Chapter 6: Recapturing Greenland

"... So they build a defensive wall on their camps, huh?"

Lucias muttered while using [Far Sight] and [Hawk Eye] to study the interior of the camp. They were planning on capturing a camp led by a duke, so the 1st army was stationed in front of the camp. Studying the terrain and defensive measures placed on the camp so that they'll know on how to proceed. The walls that they built was mainly made out of Mithril, made from the bullets that were fired and discarded by the Forsaken Faction at the border. Making it hard for his army to break. Only him is powerful enough to completely break it. Around the camp was 4 siege towers armed by 10 demons. 

In the winter warfare, both sides relied heavily on presence detection and mana sense since the snowstorm blocks their line of sight. They can't see anything more at a distance of 10 meters away. 

That is why the Gastreas and Demons developed their own way to detect the alliance's army which is increased sensitivity to sound, movement, and mana. While the aliance use thermal goggles to detect and see their enemies.

"There are approximately 600,000 Gastreas and 100,000 wild demons around the vicinity. And in the camp itself has 10,000 demons stationed at the walls... It looks like we're going to have a hard time taking this place"

Lucias said while looking back at his 50,000 soldiers. Trying to think of a way on how they'll proceed in infiltrating the city.

"The main tent where the duke is located is at the center of the camp. On the walls are demons equipped with staffs and mana-imbued bows... So we'll need to get rid of the Gastreas first before we can even think of destroying this camp"

He said as he drew a square on the snowy ground below them with his finger. 

"I'll drive the Gastreas away, so surround this part of the land. We'll try to chip down their numbers before we besiege the camp"

He said while encircling an area that is a few kilometres away from the enemy camp. Making all of the lieutenant in his army to nod their heads in response.

"Then, move. Tristan, Rias, you both will take care of the weaker Gastreas and wild demons while the rest of the forces distract the stronger ones. Kill them from weakest to strongest to minimise the number of casualties"

He said as his forces quickly moved towards the specified spot while activating a small [Noise Nullification Barrier] to avoid alerting the Gastreas scouting the vicinity.

"The weakest part of the castle is at his back where their main supply line is connected... I guess there logic for weakening their defenses at the back is reasonable since behind them is the other camps and the dimensional rift"

Lucias muttered while spreading his mana without causing any leakage on his own body. Making him invisible to the eyes of the enemies while he tried to detect whether or not the 1st army is in position.

"Let's-"

He muttered but was interrupted as a large explosion occured at the position of the 7th army. Making all of the Gastreas and wild demons around their vicinity to howl before quickly running towards that direction.

"What's going on!?"

The voice of a middle-aged man shouted in anger as he watched his troops run away, leaving him with only the demon army. That was less efficient that the Gastreas since they feel a sense of fear and pain.

"Call anyone who is in charge of the 5th camp immediately!!"

He shouted, causing his assistant to immediately contact the radio to the 5th camp.

"What's going on!?"

He shouted at them as soon as the call was connected, causing the voice of mature and prideful woman to echo from the other side of the call.

"What is this machinery?"

She said before passing it to the demon that was tied up beside her, causing the demon to immediately tell him the situation before he was killed.

"T-The 5th camp has been run over by an army of 100,000 troops from the alliance, Duke... T-They released quite an amount of mana and noise so almost all of the Gastreas at the border chased after them-"

He said before getting stabbed by an emerald coloured mana spear in chest, causing the sound of his agonizing voice to echo through the call.

"Hello!? ANSWER ME!!!"

He shouted as Morgan destroyed the telegraph at the 5th camp, causing him to grit his teeth in anger.

"Immediately info-"

He ordered but was cut off as a single mana arrow pierced his throat before 4 massive explosion occured at the siege towers surrounding their base.

"Duke!!"

They shouted as they caught his body. Pulling him inside of the base for shelter but was too late as another arrow accurately pierced his third eye that was exposed due to lack of preparation. None of them expecting that the Alliance would attack.

"I never new that Zhuge Liang was this brave"

He muttered as the snipers of his army one by one took out the demons stationed at the walls of the camp. Weakening their defenses significantly while Rias destroyed their siege towers with her [Power of Destruction].

"But... his also quite smart to think of something like this"

-with Zhuge Liang-

"Master, she's a lunatic!!"

Liang shouted as his army was being chased by millions of Gastreas from the back. Making their way towards the Coniferous forest of the north to escape their pursuit.

"I don't want to be stationed together with her again"

Flashback

"So... why did you call me here?"

Morgan asked while glancing at Zhuge Liang who was studying map on the table.

"You're finally here... I have thought of a good strategy to besiege the camps but... I need aid from another army... If that's alright with you"

He said causing Morgan to look at him with a slightly interested expression on her face. Since she was also facing the same problem. Their enemies easily outnumbered them by a large margin, and from what she gained from Lucias' memories. Most of them are mindless killing machines so doing a frontal assault is suicidal. 

Her way of initiating in battle if also very traditional that's why she didn't know how to use guerrilla tactics to her advantage.

