sliced off the throat of the guard who talked first. Even the guard captain didn't expect the attack much less the other three sentries. In the moment of bewilderment, another set of notifications popped up in Kinoya's mind.
[Skill [Grabbing the leaf] activated]
[Comprehension level of [Falling Leaf Dance] increased.]
[Comprehen level: 88.7%]
Four cold bodies slumped on the ground. Sheathing his scimitar he came towards the captain. "Captain, please help me to move the bodies."
Only after hearing the words, his trance broke. "Why do you kill them?"
"What are you expecting? Did you want to negotiate with them?" With the wounded body, it was already exhausting for him to use the skill much less moving the heavy bodies.
"What are you going to do with the body?"
"Put it in the well."
"Won't they find the body?"
Sliding a body in the well, Kinoya added, "They would, only if we fail."
'Is he twelve years old?' Even when he was moving the body to the well, he had his confusions. Soon he disposed of the body and left the place.
Hiding close to the main supply station, all Kinoya could do was wait. Rather than burning Kinoya was waiting to protect the supply station.
Though the general was expecting that they wouldn't burn the supply station, Kinoya thinks otherwise. But what worried him was the time.
The sun will rise within two hours but there is no signal from the empire's camp. 'Could it be that it was a piece of false news. No, no that can't be possible…'
While Kinoya was reasoning himself, chaos broke out.
"Somebody fell in the well." One of the soldiers who discovered cried out.
"Could it be…" Kinoya murmured, "If the mission fails then the next feasible course of action should be burning the supply station, but he was sure that the captain won't co-operate. On the other hand, if we…"
It was at that moment a giant fire lit up at the empire's camp. There was one, then the next… Soon there were multiple fires in the camp. One could hear the cries of help from this camp too.
"Wow! There is a fire in the empire's camp!!"
"Die bastard. Those empire's dogs should just die."
"The great djinn of fire is with us."
…
When one shouted, others followed, Kinoya heard an interesting topic but didn't have time to listen to it. He moved towards the station.
There was light chaos at first, but those turned into cheers by the time Kinoya moved to the front. Whole Torria camp was cheering yet it was short-lived.
"They should just die."
"Those bastards killed my brothers."
"Fire, Fire."
"That served them right."
"Fire, Fire. The stable is on fire."
It was utter chaos. Some thought it was about the empire's camp, Some thought some were just cheering, yet those standing in front of the burning stables and canteen were stunned.
Soon everyone was running to put down the fire. But most of them were still in a daze. Some of them even tried to look for the reason, but it was too late. The ground started to vibrate, and it continued to increase.
"It's Cavalry, head for cover."
"Those Empire's bastards attacked us at night."
"Those moral-less dogs…"
The curses were everywhere but words couldn't do anything against the cavalries, soon the whole camp was run down to the ground.
Some tried to use the shield against cavalry but to no avail. They were just thrown into the air. There were still people holding the weapons, waiting for the next wave of Cavalries that didn't come.
Someone with a keen sense of hearing shouted, "Archers." And it rained down. The result was bloodier from the charge of the cavalry. Blood splattered everywhere. Kinoya simply moved through the rain of arrows in the supply station.
"Who are you?" The guards in front of the supply station shouted. Not knowing the situation around him made him nervous and questioned everyone.
"I am from the 3rd battalion. Here to protect the supply station." Kinoya answered casually but he never stopped moving.
"3rd battalion, pr…" He couldn't complete the sentence before being shot down by a stray arrow.
"You are one who was shouting at the shield wall yesterday. It's an enemy." The spearman shouted at the top of his lungs. "Enemy is here to burn the supply station."
'How bad my luck could be? How many had seen my face? Yet I have to meet that one of those hundred thousand?' Even while thinking, Kinoya continued to charge towards him with the pair of scimitars.
But the spear guy didn't give him the chance to close in. His spear was like a slither, trying to latch to his throat.
Kinoya smiled and moved out of the path. With assistance from the [Falling leaf technique], his movement was slow in the eyes of the spearman.
The scimitar was slow but all he could do was to watch as the scimitar moved past his spear and aimed for his throat. No matter how much he struggled, not a single muscle listened to him. Even upon death, he was surprised. Never did he believe that he would fall under such a slow attack.
[Skill [Grabbing the leaf] activated]
[Comprehension level of [Falling Leaf Dance] increased.]
[Comprehen level: 88.9%]
The notification was just the reminder of his lack of energy. To begin with, he had never recovered from the wound and on the top of that all these movements were just opening them up. He was having a hard time breathing yet he couldn't stop now.
The people around him weren't sure about the spear guy's claims, but Kinoya's action proved it. The cavalry charge or the arrows took them by surprise, they didn't know what to do. But now that they found one of the enemies they charged at him like crazy.
"Well, I have the same issue as you too. Let's kill each other." Kinoya gave the creepy smile and jumped. With Endurance and agility, backed with his small stature and [Subtle Movement] he wasn't someone to mess with. It was just unfortunate that he wasn't in top condition.
He moved and people around him turned in blood geysers. Very few could match his speed. No matter whether it was swordsmen or spearmen, none could hold a candle before him. Dead bodies started to pile up around him.
[Skill [Hitting the leaf] activated]
[Comprehension level of [Falling Leaf Dance] increased.]
[Comprehen level: 91.5%]
[Skill [Grabbing the leaf] activated]
[Comprehension level of [Falling Leaf Dance] increased.]
[Comprehen level: 91.7%]
*Huff* *Huff*
His breathing was loud and ragged. Without the help of the scimitar it was hard for him to even stand yet he continued to fight.
But these were soldiers after all, not some bandits. They quickly reorganised themselves. In a moment's notice, Kinoya was surrounded by the wall of shields. With a line of spearman behind them.
He turned into an animal in a cage. There was no way he could break the ring. He was too inexperienced to break it. He tried to jump over but the spearmen couldn't let him and with the shield bearers hiding behind the huge tower shields.
His efforts were making no progress, yet it exhausted him more. His struggles were becoming desperate with each failed attempt. No matter how much effort he put it was to no avail.
With new wounds stacking on his body it was becoming harder for him to move. Even with the high endurance stats, his body was going limp.
He was putting all his effort to move his body. The more he concentrated, the stronger the pain in the brain got. But he couldn't do anything about it. He didn't know its source nor did he have time to think about it.
All his strike was bouncing off the shield without leaving a scratch. With his recent loss of an eye, it was becoming harder to cope up with the increased number of the attacks.
One of the spears almost took his life. He moved at the last minute just to save his throat from an incoming spear but it left a deep scar on his face.
On the next moment, he fell silent. And the enemies didn't miss that chance, over a dozen spears plunged through his body.
