Dungeon of Niflheim

478 Chapter 478: ‘Damn it! We’ve lost too many.’

“Urgh!” Tarok groaned in pain as Gilianna used a mixture of healing magic and special salves on what remained of his arm and shoulder, the process was not pleasant. His armour had been peeled off revealing his blood-stained clothes and the many other wounds covering his body.

Many of the younger officers who were under Tarok’s command and those who knew him well felt pain as they saw his current state and heard his groans and at some points even guttural screams.

Hamon who was looking far healthier sat at the head of the war table, sporting a fierce grimace as his aides reported the situation in detail.

‘Damn it! We’ve lost too many.’ He internally cursed and bemoaned the current situation. They had clear cut quotas to meet with each successive wave, meeting said quotas would grant them a sliver of a chance at survival but so far, they were on thin ice and this last wave seemed to be the turning point.

Their losses came to a staggering 146 men and women, far more than they could afford at this stage. Injuries were even more abundant with even elites and Majors receiving serious injuries that would affect them during subsequent waves.

With the smell of blood and medicine thick in the room everyone donned dark expressions, Frost included. Not only was this the most devastating loss they’d experienced they dealt practically no damage to the enemy. All those killed were nothing but replenishable chaff, the upper caste, the B-ranks didn’t even bother showing themselves. Such a show of power obviously dealt a strong blow to moral.

“Haaaaaaaaaa” Hamon let out a deep repressed sigh after hearing the complete battle report. His gaze drifted over to Douglas who was in command in his absence hoping to somehow find fault with his orders but unfortunately, he did everything he would have done. Having him at the helm would have likely made zero difference thus crushing the small tendril of hope he fostered.

He closed his eyes and was silent for a few seconds as was everyone else in the room as they anxiously awaited the orders of their commander.

Crunch!

.....

The war table cracked and broke as Hamon’s hand clenched onto the edge, his shut eyes then opened with a fierce light and a mad smile adorned his lips.

“We lost this battle, but the war is still ongoing, the waves will continue to come, and we will continue to defend this town and our nation as we always have even if that means our death.” A weight was lifted from Hamon’s shoulders, and a steely determination could be seen radiating within his eyes. This look and his confident tone eased the fears of those listening. Their tightened fists and clenched jaws loosened as fire spread in their hearts.

Who were they, they were the frost wolf battalion the sword of the empire that crushed whoever or whatever threatened it with fierce aggression.... they were soldiers, men and women of war.

As for the adventurers in the room their hearts were just as inspired, they fought against monsters for a living, they were aware of the dangers. At least this way they would be remembered in the annals of the Northrend empire instead of merely unfortunate adventurers that died on the job, to be forgotten like so many in their profession.

Death was no longer as frightening when you had purpose and people to join you in the journey. Everyone in the room looked at the faces of those beside them, their friends, colleagues, rivals or just people that they’d been fighting side by side with over the past few weeks. Mad smiles grew on their lips as their vigour was reignited, they would go out in a blaze of glory.

“Viscount Furano please have Cassandra make emergency preparations for the citizens, best we relocate them to the shelters ahead of time lest we don’t get a chance later.” Hamon gave an order to Douglas who frowned and sighed before nodding his head in understanding and leaving the command centre.

The seamless activity of the citizens would now have to be brought to a halt. No longer could they risk having just a partially restricted lifestyle. The citizens who were not part of the defence forces i.e., the young, the old, the injured and those not working in the workshops and food courts would have to be remanded to the high defence shelters that ran underneath the town. There they would hunker down until the reinforcements arrived. The town and those defending it would be destroyed but at least a portion of the citizens would be alive and could rebuild what was lost.

Hamon didn’t make this decision lightly as it was sure to spread panic and affect the moral of the regular soldiers and non-combat workers, but he had no choice. The losses incurred from this wave would only escalate with the following waves and soon the dam that had held back the tide for the past several weeks would blow apart, unleashing the horrors of the monster stampede upon what lay behind it.

