Chapter 101
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Chapter 101: Soldiers and Adventurers
Forceful charge.
A single crisp command instantly tipped the scales on the battlefield, starkly revealing the divide between soldiers and adventurers.
Soldiers exist to claim victory.
Years of training for one decisive moment—every preparation serves to seize triumph in battle. A true elite force would pay any cost to achieve this.
When Midi ordered the "forceful charge," they carved out an advantage through sheer will, despite having none. Dozens fell instantly under white sticks, marked as "dead," yet in that same breath, they shattered the enemy’s entire setup.
Such were soldiers.
Iron fists clenched tight.
Blades thirsting for blood.
Adventurers differed. Victory wasn’t their aim—strength was, and strength meant survival. To live was to have a future.
Patience and caution served them well in adventures, but on smoke-choked battlefields, such traits became weaknesses. Faced with brutal assaults or life-or-death exchanges, they fled instinctively.
Even in this risk-free test, the elite Mountain Wolf retreated. What would happen in real war?
Kelvin’s face darkened. As both leader and adventurer, he couldn’t grasp the flaw. He kept giving weak orders, powerless to shift the tide.
Midi saw the truth in one strike.
These adventurers only thrived in favorable winds. Adversity made them crumble.
"Then let’s add pressure," Midi muttered.
If they avoided hardship, how would they fare when cornered with no escape?
His command flag swung again, relaying a sharper order:
Hold formation. Advance. Destroy.
The black military formation shifted. From their iron wall defense emerged fangs and claws—a ravenous beast tearing through white-clad adventurers. Those marked by its gaze found no escape. Dozens of black sticks struck from all angles, branding high-level adventurers with dark bruises.
Kelvin’s pride withered as he watched his elite team dismantled publicly. Tactics mattered little now—squads stood isolated, commands ignored, counterattacks impossible.
Was Mountain Wolf truly this feeble?
His veteran comrades—steadfast through countless crises—now stared at the black formation like clueless rookies, unsure how to attack.
It reminded Kelvin of their humiliation by the Blood Blade Thieves Guild’s army-like tactics. Back then, he’d blamed numbers and surprise, never doubting his own leadership or Mountain Wolf’s prowess.
Yet here stood Midi’s hundred-man team—mere level 25 veterans—routing his forces.
Were adventurers doomed to lose against armies?
No. Even beasts fight when cornered.
Kelvin ground his teeth and roared across the field: "Fight! Smash through! Charge!"
The shout—less an order than a primal cry—ignited Mountain Wolf Mercenary Group’s counterattack.
Without any formation or tactics, and not expecting victory, they aimed to show their fighting spirit in the end—to prove the Mountain Wolf Mercenary Group was no bunch of cowards!
Driven by this resolve, the adventurers charged wildly.
Colorful bullets desperately sprayed from gun and cannon barrels. Though forbidden from lethal magic, magicians unleashed endless ice and lightning spells to hinder the enemy. Many adventurers even leaped into the dark military formation, brawling recklessly.
Chaos erupted instantly. The disciplined soldiers became separated in the turmoil, forced into one-on-one fights against higher-level adventurers. One by one, they fell—after all, even elite level 25 soldiers couldn’t match adventurers in individual combat.
Victory through chaos?
Kelvin’s eyes widened. He’d given up hope, yet this disorder unexpectedly created an opening.
Could Midi still command in such pandemonium? Would the Mountain Wolf actually win through sheer recklessness?
Excitement rippled through the stands. Could they defeat the genius commander Midi Asreks?
For a heartbeat, that question flickered in countless minds—before being crushed by reality.
How could seasoned Midi be unprepared? Even cornered goblins or Cat Demons fight desperately. The Mountain Wolf’s counterattack was precisely what he’d anticipated. His “annihilate” order had been meant to test their limits.
Their resistance gave Midi slight inspiration for building his Hawk Brigade, but nothing more.
Though chaos reigned initially, the veterans swiftly split into teams, shaking off adventurers to reform their ranks—this time encircling the enemy.
Trapped at the center with no retreat, the reckless adventurers fell systematically under coordinated attacks until none remained.
Midi’s two hundred-man team still had fifty soldiers standing.
The Mountain Wolf suffered crushing defeat—yet still joined the Hawk Brigade.
Losing to Midi Asreks, destroyer of the Crimson Flame Legion, wasn’t shameful. Among mercenary corps, only Mountain Wolf had shown real cooperative potential. After this, none doubted their qualifications.
“You’ve never formally studied military theory or unit command,” Midi told Kelvin post-battle. “Your men follow orders through instinct, not training.”
Kelvin smiled bitterly. “Those books aren’t for commoners. We learned tactics through survival, not practice drills.”
“That changes now,” Midi nodded. “As Hawk Brigade members, you’ll get proper training and knowledge.”
Kelvin’s eyes shone as he vowed, “We won’t disappoint you!”
Watching him leave, Midi sighed. “Their biggest weakness remains—adventurers lack soldiers’ willingness to die.”
“That’s not a weakness,” Fina countered, her gemlike eyes gleaming. “They fear death because Eagle’s Nest isn’t yet their home. Once it becomes their sanctuary, they’ll fight like demons.”
Midi smiled at her conviction—until the Queen of Magic cleared her throat. “Surely you brought more back from your month away than just recruits?”
“Fina’s nearly bankrupted your estate,” Alice added coldly. “You’d better have worthwhile spoils.”
“Alice!” Fina glared, murderous.
As the girls squared off, Midi cut in confidently: “What I’ve obtained will astound you. Wealth? Materials? Ancient knowledge? All in abundance. But first—” He gestured to a grizzled man. “Meet Master Artisan Norton.”
The joining test had ended.
The true division of spoils was just beginning.
