Vengeance of the Returner

"War Commander Nix, what should we do next?" Asked Sonali.

She was one hell of a cold maiden who just mostly don't get out of her way to talk with others. It wasn't surprising to Nix either. The soldiers' energy was drained. They did not possess the necessary supply to feed all of the men that settled down in the middle of the desert.

Nix never really got to a dreadful situation that needed Felishia's assistance as such he didn't receive any help from her. One can say she was preparing for the main war. Everyone did know that the battles they went through were just small wars.

Soon, all of the Chaos Mainland will lose stability and choose sides in fighting a large-scale battle. Regardless, Chaos mainland at that moment was in a disruption. The law will be broken down. The whole of Chaos mainland will soon become a jungle that follows the strong and stomps the weak.

The Drows and elves have already risen their defenses and have allied with the other races in Chaos mainland. The awakening of the Celestial Being, the nightmare that was close to ascending the Ether world has already begun making the move. 

It seems Felishia will be siding with them as well. This was also why she didn't outright appear in the battle. Regardless, it is one unreasonable battle that did not need to be wasted with reinforcement.

There was a greater reason for her nonintervention. While Nix was fighting against Barani she made a deal with The nightmare. 

Since they are the neutral ones who garner hate towards Corruptists. They were the worshippers of Nature and celestial beings but that does not mean they hate other's preferences. It was just that they hated their ideologies and the exploiting nature that contaminated these rich lands which were at peace and prosperity. Humanity was the villain to them. The vile nature tainted and sold the other races in the name of slavery. The plundering they made.

It has been ages and ages since those happened to their ancestors and it was still happening to them to this very day. And they had lost their patience over the course of years. All that's left was hatred and anger even though there were some moralistic humans among the vile ones.

So, in conclusion, the other races were preparing for the huge clash siding with Ralugerists soon.

Nix's plan was pretty simple. He decided to reach Ranrak by walk. The only problem was that they did not have any reserves in order to supply the hungry and thirsty soldiers who had lost their energy.

Apart from all that the army does not possess the strength to walk at great speed. Usually it would take about seven days to reach if they try to go at great speed. But, considering the fact they had been through some exhausting fights one after other. They'll approximately take twelve days without much to eat.

The desert was infested by some monsters. The desert hyenas that travels in a pack containing about 12 members. Would surely not suffice the hunger of the whole army and there was also the trouble of dying due to craving for water.

Until a miracle happens, most would die. Nix would survive since he has regenerative capabilities but he sure needed energy so he cannot totally starve.

"For now will continue to march towards Ranrak... Until reinforcements arrive."

The sudden shift in mana that covers the atmosphere had disrupted the communication crystals and all the other types of devices that are used for communication and other sorts.

Nix had long lost the ability to communicate Felishia nor the Air force commander, Bageran.

He didn't really know if the communication might be reestablished or the soldiers will be rescued. 

Few men fainted whilst some persued their feet to move. The feeling the soft sand that covered their feet to every step they took under the scorching sun they continued marching. Wherever they turned all they could see was sand and the blinding brightness of the sun. 

Carrying the few men that were becoming a dead weight they continued pursuing their route. Soon, some men volunteered to suicide and it was the very first day.

Their sense of direction has long faded. If there was one person that directed them through the right route it was the woman who had her whole body covered in a cloak. She couldn't dare let the sen light fall on her directly regardless of the abilities she possessed. 

She drank the dead men's blood and continued directing people as she was brimming with an energy unlike everyone else.

On the second day, they mostly had already lost their will. The previous nights' coldness made them shiver. The single torturous day had indeed given them an inexplicable memory that was etched into their hearts.

Some soldiers might tell the story of the sufferings they've gone through to their families. Seriously when they get free from these shackles and look back it would rather seem one hell of a unique experience.

Soon the army settled down. They did not possess a sufficient number of tents to let all the soldiers rest in. They took shifts and took rests to make it convenient and not unfair.

"Man... the number of people are steadily decreasing. Do you have any idea? Some are going crazy as well."

Nagendra asked.

Nagendra was indeed right.

Some young men and women soldiers indulged with each other. Whilst some fought each other, Some tried to entertain passing jokes in front of the campfire. It was simply atrocious. The army long lost the discipline that was spoon-fed. The young men and women wanted to taste things before they'd be dead. Who can question their morality. They had already lost hope of returning back alive.

Nix just let things happen. He felt some inexplicable feelings through the journey. The lives that followed him had lost their paths. They've been starved to death. Some are going crazy. He didn't feel like controlling them. 

He sat there like a stone unable to feel anything. Whilst his mind continuously asked his questions. He was resolved in the killing. But those thousands of dead soldiers on the battlefield continuously flashed in front of his eyes.

He was a human, not some monster or a god to not feel things and have a stable brain in such an atrocious situation. He couldn't cry nor scream. The frustration he felt.

"Hah"

He sighed and laid on the sand looking at the starry sky wearing a dull expression on his face.

'My life is kinda similar to that Japanese manga I've read... Back on earth. Though I wouldn't say mine is close to that one. I feel like I can empathize with the story now. The prophecy I am bound by. The destiny and all this crap...'

He thought and smiled how fictional works are similar to his one

"Nagendra... Do you know the name of this one manga? A man who goes through a lot. He gets branded and bound by destiny. The world-building was phenomenal..."

Nix asked looking at Nagendra who sat next to him.

"Nah, man can't recall but, what does that have to do with this situation?"

"Nothing... Just asked you."

Nix said casually and drifted his eyes back to the starry sky.

Nagendra was dumbfounded about what he was blabbering about. He just blinked his eyes and adrift it towards his girlfriend who seemed pretty worn out as well.

"Man, just don't lose hope! We can do it."

Waltner who was gazing at the scene from a distance walked towards him.

"Haha, That young lad sure has a good mental composture"

"Yeah... He sure does have but, I wonder if he can keep up with that smiling face to the upcoming days."

Nix uttered with his eyes closed.

"Agreed, his teammates seem like quite the pussies."

Well, Waltner really stated the fact even though his words seemed harsh. Sonali who spouted nonsense as though she knew things well was baffled and beyond scarred. The atrocious surrounding had left her speechless. 

She has been sitting idle for a while and didn't dare open her mouth to speak. Shreya was in the same state as well. The only difference was that she was crying a lot. Nagendra's girlfriend was quite similar but, she kept on nagging Nagendra.

Apart from all that Nagendra himself had lost his mind even though he wore a straight face hiding his emotions with a smile. This world was anew to the group. The ruthless and cruel world. War was something that had already engraved the cruel world into their heart. 

The soldier's suicides, the insanity of the sexual intercourse, and some vilest happening were something alien to them. Nix's mind was filled with frustration only because of few things that continuously happened to him.

He was responsible for the men but they had been going insane and he did not know how to subside this scenario. Though these were the reasons. His worry about the future had got his mind occupied.

Little did he know his worries about was sure needed. There was a catastrophe marching towards the south which had unified the opposite faction all the while he was sleeping.

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