The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 299: Chapter 294 — Battles

”Cocksuckers!”

Nedra stood rigid before the still-white screen, her hands balled into fists. She didn’t seem to care at all that she’d mentioned cock.

”Those cheating bastards! If they had any balls, they’d stop hiding behind those fucking ballistas and settle this on the field!”

Fiona had gone pale, one hand unconsciously pressed against her mouth. Tobias, meanwhile, stood with both fists clenched tightly at his sides, his attention fixed on the still-white screen.

Unlike Nedra, neither seemed angry. They were simply worried about the cadets beneath that light.

Zephyrion didn’t bother responding to Nedra’s complaints.

This was war.

In war, everything was allowed. Zephyrion knew that better than most, and sooner or later, these cadets would have to learn it too. That was part of what the academy was preparing them for; the brutality of the world.

And unfortunately, this was only the tip of the iceberg.

”Listen... Prime, I’m all for fucking them up, but I think it’s time to call a retreat.” Nedra suggested.

Zephyrion didn’t respond.

”Can’t you see they’re at a disadvantage!? Those ballistas will recharge soon, and then we’ll be right back in this shit! We need to retreat!”

Zephyrion shook his head.

”Not yet.”

”What...?” Nedra turned fully toward him, her expression hardening. ”Prime—”

Zephyrion finally turned his head and met her gaze. Nedra stiffened, the rest of her words dying in her throat before she even understood why.

Without another word, Zephyrion turned back toward the screen.

An unexpected shiver ran down Nedra’s spine, and annoyingly enough, it had nothing to do with fear. It was the thrill suddenly coursing through her veins.

’This bastard...’ She bit her lip. ’What the hell is with those eyes? How the fuck can someone look that domineering?’

Then an even more horrifying realization struck her.

Nedra quickly glanced at Tobias and Fiona. Neither was looking at her, both still focused entirely on the screen. Somehow, that didn’t make her feel any better.

’Shit. I actually shut up. They’re going to think he’s tamed me or something!’

Nedra immediately opened her mouth, determined to say something just for the sake of it, but the moment that look flashed through her mind again, the same damn thrill ran through her.

She couldn’t utter a word.

’Fuck.’

In the end, she cleared her throat and turned toward the screen, silently thanking the gods that Lumi and Kaelith weren’t there to witness this.

Zephyrion, meanwhile, hadn’t taken his eyes off the still-white screen.

’Not yet.’

Retreating now would ruin everything. Malach had to believe what he was seeing. Everything had to look perfectly natural. Only then would it work.

Only then could he break Malach thoroughly.

Soon, the white light began to fade, immediately drawing everyone’s attention back to the screen.

Zephyrion’s eyes sharpened.

...

Everything was in ruins.

Smoke rose everywhere. Cracks webbed across the ruined ground, loose chunks of earth still crumbling into them as the acrid smell of ash hung heavy in the air.

Kaelion slowly lowered his shield and surveyed what remained of the southern formation.

The southern line had broken. They hadn’t had enough time to properly lock their shields before the impact, and the sheer force had scattered them across the battlefield. Several cadets had been blown sideways, others backward, leaving only a few of the Vanguard around him.

’What about the Siege Corps?’

Kaelion immediately turned toward the western side of the battlefield. They had taken the brunt of the attack, and thick smoke still blanketed their position, hiding everything beyond scattered silhouettes.

His grip tightened around his shield.

Then, slowly, the smoke shifted.

Kaelion finally released the breath caught in his chest.

Kaelith was still standing.

Around him, most of the Siege Corps lay scattered across the scorched earth, some only now dragging themselves back to their feet. Their formation had been torn apart, but they were alive.

”Attack!”

Kaelion’s head snapped around.

The northern cadets were already surging toward them. Their formation was a scattered mess from the blast as well, but being farther from the impact, they had escaped the worst of it.

”On your feet! Get ready to fight!”

Draven responded by slamming a fist against his chest and releasing a violent roar. Somehow, in the brief time since the explosion, the bastard had managed to lose his shirt, his muscles gleaming beneath the morning sunlight.

”COME GET DRAVEN! I’M NOT DONE UNTIL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU IS TRAUMATIZED!”

Nearby, Lumi had already risen to her feet, seemingly untouched by the blast. Lucien was farther behind her, along with several other cadets who had escaped the worst of it.

