Infinite Lives

Bryan sat at the head of the council table in the throne room, his head resting on his hand.

They may have useful information; we will see…

The panting scout caught his breath then spoke, “As they got closer, to our best count, the coalition army is around thirty-five thousand soldiers”

Fredrich thanked the scout, who then made his way out of the room.

“Fredrich, have we hired any mercenaries or prepared for a long siege?” Darius asked.

“Been reading some military tactics books, have you, Darius?” Yarek said before chuckling.

Fredrich rubbed his forehead, then responded, “Be serious, please, the king is here, and we could all die”

Yarek gestured with his hands and responded, “That is why I am joking. If I’m going out… I am doing so laughing, plus King Bryan doesn’t seem to mind”

Whether people laugh or not makes no difference…

Bryan shrugged, and then Fredrich spoke again, “We have three thousand troops, we have not been to war in a long time, and the demons never attacked here. So our garrison is not really fit for this”

Fredrich looked expectantly at Bryan, who yawned.

“The king said hiring mercenaries would be wasteful,” Fredrich stated to the table.

Darius scratched his head, then spoke, “So, we intend a siege then?”

Bryan responded, “No, we will be ending this quickly”

Yarek nodded, then spoke, “Ok, so you do have a plan?... want to enlighten us?”

“I will be handling it,” Bryan stated dryly.

Yarek sighed, then spoke, “Guess we will have to wait and find out”

I did answer… inefficient to repeat myself.

Fredrich spoke, “Sire, I think the others would appreciate it if you elaborated on the plan”

Bryan leaned back in his chair, then spoke, “Preparations have been completed; the last information I needed was when and where… Does anyone else have anything related to tell me?”

Those at the table looked at each other awkwardly for a moment or two before Bryan spoke again.

“Ok, Mirelle, keep your supplies ready just in case and have potions delivered to me as soon as possible. Kaelor, Darius and Fredrich, I’m going to the wall; join me.” With that, Bryan stood up.

Darius spoke, “Sire, we are outnumbered more than ten to one.”

“I’m aware,” Bryan said before walking to the door and opening it.

Making his way through the palace, Bryan noted the various workers cleaning, walking by with supplies and guards waiting by doors.

As he walked, four guards followed as Darius, Fredrich and Lord Kaelor caught up.

Fredrich muttered, “The others were not pleased”

Darius responded, “I mean, it’s not like we know anymore… hopefully he tells us at the wall”

I already said my plan…

They exited the palace and into the noble district to the sound of the bells ringing, Many well-dressed people then making their way into their homes.

The streets quickly emptied until it was only Bryan and the others walking.

The bell is likely a war/attack bell…

Walking through the gate into the market district, which was much busier. Merchants were putting boards over windows and townspeople buying things before quickly leaving.

They made their way up the stairs and onto the wall looking to the east of the city.

Bryan walked up to the edge and looked out on the large empty field ahead.

Mostly grass, the farmer’s fields were collected early… lowers the yield but prevents total loss… acceptable.

As Fredrich tried to speak, Bryan raised a hand to stop him.

Bryan stood for a few minutes thinking.

The range test proved I can’t be on the wall… will need to be in the field.

“Kaelor, I would recommend all spare orbs be used to strengthen the city wall’s shield,” Bryan stated after turning around.

Lord Kaelor bowed and rushed back down the stairs. Darius walked up to Bryan.

“So where do you want the army, Sire?” Darius asked.

Bryan shook his head, then spoke, “The army will remain within the walls”

Darius’s face scrunched up before he spoke, “But, Sire, you said we were not preparing for a siege?”

I will be more blunt…

“We are not; I will be going out onto the field myself,” Bryan stated.

Darius squinted at him, then spoke, “So you want a battalion with you or just the royal guard?”

“Neither, I am going alone,” Bryan said before turning back and looking out at the field.

“You can’t be serious. I know you are strong, but that is insane,” Darius exclaimed.

Fredrich turned to him after thinking a moment and spoke, “Since being in his majesty’s employ, I’ve never seen him make an irrational decision”

“Well, not after seeing the outcome…” Fredrich said, scratching his head

Fredrich paused another moment, then continued, “Whatever he is doing, we should trust he has a plan”

Darius flailed his hands before saying, “So we are going to let our king go out and face an army alone?”

Fredrich looked at Bryan, then spoke, “I don’t think we could stop him if we wanted”

Darius went to protest but stopped himself, then sighed before replying, “Yeah, you’re not wrong.”

They stood for another hour before three men with boxes came up the stairs and placed them down at Bryan’s feet.

Ah yes my Mana and Health potions.

Bryan took twenty Mana potions and ten Health potions and placed them in the satchel on his side; they disappeared into his Item Box.

Darius spoke, “Sire, very nice bag. Did you get that after becoming king?”

“Nope, made it myself,” He stated to Darius before turning to the men who carried the potions.

“Bring the rest to the adventurers guild” Bryan said to the men.

