Bombs of People 1

In one of the many patches of emptiness scattered around the forest, another skirmish was wrapping up. What was once a peaceful – well, as peaceful as an Eternal War could be – abode for a race of toad people had become a sea of corpses. Not a single thing was left unscathed. The terrain, the defenders, even the attacking townspeople were haphazardly scattered in pieces. After all, the attackers were the ones exploding.

“Retr–”

“AAAAHHHHHH!” BOOOOOOMMMM! Another attacker, crazed with fear, detonated upon the defending commander, shattering into shrapnel that pierced anyone nearby. The toad people fully devolved into chaos, trampling over one another to escape the neverending symphony of death. The few that still tried to counterattack would soon become stains on the ground.

On the attacking side, one man looked around the battlefield with a hint of tedium. His well-made clothes were unmarred from the casualties of war, and his boots were clean of the blood pooling in the grass. Nothing about his bearing suggested he should be there standing, and yet he was the commander of the suicide battalion.

“Lieutenant, your report,” he said, lazily shifting his gaze over to his second in-command. Unlike the commander, her presence was much more suited to the current environment. Her muscles, her stature – everything suggested that she should be the commander. But in reality…

“Of course,” she bowed her head to the commander, not due to loyalty, but because she had no other choice. With an unreadable expression, hiding the conflict in her heart, she spoke. “Approximately 90% of the toad forces have been eliminated. Eight percent have fled in the forest, and the remaining two percent are being pushed back. We should have their territory captured in the next few hours. We have expended nearly 85% of our soldiers, most from our own men. If the battle lasts any longer, we will not have enough to continue our campaign. I suggest we fall back and–” The lieutenant’s words caught in her throat as her body quickly heated up.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion, lieutenant,” the commander said with a twinge of admonishment, his irises glowing yellow for a brief moment. They faded back to hazel just as quickly, pulling away any warmth the lieutenant once felt.

“M-my apologies, sir.” She took a deep breath, struggling to regain her previous composure.

The commander gazed at her body before letting out a sigh. “Well, there’s no such thing as too many soldiers. Let’s go.” With a prance, the commander headed towards one of the many non-descript tents. The lieutenant trudged behind, keeping her eyes focused on the dirt below. The soldiers standing guard gave a quick salute before pulling back the flaps.

Inside were hundreds of men sitting down, their arms and feet bound together behind their backs. Most were terrified, immediately cowering on sight. Only a few had any real anger left in them. The commander gave a nod to a nearby guard, telling them to release the men from their bindings. Confused, the men stared at the commander as he flamboyantly spread his arms wide.

“My fellow citizens,” he began with a kingly voice. “For all too long, you have been oppressed and starved to death by this infernal war. The other races have taken from us time and time again, treating us like cattle. It didn’t matter who. It didn’t matter where. We were simply slaves to be exploited.

“But now, with me at the helm, we have finally taken our revenge. The once proud toads – who used us as nothing more than packing mules – have all but been purged, fleeing from our forces. Still, we incurred some heavy losses, and we might not be able to survive another battle.

“So I beseech you, come and fight for our cause – for your wife and children – and help us show the world that we bombardier beetles can exist in this world!” The commander reached out his hand towards the crowd. Of course, nobody took his hand, instead shifting back and nodding their head vigorously.

“Perfect. Now, let’s–”

“You think we’re going to listen to your nonsense after ripping our family apart? And now you’re telling us to just go and die? SCREW THAT!” The man closest to the commander stood up and rushed with a punch at the ready. However, before he could even finish his fifth step.

SPLAT! His head, and only his head, exploded. The commander took a step to the side, allowing the body to stumble past before limply falling to the ground.

“A good attitude, but a bit too enthusiastic, in my opinion. What would’ve happened if the rest of his family was here? I struggle to imagine the fate that could’ve befallen them.” With a clap and a glance, the rest of the men quickly came in line. “Now, get out there and rush the enemy! Glory to the bombardiers!”

“AAAAAHHHHHH!” The men scrambled out of the tent, screaming like lunatics, making no attempt to deviate from the commander's orders. The commander, with a brief sigh of relief, turned towards the ailing lieutenant with a bright smile.

“Now, let’s round up some of the infertile women and children next. That should solve the shortage, maybe a bit of excess as well.”

“Yes, sir,” the lieutenant answered, after a bit of hesitation.

“That reminds me, what happened with the group that tried to escape? They should all be gone by now, no?”

“We could not find their bodies, but it seems likely they were murdered.”

“Ah, the Cleaner, I suppose. And could you not call it murder? They were deserters of the cause, after all. I was only doing what was–”

“My, my, my. Such an unexpected sight.” The commander and lieutenant quickly swirled around – the lieutenant grabbing the sword sheathed on her leg, the commander taking a step back. Standing there where no one had been before was the girl, wearing the most bewitching, terrifying smile one could have. Her arms were crossed behind her back, making her devilish teenage looks stand out against the bleak landscape. She seemed so out of place, but the lieutenant knew she was not to be underestimated. What with the amount of mana she was hiding ridiculously well, she could very well be a God herself.

The commander, completely, oblivious, yelled at the girl. “Who are–”

“Gosh, so noisy. I was simply looking for a naughty child’s parents, but you as his guardian works just as well.” Her irises glowed a bright red as she licked her lips, watching what her prey would do next.

“Let’s have a talk, shall we?”