Age of Adventure

The night came a few hours later and the battle is about to begin.

Alexander and his generals sacrifice offering to Zeus and Ares but they did not sacrifice to Athena. Most people heard that Vanheim is blessed by Athena and Hephaestus.

There were talks among the Oracles that the Chancellor was a demigod, a son of a goddess. Burning their offerings to the Gods of Olympus, they then prepare for the arduous task that they will have to do tonight

The sun falls down and that cold night, Alexander divided his forces in two. Antonius was tasked to lead the men in the darkness of night up the mountain

Nobody shows any signs of using fire magic in order to not alert the forces up there in the Mount Gryphon

They trek the mountain, and the force that led the army that is trekking the mountain is very careful in not making their movements get caught by the enemy scouts.

If there are any enemy scouts, they would kill them before they could manage to give any information to the enemy

There is around fifteen thousand strong contingents that moved into position to attack the Vanheim forces

The night silence is sometimes only broken by the sound of the night creatures shrieking or howling

Some marches through the trek that lead upwards, others marched along the back mountain ridge, moving across the forest to attack down the mountains and the Vanheim forces from behind.

That night, these preparation was made with meticulous details and everything was planned with victory as their goals.

Antonius was preparing to launch a surprise attack at dawn

The reason is simply because they wanted to also cut off the Vanheim force from Aether ferry and force any retreat to go directly to the Plain and not escape using the ferry downstream

As Antonius trek the mountain and his forces is ready to sprang the attack, at that same time, Alexander himself lead a detachment of ten thousand men and crossed the Aether river north of Aethereld castle, where he could cut off the Vanheim forces retreat.

That is the whole plan.

Antonius would attack from above and forces Vanheim forces below as they could not use the ferry because Antonius had already send a detachment to take control of the ferry area.

By crossing the Aether river the detachment that is led by Alexander would cut off Vanheim forces retreat and could attack in a pincer movement if needed.

Antonius attack from the back and he is from the front.

Alexander took his position and look at the plains from his open war tent, looking at the plains. They waited in their position.

Alexander sighed as he looks at the distance. He for some reason felt an uneasiness that he could not explain

’Hmm’ he muttered. Beside him was Pericles, Prikrios, Iapetus, Iothian among the many of his loyal and powerful general under him.

They did not dispatch every soldier they could because they did not want to alert the enemies.

Pericles look at Alexander and he could see Alexander is very tense

’Your Highness. Do not worry. Antonius will get the job done’ Alexander did not reply instead he just look at the horizon.

The night had ended and dawn is about to arrive in a couple of hours.

They waited and this wait felt like days. This battle if Alexander could win this battle, his name would resound all over the continent and he could vie for the world.

Minutes passed by and then shortly before dawn, a thick mist rolled into the valley from the mountains.

This is not some magical force but a natural phenomenon around the valley since they are close to the mountain.

Alexander did not know what is happening up there in the mountain. Did Antonius had already forced the Vanheim force down the mountain or is there some complications?

Alexander knows that it would not be long now before the Vanheim force would come down.

He sent an order through his messenger to the other generals.

Round Arrow formation.

Alexander chooses to deployed his men roughly in the shape of a blunt arrow and he waited for Antonius unit to begin executing the plan on the other side of Aether river

He looks at the hills to the south and it was suspiciously calm, giving not a single trace of upheaval. It is hard to believes that a battle had happened up there in the mountain.

The mist become thinner as the moment passes. Alexander shakes his head and sit on his stool but then his eyes widened in school as he got up from his seat

’By the Gods!’

Because of the mist visibility around the plain is heavily reduced so it came to a stunning surprise to Alexander when he looks over at the plain to see the banner of Vanheim forces soaring high up and seeing them marching toward them as the fog lifted.

This scene is not only seen by Alexander.

All the other commander of Alexander also saw it and they were shocked beyond belief. There were horses thundering through the plain and is coming toward them

’Enemy is coming!’

’Enemy is coming!’ The shouts reverberated through all the camps as chaos spread all over. Alexander was dumbfounded a moment not knowing what to do.

What! How could they be here? Alexander expected that the Vanheim army to be on Mount Gryphon engaging with Antonius. Why would they be here in the Plain where they should have been pincered by the two armies of his force

Alexander then woke up from his shock and hardened his expression. He no longer just stands as he runs out of his tent and shouted

’Prepare the lines!’ He then went on top of his horse and jump over it and ready to go to the frontlines.

Even though he had given his orders to prepare the lines, the terrified Alexander army had barely enough time to prepare the lines as the Vanheim forces is fast approaching.