“Ryuu, Jessie have you managed to work out what species the new commander is?” Knowing the thing’s species would pierce the vale of the unknown allowing Hamon to make some sort of strategy.

Ryuu grimaced before answering. “We’re not certain but it’s highly likely he’s a frost monarch.” Sharp inhales followed Ryuu’s revelation.

Frost monarchs are high ranking spirit monsters that not only possesses great magical mastery over the ice element but also devastatingly powerful physical bodies. Entities with very little weaknesses. They live deep within the inner regions of the glacial mountains and rule over their own territories, where many of their lesser kin spirits and other ice elemental creatures dwell under their protective rule. They’re very similar to the nobles of the sapient kingdoms in that way thus the ‘monarch’ in their name.

A frost monarch couldn’t be compared to a rindar, this was a veritable leader of monsters likely equivalent to Douglas in ranking, he would not be so easy to deal with.

From their magic clashes as well as the contest of aura it was presumed that the frost monarch was solidly in the mid stages of B-rank and had likely brought with him monsters from his own territory. Thus, the new contingent of magic users as well as devasting contraptions that melted apart their arrow volleys.

“I’ve never come across a frost monarch personally however I know a few people in the war ursa battalion who fight against them on the regular, I should be able to handle it if push comes to shove and the thing finally reveals itself.” Hamon reassured his subordinates, as long as Hamon could still handle the enemy leader there would always be hope.

“They’ll likely make moves once our frontline fractures. Unlike the rindar this frost monarch seems to be rather patient. He’ll grind down our forces bit by bit before swooping in for the kill.” Halgrave gave his opinion.

“We can try and bait them out but if that doesn’t work, we’ll have to know who will be fighting who.” Hamon frowned, his gaze finding its way to Tarok.

“Tarok is in no shape to fight so we’re already down a man. I’ll handle the frost monarch solo, Bastion you and....”

“Wait Colonel, I don’t think you should take on the frost monarch.” Before Hamon could get started divvying up the enemy elites among his own forces Ryuu interrupted.

“.... I’m listening.” Hamon was usually quite traditional in his leadership and wouldn’t appreciate being interrupted by someone of lesser standing especially one who wasn’t one of his own soldiers however Douglas, Ryuu and Bastion were different, he respected them greatly and welcomed their opinion whenever it came to the monster stampede.

“Thank you, Colonel.” Ryuu saluted and bowed to Hamon to establish authority before continuing.

“Numbers wise and role wise yes, it’d be better for you the strongest person on our side to take down the enemy leader. Not only are you yourself magically able but you also have a strong body that can contend with the frost monarch.” Many officers nodded in agreement as Ryuu analysed their Colonel.

“But unfortunately, you’re not completely healed from your battle with the two rindar and the poison herald, we can’t risk you falling in battle otherwise our entire army’s moral would hit rock bottom. Unlike the monster horde we rely heavily on our commander standing tall and valiant to combat the endless tide.” Frowns and silence filled the room as many pictured the scene of Hamon either falling in battle against the frost monarch or receiving heavy injuries.

Hamon frowned deeply partially agreeing with Ryuu’s statement, if he fell or was heavily injured the moral of their forces would crumble. But so, what did that mean he wasn’t supposed to fight at all, to stand at the back and give orders from safety while those under him died, never. That wasn’t his way nor was it Ryuu’s, so he was rather confused.

“What else? You can’t wish to sub me out for such a petty reason such as my injury or even death.” If they couldn’t last until the reinforcements arrive each and every one of them was going to die regardless, himself included. Hiding away was pointless

Ryuu frowned and looked as if he was struggling to say his next words, but he eventually bit the bullet.

“I don’t believe the frost monarch will be worst we have to face in the coming waves.” Another round of sharp inhales responded to his words and Hamon’s frown became even more pronounced.

“You are our only upper B-rank fighter so we can’t have you waste any more energy or receive any more injuries fighting against those beneath your station.” Ryuu’s words were oddly vague as well as rather precise.

“.... You think an upper B-rank will come.”