Before long, they clashed with the approaching northern army.

But this was nothing like before. There were no neat lines this time, no wall of shields meeting another organized charge. They crashed into one another wherever they stood, shouts and clashing steel filling the air as fights erupted across the ruined battlefield and what remained of their formations completely dissolved.

It was basically every man for himself.

Amid the chaos, Kaelion caught sight of Draven tearing through the northern ranks like a charging beast.

A barrier flared in front of him, only for Draven to smash straight through it. The runes shattered into fragments of light as his shoulder plowed into the cadet behind it and sent him flying into several others.

Another cadet attacked from the side. Draven took the blow without so much as budging, then slowly turned toward him... and grinned.

The cadet stumbled backward in horror.

It wasn’t long before the northern cadets had formed a wide circle around Draven, none of them seemingly eager to be the next one sent flying.

”HAHA! BUNCH OF PUSSIES! COME! LET DRAVEN SHOW YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN! BY THE TIME I’M DONE, YOU’LL LEARN TO LOVE TRAUMA!”

None stepped forward.

”That’s what I thou—”

THUD.

A massive figure stepped into the empty circle, each heavy footfall crunching against the shattered ground. He was tall like most Sarakhel, but built far heavier, thick muscles straining beneath his uniform and veins throbbing along his arms.

”Kuso Sarakhel. Sixth strongest in the North.”

He struck a fist against his chest.

”I’ll be your opponent.”

Draven stared at him for a moment before his eyes lit up, as though he’d finally found the perfect punching bag.

Without hesitation, he launched himself forward.

Elsewhere, Kaelith, his clothes scorched and blood trailing down one side of his face, sent a barrage of compressed metal tearing toward the northern cadets. A slender figure stepped into their path, a powerful barrier flaring before him and stopping the projectiles in their tracks.

”Lasnot Sarakhel. Fifth strongest.”

Kaelith frowned.

Not far away, another northern cadet broke through the chaos and headed straight for Lucien.

Lucien immediately turned toward him, readying himself as the cadet stopped several paces away.

”Barry Sarakhel. Seventh.”

Lucien’s expression hardened.

Kaelion quickly realized what was happening.

One after another, the northern elites were picking out their opponents among the strongest southern cadets.

Kaelion was also busy tearing through the northern cadets when the enemies before him suddenly pulled away. He frowned as a pocket of empty ground opened amid the chaos.

At the other end stood Gordon, slowly stepping forward.

”Gordon Sarakhel. Second strongest.” His gaze settled on Kaelion. ”You’re the commander, yes?”

”That’s right.”

Kaelion swept his blade to the side, flicking the blood from its edge.

”Then I suppose you’re second only to your Prime.” Gordon smirked. ”Good. Taking you down should cripple what’s left of your command.”

”Who says I’m the second strongest?”

Gordon tilted his head. ”With Vaelor absent, who else could be stronger?”

”Lumi.”

”...Lumi?”

Recognition flashed across Gordon’s face.

”Right. The mute.”

He scoffed.

”Her? Leave it to you southerners not to know strong from weak. We sent our third strongest after her. By now, it’s probably already over.”

For the first time since the battle started, Kaelion laughed.

Gordon’s expression darkened.

”Do I sound funny to you?”

”Yes, very.”

Kaelion shook his head. Oh, if only Gordon knew.

Around them, steel continued clashing and cadets tore into one another, but neither commander moved.

Gordon’s gaze gradually turned cold.

”Keep laughing. I’ll wipe that amusement off your face.”

”You’re right.”

Gordon paused.

”...About what?”

”It’s probably already over.” Kaelion tilted his head. ”Because it was never going to be a fight...

It was always going to be a massacre.”

Gordon’s eyes narrowed.

”Wha—”

BOOM!

Both their heads snapped toward the sound.

A body tore across the battlefield like a cannonball, smashing through the remains of a shattered barrier before hurtling toward the northern wall.

Gordon went still.

”Impossible...”

Kaelion followed his gaze, and his smile widened.

It was the third strongest of the northern fortress. Except now, the center of his face had been caved in from a monstrous impact.

Before anyone could properly react, a wave of biting cold swept through the northern ranks.

All across the battlefield, heads turned toward the source.

Lumi was tearing through the northern ranks.