The Survival of an Inferior

Words of terror spread all across Chael rapidly. Some have already lost all will and dropped their weapons, burrowing their head in fear between their legs. 

Patches of noise litter all around Chael.

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Due to an external factor, the effect of the "Warrior Spirit" is greatly diminished for the surrounding characters(except for people in your party).

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I look at Lena. It's true. Her perplexed expression has calm behind it. 

"Lena, don't you fear blood?" I ask.

She stares at the soldiers. "I think...but I don't really feel bothered for now. Is it adrenaline?" she mumbles.

Good, my title worked. 

The main mission...is telling me to run?

Failure results in death. Is this really where I'm headed?

I sigh and rub my forehead.

...

...!

It was then a thought came to mind. I've been constantly asking questions about the world but didn't once stop to question the missions given.

How did it know about the outcomes when it didn't happen? 

Besides, I have a feeling that...I won't meet the ending desired if I blindly follow the missions...just like my one successful playthrough.

Even though Rena managed to kill the Demon Lord, many were sacrificed on the way. Her physical and emotional bodies were both torn beyond repair. 

After a battle is won, what's left are cries of sorrow, not jubilation of happiness. 

I close my eyes and take a breath. 

"Lena, cast voice amplification." 

Lena swings her hand and a magic circle appears around my neck. 

"Silence!" I shout from the top of the wall.

My powerful voice echoes and tranquillity follows. All attention shifts to me. 

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"Fear" status ailment was temporarily removed for 200 soldiers.

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"Do you want to run? To hide? Why are you here in the first place? To protect what's important to us. To fight back against evil. Running will only delay the inevitable and put your loved ones at risk. If they occupy Chael, Elvis will be at a huge disadvantage and many people will die." I say.

The knights glance at one another.

"It goes without saying that I will be leading the frontline. Deaths and sacrifices are the worst possible scenario. At the very least, I will try to ensure your survival."

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"Warrior Spirit" slightly recovers its power.

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I smirk. "Or are you more cowardly than the shameless trash?" I say, referring to myself. 

!

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"Warrior Spirit" has recovered its full power.

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...

"Can we win?" a knight shouts.

"Of course. Our defence is in good shape." I lie.

"In addition, all of us have been working tirelessly in setting traps and practising formations. Effort does not betray. Would you fight to the death or would you die a coward!"

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Due to the recent actions of the player for the past few days, the army temporarily trusts you.

+5% stats for everybody.

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The majority of fighters clench their fist. They pick up their weapons and take a deep breath. 

I grip my musket tightly and punch the air.

"JAGEN!!!" I shout.

The army hesitated a little but one by one, their arms hanging in the air. "JAGEN!!!!" They shout in unison. 

"JAGEN!!!!!!"

"JAGEN!!!!!!!"

"Today! We will go down in history!" I say.

'Jagen' is a type of battle cry. Many fighters feel empowered after shouting it at the top of their lungs thus it becomes a tradition to scream Jagen before every battle. 

"Our original plan was to use the battering rams and kill the dragonics in the kill zone, a narrow area we made surrounded by tall terrain leading into the city through the broken wall. The idea of the plan is to limit the number of enemies we faced. We will still be executing that but abandon the battering rams. In short, plan c." I say to Lena. Lena nods and goes down to pass the message. 

Since dragonic have hard scales, I originally wanted to use the battering rams to kill them due to their low intelligence. But those are futile against demons. 

Rena walks up to me. "Commander, what are you planning?" 

!

"Commander?" I blurt.

"If you are not the commander, who is?"

...

"Rena, how are you feeling?"

"Better than ever, this sword is the best," she says nonchalantly.

"Good. Realistically speaking, it's impossible to win the battle. Once they break through our frontline or walls. It's game over." I say.

"Are you...planting false hope?"

"I didn't say we can't win the war." 

Rena glance down at the army.

"Psychological warfare?" she asks.

I nod. 

"You will be the vice-commander. When given the chance, I will go for their commander and kill him, breaking the command chain-"

Rena raises her brow. "You?"

...

"Yes."

"you should not leave command. The soldier's morale is built from your speech. If you disappear, so will them. You trust me, don't you?" Rena says.

I look at her. Her determined gaze tells me one thing. She wants to be the one to take down the commander.

I sigh and pull out the ring on my finger. "Take this," I say. "It can boost your speed and gives control over nature."

Rena stares at my hand before taking the ring. She turns her back and walks away. 

...

"I have unfinished business with you. Let's talk about it after this. So...don't die." Rena says and left.

"Do you really have to raise a death flag like that?" I mumble.

"When I give you the signal, proceed to flank the commander. The signal is eight continuous shots into the sky." I shout.

Rena glances back and nods. 

I turn my attention to Lena. 

"How is the grimoire?" I ask.

Lena stares at the book. "I've...been enlightened."

I smile. "Glad to hear that, do you remember what I told you 2 days before?"

She nods. "However, I could do it without using teleport."

"Alright."

We have roughly 200 soldiers. 40 sharpshooters, 150 ground warriors, and 10 mages excluding Lena. 

Radz will be the vanguard and captain leading the frontlines in the kill zone. Each soldier will be in a group, each group has their respective leader to guide their formation. The main strategy is to "gang up" on one to three demons for maximum efficiency and safety. 

The first battle of the long war is about to begin.