The halberd rested up on Yang's shoulder. The air was still and quiet, everyone awaited the next orders to come out of Rimuru's mouth. Everyone was quiet, no one moved, no one spoke. The cold air blew, sending goosebumps across Yang's body.
Rimuru stood there, no smiling, not laughing...not joking; All was cold and serious, their expression angered by the declaration of war that was made. Then Rimuru spoke, their tone stern and dominate.
"What's the distance to the kingdom from here? How many days will it take?" Rimuru spoke.
A military officer straightened up and spoke. "By conventional march—six days. With armored convoy—four if unopposed."
Rimuru's eyes flashed with something dangerous...yet it wasn't threatening. "And on horseback?"
"Eight." The military officer spoke.
Rimuru turned around, their gaze lingered to the military vehicles. "Alright, we'll do that then. Yoji, get everyone geared up."
Yoji stood up straight, not asking any questions as to why Rimuru wanted that. Turning on his heels, Yoji marched off.
Lelei adjusted a map terrain projection, magical lines stretching across it. "Teleportation is theoretically possible. But mass displacement of this scale risks severe backlash unless staggered."
Rimuru nodded lightly. "Yes, and there's the chance of rip and tear in some of our bodies, if we were all teleported at once." Standing there, Rimuru decided to call upon Raphael. "Raphael."
The voice answered, obviously since no one could hear Raphael, aside from Rimuru. Everyone muttered plans on routes to get there faster.
<
"Optimal routes?" Rimuru asked.
A lattice of calculations unfolded behind Rimuru's eyes—terrain resistance, elevation, likely ambush points, supply logistics, magical interference zones.
<
Rimuru's eyes widened like plates. That was faster, and more efficient. Safer than reckless teleportation. Then their gaze sharpened. "And the enemy's capacity?"
<
"They miscalculated...." Rimuru muttered. "The game is in our favor." Crossing their arms. "Status on Scarlet's situation?"
There was a pause, then Raphael answered.
<
Rimuru exhaled softly. "Good...." Rimuru muttered. "Keep me updated, even when I don't need to ask you."
<
Yang took notice of this from Rimuru. She raised an eyebrow up curiously. "Is everything fine?"
Rimuru nods a little. "Yeah." It wasn't a lie, nor was it the whole truth either.
Then Raphael spoke again.
<
Rimuru didn't show any reaction to this, not yet...not in front of everyone, the situation was unbalanced. They could tell there was a inner conflict.
~~~
Rimuru stood at the entrance, arms crossed, face stern and cold. "We are not marching to the capital for revenge...we are marching there to save one of our own."
No one spoke, no one argued. But Rimuru kept talking. "If the Empire escalates," Rimuru continued, voice smooth as silk over steel, "we will respond proportionally."
Yang smirked, her eyes glimmering with the fire of war and combat. "And proportionally for you is...?"
Rimuru's eyes glowed before speaking. "Overwhelming."
Yoji drove up in a Komatsu LAV. "Most of the men are gearing up in the vehicles, what about the rest?"
Rimuru turned their gaze to Yoji. "We will summon armored beasts, and whatever else is needed. They can ride the beasts. This is an act on our behalf of saving someone, not for revenge."
"But what if revenge is needed?" Yoji asked.
Rimuru was silent for a moment, then spoke. "Then I will rain hell down upon them..."
That wasn't a promise either, that was a threat. Rimuru wouldn't hold back if it was for revenge. But Rimuru hoped it wouldn't come to that.
"If push comes to shove, we will make them regret ever picking a fight with us." Yang spoke. "I've seen too many things happen in my life as is, if punching someone until they're crippled to get our point across... I will."
~~~
Outside, artillery crews prepared. Magical engineers erected phased barrier towers. Soldiers loaded ammunition beside summoned beasts armored in steel plating.
"I'll scout on ahead, and see how our path looks." Yoji spoke, driving off with a few soldiers in the vehicle.
Lelei approached Rimuru quietly. "You are… different."
"Not different. Just focused." Rimuru spoke, one hand resting on their hip. Rimuru's expression didn't waver either, they were indeed focused at the task at hand.
From within Rimuru, Raphael spoke.
<
Rimuru's eyes narrowed for a moment before muttering something under their breath. "Aim for the head..."
Yang glanced towards Rimuru with confusion. "You say something?"
Rimuru shook their head. "No, nothing. Just thinking out loud."
"Right...." Yang spoke as the halberd hummed lightly as the wind blew against it.
Rimuru turned around to face everyone else. "Once Yoji returns, we will move out. Everyone best be prepared, once we go. There will be no turning back. Our mission is as follows, we get there and clear a path to get into where Rory is being held captive at, which would likely be the dungeon cells. Once we rescue her, we will leave our mark on the capital as a warning."
"What if there are casualties?" Tuka asked.
"Then we'll give them hell to pay for killing our men." Rimuru spoke, as no one seemed to disagree with Rimuru on that.