A Distant Reverie

Chapter 55

Puddles of crimson splattered across the chamber floor. They were remnants of the legionnaires who were caught in the ogre's rampage.

This is really bad.

Marine grimaced. Her heart screamed in her ears as she tried to assess their situation. Their exit out of the subterranean chamber had been closed off by rubble. Their enemies included two ogres and the Grandmaster. There was a group of villagers trapped in the rear with the potential to transform into more abominations.

She glanced back. The legionnaire's formation had split into two groups right before the ogre decimated the chamber entrance. Marine did a rough count in her head. About a hundred men. The rest of her battalion were either trapped on the other side or buried beneath the mountain of rubble. She noted Suisei and Bruno among the ones present.

The subterranean chamber was an open field devoid of complex rock formations. They were stuck on the eastern side near the sealed exit. Across from them were the pair of ogres, and beneath them laid the chasm leading to the sea of magma. In about three hundred meters to Marine's right was the Grandmaster and the encaged villagers.

Calm down.

She opened her mouth wide and chopped down hard on the side of her lips. The scalding pain jolted her awake. The taste of blood wiped away the despair looming above her head. The situation was dire.

But I've survived worse. Marine forced her brain into think. She was the leader of this battalion. She had to devise a plan. She would allow them to simply await their imminent death.

There are two objectives. Survive and eliminate the Grandmaster.

The major obstacles are the pair of ogres, and the group of villagers that can transform at a moment's notice. Those need to be dealt with immediately.

"Listen up!" Marine yelled. Murderous energy surged out of her body. The legionnaires behind her immediately froze in attention. Their panicked gazes seized by fear of insubordination.

Marine unsheathed her sword, raising it skyward, "Do not despair! Trust in my orders! I will get us out of here alive!"

The legionnaires responded in unison, "Yes, ma'am!"

"Kersen, summon your sylph! Vesper, cast Indura on Bruno! Bruno, you're the vanguard. You have to keep the left ogre distracted for as long as possible! Ask for help if you can't endure," Marine turned towards Vesper and Suisei, "I need the two of you to stop the villagers from transforming. We must prevent more ogres from joining the battle. Kersen will join you once he's ready."

Suisei's eyes were trembling, "Stop them? How do we—"

"You have to kill them."

Marine spat out the cruel reality.

"Resolve yourselves. Abandon any hesitation. This is a matter of life and death," Marine locked eyes with Suisei, "Remember what we're trying to do here." The brief fight they had the night prior replayed in her mind.

"You told me you'll do anything to return home, right?" The young lady's face darkened with unease.

"Now go!" Marine ordered. Suisei and Vesper did as they were told.

Marine faced the legionnaires who were awaiting orders. She scanned their faces. She started this expedition with a battalion of five hundred men. Now only one hundred of them remained here with her. The fate of the rest was unknown—either dead or entrenched on the other side.

Unreachable.

Regardless of these insane stakes, the hundred legionnaires stared at her intently. Fear clouded their eyes, but beneath their trembling gazes was a glint of unwavering faith.