Tunnel Warfare, Sparrow Tactics, Guerrilla Warfare-Come on, gnolls, pick one

For most people at Blackflame Pass, yesterday had been far too intense.

The ratfolk's destruction, the undead rising, the gnolls' all-out assault and the plague they unleashed, Lord Heather's self-sacrifice, the uproar caused by the evil god's appearance, and finally, the rift in the astral plane.

Events that ordinary people might never encounter even once in their lives had unfolded one after another yesterday, ravaging Blackflame Pass until the land could bear no more. It fell like a defeated warrior, then died, weathering into dust in an instant.

The experience had been even more complicated for the soldiers who had sworn to live or die with their position.

Tears and weeping were the least of their troubles. Greater fears still lurked in the shadows of their hearts. It was easy to foresee that the various churches would be very busy in the days to come.

After living through something like that, devoting the rest of one's life to faith no longer seemed unacceptable. Even these retainer soldiers, who had been cut off from faith ever since joining the Blood Covenant retainer army, might make that choice.

But who could blame these warriors for lacking conviction?

After all, even a hero was only one bad day away from going mad and breaking down.

Still, the morale of the commanders who had returned here with Murphy was holding up.

They had seen General Maxim hand out the spoils to his companions. They were soldiers, and they knew that this was tantamount to rubbing the humiliation of the two senior commanders—and the nations behind them—in their faces.

Yet the retainer army commanders had little to say. They merely watched the scene with cold eyes.

Blackflame Pass could have received far more support. That was the agreement between Lord Pain and the two kingdoms.