0011.

"For Serene Jade City!" the defending soldiers roared.

The Western Gate shuddered under the fierce war cry of every soldier, from the seasoned veterans to the fresh-faced recruits. Across the moat, the ominous shapes of the Bestial Tide piled, a squirming horde of teeth, claws, and savage creatures bathed in the eerie glow of the moonlight.

"Bunch of hooligans!" Su Jin commented nonchalantly as he climbed the western gate.

"This is no place for you, Su Jin," growled Commander Fang.

"Just enjoying the view, Commander, don't be such a mood killer," Su Jin replied with a casual shrug.

Commander Fang's eye twitched at Su Jin's glib attitude. This was a fight for survival, yet Su Jin acted like he was here to play and enjoy. Still, Fang held his tongue, cautious of Su Jin's hidden capabilities and its Dark Guard R1.

He also noticed Wu Yan standing beside Su Jin, clutching a long, curved sword to his chest. Commander Fang was unsure if he could see reverence or fear reflected in Wu Yan's eyes. Was it for the dark sword or for Su Jin? He did not want to dwell on it now; he had much more pressing matters at hand.

"Don't get in my way," Commander Fang said firmly, focusing on his task at hand.

Su Jin remained silent as he observed the silent grass field below and ahead of the western gate, which would soon turn into a battlefield. 

The Western Gate, a massive white stone wall reinforced with iron and steel, was the sole entrance to the city from the dreaded Bloodmire Steppe – a vast, desolate expanse where the monstrous hordes of the Beasts called their home.

The Bloodmire earned its name from the savagery and slaughter that stained its soil. The land had witnessed countless battles between beasts and humans, saturating the earth with blood until it resembled the blood itself. Despite its status as a desert grassland, few dared to explore its depths, for fear of the beasts that roamed within.

Yet, the Bloodmire was not only a place of danger but also a source of valuable resources. Its lands yielded precious materials like blood essence, spirit bones, beast cores, and other bestial materials, coveted by many for their Spirit Essence and cultivation-related properties.

Contrastingly, Serene Jade City stood as a natural fortress, nestled amidst rocky, jagged mountains that encircled and protected it from all sides. These formidable natural barriers shielded the city from encroaching forces, whether human or beast, making it a sanctuary amidst the chaos of the Bloodmire Steppe.

Su Jin admired the natural gift Serene Jade City has, he looked at the rows of soldiers in his given silver armor. He has sold ten thousand sets of armor and swords, for the strength of the force mentioned to be around three thousand.

Upon surveying the area, he took note of a group of veterans positioned outside the gate, comprising around twenty percent of the force. They were to be the first line of defense, shielding the others from the initial wave of attack. The wall was lined with archers, but not enough; only a few veteran archers remained, with the rest positioned outside in front.

The rest of the defenders, a mix of nervous, newly trained recruits and volunteers, crowded nervously within the wall's safety. Su Jin shook his head, his lips curling into a cynical smile. A mocking laugh, more of a sigh, escaped from him.

Commander Fang, observing Su Jin closely, heard the mocking sigh-like laugh.

"This is no game, Su Jin," growled Fang. "These people are fighting for their lives, their families. Show some respect."

Su Jin's smile widened, devoid of warmth. "Oh, I assure you, Commander," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I respect the sheer entertainment value this display offers."

"What did you say?" Commander Fang had enough of this scumbag, he can endure anything but not the disrespect of valiant soldiers here who want to defend the city, their home.

"Three thousand against the Tide," Su Jin remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Seems like a well-balanced fight, wouldn't you say, Commander Fang?"

"Their numbers mean nothing against the spirit of Serene Jade City," he growled. "These people are fighting for their homes, their families. We will hold."

Su Jin chuckled, a humorless sound that grated on Fang's nerves. "Oh, I have no doubt you'll hold… for a while at least. But the Tide is relentless, Commander. Bravery alone won't be enough. You'll need something a little more…tactical."

Commander Fang was no foolhardy warrior. He understood the grim reality of their situation, but he also recognized that they had to make do with what they had. His primary concern was to hold out through the night, dealing with the challenges of the next day when it arrived. 

As he surveyed the new recruits and volunteers, he maintained a calm exterior, keeping his emotions in check despite the hollow confidence within him.