Hooves thundered and banners whipped in the wind as Alexander could see Kyle leading his troops to engage the disorderly lines of his army.

But even before Kyle cavalry could reach the area, arrows fall down from the sky.

Some soldiers who is just about to jump into their horses were pierced by the sharp arrows turning them into a porcupine doll.

’KYLE!’ Alexander shouted. But then he notices someone else also riding a horse. It was very eye-catching that Alexander could still see it amidst the rains of arrows that is falling

It was a white horse and the one riding it is wearing a golden armor.

But the moment Alexander saw the one riding that white horse, he paled in the face

’Aero of the East!’ he exclaimed.

Aero was riding his horse valiantly in the frontline and then he unsheathes his Heaven Sword and his powerful momentum rose

The moment he brought out of the Heaven Sword from his sheathe a majesty of a ruler surrounded Aero and the forces of Heavens seems to imbue him with fortune and luck

Aero saw Alexander and then he shouted, his voice reverberated all across the plain

’Like-minded people will seek each other’s company. You and the Karak noble families has shown ingratitude to the grace that the Empire had showered you with! Who was it that help you united the scattered parts of Veranis and fulfilled your father old dream! Who was it that help your kingdom grew? Even a dog will not bite the hand that feeds it. But you Alexander had break an oath and betray the heart desire of your father. You have plunge your country into a war that you could not win, plunging it to misery and condemnation. To list out your crimes would take a whole day, so I, Aero the Chancellor of Vanheim would execute on behalf of the Emperor!’ 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Everyone hear the words that Aero had said and many were shaken by it.

The reason is that Aero is on the moral high ground.

It is true that Alexander had broken an oath. And there is nothing worse than to be labeled as an oath breaker in the hearts of the native of this world.

This kind of person would surely be look upon terribly by the Gods.

King Zeus of Veva is also known as oath breaker and no native of the Vilajeri Continent deign to prostrate under him

If Alexander had said to the Emperor that he would like to dissolve the alliance and declare it in an open and aboveboard manner and then attack Vanheim, there would be nothing to criticize Alexander with

But not only the current Veranis was formed because of the help that Vanheim had render them, they also have trusted Veranis to guard the western borders for them, to defend Duvar and become the bulwark of defense for Vanheim and Veranis at that time agreed.

This alliance should have lasted more than just a generation.

But because of Alexander ambition that scene could never be created again.

This words shakes the morale of the native people of this world.

There were a few adventurers in the fray but most of them retreated when they saw Aero. No, they no longer only retreated. They run away from the battlefield

In the past, before the Exodus, the adventurers were the bravest of men and women. They would not mind throwing their lives into the battlefield.

But that was then, and now is now.

Unlike before, they no longer have infinite lives to throw away.

And when they saw Aero is among the Vanheim forces they no longer have any desire to try to render merit and gain promotions.

The native might not understand the terror of Aero of the East but those who were in Purgatory and watch as Aero created a large massacre understood.

Ten thousand people could not restrain Aero of the East.

So, the moment they saw Aero coming, they all run away.

Among the ten thousand men that Alexander brought around four thousand men is adventurers.

All of these four thousand people run away from the battlefield.

Even though their officers try to execute them for running away, how could the native compare to these adventurer abilities.

They might fear Aero of the East but they do not fear native people.

And since the high ranking generals is at the front they could not go to back and try to force the deserters to desert the army.

Even before the Vanheim forces is about to clash with Alexander forces there seems to be a trend that Alexander is losing.

Aero reputation as a peerless warrior without match resound all over the world.

And they were shaken because that person riding the white horse, wearing a golden armor rushing toward them is none other than the person acknowledged by all as the strongest person beneath the heavens

Aero horse was the fastest among the horse as he quickly tore the disorderly lines that is about to be formed to stop the advance of the cavalry.

He takes a deep breath and then Aero roars toward the shield line that is front of him.

A great shout that resembles the roar of a God was unleashed, as a powerful shockwave spreads out from his mouth and hit the shield wall.

The shield that is being hold up by countless of soldiers cracked and then a second later they were all thrown backward by the shockwave force.

Aero passes through them, his hand holding the white sharp Heaven Sword as he slashes left and right without mercy.

Aero of the East!

Aero of the East!

Behind him there were some soldier stat chanted these while following behind Aero trails with their horses.

The chants seem very haunting

Aero who was in the lead smiles as his eyes is only looking toward Alexander in the distance.

Kyle who was organizing the army in the distance and covering Aero path look at Aero fading figure that is rushing to the front of the battlefield and he laughed

He then remembers what happen last night

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Done for the month. Thirty thousand word plus has been delivered.