CHAPTER 9: THE FIELDS OF GLORY

***The outskirts of Netevren***

Ursura’s march to aid the Outer Walls was interrupted when she received a rebel envoy under a flag of truce. The beastman was carrying a message from Banu, declaring his intent of surrendering, along with his entire army. Buoyed by the good news, the Queen took some of her guards for escort, and rushed to the town. When they arrived, the bear-man was already waiting on the outskirts together with some of his warriors.

“I find it quite strange that we’d meet again under these circumstances,” Banu greeted her with a bow. “I mean, when we first saw you back in Telessaria, you’re just a mercenary. Now, you’ve ascended the throne as a respected queen of this kingdom.”

“It just sort of happened, bear-guy,” Ursura reached for a handshake. “And man, you’re always covered in blood whenever we see each other!”

“Heh, I can’t help it. As someone who fights for the freedom of his people, this is inevitable.”

“True. You’ve defended our race’s honor for as long as I can remember…don’t you think you should take a rest now, and lay down your arms? Let the new leaders of this land take care of its people.”

“Indeed, I was thinking of the same,” the bear-man chuckled. “In fact, I’m tired of seeing death! What I really wanted is to travel around this land, as well as the other lands, just for a change.”

“Would you like to?”

“That’s why I’m talking to you here?”

“What are your terms, then?”

Banu stared at Ursura as if she said something weird.

The Beastman Queen noticed it and asked, “Why are you looking at me like I just uttered the most ridiculous thing you ever heard?”

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” the bear-man scratched his head. “It’s just…I just can’t believe you’re asking me that question. I mean, aren’t we the ones who surrendered? Why are you keen on hearing our conditions?”

“Err…because we’re already at the negotiation table?”

“Yes, but the humans don’t talk that way…”

The bear-woman chuckled, “Banu, I think you’re missing something. I’m the Queen of the Beastmen Kingdom, though our subjects are both the human and beastmen people. So, you’re talking to a Beastman, not human.”

“You say that, but the Lord Kuro is human.”

“I’m sure that guy would rather treat you as an equal, instead of a vanquished foe. You know him; he’s that kind.”

“Ha! True! Too true!”

Ursura smirked, “So I guess there are no issues on our side, then. Now let me ask you again, what are your terms?”

The bear-man smiled and gave a sigh. Then, after a few minutes of silence pondering about his options, “Can I request for my men’s safe passage out of this place? We’re planning to head north and disband from there; you can send some of your men to check on us. In exchange, I’ve already convinced them not to raise arms against your kingdom and its people for as long as we lived.”

“Sounds reasonable to me. Is that all?”

Banu nodded.

“How about you?”

“Ah, you’ve already heard what I wanted, Your Majesty. I’ll just retire from this life of bloodshed and live the rest of my days traveling. I want to see the world. Though, if I may add, you can always ask for my help, if you shall ever need it.”

“Okay, then as queen, I agree to your terms! You can leave your weapons here, in my presence.”

“Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Majesty,” the bear-man kneeled in reverence before the queen. “As you subject, I’ll make sure you and the Lord Kuro’s name would always be praised by everyone in this land.”

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***The western sector of the Outer Walls***

A few moments after Konka’s order, the feared East Ursus tribesmen entered the battlefield and began to wreak havoc among the defenders. Swinging their large war hammers, or a dead body of their enemies, their appearance melted a good number of their foes’ hearts. Slowly, the human-beastmen armies were pushed back, though they tried their best to cling to every inch of their territory.

“Where are the Black Feathers?” someone from the human-beastmen side cried out. “We’re being murdered here!”

“Someone send for help!”

Once they heard the despair of their enemies, the rebels’ morale shot up through the air. Their fighting even got fiercer, killing every injured human or beastman ‘traitor’ they came across, and would sometimes throw the severed heads towards their enemies.

The sheer barbarity of their comrades’ fates prompted a few of the musket-armed units of the human-beastmen forces to do last stands. However, the East Ursus made a short work of their valiant acts, taking advantage of the slow fire rate of the ‘demon weapons’. So, to counter those berserkers, the survivors of the kingdom’s army formed impromptu ‘forlorn hope’ companies tasked to take down at least one East Ursus with them, before being killed themselves.

Armed with spears, swords, bayonets as well as a barrel of ‘demon powder’, the ‘forlorn hopes’ attacked the infamous beastmen with impunity. The other rebels dared not to go near the East Ursus as a result, or they’d also risk getting caught in the explosions.

