"Rena! Rena!" one of her battle mates screamed while shaking her shoulders. He brushed her long golden locks out of her face. Blood seeped down Rena's chin. Her eyes appeared hollow.
I can feel my strength leaving me, Rena thought, while she struggled to lift up her hand. "I'm still here, I think."
"Ren!" The same comrade called out another name.
A young man a few feet away slouched against a reddish, dirt-colored rock, breathing heavily. "Oh God, I'm alive, unfortunately," he muttered. His hands reached for his saith, which leaned against the same rock.
"Shut the hell up, you prick," the man shouted at Ren.
Ren chuckled, staring out.
A massive, bloody battlefield laid in front of them. Only a few feet away from their hiding spot, some of their comrades-in-arms laid still, ripped apart, cut to pieces. The body pieces began to shift monetarily into other people.
A good nine feet away from the bodies stood an entire army, waving a red flag. Their dark armor clashed against the waning daylight.
The man calling out the names took a deep breath. "There are only three of us left, out of thirteen."
Ren flicked his attention back to his friends. His thoughts caused him to smile inwardly. If only you knew. "Duh, we are taking on a whole freaking army, Barrett."
"Do you always have to be such a . . ."
Rena took a shaky breath, "I'm going to die here." She pushed the other man away and began to stand. "There is a nation behind us, behind these lines that will not be able to withstand the coming assault. We watched them pillage and burn villages; rape, beat, and kill many innocent people–all in the name of a fallen king. We have to give them a chance to get ready."
Ren grabbed his saith, spinning it around before letting the bottom of the rod touch the ground again. Then he clenched his side, gritting his teeth.
"Well, we already made up our minds a long time ago. We knew the impossibility rating. We knew the chance of survival was 0.3 percent, and that was being generous."
Rena took a deep breath. "This is the plan. I am going to blow myself up, taking as many as I can with me. I don't have much time or strength. Barrett, heal me wherever you can."
Barrett reached his hand out with wide eyes. "That is insane! You cannot do it!"
Ren's eyes narrowed, his tone of voice dropped. "Unfortunately, that might be our only option. Heal her!" He grinned and thought about how the next event will unfold. Ren cackled, thinking about the numerous possibilities.
Barrett looked between the two. A small sob escaped his throat. His hands wavered as he reached them out to Rena. A heavenly glow leaped from his hands onto her body. Most of her wounds recovered, leaving behind torn cloth.
On the enemy's side, a man with long flowing hair dismounted from his horse. He paced back and forth in front of his mass of troops. "How many were there!?"
A female knight spoke out. "Thirteen, General. I counted only thirteen."
He whipped around on his troops. "Pathetic, you all are disgraceful. How many remain alive?"
The same woman responded, "Three."
"How can thirteen people make us pull back?" the general growled. "Are we not from the nation of Tanza? Do we not bring the war to every front? Have we not trained enough?"
Some of the knights shivered. Only one was brave enough to speak out. "I do believe the king is with them."
The general flipped around and stomped toward his men. "Are you sure?" His body shook, and he laughed.
"Thirteen people personally picked and honed. Of course, he would do something so obtuse as this to punish my reputation."
"Do we still attack?" another knight asked.
The general paused, seriously looking at his men. "I fear what might happen if we do not appease him." He stared across the battlefield. "My lord's thoughts are hard to determine. He ascended the throne at fourteen and began moving people like chess pieces, never once allowing anyone to control him. It was a hard feat. But even then he looked like he was merely having fun. I am beginning to think we got too boring for him. We attack!"
The general waved his arm forward. The knights shot forward, rushing around the general.
Ren chuckled, "I have a confession to make. I am the fallen king!"
Rena's eyes widened and she fell to her knees. "No."
Barrett rushed forward, his fist poised and ready.
They could hear the thundering of feet; the shouts of their enemies roared!
Ren dodged and laughed. He smiled at them. "I am going to show you something, and then I might let you have my head!" He tilted his head and smirked.
The knights were right on top of them. Their weapons were ready to come down on anyone behind the rocks.
Ren vanished and they froze.
"Wh-where did he go," they stuttered. The army behind the advancing frontline saw that the ones before them were halted.
The knights began to look at each other muttering among themselves. Suddenly a sharp pain ripped through the army. They all began to clench their chest screaming in agony.
Rena's eyes got even wider, and Barrett could not comprehend what he was seeing.
"Just what is going on Rena?"
Rena struggled for a moment. "I honestly do not know."
Ren appeared before his men and poked one of them in the nose. "Boop, stop."
Rena cocked her head. "Wh-what."
"What is this!" One of his knights screamed.
Ren's smile widened, showing his teeth. His eyes narrowed. "My contingency plan! You all might die!"
Some of the knights fell to their knees. The general flinched and began laughing. "This cruel man is our king. The boy who will destroy everything to achieve one thing."
"Hello, my minions. I have slowly begun changing the marks of the insignia on your chest, the one that brands you as a knight of my empire. I have ventured into learning the plight of the nations we conquered. I understand all. I have seen your obscene methods and demand change. You will change as a whole, or I will kill you all. Due to the reign of power, you all have felt you were better than everyone else. It was only derived from the feeling of superiority. This is an illogical fallacy created to build a sense of vulgar entitlement. We are going to change!" Ren finished menacingly.
Barrett looked at Rena. "I want to kill him, but at the same time, I want to know his goal."
Rena tilted her head down. "Can a nation like that really change, with a leader like that?"
Barrett snorted, "Who knows, it looks like the army is now turning around. They do not look happy. They're probably going to kill him."
Rena stood up and ran toward Ren. "Do you mean what you said?"
Ren shrugged, "Every word."
Rena touched her forehead. "Once again you are an idiot. I should kill you, all of our friends are dead!"
Ren laughed. "You sure?"
Rena looked over to the bodies, the bodies that she thought were her friends in arms. They were transformed into different people.
Ren held out his hand to her. "Are you willing to become one of the thirteen again? Change does not happen without a push. I need allies. The others are safe and in fact, helped control the situation at hand."
Barrett's jaw dropped. "Just who the hell are you!? How did you manage all of this? I am in, you prick!"
Ren blinked, looked sternly at Barrett and huffed. "Oh, you're still alive. Well, the offer does extend to you, too."
Rena gazed at Ren, still thinking. This realm is strange. The fact that magic and swords are basic feats. The fact that this person exists and plotted to bring down his own nation.
"I have no idea what to expect." Rena stretched out her hand. "I am in!"