The War Begins (Seeking Collection)

The war with the Upper Green Forest arrived with startling suddenness.

In the Month of Green Banyan Rebirth, while Aaron was training his group of cannon fodder, Turner Shorien, a knight under his father's command, rode up on a warhorse and shouted, "The Davis Family has launched an attack! The Lord commands you to head to the Black Crow Dunes immediately!"

"Understood!"

Aaron struck his chest with his fist. Looking at his still-bewildered subordinates, he roared, "What are you standing there for? Go get your gear! We're going to war!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, the expressions of all the cannon fodder turned sour.

However, thanks to the training and discipline instilled over these past days, they at least knew whose orders to follow. With the urging of squad leaders like Sanchez and Green, they quickly steadied themselves.

"My Lord!"

Eight-Fingers approached Aaron at this moment. He wore a tattered iron helmet he had scavenged from somewhere, with no other armor to speak of. His face, hidden beneath a thick beard, seemed to carry a trace of bitterness: "Will we... win?"

"We must win!"

Aaron replied in a deep voice. As a member of the Sothoth Family, the consequences of defeat were unthinkable.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but curse his useless golden finger even more.

Over this period, through daily dreaming and accumulating energy—or rather, mysterious units—he had strengthened the power of his consciousness within the dream.

At the very least, he could move faster and perceive more.

But... Aaron in the real world didn't even feel like he had a bit more mental energy...

As expected, bringing power from the dream into this world was indeed extremely difficult.

Suppressing these thoughts, Aaron led his troops toward the Black Crow Dunes.

These dunes were located at the boundary between the Upper Green Forest and the Lower Green Forest. The surrounding area was a wasteland of worthless sand, making it a place where no one would regret fighting a battle.

This timing, however, is rather strange!

Aaron looked at the farmland on both sides of the road, pondering to himself.

The Green Foresters' method of keeping time was still very primitive, vaguely dividing the year into a dozen or so months based on plant growth.

Why say a dozen or so... because these months were all vague.

According to Aaron's understanding, it was likely because their timekeeping was flawed, resulting in such massive errors that even setting leap years or months couldn't adjust them. They simply left the number of months in each year uncertain, letting everything follow nature—specifically, the state of the Grandmother Green Banyan.

Within the Sothoth Territory stood a Green Banyan tree designated as the "Divine Tree," and the months were determined by the state of this tree.

Of course, since the banyan is an evergreen plant that does not shed its leaves, autumn in the Sothoth Territory was a very vague concept...

And now, it was spring, the season of all things growing!

In ancient times, this was the time for farming!

The standing armies of the two great lords were no more than one hundred men each; wars required the conscription of militia. If they fought like this, it would delay production and inevitably lead to famine the following year!

The Davis Family shouldn't be that stupid, right? Or... have they stockpiled a massive amount of grain in advance, hoping to goad the Sothoth Family into a spring war to delay sowing? As long as they drag it out until next year, the Sothoth Family will collapse without a fight?

That would also explain why they were the ones to provoke the war first...

A thought occurred to Aaron, and his heart turned cold. He realized the Davis Family also harbored desires and schemes for the entirety of the Green Forest.

Black Crow Dunes.

By now, the area had been divided into northern and southern sections, with military camps established in each.

According to Aaron's estimation, the Sothoth Territory had mobilized about 1,800 men this time, while the Davis Family had nearly 2,000!

"This is certainly no longer a village brawl over a wild boar; at the very least, it's a regional conflict!"

Wearing refined leather armor, Aaron walked through the layers of camps and entered the main tent.

Theodore and Colin were both wearing high-quality armor, followed by several knights. Seeing him enter, they all revealed faint smiles.

"Father!"

Aaron stood straight, his expression resolute, and struck his chest with his fist.

"This is your first time participating in a war. Follow Sir Alfred; he will teach you well."

Theodore, at least, didn't intend to send his son to his death, pointing toward a knight with slightly graying hair who held a massive meteor hammer.

"I obey your command."

Aaron knew that this old knight was a veteran of many battles with rich experience. Being by his side, while not as prestigious as being next to Colin near Theodore, was relatively safe.

Woo-woo!

Amidst the desolate sound of horns, Aaron followed Sir Alfred to a slightly higher point on the dunes.

Nearly four thousand men formed two distinct battle arrays, creating a massive battlefield around the dunes. The dark green and blue banners seemed to divide the earth into two camps.

Among them, the Sothoth Family's banner featured a dark green background with a branching banyan tree emblem.

As for the Davis Family's crest, it was a single Vertical Eye.

"Remember, this is your first time on the battlefield. Do not panic, and keep your family motto in mind," Alfred said, glancing at Aaron as he instructed him.

"Steadfast and unyielding!"

Aaron spat out his family motto, recalling the motto of the Davis Family—'Insight into all'.

"Very well, begin!"

Alfred said indifferently.

At this moment, Aaron saw the enemy's battle formation begin to move slowly.

At the very front were, likewise, ragged peasants with worn-out weapons; their expressions were panicked as they were driven by the regular soldiers and knights behind them to launch an attack against the Sothoth Family!

"Listen to my command, archers, loose!"

In the middle of the formation, Mark, who was in charge of the archers, roared and waved a hand.

A rain of arrows fell, striking many unlucky souls; they collapsed to the ground, some wailing as they had not been struck in a vital spot.

But it was useless! Their comrades behind them, swept up in the momentum, trampled directly over them, and soon there was no more sound.

Boom!

As the two armies charged, there were perhaps only a few volleys of arrows before the two forces collided like a torrential flood.

"Charge!"

Alfred roared, mounting his warhorse; paired with his full suit of armor, he looked like a moving metal fortress.

Aaron's position was on the right flank of the Sothoth Family, and he commanded, "Charge formation, forward! Forward!"

Although Eight-Fingers and the other squad leaders had fear in their eyes, they still executed the order well, making this small troop of several dozen men a cog in the war.

Boom!

Aaron charged a short distance when his vision suddenly darkened, and a flash of azure blue appeared before him.

The enemy had arrived!

"Kill!"

He swung the Cross Sword in his hand and slashed down without hesitation.

The militiaman opposite him was originally just a farmer; even with a few days of training and the courage to kill, his eyes filled with malice, his equipment was too poor. The pitchfork was snapped in two by the Cross Sword, and his upper body was slashed diagonally, spilling intestines and viscera all over the ground.

A slight miscalculation!

Aaron withdrew his longsword and assumed a defensive stance, wary of enemies from all directions, his brow furrowing slightly: Against these militiamen without armor, there is no need to use the Cross Sword; a rapier would suffice. I must conserve my strength... regardless of whether we retreat or pursue later!