Darius squinted at him, then spoke, “I shouldn’t be surprised about the item box; don’t you need the potions?”

Bryan shook his head, then replied, “No, more would be wasteful.”

A scout ran up to them, “They have reached the eastern plain… they will be just over an hour.”

Fredrich then sent him to fetch the others.

Waiting forty minutes, the rest of the council joined them on the wall.

“Sire, the wall has all the spare orbs strengthening it,” Lord Kaelor said panting.

Bryan nodded at him, then said, “Good, we are ready.”

They waited a while longer; they saw banners crest over the hill in the distance accompanied by rhythmic drumming.

Hmm, they use drums to attempt to intimidate… curious.

“Ok, I’m going out to get in position,” Bryan stated

Darius furrowed his brow, then spoke, “Are you sure you don’t want anyone joining you?”

Bryan looked up and down himself, tugging on the straps of his armour, making sure it was on tightly.

“Yes,” he stated before turning and walking down the stairs.

He stepped onto the street, eyes peering from in between the boards on the windows of the shops.

I will get in position and wait.

Bryan calmly walked up to the gate, nodding at the guards who began raising the large metal portcullis.

Once it was up, they pushed open the large wooden doors, and Bryan walked through onto the road.

While walking towards the field, Bryan took out various Mana potions from his bag and placed them in holders on his belt.

Once he was roughly four hundred meters from the gate, he stopped on the grass.

Looking back, Fredrich and the others could be seen watching from the wall.

Now to wait…

The army ahead of him approached slowly, marching with the rhythmic drums setting the tempo, tens of thousands now visible.

Bryan just stood still and watched them with his sword sheathed.

Five Minutes later, the army came to a stop, and everything was still for several moments.

A single horse rider broke from the formation and rode towards Bryan.

Not close enough yet.

The rider came to a stop five meters from Bryan.

“King Bryan?... Where is your army?” the man asked.

“Inside the walls of the city,” Bryan stated flatly.

The man contemplated for a moment.

“So you wish to surrender?”

Bryan shook his head, then spoke, “No, we will fight”

The man looked over at the people on the wall and around for a moment, before looking back at his people.

The man then scratched his head and squinted before speaking, “Silvergate had better not use this as an excuse to pretend this was an uncivilised war.”

Bryan yawned, and then spoke, “Go back to your people then”

I will need a nap later.

The man flailed his hands before turning, whipping the reins of the horse and rushing back to the army.

Enhance senses.

Once the man had ridden back to the army and conveyed what had been said, Bryan overheard them.

“This is nonsense; expect a hidden army… send in one battalion cautiously”

Soon, best dispel Enhance Senses.

A battalion of two thousand men began slowly marching towards Bryan.

Bryan closed his eyes and reached out with Detect, searching for the orbs.

Five more meters…

The battalion kept pushing forward.

Just one of them, activate.

Moments later, the ground below the battalion erupted, and a blinding light filled the sky.

Bubble shield.

A large mushroom of smoke plumed into the sky, and dust and debris covered the battlefield after the shockwave of air blew past Bryan.

Once the dust and smoke had cleared, a seventy-meter crater with scattered soldiers was on the field.

Enhance senses.

“We should retreat now!”… one man shouted.

“Soldier, you will do as ordered, or I will kill you myself…we are not losing to one spell… We all march now!” another responded.

“Mages, put up shields!”

One wasn’t enough to break their will …Dispel.

The whole army began marching towards Bryan and the city.

Detect… over fifty orb holes remain… twenty-five will do.

While Bryan waited, a barrage of arrows rained down, bouncing off his shield, littering the ground around him.

They are in range…Activate.

Twenty-five holes spread across the field opened as huge explosions lit up the sky; nothing but blinding light could be seen.

Once the smoke and dust had cleared, dozens of men clambered over their fallen soldiers, running to the east as fast as they could.

The large field was now covered in giant craters.

Five horsemen still on their steeds barrelled at full speed towards Bryan, despite the retreat.

Bryan chugged two Mana potions from his belt.

When they were twenty meters away, Bryan shouted to them.

“The fight seems over… why not retreat with the others?”

One shouted back, “You are just one man; if we kill you, it’s over!”

Highly illogical move.

Physical Enhancement.

Once the first was closing in, Bryan unsheathed his sword and jumped using Air Bolt to go higher.

Level with the rider, he swung his blade through the gap at his neck. Bryan landed briefly, only to jump again.

Using Air Bolt, he sliced the throat of each of the riders in quick succession. Once he landed, he turned around to see the riders fall off the horses and slump to the ground clutching their throats.

Bryan sighed and thought.

I should collect the remaining orbs.

Walking through the field, Bryan stepped over many bodies.

He got to an intact area of grass with a man crawling, holding his side.

“Please, don’t kill me… I have a family!” the man shouted, holding his hands over his head.

Bryan rummaged through his bag and pulled out a shovel; the man cowered as he raised it.