"Doesn't exactly inspire confidence, does it?" Su Jin remarked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "A ragtag bunch against the fury of the Bloodmire."

Fang finally turned, his eyes narrowed at Su Jin. "This is not a business where you look at life and death like profit and loss, you know nothing of sacrifice to understand us," Fang said sharply, his voice heavy with disdain. "Our duty is to protect the people, not exploit their suffering for personal gain."

"Say, Commander Fang, you mock me for evaluating profit and loss in life and death, sacrifice and survival. But is it not just profit and loss?" Su Jin took a sudden interest in this sudden debate. "Tell me, what are you here for?"

"Didn't I say enough? To protect our land, our family." Commander Fang was also not in the mood to back down.

"And what's the motive behind it all?" Su Jin asked philosophically. "If you all sacrifice to defend this city then there would be no one left to defend the city the next day, then all your land, your family will be…" He didn't finish the sentence.

Fang's knuckles whitened as he fists tightly. The man was a soldier, not a philosopher, and Su Jin's cynical musings grated on him. "Speak clearly, boy!" he barked, his voice laced with frustration.

Su Jin's eyes flickered with a glint of understanding. "Sometimes," he said cryptically, "Sacrifices are necessary to achieve a victory."

"I call that a worthless victory," Commander Fang argued, his voice trembling slightly. He knew Su Jin was right; sometimes sacrifices were necessary. But the thought of innocent blood staining the ground gnawed at him.

"A victory, nonetheless." Su Jin responded calmly.

"I will not sacrifice the lives of innocent people for your twisted idea of victory," he declared, his voice unwavering.

"I admire your ideals Commander Fang but war is won by blood and steel, not ideals, especially when you are fighting against an opponent who does not follow the same ideals." Su Jin after that didn't say a word.

Commander Fang also had none to reply against those last words. A sliver of doubt wormed its way into his heart. Su Jin's cold words held a grain of truth, a truth that clashed violently with his unwavering sense of honor. Innocent or not, blood will flow but he would have to decide on whose blood is more worthy. The weight of that possibility was heavy on his shoulders, forcing him to consider the unthinkable.

*TREMBLE* *ROAR*

A tremor shook the ground with increasing intensity, and the guttural roar of the Betials grew louder, a horrifying symphony of hunger and rage. The battle was upon them.

It's now or never, he would have to decide it fast. With a cruel determination, he raised his hand, taking a deep breath, ready to yell his new command. 

"FLAG!" The high watchtower spotter yelled.

Commander Fang's words got stuck in his throat as he cleared his voice. "Whose flag?"

"SERPENT VALLEY!" The spotter recognized it correctly. "SURVIVORS!!" He saw another flag.

"VETERANS! MARCH FORWARD!" Commander Fang bellowed, his voice cutting through the uproar. 

With swift efficiency, the line of veterans drew their new short silver swords, and the unison clanging of their new silver swords against their scabbards roared like a thunderclap. With a zeal they all let out a roaring warcry as they charged forward, forming into an arrow formation to defend the survivors.

Commander Fang's cruel determination was not gone but this time fate had given him an excuse, and he despised every second of it. He felt ashamed of himself for taking advantage of this situation, but the reality of war forced him to make tough decisions. Su Jin was right; winning the war should be the priority for now, and they can deal with morality later.

"RECRUITS!!!" His voice was even more commanding now, pressing and forceful. Every new recruit who had completed their training flinched, nervous sweat greasing their palms. They looked up at Commander Fang, startled by the sudden yell.

Fang's eyes scanned the row of young soldiers, their faces a mixture of fear and determination. They were the city's future, its untested defenders, and he needed to ignite their courage. "Look to your comrades, your families within these walls!" he roared. "You stand between them and death! Defend your city, your homes, and carve your names into the legends of Serene Jade City! Today, you are not just recruits; you are the shields of Serene Jade! Now, for glory, for honor, for YOUR city, CHARGE!"

His words rang out with urgency and fervor, a desperate attempt to rally their spirits in the face of imminent danger. But deep down, Fang despised the deception, the manipulation required to inspire them. He looked at Su Jin, feeling a surge of resentment toward the man who had forced him into this role.

"Why do you look at me as if I'm the villain here?" Su Jin complained, his words dripping with false innocence.