For a while, the desperate tactics worked. When the rebels saw that their ‘aces’ were being defeated by the ‘suicidal humans and traitors’, they turned to Konka for help.

Meanwhile, eager to put a quick end to the violence, the Insetus woman obliged, and she cast several fireball spells that incinerated the opposition. But then, one of her generals noticed something different about her.

“Y-Your Holiness, are you…alright? Your face is getting pale!”

Konka nodded and said, “Don’t worry; I’m just tired. I used my mana reserves in generating that fog cover, after all.”

“Ah, then you should head back to the rear, milady! We can’t afford for you to lose your magic in the middle of this war!”

“I’m telling you, I just need a rest,” she insisted. “Magic doesn’t disappear even if my mana is exhausted. Besides, who will lead the men? We’re on the verge of victory here!”

“That’s right. No one will lead your noisy rabble, insect bitch! Though, victory? Nah, I doubt it’s possible.”

“!!!”

The Insetus woman looked to the skies, where she saw the Beastman Saint, Ruro of the Wolf, hovering above the chaotic battlefield. Her general quickly put himself between her and Konka, in a futile effort to protect her liege.”

“Hey, I’m offended by that rabbit guy of yours!” Ruro quipped. “Does he think I’m a murderer?”

“Aren’t you one? You killed a lot of innocent beastmen, after all!”

“Says the one who planned Telessaria’s massacre.”

“Hmph! Humans are not worth even a drop of our noble people’s blood,” Konka countered. “No wonder why you’re unpopular, wolf! You don’t even care about your own race!”

“Well, sorry. But I’m still the Saint, and you’re not.”

The Insetus woman’s eyebrows twitched, and her hands shivered, “So…the unpopular wolf finally graces us with her filthy presence! How are you after peddling yourself to the Human king?”

“Never been better, four-eyes,” Ruro replied, “Kuro’s a sweet guy, unlike a prude like you!”

“Itching for a fight, I see…” Konka pulled out her sword.

“Oh, no, no no! I’m not your opponent this time, Konka,” the Beastman Saint laughed, “I just used my entire mana to teleport these guys, see?”

“What?”

“Chaaaaaaaarge!”

“Raaaarrrgh!”

From the rear of the human-beastmen lines, member of the Avinus Chickens leaped forward and engaged the East Ursus, as well as the other rebels. They were armed with muskets, bayonets, swords, daggers, and grenades, fighting their enemies like madmen Konka could only watch in disbelief as her armies were pushed back…

“May I introduce to you,” Ruro’s lips drew a smirk, “to the 3rd Black Feathers Wing, personal bodyguard to Her Majesty the Queen, Ursura of the West Ursus.”

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***The parapets of the eastern Outer Walls***

The appearance of Konka’s mighty rebel armies on the western sector of the walls felt like a punch to the gut for Luka. He couldn’t believe he was outwitted by his enemy; however, though he wanted to rush to that side as soon as possible, his army was on the defensive at the eastern part. The monster attacks had been relentless, and it was chewing away the morale of his men.

“…”

However, as much as he wanted to commit his own Black Feather wing to the defense, Luka knew he had to hold them back as his reserves. As soon as the battle for this part ended, he would hurry to the west to join the defense there. And he needed the Black Feathers well-rested.

“Another horde incoming!”

The cannon volleys began its deadly music once again. The terrible cries of pain of the monsters, and its screams of rampage mixed with the artillery sounds, and the battlefield roared to life once again. The magicians, though exhausted, summoned every ounce of mana in their bodies to reinforce the walls once again, as the mad creatures repeatedly pounded their bodies against it.

Luka watched as his army desperately defended their positions. Deep inside, he’s worried that the human magicians couldn’t keep their barriers up anymore. If so, the walls would be breached, and they would have a difficult time in plugging that hole in their defenses.

“…”

Should I deploy the Black Feathers now?

The dog-boy’s thoughts fiercely clashed with each other. Part of him wanted to follow his hunches and let the Black Feathers fight, while there’s another side to him that urged caution up to the last minute. But then, as the monster attacks were getting even more ferocious with each moment passing. And some of the cannons were withering under the constant stress of being fired non-stop.

“Your Majesty, my brother should be assigned to go with you instead! The northern borders are too much of a responsibility for him!”

