29 - The Legion's First March

The dawn was silent. Rygar moved like a predator among the shadows, his footsteps leaving no trace. He had memorized the locations on the map drawn by Yan, following the least-guarded path to infiltrate the branch. The city still slept, and darkness was his greatest ally, his heightened senses alerting him to any nearby presence.

Observing the main building of the branch, Rygar noticed two guards stationed at the front entrance. They spoke in hushed tones, but he didn't bother trying to listen. Confronting them directly would alert the others. He scanned the structure until his gaze landed on a partially open window on the upper floor.

With a swift leap, he used wind magic to propel himself upward, gripping the windowsill with precision. Pulling himself up silently, he slipped inside. The room was dimly lit, carrying the faint smell of mildew and candle smoke. Rygar landed lightly on the floor.

He glided down the narrow hallway, guided by the faint glow of light at the corridor's end. Upon reaching the room marked as the chief's office, he paused and listened. The sound of a pen scratching against paper and steady breathing confirmed the presence of someone inside. Rygar approached carefully, as silent as a wolf.

Inside, a demon-like man sat at a desk, engrossed in his writings.

The figure's skin was dark gray, nearly black, with two short horns curving back from his forehead. The flickering candlelight partially illuminated his face, revealing a focused expression and narrow eyes. He was so absorbed in his task that he didn't notice the blue blade of Rygar's sword pressed against his throat.

"If you resist, you die," Rygar murmured, his voice firm and as sharp as his blade. "If you call for help, you die. If you fail to answer any question I ask, you die. Understood?"

The man swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the glowing blue sword reflecting in the candlelight. "Y-yes," he stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.

Rygar studied him for a moment before continuing. "What is the strength of your brother, the Black Troll, and who are the strongest in this organization besides him?"

The man hesitated but, feeling the increased pressure of the blade, began speaking quickly. "My brother… he's strong. Very strong. He recently defeated a North Saint who joined us. It was a tough fight, but he won. I'd say he's on that level."

Rygar narrowed his eyes. It was what he expected regarding the Black Troll's strength, but this North Saint was new information.

"And the others?" the man continued, "Our organization has about fifty advanced-level warriors spread throughout the city, with more than half stationed at the main base. But most of them aren't loyal—they're here for the money, nothing else. Still, they're experienced and well-trained."

"Tell me more about this North Saint," Rygar commanded.

The man exhaled shakily, trying to steady his nerves. "His name is Gallus Cleaner. He arrived recently with a proposal. He suggested we launch an operation to capture a large number of beast slaves. He learned about our recent failure and brought news that the Sacred Beast was born a few years ago. He believes that if we don't act quickly, a new military force among the beast races, called the Iron Legion, will make future attacks much more difficult."

Hearing this, Rygar's eyes narrowed. The Iron Legion is already becoming a problem for them. That's good… but it also means we need to act quickly.

"What special abilities does your race have?" Rygar asked.

"We... possess significant physical strength," the man replied. "But nothing beyond that. We have no unique magic or anything like that."

Rygar remained silent for a moment, weighing the man's words. He didn't sense any lies, but caution was always warranted. "Where are the organization's records?"

The man swallowed hard again and pointed to a cabinet in the corner of the room. "Over there. All the names, routes, and operations of this branch are in that cabinet."

Without lowering his guard, Rygar extended a hand, summoning a light gust of wind that opened the cabinet door. As it swung open, a trap was triggered—a hidden arrow shot out, narrowly missing them.

The sudden movement surprised Rygar for a fraction of a second, but his reflexes quickly kicked in.

That brief distraction was enough for the demon-like man to make his move. He drew a short sword hidden beneath the desk and lunged toward Rygar's heart. But before the blade could even come close, the man's world flipped—literally.

In a single, fluid motion, Rygar sidestepped the attack and decapitated the man with one precise strike. His sword cut through the air with lethal efficiency. The demon's head rolled across the desk, his eyes wide in a mix of shock and despair. His body collapsed a moment later, knocking over the candle and plunging the room into semi-darkness.

"You resisted," Rygar muttered, cleaning his blade on a cloth from the desk. He turned his attention to the cabinet and the scattered papers. At least the documents were indeed here.

Wasting no time, Rygar began scanning the records. Once he confirmed the information matched what the man had said, he set the papers aside.

Rygar stood silently for a moment, staring at the decapitated body before moving. If those guards check on their chief periodically, I need to ensure no one gets in. With a subtle motion, he conjured a compact, reinforced earthen wall over the doorway. The barrier fit snugly into the frame, completely blocking access.

It wasn't an elegant solution, but he wouldn't take long to return to this place anyway. He moved toward the window he'd entered through. Using his mana-enhanced vision, he scanned the branch. The flow of energy through the walls revealed several guards patrolling the area, along with a group of slaves confined to a larger room in the back. He also detected two particularly strong mana sources, confirming the presence of the advanced-level warriors the demon had mentioned.

Two advanced warriors... Taes can handle them if necessary.

If I attack now and someone escapes, the main base will be alerted, complicating matters. He resolved to stick to the plan. This branch would be an easy target once everything was ready. Until then, no one could suspect a thing.

Moving with the same precision as before, Rygar slipped out through the window and vanished into the early morning shadows. Two Saints and several advanced warriors… I've never faced anything that strong. But I'm confident I can win, as long as I don't make any mistakes.

