Chapter 136 - Trying

Usually, in that situation where the infantrymen couldn't count on the cavalry, retreating and regrouping would be the wisest thing to do. However, instead of that, commander Ruvyn attacked the enemies like that was the greatest sport in the world. Zaos looked at him, trying to understand what he was thinking. Still, he only saw the old man charging toward a rider and then splitting the man and the beast with a single swing of his sword… He wasn't thinking about anything. He just wanted to cut down the enemies.

Zaos suddenly saw a big rock passing above the battlefield and then landing on a field free of soldiers. That was weird, but that made Zaos realize why they weren't retreating… They were too close to the enemy's siege weapons, and thanks to it, the mercenaries were having a hard time aiming their weapons without risking hitting their allies. Not to mention, they couldn't just move them back and or forward since that would take too much time to the obstacles around.

Suddenly, Zaos had to forget about that when he saw a rider approaching while aiming the spear toward him. Usually, that wouldn't make him worry, but that guy was planning to throw the spear. Zaos hated to admit it, but he didn't have the reflexes to dodge a projectile at that distance. Although his body couldn't keep up with that speed, his mind could. When the rider threw the spear at him, Zaos grabbed the type with his left hand. Usually, that would damage his hand so much that a few weeks without training wouldn't be enough to help. Still, then when Elius was about to give him a piece of his mind, he noticed that Zaos's hand was completely fine, just a little brown thanks to Earth magic.

Those who saw that recognized Zaos as a threat, they heard about a weird boy that could do weird things with magic, and that gave them the confirmation that they needed. In fact, the army generals had put a bounty in Zaos's head of fifty gold coins, but no one dared approach him carelessly.

This time, Zaos threw the weapon back without using magic. Still, despite that, the weapon pierced the horse and the rider when he tried to move away… it seems that Earth magic also granted him a certain boost in physical strength. Combining that kind of skill with punches and kicks might cause some serious damage… Zaos just needed to learn how to fight using those.

"I told you…" Elius said and then jumped back to dodge a rider and then sliced his left leg. "You should pace yourself."

"I am trying, sir," Zaos said. "But my body isn't obeying my mind completely."

"Yeah, right," Elius said and then noticed that the riders were retreating a little bit. "It seems that the commander finally managed to put some fear into the enemies' minds."

Although that seemed the case, the cavalry gave place to the infantry. For some reason, they looked pretty defensive and tense… probably because they knew they didn't have any chance when the cavalry failed. Despite that, the commander hesitated in charging once again. Something seemed off from his perspective and several shields before anyone could realize anything…

"Raise your shields!" Commander Ruvyn shouted.

Zaos didn't bring one, but Elius protected himself and him. A few moments later, they heard the unnerving sound of the arrows hissing through the air. Thanks to the commander's fast thinking, only a few soldiers were scratched by arrows, and the vast majority were fine. Although he wasn't exactly a genius, he sure had some sharp instincts.

Since the enemy was playing defensively, Zaos decided to put some more fear in their hearts. Before the commander could decide what to do and the second volley of arrows could land, he stepped forward. He picked the spear of a fallen enemy rider. With all his might and by using earth magic on his right arm and wind magic on the weapon, Zaos threw the weapon at the enemies. Again, few people saw the weapon flying, but they saw the results of the attack in the end. Seven enemy soldiers were impaled by the weapon and died instantly. Thanks to that, the mercenaries' side grew silent. On the other hand …

"Charge!" Commander Ruvyn shouted again.

The enemy's archers reacted to that voice, but not before the soldiers could approach the infantry. A few of them got hit by arrows. Still, the damage was minimal if compared to how much the mercenaries were suffering. The tide of the battle was completely on the commander and his soldiers' side.

"When did you become that strong?" Elius asked. "You sure don't have enough muscles to pull that off. I am not even sure the Commander can do it, and brute strength is his forte."

"The secret is magic… and the fact that it is easy to come up with ideas in the middle of a battle like this," Zaos replied.

"Easy, you say…" Elius frowned since only very cool-headed people would be able to pull that off.

Due to his family, Elius wanted to make Zaos learn from Ruvyn how to lead an army like that, but he probably won't do the same. After all, Zaos was the type who used his head, and Ruvyn used his instincts. If only Zaos could learn how to use his instincts and head at the same time, someday he truly would become one heck of a commander. It was weird for him to think so highly of a ten-year-old boy that he hated so much in the beginning…

Suddenly, the commander stopped splitting men in half when he noticed something weird behind the enemy's lines. Things were getting pretty headed up there, considering that they didn't pierce the enemy's formation that much. After a while, Ruvyn realized why things changed, and then the mercenaries suddenly began to fight more seriously, their generals finally decided to show up. Zaos saw those five, but he had eyes only for one of them, the long-haired man that cut Verkan's throat. He wanted to be the one to kill him, but it wouldn't be easy since he already had a new spear.