Both swords in hand, Avryn charged at the ogre. His emotional state elevated Lerosa and made it glow red. Together with the glowing longsword, they were both plunged into the ogre. The combination of searing heat from both of them made the ogre whimper in pain. Avryn pulled out and unleashed a combination of slashes. It caught the ogre off guard and forced him away.

  Tvira found her opportunity and took one shot. The arrow made its way and pierced itself into the ogre’s eye. The beast held onto its fresh wound, it cried in pain. Valoche struck it behind its knees and forced it to collapse. Avryn got on top and continuously stabbed it in its face. Many stabs went by, and the beast was long dead. It wasn’t until Rinna called him that brought him back to reality.

  “What was that about?” she asked.

  Avryn presented Leandros’s longsword.

  “Leandros, he…” he clenched his fist around the handle.

  He recomposed himself. The longsword’s glow had now faded away. He inspected the blade. It barely had any wear and tear on it. One deep breath later, he presented the blade to everyone.

  “No way,” Valoche said.

  “Never thought an ogre would be the end of him,” Tvira added.

  Avryn tried to come up with some excuse but no words came to him. He looked over at the ogre’s corpse.

  “Here’s hoping he didn’t suffer long. May he rest in peace,” Rinna spoke up.

  The mood darkened around them. Avryn snapped out of it and asked for some cloth. He wrapped it around Leandros’s sword.

  “His family will be looking for him, but he will never come. Let’s get this back to them,” Avryn whispered.

  They returned to the fort. Applause was given to them for their success. Avryn went to the recon branch and did research on Leandros. He was surprised to find out he and his squad was reported missing in action for quite a while.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  His squad, alongside Leifren’s, was summoned by the major. They have earned their right to join the special mission to construct the fifth outpost. Most everyone celebrated this, except for Avryn. He wore a poker face upon hearing that. The fate of Leandros and his squad was at the back of his head. The mission would take place in a few days. There were already other squads that he knew that joined. Fyllbar’s squad was in, and so was Carolus Sviro’s.

  He tried to prepare himself. He must be at his best to help this collective effort succeed. He placed Leandros’s sword on his footlocker, and fastened it with a knot.

  “You have seen enough of battle,” he left it at that.

  The squads have gathered at Outpost D. They were joined by the logistics branch. Construction bots hovered around, awaiting their orders. Avryn surveyed the other squads. There were at least twenty, including his. He made out Fyllbar’s squad immediately, and so did Vyktria.

  “Well if it isn’t Avryn-boy,” she greeted.

  Avryn nodded.

  “Vyktria.”

  “Why’re you so formal with me all of a sudden? Something happened?”

  Avryn explained to her what happened. She was shocked to hear of Leandros’s defeat.

  “If anyone else told me that, I wouldn’t even believe them. Leandros, of all people, died this early?” she couldn’t believe herself.

  Avryn glanced to the side. He saw a man with blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, wielding two swords. He was conversing with the other squads. From his description, that would be Carolus Sviro. The strongest soldier in the world. Avryn was drawn by the man’s gravity. Vyktria took notice of that.

  “Oh, Avryn, I didn’t know you swung that way,” she teased.

  “What? I just like strong people. And from what I’ve read, he’s the strongest,” he defended.

  She laughed at him, and then nudged him forward.

  “Go, then,” she said.

  He made his way across. He saw Carolus was accompanied by his squad: one shinkitsuri woman who was pretty close to him, holding onto his arm, one man wielding a spear, and another woman wielding a rifle. Introductions were made. Avryn introduced himself to the group.

  “Ah, the young man who almost beat Leandros. I’ve heard about you,” he gave him a firm handshake.

  He eyed Avryn’s gear.

  “A walking armory, too,” Carolus smiled.

  “Nice to meet ya,” Avryn returned the gesture. “I hope we get to do more missions together in the future.”

  Carolus welcomed it.

  “And also, maybe a few sparring matches,” Avryn hoped.

  The woman stepped in,

  “You gotta beat me first to earn that right,” she said.

  Carolus let out a hearty laugh and pat her in the head,

  “That’s my Rin,” he coddled her.

  Avryn reunited with his squad as the major stepped up and gave them the mission briefing: the fifth outpost would be erected northeast of outpost D. They would need to bide time for the construction bots to fulfill their duties. Based on the simulations, it would take approximately an hour to have fully built the outpost. They should expect plenty of fighting to keep control of that point.

  “Any questions?” the major exclaimed.

  “Sir, no, sir!”

  “Then let’s get to it,”

  The squads marched ever forward to the location. The sound of eighty pairs of footsteps echoed across the forests. Noise attracted many Corpses, but they were disposed just as easily. Carolus’s crew was leading in the effort. Avryn was in awe finally seeing the man in action. The truth was, he was honing his dual wielding skills to fight him one on one someday. He shook his head and focused on the mission as he felt Rinna’s piercing stare. His squad walked side by side with Leifren’s.

  They managed to get to the location of the coordinates. The logistics squads had the construction bots start the building process. The transport wagon carrying the building tools opened up. Another type of robot went ahead and cut the streets to create a clearing.

  “Alright, we just need to hold this point for an hour. Be ready for anything,”

  Just as the major said that, they heard the cry of at least a hundred Corpses. Battle was coming.