Luc and others remained frozen in place after several seconds of Caleb flying away. The high-tiered exchange they just ’witnessed’ was beyond their ans.
With the fort destroyed and the mountain pass mostly sealed off from the flowing lava, they could only return to their land.
"Luc..." One of the n called. "We need to go find the Commanders."
"Right," Luc was pulled out of his thoughts, turning to face the hundreds of n awaiting instructions.
"We’ll be splitting into our squads to go find the commander and the vice-commanders. Anyone who finds them should contact imdiately."
"Yes!"
Soon, the n were breaking into their squads and running off in search of their leaders.
The night was still going strong. However, there would be no rest for anyone. Things had taken a bad turn for the Growian forces.
For the squads being led towards the newly unearthed dungeon, they were unaware of what had truly transpired, as they only caught glimpses of loud explosions in the skies.
Luc and the other leaders took it upon themselves to go there and inform the person in charge to halt the dungeon exploring.
The dungeons could wait. What the Growian forces needed right now was to go back to the drawing board.
***
Three hours later.
Luc and the other leaders, now waiting around the dungeon’s vicinity, received word that the commanders had been found.
However, things were not looking so good for the commanders. In fact, they might as well not be the people they once knew.
"What do you an?" Luc asked as he furrowed his brows.
"It’s best if you co to see for yourself, air." The informant replied, swallowing nervously.
"..."
The man’s ominous words made Luc look towards his fellow leaders. They all had confused expressions, not sure what to make of those words.
"Lead the way," Luc turned to the subordinate and ordered.
"Yes."
***
The journey to where the commanders were found took a little over half an hour, despite running at high speeds. Caleb did not hold back on his power, as he flung the commanders over several kilotres from the borders.
When the squad leaders arrived at the location, they saw three distinct craters with long trenches, each about ten ters away from the other.
A few tens of ters to the side was a tent set up for the injured commanders, or at least what Luc and the other squad leaders thought.
Making their way over to the tent, the n stepped aside to make room for them. Arriving before the tent door, Luc took a mont to gather his nerves. The looks on the faces of the n were more than enough for Luc and his companions to imagine the worst.
Pushing the tent door to the side, Luc and the others were welcod to a sight that froze them in place for several seconds. They couldn’t believe what they saw.
"C-Commander...?" Luc muttered, almost in a daze.
Before Luc were four old n with wrinkled skin and greyed hair. There was barely any energy signature around them — the four n looked like fragile old people!
Had Luc not known them for as long as he did, he wouldn’t have believed they were the sa people. ’H-how is this possible?!’
As soon as the question ca to mind, he quickly recalled the reports they had on Caleb Zane. That man had suddenly risen to prominence when he supposedly turned so goons into old n and crippled a noble.
’Is this the sa thing...?’ Luc swallowed the lump in his throat. ’This is unreal...’
"Ah, Luc..." Malrik slowly shifted his head and called. He barely had the energy to sit up, as he and his vice-commanders were lying on mats laid out for them.
"T-This can’t be happening..." Another squad leader beside Luc couldn’t help but take a step back, fear gripping his heart. "Is this so kind of demonic magic...?"
Luc would be lying if he said he didn’t wonder the sa. However, the sa reports they had on Caleb ntioned that the man had no relations whatsoever with demons.
As a matter of fact, he was the one who single-handedly defeated the demon generals who invaded the Luntheria Kingdom. ’Since when did that small kingdom have a freak like that?!’
"It is unfortunate..." Malrik replied with a tired sigh. "We grossly underestimated that man. He’s nothing like us. He’s ... he’s..."
"He’s a monster..." one of the vice-commanders continued. "His Majesty’s plans have to be pushed back. With that man defending the Luntherians, all our efforts would be for nought. I can’t imagine the chaos he would unleash if he ever visits us."
"..."
The tent went silent as everyone mulled over those words. They still had forces hidden within the Luntheria Kingdom who were awaiting the order for their missions.
Now, it would be best to call them back. They would have to scrap the entire plan and start over from scratch.
"You’re saying all these months, resources and tears we shed are in vain?" A squad leader gritted his teeth in frustration, unwillingness in his eyes. "We busted our asses to clear the new dungeons, exponentially increasing our power. Yet this is what it all amounted to?!"
Malrik and the vice-commanders could only release helpless sighs. They didn’t know what Caleb did to them, or if it could be reversed. What they did know, however, was that they wouldn’t be leading any military campaigns again — they were done.
"I am truly sorry for what has befallen us, but we can’t afford to break now."
Malrik sat up, his gaze taking a serious turn. Despite his current looks and how weak he felt, he still carried a lot of authority.
"The Growian Kingdom is still the strongest power on this continent, and we will claim it." His words roused the spirits of the n gathered. "That man is but a roadblock on our path to greatness. No one ever said our mission would be easy.
"My deputies and I may no longer be capable, but it does not an we give up. You do not give up, you hear ?! I don’t want to see any of you breaking down, so stand firm and do what needs to be done. This fight is not over... We will be victorious."
"Yes, commander."
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