Battle preparation

The gathering then was disbanded, and the other 26 participants come up to us to talk about the battleplan.

The first to talk was a woman with a face like a desert fox, which looks surprisingly human like. She is wearing tight brown leather armor, covering her chest lower body till down to the ankles and over her upper arms. The wrists are protectet with the only pure metallic piece of equipment, a pair of simple iron bracelets.

"So what is your plan Arthur? I hope your plan has more to it as disclosed earlier. Not that i would back off, but i value my life, and with it safety."

"No worry Veronica, i will enlighten you all.

My plan involves five steps. Easy to follow, but with some risks.

Step 1:

Go to the area where John found Bobby. If his body is still there, get one person to bring him back.

But before that we have to make sure there are no Humans or traps around him. After all they could want to lure us.

If he is gone, look for tracks and follow them careful.

Step 2:

If the tracks lead to the humans, observe and gather intel. We have to count there numbers, arsenal, positions and information, plus find the where abouts of Bobby's corpse. Maybe we have to catch a patrol to get some information before engaging.

Step 3:

If we have the chance, kill of the seperated patrols and lower their numbers, after all we want it to go as smooth as possible. After that we do a surprise attack and try to kill long ranged enemys and important looking people. If we have the luck and catch their leader step four will come to play. And that would be:

Step 4:

Persuade the Humans to lower the weapons by threaten to kill him. If there is some kind of noble the chances are in our favor. Otherwise we have to retreat to step 5.

Step 5:

Slaughter the enemy. we will try to kill as many as possible with our surprise attack, but some could try to escape. My suggestion is to let 5 people advance from the other side of their camp, if there is one, and kill the refugees.

Jäger, you would be in that unit. the Humans should have wounds and theit perception sis lower than normal, so it is safer.

That would be it."

Another voice came up from a white, impressing bear similar Beastmen. Similar because of the tail and the clump of bone at the tail end.

This weapon gives Jäger the impression of a ankylosaurus, the ancient herbivore.

"All nice and clear. I have no objections, but two questions.

First who will go with your son to the rear. While with the potential of being the safest spot, it could also be a deathtrap if enemy reinforcement comes, and your son has no experience, maybe he will not kill. Also this is linked to my second question.

What should we do if the enemy is too good equipped, too numerous or, after engaging, too strong? Our family would be in danger if we fail."

Arthur nodded when hearing the objections, and begins to answer them as if he already prepared for them.

"Good questions, to your first one..., Jäger!"

When I heard father calling out to me, I subconciously stand straight like a lamp post and replied a little bit too loud:

"Yes father? If you want me to ask if I will kill the Humans, i can assure you they won't get past me, after all they are the murderer of Bobby and maybe other of our kind."

°I certainly am a little bit hesitant right now though. I never killed a person and have next to none battle experience. But if I have to, I will.°

"That is reassuring to hear, but your survival is also important, you are the future for our family. So if the fight is too risky, flee, but inform a warrior near you. As you have no real knowledge on a battlefield, someone will be monitor ing you and stay at your side. as for the person in charge... ,"

Now Arthur let his gaze wander around his kinsmen and finally locked on Veronica. She also notices his gander and nodded while saying:

" No worries, I look out for him and make sure he does his job. But are you certain that you want to entrust Jäger under my care? What about John? After all you two are like brothers."

"I trust you as much as everyone else here, and one reason for entrusting him under you is that, alongside the others that will be in the rear, are the most abilitys. About the other three, they will all involve the youngest of us, because they need safety more than old folks like us."

When saying that, the youngest ones, alongeside Veronice are about to protest, when Winston cut them off.

"Arthur is right, you are the future and have to live. While this is a good experience for you, there is danger. But what about the reinforcement?"

" I'm just wanted to speak about it. About that, there should be none. We are deep enough in Domhain Forest that the Town Agmori shouldn't receive news about our assult in 3 or more days, even when enemys escape. And the time when they killed Bobby is not that long ago, so even if a messenger was send, we should have time."

All present nodded, this is mostly like this, and all here know about the uneven and overgrown terrain.

"To your second question Argon, when we are at a clear disadvantage, we will scatter and hide our trail as good as possible. We would lure them to go after us and split up. The rear team then will work together and follow single units of the enemy, if they have the chance to succeed.

If not, it not dire. We all should be faster and more adapt to the terrain be than them. After retreating we will gather later at the morning by the outpost, rush home and begin moving. The time to move here along with their armor should slow them down."

Finally convinced, the crowd disperse and are going home to accumulate their energy. Tomorrow will be a dangerous day and they have to be in peak condition.

Veronica says to Arthur on the way back:

"Don't worry Arthur, I will look after him, from the age he can nearly be considered my little brother."

" Aren't you far older tha... ."

Just when Jäger wants to object her, his mouth gets covered by a big hand. It is from his father and he whispers in in ear so faint, only for him to hear:

" Don't mention the age of a woman, stupid. There is just no way around it. Just accept and be quiet if you want a happy life!"

° Ahh, I total forgot, so even in this world age is a hot topic for the other gender. I have to be more careful, after all i want a girlfriend in this life. But before that I have to survive the comming battle. After all all this is not a game, and our lifes are at stake. I really would like a weapon tough. It just would give me more reach and help me immense. Everyone can kill with a sword or a hammer. I have to ask father about that!°

He turns in Arthurs direction and whispered back:

"Got it, I will remember that."

Then with a normal loud voice he asked:

"Father, do we have maybe weapons I can use? Like the sword from uncle John?"

"Oh right, even if you are taller and more mature than Human childs, you are still small and a weapon would help. Plus you can not use {Mana Heart} techniques. Let's see what we have at home."

On their way home, a thought struck him:

°Sh*t, I forgot to ask what a {Mana Heart} and {Element Brain } does. I have to get this out of my parents after we are done with getting Bobby back. After all this is crucial for my future developement.