UNIT-556: Wolf Pack - Taking The Path As A New Ruler In The Another World -

Chapter 6: Conscription and Fortification

=Third P.O.V=

It was an early morning in Ontoria, two days after the tragedy of the dungeon, which caused numerous casualties among adventurers and guardsmen. A young boy began to scream loudly, bringing news to the townsfolk.

"EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!!! THE LORD OF ONTORIA HAS ANNOUNCED AN URGENT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN THE RANKS IN DEFENDING OUR TOWN FROM A STAMPEDE IN 5 WEEKS!!! EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!!" The loud yell from the young lad grabbed the attention of the townsfolk, who gathered to receive pamphlets stating that Ontoria was open to volunteers to join the militia, alongside adventurers and guardsmen. Those who participated would receive 5 gold coins, enough to feed an entire family for 3 months, as well as free meals during work and training.

Upon hearing the announcement, the men in the town quickly went to the guild, where clerks began to process the applicants. They were then assisted by guardsmen to board 20 carriages headed to the garrison fort.

A total of 970 recruits formed a rectangle shape, receiving a briefing for a few minutes before heading to the training boot camp to learn marksmanship, swordsmanship, coordination, and logistical strategy in a short amount of time.

Some of them joined in the defensive fortification development with the adventurers and guardsmen, building trenches, pitfalls, and designated locations for rapid guns and mana mortars.

The rapid sentry was a three-burst automatic stationary gun powered by magic crystals, producing projectiles with an effective range of 300 meters. An operator could fire only 12 shots before letting it cool for about 4 minutes, as it was an air-cooled heavy defensive weapon.

The mana mortar was a stationary magic weapon that required three men to operate: a spotter, a triggerman, and a mage to refill and regulate the mana flow of weaponized crystals. It had a parabolic arc and delivered high impact on hostiles with an explosive radius of 6 meters.

The logistical strategy for defensive positions aimed to slow down the enemy wave while eliminating them with long-range attacks for maximum efficiency with minimal risk. Spears and swords could be used when necessary. Trenches were formed in three layers: one for the frontline, one for supplies and mortars in the middle, and the third for platoon commander stations, medical assistance, and a rally point for the reserve force in the town.

They also made strategic points to counter potential flanking maneuvers by monsters influenced by the stampedes. Those unaffected by the phenomena turned into their nutrients, becoming stronger and more resilient by devouring other creatures.

Many scouts were also creating traps within the forest as instructed by the commanders.

"You sure this will work?" One of the scouts asked his comrades while covering a pit full of spikes with twigs, dirt, and leaves to camouflage the booby traps.

"They said it was planned by someone summoned by the lord. The lord demanded the creation of traps like these, which were not the idea of a noble or guardsman," one man replied.

"How can you say that?" The same guy asked.

"Some of these traps were utilized by us hunters to hunt wild boars, but the way they were laid out, with the help of the hunters, indicated they were taught by someone with combat experience, not just for hunting," the hunter answered calmly yet expertly. Hunters knew the difference between making traps for wild game and traps for combat.

Who laid out this tactic? One of the adventurers who survived the onslaught at the Ontoria Dungeon: Genji Herrera. He proposed to Lord Lucas, Commander Azeroth, Sorceress Evergreen, and Guildmaster Hannibal his strategy to maximize the efficiency of eliminating the threat while minimizing casualties on their side.