Difference

Isaac was about to see the Anarchy Lord. He was about to see one of his lifelong dreams, "But you bastards are getting in the way of that dream."

Isaac was weak and injured, stumbling about. He could not even walk straight, and his body was falling apart, but Issac picked up his weapon. The Durandal was heavy, but it was not enough to stagger his movement.

The weight of the sword was not the problem. It was the resistance it puts on him with every swing, 'This sword… is hard to wield, but… its sharpness allowed me to decapitate that beast But, using it while I am weak, was a mist-huh?'

A step was enough for Isaac to stagger. If not for the two men Isaac saved who caught him, he would be having an intimate time with the floor.

"Watch your steps, boy." The Seeker Isaac saved walked past him with an axe at hand, "You might cut yourself on the shattered pride of these Knights, Yuhahahah! Also… thank you for the save, boy… Caselyan Reid is in your debt."

"Sir Isaac, please do not listen to that brutish man, but like him, I would like to thank you for saving this undeserving's life. Now, please, rest till we can take care of the matter." The Knight said and stepped forward as he and the Seeker assisted Isaac.

These two were the first to take the first step. But soon, almost from all sides, more and more followed. They were tired, yet the monster only salivated at the sight of dying people. However, a single person's voice brought them from the brink.

His speech wasn't motivating. It was not uplifting in the least bit; it was infuriating.

But, people started getting up.

Isaac's words were cutting; it slapped them because they were failing against such weak opponents; the one screaming at them was a young man who hadn't taken the training wheels off. A level 196 boy cried at them, the Seekers laughed, and the Knights took it seriously. The withered started getting back up, and the fatigued grit their teeth.

Isaac watched as they and the others who were injured got back up. They saw the half-dead young man pick up his weapon to fight again. They all got back up, walking past Isaac, no longer minding the injuries they suffered.

They shot Isaac with different eyes as they moved past him. They held different thoughts, but they all had the same feeling - they were embarrassed they were being yelled at by someone so young.

A line formed before Isaac, and they all roared simultaneously to resume the paused fight!

"ATACKKKKK!"

The defeated picked up arms again, preparing to face the monsters that should never have been able to advance so far. Blood was drawn and cries echoed. They moved so quickly and intensely that it didn't look like none of them were injured.

Isaac was already healing, but because of his mental and physical fatigue from shitting his stomach out and managing the camp practically on his own, 'The more I heal, the more tired I become.'

His passive regeneration was eating away at his stamina, 'I already downed a Health Potions… tsk, screw it, I'm sitting this one.'

Stabbing Dunrandal on the ground, Isaac leaned on it and did what he decided to do, stop. It was rare to see Isaac hold his lust for battle at bay, but it sometimes happens. The remaining members of the Support Squad tried to heal him, but Isaac refused, "Treat the others first, it's a flesh wound… but if you can bring me some rations, I'm starving. I haven't had dinner yet."

Munching on jerky, Isaac was made to watch the fight.

In truth, Isaac wanted to fight some more, but Durandal's effect was too much for him. He had not met its ego, but its resistance was strong. To swing it, he needed to ward off the heavy feeling that accompanies it, 'It's an excellent sword, but it's not responding to me just yet. It's rejecting my mana, eating me from the inside. There's also that constant ringing like a chicken's being slaughtered-ACK! Dammit!'

Isaac cursed as the chicken screeched louder, 'Dammit… I know the one doing it is you, sword; why not talk it out like actual adults?'

The chicken just continued clucking.

"How did you do it?"

Suddenly, from behind him, Talon appeared with a question. Isaac spared him a quick glance and asked him, "How did I do what?"

"Took command in such a situation. I had my men spread the orders while I was fighting, they only had to fight the weak, but they were beaten. However, after just a few words from you, they suddenly became strong enough to push them back, so I don't have to step forward… What did you do, Isaac? Is it some kind of skill? A Class Effect? A Magical Artefact!?"

Swallowing his food, Isaac answered Talong after shrugging his shoulders, "I didn't order them though, I just shouted at them, and they moved on their own. You heard me too, right?"

"Bullshit! They were disoriented earlier, but they suddenly worked together after you spoke!? How did you do it? Did you transmit the information directly to them!?"

Isaac did not show any reactions to Talon's outburst. Instead of fighting Talon, he chose to fight the jerky instead.

Isaac slowly chewed his food as he looked at Talon, 'Talon Escalius, the second son of the Family Head. He's not all that remarkable in terms of skills, but he was blessed with a strong body and has the [Black Ash Brawler Class]. He has an overachiever for a sibling, so he joined the Church of Justice's Knight Order. He's on the rise, but the others enlisted in the same generation as he are also remarkable. He joined this subjugation campaign to prove his worth. He even took it upon himself to create the plans they initially used.'

The campaign to subjugate the Anarchy Lord was not only just to avenge the fallen. From the files Isaac read and the information he gathered, this campaign was more of a test for the younger generation.

Orthus, Artemis, Xerxes, and Talon all have done the same things in the past before but on a much lower scale. Talon wanted to act as the Tank of the group and the leading strategist.

Isaac was well-aware that Talon had to show achievement. Rarely does a person from a Noble Family go to join a Knight's Order outside of their own? They would usually be second fiddle to someone, or just someone who lacks the power in their own houses.

From what Isaac understood, Talon was one such person, 'That's not all; he's good enough to hide his emotions and play along, he's a smart person, so that means there's something for him in this subjugation.'

But Isaac did not know that. Isaac only knew that Talon was aiming for achievements. That's why he's willing to go to the front as a Tanker and even a Strategist.

'He's doing double the work, and he's positioned on the very front. Wait… is he trying to stand out from the other three?' Isaac looked over the three places led by Orthus and the others.

Though they also suffered from the attack, it was not Talon's degree, 'He's the second son, he's the weakest of the group, and he was forced to leave his family… I think I have an idea what's happening.'

But Isaac kept his findings to himself and simply returned to Talon's question, "First of all, I don't have such an artifact. I would've used it against my enemy to confuse them if I had such a thing. Second of all, I am too tired to get into a long discussion, so I'm going to answer the true question you want to ask - the difference between how we planned things is that I work around the issue with what I am given and you, Knight Talon chooses to jam the pieces unfit to the path you want to take. I observe and work WITH them while you expect them to work FOR YOU. Just because you call it a plan does not mean it will work out the way you want it to. I just now told them to abandon their Tactics and allow them to fight freely. I also gave them the freedom to do whatever they want, and now, instead of fighting for control, they gained their independence, and the hesitation stemming from their confusion was lifted."

"..." Talon couldn't even say anything in response.

"But, I have to admit, you are a remarkable strategist," Isaac added, halting Talon from his steps.

"Are you mocking me?" Talon growled in anger at Isaac.

"No, not at all. In fact, you're brilliant. If it wasn't me who arrived but Yulia who could provide support, then the plan you prepared would've worked because there would be someone to lift the burden. You knew who you were working with and devised a plan around everyone's strengths. Your only problem is the fact that-"

Fwu-

Isaac was talking when he was suddenly cut off. The shadows below him moved and coalesced into a wolf with golden eyes. The wolf had its mouth wide open when it revealed itself and took Isaac in its mouth, sword and all.

SWOOSH!

A sharp gust of wind raged as the monster hurried to the edge of camp.

Talon took a complete second before he could even recover and give orders, "Someone!"

He shouted, but the monster was already halfway to the tree line, and when he finally finished his orders, the beast had already disappeared into the darkness.

Right before Talon's eyes, Isaac had been abducted in the middle of the Military Camp.