With his objective clear, he headed back toward the city, moving quickly through the empty streets until he reached the inn where Peikak, the innkeeper, resided. The building's shabby exterior exuded the same decrepit aura as the man himself.

He entered without hesitation, finding Peikak snoring loudly in a corner of the main hall. With a sharp bang on the nearby table, Rygar startled the old man awake.

"Who—what? Who dares disturb me at this hour?" Peikak grumbled, blinking furiously as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. When his eyes landed on Rygar, his face twisted in alarm. "Oh, it's you… What do you want in the middle of the night, beast boy?"

"I need you to prepare supplies, wagons, and horses for a convoy," Rygar said bluntly, his voice firm and non-negotiable. "Everything must be ready by late tomorrow afternoon."

Peikak's eyes widened in surprise. "A convoy? What convoy? Who are you planning to transport? And if you want this by tomorrow, it'll cost you a fortune, boy! It's not easy to get all that on such short notice!"

Rygar leaned forward, a cold smile spreading across his lips. "I'll soon have plenty of travelers for you. I'll give you the exact number in a few hours. As for the money... it will come with them. Just start the preparations immediately."

Peikak hesitated, looking at Rygar with a mix of fear and irritation. "You think it's that simple? I need to know more details!"

"You'll know enough when the time comes," Rygar cut off any attempt at an argument. "I know you sold our information to someone, so consider this payback."

The merchant swallowed hard, mumbling something unintelligible as he began to rise, but Rygar didn't wait to hear more. He disappeared into the darkness before Peikak could lodge further complaints.

---

When he reached the inn, the sky was beginning to take on a faintly lighter hue, signaling the approaching dawn.

Rygar entered the inn without ceremony. The group was scattered across various rooms, taking advantage of the brief respite before their next move. He knocked on Taes' door, and the warrior, ever alert, opened it almost instantly.

"Gather everyone in one room, now," he ordered curtly. Taes nodded without question and left to carry out the task. Rygar remained there, waiting as the others were summoned.

Within minutes, the small room was crowded. Taes, Kidar, Eidar, Rufus, the slave Yan, and the other warriors stood ready, either sitting or leaning against the walls. Rygar stood at the center, his piercing gaze sweeping over them, feeling the gravity of the moment. The Iron Legion, even in its nascent stage, had already proven itself a promising force. This would be its first real operation outside the Great Forest.

"Listen carefully," Rygar began, his voice as sharp as a blade. "As Taes should have informed you, we act today, before sunrise. The operation will be swift and precise, like lightning striking before anyone realizes it's there."

He paused, ensuring he had everyone's attention.

"Kidar and Taes will each lead 13 warriors. We will strike the slavers' bases simultaneously, starting with the largest and working our way down to the smallest. The goal is to eliminate as much resistance as possible before they have a chance to react or flee."

The two warriors nodded, absorbing the instructions. Rygar continued.

"Eidar," he called out, and the young human immediately straightened, "you and two other warriors will follow me to the main base. Your job is to eliminate anyone trying to escape and ensure nothing goes wrong while I deal with the organization's leaders."

Eidar nodded, his expression serious.

"Once I'm done with the main base, I'll assist the rest of you with the other bases. Kill anyone who resists or attempts to flee. If some escape, it doesn't matter." He smirked slightly. "In fact, it's those fugitives who will spread the news of what happened."

The warriors' eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and nervous energy. Rufus, the young dwarf they had rescued, sat in a corner, listening intently. Rygar turned his attention to him.

"Rufus," he called, and the boy immediately sat up straighter. "You'll go with Eidar. Follow his orders and observe. Learn as much as you can."

Rufus nodded vigorously, masking his anxiety with determination.

Rygar then addressed Yan, standing near Kidar with a cautious expression. "And you," Rygar began, his voice as unyielding as stone, "will accompany me to the main base."

Yan's face turned pale, but he dared not object. Rygar stepped closer to him, stopping mere inches away. In one swift motion, his sword ignited into a blazing blade, slicing off Yan's left arm. The wound was instantly cauterized by the heat of the magic, but the man screamed in agony, collapsing to his knees.

"What you do from now on will determine your future," Rygar declared, his gaze piercing. Rufus looked at the man with a hint of pity.

The room fell silent except for Yan's labored breathing. Rygar turned back to the group, his harsh demeanor softening slightly as he surveyed their determined faces.

"This is the Iron Legion's first step beyond the Great Forest," he said, his voice firm yet tinged with emotion. "Each of you will be a part of this. What we do today, I hope, will be remembered as the beginning of something greater."

The warriors nodded, their eyes alight with renewed resolve. Rygar stepped back, satisfied with their energy.

"Be swift, be lethal," he continued. "As for the slaves, offer them two choices, regardless of their race: return to their homes or join the Iron Legion. Don't force anyone, but make it clear they owe us a debt."

He raised his voice. "Questions?"

A chorus of voices replied, "No, Chief!"

Rygar smirked, pleased by their spirit. "Then we're ready. We strike before the first light of dawn. Show the world who we are. Show them what we're capable of."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving the group in a fervent silence. The Iron Legion was about to take its first major step—and Rygar was certain it would be one the world would never forget.