[Mimi: Lvl 26] [Lucas: Lvl 32] [Lucy: Lvl 25] [Marvin: Lvl 30]
Had zero injuries upon their person. Being a rare-breed of swordsmen, they actually utilized shields. Considering how most adventurers only managed to purchase a weapon for themselves. Lucas's party was fortunate enough to have the funds to be able to procure both sword and shield. The continued maintenance and replacement costs were great, but in their eyes, their health and lives were worth the costs.
The battle that just occurred was a good return on their investment. Playing the defensive game, the elves who were stronger failed to land any lethal blows. That, and also Rosemi being extremely flashy with her swordsmanship, made them less of a priority target.
Thankfully, even though Rosemi was swarmed, as her swordsmanship stood out along with her finer looking outfit and gears. The Asai clone had took it upon himself to body block many blows that slipped through her guard.
Rosemi indeed was a fearsome swordswoman. However, that was true within a 1v1 or 1v3 scenario. Being swarmed from all directions was simply too much for a duellist build.
Lucas who was currently running maintenance on his gears, glanced at Duke Trichia. Truly, the mad man actually ran into enemy lines alone. Allowing himself to be surrounded to challenge the enemy leader in single mortal combat.
"I honestly can't tell whether he's crazy, blood thirsty, or ridiculously smart. If he hadn't drawn half of their forces away by threatening their head, I'm sure we' would've been swarmed like ants to food."
A short distance away from the fields of battle. Asai Trichia and Rosemi De Lumix were interrogating the lone elven survivor.
"Who sent you and why did you attack us?" Asai towered over the kneeling elf who was tied to a tree.
"G-goddess Marea sent us."
Rosemi performed a quick low roundhouse kick into his gut.
"If you're going to lie, at least tell us one that's more believable." Although the woman didn't enjoy unnecessary bloodshed. The elf before her was an enemy. And she had no mercy for such foes.
A force of one hundred was no joke. Although she was strong enough to fight them individually, fighting all one hundred without a break would've been impossible even for her.
Although Rosemi didn't believe his words. Asai had a small inclination to do so. He had seen the little ball of silver radiance return to the moon. His thoughts returned to his duel with Arthur Del Lagos, the deceased second prince of the human kingdom. During their fight, the goddesses had intervened by sealing the two combatants within the confines of the bridge.
He now had to figure out whether Goddess Marea was just welcoming him into her lands, or whether she was hell-bent on killing him for slaughtering so many of her beloved elves. "Hopefully, it's the former and that 100 was just her sick way of welcoming me."
Realising that they were just wasting their time, he quickly decapitated the elf and returned to camp.
Rosemi De Lumix stood frozen for a moment. Cold shivers went down her back as she realised how ruthless humanity's hero actually was, when he stood upon the fields of battle.
"He didn't even bat an eye..."
In the past, Rosemi had been within the kingdom's faction that greatly voiced and desired peace and co-existence with their elven neighbour. Growing up reading many books and novels that had fetishized and exoticized the elves to be extremely beautiful, handsome and kind creatures. She truly was shocked to see them for herself.
To suddenly find herself under attack, unprovoked and especially when the humans were literally invited into these lands for the peace talks.
She glanced down upon her own main-hand. She had been caught off-guard, unprepared due to the rosy tinted lens she wore when viewing the elves. If it wasn't for Asai's timely parry, she might have perhaps died...
She drew her sword, filling it with divinity, and horizontally sliced the already dead elf apart. The innocent tree behind it also fell victim to the monstrous cleave, crashing into the foliage.
Her conviction renewed, she now deigned herself to harden her resolve. At the very end of the day, she was human. And for humanity, she will spill the blood of her enemies whether she wanted to or not.
Peering into the distance, where Asai had walked off to.
"I wonder how many battles he has experienced, to become so numb to bloodshed? How many times did he have to fight to protect, to defend and act upon the orders of his Highness the first prince? Would I have became just like that if father didn't prevent me from joining the war?"
"The burdens he carries alone, upon his heart and soul, they must be so heavy..."
kophzi
Comparing the samurai to the western world's Vikings who were also known for their inhuman bravery for conflict.