"So what do you propose, strategist?"

She asked causing Zhuge Liang to smile before pointing at the northern side of the enemy camps where a dense Coniferous forest is found.

"How about we lure them all out in one go? As master have said before. They will have a hard time manuevering through this forest. So we can use that to our advantage and wipe them out inside the forest with the help of those assasins. This will make it easier to launch a siege to the enemy bases not only on our area but in also other areas. What do you say?"

He said causing Morgan to look at him in amusement.

"Then what do you wish for me to do?"

She asked causing Zhuge Liang to smile point his finger at Morgan who had a stoic expression on her face.

"Since your currently one of the most powerful servants here. Why won't you lure them towards the forest, while I attack both of the camps assigned to us?"

He said, causing silence to devour the entire temporary tent they had.

"... Is that a no?"

He asked causing Morgan to slightly smile before pointing her staff at Zhuge Liang.

"I have an even greater idea. I do not like the idea of me acting as a bait for you, strategist"

"Huh?"

"Prepare your soldiers... Or I'll make you do so myself"

Flashback end

"She's more powerful than me, why did she send me to act as bait?"

He complained as they finally entered the Coniferous forest. Surprising both Jack and Hassan who immediately turned serious as soon as they saw the army of Gastreas and wild demons chasing after them.

"As soon as you enter the forest... Remove your presence and mana!"

He shouted causing all of his troops to scream in unison as they all entered deeper into the forest without exposing the locations of each cobra ranked assasins around the forest.

"Now!"

He ordered, causing all of them to jump out of their vehicles before completely shutting off their presence and mana. Making the Gastreas and wild demons who entered the forest confused before they all stopped in their tracks. 

"Commander, how should we proceed?"

One of the soldiers close to him asked causing Zhuge Liang to cover his mouth. Glacing at the army of Gastreas who were all sniffing out their scents to find them.

"Wait for the assasins to do their jobs"

He said as two Gastreas suddenly got beheaded, causing all of them to howl as they couldn't detect nor see what happened.

The Gastreas growled as they cautiously surveyed their surroundings. Suddenly 5 more Gastreas died as their bodies was suddenly dissected into pieces. Making them more cautious and confused as they can't understand why they were dying.

"Get rid of the stronger ones first"

Hassam ordered in a whisper, causing all of the assasins around him to nod their heads in response.

One by one, their numbers started being chipped down piece by piece as piles of bodies started accumulating on the ground. But it wasn't fast enough to completely weaken the Gastreas mainly due to the assasins' low numbers.

"Wait for it"

Zhuge Liang said watching Hassan and Jack instantly kill many Tier III and IV Gastreas, while the other assasins cleanly stabbed the third eyes of the wild demons. Killing them in an instant.

"Commander!"

"Wait for it"

He said as he focused his eyes on the remaining Tier IV Gastrea that was cautiously looking around its surroundings.

"[Maria the Ripper]"

Jack said as she suddenly appeared on top of the Gastrea and quickly stabbed it with her dagger several times. Creating several wounds on its body before getting sliced to pieces by Jack who suddenly spread out poisonous mist around her.

"Now!! Kill them all!!"

Zhuge Liang shouted causing the 100,000 soldier that was with him to rise up from the ground and raise their weapons in the air. Charging at the army of Gastreas who all howled as soon as their presence became know. 

Making all of the Gastreas to switch their attention to them before charging at their direction.

"... I expect that she has already captured the camp, right?"

-with Lucias-

"Ready the mortars!!"

Lucias shouted causing the soldiers at the back to immediately ran towards the front, carrying a large mortar. Loading a small bomb into it that would release large amounts of mana on its surroundings before exploding.

"Fire!!"

He shouted causing the 20 mortars to fire in unison. Reaching the top of the walls before it exploded, causing hundreds of agonizing scream to echo from the wall while a few corpses fell down to the ground.

"Again!"

He shouted before noticing that some of the demons on the wall was preparing to launch a large scale spell at their location.

"Tristan!"

He shouted causing Boabab Sith to take out her harp like bow before strumming a melody. Creating several small arrows of blood red mana that fired towards mages at the wall.

"Ack!"

One of the mages said as he held his throat due to the blood red arrow that pierced his throat, causing him to lose balance before falling down from the wall. Falling on his head first as his blood splattered on the cold snow in the ground.

"... Can't you just kill them painlessly?"

Lucias asked while looking at Boabab Sith who seem to be enjoying torturing their enemies. Mainly due to the mischievous smile on her face.

"No~ It's much more fun doing it like it, you don't mind right? M-a-s-t-e-r~"

She said as she pressed her body on Lucias arm, causing Lucias to smile wryly before pushing her body away.

"But... I never knew Zhuge Liang was this enthusiastic about this ... He's pretty smart as well so... should I send him to the frontlines?"

-with Zhuge Liang-

*Achoo!*

"Caught a cold, commander?"

His men asked while watching Zhuge Liang frown for unknown reason.

"Nothing... It's just that... it felt like something bad is going to happen to me"