Chapter 224 For You

"I must be at the front of the army to inspire and rally my troops," I said, "But these mindless minions don't require my presence to fight. They will follow orders and do as they're told, whether I am at the front or at the rear."

"I still think it's important for you to lead from the front," she replied.

"No, I disagree. These minions are easily replaced, but I am not. If anything were to happen to me, there is no way to replicate my skills and abilities. It is safer for me to stay at the back and let my minions handle the battle. People don't ask a victorious leader how they won; they simply remember the victory. That's all that matters, my lady," I explained.

She nodded in understanding, and we continued on our journey. The village we were headed towards was located a few hours away from my city. When we arrived, we found a large wall enclosing the town. However, as the intelligence variant minion had informed me, the wall was not particularly tall.

As the army approached, the villagers spotted us from a distance and ran inside, shutting the door behind them. A group of archers positioned themselves on the wall, ready to defend the town. I had something different in mind, however. We stopped a short distance from the village and waited.

Throughout the journey, the intelligence variant minion stayed by my side. I considered sending him to negotiate with the villagers. I did not want to kill for sport, but I needed the resources the village had to offer. If the villagers accepted me as their king and swore loyalty, I would bring them to the city and they could live happily under my protection and that of my minions.

I explained these terms to the intelligence variant and instructed him on how to convey the message to the villagers. He went to the village and the archers allowed him to approach. He had a brief conversation with one of the archers and was granted entry into the town.

I was not planning an attack at the moment but rather hoped for a peaceful resolution through negotiation. I did not want to resort to violence if it could be avoided. After a while, the intelligence variant returned from the village. He walked over to me and reported on the conversation he had with the villagers.

Well, I did consider enslaving them.

Some proper humans in my city would be beneficial.

The people of the village were not willing to surrender. They told him that they would fight to the death if necessary, rather than give up their freedom. They refused to pay taxes or bow to any king and were determined to protect their independence with their lives.

It sounds like the leader of the army is considering negotiating with the villagers rather than attacking them. They hope to reach an agreement that would allow the villagers to live happily under the protection of the leader's city, but the villagers are determined to maintain their independence and are prepared to fight to protect it. The intelligence minion was sent to negotiate, but the villagers are not willing to surrender or submit to the leader's rule.

*

As we approached the village, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. The sun was high in the sky, beating down on us with merciless intensity. Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes as it mixed with the salty tears of anger and frustration. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and the sound of clashing metal.

Chloe looked at me with a mixture of concern and determination. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she shouted above the din.

I nodded grimly. "They've left us with no other choice. If death is what they want, then death is what they'll get."

We rode to the front of our ranks, where the archers were readying their bows. Behind them stood the magic minions, their eyes glowing with otherworldly power. I called on the intelligence warrior to gauge the range of the enemy archers, and he pointed to a spot on the battlefield.

The brute force warrior minions took their positions behind the magic minions, while the warrior and swordsmanship minions brought up the rear. I gave my troops a rousing speech, promising victory and glory, and then returned to Chloe's side. Ten warrior minions stayed with us as we waited for the signal to attack.

The brute force warrior minions fell in behind the magic minions, with the warrior and swordsmanship minions bringing up the rear. Once my forces were assembled, I laid out my plan of attack and returned to where Chloe waited on her horse, flanked by ten warrior minions.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked her.

She nodded, her eyes determined. "I am. Let's do this."

As we advanced on the village, the archers on the walls let their arrows fly. But they fell short of their mark, and it was our turn to strike. The archer minions unleashed a hail of arrows, while the magic minions summoned a gale to sweep over the enemy. The winds grew stronger with each passing moment until the archers on the walls struggled to stay upright. My troops marched forward, undeterred by the tempest they had conjured. The enemy arrows fell harmlessly to the ground as we closed in for the kill.

The village was a small, rundown collection of huts and shacks nestled in a valley between two rolling hills. Smoke rose from the chimneys, mixing with the haze of dust kicked up by the tramping of feet and the pounding of hooves. The villagers scurried about like ants, their faces etched with fear as they prepared for the impending attack. The gates of the village were made of rough-hewn wood, reinforced with iron bars. They were open now, as the defenders frantically tried to hold back the tide of attackers. But it was a futile effort. They were outnumbered and outgunned, and they knew it.