The words of her sister pleading the king to assign him to the southern expedition flashed in his mind. While he knew Rumia was only looking out for him, his pride as a dog tribesman wouldn’t agree to her excessive protection.

He’s her brother, and he will protect her as much as she does…

“!!!”

A few moments later, the Black Feathers under Luka’s command leaped from the parapets to engage the monsters below. Leading them was Luka himself, and they would rather die than let those monsters breach the defenses.

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***The western Outer Walls***

The battle for that sector of the Outer Walls entered a new phase, as reinforcement from the Queen herself entered the conflict. Konka couldn’t believe her eyes as she witnessed how her ‘aces’, the infamous East Ursus tribe, being defeated by…

“The Chickens?” the Insetus woman was shouting, and she was pulling her hair, “Those Chickens? Seriously? Those pathetic, worthless, cowardly weaklings of the Avinus? How did they—”

“Bad news for you, Konka, you’re not the only one who can change,” Ruro then cast another teleportation spell. “But don’t worry, that’s not the only surprise we have in store for you!” As she finished her magic, the tribesfolk from the Falcons came out of the portals, each armed with a pair of barrel bombs they eventually dropped over the masses of rebels. Their numbers were effectively halved in an instant.

“R-Ruuuurroooo!” an indignant Konka growled. “I swear to the gods I’d lop your head off right this moment, or die trying!”

“Pft! Stop it girl, I’m tired. If you’re looking for someone to fight, then how about her?”

“Gueh—”

Just as Konka was about to look at where Ruro was pointing at, Ursura came rushing through with her foot hitting the Insetus woman’s stomach. Konka nearly vomited from that attack, but it did send her flying a few distances away. However, she was quick to recover…

“Alright, she’s all yours now, Your Majesty,” the Beastman Saint went down and casually walked away from the battlefield.

“Y-You…You’re a traitor as well, U-Ursura…I should’ve killed you before!” Konka uttered in between her labored breaths. “This time, I’ll make you sure you’re dead, along with that fake saint!”

“Hah! I’d like to see you try, Lady Konka!” the queen removed her royal robes, exposing her old attire from her wandering days. “And I’m not a traitor, you liar! I’ve always been faithful to Kuro!”

“Haaarrrgh!” the Insetus woman attacked. Rushing towards Ursura, her sword was aimed at the queen’s neck. However, the bear-woman only moved her head to dodge it, then hitting Konka with a counter-punch to her face that sent her flying once again.

“!!!”

Despite receiving a direct hit, the Insetus woman resumed her attacks. Blinded by her rage, she pulled a dagger from one of the dead beastman nearby, using it together with her sword.

As for Ursura, she preferred to fight with her fists, parrying Konka’s blades easily through her metal knuckles. Because her arms were both preoccupied of defending herself, she used her legs and head to counterattack.

Nevertheless, the Insetus woman kept on her offensive. Adding to the queen’s woes were the few East Ursus joining the duel. They were resentful of Ursura being a West Ursus on the humans’ side.

“The Queen is in danger!” someone from Ursura’s soldiers shouted. At once, her bodyguards, as well as the other warriors of the Beastmen Kingdom, rushed to her side to help their queen.

“Stop!” Ursura roared, “These East Ursus are mine to defeat; you’ll only get yourselves killed!”

The humans and beastmen, including those from the rebel side, backed off as the heat of the battle switched from the fighting armies to the duel of the Beastman Queen, the ‘other’ Saint and her East Ursus followers. The contest was so fierce, the battle around them halted as nearly everyone watched in awe of Ursura, holding on her own against Konka and her men. A five versus one slugfest…

“Heh! Kuro’s a better fighter than you are, Lady Konka!” the bear-woman teased. “You and your guys can’t even land a hit on me!”

The Insetus woman, however, ignored her taunts and continued to swing her sword and dagger. The East Ursus also tried to get Ursura killed by crushing her skull with their war hammers, only to receive a devastating knee hit to their face, or a choking attack to their necks. Moments later, three East Ursus lie dead. The fourth one was limping back to his friends, taking a broken arm, a set of broken ribs, and a broken sense of pride.

“Th-The q-queen…she…she defeated those East Ursus alone and with her bare hands!” was one of the murmurs going around the crowd.

