Chapter 490: The Han Civil War XVI

Chapter 490: The Han Civil War XVI

Everything got a little messy after slaying Meng Ao, and I found myself flying towards the wall of the Ironside Brigade’s temporary fortress in no time at all. Most of his wounded had been healed, and nobody, nobody, tried the same stunt of injuring more people to force me to stick around.

They did come for my head hard though, and I was one woman. I could take a general by surprise and overwhelming firepower, but that move was literally an eighth of my mana pool.

The funerals had finished, a couple dozen soldiers respectfully standing around the smoldering coals of the pyres, paying their last respects. I wish they could continue to stand vigil as long as they wanted to.

I blitzed over the fortress walls, dropping on top of a startled guard.

“Pay attention.” I snapped at him. He should’ve seen me coming, and not been so surprised. “Sound the warning alarm.” I ordered.

The soldier fumbled a moment, snapping off a salute. “Ma’am, yes ma-”

“NOW!” I roared. He almost jumped out of his boots, fumbled at his belt, and blew the warning alarm. The clear notes of the trumpet echoed through the fort, the other guards taking up the signal and repeating it at once.

The response was both fast and slow. We had just spent the whole day fighting, so we were tired, but we’d also spent the whole day fighting. Our blood was up.

The camp didn’t quite boil over like a kicked ant hive. More like an ant hive where all the ants were drunk on sugar. I spotted Katerina, and flashed over to the Legata, who was already climbing a ladder into the observation tower. The rest of her endless [Scribes], and [Aides] followed her up, but the [Messengers] stayed at the bottom. All the better to run around on her behalf.

“Bunny. I assume your return and the alarms are related?” She didn’t pause climbing at all, and I floated next to her, wings gently beating.

“Brrrpt!” Auri flittered up to me, landing on my shoulder where she belonged. I bopped her with my head, acknowledging her presence.

“Yes Legata. During my operation I ended up slaying Meng Ao, and last I saw, I had his entire army chasing me. I doubt they’ll come all this way, but I wasn’t going to mention it for the first time when they showed up on the horizon.”

Katerina grunted in acknowledgement, reaching the top of the ladder.

“Right, let’s see what we’re up against.”

It got decidedly awkward when nobody else showed up after me. Meng Ao’s troops didn’t suicidally return to the battlefield, and I could see the rumor mill quickly propagating what I’d done through the ranks. First the tribunes and other officers, a quick intercept by the rank and file as a conversation was had near hurrying soldiers, and the whole thing spread like wildfire.

Dawn killed the [Great General] Meng Ao.

Morale had started high, and not even an ‘oops maybe a second battle’ was able to dampen the mood, not when the troops found out why all their partying had been interrupted.

We only stood to for thirty minutes before Katerina called it. Auri was fairly upset that she’d been up high on the tower with everyone glancing her way for a mere 30 minutes.

“If they were going to commit suicide and attack us, they would’ve done it by now.” She declared. “Call to stand down.”

Trumpets blew, drums were banged, and great cheers went up. Katerina tilted her head a fraction.

“Robin, triple the beer ration. See if you can get us a roast going. Morale’s high, and I want people to have this evening as a highlight to remember in the coming months. Reed, call an officer’s meeting. All non-active centurions and above. I think we need to go over everything again.”

“Brrrpt!” Auri wasn’t invited to the meeting, and she could tell.

“More time to party with everyone.” I reminded her.

“BRPT!”

“Legata, I’ve got some additional information for you before the meeting starts.”

Katerina didn’t pause her march to the command center.

“What is it?” She asked.

“As I was fleeing, I managed to get near the command tent. My third class does handle books and information like you mentioned, and I was able to scoop up most of their records. I’d like to say all their records, but we both know there’s always a few floating outside, being carried around and the like.”

Katerina halted, her entourage coming to a stop. On one hand, they pretended like they weren’t listening into our conversation, on the other they had to. I swear half the ears were bending and straining to hear what happened next. What juicy gossip there was.

