Travel The Distance

Chapter 40

Destructive explosions littered the ground in the far distance. Even from high up in the tower on the other side of the Kingdom, I could hear the screams of pain and surprise as our enemies were blown sky-high. I had to strain my ears to hear them, and even then it was faint. Eijiro must have been able to hear them too because he wore a grim mask of resolution, his eyes twinkled ever so slightly with muted satisfaction. I couldn't blame him.

"The people posted at point one should be moving in now," I muttered to nobody but myself. I withdrew a telescope from my waist and held it up to my eye so that I could see the scene on the ground a bit better. Even with enhanced eyesight, I couldn't see to the opposite side of the Kingdom clearly, even if it was rather small.

Smoke filled the air from the explosions; thick black plumes filled the dawn sky, masking the presence of Hitoshi, Hanta, Itsuka and the troops as they snuck through the thick screen to confront the enemy.

"The first group is about to make contact with the enemy," I whispered. Just as I had predicted, I picked up the sound of war cries and the almost silent clash of weapons from the fringe of the forest. The voices were indistinguishable, and the smoke now obscured my vision, so I had no way of knowing who was winning, but I held hope for my people.

"When do we head down to fight?" Shoto asked. His hand rested on the pommel of his sword, to any other person it may simply look like he was casually resting his hand, but the spark of violence in his eyes and the way his other hand was clenched into a fist, making his knuckles white, said otherwise.

"We have to wait for Hanta's signal," Eijiro grumbled through clenched teeth, "When Hanta gives the signal, we head down and the next group starts to advance. I really don't want to stay here much longer, but we need to stick to the plan." Shoto could do nothing but nod grimly. As much as I wanted to reassure the two of them that they would get their taste of blood soon enough, I couldn't take my eyes from the battlefield for a single second lest I miss something important.

I wasn't only observing the battle, I was also keeping an eye out for sneak attacks. I didn't trust the battle to be straightforward. Nothing was ever that easy. The enemy could pop up out of nowhere. Whether that be in the middle of our ranks through some sort of magic, or from behind, ready to crush us between their two forces. I didn't want to risk anything.

Possibly ten minutes passed with the clash of swords sounding in the distance. The time frame which passed did nothing to ease the nervousness brewing in my stomach. It seemed as though Eijiro and Shoto were also on edge. Shoto paced behind Eijiro and me, it must have been tough for him, given he could neither hear nor see anything which was happening on the other side of the Kingdom. Eijiro simply stared out into the distance, a deep look of concentration on his face as he tried his hardest to hear every clash of swords in the distance.

Finally, after ten minutes which felt like an eternity, Hanta's signal echoed through the Kingdom. The unmistakable bellow of a furious dragon ripped through the air. The roar would make anyone opposing Hanta shake in their boots and shit their pants. It was terrifying, and yet made me grin widely in response.

I looked through my telescope to see that Kyoka and Tokoyami were advancing with their unit, a host of dark spirits accompanying them. Kyoka's lavender and violet scales flashed in the low morning light as she advanced at the head of her unit. I could just make out her small horns jutting from her skull as she advanced with anger and determination written in every one of her facial features. Beside her, Tokyami practically glided across the ground. Darkness flowed off of him in waves, just looking at him, I could feel the low temperature that surrounded him. Dark Shadow, and entity that usually resided on Fumikage's shoulder, was now floating beside their master. They were a terrifying sight to behold. Their entire body was so dark it consumed light. Their eyes glowed a sinister red that would strike fear into the souls of even the most aloof and fearless of people. They were formless, constantly fluctuating in shape, though they were always large and imposing. The second unit was on its way to the frontlines, and it was time for Eijiro, Shoto and I to follow.