Ursura heard it herself, and she couldn’t keep her smile from coming out and pissing Konka off. She knew that her skill in fighting was further developed because of the times she trained with Kuro. After all, that guy would always cheat his way to victory, saying…

“In real battles, the important thing is you win. And you don’t win wars by playing fair, you know?”

The bear-woman would always sulk and get angry every time Kuro did that. However, in retrospect, she finally understood his points.

Ah, so this must be what you’re telling me, Kuro. That we’re using the ways of both our peoples to improve. My strength as a beastwoman and your cunning as a human! Indeed, this is a powerful combination, worthy of Lady Terebia’s glory.

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For a while, the battle between the opposing leaders raged. The Beastman Queen fought as if she was dancing, while the Insetus woman’s strikes were repeatedly parried or evaded, much to her frustration. Then, without warning, the bear-woman unleashed a flurry of attacks nearly knocked Konka off her feet. Eventually, her desperation to survive Ursura’s onslaught prompted her to pick a musket from a nearby corpse.

She pointed it at the queen, demanding, “Surrender now, traitor! I already got the upper hand!”

“…” Ursura was surprised at the sudden turn of events, and raised her hands. “I thought you’re only in favor of the beastmen way. Why are you now using a human weapon to win?”

“Hah! You’re really stupid, bear-woman!” Konka laughed, “This is a demon weapon. Humans only took this as their own, but they did not invent it!”

“M-My bad…”

“Yes, and I know how to use this. So, if you value your life, I demand that you surrender. Both you, and your army, or I’ll shoot you dead!”

Tense silence filled the battlefield as the two leaders watched for the other’s move. Likewise, their armies teetered on the unspoken peace. The soldiers and rebels waited on who would surrender first. And then…

“!!!”

With no warning, Ursura took a step forward with her arms still raised.

“I said surrender!” Konka shouted. “Don’t come any closer!”

Nevertheless, the queen moved one pace ahead, in defiance of the Insetus woman.

“Did you not hear what I just said? I’ll kill you!”

“Alright, then do it,” the bored expression on Ursura’s face was clear. She continued to ignore her enemy’s warnings, taunting Konka and even putting her chest in front of the musket’s barrel.

The Insetus woman never hesitated to pull the trigger. However, the next thing that Konka knew, no gun blast occurred, no one died and Ursura’s fist crashed on her face, breaking her nose.

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Everyone went speechless after witnessing that. The Insetus woman, though visibly shaken, never lost consciousness as she staggered back to her men. The Beastman Queen followed her.

“Surrender, you asshole!” Ursura insisted, making sure that Konka and her rebels saw the line of musket-armed Black Feathers and the Red Feathers behind her. “I’ve got no patience for your tantrums anymore. This land belongs to both humans and beastmen, and you can’t change that anymore!”

The Insetus woman, however, never answered her. She threw a glare towards Ursura, as she slowly retreated.

“I’m counting to three. If you don’t lay down your arms, we will shoot! And this time, our slow matches are lit…unlike yours!”

“Never! A true beastman dies; they don’t surrender!” was Konka’s defiant scream. On her command, the rebels surged forward and resumed their attacks. The Black Feathers responded by shooting them, then closing in with their swords, bayonet and daggers. The Red Feathers dropped bombs on the opposition as well, then taking potshots once their payloads were gone.

In this way, the remaining rebel numbers dwindled even further. Reinforced by the Queen’s army, the rest of the human-beastmen forces returned to battle to exact their revenge.

“Kill those animals!” was the battle-cry of the kingdom’s warriors. Such was the hatred of those men that they even desecrated and mutilated their enemies’ corpses. Those injured were sure of death—as painful as possible, and they also singled out the East Ursus tribesfolk, who tormented them earlier. It’s as if the defenders of the Outer Wall snapped and went into a frenzy.

“We’re already living in peace! How dare you destroy it!”

“Die, you pieces of shit! Go to hell with your insect saint!”

“Break their limbs! Let them crawl in their blood! Kill them slowly!”

Ursura, though she was a bit surprised by the return of hostilities, immediately ran after Konka, who retreated with the rest of her generals. “Come back here, you coward,” she shouted in her vain attempt to pursue the Insetus woman.

“Enjoy your little victory for now, Ursura!” Konka called out to spite her, “It won’t last long! The eastern side of the walls will soon fall, and you’re too late to stop it!”

