8 Chapter 8

Nalan Pong woke up in a tent with the sound of cannons blasting the ground and metal clashing against metal. He noticed he was wearing a full suit of cloth armor with metal plates protecting his vitals. His gaze traveled around until they rested upon a person in black armor standing outside.

He rose up from the bed and saw a plate of fruit and a glass of water, but ignored them as he walked over to the man. As soon as the guy had noticed him, he bowed down in respect. "Dragon Lord."

Nalan Pong blinked. "Arise." The person obeyed. "Tell me where we are?"

"We are near the castle, Dragon Lord. The Phoenix Troops are gaining land with each passing day, so you have decided to personally come to crush their leader." The man replied with a respectful tone.

Nalan Pong hummed a small tune, causing the subordinate to shiver in fear. When the Dragon Lord began his music, it had always lead to the destruction of something, friend or foe didn't matter. "Gather my horse! I will go see the battlefield personally."

When he had first awoken to this lifestyle, he was very confused and couldn't stop asking questions in a desperate attempt to figure out what was going on. Luckily, his subordinates thought his cluelessness was due to a case of amnesia, but he clearly knew something else was afloat. Due to the movies and books he read, he had a general knowledge of military tactics used in warfare. Although there are no guns in this place, the stealth attacks he had planned on the enemy forces have dwindled their numbers significantly.

To him, it seemed as though he were stuck in ancient times where knights and frontal attacks were the ways for warfare. He decided that since he was the Dragon Lord, whatever that may be, he could take advantage of his modern knowledge. He helped them create a few cannons for the frontlines and some makeshift guns. They weren't as great as modern weaponry, but they should be able to win this war he was fighting in.

It has been over a week since he had come to this place, and he felt quite comfortable despite the many deaths surrounding him. Well, he would admit he wasn't like this at first, but his natural detachment from most of his feelings allowed him to adapt within a single day. The only few things which could make him feel was music and his friends. As for his parents, they had tried to kill him, which is the cause of his unfeeling state. Then again, they allowed him to experience anger and sadness each time he thought of them.

"Dragon Lord, the new recruits are here, " said a commander as he walked beside the black stallion.

"Bring them to the frontline with me," Nalan Pong growled as he continued. Soon, there were nearly a hundred young men walking behind him. He gave them no encouraging words, and he didn't even turn his head around to see their faces. They were all soldiers of the Dragon Army, and that is all that counts. Their names, their faces, their background is nothing more and nothing less. Even the generals and commanders have no name, face, nor background. Only him, as the Dragon Lord, has these things.

He was sure they knew the names of each other and encouraged one another. He has seen it many times. Friends dying to protect each other, only to be killed in the end. What was the point of all this? Nalan Pong didn't understand it, but he knew the feeling. If any of his friends got hurt, he would make sure to kill the offender, no matter how light the damage. Damage will still hurt, nothing could change this simple fact.

Nalan Pong kept an easy pace so that his new soldiers would have enough energy to defend themselves in the upcoming battle, even then, it only took about thirty minutes to reach their destination.

He got off his horse and slapped it towards the camp. He wouldn't need it. Nalan Pong drew his sword from its scabbard and leveled it horizontally in front of him. He turned around and saw the recruits, fresh from the training barracks, doing the same.

"I am not a man of many words!" He yelled. "But, I will not sit down on my ass and watch as my people get killed in this war. Therefore, your Dragon Lord will personally join in this fight!" The crowd cheered and banged their swords on their shields if they had one. Those with guns held it higher into the air. Their spirits were soaring. Seeing this left Nalan Pong satisfied, so he turned around and pointed his sword out. "Charge!"

With a loud roar, they all ran to join in the chaos below. As they started to enter the battlefield, many of the soldiers who were fighting before began to fall back and treat their wounds. Reinforcements had come, so they could spare a few resting periods to eat, nap, or whatever they see fit.

Nalan Pong fought with many and killed them with steady hands. By the time his first break was here, his black clothing had a thick smell of blood on it, and he didn't take his break. He continued to fight with ferocity. That is until a horn sounded and the Phoenix Troops began to retreat and forge a path which was already dyed by blood.

"The Phoenix is coming!" They chanted. "You are all dead! Haha. Her flames will crush every one of you!"

Nalan Pong raised his hand to stop his people's advance as he wanted to see who this enemy of his was. For the first time, the battlefield was silent as each person waited for the Phoenix's arrival. Slowly, a figure, dressed in red armor, made its way through the path. Eventually, he was able to see her face.

"Xin Lumei!"