He stuck it into the ground and dug a small hole until he uncovered the orbs, which he put in his bag.

Bryan pulled out a health potion and handed it to the cowering man.

“You should go home; the war is over”

Twenty-seven more to dig up…

The man just stared at him, and Bryan walked off to the next spot.

Once he had dug up the remainder of the orbs and handed out more potions, Bryan began walking back to the city.

As Bryan approached the gate, he stopped outside it for a moment and gestured to the guards above who just stared.

Why are they not moving…

He gestured again. A guard shook his head, seemingly snapping back to reality, and began raising the portcullis. Once it was fully raised, the heavy wooden doors were pushed open.

Bryan walked into an empty street, eyes still peering at him. Some doors creaked open, and some people emerged looking confused.

Turning around, Bryan looked at Fredrich, whose mouth was agape.

I don’t understand what is happening…

Fredrich composed himself, stepped forward, pressed a metal box to his throat and began speaking inhumanly loud.

“The king has won!…”

He paused a moment before continuing.

“The war is over!”

Well, yes, I thought that was obvious…

More people creaked open doors and timidly piled out into the streets. Once they had filled them, the people stood staring at Bryan for a moment, muttering.

“Wait, it’s actually over?”

“He did it alone?”

“Well, he is the Demon Slayer”

After a short while, one man began clapping.

Shortly after, another joined in, and another.

The clapping spread through the crowd along with cheering until the crowd was in an uproar.

“We have the strongest king right!”

Will need to meet the others in the throne room…

Bryan gestured at Fredrich and the others on the wall to follow; he then turned and began walking towards the noble district.

The guards nodded and smiled as he passed. By the time he reached the gate to the noble district, Fredrich and the others had caught up.

Before Fredrich could speak, Bryan held up a hand and spoke, “We will discuss once in the throne room. I want an ale”

They walked through the noble district, the nobles whispering to each other before performing a restrained clap as he walked past.

After reaching the palace, they entered the throne room and sat around the table, Bryan immediately gesturing to Clara to get an ale.

The others sat and silently waited for her to return and hand it to him. He took a sip, then placed it in front of him.

Should have some stew later too…

Bryan took a deep breath, then spoke, “The council will be disbanded; you can return to your regular jobs, Kaelor. Stay a moment.”

Yarek spoke up, “So you are not going to explain what in the hells that was?”

Bryan tilted his head at Yarek, then spoke, “I used magical engineering to win the war as quickly as possible”

Those around the table stared at him for several moments.

Why are they still here?

Bryan spoke again, “You may leave; we have other business to attend to”

They mumbled to each other before Fredrich spoke, “I will send you all a full report once it is compiled”

Yarek grumbled but stood with the others and shuffled out of the room.

Bryan grabbed his ale, stood and went to sit in the throne instead as the servants began moving the chairs and table sections away.

Lord Kaelor approached the throne and spoke, “Sire, what do you require of me?”

Bryan reached into his bag and pulled out one of the orbs, then spoke,

“I have 56 of these orbs that you can put to good use; all are fully charged”

Kaelor took the one offered and examined it before speaking,

“Sire, may I ask how you managed that…I know you said magical engineering, but didn’t you just learn about that?”

Bryan swigged his ale then replied, “It was simple; I placed two fully charged orbs in the ground, with a tablet I etched using a similar trigger to your shields, set to activate a Rank Ten Fire Bolt each”

Kaelor stood a moment thinking, then spoke, “You devised a custom trigger…somehow charged these beyond anything I’ve seen…”

Kaelor quietly muttered to himself, “Ah, he already knew the engineering…. He was testing my knowledge”

Bowing, Kaelor then spoke loudly again, “Sire, that was a genius use of it. May I keep an orb and the etching you made to study?”

Sure, it may yield positive results…

Bryan nodded then spoke, “Yes, but use the others to improve the shield or for teaching”

Kaelor had a big smile as he bowed deeply after taking the etching handed to him, before he hurried towards the door of the throne room.

“I will send some students to collect the rest, Sire,” Kaelor said before he opened the door and left.

Bryan leaned back in his throne, drinking more ale as Fredrich approached.

Ok, what else needs doing.

“May I say well done, Sire? That was a very impressive display,” Fredrich said.

“It was the most efficient way to do it,” Bryan stated dryly.

“Indeed, Sire. We should hold a fighting tournament to commemorate the victory,” Fredrich stated, smiling.

How would that help?

“I am unsure. What good would that do?” Bryan asked.

Fredrich smiled then replied, “The people feared for their lives; this allows us to usher in the new peace while allowing them to unwind and celebrate”

Bryan tilted his head at Fredrich.

Fredrich spoke again, “It would improve morale and productivity?”

Bryan shrugged, then replied, “Ok, we will do it”

Smiling Fredrich began scribbling on paper in his hands while speaking, “The training arena would likely make a good venue. I will put the word out that we can hold it in three weeks”

Hopefully it isn’t a waste of time.