“All their records.” Katerina replied flatly. “Not just their books. Their maps. Codes. Scrolls. Loose paper.”

I nodded.

“Yup! All of it! Even got a quill scooped up by my skill, which makes me think there’s a coded message on it somewhere. All I could pick out with my senses were pictures, but since my skill thinks it’s information, maybe Optio Coral or Optio Ardenus can make something of it.”

Katerina pointed out one of the [Scribes] and [Messengers].

“You. Show Bunny to a room where she can deposit the records. You. I need a detail of guards on the room, Legata’s orders. Go.” She ordered.

I slipped into a packed room. The Legion didn’t see a point in making big meeting rooms in their temporary forts, and what we wanted to discuss wasn’t open air. We just barely fit, but thanks to dozens of skills, none of them mine, it all worked out.

Bless whoever had the cooling Ice aura. I wanted to shake their hand.

“First, I want to address proper naming conventions. As you all may have noticed, Sentinel Dawn is indeed with the Sixth Legion.” Katerina pointed to me standing next to her, annnnnd half the room couldn’t see me. No stage or anything. I raised my hand and waved it around.

“Heya!” I cheerfully said, letting Katarina lead.

“Outside of this room, she is to be referred to as Bunny.” Katerina stressed. “Diplomatic nonsense. The tribunes know what’s going on with that, as well as the more experienced centurions. Ask later if you don’t know.”

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The Legata plowed on, not even pausing a moment to let murmurs or quiet discussions occur.

“I want to reaffirm the chain of command now. Tribune Pierce is temporarily promoted from tribune to my second. Sentinel Dawn is in command of the Legion should I die. I will brook no discussion on the topic, and in the event of my untimely demise, you are all ordered to support her with everything you can. Am I understood?”

There was an anemic response, a scattering of ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘as you will Legata.’

Katerina put her hand on Reed’s shoulder and shouted, her words dramatically amplified.

“Sixth Legion! AM I UNDERSTOOD!?”

“Yes ma’am!” They roared in unison.

[Mana Regeneration: 1,831,433 +(3,116,736)]

Stats

[Free Stats: 0]

[Strength: 456 (Effectively: 3,648)]

[Dexterity: 24,802 (Effectively: 264,092)]

[Vitality: 53,472 (Effectively: 835,500)]

[Speed: 40,704 (Effectively: 801,177)]

[Mana: 222,568]

[Mana Regeneration: 222,624 (+ 311,674)]

[Magic Power: 246,963 (+ 7,902,816)]

[Magic Control: 246,684 (+ 7,893,888)]

[Class 1: [The Dawn Sentinel - Celestial: Lv 640]]

[Celestial Affinity: 640]

[Cosmic Presence: 555]

[The Stars Never Fade: 17]

[Center of the Universe: 476]

[Dance with the Heavens: 640]

[Wheel of Sun and Moon: 640]

[Mantle of the Stars: 496]

[Sunrise: 505]

[Class 2: [Butterfly Mystic - Radiance: Lv 560]]

[Radiance Affinity: 560]

[Radiance Resistance: 560]

[Nova Lance: 560]

[Lepidoptera: 560]

[Nectar: 560]

[Solar Corona: 560]

[Scintillating Ascent: 560]

[Kaleidoscope: 560]

[Class 3: [Ancient Loremaster of Legend - Spatial: Lv 256]]

[Spatial Authority: 256]

[Manuscript Mastery: 256]

[Blink: 78]

[Loremaster's Library: 256]

[Vault of Ages: 22]

[Rapid Reshelving: 108]

[Astral Archives: 256]

[Lust for Lore: 256]

General Skills

[Long-Range Identify: 421]

[Parallel Thoughts: 241]

[Companion Bond between Elaine and Auri: 640]

[The World Around Me: 110]

[Oath of Elaine to Lyra: 640]

[Sentinel's Superiority: 640]

[Persistent Casting: 517]

[Imbue: 216]