True King's Ecstasy

Mason POV

We retreated back to the camp after experiencing a crushing defeat by some rebels. I wanted to kill everyone just from thinking about the humiliation, I'm going to face because of them.

The crown would definitely question me, I would have to face severe punishment if I go back to the kingdom like this but, if I face their army with these shabby soldiers, I would definitely die.

I'm pretty sure, they won't give the death penalty to me in this hard time but, most probably part of my life will be confiscated.

"Damn it, why are they so strong? Aren't they supposed to be some rebels?" I couldn't help but get angry.

Norman wasn't here because he repaired after me, I wanted to hit him for giving wrong information. He said that the gate was already broken but it wasn't and the soldiers were super strong.

"Other nobles will laugh at me, This is the end for me, it's do or die right now," I thought while entering the camp which was brightened up with some fire torches.

More than half of our side was either injured or died so attacking again was just a pipe dream for us,

"Duke, what shall we do? Should we just abort the attacks and return to the capital?" One of the commanders asked from me.

We had quite a few people to command the army but now, it has been reduced to a mere one digits number.

"We won't go back, Ask them to camp here, I will come with more reinforcement, We have enough food since the numbers are small," I wasn't in my good mind otherwise, I would have noticed how absurd my orders were.

"But, Duke our morale is really low right now, people are dying here," He didn't expect me to react like that.

"Do something about it, those weak ass troops, damn it! Why did I take this campaign?" I had nothing but regrets.

"I will go back to the kingdom fast, instead of sending a messenger it would be convincing for them, If I told them what happened," I didn't want to send a messenger and mess up the whole situation with the kingdom.

It took a few hours to get ready with all the few extra soldiers who accompanied me on my way to the capital. I wouldn't have expected it was my greatest luck and misfortune at the same time, that I left the camp at that time.

Third person POV

The night sky arrived bringing the silence to nature. It was a soothing night from the outside but, few people were hiding near the bushes and trees of the camp of Rapidclaw kingdom.

In a moment, this soothing nature will turn into the crying and agony of the soldiers of the kingdom. Most of them were resting as they got injured by arrows or by sword fights.

They expected to retreat but, if they retreat under a condition like this, they will most probably be punished by the kingdom. Even the soldiers and commanders of the army knew about it but still, they were afraid for their lives.

"Did you hear something?" One of the soldiers who were on guarding duty asked.

"What? Maybe you're sleepy," Another one answered him with his bored look.

"I heard something, might be my imagination," He convinced himself that it was his imagination.

They couldn't finish their sentences as both of them got knocked out by someone.

"Velian, These two are knocked out, what should we do now?" Juno was the one to question the person who was wearing neck-tight black clothe with a beautiful-looking dagger.

"Tie them with something, we won't kill everyone, we can use them as labour," Velian ordered her before going inside the camp.

Juno quickly understood his orders and took a small rope to bind them. It wasn't the strongest thing to use but it was durable enough to tie two people together.

Velian infiltrated their base with thirty more people, at first, he didn't want to bring Juno because her fighting style was too flashy but then, she promised not to rush into the enemy base.

Except for Juno, Naomi was the one who is mainly commanding this stealth attack because she was very familiar with works like this. Remi wanted to come but, she wasn't allowed by Velian due to her injuries.

"Naomi, search for the duke and Norman, I will keep soldiers occupied, don't let them escape," Velian was like a one many army, so he was confident in beating these low-ranked soldiers without any effort.

Velian entered the camp from the front door gaming the attention of the soldiers while Naomi and others searched for Mason in every place, he could possibly be.

"Stop it, who are you? This place is under the govern of Rapidclaw kingdom right now, turn back or we will attack," Commander shouted at Velian who obviously ignored him.

Soldiers started to gather with their weapons to defeat the strangers but, they didn't expect him to be the one to attack,

"Kneel and drop your weapons," Velian used his unique skill on them,

"Ugh~" Everyone felt a crushing pressure on their body right after he said those words.

"Damn it, who are you?" He wanted to run back to the kingdom, because, from the moment they got here, they have been facing nothing but misfortunes.

"Not your business, if you tell me where's you commander, I will let you live," Velian wasn't going to kill them, he just wanted to intimidate them and obtain some information.

"I don't know, are you from the rebel group? You will regret doing this to us," Commander in charge of them didn't stop ranting against him.

"Tsk~ I told you didn't I? Don't ask unwanted questions, If you can't tell me just shut up," Velian increased his pressure on the commander. He started coughing blood feeling his body getting heavier and heavier.

"I will give you people a few seconds if you don't tell me where your commander is, I will increase this pressure you feel, don't blame me if you die," Velian said while pointing his fingers at the commander, who was continuously coughing blood.

"Don't kill us, we will tell," Unlike their battalion commander, soldiers didn't want to experience such a cruel thing so they explained to him how Duke went back to the kingdom to bring reinforcement.

Velian didn't expect him to go back in person,

"Where's Norman?" Velian questioned the kneeling soldiers.

"We don't know, he must be with head commanders, we are just soldiers," All of them were looking rather pitiful, some had injuries on their bodies already from the previous battle.

Velian asked some of his warriors to tie them up and he went to meet Naomi,

"Naomi, did you find him?" Velian wanted to confirm the soldier's words because he didn't believe them.

"Master, they are nowhere to be seen but, we spotted Norman's tent, he is with some other powerful individuals but, we can beat them," Naomi said looking at him.

"Let's just finish this quickly, Duke is not here, he had already gone back to the capital, It's something unexpected," Velian said before following Naomi to their destination.