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***The eastern Outer Walls***

Luka’s 2nd Black Feather Wing had been fighting to keep the wild leviathans off their walls for a long while now, as they try to buy time for the magicians in their army to rest and recover mana. Pieces of monster flesh and blood, as well as some of their own, filled the landscape in front of them, but the battle showed no sign of letting up. The dog-boy, his body bruised and covered with blood, tried to prop himself up with a broken musket, as the next batch of monsters appeared on the horizon.

“…”

His men were equally-tired. But they all knew that if they faltered there, the magic-less Outer Walls would be breached and the monster hordes would be free to rampage across the lands inside the kingdom.

“B-Black Feathers…” the young commander rallied them, “We…We’re the only ones…who stood…between these cr-creatures…and our families! For…our land…let’s drive them back!”

The members of the 2nd Black Feather Wing never answered him, but everyone was of the same sentiments as the dog-boy. The Chicken tribesfolk, humans, and other beastmen were all determined to hold the walls at any cost. Although nearly the entire regiment was limping, they stood their ground as the wild leviathan hordes approached their positions…

“Fire!”

The last of the operational cannons opened fire, and shredded a couple of monsters before eventually giving out. With their guns destroyed, the artillery crews drew their weapons and joined the Black Feathers for the last stand.

“Chaaaaaarrrge!” Luka put the last of his strength in ordering that final attack, and everyone swarmed the first leviathans within their reach. The monsters, feeling the pain of being skewered or slashed with spears, swords, and even bayonets, lashed out violently, crushing several of the dog-boy’s men. Some who were caught by its tails were sent flying, splatting against the walls in a gory mush.

There were also the magicians who, in their desperate attempt to fight back, took barrel bombs and deliberately set themselves exploding amidst the hordes. Several of the leviathans were injured as a result, but their sacrifices weren’t enough to stem the monster tide. Luka’s army threw everything they could to stop the breach until…

“That’s the last of the leviathans!”

“Don’t let it get away!”

Tired, bruised, and bloodied, the defenders of the Outer Walls nevertheless fended the monster hordes. The sight of the last rampaging leviathan lifted their hopes, and they charged the poor, lonely and confused creature, hacking it to death. Luka, who could now breathe easy, fell to his knees in the aftermath of their hard-won victory.

“Sir, we did it!” the remnants of his command happily told him.

“We won! We won!”

“Long live Sir Luka! Long live the King! Long live the Queen!”

The cheers of everyone took off the feeling of exhaustion in the dog-boy’s chest. At least, he told himself, he could proudly face his sister and Sir Loin for this achievement…

“…”

However…

“…”

Their celebrations were cut short when they felt the ground shake once again. This time, however, the tremors were simultaneous, as if it was being made by thousands of feet marching in unison. Then, the fog slowly dissipated, and much to everyone’s utter horror and disbelief, it revealed an approaching army of rebels from the distance.

“This is…what I’m afraid of…” Luka muttered to his lieutenant. “They…They must be the ones driving those hordes to us!”

“Sir…we stand with you.”

The dog-boy nodded and smirked, “Well, I guess…we have no choice but to fight…once more, eh?” He took up a musket from a dead beastman and reloaded it. Then, he attached its bayonet, before turning to his men, “F-Form your lines! They…shall not pass!”

“They shall not pass!” the army repeated while they stood in formation. Unlike the huge leviathans, they’re facing fellow beastmen now, which they could kill using their muskets, or fell with their spears, daggers and swords. They already survived the worst; what could stop them from defeating that lawless rabble?

“Remember your training!” an officer shouted, “Shoot when you see the whites in their eyes!”

A few distances away from their lines, the rebels broke into a frenzied run, buoyed by the sight of their few and injured numbers. The kneeling first line and the second line prepared for their shot, while everyone else braced for the attack…

“!!!”

But then, just as the rebels were about to reach them, successive explosions pulverized the entire enemy line. Then, it was followed by falcon tribesmen swooping down to behead anyone from the opposition still standing. The battered defenders of the eastern Outer Walls broke into cheers and celebrations once again, as the Red Feathers bombed the enemy to bits.

Luka, who was completely spent, just fell down the ground. His panicking lieutenants ran to his side to check on him, but they were relieved that he was just resting.

“I-I’ve done it…” he smiled with relief, “T-The walls…are safe.”

“Yep, you sure kicked their asses,” the Beastman Queen suddenly appeared beside him. “Seems like we teleported here just to wrap things up. Good job, Luka.”