Our Family Has Fallen

This awkward situation had persisted before the outpost was recaptured. Countless battles had erupted, and the quality of the army at that time certainly couldn’t compare to the present, so casualties were significant. Furthermore, the inability to counterattack had led to a very passive situation, building frustration among the soldiers.

It wasn’t just the soldiers who felt this frustration. Lance felt it as well. This was his territory, yet the wilderness had become the Heretics’ domain. It was as if his own home were infested with countless rats, gnawing at everything and even trying to devour people. How could any normal person tolerate that!

But Lance didn’t act rashly. Instead, he silently endured the damage inflicted by these ”rats.” However, silence didn’t mean inaction. He initiated the massive development of the wilderness, conquered Heretic camps, recaptured the outpost, and now, established the Honor Guard. After taking over this old, dilapidated ”house,” he had started cleaning it room by room, restricting the ”rats’” movements and even clearing out a few of their nests. He also repaired the ”fences” to keep the ”rats” out and raised a group of ”cats.”

He had been preparing for this day for a long time!

If the main force would alarm them, then small elite squads would be dispatched. If their tracks couldn’t be found, then a way to locate them would be devised. If the enemies could venture here, so could they. Lance intended to show the Ancestors that from this day forward, the tables of offense and defense would turn.

”Tonight, we will launch a counterattack against those Heretics wandering in the wilderness. It’s time to let them witness the strength of our Hamlet and also to test the results of your recent training.” Lance’s words, recounting their past struggles and future resolve, thoroughly ignited the fire in their hearts.

The tasks were quickly assigned. Thirty men were divided into three squads of ten each. Geralt led one squad, Tadiff another, and Reynard, who was stationed here, led the third. They possessed good individual strength but also remembered the importance of teamwork. Each squad was a balanced mix of offensive, defensive, and ranged capabilities.

While the teams were being formed, Lance returned to the outpost. Because they had other actions planned for tomorrow, Boudica and her group did not participate in tonight’s operation. But Alhazred was different...

Lance knocked on the door. After receiving permission, he walked in. He saw complex symbols and patterns drawn on the floor, with several strange objects placed around. Alhazred sat cross-legged on the ground, holding the Skull Candleholder.

”Are the items ready?”

When Lance learned Alhazred could sense the evil power of the Ancestors, he knew this was a talent perfectly suited for Hamlet. To combat the Abyss, one must understand the Abyss. The title ”Aberrant Demon Slayer” wasn’t earned for nothing. Therefore, besides the Elite Squads, a key to this operation was the Mystical Scholar’s ability to locate the Heretics. However, it seemed Alhazred didn’t want to perform Secret Techniques in front of others, so Lance had found him a room.

”I’ve marked the locations of the corrupting forces. I’m not certain if they are Heretics, but it should be accurate,” Alhazred said, still holding the Skull Candleholder in one hand while handing over a map with the other. It was the map Lance had given him earlier, now with many points marked on it. These points indicated the enemies he had sensed.

Without delay, Lance took the scouting map, found the team leaders, and divided the marked areas among them, assigning their tasks. While others would still be scouting map sections squad by squad, he had effectively completed reconnaissance as if scouting a dungeon, and then the three squads descended to clear the areas. This was the confidence his previous development and accumulation had afforded him!

”Move out!”

”Yes, sir!”

At the command, the three teams set off. Lance stood motionless for a long time, overcome with indescribable emotions. A tangled feeling, or something else—all he could finally let out was a sigh.

Is there still hope for humanity...?

...

Geralt led his team out. Truthfully, it had been a long while since he’d experienced being part of a team. Even when he had, it was temporary, and always with Transcendents of considerable ability. A situation like this, leading novices, reminded him of when his master had guided him as an apprentice—a distant memory, now blurred. He never thought he’d be in this position, and he wasn’t even leading Witcher apprentices, but a group of ordinary people.

He wasn’t sure if he could handle this responsibility, but the team’s discipline and ability to execute orders didn’t pose any problems. The map wasn’t a GPS, much less a precisely drawn one; it was hand-drawn. Thus, its interpretation could vary, and with it being night and lacking clear landmarks, navigation was challenging. Therefore, Geralt could only estimate their approximate location before raising his hand to halt the team.

”It should be right ahead. Everyone, be careful.”

To conceal their movements, the team advanced in darkness, without torches. Geralt’s golden pupils constricted in the dim environment, granting him night vision superior to that of ordinary people. The others lacked this, but fortunately, their recent and frequent training in the surrounding area meant they showed no signs of disorientation.

Luckily, the scouting map proved its worth. Soon, Geralt’s squad pinpointed a group of Heretics: four in total—three Heretic Warriors and one Heretic Priest, a typical configuration. From their appearance, they were clearly resting, perhaps awaiting orders for some unforeseen action. No one knew what their next move would be.

Geralt was instructing his team, but he was also learning from them, such as their system of hand signals for command, which allowed for control and order dissemination in various situations with a few simple gestures. The Lord had already informed him this was part of their training, so Geralt refrained from direct combat, instead serving as commander and providing tactical oversight.

The simple tactical plan was quickly finalized. Geralt raised his hand and swung it forward vigorously—the signal to begin the action!

A few men crept forward. Barrett, their squad’s marksman, had already loaded his musket, braced it, and was aiming at the Heretic Priest, awaiting his comrades’ signal. Armor protected its wearer, but the noise it made was a problem. Sounds so out of place in the wilderness would be amplified. The equally elite Heretics became alert, as if startled by something, when the trusted aides crept to within about ten meters.

”Enemy!”

”Over here!”

”Quick, protect me!”

The Heretics were somewhat bewildered. It was always us ambushing you at night! Why is it the other way around today? This sudden attack threw them into disarray, but the long-prepared trusted aides paid them no heed. The moment the Heretics were alerted, the trusted aides dropped all pretense, bursting into action, seizing their weapons, and charging. Simultaneously, torches flared to life, illuminating the flustered enemy.

The Heretic Priest had just risen and cried for protection when, a second later, a gunshot rang out, and she fell. Barrett lowered his musket and carved a new notch onto it. His old one was now in the training camp’s collection room. He had switched to this new model that could be fitted with a bayonet. Others needed a long time to master a new firearm, but he had familiarized himself with this new musket and completed its calibration in under ten shots. Some talents truly can’t be taught.

However, the frontline combat wasn’t so simple. Even when two or three men ganged up on a single Heretic, the enemy fought back fiercely, fearing neither injury nor death, protecting only their vital spots. Wounds inflicted by swords on the Heretics would quickly regenerate. But the trusted aides were well-prepared. They had a specific tactic for this situation. Some attacked, while others created diversions and controlled spacing. The team’s coordinated strength completely suppressed these Heretic Warriors. Of course, another critical factor was that all their weapons had been treated beforehand with Corpse Decomposition Spore.

The Heretic Warriors, their regenerative abilities nullified, were quickly dispatched by the trusted aides who seized their chances. The fight, from its outbreak to its conclusion, lasted only a few minutes. Then, they quickly tidied up and headed for the next target. Their mission was to clear out all Heretics hiding in this area, sparing none!

Shortly after they left, Lance’s figure appeared above the corpses. He performed the Sacrifice, sensing the returned Spiritual Essence. It had indeed increased, just as he’d expected, signifying that these Heretics had also grown stronger.

If we didn’t have items specifically designed to counter them, tonight would have been very difficult…